Re: Learnings from OS and demonstrations :) was Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:41:12 -0330

Eva, I was waiting anxiously to hear how it all went. I hope it will encourage the city do more of the same.
You mentioned that some protesters liked the meeting but wished meetings like this had been held earlier in the process. Sounds like they appreciated it too. But I think I can appreciate their concerns. You mentioned earlier that a decision had already been made to build something. I think the protesters would have liked to be included in the process before that decision was made. Do you think that would have been possible? 

Thanks for sharing,

Bui


On 26/02/2010 5:30 AM, Eva P Svensson wrote:

Hello Gail, Christine, Robyn, Lisa, Harrison and all you wonderful  people
around the globe!
How glad I am that this community exists and what a strength it is to know
that whatever time of the day some of you are always out there to help!

How did it go?
It went well - of course :) There was about 100 people - angry ones - most
of them. Demonstrations outside - very calm and silent. Then they came in
and joined the circle. The participants were angry, upset and passionate.
One woman told me to "stand still!" when I walked the circle.. :) So after a
very quick - to quick I think introduction I invited them to the circle.
When I then sat down a man came up to me and wanted to ask questions about
the proposal that the OS was about, I invited him to the circle to put up
topics on the agenda - and informed him that there were no room for
questions at that time. He was so angry and accused me to stop the
democratic process ( :) ) and he took his feet and left - but first he
shouted at me something like "stupid coffee break - this is not how coffee
breaks are"  "and you can't even speak Swedish" :) He obviously didn't like
my Swedish accent :) :)

One learning for me was that next time I think that I shall have a poster
with the four fold way in the room and emphasize a bit more on that -
because one result of the "angry tone" was that those who was pro the
proposal didn't dare to raise their questions. But thanks to the process -
they could write their own report and they did meet some butterflies so to
speak. There was also a lot of butterflies discussions during the evening.
Another question I walk around with now is if it would have been better to
have more time in the opening to try to set an energy or if the energy was
what it was and no matter how long time, the tone in the meeting would not
have changed?

In the closing circle - those who was still there concluded that it was good
that the city arranged this kind of meetings, that it had been a good
meeting but they were not sure that they was really listened to in the long
run. And that they wanted this kind of meetings earlier in the process
(while it from the city was very early in the process.. ). From the sponsors
side - the city - they felt that they have had good conversations and that
they were not attacked as they use to be in this kind of issues.

Thanks for your support!
:o)
Eva

Bästa hälsningar

  
Eva P Svensson
  
EPS Human Invest AB

Member of Beyond Performance Group

"Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
och organisationer"

  
Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA

Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
www.epshumaninvest.se
Skype: eva.p.svensson
Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
"Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: icat...@ms69.hinet.net [mailto:icat...@ms69.hinet.net]
Skickat: den 25 februari 2010 03:52
Till: e...@epshumaninvest.se
Ämne: Re: [OSLIST] SV: SV: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Good morning, Eva.  I was thinking a lot about
you and holding space from Taiwan and eager to
know the story!

Gail




   

  Robyn!
Yes they are invited in beforehand as well so I hope that they will take

     

the

   

chance and bring forward their opinions - the thing is I guess that they
don't want anything in the area and there is a political decision that

     

there

   

will be buildings etc.
I'm looking forward to tonight - I know that the organizers are a bit
nervous but I am confident that it will go well.
Hope that you are holding space together with me tonight
Thanks a lot!
:o)
Eva

Bästa hälsningar

Eva P Svensson

EPS Human Invest AB
Member of Beyond Performance Group

"Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
och organisationer"

Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
www.epshumaninvest.se
Skype: eva.p.svensson
Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
"Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates

-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] För Robyn Williams
Skickat: den 24 februari 2010 00:51
Till: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Ämne: Re: SV: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Hi Eva

As a person who is sometimes amongst (non-violent) protest/demonstration
groups 'outside', I would love to be invited inside to be part of open and
respectful conversations, to listen and learn about the motivations and
goals of those 'inside', and to contribute to improving options and
solutions.

In my experience, protesters are mostly concerned and informed citizens who
wish to be heard and participate yet are disenfranchised by the processes

     

of

   

the dominant paradigm. So keep breathing, no need to be afraid. "Swarming
crowds' and "hate groups" are an extreme and suggest long-term exclusion

     

>from a process.

   

It sounds as though the demo's organising group is known and can be
contacted beforehand. I recommend that an invitation is offered as soon as
possible.


Best wishes
Robyn Williams
Fremantle
Western Australia



-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of Eva P
Svensson
Sent: Wednesday, 24 February 2010 4:17 AM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: [OSLIST] SV: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Dear Christine!
What a lovely suggestion and I can already feel the radiant energy! I just
had a chat with Thomas and asked him to think of me tomorrow night between
5.30 pm - 8.30pm Swedish time. And if you'all out there would be with us in
thoughts and hold space for us - WOW. I know that it will help me to stay
and breath - that's for sure!!
Love and hugs!
:o)
Eva

Bästa hälsningar

Eva P Svensson

EPS Human Invest AB
Member of Beyond Performance Group

"Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag
och organisationer"

Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
www.epshumaninvest.se
Skype: eva.p.svensson
Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
"Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till
dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates


-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] För Christine Whitney
Sanchez
Skickat: den 23 februari 2010 19:49
Till: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Ämne: Re: SV: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

Dear Eva,

I'll chime in with an experience that wasn't open space but did
involve an intensely polarized situation.  A citizen task force had
been chartered by a City Council to recommend a strategy for dealing
with a large number of day laborers who congregated on the streets of
the city.  Part way through the process a hate group showed up, along
with the police.

Every week, as I prepared to facilitate, one task force member always
came early and sat directly across the circle from me.  I commented on
this one day, telling her that I felt that she was helping me to hold
the space for the highest outcome.  She smiled and said that she was
merely representing a group back at her church that sat in silence
during our meetings to help us hold the space.

If you will tell me the timeframes of your meeting, I will hold the
space with you.  Perhaps you could ask the organizers to invite their
networks to hold the space with all of you.  If our worldwide open
space community of practice would do the same, just imagine how you
and everyone at the event will feel as you invite and breathe.

Love,

Christine
Christine Whitney Sanchez
Collaborative Wisdom&  Strategy
480.759.0262
www.christinewhitneysanchez.com
www.promiseusa.com
Skype: christinewhitneysanchez
http://www.facebook.com/ChristineWhitneySanchez

On Feb 22, 2010, at 1:02 PM, Eva P Svensson wrote:


     

  Dear Lisa and Harrison,
  Why am I not surprised with your answers :) Invite and breath :)
  And I will! The theme is already set and so is the invitation and
  yes we think that some of the people "against" who are organizing
  the demonstration will come as well - and I think that is good - and
  I do hope that they respect the format and don't be "space invaders"
  - that is my biggest worry right now - that some of them will try to
  invade the freedom to everybody to bring forward what is on their
  heart and mind.
  The meeting is about a proposal from a city about how to develop and
  build/change a part of a city - and it's a "hot potato" i.e a lot of
  feelings against and some pro of course. And the open space will be
  a step in the formal procedure that they have to have - to inform
  the citizens so that they have a chance to react on the proposal.
  So - how do you handle a Space Invader? Any tips there?
  Sooo grateful for you being out there!!!

  :o)
  Eva


  Bästa hälsningar

  Eva P Svensson

  EPS Human Invest AB
  Member of Beyond Performance Group

  "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående
  företag och organisationer"

  Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALA
  Besöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, Göteborg
  Tfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50
  www.epshumaninvest.se
  Skype: eva.p.svensson
  Besök gärna min blogg; www.epshumaninvest.blogspot.com/
  "Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor
  till dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates

  -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
  Från: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] För Harrison Owen
  Skickat: den 22 februari 2010 14:58
  Till: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
  Ämne: Re: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

  If you really want to blow everybody's mind invite the demonstrators
  to join the circle. When you have conflict (which it sort of looks
  like you do) the solution is to keep opening the space until there
  is room for everybody who cares to come. Of course if the
  demonstrators don't care to come -- just want to stand on the
  outside and do whatever, that is their choice.

  Harrison

  Harrison Owen
  7808 River Falls Dr.
  Potomac, MD 20854
  USA
  Phone 301-365-2093
  www.openspaceworld.com
  www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
  To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of

       

osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu

     

  :
  http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

  -----Original Message-----

       

  >  From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of

     

  Eva P Svensson
  Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:41 AM
  To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
  Subject: Any experiences of OS and demonstrations?

  Hi all!
  I'm on my way to hold spAce at an OST meeting where the organizers are
  expecting a demonstration against the proposal that is the theme for
  the meeting! Any of you that have any experience from that??   Would
  be most grateful for advice how to handle a situation like that!!
  Snowy greatings from Sweden

       

  >  :o)

     

  Eva

  Skickat från min iPhone

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