<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; " class="">Dear friends on the List - and beyond...<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I have recently been stirred by memories, current events and conversations. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The recent passing of one of our Open Space Elders, Florian Fischer, my memories of Fr Brian Bainbridge (moved between spaces on Feb 2, 2012), birthday celebrations of Harrison, many ongoing acts of terror around our planet, community concerns about displaced people, refugees and asylum seekers, and a recent poem on this List (thanks Lucas), have prompted me to release an invitation to conversation.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class="">It always starts like this.</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class="">It always starts with someone like you.</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class="">And you've got your idea.</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class="">And you're wondering what to do next.</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class="">This is the way it happens.</div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class=""><br class=""></div></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: TrebuchetMS;" class=""><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class=""><div dir="ltr" class="">-Anonymous, 2016</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I have a story to share (not that unusual for an Irishman)....</div><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><blockquote class="webkit-indent-blockquote" style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"><div class=""><div class="">I have passion for Open Space</div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class="">I have passion for Peace</div></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class="">I have passion for Nonviolent Conflict Transformation</div></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div><div class=""><div class=""><div class="">I have passion for OPEN SPACE as a PRACTICE OF PEACE</div></div></div></blockquote><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In 2003, Harrison wrote The Practice of Peace which was published by the existing OS Institutes in various places and later by the Human Systems Dynamics Institute (2004). This book was, and continues to be, a rich source of sustenance for my soul ( <a href="http://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/books-videos/" class="">http://openspaceworld.org/wp2/explore/books-videos/</a> )</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In 2003, there was a Practice of Peace Conference at The Whidbey Institute on Whidbey Island, Washington and another one two years later in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2005). </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I found a link here:</div><div class=""><a href="http://practiceofpeace.com/pub_home.html" class="">http://practiceofpeace.com/pub_home.html</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I was unable to attend either of these although I was deeply inspired from afar by the stories emerging. I have continued to be inspired for over a decade by the stories of those who create space for peace in war-torn landscapes and conflict-crushed countries. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Last year, I was privileged to visit the Western Cape region of South Africa working with colleagues on 'the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence'. We used a collaborative learning model, designed on the principles of Open Space, to engage and utilise the collective wisdom of those who joined us for a five-day program. Participants particularly loved being part of the OST meeting towards the end of our time together to co-create actions for the future. This experience confirmed my deep longing and commitment to encourage the use of OST as a peace-making practice. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I would like to issue an invitation to conversation:</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></div><blockquote class="webkit-indent-blockquote" style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"><div class=""><div class=""><div class="">to explore the creation of an 'Open Space Practice of Peace' gathering somewhere on our planet in 2016-17 (or whenever the time is right). </div></div></div></blockquote><div class=""><div class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">My dream is to be part of a gathering of people who have used, are currently using, or would dearly love to use Open Space in powerful, conflict-energised situations. </div></div></div><blockquote class="webkit-indent-blockquote" style="margin: 0 0 0 40px; border: none; padding: 0px;"><br class=""></blockquote><div class=""><div class="">Please let me know if you are interested and I will convene a skype conversation (or something else) in the coming weeks to start the exploration. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Cheers </div><div class="">Brendan</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">from an ever-warming Western Australia</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div></body></html>