The Meta-crisis is caused by our System
Human society is encountering Monster Problems. Monsters are the really big, seemingly impossible-to-solve issues which must be solved, very scary stuff (See the chart comparing Tame, Wicked and Monsters).
Some global "Monster Problems" are.
Currently, our global System is primarily based on a simple idea: Establish the "rules of the game" through treaties, laws and norms. This establishes a game-like competition and competitive mind-set, where people, corporations and nations compete for money and power. It's a competition of Special Interests that will naturally become deadly whenever resources become constrained. Wars are the natural result. Of course, representatives often try and do this, establishing treaties and alliances, for example. But what's missing is an all-inclusive "stepping back," where "We the People" co-determine the collective will.
Some global "Monster Problems" are.
- The rapid proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction ... e.g. More nations want nuclear weapons
- The climate crisis ... See: Solving climate change
- Worsening "L-shaped" distribution of wealth and power
- The resurgence of Authoritarianism ... (i.e. from Box to Triangle)
- The threat of Artificial Intelligence taking over from humanity
- Overpopulation ... A number of scientists say the carrying capacity of the earth is about 2 billion people but already there are many more
- Increasing Tragedies of the Commons ... e.g. Fish resources, fresh water, biodiversity, forests, soil, pollution, trust-levels, etc.
- Collective Trauma to our people from wars, poverty, climate events, racism, authoritarian governments, sexism, biosphere collapse, etc.
- Wars ... e.g. the resurgence of "might makes right", loss of freedoms, inequitable justice, etc.
- Pandemics ... e.g. Covid 19, Influenza, etc.
- Prejudice ... against other races, religions, sexes, etc.
- (You name it ...)
Currently, our global System is primarily based on a simple idea: Establish the "rules of the game" through treaties, laws and norms. This establishes a game-like competition and competitive mind-set, where people, corporations and nations compete for money and power. It's a competition of Special Interests that will naturally become deadly whenever resources become constrained. Wars are the natural result. Of course, representatives often try and do this, establishing treaties and alliances, for example. But what's missing is an all-inclusive "stepping back," where "We the People" co-determine the collective will.
Good News!
It's possible for "just us" to facilitate all the people to step back, think together about these Monsters and co-create solutions that are collectively intelligent. And if we do this on a regular basis ... then not only are we solving the Monsters but we are restructuring the global System to a new level of collective intelligence, a new spirit of global community and a new relationship to the biosphere. It's both a new form of democratic global governance (Wise Democracy) and a new form of economics (ToBe-ism).
All that's needed is to add the missing ongoing global "We the People" conversation using the ToBe Project. This shifts the basis of society from market values and a primary emphasis on competition to heartfelt creativity and collaboration. Note: Adding this missing conversation has no identifiable downside.
Benefits arise from:
All that's needed is to add the missing ongoing global "We the People" conversation using the ToBe Project. This shifts the basis of society from market values and a primary emphasis on competition to heartfelt creativity and collaboration. Note: Adding this missing conversation has no identifiable downside.
Benefits arise from:
- The Process ...Just having this whole-system values-based conversation is healing;
- The Outcomes ... The Wisdom Council Process tackles Monster Problems and clarifies the Truth of what's happening, the Concerns of diverse peoples, a shared Vision of what we are seeking, and a "best Strategy" for how to proceed.
- The System ... The new global System and more. Just having this whole system values many ways.
More good news! This transformation is ACCESSIBLE
There is a set of social innovations, which provide a way for us to realize this exciting new future. These include:
When a crisis comes along and diverse people recognize the collective threat they want to collaborate in every way possible. This natural phenomenon is the basis for The ToBe Project. Crisis issues are all around us. It's just that we are not collectively facing them. Once we do ... and we set the tone of choice-creating ... people naturally collaborate. Indigenous peoples throughout the world organized Wisdom Circles in the same way. And they used the Kiva, talking sticks, drumming, ceremonies, etc. to help assure this special quality of thinking, sometimes called "sacred talking". Our name for it is "choice-creating" (i.e. opposite to "decision-making"). The trick here is to use the Wisdom Council Process to reliably facilitate choice-creating in extremely large systems.
To the extent global society is collapsing, The ToBe Project essential. We must start talking together about what's going on. We must share our views and values in a safe environment. We must achieve a new level of Collective Intelligence. Here's a mostly-proven way to do it. There is no identifiable downside. And each step is accessible and beneficial.
- The facilitative model of change. Most people think there are only two possible forms of change: top-down or bottom-up. This process uses a holistic model of change where we facilitate our living System to transform itself.
- Choice-creating is a lost form of talking and thinking which assured the survival ancient humans. Unlike today's "decision making," where diversity of viewpoints is a liability, with choice-creating a diversity viewpoints is an asset.
- Dynamic Facilitation uses four charts to reliably evoke choice-creating in small groups by supporting each persons unique views and perspectives.
- The Wisdom Council Process provides a way that large systems of people can join into one conversation very much like choice-creating, where people solve impossible-seeming problems and achieve empowering breakthroughs.
- Society's Breakthrough is a special application of the Wisdom Council Process to the nation or to the global system.
- The ToBe Project articulates step-by-step how "we" (i.e. just us) intend to implement Society's Breakthrough at the global level.
When a crisis comes along and diverse people recognize the collective threat they want to collaborate in every way possible. This natural phenomenon is the basis for The ToBe Project. Crisis issues are all around us. It's just that we are not collectively facing them. Once we do ... and we set the tone of choice-creating ... people naturally collaborate. Indigenous peoples throughout the world organized Wisdom Circles in the same way. And they used the Kiva, talking sticks, drumming, ceremonies, etc. to help assure this special quality of thinking, sometimes called "sacred talking". Our name for it is "choice-creating" (i.e. opposite to "decision-making"). The trick here is to use the Wisdom Council Process to reliably facilitate choice-creating in extremely large systems.
To the extent global society is collapsing, The ToBe Project essential. We must start talking together about what's going on. We must share our views and values in a safe environment. We must achieve a new level of Collective Intelligence. Here's a mostly-proven way to do it. There is no identifiable downside. And each step is accessible and beneficial.
System transformation is necessary
Our System is missing "the essential conversation"
The ToBe Project can add the missing conversation
The ToBe Project is comprised of eight accessible steps. It convenes a "We the People" conversation that we'd all like to be part of. The magic sauce to achieving this global "We the People" is a heartfelt, creative kind of conversation that humans have used since the beginning of time, but which has largely been lost. The viability of this project depends on our ability to facilitate "Choice-creating," at large scale. For the 8-steps and further description see The ToBe Project.
"Stone Soup"... a model of change we can use
The ToBe Project is essentially the "Wisdom Council Process" applied to the global System. We already know that the Wisdom Council Process works at large scale because two states of Austria have adopted it into their state constitutions. And we also know that it's possible for "Just Us" to set the ToBe Project in motion.
A cartoon description of how it can work
Can we save the world? ... Yes! ... System Transformation is needed
Many people and organizations are working to make the world a better place. Doing "all that I can." ... That's good! But it's not enough. Our System is the ultimate problem. The "Monster Problems" will continue until we shift away from the Box System.
With enough people who ""Get" that this must happen (and maybe just $10 million) we can start The ToBe Project. This project starts "at scale" (!) ... From the very beginning The ToBe Project works with a legitimate symbol of all of us as "We the People." So there is no need to "scale up." With each cycle there is an exponential growth of people getting involved. These added participants "fill in" the already existing "We the People" so that it is ever more powerful.
With enough people who ""Get" that this must happen (and maybe just $10 million) we can start The ToBe Project. This project starts "at scale" (!) ... From the very beginning The ToBe Project works with a legitimate symbol of all of us as "We the People." So there is no need to "scale up." With each cycle there is an exponential growth of people getting involved. These added participants "fill in" the already existing "We the People" so that it is ever more powerful.
What Can I Do? ... e.g. to help solve climate change?
There are different levels of change to better things within the existing System. For instance with regard to climate change
Level 1: Recycle my garbage, boycotting offending corporations, educate
Level 2: Getting new laws and treaties, new technologies
Level 3. Helping to bring about new principles, values and paradigms ... Can use dialogue networks, consciousness raising, etc.
Of course, all these efforts are good but without The ToBe Project (or some other way to transform the System), these actions only address symptoms, making system transformation seem less necessary. Best is carry on with within-system efforts AND support The ToBe Project enough to ensure it System transformation happens.
The ToBe Project provides for the solving many impossible-seeming, existential "Monster Problems" (e.g Solving climate change) in three primary ways:
Level 1: Recycle my garbage, boycotting offending corporations, educate
Level 2: Getting new laws and treaties, new technologies
Level 3. Helping to bring about new principles, values and paradigms ... Can use dialogue networks, consciousness raising, etc.
Of course, all these efforts are good but without The ToBe Project (or some other way to transform the System), these actions only address symptoms, making system transformation seem less necessary. Best is carry on with within-system efforts AND support The ToBe Project enough to ensure it System transformation happens.
The ToBe Project provides for the solving many impossible-seeming, existential "Monster Problems" (e.g Solving climate change) in three primary ways:
- The Process by itself changes hearts and minds, reshapes the paradigm, heals trauma, etc.
- The Outcomes are shared understandings about what's going on and what we need to do.
- The System becomes transformed as "We the People" gain response-ability to steward the biosphere
Additional resources ...
- Article: "The ToBe Project: A Shortcut to Global Transformation"
- European Organization seeking to implement the ToBe Project: Adding the Missing Conversation
- Podcast in India: Breakthrough Solutions for a Divided Society” .. with Ajay Khudania 12/2/2024
- Free 5-part seminar: "Essential Wisdom for Solving Society's Biggest Issues"
- See video examples of the Wisdom Council Process working at large scale in a public setting
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