Group items tagged

I found this webpage interesting because of the different spins and explanations on the dialogue process. Indeed, it is very well grounded process that enables an interactions that acknowledges all individuals as equals, and with unique and valueble perspectives. I really appreciated David Bohm's conditions for dialogue: "[p]articipants must suspend their assumptions, [...] [p]articipants must view each other as colleagues or peers and [...] [i]n the early stages there needs to be a facilitator who 'holds the context' of dialogue." Cultivating conversation serves as a conduit for encouraging a critical perspective about society.

a nice overview from a personal perspective about the power of story in a changing world.

Presents a critique of prenatal testing for disability from a disability-rights perspective.

2 excerpts from the book presenting two different mothers' perspectives on selective abortion, one from a woman who chose to continue her pregnancy, another from a woman who chose to end hers.

''Clumsy Solutions for a Complex World'' is a powerful and original statement on why well-intended attempts to alleviate pressing social ills too often derail, and how effective, efficient and broadly acceptable solutions to social problems can be found. It takes its cue from the idea that our endlessly changing and complex social worlds consist of ceaseless interactions between four ways of organizing, justifying and perceiving social relations. Each time one of these perspectives is excluded from collective decision-making, governance failure inevitably results. Successful solutions are therefore creative combinations of four opposing ways of organizing and thinking.

Rhoda, when I click on the link it goes to a login for Swarthmore. I'm thinking this article by the same authors may cover similar ground -- http://psychologyforasafeclimate.org/resources/Clumsy%20solutions%20for%20a%20complex%20world%20The%20case%20of%20climate%20change.pdf

Sorry about the link problem, Felicia. I'll see if I can fix it. Thanks for finding one that works!

The goal of the GMO Education Network is to present factual and objective information about genetically engineered crop species. The site strives to be accessible to readers who are unfamiliar with the subject of plant biology while at the same time providing the detailed information necessary for people to synthesize independent and informed opinions about GMOs. It also seeks to promote constructive debate and discourse on the forum page to engage those on both sides of the GMO issue to articulate their positions in a factual and scientific manner. This wiki depends upon the community at large for it to be developed and updated. If you have an interest in contributing please visit the join page. If there is a topic which you would like to see covered that is not, please consider stubbing an article or posting on the forum.

Rhoda, I posted a resource above that talks about GMO regulation as anti-science activism. It is coming from a pro-business perspective. I wonder what forums would bring these opposing sides into "conversation" or "dialogue" with one another. Is there a meeting ground? Should there be?

Mary Douglas's cultural theory proposes that there "a limited set of alternative ways of perceiving and resolving the issues. These contending policy perspectives justify, represent and stem from four different ways of organizing social relations: hierarchy, individualism, egalitarianism and fatalism" (or variants of these names depending on the author). Here cultural theory is applied to climate change science and policies.

From Laura T. Thought you might like to listen to the participants in this short 9 min. clip with an ear to discerning threads of the 'four policy perspectives' (heirarchy, individualism, egalitarianism, fatalism) in "Clumsy Solutions" article posted on Diigo. Climate Change : Panel discussion for Editorial Intelligence, London, UK, December 1, 2009. Includes author of "Saving Kyoto," Graciela Chichilnisky, Ph.D. tenured prof. at Columbia in Economics and Mathematical Statistics & Top Ten Most Influential Latinos in America. She created Columbia's Consortium on Risk Management that was funded by six mj. global reinsurance co.'s --- a group which developed new financial instruments called 'catastrophe bundles.' (approx. 9 min.)