Miami Dispatch: 11/16

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The spokescouncil goes well. We hear reports from all the working groups, the usual constellation of medics, legal, food, security, coms, etc. but some new ones that have come directly out of discussions we had in Cancun and ongoing discussions in the movement about how to bring in new people and better handle conflict. Friedl has set up a Vibeswatch group, to help deal with conflicts that arise in the space and to hear peoples' concerns. Every day at five there will be a General Assembly, where people can express concerns about the space, the community, the workings of the infrastructure. Brush has set up a Plug-In Group, to help new people step up to tasks and take on responsibilities.

It strikes me, listening to him, that work and responsibility are the prizes in our movement -- not odious tasks to be avoided, but plums to be picked. Taking on responsibilities, making contributions, are how you start to feel part of the group, to feel connected, to gain respect. So people want to work, to make their mark and give their own unique gifts to the process. And the work is so sweet -- the feeling of everyone pulling together, the excitement of our co-creation, that no task is odious.

Oh hell, just got a call that our 9 a.m. meeting to direct the setting up of tents in the new camping space has been move up to 8 a.m. I will send this off, grab some cereal, and go!

Starhawk is an activist, organizer, and author of Webs of Power: Notes from the Global Uprising and eight other books on feminism, politics and earth-based spirituality. She teaches Earth Activist Trainings that combine permaculture design and activist skills, and works with the RANT trainer's collective, www.rantcollective.org that offers training and support for mobilizations around global justice and peace issues. To get her periodic posts of her writings, email Starhawk-subscribe@lists.riseup.net and put 'subscribe' in the subject heading. If you're on that list and don't want any more of these writings, email Starhawk-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net and put 'unsubscribe' in the subject heading. These updates are posted daily on: www.utne.com and www.starhawk.org

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