Dream Foundation - "Children difference to the natural world"
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Project design for a Dream Foundation (Australia) project. Our Dreamer Chris Rourkeโs idea is to empower children to wake us up, to lobby their parents and others about the impacts we are having on climate, life and the natural world. Children with their love of the natural world can lead us, to think of simple things the we are too blind to see and to imagine, and the wonderful that we are too cynical to believe. The program operates around natural habitats where it runs as a unique a training and development for children to experience the love of nature and learn the science, natural and human history of the habitat. Then children are trained to become eloquent advocates for the nurture, growth and sustainability of the habitat. The program then turns to the local community near the habitat and looks to find systemic synergies, with humans and nature, to design and build sustainable infrastructure that benefits both the habitat and the community, and includes economic redesign to move wealth back into communities. We aim to copy this model planet-wide. The advocacy by Children, with their unique expression, will arise in forming authentic innovation and communication organisations lead by children (with adults being accountable to them). http://dreamfoundation.org.au
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Dream Foundation - "Children difference to the natural world"
- 4. Dream hypothesis children as advocates ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 4 Chris Rourkeโs idea is to empower children to wake us up, to lobby their parents and others about the impacts we are having on climate, life and the natural world.
- 8. Project intention ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 8 Invitation to participate If you are concerned about the existence of the wonders of the natural world, default outcome of our climate, habitability for humans, the survival of species, the lives your children will have and what we will leave to future generations, Dream Foundation invites you to join Chris in creating movement for like minded souls with the heart to alter destiny. Design Intention This is an intergenerational project designed to last as long as human beings inhabit this world. The project is designed to become part of the fabric of society. It is both a learning structure and self sustaining over time as children pass on their learning, development and training to their children. Through the advocacy of children, embedding our love for the natural world as a guide, we design, create value and impact systems such as energy supply, transport, housing, technology, water supply and so on will produce profound alteration to the future. The project fulfilment is given as: โLasting presence of Chrisโs unique contribution to humanity, given in a way that creates concrete, certain and lasting value.โ
- 9. The power to make the difference Children make the difference to the natural world. Who are they? ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 9 โป They have wide direct experience of, and love the natural world โป They are aware of the reality of the state of the natural world โป They are aware of the societal structures that generate behaviours that impact the natural world โป They have developed their innate systems thinking ability to holistically consider our world โป They are eloquent, passionate advocates for the joys of the natural world and making it available to all โป They collaborate with each other in communities to invent great ideas the world has never seen before Then our job then is to purposefully design, and develop the living system to empower children everywhere to have the power to make the difference.
- 12. On restoring our love for the natural world ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 12 Imagine that all children experienced the natural world and came to care and appreciate: โ The refreshment of drinking cool pure water from a crystal clear spring on a hot day โ The freshness of mountain air โ The stillness and noises of the forest โ Running their hands through rich, fertile topsoil โ Seeing wildflowers bloom and explode across the landscape โ The black bear in the stream catching jumping salmon There was a time when there were no human beings around to wonder and marvel at nature. Now as the elder generations, the guardians of this planet, we are doubly blessed if we choose to give these gifts to the youngest generation. This the heart of nurture where the future of our planet is renewed and revived for humanity.
- 13. Children experience and love the natural world Habitats Rainforest High mountains Glacier Tropical island Desert Lake Logistics Nearest Location ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 13 โข Experience the natural world โข Clearly articulate the experience โข Local natural history โข Local human history โข Local geology, environment, climate โข Create eloquent advocacy message โข Create film and documentary Holistic learning and development program Systems thinkers Historians Geologists Environmental scientists Climatologists Film makers Writers, poets and composers Program mentors and guides Service providers (sponsored) Travel Air Land Catering Venue Classroom Accommodation Program content
- 16. Restructuring society as a system of systems ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 16 Dreamer Dream project learning organisation Systems thinkers Community leaders Transformation leaders and communicators Product manufacturing Habitat Local Community Agile-lean project execution Children as advocates and designers Innovation professionals Fund for benefit of community and habitat
- 17. Orchestration ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 17 Start local and orchestrate to scale Dream Foundation acts as the conductor, connector and communicator of the Dream intention and purpose. Dream realisation occurs in a complex living system where we cause, alignment, collaboration, and learning required to fulfil the Dream beyond life times. Dream project learning organisation Systems thinkers Community leaders Transformation leaders and communicators Agile-lean project execution Children as advocates and designers An enormous challenge met by collaboration to sustain the integrity of intention Results produced through this system of systems require impeccable design, development and operational integrity to be pervasive in people everywhere, and not lapse in periods longer than epochs of civilisation. This too can be designed, and enduring systems for communication, learning, advocacy and when needed, activism would be implemented by an Orchestration Organisation below that is also intergenerational and enduring.
- 21. Sleeping through the havoc ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 21 Yet what would our children say about our stewardship when they gaze out on the havoc we are reeking on the planet, and the future they stand to inherit? We are self absorbed and numb. There is priceless beauty and wonder, that, niche by niche, species by species is being forever lost. For those of use who care, we must confront that our conversations about conservation, energy use, environment, climate change are ineffective, and not making a real difference to future outcomes. The tragedy of being asleep โWe plug [our mobile phone] into a wall. Very few of us think of this as an unethical action, charging our device. But of course that device uses the electricity. That electricity has to come from someplace. It does not actually come from the socket in the wall. It comes from a electronic grid, a grid that moves electricity all over this part of the world. In my country about seventy percent of electricity comes from burning coal. โฆNone of this works if we donโt burn former living things.โ โIf you would have asked any of those people โdo you wanna destroy the orange groves and lemon drops, do you wanna destroy the possibility for children playing outside, do you wanna destroy the possibility for children to walk to school by themselves, do you wanna destroy the air?โ of course they would all have said โnoโ. How many us want to destroy species? Really. You look up in the morning and think โah, what a beautiful day to destabilize the climate a bit moreโ. Of course we donโt think that way! No one wants to produce the systemic outcomes that we consistently produce.โ Peter Senge When are we going to wake up?
- 22. The first look ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 22 How we habitually think It is easy to become fixated on a single aspect or part of system and miss the whole. Causal relationships involve states of a system that are separated in space and time. So we donโt notice them, and instead invent other explanations that are not real. Result โ โWe live in a world of systems ignorance โฆ in a world where we consistently produce suffering for each other, for other humans and for living creatures of all sorts, which nobody intends.โ Peter Senge There are many initiatives in the world that are whole heartedly doing good. Every bit matters, people need encouragement and support to continue their efforts. However when looked at in the totally, compared to the state of the world, the vast majority of these initiatives are not effective at a planetary level and we spiral out of control towards dystopian futures that nobody wants. Consider air purity initiatives, only 10% of the entire population of the world breaths clean air. (South China Morning Post, December, 2016) โA World Health Organisation study released in September found that 92 per cent of the planetโs human population lived in areas where air pollution was at unhealthy levels that lead to lung cancer, heart disease and strokes.โ The requirement to look harder for causal relationships What is the size of the systemic impact of human beings have on the natural world? What are the societal structures that are manifesting human behaviours and impacts? Which of our simple explanations are not real, where do we need to look much closer and much broader?
- 23. A dose of reality CNN Special, December 2016 โ The Extinction Crisis is far worse than you think Please take the time to click the link and look The Extinction Crisis โ Center for Biological Diversity Itโs frightening but true: Our planet is now in the midst of its sixth mass extinction of plants and animals โ the sixth wave of extinctions in the past half-billion years. Weโre currently experiencing the worst spate of species die-offs since the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Although extinction is a natural phenomenon, it occurs at a natural โbackgroundโ rate of about one to five species per year. Scientists estimate weโre now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the background rate, with literally dozens going extinct every day [1]. It could be a scary future indeed, with as many as 30 to 50 percent of all species possibly heading toward extinction by mid-century [2]. References [1] Chivian, E. and A. Bernstein (eds.) 2008. Sustaining life: How human health depends on biodiversity. Centre for Health and the Global Environment. Oxford University Press, New York. [2] Ibid. and Thomas, C. D., A. Cameron, R. E. Green, M. Bakkenes, L. J. Beaumont, Y. C. Collingham, B. F. N. Erasmus, M. Ferreira de Siqueira, A. Grainger, Lee Hannah, L. Hughes, Brian Huntley, A. S. van Jaarsveld, G. F. Midgley, L. Miles, M. A. Ortega-Huerta, A. Townsend Peterson, O. L. Phillips, and S. E. Williams. 2004. Extinction risk from climate change. Nature 427: 145โ148. ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 23
- 24. A network of human behaviours and impacts Rather than look at problems in isolation and letโs explore the network effect. Representation of the CNN report The extinction crisis is far worse than you think ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 24 Islands and low lying communities destroyed Correlated impact on people Land degradation and loss of forests damaging air quality, local climate Black market poaching destroys tourism People live and play in the garbage dumped on the water front Frogs eat pests like mosquitos, and tadpoles eat algae to clean water Extinction of species Agriculture Climate change Wildlife crime Pollution Disease Coral reefs destroyed by warming Consequence 37% of earthโs surface converted into farms and pastures Large animals - elephants, rhinos, pangolins, lions and tigers disappear Plastics destroy bird species. In the ocean there is more plastic than fish Amphibian apocalypse, 40% of frogs at risk Extinction cause However the extinction causes, in their full range and extent have a vastly larger effect on humanity. The causes of extinction are effects of other causes, that systematically arise out of human behaviour. Children will make great advocates and communicators of these impacts and the need address the causes
- 26. Pollution as an example of existential risk Threats to the natural world are also existential risks to all human beings. ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 26 Pollution Rivers Oceans Soil Mountains Atmosphere Radiation Heavy metals Non biodegradable plastics Gas CO, SO2, N02, CNโฆ Persistent organic pollutants Oil spills Persistent pharmaceutical pollutants The air we breathe? The water we drink? The food we eat? What is the long term impact on our health and well being? โStock pollutants accumulate in the environment over time. The damage they cause increases as more pollutant is emitted, and persists as the pollutant accumulates. The Stock pollutants can create a burden for future generations, by passing on damage that persists well after the โbenefits' received from incurring that damage; have been forgotten.โ Reference: Tietenberg, T. (2006). Economicsof Pollution Control, Chapter 15 in Environmentaland NaturalResource Economics, 7th Edition, Pearson, Boston. There are so many pollutants, it is ridiculously difficult to stop each kind of damaging pollutant, and even clean up damage already done.
- 28. The societal discourses for pollution to persist Systemic factors driving human behaviour, where the love of the natural world is missing, and where children can be powerful advocates for systemic alteration. Corporations based on short term monetary gain for shareholders and management are incentivised to pollute Economic value calculation does not factor in universal ownership (e.g. BP deep horizon risk management) Economic value calculation does not price long term systemic impacts or risks of pollution Inequity makes non polluting solutions, and trash disposal not affordable in the third world Inequity means that education is missing that is needed to stop local community and personal littering ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 28 Land use, Ken River, CA, USA Killed by plastic, MidwayBreathing air, Beijing, China Surfing trash, JavaDeep Horizon Oil Well, Gulf of Mexico Cancer pollution crabs, NY River
- 29. Climate impacts on humans ยฉ Dream Foundation, Sydney, 2016 29 New Sea-Level Rise Projection Raises Threat to World's Coasts SAN FRANCISCO โ About one-quarter of the world's population lives in coastal areas that will be unlivable by the year 2100 because of rising sea levels, researchers say. In a special issue of the journal Earth's Future, coastal scientists and engineers detailed projections for sea-level rise for the year 2100, and described their model Monday (Dec. 12) here at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Reference: Live Science Heat Waves From Europe to India to Australia, climate change worsened several deadly heat waves around the world in 2015โฆ "Weโre seeing mounting evidence that climate change is making heat waves more extreme in many regions around the world,โ Stephanie C. Herring, scientist National Centers for Environmental Information at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Reference: USA Today Report "Global warming is bringing more frequent and severe heat waves, and the result will be serious for vulnerable populations," said Dr. Amanda Staudt, National Wildlife Federation climate scientist. "That means air pollution in urban areas could get worse, bringing increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and asthma attacks. Children, the elderly, poor, and people of color are especially vulnerable to these effects."