open space Iraq

Diane Gibeault diane.gibeault at rogers.com
Wed Sep 15 06:29:32 PDT 2004


HI Zachary,

My heart did a summersault when I read your message. The image I had was of
the power of Open Space as a small, but real and promissing ray of sunshine
in the sea of gloom presented daily to us about Irak. Your own courage and
that of participants made me thankful that the world has people who will
rise to the occasion no matter how challenging the situation may be. It also
made me want to reflect on how I "give back to our community".

I'm sorry I will not be able to be at the OSonOS this year in Goa with you
and other OS colleagues but your message has connected me in some other way.

Diane Gibeault


-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Zachary
Metz
Sent: September 15, 2004 8:29 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: open space Iraq


Hi folks,

I just wanted to offer a quick but from the heart note about Open Space in
Iraq.  Iraq is in the news every single day, and the news is clearly grim
and mostly painful. I am here now, in Kirkuk, and we (a team from Columbia
University Center for International Conflict Resolution) just finishd two
workshops with forty people, both culminating in a one-day Open Space. In
August we did one with 20 people, so now at least 60 people have had this
experience.

I intend to write all of this up, but I just want to say that all of these
OS experiences have been very poweful for all involved. The opportunity to
listen and be heard in a safe and creative environment has profound impact
here. In the closing, many people spoke of the power of the experience and
the new opportunities this raises. Please keep in mind that these OS
experiences were happening under armed gaurd, and many participants needed
to take serious risks to get to the event. Hope is something that is slowly
but surely being drained from these communities and at least I am hopeful
that OS has helped keep people hopeful, which is all that we can ask at this
moment really.

I look forward to seeing some of you in Goa. Take care all, Zachary Metz

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