Minnesotas Seattle10 Organizing Committee
A decade has passed since the 1999 World Trade Organization Seattle Protests – let’s make it an anniversary to remember in Minnesota! 10 Years – There’ve been some hard fought wins but the struggle continues as the impacts of globalization continue to be felt around the world – from people to food to climate and the planet. Join us in helping to plan and ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Aug 24, 2009
Updated: Nov 27, 2009
Membership: Open
Semi-Private
Melinda
melindaeditor
User Info
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Areas of Focus
About
My mother makes quilts-- radiant, complex, joyful quilts
that tell stories and make you stop and listen. Once I shared with her my
regrets for not learning and carrying on the tradition. She responded by
saying, 'You did learn. That's what your work is all about. You are the needle
and the thread, piecing together people, ideas, hearts, hope'. I loved hearing
that, because I don't think I could sit still long enough to knit a small hat,
let alone make a quilt.
Indeed, my work is about creating the spaces where
disparate perspectives and ideas can commune and inform something bigger. There is something profoundly powerful about a
coming together of people, a breaking of isolation, a tapping of collective
wisdom. This is why I believe in the WiserEarth project and why I work as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Natural Capital Institute NCI. 
My other hat (which I assure you, I did not knit), is as the founding director of Women's Earth Alliance, an Earth Island Institute (EII) project. WEA works to equip women around the world with the communication tools, training opportunities, information-sharing and connections they need to secure a foothold in environmental and social change—especially at the local level, where resources are most limited. WEA provides both face-to-face and virtual mechanisms for women to collaborate, exchange best practices, and build alliances.
My vision for WEA was inspired by multiple encounters over the years with women activists who were mobilizing their communities toward environmentally sustainable solutions—often in the face of incredible odds. In my work with citizen-based environmental NGOs-- whether in East Africa, China, the Russian Far East, rural Missouri or here in California-- I witnessed the tremendous leadership of women who were launching campaigns, lobbying government officials, and shifting mindsets.
At the same time, I also saw many of my sister activists struggling to access needed resources, information, and networking opportunities that would empower them to be even more effective. I began to realize that a groundswell of energy would be available to these dedicated and resolute women activists if they had a "space" to build a powerbase, share best practices, and model the solutions on the global stage.
Prior to my work with WEA and the Natural Capital Institute, I was taught by grassroots NGOs I worked with from around the world, who were pursuing environmental justice, sustainable local economies and indigenous rights. I worked for CARE Kenya in East Africa on sustainable agriculture and health projects, and traveled throughout the North Pacific Rim nurturing the emergence of grassroots environmental movements with environmental organization, Pacific Environment.
I worked with Chinese government, industry, scientists, and media to convene multi-stakeholder dialogue with citizen groups. I worked on sustainable fisheries issues in Alaska and the Russian Far East, facilitating a long-term collaborative initiative of Russian and Alaskan scientists, policy makers, fisherman, NGOs, and indigenous leaders, called the International Bering Sea Forum. And I worked with U.S. based environmental organizations, Colorado Public Interest Research Group - CoPIRG , and the Sierra Club helping groups build capacity through campaign strategy, coalition-building and media trainings.
Above all, I've received my most valuable lessons in nature. I like to go deep into a forest, quiet my mind, and listen to the earth whisper everything I need to know.
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." —Arundhati Roy
Comments (1 - 20 of 26)
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Prayer At Dawn
I pray for the entire creation ... for the generation which is now alive, for that which is just coming into life, and for that which shall be hereafter. And I pray for that sanctity which leads to prosperity, and which has long afforded shelter, which goes on hand in hand with it, which joins it in its walk, and of itself becoming its close companion as it delivers forth its precepts, bearing every form of healing virtue which comes to us.... And so the greatest, and the best, and most beautiful benefits of sanctity fall likewise to our lot. |
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Hello Melinda Bowo suggested that I write to you my feelings about WE - so here they are.
By some stroke of luck, fate or coincidence I googled my way onto the WiserEarth site. I did not know what I was looking for other than a medium in which I could connect with people around the globe who felt the same urgency and passion for addressing the important issues facing humankind today.
I utilise another social networking site to stay in touch with friends but appreciate that WiserEarth is more than a place to chit chat. I am very grateful for this site and am looking forward to participating more. It is clear to me from seeing all of the organisations and people that the paradigm shift is happening. We just need to wake everyone up. There is no difference, we are all one.
With warm regards Genevieve |
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To Wiserearth, Looking at Wiserearth I can see how it has grown a great deal over the last couple of years. The tenants of Wiserearth like the many people and organizations on it are all looking at somewhat of the same issue and that’s how do we become more unified in action across the globe. Which, the Wiserearth website now plays a role in. Over the last month or so I have been proposing out on The Zeitgeist Movement the creation of a World or Planetary Council that would have a unifying effect if applied on our world this is where all the known human disciplines could be arrayed into a non-hierarchical structure. Where as seen within the below link the arrows indicate the flow of information and the categories are in effect the human discipline structures arrayed across the council.
Do you think the World or Planetary Council idea as I have proposed out on Zeitgeist as seen in the below link is something that Wiserearth would be willing to support.
http://planetarydevelopment.com/worldcouncildesignone.htm
I would be interested in your insight on this issue.
Respectfully,
Randy |
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Hi Melinda
what you are doing is very interesting i am very interested in the activities of NGOs and would like to be part of one can you please be my link |
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Hi Melinda,
Very interesting what you are doing. I spent more than 10 years in Africa, specially french spoken countries, between Morroco and Mauritius Island, also 3 years in Saudia Arabia. I already retired from IBM and travel around the world for the Global NGO I co-founded, like Inner Mongolia (China), Chile, .... our motto is "Women are the Global Power of Change" I will be proud if you are connected to me. Warmest regards Gerard (sorry about my english, I'm french) |
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There’s a movement gaining momentum everyday and it’s global! It’s about mentoring, inspiring, and empowering one another to realize we can all make a positive difference; simply by passing on kind acts and good deeds.
We have joined hundreds of thousands of other organizations to focus on what we have in common, rather than our differences. This shift, “The Pass it On Movement” embraces all creeds, religions, and political beliefs. If it doesn’t appeal to 100% of the population then it is not part of the movement.
Every entity, non-profit, business, school, organization, and individual can be part of this shift. Together, we can all unite and collaborate as just one voice to “pass it on” and make the world a gentler, kinder place.
Please explore our website www.aunitedworld.org to learn more, and “Pass It On!” If you are a school or nonprofit organization and would like more information please send your inquiry to aunitedworld@gmail.com">aunitedworld@gmail.com.
All individuals, please contact rhonda@wetheworld.org">rhonda@wetheworld.org for more information.
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Melinda, you seem like a very powerful person!
You should find out more about sociocracy. John would know if there are any sociocrats in your area. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) folks use it as well. There are probably some of them near you.
Good luck in all you do!! |
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Melinda, when I saw your name at the top of the list of people in the list of users, I figured it was time for me to fill out content for Playa Viva and join Rainforest2Reef's group.
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I am new to WiserEarth and going throug a lot of groups and individual profiles i was impressed about your profile of you working for Africa Women. I am very much partifular about this because Africa Women are very hardworking yet there is little to show to world about us.
i hope that by connecting with people like and others who may be interested, gradually the world would come to know a lot about the unknown African women's voice. |
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Greetings,
I am new to WiserEarth, and I have been searching the WiserEarth world with different words and exploring different categories. I am doing this as outreach for a document I just finished which is associated with my work building The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative.
When I read the following paragraph in your profile, it seemed to me that it would be right and appropriate for me to share with you information about the above mentioned document.
"Indeed, my work is about creating the spaces where disparate perspectives and ideas can commune and inform something bigger. There is something profoundly powerful about a coming together of people, a breaking of isolation, a tapping of collective wisdom. This is why I believe in the WiserEarth project and why I work as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for Natural Capital Institute NCI."
It may be that the potential I see for discussion and resource exchange is something you do not see in the same way. Or it may be that this approach is not quite correct WiserEarth etiquette (if so, please let me know). But I think you will see something here-- and in the document itself-- about the "coming together of people, a breaking of isolation, a tapping of collective wisdom."
Namaste, Stefan Pasti (The IPCR Initiative)
An Introduction to “1000Communities2”
On the homepage of the website of The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative, there is reference to a “Ten Point Assessment of the Most Difficult Challenges of Our Times”. Such an assessment indicates that there is a need for problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before. Specifically, this assessment has compelled this writer to the conclusion that there is a profound and critical need for human beings—collectively—to be
a) much more organized and deliberate about “… bringing to the fore what is often hidden: how many good people there are, how many ways there are to do good, and how much happiness comes to those who extend help, as well as to those who receive it.”
The following is a description of a new resource created by this writer—a document titled “1000Communities2”—which demonstrates one approach to accomplishing the three goals described above, and which is now available for free at the website of The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative.
“1000Communities2” (“1000CommunitiesSquared”) is a 161 page proposal advocating Community Visioning Initiatives, “Community Teaching and Learning Centers” with ongoing workshops, and “sister community” relationships, as a way of generating an exponential increase in our collective capacity to overcome the challenges of our times.
Challenges which receive much attention in this proposal include
a) global warming and reducing carbon emissions
The "1000Communities2" proposal is structured to focus primarily on the process of carrying out a Community Visioning Initiative (of the nature described above) in the “main part”, and to share personal viewpoints of challenges perceived and solutions preferred in the appendices. Here are the titles of Appendices 1-6:
1. A Ten Point Assessment of the Most Difficult Challenges of Our Times
The main part of the proposal contains descriptions of the proposal, and some discussion of its various elements, and includes:
1. A 15 step outline for a Community Visioning Initiative (19 pages)
The proposal includes over 150 excerpts and quotes, which are provided to refer readers to relevant sources for further research.
The 161 page document is in pdf format at the website of The Interfaith Peacebuilding and Community Revitalization (IPCR) Initiative (see homepage at www.ipcri.net), and can be downloaded for free.
The goal of this “1000Communities2” proposal is to encourage others to create similar community specific proposals for their communities—and to highlight the potential of this kind of Community Visioning Initiative approach. Specifically, this writer hopes that people creating other more community specific proposals for Community Visioning Initiatives in the future will find some useful ideas from this example as they create their own structure and content.
By providing this information, this writer is contributing what he can to informal discussion and public discourse. He hopes that his contributions will add something to efforts working towards the greater good of the whole.
With Kind Regards,
Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
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"What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen." |
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Dear Melinda, you're really wonderful. Your profile is inspiring and inviting, too. How I wish you can be part of our work in the areas of assisting us in fundraising. That would also improve on our work here in Nigeria. African Youth Development Foundation is the name of our NGO. We work with young people, women and rural communities. Thanks. Hon. Remy Chuwkunyere, Executive Director, AFRYDEF
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That’s an engaging profile of your vision and experience - how inspiring to read of your mission ‘piecing together people, ideas, hearts, hope’. Not just your mother but Gaia too will be smiling!
As a writer campaigning for sustainable development, my current preoccupation is with Poppy for Medicine, an initiative to help steer the Afghan people away from ruination of their country into the Wasteland. For amusement to complement the serious side of my environmental focus, I have been enjoying blogging as Percefal, an alterego who seeks the right question to ask so the earth’s cycle can be restored to life-sustaining balance. http://percefalsquest.blogspot.com/ Please add any comments you wish, or suggestions as to what other challenges and good deeds he can attend to. Bless you |
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It is very rare indeed to find/meet someone like you. You're my number 3 in my quest to find the 7 Elders for RCF...reading your profile brought tears to my eyes. The only other person who resemles 70% of what i read here is my grandmother - HRH Crown Princess Itseng Christine Tlholoe who is now in her early 90's... i wish you many blessings!!
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You life of dedication to noble causes inspired me. I'm searching for meaningfull acts in my life.
I work for the NGO Surfrider Foundation in Brazil and I help the poor kids from the slums of Rio. I'm very interested and concern by the issues in Africa. And want to get involved personally. I'm very involved with environmental issues as well. I can see your way and it's a blessed one. Much love for you. |
Hi, read your profile and its quite alot. Indeed i am very challenged. Have you ever considered working in Africa, in the areas of wealth and employment creation? If yes, we could undertake a collaboration project that is campaign based. We have tagged this project in offing as :THE BOARDROOM PROJECT NIGERIA. pls see my about page for more details.
Thanks