Comments for Commonway Visioning http://blog.commonway.org Societal Transformation... Creating a World That Works for All Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:04:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-247 sharif Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:04:51 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-247 When I read your first line, my response was "who's that"? When I got to "Amma", my response was "of course"! Thanks for the contribution! When I read your first line, my response was “who’s that”? When I got to “Amma”, my response was “of course”! Thanks for the contribution!

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by Mike Grogan http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Mike Grogan Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:28:15 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-242 I would nominate for consideration Mata Amritanandamayi, affectionately known to the millions (yes, millions!) she has hugged as "The Hugging Saint," or simply "Amma." If showering people with unconditional love were not enough, Amma also oversees innumerable humanitarian efforts. To name a few: orphanages, schools, pensions for women; hospitals; universities; environmental causes; outreach to prisoners; and feeding the homeless. Her organization has built tens of thousands of houses, primarily for those decimated by earthquakes and the tsunami. She was awarded the Ghandi-King Award for Non-violence in or around 2004. I don't believe anyone alive today has directly impacted more people than Amma. I would nominate for consideration Mata Amritanandamayi, affectionately known to the millions (yes, millions!) she has hugged as “The Hugging Saint,” or simply “Amma.” If showering people with unconditional love were not enough, Amma also oversees innumerable humanitarian efforts. To name a few: orphanages, schools, pensions for women; hospitals; universities; environmental causes; outreach to prisoners; and feeding the homeless. Her organization has built tens of thousands of houses, primarily for those decimated by earthquakes and the tsunami. She was awarded the Ghandi-King Award for Non-violence in or around 2004. I don’t believe anyone alive today has directly impacted more people than Amma.

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-/#comment-208 sharif Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:52:15 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-208 OOPS! Apologies to Brother Thay... S. OOPS! Apologies to Brother Thay…

S.

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by John D Brown http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-197 John D Brown Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:32:20 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-197 I like Bill McKibben with 350, Paul Hawken with Blessed Unrest. But my vote goes for Riane Eisler for her partnership work, and Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Revolution. More women. There are plenty of them. Nice exercise. I like Bill McKibben with 350, Paul Hawken with Blessed Unrest. But my vote goes for Riane Eisler for her partnership work, and Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Revolution. More women. There are plenty of them.

Nice exercise.

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-196 sharif Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:26:53 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-196 [Sharif's reply back to John R:] Greetings; I don't know about Gorbachev's role with "Green Cross". I'll give it a look... Havel's "Velvet Revolution" did for Eastern Europe what Gorby did for the Soviet Union as a whole: made an inevitable process NONVIOLENT. And, he got to do it twice, when he let Slovakia cede, without a shot. Peace, Sharif [Sharif's reply back to John R:]

Greetings;

I don’t know about Gorbachev’s role with “Green Cross”. I’ll give it a look…

Havel’s “Velvet Revolution” did for Eastern Europe what Gorby did for the Soviet Union as a whole: made an inevitable process NONVIOLENT. And, he got to do it twice, when he let Slovakia cede, without a shot.

Peace,

Sharif

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-195 sharif Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:25:44 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-195 [John's reply back to Sharif:] Sharif…Gorby…What about founding Green Cross? Havel…great quotes, leadership but what happened?…lost of Baltic States came to be. [John's reply back to Sharif:]

Sharif…Gorby…What about founding Green Cross?

Havel…great quotes, leadership but what happened?…lost of Baltic States came to be.

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-194 sharif Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:23:59 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-194 [My comment to John Renesch:] Greetings; How DARE you put me lower in the rankings! Seriously: If I added your criteria of "major global impact" as a fourth criteria, the men you named would be right there at the top of a very short list. My reason for not naming them -- I cannot name a social change theory that Mandela, de Klerk and/or Tutu articulated. I could be wrong, or overlooking something. The reason for not naming Gorbachev: he "wins" in the category of thought-leader (glastnost and perestroika) and has had a huge impact (helping the world avoid the first NUCLEAR civil war), but comes up short in the "compassionate activist" department. My question for you: You did not mention Havel. Any reason? Peace, Sharif [My comment to John Renesch:]

Greetings;

How DARE you put me lower in the rankings!

Seriously: If I added your criteria of “major global impact” as a fourth criteria, the men you named would be right there at the top of a very short list.

My reason for not naming them — I cannot name a social change theory that Mandela, de Klerk and/or Tutu articulated. I could be wrong, or overlooking something.

The reason for not naming Gorbachev: he “wins” in the category of thought-leader (glastnost and perestroika) and has had a huge impact (helping the world avoid the first NUCLEAR civil war), but comes up short in the “compassionate activist” department.

My question for you: You did not mention Havel. Any reason?

Peace,

Sharif

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-193 sharif Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:22:44 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-193 [This entry from John Renesch:] Sharif, I would only include those who had major global impact of a transformational nature. To me those are Mandela and de Klerk for their partnership with Tutu (yes, I would add him) in avoiding civil war/rioting in SA and creating a model for reconciliation for the entire world…. and Gorbachev for his role in ending the cold war. Everyone else, despite my appreciation for what they did and are doing, are lower in the rankings. Happy holidays, John Renesch [This entry from John Renesch:]

Sharif, I would only include those who had major global impact of a transformational nature. To me those are Mandela and de Klerk for their partnership with Tutu (yes, I would add him) in avoiding civil war/rioting in SA and creating a model for reconciliation for the entire world…. and Gorbachev for his role in ending the cold war. Everyone else, despite my appreciation for what they did and are doing, are lower in the rankings.

Happy holidays,

John Renesch

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by sharif http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-192 sharif Mon, 20 Dec 2010 02:17:05 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-192 Bill McKibben, Duane Elgin, Bill McDonough, Christopher Alexander and others I've put on a list I'm labeling "Thought Leaders" -- people who have definitely influenced our thinking around societal transformation, but whose work is less grounded in compassion and/or action. And, I could be wrong about this! Yes, my friend Barbara Marx Hubbard definitely fits two of the three criteria. (I need to refer to the second list by something more outstanding and respectful than "honorable mention".) Bill McKibben, Duane Elgin, Bill McDonough, Christopher Alexander and others I’ve put on a list I’m labeling “Thought Leaders” — people who have definitely influenced our thinking around societal transformation, but whose work is less grounded in compassion and/or action. And, I could be wrong about this!

Yes, my friend Barbara Marx Hubbard definitely fits two of the three criteria. (I need to refer to the second list by something more outstanding and respectful than “honorable mention”.)

]]> Comment on Who are the Nine “Leaders of Societal Transformation”? by Connie Weiss http://blog.commonway.org/2010/12/who-are-the-nine-%e2%80%9cleaders-of-societal-transformation%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Connie Weiss Mon, 20 Dec 2010 00:48:52 +0000 http://blog.commonway.org/?p=209#comment-190 Love all choices except I am not familiar with Joanna Macy. Will google her eventually but not convenient now. Feel the list is a bit weighted with Sri Lanka activists. Did I mention cosmologist Brian Swimme in my original nominee list? He's amazing and very influential. How come Bill McKibbbon didn't make the honorable mention cut? How about Barbara Marx Hubbard?? Fun to follow your process here. As ever, Connie Weiss Love all choices except I am not familiar with Joanna Macy. Will google her eventually but not convenient now. Feel the list is a bit weighted with Sri Lanka activists.

Did I mention cosmologist Brian Swimme in my original nominee list? He’s amazing and very influential. How come Bill McKibbbon didn’t make the honorable mention cut? How about Barbara Marx Hubbard??

Fun to follow your process here.

As ever, Connie Weiss

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