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CI and participation process
Marielle JANSEN
Saturday, 29 March 2003 18:48:25
ººº Abstract: If we allow organic principles to play a part, building a WP will become an activity of pleasure. In Nature, rhythm plays an important role. The human body just obeys also the rhythm and e.g. when dancing, some kind of * automatic pilot * takes over. The * time-beats * of our democratic systems, like the elections, are not really noticeable as rhythmic, but should be considered like seasoning ceremonies of decision-making. Many more examples can be taken from Nature. ººº
Dear Marie, dear all,
Thank you, Marie, for your request to say something more about the *organic approach*. In my letter that was posted on 11.03.03 I wrote: * If we allow organic principles to play a part, building a World Parliament will become an activity of pleasure instead of sheer hard work. * Of course I have no * evidence * that this is true. It is a statement that is based on intuition and I can only back it up by examples observed from Nature.
In Nature, rhythm plays an important role. The tides, the seasons, day and night, the movement of the planets: everything seems to be subject to rhythm. In the human sphere, dance is perhaps the best example of how hard work can be a pleasure despite physical strain, such as sore feet, stressed muscles or getting out of breath. Despite these pains we can feel compelled to go on, because the activity brings pleasure. The body just obeys the rhythm and some kind of * automatic pilot * takes over. When this happens, it is unnecessary to think about the movements that have to be made. We can just * go with the flow *. When listening to the music and more specifically to its beat, we *anticipate* the movements to be made, so that when the beat occurs, the body is ready to make the appropriate movement.
What if we took the solstices and equinoxes, for the major decision-making * ceremonies * ?
Although in our democratic systems we have some kind of rhythm in the regular intervals at which elections take place, these * time-beats * are not really noticeable as rhythmic. Besides, each democracy has its own election times. What if we took the four cardinal points in the yearly cycle, the solstices and equinoxes, to mark the major decision-making * ceremonies *? (see the first part of Rob's posting of 17.03.03 Designing a fully participatory process for WP decision). Even people who do not have access to the internet, radio or television, would thus be enabled to know about these * times of celebration *.
It may just be wishful thinking for the moment, but who knows.! If we are really looking for unity, we must create opportunities to unite.
Another natural phenomenon to look at is the rate of growth in organisms. In the above-mentioned posting of 17.03.03 Rob wrote: * I would suggest, however, that what is most important is not the actual size; but that the WP be as functional and as equitably representative of the complexity of the world's population as possible. And perhaps even more importantly, that the structure and model of decision-making be as participatory (both individually and collectively) and as fully accountable to all of the people, everywhere, as possible. * I fully agree with that and to support that idea would like to make a comparison with the growing process of a seashell. When it starts out as a tiny, hardly visible little creature, the shape is already the same as that of a fully-grown specimen. The blueprint for growth is present at the very beginning of its life cycle.
It might be an idea to explore appropriate natural forms for a World Parliament.
Many more examples can be taken from Nature, such as the phenomenon of fractal structures. But I do not want to make this too long. It might be an idea to form a special group with those who are interested in this subject, to explore appropriate natural forms for a World Parliament.
With warm regards, Marielle Jansen
WP21 Alliance Forum on a World Parliament for the 21st Century
E-mail : world-parl@forums.alliance21.org
Fax 1 717 264 5036
Information, inscriptions, désinscriptions: germa@alliance21.org
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