VISIONS AND VALUES
"Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful" - Paulo Freire
OVERVIEW?
All radical politics is about values.
This Site reflects the constant
evolution of ideas around Devolve! from its modest beginnings as a
Midlands regional movement, through to a much broader concept of devolution
(the four tenets), on to a recognition of human groups as dynamic 'beings'
in which individuals play complementary roles (organic democracy), forward
to an understanding that empowered Civil Society (networks of all social groups)
could be stronger, more rewarding, less destructive of the environment, than
either the State or the Market.
[N.B. Entries on many Pages reflect different stages of our
evolving ideas.]
Throughout this development we had assumed a titanic yet ongoing struggle between positive/co-operative and negative/antagonistic values within the flow of history.
The Futures Project (below) attempts to come to terms with a growing understanding (shared by others) that a human dominated ecosystem may hit the buffers this century.
In addition to the concerns of many others: "Can 'we' turn it round?"; "How many humans will be left?"; "What will be their quality of life?"; "What prospects for other life forms?" ...we have two further questions in mind: "How can human-scaled structures (peoples, tribes, bonded groups) best survive?" and "Which values (memes) will come through to inherit the post-transition World?".
Despite our claim of an 'integrated' approach we have not yet fully integrated ongoing 'timeless' values struggle (see Vision and Strategies below) with a strategic response taking in all aspects of these transitional times. Could this be where you come in? The Futures Project (below) takes the form of an invitation to participate.
Devolve! Futures Project - responding to the crunch
This Project has been launched to confront all aspects of the most urgent issues facing us in the coming decades. Predictions for this century and beyond range between the most extreme poles of pessimism and optimism. The aim of the Futures Project is to reject both these extremes in favour of a (hopefully) more realistic set of assessments and strategies.
We start from the premise that our future may best be faced within the potentials of devolved networks of co-operation, developed within Civil Society.
Due to the inevitably wide ranging nature of this project a number of 'Aspect Groups' are being encouraged to investigate particular areas of concern within the wider project. Working briefs for the first six (only) are given below:
SPECIAL NOTE. Our consensus at present is not to publish to Web the Futures Project documents. This is partly because many may find even thinking about the deeper issues facing us confusing and/or distressing ... and partly to require potential respondents to be active participants from the start, rather than consumers of information.
To request Futures Project documents use the contacts given on our Getting Involved Page.
HOWEVER, information on Futures Project events and activities will be posted to this Web Site from time to time. Find below (November 2009) information on an FP seminar.
FUTURES SEMINAR
Saturday 28th November 2009 - Leicester
10.30 am till 5.15 pm <> 12 Bartholomew St. LE2 1FA <> 0116 254 1403
(Overnight accommodation is available for Friday and/or Saturday nights)
PROGRAMME
10.30 Start, welcome, introductions.
10.35 Open discussion on how each participant sees the future now heading towards us (option of different time scales). [Loosely structured in order that people can join in as they arrive.]
11.30 Brief reports from each of the nine Aspect Groups (if represented or sending in written information). (a) Has the group met or exchanged ideas? (b) Have any tasks or projects been started? (c) Views of Convenor(s) on direction of future work. Record where no activity so far for any Aspect Group. Note new expressions of interest received.
12.00 Edmund Davey, Optimum Population Trust, gives special (Power Point) presentation on the Population issue, followed by questions and discussion.
12.50 Buffet Lunch and informal exchanges.
1.40 "Geography, Land and Food" - discussion led by Professor Martin Jones.
2.25 "Tools for Sharing and Co-operation: Legal wrappers, Money and Credit"
- discussion led by Chris Cook, a pioneer of alternative economics.
3.05 Tea Break
3.15 "Building Resilience into Transition: including reference to essential small enterprise" - discussion led by Malcolm Currie of Globally Local.
3.50 "Strengthening Solidarity: Social and Cultural Bonding" - discussion led by the English Culture Working Group of Devolve!
4.15 "Traditional Values and New Moralities" - discussion led by Woody.
4.35 "Looking Forward to the Visions of Mercia Conference" [March 20th] - discussion led by members of the Witan.
4.55 "Getting Practical: how we share and exchange our work" - discussion led by the FP Communications and Resources Group.
5.15 Close. (Informal exchanges continue for those staying on.)
Notes. Some important topics such as "Social Types, Patterns of Social Interaction" and "How the Neo-Liberal (market dominance) and Jacobin (state managerial) establishments will react to turbulence" are presently omitted as distinct headings due to time, though they will likely come up in other discussions - and certainly in our ongoing work.
Ongoing Values Struggle - "power to the people"
We believe that there are four dimensions to meaningful devolution: territorial, democratic, cultural and economic devolution.
As a result of recent thinking in the various working groups and other projects around Devolve! - from very local democracy to space geography, from tools for new collaborative economics to the pluralist politics of confederations, from a recognition of human types to a new emphasis on civil society - a more inclusive vision and strategy is being developed.
THE VISION
° All those in a geographic area, regardless of their interests/values. e.g. a residents association.
°° Based
on shared values or interests. e.g. a craft association. Sometimes no specific
location.
THE EIGHT STRATEGIES
Other Pages in this Site develop and explore these themes.
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