Real Conversation at the Citizens Parliament

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Australian of the Year Prof Mick Dodson and Adam Gilchrist.
Sydney Morning Herald, 26 January 2009.

Australia has entered a new era of debate. Not always comfortably, but certainly noticeably. One of Kevin Rudd's first projects after becoming Prime Minister was to call the 20/20 summit. His plan was to discuss the important issues affecting Australia with ordinary people. His detractors were quick to say that he was all talk and no action. I beg to differ. One his first, and certainly his most powerful action to date, was to say Sorry to the Aboriginal people of Australia. That was serious talk, and serious action. It shifted Australia on its axis forever (to borrow a phrase from my older sister, Yvonne).

Kevin Rudd's style continues to encourage debate. I have noticed a tangible shift in conversation since his election in 2007. When I arrived in Australia in 2004, in the 8th year of the Howard government, talk was not encouraged. Debate was discouraged. So were big ideas (I remember the CEO of the Australian non-profit where I worked raising her hand to me in a "talk to the hand" gesture and stating loudly "Thank you very much, Rosemary. We don't need any more Big Ideas. What we need is people at their desks").

The past 12 months have been different. I have seen, and been part of, lots of meaningful and action-directed talk, both at dinner-table level and in organisations. I have seen some great conversation in WILPF (Women's League for Peace and Freedom), some of which I have facilitated. The Apology led the way, and 20/20 offered a new openness.

However, today Mr Rudd has disappointed me. Prof Mick Dodson, named yesterday as the 2009 Australian of the year (he is a long-time activist and one of the authors of the 1997 "Bringing Them Home" Report) , has raised a question many have asked. He queries whether the 26th of January, the anniversary the 1788 First Fleet in Australia, is the right date for Australia Day. To some, Australia Day is Invasion Day and there are alternative celebrations that are not about beer swilling, flag-wearing, okker Australians, but about remembering the death and destruction those first settlers brought to this country, to some of the oldest peoples on earth.

The question Prof Dodson is asking is simply this: should we choose a day that represents the pride and national feeling of all Australians, a day that perhaps has less mixed feelings for some. Prof Dodson, at his own admission, is not as concerned about whether this happens or not, as he is about the fact that a conversation is needed.

Which brings me to why Mr Rudd has disappointed me. His answer was reported to be a flat "no". To my mind I don't think that's much of a conversation. Prof Dodson has another view - he said on TV this morning that perhaps that is the conversation: a question has been raised, and an answer has been given. Personally I think he's being quite big about it.

What will be interesting, and what I am thoroughly looking forward to, is the Citizens Parliament to be held in Canberra in the first week of February. This, I think, is a real conversation. As stated on the Citizens Parliament website, in answer to the question "Who Runs the Citizens' Parliament" :

Ultimately, it belongs to the participants. The organisers are researchers from Australian National University, The University of Sydney and Curtin University, in conjunction with the newDemocracy Foundation. The Citizens' Parliament is co-chaired by Hon. Fred Chaney AO and Dr. Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG. Participants will be guided by facilitators and assisted by researchers and volunteers.

Apparently the recommendations will be published and presented to the Prime Minister and all Members of Parliament. The idea is that the recommendations will be considered by the Government and widely discussed in the media.

I am thrilled to be one of the team of volunteer facilitators at this event. My consultancy, Making Things Work, is aimed at working in just this arena. I have no idea what will be expected of the team of facilitators, save to say that they will be very long days! And that there will be a lot of Open Space methodology, something I have worked with for years and found to be super-effective. Our briefing session in Canberra the day before the event will prepare us for the task at hand. The website has the following to say:

Facilitators ensure that everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and encourage a generous and empathetic response from listeners. Facilitators ask open questions that require reflection and consideration, to help participants find deeper understanding of the topic at hand. They don't express any favouritism--they invite participants to object if any bias is perceived, even if it is unintentional. Facilitators encourage respectful and constructive dialogue, but won't intervene unnecessarily. Importantly, facilitators of deliberative processes do not push participants to reach a consensus.

Sounds like a fabulous opportunity for real conversation between 150 randomly selected delegates. Now perhaps Mr Rudd and Prof Dodson could join us for a guest conversation that does not just start with a question and end one minute later with a definitive answer!

Last-First Networks

Taken in Guguletu, not long before I moved to Sydney.

I constantly hear of organisations in other countries, specially in Africa, that can do with our support. That is, the support of those of us who live relatively comfortable lives in the developed world. One of my favourites at the moment is the African Scholars' Fund. For around $100 AUS one can support one young person through school for a year. The young man Francis and I support has managed to pass, yet again, and is really grateful for the opportunity the African Scholars Fund has afforded him to continue his education. His mum receives a pension of less than $50 a month (unimaginable!). He would never have been able to continue school without assistance.
[Click here to sponsor a child]

There is something so right, so useful, in bringing money to third world causes from first world sources. The money buys so much more. It's vital to many smaller projects.

I came across a wonderful group here in Australia, in Queensland to be exact, called Last-First Networks who distribute books, CD's, DVD's, training manuals in social justice issues, and handicraft and fair trade coffee. They are

a Network of community development practitioners committed to generating interest in and promoting access to educational resources on social, justice, peace and empowerment.

Those who created Last First have worked for years in Development settings, and bring their social justice experience home to Australia. To Queensland, to be exact. There's a fabulous video on Facebook of the work of one of the groups in the network, West End Women's Work. Watch it here.

It's easy to be involved either in the needs of those at a distance, or those who have recently arrived in Australia. It just needs commitment from plenty of people, and you can be one of those people.

Do Important Things First!

photo by Janis Krums

The plane crash into the Hudson River in New York has caused such interest that one website, at least, went down as a result of too many people trying to pass the photo on simultaneously (read full article about Twitpic here).

I, for one, am really pleased that I don't have to rely solely on official news sources and that I can choose to expose myself to the diversity of news and views online. I love the speed at which news gets out. I know accuracy can be compromised, but I think it's worth it. The current Israel-Gaza debate is a case in point - lots of people being able to have their say (myself included) and a really fast spreading of information which is vital for social action that is being taken on both sides, all over the world. It is this, the assistance to social action, that I am most pleased about.

The struggle, of course, is where to draw the line. I can spend whole days following news, views, and social networking niceties. What with our family's rapidly growing family tree on Geni.com, the social and dancing networking and cause related marketing of Facebook, and professional networking on LinkedIn, my work could be cut out for me every day. That's before starting real work.

The idea is to find the right sites, to resist getting drawn into extra applications that are time-wasters, and to put a big sign up on your desk, as I have on mine, that says "Do Important Things First"!.

But with riveting pictures of the rescue of 148 people from a sinking plane in the freezing Hudson River coming up on my news sites as I work, there are times when I don't take my own advice. Good work to the rescuers in New York. A great story of cooperation for this Friday morning.

Let there be logic (and freedom of speech)

Thank goodness some sense prevails in South Africa. The South African Appeals Court has overturned a high court ruling dismissing corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). In effect this means that charges against Zuma can, and might well, go ahead.

Ironically, in a rally last week Zuma announced that his party would clamp down on corruption. One hardly needs cartoons to see how ludicrous such a public announcement is, coming from him. But cartoons there have been, and cartoons there will be as this strange-but-true story unfolds in the ever dynamic South African political landscape.

Zapiro's controversial cartoon on Zuma and the Independent Judiciary (see the Zapiro website) continues to cause a great deal of debate. On Facebook where he has a huge following someone wrote today:

"As long as Zapiro is in our beloved country's newspapers I know that democracy and freedom of speech are alive and kicking in South Africa, keep it up!"

. The cartoon, and the role of the judiciary, continues to be debated on public fora, in newspapers, on the radio and at dinner tables not only around South Africa but abroad. I have heard debate on Zuma and Mbeki and the judiciary centred around the controversial cartoon here in Sydney. Zapiro is currently being charged by Jacob Zuma for defamation...

I wait with baited breath as the elections in South Africa draw close. Who knows what the next few years hold, but about one thing I am sure: South Africa remains one of the most resourceful, innovative and dynamic places I have known, and it's political stage is one of the most colourful and fascinating of the moment.