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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>Friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>Below is an inspiring report that Joel Bisina of Nigeria asked me to
send to you. He came to the Practice of Peace at the Whidbey Institute and
has already begun to make a difference because of the experience.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>from
snowy Seattle,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>Peggy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>(P.S. In his message, POP is Practice of Peace, SW is Spirited
Work)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Joel Bisina
[mailto:nigrodev2000@yahoo.co.uk]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 04, 2004 11:41
AM<BR><B>To:</B> maryella@pobox.com; annstad@nwlink.com;
leah@compassionatelistening.org; susan4ps@comsat.net;
peggy@opencirlcecompany.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Use of Open Space Technology in
Nigeria Mediation<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
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<DIV><B>Subjec</B>t: Mediation In Ongoing Crisis Between Ijaws And
Itsekiris Of Warri Delta State Nigeria.</DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Dear Members Of POP and SW Global Community.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I an glad to inform you all of a successful first phase
mediation on the Seven (7) Years old intractable conflict between the
Ijaws and The Itsekiris<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>, </SPAN>two
ethnic nationalities in the oil rich Niger Delta Region. <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> This is a</SPAN> conflict that has claimed
well over 2<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>,</SPAN>000 lives and rendered
more than 10<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>,</SPAN>000 people
homeless<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>, as well as destroying
millions of dollars worth of property. I am especially interested in
telling you about how I was able to use what I learned at Practice of
Peace and Spirited Work to effect a positive outcome.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=900053214-04012004>My non-profit
organization, </SPAN>N<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>IDPRODEV
(Niger-Delta Professionals for Development)</SPAN> in collaboration
with IFESH <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>(International Foundation
for Education and Self Help) sponsored</SPAN> a multi-level mediation
workshop from 14<SUP>th</SUP> to 17<SUP>th</SUP> and 18<SUP>th</SUP> to
21<SUP>st</SUP> of December, 2003.<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> In this first phase, we met
separately with</SPAN> Ijaws and the Itsekiris<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>, targeting the leaders of the combatant groups
on both sides. The initial focus of this intervention was
to obtain a ceasefire amongst the two warring groups and also to
facilitate them to explore other creative means of addressing the issues
rather than resorting to violence.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The member of your global community Joel Bisina led the
mediation, <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>and I a</SPAN>m glad
to inform you that the program recorded <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>a </SPAN>high level of success.<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> </SPAN>Not only did <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>each</SPAN> group denounce violence as an option
for getting their needs<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> met</SPAN>, they also pledged to
collaborate with each other to co<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>-</SPAN>creatively <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>find a </SPAN>solution to the problem.<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> </SPAN>Both sides have had follow<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>-</SPAN>up meetings with their various groups and
have resolved as <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>a </SPAN>next
step to engage in a more constructive <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>joint </SPAN>session.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>My participation at POP and SW was instrumental to the
success recorded<SPAN class=900053214-04012004> . I designed the
mediation to use several</SPAN> strategies <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>I learned, including</SPAN> OPENSPACE
TECHNOLOGY, <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>as well as </SPAN>THE
REFLECTIVE OPENING AND CLOSING CIRCLES.<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> However, i</SPAN>t is worthy of note
to mention that <SPAN class=900053214-04012004> when we started
the session, I saw that the participants were very agitated, and unable to
focus on moving forward in a collaborative way. </SPAN><SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>I remembered </SPAN>my participation at the
session convened on <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>COMPASSIONATE
LISTENING </SPAN>convened by Leah<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> Green </SPAN>and her team<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> and decided to try that approach.
It</SPAN> was<SPAN class=900053214-04012004> </SPAN>of immense
benefit<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>, </SPAN>as <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>t</SPAN>he participants for the first time felt
listened to and had <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>the
</SPAN>opportunity to listen to each other<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>'</SPAN>s side of the story<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The openspace technology was very helpful as it enabled
me <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>to </SPAN>open up space and
h<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>old the</SPAN> space while the
participants took responsibilit<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>y</SPAN> for
their actions and their issues. This was needed to vent tension and anger.
And it <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>created BROTHERHOOD</SPAN>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Some of the results of this intervention included</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>Change in perception</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>A resolution that violence does not pay any one</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN>A resolve to collaborate for joint problem solving</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">Ø<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> <FONT
size=3><SPAN class=970212715-04012004>A </SPAN><SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>commitment t</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN>o
continue to work amongst ethnic groups to hold the space for the peace
while the issues are be<SPAN class=900053214-04012004>ing</SPAN>
addressed</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>It is of further interest to mention here
that <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>I was invited to
observe </SPAN>a similar initiative that is being facilitated
by <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>an </SPAN>NGO run by an
American <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>woman</SPAN> here which is
aimed at the elders, community leaders, <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>and </SPAN>government security agents<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>. Unfortunately, this session </SPAN>ended
in a deadlock.<SPAN class=900053214-04012004> It was clear the
facilitator was not familiar with Open Space Technology,
Compassionate Listening, or the other techniques I was exposed
to at POP and SW. The facilitator also observed my mediation
sessions, and I</SPAN> am glad to inform you that <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>she </SPAN>has approached me to help
out<SPAN class=900053214-04012004> and teach her some of these
skills</SPAN>.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Both <SPAN class=900053214-04012004>of
these </SPAN>initiatives <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>are</SPAN> supported financially by USAID/The US
Embassy here in Nigeria.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal>I will let you know of the outcome of the joint
session <SPAN class=900053214-04012004> between the Ijaws and
Itsekiris </SPAN>coming up <SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>the </SPAN>second week of January 2004<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004>. </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Read and let me know what you feel<SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> .</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=900053214-04012004>Joel Bisina</SPAN><SPAN
class=900053214-04012004> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=900053214-04012004>I also intend to post
this on catalyst for more members of the global community to see how they
are contributing to my work
here.</SPAN></P></DIV></XBODY></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>_______________________________<BR>Peggy Holman<BR>The Open Circle
Company<BR>15347 SE 49th Place<BR>Bellevue, WA 98006<BR>425.746.6274<BR><A
href="http://www.opencirclecompany.com">www.opencirclecompany.com</A></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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