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Old 09-24-2008, 01:04 PM   #1
matrix
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Default Radiant Zones - Unity & Diversity - Social construction?

Michael StClair summed up the recipe for sustainable self reliance and self sufficiency as “Our own Land, Our own Food, renewable Energy, Water and The Right People”

If we work on the assumption that we are nearing a critical mass of people whose worldview is shifting to a more holistic worldview and that there is an awakening and transformation of consciousness taking place, this trend is the beginning of something BIG. BUT HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE TO GET ALONG???

Historically, ecovillages and intetional communities only had a 10% chance of success. It remains a challenging and complex ideal to get a diverse group of people to share values and form one 'tribe'. How do you create Unity within Diversity?

My intention with this threat is that we pool ideas, models, personal accounts of what worked and failed in the social construction of such a community - in an 'open source' type fashion, that we can refer back to when we join or start our communities

Any ideas, theory or practice, that might enlighten us and help with the harmonious social functioning of groups will be welcome.

Last edited by matrix; 09-24-2008 at 01:08 PM.
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Old 09-24-2008, 01:12 PM   #2
Jamie
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Smile Re: Radiant Zones - Unity & Diversity - Social construction?

That is a very good question indeed.

I feel that instead of concentrating on our differences, we should concentrate on what we have in common.

In essence, we all have a need to be loved, to be safe, to have clean water, good food etc.

All other differences are in essence not really that big of a deal, unless of course we want them to be?

Just my thoughts

Jay
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Old 09-24-2008, 04:49 PM   #3
matrix
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Default Re: Radiant Zones - Unity & Diversity - Social construction?

Quote:
Originally Posted by jaypierce2008 View Post
That is a very good question indeed.

I feel that instead of concentrating on our differences, we should concentrate on what we have in common.

In essence, we all have a need to be loved, to be safe, to have clean water, good food etc.

All other differences are in essence not really that big of a deal, unless of course we want them to be?

Jay
Agree with you 100% In reality it is not happening - too much ego/Service to Self and to little Service to Others?
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Old 09-24-2008, 04:59 PM   #4
matrix
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Default Re: Radiant Zones - Unity & Diversity - Social construction?

Max-Neef and his colleagues have developed a classification of human needs by which communities can identify their "wealths" and "poverties" according to how these needs are satisfied.
Human Scale Development is defined as "focused and based on the satisfaction of fundamental human needs, on the generation of growing levels of self-reliance, and on the construction of organic articulations of people with nature and technology, of global processes with local activity, of the personal with the social, of planning with autonomy, and of civil society with the state." (Max-Neef et al, 1987:12)
The main contribution that Max-Neef makes to the understanding of needs is the distinction made between needs and satisfiers. Human needs are seen as few, finite and classifiable (as distinct from the conventional notion that "wants" are infinite and insatiable). Not only this, they are constant through all human cultures and across historical time periods. What changes over time and between cultures is the way these needs are satisfied. It is important that human needs are understood as a system - i.e. they are interrelated and interactive. There is no hierarchy of needs (apart from the basic need for subsistence or survival) as postulated by Western psychologists such as Maslow, rather, simultaneity, complementarity and trade-offs are features of the process of needs satisfaction.

He classifies the fundamental human needs as:
subsistence, protection, affection, understanding, participation, recreation(in the sense of leisure, time to reflect, or idleness), creation, identity and freedom.

Needs are also defined in categories of being, having and doing.

Once we realise that we basically have the same needs, we might start to focus how we are the same, instead of focussing on what differentiates us.
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Old 09-24-2008, 05:24 PM   #5
lightbeing
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Default Re: Radiant Zones - Unity & Diversity - Social construction?

Michael St.Clair mentioned in one of his thread (Radiant zones?) Damanhur, an eco-society based upon ethical and spiritual values: http://www.damanhur.org
Could this be an example of a future society?

Namaste!
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