Tom Bragg at the Copenhagen demonstration, Sat 12th Dec 2009
The outcome from Copenhagen has left many of us reeling. It’s hard to find words to express the mixed emotions of shock, rage, depression and despair.
How to cope? What next? What to say over the Christmas pud and sprouts to relatives who are still chatting about their weekends in Barcelona or try to cheer you up with reassurances that ‘at least it’s a start’. It can be hard to convey to uncomprehending friends and relations what the result means for people from the Small Island States and Central Africa; hard also to explain what this means to those of us who have worked so hard over the last few years to raise public awareness and swing support behind the need for action.
We shouldn’t be surprised by our emotions: people have described an enormous range of feeling to me over the last week: numbness, cynicism, anger, avoidance, fear and hopelessness probably top the list. We need to find space to share our reactions, talk through our feelings, find solidarity with each other and think through strategy and tactics for the coming months, in regard to both campaigning and personal carbon reduction.
Alex Randall, UNFairPlay volunteer, representing Kiribati, an island state already at risk from rea level rise but too poor to send a full delegation.
Watch this space for news of meetings in the New Year where we will be discussing how to move forward. And in the meantime, enjoy your Christmas celebrations, hold on to our principles of good communication (listen, explore, challenge, reward) and see how many of your unconvinced relatives you can warmly welcome into the worlds of low-carbon living and action on climate change.
| 17 April 2010 | to | 18 April 2010 |
Getting your message across: how to be heard when it matters
With Elizabeth English (Locana) and Annie Rankin (Vajrasara)
This course is organised by Life at Work.
About the Course
This introduction to Nonviolent Communication is for anyone who wants what they say to be heard and understood by others more fully. We will focus on ways that are most likely to connect us with other people, and learn what may lead others to disengage from us. We explore the power of active listening and empathy to engage and connect us with others. And how when we acknowledge our interconnectedness, the links we make often carry greater weight and value. We also look at the issues we face when we feel passionate about our message. While this training is suitable for anyone from any background, we wish to offer it at especially low prices, in a not-for-profit spirit, to support people working in the low-carbon/transition/green movements.
Costs for the weekend
£125 standard rate
£95 concessionary
£80 special green concessionary rate (or contact us if you are in need of further reduction)
Green Concessions: For this workshop, we would like to support people who are choosing an especially low income, so that they can devote more time and energy to supporting a sustainable environment. If because of this choice you would genuinely struggle to pay the standard or concessionary rate, and yet you believe the workshop will help you contribute to your vision, we would like to offer you the special green concessionary rate. Please decide for yourself if this offer applies to you, and follow the usual booking procedures.
To book, go to www.lifeatwork.co.uk, or contact Yogaratna at dh.yogaratna@googlemail.com or tel 01223 327253.
Ross St Community Centre.
With Keith Jordan.
Date & venue in June: TBD.
