peace projects

No matter the day of the week, there's usually an opportunity to change the world in just 1 to 3 minutes.  Oh, it may take longer than those 1 to 3 minutes, yet those 1 to 3 minutes could be those 60 to 360 degrees of clarity any level of government needs in the moment to make a positive or negative choice for movement in the direction you believe is most "correct" "efficient" "righteous" "better" "less stupid" "non-ignorant" "perfect" ... (fill in your own blank).

Turning ships around is a laborious, risky and sometimes impossible task ... just ask the Titanic, yet on this earthship we can use the rotation of its already positive movement to give the momentum to the focus of the direction we want to progress.

City Hall, or town council or any layer of "on grid" public discussion and decision making forums must be continually be directed according to the will of the People -- what we consent to in our experience with the world outside our front door.

Finding and striking that balance occurs in the personal exchanges of individuals in the moment (#ThinkCosmicallyActIntimately) and in communities (#ThinkGloballyActLocally) and corporately (#okupiDID).

Occupy City Hall is a simple concept.  Pick any public meeting, at least one a month (one a week if your police are killing people in your town's streets or they would if the opportunity arises for them to murder and get away with it (for some "PoPos" it is a video game, that is their only connection to their job)), and share your thoughts on any and every subject matter that is relevant to you and your everyday life.  ALWAYS comment if there's an opportunity for General Public Comment as to any general issue larger than the body which you direct.  AND, the MUST DO, is speak at every Public Hearing (unless repetitive).

Sometimes, I've found, you may just need to ask a question, like "WTF did that mean, in English, like I'm in 3rd Grade?!"  My favorite meeting structure is @CathedralCity here in Southern, California, I believe it allows the most flexibility in the voice of the government and the People for balanced contribution in a Civic Setting.

This is a time when I like to use John Mayer's "Say what you need to say," and "Waiting on the world to change," are the flip of the coin.  #PickURbattles according to the level with which you feel you want to address YOUR City Council (especially if they are publicly aired on TV and webcasted), and be ok with being yourself in the context of your issue.  I often practice at home alone what I would say to them when my mind crosses across the various weighted issues in my thoughts.  Get used to your own voice and practice other voices that feel natural to you, pretend you are your favorite television hero(ine) and practice addressing them similar as you think you would see it on television.

Raise What YOU Need To Say as "Toastmasterly" as possible, and remember the easy form:  Icebreaker, Introduction and Comment.  Remember your time limits, so make your jokes short, your introduction simple, and your comment well seated in the flow of the conversation in the context you want to impact the most.  If someone else has said it, say nothing at all, and thank them for voicing your concerns, you know you have at least one ally in the room.  =)

Labels: alliance building, cathedral city, GPSS, GZ, HonorPersonalSovereignty, john mayer, NOMOGMOS, Occupy City Hall, occupycityhall, okupiDID, OuCH, RNWC, thinkcosmicallyactintimately, thinkgloballyactlocally