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Raffi,<br>
<br>
I guess you know about how Danni Gal started with putting round
tables on the square in Tel Aviv, where people could start to talk
in small groups? That eventually led to the 1000 Tabels event.<br>
<a
href="http://artofhosting.ning.com/forum/topics/1000-table-world-cafe-in-israel-interview-inspiration-invitation">http://artofhosting.ning.com/forum/topics/1000-table-world-cafe-in-israel-interview-inspiration-invitation</a><br>
<br>
Just a small thought,<br>
Ria<br>
<br>
On 8/10/11 06:35, Raffi Aftandelian wrote:
<blockquote
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<div><span>dear open space and genuine contact friends (aka
spaceniki and, perhaps, "wheelies")-</span></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Tonight marked the spirited kick-off for Occupy San Diego,
one of the many local initiatives around the world taking
place in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. Speaking as a
process artist (OST facilitator and Genuine Contact Program
certified trainer) and a charmingly flawed co-human with a
heart who is planning on camping out (occupy?!) on site for
while, I wanted to share some thoughts and observations and
also extend an invitation.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>First off, taking part in all of this- tonight's march or
attending the General Assembly (I was at last night's
assembly- 130 people were there!)- really stretches me. I
can't align with any of the adversarial language and
expression here. So, as we marched today I was just silent,
holding my multi-colored sign which read, "What does a wise,
compassionate and glocal response to massive economic
injustice look like?" Heck, even calling it "Occupy" make me
shudder!!!<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>It is physically just very challenging to be in the
presence of all of that energy. That said, from the the
*moment* I heard of Occupy Wall Street, I had an *immediate*
intuitive hit that this is something different, that this is
something that I have to support. And at the very least this
initiative could be supported by bearing witness-- and the
simplest way I could do that is just camp there, just sleep
there. That's it. <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Perhaps the act of sleeping in a public space can be a way
of claiming *and* opening space, a way of dreaming the New
Story into being?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Also, I'm amazed to see how many different people locally
have heard of the local Occupy San Diego initiative and how
many different people I know showed up tonight! It's almost as
if somewhere deep down there was a part of us that knew this
is something we need to support.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>One of the things that encouraged me while attending
General Assembly last night was the readiness and willingness
of people from disparate points of view to hear each other
out. What I'm seeing is messy, imperfect, and I know and
imagine that ball has been dropped. But overall, it's a rather
encouraging picture. It's also encouraging to see meditation
part of the picture, too. A 20+ minute flash mob still silent
sitting meditation took place after the march tonight<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>And indeed it has a lot of open space feeling to it. The
general assembly and committees had been meeting at Children's
Park (high play and high learning anyone??) here downtown. The
park is made up of large circular patches of grass bordered
with concrete. Each committee met in a different patch -
marked with the name of the committee. And you just went to
the committee you wanted. And from what i could see, if you
wanted to create a new committee, you could do that, too!
(apparently, there is a process committee here, too).<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I'm curious if there are other process artists out there on
or off these lists who are also supporting Occupy... where you
are. I'd love to enter into conversation (skype call anyone??)
on or offlist to explore the ways we as process artists can
support this initiative. Drop me a line!<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><br>
<span></span></div>
<div><span>much warmth from the pacific coast,</span></div>
<div><span>raffi<br>
</span></div>
<div> <br>
p.s. to catch some of the flavor of our local "Occupation,"
see <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.livestream.com/occupysd">http://www.livestream.com/occupysd</a><br>
<br>
p.p.s. I look forward to circulating widely this piece by zen
teacher and peacemaker, Bernie Glassman<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/">http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/</a><br>
<br>
p.p.p.s. to borrow a turn of phrase from a fellow spacenik who
lives DownUnder-- "What can happen?"<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>powered by ubuntu 10.4</div>
</div>
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