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In the last week of August approximately 70 people in total gathered at Binna Burra Lodge to be part of the Foundation's 5-day Courageous Conversation called "Waging Peace: Relationship, Ownership, the Earth, Community". It was a provocative theme and those who attended, like the Ethos organising team, were curious about what might emerge during the program.
The week involved many different types of activities including:
Catalyst presentations from scientists (Clyde Wild and Cuong Tran from Griffith University), indigenous people (Diane Watson - Yugambeh Woman and Storyteller, Scott Gorringe - Mithaka Man and Facilitator, Brendan Ward - Koori Songman and CERES Educator), artists (John Dahlsen), community educators and activists (Sarah Moles - Murray Darling Educator and Activist, Morag Gamble - Permaculture International, SEED International, Dave Spillman - Indigesmart Program and Facilitator, Kate Baker, Cinnamon Evans, Melissa Lawson, Elle Morrell from CERES Sustainability Centre);
A variety of dialogue processes including whole group dialogue, small inquiry groups, Open Space learning groups, women's business, men's business and public business;
Deep ecology experiences
Reflection and contemplation
Community choir with Rachel Hore and group singing with Brendan Ward
Group art - a beautiful mosaic bird bath was created as a gift for Ethos under the guidance of Beechmont artist Deb McLachlan, Geolink engineer Cameron Black and CERES folk Melissa Lawson, Elle Morrell and Brendan Ward
Community mealtimes.
Perhaps the best way to report back on the week is through some of the feedback we've received at Ethos since then:
"A lot of people were very moved up on the mountain. A beautiful and unexpected bridge seems to have been discovered between cultures, which is founded on respect and on the assumption that each has something to offer the other. Waging peace has been largely about finding the connection, establishing the protocol of communication, discovering who else is on the path beside us."
"I have been touched deeply by my experience of the 2006 Courageous Conversation program. I feel that my soul has been fed, my heart nourished. I feel that who I am, how I approach the world and what I value has been truly affirmed. I congratulate you and the team on the forward steps taken to successfully weave Aboriginality into and throughout the program. Diane made a truly beautiful contribution to the week - her presence touched me and many others and brought the sacred into each day. The sharing from Diane, Scott and Brendan, I believe, gave me my first real insight and experience of Aboriginal culture. Since being back in Melbourne and talking about my experience with friends, I relish in reflecting on the true sense of community I felt through the week. A community of kindred spirits, a community of people with whom I felt safe and loved and connected - what a gorgeous feeling! A community of people working towards a shared vision, a community of people working with a common understanding."
"One day we had about 65 participants. The friendships between people, loving, caring, respectful relationships, the acceptance of each other, where each of us was in our own personal life journey, all of this was obvious, and the atmosphere was peaceful, as it seemed to have been , throughout the whole week."
"The singing was the most joyful part for me - the other side of community in theory - community in action."
There were a number of people at Waging Peace who would have liked to deepen their experience of dialogue even further and so we hope to begin hosting deep dialogue programs at Beechmont/Binna Burra in the near future. Based on this feedback the Ethos Foundation intends to organise a 3-day dialogue-based workshop in the next 4-5 months. Stay tuned for more information about this over the next month or two.
Also as a result of the program, the Ethos Foundation is supporting the development of seasonal indigenous heartspace programs by Yugambeh Woman Diane Watson and Beechmont bodyworker Luna Wood from Rejoove. These will be hosted at Binna Burra Lodge from early 2007. Watch this space for more information!
A small slideshow of images from Waging Peace has been created with the help of Beechmont photographer Peter Sanderson and Emily Pearce, the Foundation's computer whiz-woman. You are most welcome to visit the gallery by clicking here
Waging Peace was a courageous conversation in many ways, and it was only possible for the Foundation to organise such a program with the help of some key people and organisations. We would especially like to thank:
· Judy Abernethy and the ethical credit union MECU for their generous financial support
· Contributors to the Foundation's Scholarship Fund - International Park Tours, Canungra Newsagency, Beechmont Mountain Sales, SALA Homes, Hundred Hearts - Media that Matters
· Our logistics and facilitation volunteer teams
· Our catalyst presenters and songpeople Rachel Hore and Brendan Ward
· The Binna Burra Lodge Teahouse team who fed and watered us so beautifully
· The Science and Art Team
In the next few weeks the Foundation will produce a Stakeholder Report about Waging Peace which will be posted on our website and be available for anyone who is interested in knowing more about Courageous Conversations.
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