The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again,

and expect different results.”

Rita Mae Brown

Being a commoner

Breaking disempowering relationsships

Silke Helfrich(inspired by Monica Sharma)

# 1

brilliant analyses and logical frameworks ae necessary but insufficient for sustainable change

there is a set of universal principles which we have to unravel, to respect and to defend – in social practice, politics, legal frameworks etc

we have to be commoners

we can act and design projects in an ethical way and in accordance to the principles of commoning

# 1 Strategies for Change and Results:

Partial, Fragmented

Technical Solutions

Immediate factors

US National Institute of Health / PD

Wikimedia Commons by: LeJean Hardin and Jamie Payne derivative work: Jarl Arntzen (talk)

Logframes & analysis

Systems Factors

# 1 Strategies for Change and Results:

Partial, Fragmented

Technical Solutions

Immediate factors

First exercise

Name a few conflicts in the commons, that you have been dealing with or that you currently have to deal

with. Choose one!

First exercise

What is the problem you want to solve in this conflict?

What are the system factors, that make this conflict persist and that need to be changed?

Logframes & analysis

Systems Factors

# 1 Strategies for Change and Results:

Partial, Fragmented

Technical Solutions

Immediate factors

Logframes & analysis

Systems Factors

# 1 Strategies for Change and Results:

Partial, Fragmented

Technical Solutions

Immediate factors

Underlying Factors

Being a Commoner

Logframes & analysis

Systems Factors

# 2 Breakthrough Change and Results:

manifesting results

Technical Solutions

Immediate factors

Underlying Factors

Being a Commoner

Logframes & analysis

Systems Factors

# 2 Breakthrough Change and Results:

manifesting results

Technical Solutions

Immediate factors

?

HIV/AIDS Epidemic

• SEX• FEAR• SHAME• DEATH• DENIAL

• STIGMA• SILENCE• DISCRIMINATION

POWER

HIV/AIDS Epidemic

• SEX• FEAR• SHAME• DEATH• DENIAL

• STIGMA• SILENCE• DISCRIMINATION

HIV/AIDS Epidemic

• SEX• FEAR• SHAME• DEATH• DENIAL

• STIGMA• SILENCE• DISCRIMINATION

POWER

Conflict in the commons

FEAR• SHAME• DEATH• DENIAL• STIGMA• SILENCE• DISCRIMINATION

It is not just a technical problem to resolve. It is not just about the right framework to be applied. It is not just about „being a commoner“

It is all at once!

It is not just a technical problem to resolve. It is not just about the right framework to be applied. It is not just about „being a commoner“

It is all at once!

More than a framework-shift, it is an art to design and implement projects who adress all levels at the same time.

Solutions and Shifts

working with everybody involved, instead of only adressing institutional/ technical or

mental problems

Be HIV-positive must be possible and not a stigma

Leadership requires to SEE Patterns for Systems Change

We are “ Patterns Makers”Not only problem solvers

“Criticise by Creating Alternatives”John MacKay, CEO Whole Foods

# 3 Being a Commoner

Being a commoner requires to SEE Patterns for Systems Change

We are “ Patterns Makers”Not only problem solvers

# 3 Being a Commoner

# 3 Being a Commoner through Principled Pattern Making

Who do I need to make this happen? → What are the inner values/energies I need for change? How to bridge analysis and the inner space?

Second exercise

discovering your inner space (which is not conceptual, but experiential)

What do you stand for?

values, that you embody?

compassion

couragejustice

freedom

.....

core vs. received values?

compassion

couragejustice

freedom

.....

How to bridge analysis/activism and the inner space?

Third exercise

How to bridge separation through active communication as part of decision making

processes

How do we listen?

As human beings we constantly have background conversations, whether we are aware of them or not. Being aware of one’s own conversations allows us

more freedom of thought and action.

Background Conversations

• Right/Wrong

• Agree/ Disagree

• Find the Flaw

• Not Responsible

• Us/Them

• Either/Or

• Not Enough

Commoners Listen

Think of sth you did you are proud of and share it with a partner...

• Our ideas can be easily replicated throughout the world without doing harm to anybody nor to nature, nor to future generations. If they do, they are not good enough.

• In our inner space lies a core energy of commoning.

• If commoners are principled pattern makers, then the most important question to address is: What are the principles of commoning?

My last ideas ...