Module 4.6 "Podcast"

Module 4.6 “Podcast”

Dr.Becker, I would like to take the time to thank you for offering such an informative interview on Podcast. I am amazed by your personal experiences while living in an ecovillage and love how you want to provide that for us, as students. It would be a great opportunity if living in an ecovillage was an option for me as a student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. I would definitely take the course. I would also enjoy learning the hands on methods of sustainability, learning other cultures and living a greener life. Thank you.

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COM 343: Question 11-20

COM 343: Questions 11-20

1. Wangari Maathai made an amazing and powerful speech, The Nobel Peace Laureate Speech in 2004. She speaks to the women of Africa and reminds them of their power to step into action and make a difference. Throughout her speech she mentions where she got her inspiration from, was it:

a. Her mother

b. Childhood

c. Observations of Nature in Kenya

d. A &b

e. B & c

E, Wangari Maathai inspiration came from her childhood experiences and her observations of Nature in rural Kenya. Beyond You & Me pg. 161

2. T/F Almost 3 billion people live on less than 2 Euros a day. 45 million continue to die every year out of hunger and malnutrition.

True Beyond You & Me pg. 166

3. T/F The five key concepts of coaching is Curiosity, Listening, Intuition, Self-Management and Skill.

False; Curiosity, Listening, Intuition, Self-management and

Action/Learning. Beyond You & Me pg. 174

4. T/F Starting a New Ecovillage isn’t easy. Diana Leafe Christian provides tools for possible ‘structural conflict’ and Nine ways to resolve it. But, she learns that “the purely structural steps of starting a new Ecovillage has everything to do with the interpersonal aspects of ecovillage life later on.”

True Beyond You & Me pg.49-50

5. Mediation focuses on two important elements to resolve conflict. Which of the following is it?

a. Listening and Talking

b. Key Questions and Key Phrases

c. Key Phrases for Problem Solving

d. Counseling and Healing

B, Mediation: www.ronkelly.com/RonKelllyTools.html

6. T/F Dean Radin, states that there is such a thing called intentional chocolate. This intentional chocolate “makes positive intentions an actual ingredient - with mood-enhancing effects on those who eat it.” Is this true?

True Intentional Chocolate: oneminuteshift.com/videos/dean radin/intentional chocolate

7. New Leaders Communicate their Projects is an organization that supports:

a. Environmental Leadership

b. The Youth

c. Mentoring and Sponsorships

d. All of the above

D, New Leaders Communicate their Projects: broweryouthawards.org/

8. According to the “Is GMO food really dangerous” video, are genetically modified soybeans dangerous?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Sometimes

d. It depends

A, www.organicconsumers.org.articles/article 18150.cfm

9. Where is the world’s largest manufacture of genetically modified seed?

a. Monsanto, Missouri

b. Washington DC

c. Long Beach, California

d. Las Vegas, Nevada

A, www.organicconsumerorg.article/article 18150.cfm

10. T/F MRCSE or Midwest Regional Collaborative for Sustainability Education is promoting transformative visions of sustainability and sustainability education.

True, What the World Would Look Like Global Oneness Project

www.mrcse.org/index.php

Module 4.7 “Communication”

Module 4.7 “Communication”

1. Who is doing what?

At this point in our project Jackie A. is signing our group up for the service learning event on Nov. 13.2010 at South Point. She is also going to provide our group with details needed to prepare for the even. She is also responsible for bringing her camera to the event in order for our group to take pictures and document our experience.

Trisha is going to email Dr. Becker to find out the specific requirements and stipulations on what we need to include in our Power Point and in our 5pg personal response. She will also bring her camera to the service learning project.

2. Status:

We are currently keeping each other informed about anything related to the project and expect to see each other on Nov. 13, 2010 for the event.

3. What still needs to be done?

As a group, we decided that we will definitely meet one more time after the event is complete. At this meeting we will go over one another’s personal experiences, collaborate any new ideas for the project, look through the pictures and complete the Power Point as well as any last minute things we need to address.

Jackie A, Trisha B. and Tawny S. were present to discuss the above material and the next steps towards completing our project. We also discussed a plan for our next and final meeting. Any new information will be emailed and we will remain in contact until the completion of the project.

Module 4.5 “Media and Social Change”

Module 4.5 “Media and Social Change”

The website that I thought most interesting was the "New Leaders Communicate Their Projects" at broweryouthawards.org/. This website titled New Leaders Initiative, is an organization that encourages and recognizes environmental leadership by raising the profile of young emerging environmental leaders in North America. This organization is very unique because each year they award six recipients for the Brower Youth Award that entitles a $3,000 cash prize and an all-expense paid trip to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Reading the 2010 award winner project summaries, I found one that I personally enjoyed. Misra Walker, one of the award winners took a stand and fought for what she believed was important. She provided a new transportation route to the areas one "green" park in a heavily industrialized area. Creating a new route

for the bus system (which previously did not exist) made a great break through for the community members by avoiding the smoggy weather and putting an end to the limited access to such a beautiful place.

I learned that there are people all over the world who value sustainability, communication and culture. I am happy to hear that individuals take matters in to their own hands to do the right thing and make a difference for the environment. Great leaders understand hard work and the steps needed to accomplish their goals.

She made a clear statement when she put her efforts to making a new bus route for her community. She had positive intentions and communicated that through her project and its outcome.

I could apply this to my final project by not only joining a beach clean up with the Service Learning Corps at the UH Hilo, but also create and promote an event myself that is related to sustainability, communication and culture. I could organize an event that would create awareness about the importance of sustainability and culture. Perhaps, creating a real life Hawaiian tribe in Hilo, making a Hawaiian camp called "living sustainably while communicating you culture”. At this camp would include Hawaiian gardening, man made tools for building and farming, animals and a band of "American" or foreign items. Its all about taking the next step.

Module 4.4 “Communicating Hope & The Future"

Module 4.4 “Communicating Hope & The Future"

Intentional Chocolate

oneminuteshift.com/videos/dean_radin/intentional_chocolate

The International Chocolate site grabbed by attention because of the “chocolate” and also because it proves that the mind is such a powerful tool. Trying to determine if positive emotions and intentions are actual ingredients to a chocolate recipe, a study was conducted. This research project provided treated chocolate vs. your ordinary chocolate to different individuals and proved that the treated chocolate increase 60% of the individuals with their daily moods. This is an amazing conclusion.

This connects to sustainability, culture and communication by understanding that positive attitudes and thought need to go in to the efforts to protect our environment. It reminds me of the theory, “Law of attraction”; when thinking and believing in positive thoughts, that is what you will attract and receive, however it goes the same way if you think and believe negatively. You can set your mind to anything and make yourself believe that it can happen.

If every individual had good intentions and efforts toward recycling, reusing and renewing our environment would be more sustainable and more efforts to ward sustainable living would occur. Dean Radin, the man in the video clip said “ when offering our best intentions it may directly affect the world and other people. At some fundamental level, mind and matter really are deeply interconnected

Module 4.3 “Part A Conflict”

Module 4.3 “Part A Conflict”

A technique that I would apply to resolve a conflict related to sustainability is the “Mediation Approach.” This approach is designed to refrain from negative accusations by “pointing the finger” but rather to focus on the positive ways that people can phrase their words so the message is able to get across.

This website provided two conflict management tools that is effective. The first tool is to gather key questions before you meet with the other person. Figuring out what both parties would like to work towards (having an end goal) is important to recognize. Secondly, is the re-phrasing tool. It is important to phrase what you want to say in an objective and neutral way. As stated in the website, “you need to shift the question from "whose FAULT is this?" to "how could we resolve the problem ourselves, if we wanted to?".

We all can come to the conclusion that the earth is suffering from rubbish, plastic, fumes, ect. Instead of trying to identify who is to blame, we can approach the situation by asking everyone “how as individuals, can we change our habits to benefit the environment?” or “ what little changes can each individual make to save the environment for future generations?” It’s all about how you use your words!

Module 4.1 “Leadership”

Module 4.1 “Leadership”

The most important things that I learned from the readings and links are:

1.The “ask-and-empower” approach (pg 170)

2. The most important tool to be an effective human leader is

listening.

3. The three fundamentals of happiness: a sense of belonging in a

community of friends, freedom and the feeling that the choices and

decisions of one’s life are in one’s own hands, and time to reflect

about the meaning and direction of one’s life.

4. It’s important to continuously learn new skills and techniques to be

an elite leader.

The goal that I would have as a community leader regarding sustainability is to establish an Ecovillage. I would provide personal empowerment in my design for this Ecovillage, listen to all the members concerning their individual ideas, suggestions, concerns and feelings and to properly build a strong foundation for the Ecovillage.

My second goal would be to completely change that style of thinking, and rather teach about the things that fulfill our happiness as humans. For example, Brian Bacon says “in a world of massive choices, we’ve got endless opportunities for pleasure but very few opportunities for joy”, in his interview with Susan Szpakowski. This is a perfect example of what I would like to change for my community as their leader, instead of putting high value on materialistic things.

A hierarchy system is ideal in this situation for my Ecovillage. Everyone is equally important and has a chance to have their own input. My allies would be those of other Ecovillages that are successful or share the same goals as I do. The difficulties with achieving this goal would be to initially start the Ecovillage and create the awareness of the positive impacts it will have on each family. I would have to gain the trust with those who are interested. Also, having the funds to start the project would be a little difficult. However, in the end I believe I would be a perfect candidate for a leader of an Ecovillage. I would have the devotion, a strong support system and knowledge for me to achieve my goals if I were a leader of an Ecovillage.