Well said, Chris. Bravo! I find it is a journey of a lifetime to be open to our blind spots!
Big Tree Strategies Tel: 416-792-0971 Cell: 647-461-0971 Change that's grounded On Jan 31, 2013, at 10:32 AM, Chris Corrigan <ch...@chriscorrigan.com> wrote: > Perhaps the more accurate statement is that bansk are necessary for THIS > economy, but not other forms of economy. The question to ask ourselves is > are we prepared to have THIS economy disappear overnight but having banks > disappear pronto. In 2008, the US government followed by others said "no" > and propped up the failing banks in order to preserve this economic status > quo. > > I am not a fan of this economic status quo, except that I have a pretty good > life and stable w ay to make a living. And that is exactly the reason why > the system is very difficult to change right away. the consequences for many > of us are intolerable in the short term. > > And today my thoughts are with my friends at Kufunda village in Zimbabwe who > understand how to live in Open Space with an economy that is in tatters and > with no banks or other institutions to stabilize their fiscal lives. They > are showing that another way is possible, but it is probably not the way most > of us would be willing to choose. > > Gandhi said "it is not the English that hold us, it is us that hold them." > It is not the banks that need to change. It is us, with our blindspots to > our own privilege that need to open space in our own lives to see what is > possible. Only when I understand that I am the problem, can real change > start to happen. This is key for those of us who are Open Space > facilitators. Please never try to Open Space for other people bigger than > the space you are willing to open for yourself. > > Chris > > > On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 2:17 PM, Brett Barndt <barndtbr...@gmail.com> wrote: >> "One thing is that banks are necessary for the development of the economy..." >> >> Banks are not necessary to create money for the economy. >> >> That is one myth we need to get over, pronto! >> >> On Wed, Jan 30, 2013 at 5:01 PM, Jorge Amigo <jo...@amigoconsultores.cl> >> wrote: >> > Dear community. >> > It's interesting how the video has generated many comments and open a >> > debate >> > on banks. >> > We can not forget that the video is publicity, good publicity, very well >> > done. Fulfills its purpose of seducing. Makes you want to go to the bank to >> > ask for a loan (a joke). Nothing here is improvised. No open space. this is >> > the truth. >> > I agree with Harrison, the general principle of taking the opportunities >> > that present themselves, are small steps, to open spaces and create the >> > conditions for a more healthy and effective living. >> > But do not be deluded. >> > One thing is the people who work in banks, and another thing is the owners >> > of the banks. >> > One thing is that banks are necessary for the development of the economy, >> > and another thing is that the people's economy is controlled by banks. >> > Banking has become a predatory lender. Examples of bank loan shark behavior >> > abound in all countries. >> > I wonder then. How to open spaces for the development of an economy where >> > the banking one's own contribution without usury? >> > How can we provide, as a community, the development of an enabling >> > environment to prevent potential abuse and abused? >> > How can we open up spaces for politics and economics are made more from >> > love >> > than from the ambition and greed? >> > Is it appropriate to ask ourselves as a community in these issues? >> > A big hug >> > Jorge Amigo >> > >> > El 29-01-2013 14:16, Brett Barndt escribió: >> > >> >> Harrison, >> >> >> >> Great to see this topic on OSlist. Very very very important for >> >> caring, concerned, and socially engaged people to educate ourselves >> >> about this important and fundamental topic. In fact, there are >> >> alternatives to this system and Sh* does not need to happen quite like >> >> it does. The Sh* is a product of the system as it is designed. There >> >> are alternatives, and it is high time we resurfaced those alternatives >> >> in consciousness after a century of power institution efforts to erase >> >> them. >> >> >> >> There is some very good history by Farley Grubb of UDelaware on the >> >> origins of bank power over our economy. It turns out a significant >> >> number of the Founding Fathers were bank shareholders in the Bank of >> >> the United States. Farley Grubb makes it pretty clear that the >> >> Founders and the "Money Interests" got what they wanted by limiting >> >> the ability of local communities and states to issue their own money >> >> into circulation. >> >> >> >> They made sure that the private banking industry would have control >> >> over the money supply, to expand it when they want to, and then >> >> contract when they need to for their own profit purposes. >> >> >> >> This system is in stark contrast to the colonial period when >> >> individual colonies issued currency into circulation for services >> >> rendered to the colony. i.e. community. >> >> >> >> Banks may be part of our economic life, but the way they create the >> >> money supply through debts is an arbitrary form emanating from England >> >> with the Bank of England. They used that system all over the empire >> >> precisely because it draws the fruits of productive effort and human >> >> transformative energy ever more toward a center of fewer and fewer >> >> owners. The IMF then pushed it out to more places in the world after >> >> "independence" and the replacement of the British Empire. >> >> >> >> The system was also foisted upon European countries in the days of >> >> "classical" or "liberal" economics. The system itself as designed >> >> explains why wealth and income is so concentrated in these economies, >> >> and why more and more are rendered property-less wage earners >> >> perpetually in debt to the owners of the banks at the heart of the >> >> economic system. >> >> >> >> It turns out that the "open space" of the Constitutional Conventions >> >> in Philadelphia in the 17980s were not so open since bank shareholders >> >> were the preponderance of the attendees at the "open space". And, >> >> evidently there were several similar "coup d'etats" against real >> >> dialogue and all voices being heard over time at strategic moments >> >> from then until now. The Shays and Whiskey Rebellions arose only a few >> >> short years after this money monopoly was established as evidence >> >> enough of its unjust outcomes. >> >> >> >> We need to open that space again and revisit these constitutions and >> >> all the law codes that privilege creditors, banks, and their >> >> beneficial owners over everybody else who really are the ones creating >> >> everything that's created underlying the economy. It is after all a >> >> human economy. >> >> >> >> We all need to learn more vocabulary about the choices available to us >> >> for how money comes into existence. This is what now needs to happen >> >> in Open Space. Conventional wisdom, lack of knowledge, propaganda, and >> >> loss of agency have taken away our knowledge about the origins of >> >> money, and the power dynamics inherent in those origins. >> >> >> >> Like Grubb and other historians studying about money in these early >> >> Constitutional Conventions like to say, "the average red neck farmer >> >> in the Carolinas knew more about money and where it comes from than >> >> the average Ivy League educated law student today." >> >> >> >> And, I witnessed his questioning the audience about origin of money to >> >> an audience of law students at Columbia University just last week! >> >> >> >> We had better wake up from our slumber about these dark details. The >> >> Spanish banks are not the only ones who have a lot to cover up with >> >> feel good warm and fuzzy commercials. They have taken the nation to >> >> the brink of disaster. 26% unemployment, and like in Greece, rising >> >> suicide rates. >> >> >> >> As a Canadian visitor asked a group of young activists in December in >> >> NYC, "do you Americans know what has happened to your country? Do you >> >> know what it is like to come by train from Toronto and cross the >> >> border at Niagara Falls to see boarded up and abandoned houses? And, 8 >> >> hours of train past disused factories and towns all over New York >> >> State? Do you know what happens when the wealth of a generation gets >> >> wiped out?" >> >> >> >> Of course they did not know what happens...maybe that would be wisdom >> >> for European grandparents to contribute! >> >> >> >> On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 10:39 AM, Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net> >> >> wrote: >> >>> >> >>> Eleder – As you may have noticed, we had a few problems with Banks here >> >>> in >> >>> the USA. Some of it was due to outright incompetence, some to criminal >> >>> greed >> >>> and some more to simple mistakes (both honest and stupid). All told it >> >>> looked like another day in Human Land with the good, the bad, and the >> >>> ugly >> >>> and a net result that Banks in general became #1 on the List of folks you >> >>> love to hate. Been there. >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> But all that said, Banks are an essential part of our economic life and >> >>> we >> >>> certainly need to take them to task when they do some of the darker >> >>> things >> >>> that they did. At the same time I believe we need to encourage them when >> >>> they take some positive, albeit faltering steps, for example the video. >> >>> Most >> >>> of all, Banks (like all other human institutions) desperately need some >> >>> broader open space. Having had several (banks) as clients I can say that >> >>> these poor folks ( and I really mean that) spend their lives in >> >>> suffocating >> >>> conditions filled with rules, regulations, pecking orders, petty power >> >>> plays >> >>> – to the point that they are isolated from each other and most especially >> >>> from the world beyond. One effect of this is that when some part of their >> >>> system goes seriously off the track and displays truly sick behavior, >> >>> that >> >>> pathology is amplified by the closeness, not unlike a bad abscess. >> >>> Carrying >> >>> the analogy – the first step towards a cure is to let in some fresh air >> >>> and >> >>> light (open the space). Given the space/time the conscience of their >> >>> colleagues has a chance to clean things up, and when the space is opened >> >>> even wider, the whole community can render the same function. >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> I don’t think this is rosy-eyed idealism… Fact is, Banks are just another >> >>> part of humanity, and sh… does happen. And when it does, some fresh air >> >>> helps. So it seems to me that anytime we have the opportunity to open >> >>> some >> >>> space, we should seize that moment. Maybe the opening is just a little >> >>> bit… >> >>> but you have to start somewhere. >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Harrison >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Harrison Owen >> >>> >> >>> 7808 River Falls Dr. >> >>> >> >>> Potomac, MD 20854 >> >>> >> >>> USA >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) >> >>> >> >>> Camden, Maine 04843 >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Phone 301-365-2093 >> >>> >> >>> (summer) 207-763-3261 >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> www.openspaceworld.com >> >>> >> >>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) >> >>> >> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of >> >>> OSLIST >> >>> Go >> >>> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org >> >>> [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Eleder_BuM >> >>> Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 6:36 AM >> >>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list >> >>> Subject: Re: [OSList] An offering! >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Harrison, my friend! I was curious on your opinion, thanks for sharing! >> >>> >> >>> I try all my best not to be a sour puss, kill joy, Grinch,... :-)! You >> >>> know >> >>> I really enjoy singing, dancing, laughing,... but I have my own limits >> >>> and >> >>> days, and I feel much better after expressing the shadows also. >> >>> >> >>> Specially when (reading the previous messages) people seemed to ignore >> >>> the >> >>> whole stuff (light and shadow), that was so apparent to me with this >> >>> commercial. >> >>> >> >>> (Maybe I´m too sensitive with banks now. Last time suicides are on the >> >>> headlines -quite near Sabadell, the place of this bank and spot-, due to >> >>> people being taking out of the houses where they used to live, because >> >>> they >> >>> are no more able to pay the loans they signed,... maybe just another >> >>> campaing?) >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Sure "even banks can do it", of course there are nice people in banks,.. >> >>> but >> >>> I still have a mix of feelings watching the commercial. >> >>> >> >>> And, concerning the subject of this list, I still think that the piece in >> >>> Sabadell seems quite different from self organized and emergent, >> >>> spontaneus,... >> >>> >> >>> Thanks to this great conversation I recalled another commercial video >> >>> related to banks in Spain. This one was recorded in Sevilla some 2 years >> >>> ago. It´s not Beethoven, It´s a plain "rumba", but the lyrics are a real >> >>> fun >> >>> ;-)! >> >>> >> >>> And the stuff seems to me much more real. There is even some conflict, >> >>> confussion, chaos at the end,... One can sense there was not much money >> >>> for >> >>> the artists, but lots of humour and spirit... Enjoy yourselves :-)! >> >>> >> >>> http://in-fluyendo.blogspot.com.es/2011/01/ole.html >> >>> >> >>> May people working for banks have soon the opportunity to participate in >> >>> regular OST events as the one described by Lisa to handle their/our main >> >>> issues and opportunities! >> >>> >> >>> This day we will probably have one less thing to do (commercials :-) and >> >>> the >> >>> whole community will join in joy and musical, artful spirit,... let´s >> >>> dream >> >>> :-)! >> >>> >> >>> Love, >> >>> >> >>> @Eleder_BuM >> >>> www.burumapak.blogspot.com >> >>> www.flowandshow.blogspot.com >> >>> www.bilbohiria.com/gaika/berbaz >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> 2013/1/28 Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net> >> >>> >> >>> Eleder – you old sour puss, kill joy, Grinch. Don’t you know that even >> >>> Banks >> >>> can spread some joy? Actually any time anybody wants to do a commercial >> >>> as >> >>> gorgeous as that one, I say bring it on! Sets a whole new standard that >> >>> needs to be repeated (IMHO – which thanks to Artur I now know what that >> >>> means). And since everything is open space (IMHO X 2), I guess even Banks >> >>> can do it. J >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> ho >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Harrison Owen >> >>> >> >>> 7808 River Falls Dr. >> >>> >> >>> Potomac, MD 20854 >> >>> >> >>> USA >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer) >> >>> >> >>> Camden, Maine 04843 >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Phone 301-365-2093 >> >>> >> >>> (summer) 207-763-3261 >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> www.openspaceworld.com >> >>> >> >>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website) >> >>> >> >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of >> >>> OSLIST >> >>> Go >> >>> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> From: oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org >> >>> [mailto:oslist-boun...@lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Eleder_BuM >> >>> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 6:10 AM >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list >> >>> Subject: Re: [OSList] An offering! >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> Hi Anne and all friends around, >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> This music feels us with positivity, sure, and the stuff may resemble >> >>> Open >> >>> Space,... >> >>> >> >>> I´ll add, anyway, that.. >> >>> >> >>> it is a commercial for a bank (and this awakens not-so-uplifting emotions >> >>> inside me :-o) and >> >>> the concert seems quite different from self organized and emergent. >> >>> ... >> >>> >> >>> long life and much love from Bilbao, on this bright day after some rainy >> >>> weeks, >> >>> >> >>> @Eleder_BuM >> >>> www.burumapak.blogspot.com >> >>> www.flowandshow.blogspot.com >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> _______________________________________________ >> >>> OSList mailing list >> >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> _______________________________________________ >> >>> OSList mailing list >> >>> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> >>> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> >>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> >>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> OSList mailing list >> >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > OSList mailing list >> > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org >> _______________________________________________ >> OSList mailing list >> To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org >> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: >> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org > > > > -- > --- > CHRIS CORRIGAN > Facilitation - Training - Process Design > Open Space Technology > > Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot > Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com > > Upcoming workshops > > Art of Hosting Montreal, Canada, Jan 10-12 > The Art of (Inter)action - Enabling the Emergence of Collective Wisdon, > Energy and Strength > > Authentic Leadership In Action - Halifax, NS, Canada > Designing Strategic Change from the Inside Out > June 16 - 21, 2013 > > Art of Hosting - Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration > November 11-14, 2013, Bowen Island, BC, Canada. > > > > _______________________________________________ > OSList mailing list > To post send emails to OSList@lists.openspacetech.org > To unsubscribe send an email to oslist-le...@lists.openspacetech.org > To subscribe or manage your subscription click below: > http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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