Launching the Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (CPCS) Initiative Hashtag (#CPbCSus) (on the Twitter Platform)

Introduction

The Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (CPCS) Initiative provides research and analysis for critical challenge alerts, and research and support for collaborative problem solving and community education initiatives which seek to maximize citizen participation, and accelerate solution-oriented activity.

The CPCS Initiative has identified ten critical challenges [see “A List of Ten Critical Challenges” (Oct., 2015)] which will require problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before.

[Related tweets”: “2 p. version “List of 10 Critical Challenges” Oct,2015 http://bit.ly/1RUgpzA more connecting thedots moments p8-19 #CPbCSus Summary Paper”; “#CPbCSus Unprecedented challenges ahead/arrangement of quotes, evidence provides “connecting the dots” moments p 8-19 Summary Paper”].

The evidence provided in the two page “List of Ten Critical Challenges” document is only a representative fraction of the evidence accumulated in longer documents compiled by this writer. Three examples: “IPCR Critical Challenge Assessment 2011-2012: Summary Report” (444 pages; January, 2012); “Invitation Package for Possible Board of Advisors” (589 pages; November, 2013); and “An Assessment of the Most Critical Challenges of Our Times” (36 pages; May, 2015).

The current focus of The CPCS Initiative is outreach associated with the 82 page paper "Recalibrating Our 'Moral Compasses': to resolve unprecedented challenges and discover our collective spiritual destiny", which summarizes the work of The CPCS Initiative.

[Related tweet: “Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability Initiative features 82 p paper/summarizes work of CPCS founder since 2001 #CPbCSus”]

The CPCS Initiative hashtag (#CPbCSus on the Twitter platform) has been created to help minimize disconnect and support maximum clarity on both the nature of the challenges ahead, and what collaborative problem solving and community education initiatives will make best use of the knowledge, skills, and resources each one of us has to contribute at this critical time.

[Related Tweet:  “Launching Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (CPCS) Initiative # (#CPbCSus)”/5 p http://bit.ly/1jyZLdC ]

Discussion

Global warming is the most critical challenge in the “List of Ten Critical Challenges” identified by The CPCS Initiative [“This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time, to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years, since the industrial revolution”--from article “Figueres: First time the world economy is transformed intentionally” (UN Climate Chief Christiana Figueres)].

However, the CPCS Initiative Summary Paper (see especially point #2, p. 22-25, and further on to p. 29) recognizes “A Marginalization of the Treasured Wisdom of Religious, Spiritual, and Moral Traditions” as a significant factor affecting every one of the ten challenges identified—with implications which are far from being fully appreciated [from p. 23: “Looking at the assessment as a whole, it should be clear to most readers that the negative outcomes associated with every one of the challenges identified would be noticeably remedied if (the working definitions of “treasured wisdom” provided on p. 22-23) were more fully integrated into the everyday circumstances of community life.”]

[Related tweets: “Marginalization Wisdom of Ages--serious blind spot, w/ implications which are far from being fully appreciated p20-29 Summary Paper #CPbCSus”; “15 highly regarded critical challenge assessments donot consider variations in human morality as significant factor p24SummaryPaper #CPbCSus”; “Confidence will be dimmed by lack of clarity until widespread public discourse on full dimensions of critical challenges ahead #CPbCSus”]

The CPCS Initiative also recognizes the difficulties of reversing such a critical deficit (the marginalization of treasured wisdom…)—as most of us seem to be much more familiar with what is meant by cultures of violence, greed, corruption, and overindulgence, than what is meant by the wisdom which has been accumulated over the many centuries of human experience, and which has been confirmed again and again by the saints, sages, spiritual leaders, and sincere practitioners of all religious, spiritual, and moral traditions. Thus, to give due diligence to reaching positive tipping points on all ten of the critical challenges identified (in “A List of Ten Critical Challenges”), the CPCS Initiative advocates for a “constellation” of collaborative problem solving and community education initiatives.

[Related tweets: “CPCS Initiative: we cannot afford serious concerns about nature and reliability of our ‘moral compasses’ at this critical time #CPbCSus”;“26 point list of recommendations for collaborative problem solving and community education initiatives p30-33 Summary Paper #CPbCSus”; “Detailed descriptions of 4 approaches to unprecedented collaborative problem solving in CPCS Summary Paper p. 34-44 #CPbCSus”]

Of the 4 collaborative problem solving and community education approaches given the highest priority by the CPCS Initiative, the most important is the Recalibrating Our “Moral Compasses” (ROMC) Survey Project. The ROMC Survey Project advocates for many surveys of 300 (different) people from around the world who are well known in fields of activity associated with creating a peaceful and sustainable world.

[Related tweets: “CPCS Initiative: Recalib Moral Compasses Survey Project = survey leaders in peace, sustainability fields on challenges, solutions #CPbCSus”; “CPCS Initiative: Colleges,Universities could launch Recalib Our Moral Compasses Survey Project; assist w/ unprecedented transition #CPbCSus”]

Currently, the 9 Question Categories for a Recalibrating Our “Moral Compasses” (ROMC)Survey are:

1) Critical Challenge Assessment
2) Solution Recommendations [specific to your field(s) of activity]
3) Recommendations for Collaborative Problem Solving Design
4) Degree of Collaborative Problem Solving Needed
5) Towards Working Definitions of “Right Livelihood”
6) Towards Working Definitions of “Moral Compasses”
7) Features Which Define Advanced Societies
8) Recommendations for Other People Who Would be Appropriate as Survey Participants
9) Comments, suggestions, recommendations, etc not brought forward by Questions 1-8

[For how specific questions are framed, see “The 9 Questions Being Asked in The ROMC Survey” (p. 8-12) in “The Recalibrating our ‘Moral Compasses’ (ROMC) Survey Project Prospectus” (74 pages; Nov., 2014)]

[Related tweet: “9 questions proposed for Recalib Our Moral Compasses (ROMC) Survey p8-12 in 74 page ROMC Prospectus http://bit.ly/1GeMxwG #CPbCSus”]

The CPCS Initiative believes we cannot afford to have serious concerns about the nature and reliability of our “moral compasses” at this critical time.

[Related tweet: “CPCS Initiative: we cannot afford serious concerns about nature and reliability of our ‘moral compasses’ at this critical time #CPbCSus”)

On pages 45-54 in the CPCS Summary Paper, 5 recommendations are offered for how to scale up the Recalibrating Our “Moral Compasses” (ROMC) Survey Project. Potential partnerships and collaborations are suggested, with details provided for 19 organizations, and mention made of 38 other organizations. There is much along the lines of collaborative problem solving and community education which could maximize citizen participation, and accelerate solution-oriented activity.

[Related Tweets: “5 recommendations: scaling up Recalib Our Moral Compasses Survey Project/partnership opportune w/ 19 organiz p45-54 Summary Paper #CPbCSus”; “CPCS Initiative: Recalib Our Moral Compasses Survey/ 5p ”Project Summary and Invitation to Participate” http://bit.ly/1Rkx8eJ #CPbCSus”]

The CPCS Initiative’s “constellation of initiatives” approach to collaborative problem solving and community education also includes:

● Community Visioning Initiatives [One example of a Community Visioning Initiative which inspired this writer: the 13 minute video “Chattanooga: A Community with a Vision” (accessible at Vimeo). This video includes many interviews and how-to details, and documents two very successful Community Visioning Initiatives organized by the non-profit organization Chattanooga Venture (Chattanooga, Tennessee USA)—one in 1984, and a follow-up in 1993. The 1984 Chattanooga Community Visioning Project (“Vision 2000”) attracted more than 1,700 participants, and produced 40 community goals—which resulted in the implementation of 223 projects and programs, the creation of 1,300 permanent jobs, and a total financial investment of 793 million dollars.]
● Neighborhood Learning Centers [Neighborhood Learning Centers can be: a) multi-purpose support centers for implementing Community Visioning Initiatives b) neighborhood meeting places and workshop centers c) a critical part of a low cost lifelong learning education system (which would include questionnaires and surveys, Community Visioning Initiatives, Neighborhood Learning Centers and neighborhood learning networks, local newspapers primarily focused on community service, etc)]
● the Neighbor to Neighbor Community Education (NTNCE) Project (which advocates for a new section in local newspapers for reader contributions which identify helpful people and valuable resources, and reinforce important community goals)

[Related tweets include: “CPCS: we need collaborative problem solving approaches which make bestuse of knowledge/skills/resources each of us can contribute #CPbCSus”; “1000CommunityVisioningInitiatives=exponential increase solutionoriented investment/exponential increase solutionoriented employment #CPbCSus”; “Colleges,Universities assisting w/ recalib moral compasses surveys, visioning initiatives=acceleration to positive tipping points #CPbCSus”; “Maximizing citizen participation to positive tipping points/Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (CPCS) Initiative #CPbCSus”]

Internationally focused Recalibrating Our “Moral Compasses” (ROMC) Surveys, free Ebooks summarizing survey results, and locally based ROMC Surveys can help local community residents appreciate the need for local Community Visioning Initiatives (or other collaborative problem solving/stakeholder engagement processes)—and many supporting Neighborhood Learning Centers—and provide key starting points for topics to cover in workshops at Neighborhood Learning Centers.

Concluding Comments

We must be careful—at this critical time—that our collective efforts are not tragically flawed by significant blind spots, as such efforts could contribute more to cynicism than confidence about our capacity to manage the most critical cultural turning point since the dawn of civilization.

The #CPbCSus Initiative hashtag (on the Twitter platform) has been created to help minimize disconnect and support maximum clarity on both the nature of the challenges ahead, and what collaborative problem solving and community education initiatives will make best use of the knowledge, skills, and resources each one of us has to contribute at this critical time.

The CPCS Initiative is offering its model of 4 collaborative problem solving and community education initiatives as one example of how we can achieve the necessary degree of problem solving to be confident of minimizing suffering and maximizing constructive citizen participation during this time of unprecedented cultural change.

In this time of unprecedented challenges—and especially in the context of collaborative problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before—there are going to be countless opportunities for reconciliation. There are going to be countless opportunities for arriving at a new appreciation of the personal qualities, skills, and beliefs of our neighbors and fellow citizens. And there are going to be countless opportunities for our neighbors and fellow citizens to become part of a system of mutual support and encouragement in our local communities, as we respond to multiple, unprecedented challenges.

If there is more recognition of the many unprecedented challenges we face, there will be more sympathy for how much we are going to need all the resources, knowledge, and skills each one of us has, how much we all need to be learning to so that we can be part of the solutions, and how much we really need to be on the same side, helping each other, if we are going to succeed at resolving the challenges ahead of us.

And, once the need for unprecedented forms of collaborative problem solving and community education become more commonly accepted—and the natural creativity and capacity for innovation which we human beings have shown ourselves capable of becomes more focused on designing collaborative problem solving and community education models—we may discover that we can work towards goals which we have never thought possible before.

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The current focus of The CPCS Initiative is outreach associated with the 82 page paper "Recalibrating Our 'Moral Compasses': to resolve unprecedented challenges and discover our collective spiritual destiny", which summarizes the work of The CPCS Initiative.

Most of the outreach being done for the CPCS Initiative Summary Paper is being done on the Twitter platform, through tweets to specific organizations, individuals, and related hashtags—and by way of creating the #CPbCSus hashtag. CPCS Initiative tweets are from founder and resource coordinator
Stefan Pasti (@StefanPasti); and, whenever possible (and relevant), those tweets will include the CPCS Initiative hashtag (#CPbCSus). Key outreach documents include:

1) “A List of Ten Critical Challenges” (2 pages; Oct., 2015)
2) “Launching the Community Peacebuilding and Cultural Sustainability (#CPCS) Initiative Hashtag” (5 page summary of the CPCS Initiative) (Oct., 2015) (this document)
3) “6 Series of Tweets-as Support for Launching the #CPbCSus (hashtag) at Twitter” (8 pages.; Oct., 2015)
4) A local community newsletter (created by CPCS Initiative founder Stefan Pasti) which introduces the 82 page CPCS Initiative summary paper. There are two links for the local community newsletter because of how the newsletter was formatted [Page 1 of the Neighbor to Neighbor Community Journal (July, 2015 issue) and Pages 2-8 of the Neighbor to Neighbor Community Journal (July, 2015 issue)] (8 pages; July, 2015).

Note: All of the documents mentioned in this post are accessible from the CPCS Initiative homepage, at www.cpcsi.org