I have been sitting with this question since Kedar made the call for the next BarCamp: What is it about the way of conferencing that BarCamp is trying to change? How could we keep the spirit of BarCamp intact in our SustainabilityCamp?
BarCamp has evolved from a practice called Open Space Technology, and it’s actually meant to be a one day Open Space. According to Harison Owen, the originator of the name, Open Space works best when the following four conditions are at play:
- a high level of complexity, such that no single person or small group fully understands or can solve the issue
- a high level of diversity, in terms of the skills and people required for a successful resolution
- real or potential conflict, which implies that people genuinely care about the issue
- a high level urgency, meaning the time for decisions and action was “yesterday”
It’s not very hard to see why such a complex issue like Sustainability can be best addressed with the BarCamp or Open Space spirit rather than a conference. Based on these conditions, I will try to touch the spirit of the work, and once we can see the spirit with more clarity, then we are more able to keep it intact throughout the SustainabilityCamp.
1. Complexity & Self-Organization
Most of our modern processes are created in the industrial age, the time when we started to make machines and factories. These processes, such as our conferences, are very linear and Newtonian at the core. They work with the same principles and assumptions that are at play when we work with assembly lines and machines. We choose a couple of separated issues beforehand, we create a time line, and then we invite experts (solutions) to occupy those time slots. Participators in these conferences are like the raw material that pass through every stage and solutions are applied to them one after another.
But when it comes to humans, social groups, communities and life in general, we are dealing with very complex systems that are highly inter-related, to a degree that any attempt to break them to separate parts will actually make us blind to the existence of the whole. And it’s only by seeing the whole that we can address the root causes. The way life deals with it’s own complexity is through self-organization, based on which the spirit of Open Space and BarCamp has evolved.
2. Unity in Diversity
In order to bring about a more sustainable future, we will need to tap into our collective intelligence. Each one of us has an understanding of what sustainability is and how it could be approached. And each one of us is equipped with unique skills and passions to create a more sustainable community. One of the attitudes that we might need to un-learn is trying to convince others that my approach is the best. We can come together and work together, each one with it’s own gifts and with respect to the gifts of others, knowing that we all share the same dream: a brighter future for people and planet. The spirit of Open Space and BarCamp, if kept intact, creates a container for all of us to meet each other in that space of Unity in Diversity.
3. What We Care About
Looking at our word cloud, it’s easy to notice that the word Sustainability is connected to what we deeply care about, individually and collectively. That leads us to see another important dimension of the spirit of Open Space. At the core, it’s about what you care about the most, and what we care about the most. Therefore it’s important to create the collective space in a way that invites each and everyone to contribute –and not only participate– to the whole from the deepest sources of caring. In order to keep the spirit intact, it’s important for both the hosts and participants to fully engage with their whole being by integrating head, heart and hand, while staying curious about what do others care about. With this spirit, non of us can play the role of the expert anymore. And that means we better show up with questions, rather than answers.
4. It’s Now
The time to act on what we really care about is NOW. All the complex issues that we as humans find ourselves surrounded with, such as global warming, terrorism, psychological breakdowns, economical dysfunctions, depletion of resources and … (you name it), indicate that we are standing on a historical threshold. And we should also be aware that it’s not only us. We have carried the whole web of life on earth with us to this point of decision making. To me, it wouldn’t be very bold to say that: this is our moment of truth. How we take our steps from this moment, will actually impact the life of generations to come, and not limited to humanity alone. The issue of Sustainability at the core is about becoming aware of what level of consciousness we are collectively operating from. And our SustainabilityCamp could be a perfect mirror for us to reflect upon as a community.
So, please join us with a sense of responsibility to keep the spirit of un-conferencing intact. We already have enough conferences out there.
Let’s UNCONFERENCE!
What should you expect at SustainaibilityCamp?
If you haven’t yet registered for the event, please do so here.
Where is SustainabilityCamp?
Conference Center, Dubai Knowledge Village.
When is SustainabilityCamp?
26th February 2011, 9.30am – 6.30pm
Note:
Please read about all the sessions below and come well prepared to voice your opinion and ideas to impact them.
For the art installation, please bring extra* plastic bags from your home/ office/ car, etc. *Please DO NOT buy more
Room A Schedule
Time
Title
Initiator
9.29am
Introduction + Visualizations
(Summary of the journey so far and the visualizations from participant survey on Sustainability.)
SCamp Team
9.59am
Social Presencing Theater
(We will collectively create a Social Theater, bringing more visibility, clarity and shared vision to group with regards to Sustainability and its complex co-relation between social, economic and environmental factors.)
Kamyar + Team
12.01pm
Lunch
12.29pm
How can we mobilize 11 million towards sustainable goals by 11/11/11?
(Following on from the previous workshop that build consensus on a shared vision. This discussion can discuss ways and means to scale this understanding to 11 million people in 9-10 months. Action points and next steps will be brainstormed as a group.)
Green Sheikh
1.14pm
How can we shape a sustainable Artscape in UAE?
(This session will explore the current artscape of the UAE at both an international and grassroots level tackling the questions ‘How do we create a sustainable local arts scene in a city with a transient population?’, ‘What do we need to establish a sustainable incubator for creatives?’ and ‘How do we begin to tackle the task of developing new audiences when Dubai’s residents have other priorities?’)
Rachael Brown
1.59pm
What forms of education/ learning can lead us to more sustainable way of living?
(If we want the future of our community and the whole humanity on earth to be more sustainable, what forms of learning do we need to create and cultivate in our community? This session will be about accessing our collective intelligence to bring to surface some possibilities around the education for a sustainable future.)
Kamyar
2.44pm
Is your Body ready?
(This session will discuss health issues in the UAE explore the possibility of discovering new, shiny, gloriously radical methods to address many of them.)
Abdulla Al Suwaidi
Room B Schedule
Time
Title
Initiator
1.59pm
Is the youth culture a myth?
(The youth in the U.A.E live amongst over 35 cultures. There is massive cultural diversity which is quite an amazing experience. How can the youth leverage most of this glorious trait?)
Ritesh
2.44pm
Are all of us truly more powerful than each of us?
(Ever wondered why theater laughs are infectious? Or why football fan parties turn into riots? Ever done something crazy only to question yourself why? The Group is our unspoken master; and Rami would like to share a few stories on how The Group can set us free towards achieving our collective sustainability goals.)
Rami Kayyali
Room A Schedule
Time
Title
Initiator
3.29pm
Where along the spectrum of practice is sustainability situated in the region?
(This session with cover Mahmoud’s experiences and invite others to share theirs in order to frame a discussion around the following questions:
- where is sustainability situated in the context of the culture of Gulf cities?
- where is sustainability situated in the social context of the region?
- where is sustainability situated in the educational context of the region?)
Mahmoud Abu Wardeh
4.14pm
What next…?
(After a day of exercises and discussions, let’s ask ourselves, “What next?”
This session will create a pledge and commitment to create ongoing action from all stakeholders.)
Petar Vujosevic
4.59pm
Create an art Installation*
(Art installation (banner) with plastic bags that participants bring along to build a collective symbol of commitment and highlight the scale of the problem. *Please bring along your extra plastic bags on the day.)
Rachael Brown
6.00pm
Stand up comedy show + Wrap up
(Laugh at ourselves and our unsustainable ways of living.)
TBC by comedian.
Thanks again to all participants for creating the content of this event and keeping it as diverse as intended. It is still not late to invite your friends and peers who may not have heard of SustainabilityCamp. So, please pass along this link to them.
Everybody is a stakeholder in making UAE sustainable.