An Honest Conversation: Stories From LGBTQ Latino Youth

Powerful stuff.

An Honest Conversation.

Link Loving 08.12.11

• What do you do when an entire system fails? David Allen Green.
• Newt Gingrich encounters a different kind of Tea Party. Laurie Penny.
• Turns out every model on H&M’s website is totally computer generated. Jenna Sauers.
• The state of India – an advocacy masterclass from Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze. Duncan Green.
• IMF Chief Economist Ken Rogofft: Is modern capitalism sustainable? Alex Evans.
• MIT’s new Director for their Center for Civic Media, Ethan Zuckerman, on digital activism.
• Mapping the French political blogosphere. Antonella Napolitano.
• The fanatics of the center. Paul Starr.

5 Things That Surprised Me About Powerful People

Over the past couple of days I’ve met some very senior people within the world of finance, government and business through the World Economic Forum ‘Global Shapers’ programme. I was struck that those with significant resources, access and power often have little idea of what to do – eurozone crisis, climate change, destructive economic systems all seem to be beyond their control. In fact,

• They don’t have the answers – there is a collective loss of confidence about how the world works. Very, very few have the courage to admit this lack of understanding + their own fear. Some very rare leaders are able to set goals (that override, or work within the growth framework) which steer their organisational ship in the right direction, with the hope that time+need will find solutions.

• Some are asking the right questions – most are not. Some are desperately ‘looking for new models’ and wanting ‘innovators to scale up’, without really knowing how or what they’re looking for. Others ask absurd questions like ‘but what is the Occupy movement FOR?’ and are defensive about any criticism directed at them.
  

• Social norms are often from the 1950’s – overwhelming gender imbalance and some very blokey culture, heterocentrism, tiny number of people of colour. No understanding of who-you-are-influences-how-you’re-heard. Often complete unwillingness to see this as a problem.

• Transformations are possible, but badly executed – encounters with reality, especially experiential ones, can radically shift attitudes and behaviour. Often though, after this experience, solutions are still taken from the old system – ‘set up a school in Africa’ etc.

• Little willingness to see systemic nature of problem – lots of de rigour systems language, but very few willing to use words like ‘capitalism’.

I realised that my own assumptions about the world still included the thought that these powerful people have a clear idea what they’re doing. Turns out, that ain’t so.

Chip And Bean By Nothing

This is beyond adorable. h/t Shilpa Shah.

Link Loving 07.12.11

• Wall Street is already occupied – from within. Jesse Eisinger.
• Why Iceland should be in the news – but isn’t. An amazing story. Deena Stryker.
• England riots: suspects mapped and poverty mapped. Simon Rogers.
• French government bans vegetarianism at school. Tara Garnett.
• BP accuses Halliburton over Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The Guardian.
• A just transition or just a transition? Hanna Thomas.
• Fancy hearing from your MP?
• ‘Occupy Our Homes’ protesters highlight foreclosures nationwide. Arthur Delaney.

The Power Of The Pentatonic Scale

Bobby McFerrin is a genius. Talking about expectation…

Link Loving 06.12.11

• How Republicans are being taught to talk about Occupy Wall Street – check out these soundbites you’ll be hearing. Chris Moody.
• Design your own success – long but wonderful talk . Sharon Ann Lee.
• A very grim way to spend three minutes – an interactive map of every road death in the UK.
• Britain’s failed experiment, repeated. New York Times.
• Carbon dioxide emissions increased last year by the largest amount in absolute terms since the Industrial Revolution. Justin Gillis.
• Lobbyists caught on camera. It’s not pretty. The Independent.
• Rape: a basic tool of militarism. Rebecca Johnson.
• Beware the dream politician. Emma Burnell.

The High Price Of Materialism

Great video from the Center for the New American Dream.

Link Loving 05.12.11

• The UK Youth Climate Coalition brings us up to speed on the climate negotiations in Durban using hand puppets.
• Why is British public life dominated by men? Kira Cochrane.
• This made me cry.
• Amazing Commencement Speech at Kenyon University by David Foster Wallace. Part 1 and 2.
• Utah Phillips on non-violence. What a man.
• Who’s holding us back? Great Greenpeace report looking at carbon-intensive industry is blocking climate action.
• Wildly hilarious – Youtube’s Pronunciation Guide.
• How academics have been “seduced” into using business-speak to defend higher education. Jack Grove.

Campaigning With Common Cause – Social

Come to the Campaigning With Common Cause Social on Wednesday 14th December at 6.30pm.

• Are you a campaigner?
• Want to explore what values and frames mean for your campaigning?
• Want to meet others asking the same questions?

This is an informal session for campaigners interested in working with values to share their questions, build community, and learn about organisations going through transition to become more aligned with their own values.

There’ll be some light facilitation to help everyone start meaningful conversation, though the emphasis is really on getting to know each other and share our learning.

Looking forward to seeing you!

When: 6.30pm on Wednesday 14th December.

Where: Bank of Ideas, just behind Liverpool Street Station.