<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
panose-1:2 11 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{margin-right:0in;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p.Style1, li.Style1, div.Style1
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle18
{font-family:Arial;
color:red;
font-weight:normal;
font-style:normal;
text-decoration:none none;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Well done Gabriela! And if it turns out
that face-to-face Open Space has a continuing role to play in the program that
will be marvelous. I believe that Open Space has a particular contribution to
make in the environmental area and in fact the media is the message – to use
an old phrase from Marshall McLuhan. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>In simplest terms, groups operating in Open
Space have an immediate and direct experience of consciously working in and
through the phenomenon of Self-Organization – which is the way of all
Nature. People become aware (particularly if effort is made to bring them to awareness)
that hugely complex issues and systems will come to flowing synergy, not by the
exercise of external control – but rather through their own internal
process. Which after all is what self-organization is all about! For 14 billion
years, the natural world has managed to progress in this fashion – until we
humanoids came along and thought we should take charge. Our job, we thought,
was to <i><span style='font-style:italic'>control nature! </span></i>And
goodness knows we have tried, and now we must face the consequences of our
efforts.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Why we got into this situation is an
interesting question, probably caused by equal parts of Ego, perceived
necessity, and the fact that we really didn’t see any alternatives. The
role of Ego has received a lot of attention and rightfully so. Somewhere along
the line <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Homo sapiens</span></i> came to the
conclusion that we were the King of the Heap disregarding the fact that our
place in the cosmos is a very small one and we are definitely late comers. But
in all fairness it would seem that there were good reasons to make the attempt
(perceived necessity). The natural world can in fact be an uncomfortable place
what with flooding rivers, hurricanes, typhoons, and odd meteorites stopping
by. Surely we must do something about all that! We could see the problems so we
had to find a fix.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Take the case of rivers. We know that they
often flood, and flooding is deleterious to human communities in the way. The
fix seems obvious – build dams and levies. Control The River! All well
and good until that wonderful day when </span></font><font color=red
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>Old</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>Man</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>River</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> and Mother
Nature say, Enough! And all our Flood Control comes sloshing down around our
ears (Think Katrina), creating a disaster out of a natural event. It turns out
that the Flood Plain (where we built our towns) was there for a purpose. Come
the springtime floods, the waters would spread out quite gently leaving fresh
soil and new seeds. It worked that way for millennia until we applied the “fix”
– only to discover that we are (literally) drowning in a sea of
unintended consequences.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>But what were the alternatives? Of course
we should Take Charge because we all “know” that the only way
things will work is when we get it all organized. That is what we have been
taught. It is what all the books say. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I believe that the real significance of
Open Space is that it provides a direct experience of the alternative. It is
true that many people, particularly those who have just “heard”
about Open Space, find it counterintuitive, impossible and wrong. It just
couldn’t work! Unfortunately it does – and as it works we are
confronted with an alternative way of working with each other and the world
around us. Symbiosis as opposed to domination. Learning to flow with emerging
organization, and trusting that flow. A very different experience for most, but
essential if we are really going to become an effective part of our environment
as opposed to being antagonists. New learning for sure, but learning that can
take us to places that rational argument will never reach. As we all know,
experience is the best teacher.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I grant you that learning in Open Space may
be a little too subtle for many and too slow for all of us. However, I think it
is safe to say that if we do not take advantage of the OS learning opportunity
(along with other similar opportunities) the day will inevitably come when
Mother Nature delivers some painful lessons which we cannot avoid.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>One thing I am quite sure of is that should
we choose to resolve our environmental issues with the same approach that got
us into the predicament in the first place our level of success will be minimal
at best. So Thank you Gabriela for creating the (electronic) Open Space class
room, and may you be successful in opening many more. And of course I know that
there are lots of folks here on </span></font><font color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST</span></font><font color=red
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> who will be delighted to
help. Me for one.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font><font color=red
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Potomac,
Maryland 20854</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Phone </span></font><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Skype hhowen</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Training</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></font></a>
</span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Open Space Institute</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.openspaceworld.org</span></font></a></span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Personal website</span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> <a href="http://www.ho-image.com/"><font
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>www.ho-image.com</span></font></a> </span></font></p>
<p align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>: To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: </span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'><a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html"><font face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial'>www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</span></font></a></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> OSLIST
[mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Gabriela Ender<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, January 10, 2008
4:08 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> "Online Climate
Summit" - held on the basis of OpenSpace-Online (x-posted to Genuine
Contact List)</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Dear
Open Space friends around the globe!</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Together
with the best wishes for an exciting 2008 I am pleased to inform you about a
very special project:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>On
December 4, 2007 the "First German Online Climate Summit" was held on
the basis of the OpenSpace-Online Methodology. Patron of the event was the
President of the German Federal Environment Agency, the organizer was the
"Deutsche Städte- und Gemeindebund" (German Association of Towns and
Municipalities), financial support and sponsorship for the project was provided
by Cisco Systems and the concept and technology partner was OpenSpace-Online
GmbH. The aim of this event was to enable an improvement in the quality of
interdisciplinary, open and - at the same time - result-oriented collaboration,
with the involvement of the most important environmental and climate experts in
Germany, while simultaneously starting a comprehensive information and
communication campaign under the motto "local authorities protecting the
climate". The First German Online Climate Summit was intended to be the
kick-off event for fast, unbureaucratic and forward-looking collaboration over
long distances and across borders for organizations, institutes and
universities, as well as public and local authorities.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>For the
German Association of Towns and Municipalities the online climate summit and
the use of the OpenSpace-Online method was a resounding success. They say:
"Our intention is to continue the online climate summit in the coming
years, possibly at an international level. The results of the summit will be
included in the face-to-face event "Climate Protection and Energy
Efficiency – Local Authority Strategies for Action and Methods of
Resolution", which will be held by the German Association of Towns and
Municipalities on January 11, 2008 in cooperation with the Federal Environment
Ministry (with the participation of the Minister of the Environment)."</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>We have
a few more information about the online climate summit at our website. If you
are interested please click here:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><</span></font><font
color=navy face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'><a href="http://www.openspace-online.com/en/climate-summit2007.php"><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>http://www.OpenSpace-Online.com/en/climate-summit2007.php</span></font></a></span></font><font
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>It
looks good, that during the further process an OST conference will play as well
an important part within this project. I will be pleased to inform you about
next Open Space highlights (offline and online) regarding this project in the
future. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I wish
you all a wonderful start for Year 2008 and I look forward to see
many of you in San Francisco this summer!<br>
<br>
Gabriela</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=navy
face="Trebuchet MS"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
color:navy'> </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>* * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br>
OpenSpace-Online GmbH - The Power of People!<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br>
Winner of the "Top 10 World Changer 2006" Award<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br>
Resselsteig 30, 12209 Berlin, Germany<br>
eMail: </span></font><font color=navy face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:navy'><a
href="mailto:contact@OpenSpace-Online.com"><font color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>contact@OpenSpace-Online.com</span></font></a><br>
</span></font><font color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;
color:black'>website: </span></font><font color=navy face="Trebuchet MS"><span
style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS";color:navy'><a
href="http://www.openspace-online.com/"><font color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:black'>http://www.OpenSpace-Online.com</span></font></a><br>
</span></font><font color=black face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;
color:black'>phone: +49-(0)30-772 31 69<br>
fax: +49-(0)30-77 39 20 21<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *<br>
Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg HRB 75583<br>
Managing Director: Gabriela Ender<br>
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *</span></font></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist