proposal for global citizenship fund (to organise a conference for exploring alternatives to...
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Proposal to organise a conference for exploring
alternatives to International Legal Order and
the Negotiation ProcessAn experiential learning program to train future leaders and ambassadors wishing committed to global
citizenships, and to discover a process for co-creating an alternative world order
Executive summary
A group of about 10-15 students will be recruited from HKU will organise an
international conference (July 7th-11th), based at the University of Hong Kong, which
will be targeted at university students from Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China
(about 100) who wish to develop the capacity for building international relations and
reaching consensus on global policies.
The program consists of a simulation of United Nation climate negotiations
(UNFCCC) so participants can directly experiences the structure of International law
and the framework of negotiation, and the assumptions of the current world systems.
The second part (“Emergent Global Consciousness”) consists of an alternative and
emergent form of “negotiation” based on “Bohm Dialogue” where participants will
critically reflect on their experience as negotiators and to examines the structure of
thoughts, the deeper assumptions and beliefs underlying the negotiation process. The
third part (“living lab”) will be an application of the skills and try to develop a
concrete action plan for developing a cross-broader project (i.e. a global alternative
tourism network.)
This conference is inspired by MIT Slogan School of Management, Peter Senge
and his idea of collective leaderships through individuals developing the discipline
of systems thinking. He is in turn, inspired by a famous quantum physicist called
David Bohm, who was frustrated with the UN negotiation framework, but
discovered, much of the fragmentations in the world today may be a result of the
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fragmentation within mind (that is, if one looks at the content of the thought, it is
inherently collective, like language, yet, the mind denies this, as it represents reality
to us). Therefore, while much of the humanitarian and environmental efforts have
directed at change people’s mind, presuming that we are fundamentally separated
from one another; this conference would invite participants to explore and develop
the capacities outside the field outside of the mind (i.e. emotional/body intelligence)
by which conflict and problems will be allowed to “dissolve,” while differences (in
cultural, religious, political ideologies) will be embraced as a side-product of
constantly feeling of and living in the interconnectedness and seamless unity of our
realities.
Objectives
Train future ambassadors who has:
1- Professional language and skill of current international negotiation framework
2- Ability to critically reflect and challenge the current world order and
institutions
3- Developed systems-thinking disciplines and skills committed to bring about
the necessary green revolution.
Learning outcome
Developed capacity suspend one’s own point of view and to manage difference
Developed capacity (of consciousness) to transcend cultural and ideological
differences (field of mind).
Ability to live and create workplaces full of self-expressions and reflective of the
interconnectedness of the realities.
Ability to use systems thinking skills (generate creative tension within one’s
body) to make positive changes at institutional levels (i.e. paradigm shift).
Why this conference? Why Systems Thinking
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Much of the current institutions are based on a growth model (assuming infinite
growth in a finite environment) which is unsustainable in itself, much of the
humanitarian and environmental efforts have unconsciously self-identified with
this model, and thus, producing outcomes which may in the long term amplify
the conditions of the initial problem despite the success of the project. The
tension felt by the young change makers of the inconsistency of the process may
sometimes lead them to give up their dream completely.
One of the implications of the growth model is that human beings are treating
themselves and the environment as an object, which can be controlled, managed,
regulated, manipulated, and the denial of this process. Thus, climate change,
environmental and social degradation can be seem as symptoms of this process,
treating nature, other human beings and our bodies as separated from ourselves.
The necessary implication of accepting human factors in causing climate change
is that the collective human being is acting on the planet at a scale equivalent to
or greater than the geological force of the planet; and which may irrevocably
alter the quality of the system beyond the point of systematic resilience (“tipping
point”).
Thus, the discipline of systems thinking (the capacity to look at the whole rather
than the parts) and be aware of our interconnections with other systems and for
the human beings to become self-aware of themselves a system or collective
becomes a capacity which may give evolutional advantages.
Tentative Conference Schedule
Day 1
- Research on the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, set negotiation
targets and develop bottom-line documents based on nation-state interests
Day 2
- Officially start the simulation of the negotiation
Day 3
- Systems thinking basic tool-kits and Bohm Dialogue
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Day 4
- Develop a global alternative tourism action plan
Day 5
- Reflection & Visiting Local Organic Food Farms (in collaboration with 長春社)
Partners
- Law Student Societies in Hong Kong/Macau/China Universities
- Faculty of Law of HKU (Assistant Professor Shahla Ali, Katherine Lynch,
Jolene Lin)
- MIT Slogan School of Management (Professor Peter Senge)
- Society of Learning (China) (a systemsthinking based management consultant
NGO Founded by Peter Senge)
- China Youth Climate Action Network (CYCAN), youth NGO based in
Beijing
- Guang Dong Civil Environmental Groups and Networks ( 田倩, 中科院华南植物园, 广州气候变化小组)
- 長春 社 (Sandy Yip, AYCS’08 Chief coordinator; HKU graduate)
- AIESEC HK & China (Chantal Leung)
- Climate Chance/ Greenwoods/ Environmental Life Science Association at
HKU
- 2041 Alumni Group (Inspire Antarctica Expedition -2041)
- CGIU Clinton Global Initiative Foundation and University Foundation
- Civic Exchange (HK NGO; Christine Loh)
Organization Schedule
Date Events
Nov 2010 Recruitment of Organising Committee (from all
Universities in Hong Kong)
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Dec 2010
Bei Jing Fieldtrip for OCs & Open Space Workshops
Visit Society of Learning (SOL China) & Chinese
Youth Action Network
January 2011Conference Schedule/Website Finalised
Recruitment of Participants
March 2011 Facilitator (for Bohm Dialogue) Recruitment &
Training
April 2011 Logistics Finalised
July 2011Conference July 7th-11th
Aug 2011 Evaluation
Budget Plan
1- Publication: Website; Pamphlets; Posters) $5000
2- Fieldtrip to Beijing $1000 X 10 = $10,000
3- Conference Transportation, Accommodation at student halls, Camping
Night$10,000
4- Self-cooked Organic Food for all organising committee meeting and
conference participants $5,000
5- Guest Speaker travelling expenses (Peter Senge) $10,000
6- Other logistics $10,000
In total: $50,000
Output/ Method of Evaluation
1- A short film and a collective of videos documents the entire process
2- A concrete action plan for realizing a cross-broader based project (Alternative
tourism/eco-tourism network)
3- A website which serves as an alumni network portal
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Appendix Initiators Profile
Trainer Profile
What is the Discipline of Systems Thinking
Bohm Dialogue
Initiators Profile
The initiators will be two co-coordinators of Climate Chance Network for
Change, a student NGO based in Hong Kong/Macau: Serena Wei Wei Gao and Ryan
Kilpatrick with about 138 active membership and 632fans. They are both interning
with Society of Learning (SOL China).
Serena Wei Wei Gao
LLB IV (Bachelor of Law), HKU
Since she attended the United Nation Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC
COP13), Bali 2007 as green advocates, her life became more than that of a law
student at the University of Hong Kong, but a part of the world’s transition towards a
reality more conscious of itself and its relationship with the planet.
She co-founded the Hong Kong Climate Change Coalition (HKCCC), which was
later renamed as Climate Chance, when they established a network branch in Macau,
and when there was a collective determination to make social changes based on a
possibilities and love (rather than through guilt manipulation and risk aversion or
fear).
Together with her fellow teammates, she co-organized the Asian Youth Climate
Summit (AYCS),an international conference which gathered more than 200 youth,
which took place in July, 2008 at the University of Hong Kong. She also represented
Hong Kong and selected a team to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University
(CGI U) in Texas, US. She then became part of the 60 students selected to atend the
BP 2041 Antarctica Expedition, and the UNFCCC Inter-session and Asian Youth
Climate Workshop in Bangkok in 2009.
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She is also one of the co-ordinator of the 350 International Day of Climate
Action Day on October 24th, 2009 coinciding with 181 countries and 5200 events
around the globe calling for a sustainable world.
She has also been having an internship with Society for Organizational
Learning(China), an NGO founded by Peter Senge which does management
consultant with NGO, businesses and governments using systems-thinking
methodologies.
She is committed to create workplaces full of self-expressions and the possibility
of human beings collectively realize the reality which loves and compassionate, where
our underlying interconnectedness is a working presumption.
Successful Cases & Experiences
- AIESEC HKU Climate Change Conference 2010 (April 24th)
o With about 20 AIESECers as participants, I helped designed and
facilitated the conference, which follows a similar structure for the
design of this conference (simulation of Copenhagen UN Climate
Conference and Bohm Dialogue).
o Reference: Chantel Leung; Outgoing Exchange Manager; AIESEC-
LC-HKU HKUSU (chantelleung@aiesechku.org)
- Living Lab with Lee Shao Kee Hall 2010 (October)
o The tutor and the warden of the student hall asked to me to organize
this program, which will be piloted for a month in October. More
information, please see this poster.
o Reference: Cheung Tang, Founder of Eco-bus HK, initiator of ELLO
(Environmental Leader Learning Opportunities”) program
(info@ecobus.org.hk)
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- Asian Youth Climate Summit (AYCS) 2008 (July)
o I was one of the 15 organisers of this International Conference at the
University of Hong Kong with over 200 participants from over 22
countries. Sponsored by Heng Sheng Bank ($200,000). My tasks
involved designing organization structures, programme, theme,
objective; inviting leaders and professional experts in the field of
climate change and youth advocacy for the panel sessions; making
publications, graphic design (for poster and website). Recruitment of
organising committee members and participants.
o Reference: Chong Chan-yao , Ex-Director of CEDARS, HKU 2009
(chanyau@hku.hk)
- 350 International Day of Climate Action Day – HK Rally (2009)
o I co-organized a rally across HK which synergized the passions of
university, high school students and members of wider HK
communities.
o Reference: Jessica Yuan, Co-organiser, Coordinator of Climate
Chance, Mphil Candidate of HKU.
Ryan Kilpatrick,
BA II ( Bachelor of Arts) HKU
ryank@thenetworkforchange.org
Leadership Experience:
Served on Executive Committee of Sierra Youth Coalition; founding member of
Ottawa-Outaouais Students Against the War; spoke at national conference of New
Democratic Party on behalf of SYC; helped draft youth statement at UNFCCC
negotiations in Montreal; represented UK at UNEP youth conference in Cologne;
selected to intern as Communications Co-ordinator by Green Street Ontario; oversaw
various aspects of Youth Action Gatherings in Ottawa, such as designing promotional
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material and soliciting donations from local businesses; conducted media workshops,
wrote articles and produced televised news programmes at IFM/SEI Global Village
gathering in England.
Personal Vision
I believe that climate change presents us with the opportunity to create a better
world. In seeking solutions, we should encourage people to be creative and imagine a
world where the root causes of climate change are addressed. Although immediate
government action is critical at this stage to avert the worst of climate change and
assist those whose communities are being destroyed, change must ultimately come
from belong. We must change how we live and how we organise our societies. A
holistic approach, propelled by grass-roots action, is required.
Trainer/Partner Profile
Serena has been trained by Roger Burton and Peter Senge. Roger Burton is the
program director and the facilitator of the BP 2041 Antarctica Expedition which
Serena participated. The miraculous result of his work can be witnessed by the fact of
how he inspired the birth of the Renewable Energy division within an oil company
(BP) and played a large role in facilitating personal transformation of Serena.
Roger Burton
Mr. Burton is currently an independent and collaborative change agent and
management consultant. He is now collaborating with a wide variety of change
practitioners and clients with an emerging focus in the questions of change. Mr.
Burton is particularly focused on the underlying structures of change and its cross-
cultural applications. His practice includes not only the development of leadership to
face the challenges of today's world, but also the development of change agents and
communities of practice.
Mr. Burton has worked with a wide variety of business in about 40 countries to
date. He has been consulting professionally in some capacity for 20 years. His work
coaching senior executives up to the CEO level and their teams, consultant and coach
development, and conference design and implementation. Clients include: BP, BMW,
Cinergy, Astra-Zeneca, GSK, GE, Fletcher-Challenge, Mead, St-Gobain, Georgia-
Pacific, and the US Internal Revenue Service to name a few. (His full profile can be assessed at Mobius Executive Leadership website.)
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Peter Senge
Peter Senge is an American scientist and a management guru. He is the director
of the Center for Organizational Learning at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
He is known as author of the book The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the
learning organization from 1990 (new edition of 2007).
In Antarctica, Serena participated in his various MUN simulation workshops and has
been interning at his organisation Society for Organizational Learning (SoL) at the
office of Beijing.
What is the Discipline of Systems Thinking
Systems Thinking is a scientific methodology for understanding and managing
complexity. It intends to explore alternative ways to problem solving which
presumes linear causality, as Albet Einstein’s words that “we cannot solve
problems with the same mindset that created them.”
-
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The discipline of systems thinking involves individuals developing the ability to
Be aware of the affects of mental models, which are deeply embedded
beliefs (or the structure of thoughts) which affects our perception of the
world.
Generate creative and sustainable sources of energy for their actions by
paying attention to one’s vision/aspiration and feeling the current
conditions of problem. (Kind of like emotional/body intelligence)
Another way to understand systems thinking is that it is more like non-western or
Chinese mindset where the energy is focusing on creating context (i.e. relationship)
rather than the specific forms which consequently emerges from it (i.e. identity), it
focuses on developing emotional/body intelligence (or wisdom) in parallel with
intellectual capabilities.
Bohm Dialogue
The key format of discussion for the 3 hours meeting each week will be a
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dialogue process based on the ideas of David Bohm. This is the key process whereby
the discipline of systems thinking can be mastered.
David Bohm
David Bohm was a notable Quantum Physicist (1917-1992) who was particularly
known for his book Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Within it he draws upon his
knowledge and discoveries within the field of quantum mechanics to postulate a
worldview characterized by “undivided wholeness in flowing movement.” The root of
ecological, social and all forms of violence, he argues, is that we have forgotten this
underlying holistic ontology in favour of an atomistic cultural/thinking pattern, which
has resulted in systemic fragmentation of human activity. He noted that many well
meaning efforts to heal this fragmentation such as the ecumenical movement and the
United Nations have not been fundamentally successful. Such negotiations, at best,
may result in some agreement or compromise but they are seldom truly creative.
Why? Bohm asserted that reason for this failure is to be found within the nature of
thought itself. Not only are the products of thought characterized by fragmentation but
so is thought itself. We must realize that thought does not innocently represent the
world as it is, but rather that it occurs in and through a multitudinous web of
prejudices/assumptions/opinions that deeply bound within culture and language.
Transcending the fragmentation brought about through thought was Bohm’s
fundamental preoccupation and resulted, after years of group seminar experimentation
in the dialogue process, which is concerned not only with examining not only the
products of thought (ideas), but with the process of thought itself. A good friend of
Einstein and also of the spiritual educator Jidhu Krishnamurti, Bohm’s interests
spanned the scientific to the spiritual and reflected his questioning of the
fragmentation that he perceived to be the hallmark and challenge of our times.
What does Bohm Dialogue look like?
1- Participants sit in a circle
2- Participants observe their thinking process “Listen to how you listen”
a. whether they start attacking/defening and thus self-identifying with any
views
b. whether the group as a whole has a larger patterns of reactivity,
alliance formation, topic avoidance,
3- Facilitator interrupts and overthrows any attempt to impose a plan or structure
onto the others, to help the participants become more aware (and eventually
work herself/himself out of the job).
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