[Springboard] Springboard Digest, Vol 3, Issue 7
jeanwatts at cox.net
jeanwatts at cox.net
Wed Nov 7 10:08:31 EST 2007
Wish I could be at Junaluska for the discussion on contradictions. Here is my 2 cents:
The Arlington Institute lists Economic Collaspe, Peak Oil, Global Water Crisis, Species Extinction, and Rapid Climate Change as the major global problems. Of course my husband says that the first four are really just the result of Global Climate Change. More details can be found at
http://www.arlingtoninstitute.org/wbp/portal/home# but below is an overview:
The World’s Biggest Problems portal has a simple, clear mission: educating people all around the world about the biggest problems facing humanity. These problems have two criteria, they must be global in scope, and have the potential to rapidly escalate into severe crises.
Economic Collapse : Fragilities in the current global economy could tip the developed world into conditions not seen since the 1920s.
Peak Oil : Petroleum has powered the modern world for almost 100 years; today, many industry insiders say the we may be reaching a permanent peak in oil production.
Global Water Crisis : Over the last 50 years the human population has nearly tripled, while industrial pollution, unsustainable agriculture, and poor civic planning have decreased the overall water supply.
Species Extinction : Certain species that human beings depend upon for our food supply are going extinct; if their numbers fall too low we may face extinction ourselves.
Rapid Climate Change : While the debate rages on about the causes of climate change, global warming is an empirical fact. The problem is both a curse and blessing, in that people from different cultures will either have to work together or face mutual destruction.
Personally, I believe that each of the major value systems have different "contradictions" that must to be addressed. For instance, "education" is the major contradiction, within only one value system. These major value systems will respond differently to any of the above identified problems. Thus I think it would be wise for us to approach the contradtions through all these value systems rather than from just within our own.
But from a practical perspective, since human beings tend to surround themselves with those within the same value systems, we as the Order Ecumenical will concretely only work within our value system. So, it might be wise to align ourselves with the "sensitive and responsive" within each major value system to develop a really "whole systems" or global implementation approach.
Jean
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. 21st Century Contradicitons (Jack Gilles)
> 2. Re: 21st Century Contradicitons (foxy-rox at juno.com)
> 3. Re: 21st Century Contradicitons (Jack Gilles)
> 4. Junaluska & Skype (Jack Gilles)
> 5. Re: 21st Century Contradicitons (R Williams)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 01:53:59 +0530
> From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
> Subject: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
> To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> Message-ID: <A70FF36D-5068-46F4-BF70-87D9DF4E5623 at igc.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Dear All,
>
> I have followed the dialogue on the OE list serve regarding the
> updating of the HRN call for social pioneers in the three areas he
> felt at that time where critical for the sensitive and responsive
> ones to respond to. Since we are referring to the Guild as that
> part of society that is sensitive and responsive to bringing forth a
> new earth/new society/new humanness I think it is important that we
> discern what the critical areas of contradiction are for our time. I
> have been working on this for a couple of weeks and have developed
> what for me are the contradictions that the Guilds (and the Order)
> need to be addressing. I won't share them just yet, but would invite
> everyone to think what would be your list. Next week sometime I'll
> share my list and rationale.
>
> There are many, many areas of concern and issues facing the world
> today. So to try and discern the critical ones I applied the
> following test. I asked "What societal contradictions, if not
> addressed in the next 10-15 years will put the global society into a
> tipping point of danger?" That is, although there are many issues
> facing India today, I discovered a set that seemed to apply here as
> well as in the developed world. Common contradictions that are
> affecting us all and will "sink the ship" if we don't mobilize the
> sensitive and responsive to creatively respond. I found brooding on
> the imbalances of the Social Process as well as the Pressure Points
> we discerned 30+ years ago to be helpful in my discernment for today.
>
> Maybe by the time of the Junaluska event we will begin to see a
> consensus of what these are and then we could perhaps do some writing
> on them at the gathering as well as use them as a screen for what we
> might be doing with the Guilds.
>
> I look forward to hearing what you feel the Order needs to address.
>
> G&P,
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 22:37:00 GMT
> From: "foxy-rox at juno.com" <foxy-rox at juno.com>
> Subject: Re: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
> To: springboard at wedgeblade.net
> Message-ID: <20071106.143700.7671.1 at webmail16.vgs.untd.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Jack -- My three societal contradictions, right off the top of my head, are: 1) stabilizing and restoring the global environment, 2) "holy" wars needing a new approach to dialog and diplomatic conflict resolution, and 3) global poverty and hunger with education as the key.
> Peace, Roxana
>
>
> From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
> Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 01:53:59 +0530
> To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> Subject: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
>
> Dear All,
>
> I have followed the dialogue on the OE list serve regarding the
> updating of the HRN call for social pioneers in the three areas he
> felt at that time where critical for the sensitive and responsive
> ones to respond to. Since we are referring to the Guild as that
> part of society that is sensitive and responsive to bringing forth a
> new earth/new society/new humanness I think it is important that we
> discern what the critical areas of contradiction are for our time. I
> have been working on this for a couple of weeks and have developed
> what for me are the contradictions that the Guilds (and the Order)
> need to be addressing. I won't share them just yet, but would invite
> everyone to think what would be your list. Next week sometime I'll
> share my list and rationale.
>
> There are many, many areas of concern and issues facing the world
> today. So to try and discern the critical ones I applied the
> following test. I asked "What societal contradictions, if not
> addressed in the next 10-15 years will put the global society into a
> tipping point of danger?" That is, although there are many issues
> facing India today, I discovered a set that seemed to apply here as
> well as in the developed world. Common contradictions that are
> affecting us all and will "sink the ship" if we don't mobilize the
> sensitive and responsive to creatively respond. I found brooding on
> the imbalances of the Social Process as well as the Pressure Points
> we discerned 30+ years ago to be helpful in my discernment for today.
>
> Maybe by the time of the Junaluska event we will begin to see a
> consensus of what these are and then we could perhaps do some writing
> on them at the gathering as well as use them as a screen for what we
> might be doing with the Guilds.
>
> I look forward to hearing what you feel the Order needs to address.
>
> G&P,
>
> Jack
>
> _______________________________________________
> Springboard mailing list
> Springboard at wedgeblade.net
> http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/springboard_wedgeblade.net
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 13:33:08 +0530
> From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
> Subject: Re: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
> To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> Message-ID: <0A056150-0219-43A6-B012-B00F58F9063E at igc.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Roxana,
>
> Thanks for your quick response. Just to remind people that you can
> have more than three. John Cock thought maybe 5-7. I actually came
> up with nine.
>
> peace,
>
> Jack
> On Nov 6, 2007, at 10:37 PM, foxy-rox at juno.com wrote:
>
> > Jack -- My three societal contradictions, right off the top of my
> > head, are: 1) stabilizing and restoring the global environment, 2)
> > "holy" wars needing a new approach to dialog and diplomatic
> > conflict resolution, and 3) global poverty and hunger with
> > education as the key.
> > Peace, Roxana
> >
> >
> > From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
> > Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 01:53:59 +0530
> > To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> > Subject: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
> >
> > Dear All,
> >
> > I have followed the dialogue on the OE list serve regarding the
> > updating of the HRN call for social pioneers in the three areas he
> > felt at that time where critical for the sensitive and responsive
> > ones to respond to. Since we are referring to the Guild as that
> > part of society that is sensitive and responsive to bringing forth a
> > new earth/new society/new humanness I think it is important that we
> > discern what the critical areas of contradiction are for our time. I
> > have been working on this for a couple of weeks and have developed
> > what for me are the contradictions that the Guilds (and the Order)
> > need to be addressing. I won't share them just yet, but would invite
> > everyone to think what would be your list. Next week sometime I'll
> > share my list and rationale.
> >
> > There are many, many areas of concern and issues facing the world
> > today. So to try and discern the critical ones I applied the
> > following test. I asked "What societal contradictions, if not
> > addressed in the next 10-15 years will put the global society into a
> > tipping point of danger?" That is, although there are many issues
> > facing India today, I discovered a set that seemed to apply here as
> > well as in the developed world. Common contradictions that are
> > affecting us all and will "sink the ship" if we don't mobilize the
> > sensitive and responsive to creatively respond. I found brooding on
> > the imbalances of the Social Process as well as the Pressure Points
> > we discerned 30+ years ago to be helpful in my discernment for today.
> >
> > Maybe by the time of the Junaluska event we will begin to see a
> > consensus of what these are and then we could perhaps do some writing
> > on them at the gathering as well as use them as a screen for what we
> > might be doing with the Guilds.
> >
> > I look forward to hearing what you feel the Order needs to address.
> >
> > G&P,
> >
> > Jack
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Springboard mailing list
> > Springboard at wedgeblade.net
> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/springboard_wedgeblade.net
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Springboard mailing list
> > Springboard at wedgeblade.net
> > http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/springboard_wedgeblade.net
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 18:48:37 +0530
> From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
> Subject: [Springboard] Junaluska & Skype
> To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> Message-ID: <F8D51D52-EB27-4249-9CBB-572EB1226743 at igc.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Colleagues,
>
> We have a pretty good idea who all is coming to the Junaluska event
> but we would urge any of you still considering to come as it will be
> an important and significant gathering of the Order. What we need to
> know is how many not able to attend will be present either part time
> or full time via Skype connection. We know that there will be a
> Skype link with the Pattersons at Abbey North. The only limit I
> think is the number of computers we will have at the gathering that
> have Skype capability.
>
> Gordon, is there a limit to the broadband connection on the number we
> might have connected to Skype?
>
> Let us know what your plans are.
>
> G&P,
>
> Jack
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2007 06:15:31 -0800 (PST)
> From: R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
> To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> Message-ID: <960956.26131.qm at web59313.mail.re1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Jack,
>
> I believe there need to be two backdrops as context for a conversation about 21st century contradictions. The first is the vision which we embraced with "All the earth belongs to all the people;" all the goods (eco), all the decisions (pol) and all the gifts (cult). It seems to me any analysis of contradictions has to be over against that vision. I believe that vision has basically not changed except that it needs to be expanded to include all creation.
>
> Second, contradictions must be considered in light of the imbalance in the social process, which is still today what it was 30 years ago--the dominance of the economic, the subservience of the political (to the economic, example, Greenspan's statement that Iraq is and was always about oil), and the collapse of the cultural. Not only has the cultural collapsed, but it has been co-opted by the economic. By this I mean that the economic rather than the cultural has become the meaning-giving pole of the social process, and the political has helped by imposing reduced values.
>
> Now to Niebuhr. His three contradictions were a reflection of the social process whether he knew it or not--"racialism" (cultural), "nationalism" (political), and economic imperialism. Reflecting on this, I believe we should identify and focus on only three inclusive "master" or major contradictions, one on each pole of the social process. As others respond to your query and offer their reading of the contradictions for our time, I expect that each stated contradiction can probably fit under one or another of the SP poles, if indeed the Social Process is as inclusive as we think it is.
>
> This will be interesting because there is so much overlap and inter-connectivity. A couple of examples. Racism has been revealed to be a contributing and related cause of poverty,
> especially since Hurricane Katrina. Catholic Charities USA has written a position paper entitled "Racism and Poverty: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good." Also, I think racism has to be expanded to include a kind of "species-ism" meaning discrimination against the non-human. A second example--is religious fundamentalism a cultural or political contradiction? I think I would put it under political. Islamic extremists in the Middle East and far right evangelical Christians in the US have become political movements. Rather than trying to "transform" the political, they are trying co-opt and "become" the political.
>
> The primary contradiction under the economic continues to be what it was 30 years ago--the growing gap between those who have much and those who have little, and we must expand this to go beyond just humans. However, now the emphasis is more on natural resources, particularly water, land and air. This can be seen not only globally but also in every locale. In the developed world it is often spoken of as the disappearing middle class.
>
> So with fear and trembling, at this moment here are my three. Under the economic, Disparate Resource Distribution which has led to economic impoverishment; under the political, Elitist Political Exclusiveness which has led to political powerlessness; and under the cultural, Discredited Cultural Heritage, which has led to cultural disenfranchisement.
>
> I hope a lot of people jump in on this so you have plenty of grist at Junaluska. Thanks to Roxana for being one of the first.
>
> G&P,
> Randy
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Jack Gilles <icabombay at igc.org>
> To: Springboard Dialogue <springboard at wedgeblade.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 6, 2007 2:23:59 PM
> Subject: [Springboard] 21st Century Contradicitons
>
> Dear All,
>
> I have followed the dialogue on the OE list serve regarding the
> updating of the HRN call for social pioneers in the three areas he
> felt at that time where critical for the sensitive and responsive
> ones to respond to. Since we are referring to the Guild as that
> part of society that is sensitive and responsive to bringing forth a
> new earth/new society/new humanness I think it is important that we
> discern what the critical areas of contradiction are for our time. I
> have been working on this for a couple of weeks and have developed
> what for me are the contradictions that the Guilds (and the Order)
> need to be addressing. I won't share them just yet, but would invite
> everyone to think what would be your list. Next week sometime I'll
> share my list and rationale.
>
> There are many, many areas of concern and issues facing the world
> today. So to try and discern the critical ones I applied the
> following test. I asked "What societal contradictions, if not
> addressed in the next 10-15 years will put the global society into a
> tipping point of danger?" That is, although there are many issues
> facing India today, I discovered a set that seemed to apply here as
> well as in the developed world. Common contradictions that are
> affecting us all and will "sink the ship" if we don't mobilize the
> sensitive and responsive to creatively respond. I found brooding on
> the imbalances of the Social Process as well as the Pressure Points
> we discerned 30+ years ago to be helpful in my discernment for today.
>
> Maybe by the time of the Junaluska event we will begin to see a
> consensus of what these are and then we could perhaps do some writing
> on them at the gathering as well as use them as a screen for what we
> might be doing with the Guilds.
>
> I look forward to hearing what you feel the Order needs to address.
>
> G&P,
>
> Jack
>
> _______________________________________________
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