This blog is a record of what we are doing in the real world as we self-organise to deal with the repercussions to the credit crunch. There is no organisation to this, no group, no network. You are already part of it. Let's do the best we can.

800k+ people to be unemployed in the first two months of 2009 in the UK alone...

Saturday 25 April 2009

standing wave

Very interesting moments of engagement. Talking with Dougald at tuttle assured me that he is a good man and doing his best; I shall not question him ever again. Meeting his mother also verified deeper aspects of his being. Spoke at length with Mamading, regarding collective strategy and my potential role as an outsider drawing attention to dynamics as I enter their organisational space and depart, only once invited of course.

Met with Luke, a genius, again at a talk at the beginning of Slow London Festival; watched an excellent talk by David Rooney about Time, and talked to one of the organisers of the event, Cathy was it?, and remembered that I hadn't replied to their request for information regarding my initiative with slow business ehehhe. Luke and I talked afterwards and we might be playing Armagetron together and mathematising the 'lose me, we win' ethic. There was also mentioning of tango, and perhaps Liz would be interested in teaching him with my guidance.

Big blow out with Tav, on Tav's side, which seems to have resulted in a useful engagement today. Attempting to invite thought on collective strategy, specifically on creating the conditions for next year that enable 1,000,000 to confluence well (cf pulse). This is further qualified by talking with Sofia with a 6 month goal of creating an "empty space" in autumn/winter which perhaps 1k people might block off, individuals who we have determined as having and demonstrating the appropriate qualities for confluence. It might be possible to define the skill/belief set in the negative space, ie it is not this, not that, etc, and whatever is left is thereby defined indirectly. Also, Sofia came up with "drop it when it gets too heavy", aligned to the mantra I suggested to her last week: imagine 10 people lifting a table; if it feels to heavy, then the response should be to relax and let more weight be taken by others. Consider this in relation to personal gravity, when things get personal, too heavy, just let go. The table will only crash down if there are too many people who are not "pulling their weight". Would be very impressed if Tav just decided to do the dishes, all the dishes, all the time. This is an example of the kind of thing required.

Regarding collective strategy, it's like a teacher who prepares the learning environment for the student to piece things together. Or, when people get thirsty, you have the water ready for them. Those involved in social innovation camp et al will realise the limited scope of their growth because the inherent basis of their business model is competitive. That is, the current successes of social media now will meet with failure, with some people realising this throughout the year until by next year it shall be understood. The trick is to set into place influential strategy so that by next year, when a new solution is proposed by various parties, the conditions are appropriate. A reasonable metaphor is to think about improving the quality of soil. It's not about seeding and growing things, but embracing the failure that is death, composting, enriching the conditions. To this end, finally, Sofia is starting to get the "failure vibe" and we hope to have a fun time with that.

Brief engagement with Lloyd of the social art piece, tuttle, which seemed to echo a lot of the things I have written and practiced with collective consultancy. Think I worked out the necessary business model for it to work. Instead of most of these startups starting up with cash injections, I believe it begins with free services, and money flows along the principle of pay it forwards. Start with small group and an effect within a week, giving rise to longer term, larger projects, and greater money flow. Think institutional aikido.

Tomorrow looks like a nice day. If the weather is nice, a picnic with the collapsonomic guys at st james' park, followed by meditation, fresh and raw food salon before tango in the evening.

Looks like this coming month and next month are going to be critical, as this year and next is critical of this decade and the next. The outcome of our efforts may define an age, heheheh, really. You can just sit and read this and watch it as it happens, or you are cordially invited to participate as you see fit. Please remember initial sensitive conditions of chaotic systems. Whether we get hurricanes or depressions depends on our actions now. Be awake. Be well.

Thursday 23 April 2009

second wave

having missed the opportunity of catching the first wave
a serendipitous hiatus has caused me to rethink the unemployment situation
and a new formulation has come to mind

the current social security system tries to treat everyone the same
however in reality
there are at least two tiers:
the standard substandard menu which awaits you when you sign on every two weeks
and for those incapable for whatever reason
incapacity benefit

i believe these two levels of provision are good
and in fact i praise the government's attempt to get a little tighter with the second tier
however
the system is still depressing and overly strict

so
here's a potential solution:
three tiers:
alpha beta gama

gama
where those individuals have serious issues that prevent them from being capable
alcohol addiction depression etc
in which case special care and treatment must be offered
integrated with health service
so help the individual overcome their condition

beta
which is the system that is now
where individuals are helped with cv's and trying to get work
and getting the occasional poke to wake them up
and preventing them from slumping into apathy and depression

alpha
for those individuals who are proactive self-determined learners
who have all the equipment and contacts and energy
to create opportunities of employment

that is
i believe we can create the conditions for the alpha tier
with minimal involvement by the government body
aligning ourselves through the free social media services already out there


i've started talking to people about it
and i hope to make a preliminary meeting with local job centre
again along the methodological principles outlined earlier in this blog and elswhere

went to the social innovation camp last night
and 2 of the chosen 7 ideas related to unemployment
and i believe one of the ideas at the next socincamp will be to produce this system
the trick is
let's not just implement it top-down
PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASE
since this will not work as well as a genuine and respectful bottom up growth!

be the wave