the last week

As predicted, the last week went without much of a murmer of progress. I was not active, and simply awaited any after effects. I received a few emails from MP teams, telling me I was not a member of their constituency, that kind of thing.

I didn't get an email from Jon Cruddas, which is a shame. He seemed direct and genuine. But then again, I was just a lone guy at the end of the conference speaking to him for ten minutes. The difference between being a lone agent or a pair is huge. It probably slipped his mind.

On a positive note, Dougald is making a move with his version of trying to catch The Wave. He held a meeting on thursday which was attended by mamading, vinay, colin, kristine, and myself. It seems some important people are interested in his synthesis. He is playing at the organisational level, with NGO's government departments and the like. Colin showed us a provisional platform for a site, using the open source social utility called dolphin, and vinay revealed his model of organisational change which was very interesting. The three of them seem to be making a committed move. There was not much space for giving feedback because they are demonstrating one of the principles of confluence, simultaneous processes: they are not waiting for agreement, chatting about things before doing anything, they are simultaneously producing something while formulating strategy, while putting the word out. This is good. I did not want to carry my thoughts in my head, so I mind-dumped my response to dougald afterwards. He says he is interested in hearing what I have to say, however I believe I have to await the time when I am asked. This is something which doesn't quite sit well with me, since I suspect I may only be asked after the fact rather in the formation of it. Oh well, we shall have to wait and see. I hope I can be of best service to them, and I believe I shall have to play the part of an observer... from afar. I shall check out their progress in a month when I return from edinburgh.

So, as far as I can understand it, the opportunity to catch this wave at the most important time, has passed. There will be other opportunities no doubt, like dougald's and I hope that meets with more success, and indeed it shall because he is better placed and he is using a more traditional and thus accepted methodology. He is also assembling a strong team around him. There is also a small chance, through possibly minute, that someone else has attempted to catch The Wave in a similar way as decribed here and they may be manifesting change as this is written. If it is working, we will see something emerge during february. I can only wish them, if there is a them, the best of luck. I will be able to spot it if it is happening and contribute all my efforts to assisting its full realisation.

I am realistic, however. The recession is just beginning. The waves of consequence as spreading through the psycho-social sea and constructive and destructive interference, the feedback loops, the disturbances will be many. I think a major opportunity has passed. As things get messier, the visibility for clear action will cloud. Realistically, the solutions people will be coming up with will only deal with partial problems, and the interference of competing solutions will, sadly, contribute to further confusion. I suspect another two years may have to pass before the clouds part for a moment and we get a glimmer of a solution that might shift paradigm of our daily practice. Until that time, I shall keep myself open as much as possible, though concern myself with smaller goals, with helping individuals achieve their ideals at a smaller scale.