Homepage | Course Requirements / Grading
Detailed and Continually Updated Course Schedule
UCB Policies | Blog | Internships and Other Opportunities

Blog


Reflections on the Conflict Frontiers Slideshow -- January 14, 15


The following are the notes for the meeting for:
Michael Johnson
Ted Geissler
Dan Hutchinson
Kayla Berg
Kevin Cummiskey
Lindsay Koffler
Sarah Yearsley
Rene Van Meter
Colin Hickey
Justin Kutner
Rachel Ptaszek

We feel that the best ways to get people involved in a movement for Peace and Conflict resolution in the way discussed today in class is by first eliciting the empathy of people by asking them to place themselves into the shoes of people who are threat of violent actions, including war and terrorism, but not just limited to them.

This ability to place themselves into the lives of at risk people, and thereby connecting them to action, can possibly be done by showing real impact. Show real violence and real people and their stories. In these days of instant news and numbers they now mean very little. To say 80 million people die may sound large but in actuality it is little more than a number and not real to people anymore. This must be done with kid gloves, however, because too many experiences of in-your-face violence risks the danger of either turning off prospective members of the movement or desensitizing to the point that it will no longer be an effective aid.
The primary message is, though, that pictures and names and personal stories are relateable but numbers no longer hold the same power.

Push the power of common ground groups. There are Israelis and Palestinians that get together this way and get along, beyond the thoughts of war. There are also summer camp groups that mix children of the two nations in a peaceful way. This also leads to involving children. The Butterfly Peace Garden, in Sri Lanka, brings together children from both sides of a bloody civil war to play and experience life together and grow up knowing the "enemy" in a friendly way and possibly ending a long-lived conflict as they become the adults in charge.

In this aspect, show the children. Every charity in the world knows that people want to act more when children are involved, the adults. Children need defending, while adults dig their own holes.

The plain unvarnished truth must be shown and doing so in  grassroots "Barak Obama" way can make people feel empowered and allow them to get involved. This is a very different time then any since JFK and people feel that a change can be made, many for the first time in decades. Use this feeling and take lessons from the Obama campaign to get people involved.



Zuhra Faizi
Miranda Grubbs
Tara Delany
Katie Finn
Thornton Pine
April Harnett
Laura Gooch


Thoughts on Slideshow
-micro-progress success stories could add
-show examples of hope
-people in West need to see results to donate $; small and large-scale; focus on practicality of peace
-show profitability of being peaceful; how expensive war is
-presentation is very idealistic
-have more real-world situations; case studies
-be accountable for money spent
-show regular, normal people; beyond super-humans like ghandi
-encourage coverage; PR ect.


Humans
-have hope, support the idea of hope
-how do you convince people NOT to fight
-start with civilians; unsure what government objectives are
-passion of people should drive government
-civilians benefit more from peace, therefore we must empower them

Stories
-Boyfriend in Gaza, went to UN, asked for office space but denied
-butterfly peace gardens in sri lanka = patty lawrence
-friend knew ghandi; tried to focus on peaceful activism=want to see them on the slideshow too!
-no body can do it by themselves





Reflections on Martin Luther King and Barack Obama -- January 20

Group #4: Brenna Schaetzle, Caitlin Gordon, Lindsay Koffler, Kayla Berg, Haley Sladek, Zuhra Faizi  
 

-King’s use of the song in spoken word was powerful

- references to the foundation, what the US should be about

- sense of urgency to the speech... it has been a continuous struggle and now is the time 

-King speaks like a Reverend, he was one

- one person made the point that Obama sort of sounded like a Reverend today too 

-both play to people’s values... address people on a personal level

- acknowledgment of opposition 

- our freedom is all interconnected 

  • King addressed the US, Obama addresses the world 
  • how many people watched listened? 
  • both refer to rising above, being a better person, do it with honor 

dreaming of hope vs. dreaming of change 

  • Obama referenced how 60 years ago his father would have faced discrimination and segregation and never would have imagined his son’s fate as President
  • Obama spoke of the work to be done. Remaking america 

Relationship btw. 2 speeches: appealed to service 

  • bound
  • we dont have institutional structure

PACS 4500

MLK and Obama Speech Comparison and Group Discussion 

Colin Hickey, April Harnett, Dan Hutchinson, Sarah Yearsley, Thuy Huynh, Katie Finn 

MLK

-Transformation + not violence – not seeing enemy as “other”

  • Serious/gravity lots hinge on context – ripeness (fierce urgency of now)
  • Rhetoric – use of language and metaphor – symbol
  • Believable
  • Inclusive – intimate and inextricable links (burden is ours) destiny
  • Appeal to stated “American Ideals” our founding principles
  • Non-threatening but firm, passionate delivery
  • Racism was visible, not hidden as much of subsequent issues are (environmental, etc.)
  • Drastic contrast between violence and this speech
  • Certain people just have “it” that ineffable quality, the voice, charisma, and ability to inspire that special fuzzy feeling in our cores 

Obama

-Similar focus on constitution and creed (history)

-Boundedness, collectivism, holism

-Moment in time, temporal urgency

-Assertive, passionate but not threatening

Group 1: Cara Wagner, Laura Gooch, Emily Batts, Vicki Van Antwerp, Kerri Cordy, Tara Delancey, Tucker Pyne

Class Discussion

    1. Speaking style
    1. Compared to Obama, very majestic
    1. Use laments terms when speaking, can reach a wide audience 
    1. Content
    1. Never condemned/degraded whites or assigned blame
    1. Positive message
    2. Can connect with many people on many issues, not just civil rights
    3. Calling people to action
      1. Stop sitting and start doing which is similar to Obama’s speech.
      2. Calling for a united effort
      3. Both bring up happiness/hope for the future
    1. Obama
    1. Change
      1. Came from the grassroots, people wanted it so it happened
      2. We can do more, people have power
    1. Why aren’t there more people who can speak like these men?
    1. Difficult
    1. Ability to pull on the feelings of a generation, not only their thoughts but the thoughts/feelings/emotions of a whole generation

Group #2 included:  Rene Van Meter(scribe), Kevin Cummiskey, Miranda Grubbs, Ryan Cambe, Bradford Bowen, Rachel Ptaszek, and Justin Kutner

    In analyzing Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, we noticed that his topic was one that people could really stand behind.  The issue of racism isn’t an issue that allowed for apathy.  People either believed in what Dr. King and his organization was working for, or they were opposed.  Dr. King used strong language that was very persuasive, and he included his religious beliefs in his speech.
    The similarities that we noted between Dr. King and President Obama were in both men’s presence and level of sophistication.  In addition, President Obama used grassroots support to win and this is a tactic that Dr. King used to his advantage.


Possible Project Topics Discussion -- January 21, 22

January 21st 2009 Concept Paper discussions

  1.  January 21st 2009 Concept Paper discussions
 
  1. Breaking down stereotypes
    1.  We talked about the Children’s Butterfly Peace Garden in Sri Lanka
      1.  Allows the two conflicting ethnic groups to play and be creative while still young.
 
  1. Education Reform
    1.  We discussed the funding of public schools
      1.  How  “No Child Left Behind” was attempted
      2.  Neighborhood property taxes cause inequality.
        1.  Drop out rates could be correlated to incarceration rates.
          1.  Society either pays for education or incarceration
      3.  Money that went to higher education in CO is now going to prisons/jails
        1.  Colorado is 49th in the country for higher education funding
 
  1. Simple water management project example
    1.  Play pumps is a low infrastructure and fun solution to Africa’s water difficulties
    2.   http://www.playpumps.org
 
  1. And more...
• Ideas for projects
• CU workers (janitors, cooks, etc) not making a living wage
       ○ school in Florida students went to regent and got them to raise the pay
       ○ Look into cost of living
       ○ Minimum wage system, corrupt
• Red Cross and crisis anticipation response
       ○ Non partisan
       ○ Used Red Cross to rescue
• Refugee
       ○ You have to be persecuted by government organization in order to get asylum under another country
       ○ Climate refugee: Pacific islands will disappear in ten years due to raising water, ruled by king
• Sanctions
       ○ Iran
       ○ North Korea
       ○ Ones that don't affect the population
• Leadership negotiation
       ○ Let's just talk
• Stereotype
       ○ Learn about in high school, middle school
       ○ Programs
               ○ Random history assignment
                       □ Get an assignment
               ○ "Challenge day program"
                       □ Line draw in the middle, everyone around it, read off characteristics, walk to line
                               ® Questions included:
                                       ◊ If you are a female, step to the live,
                                       ◊ If you have been beaten, step to the line
                                       ◊ If you have experiences racism, step to the line
               ○ Global hunger
                       □ Students would be randomly selected to different social economic status, food would be proportional, majority were poor.

Here is our group's notes from the project brainstorming session

Project ideas
Butterfly peace gardens
-          http://www.aidsrilanka.info/wst_page6.html
-          Similar peace gardens in other countries
Civil disaster response
                Ie: if food delivery is stopped
-          Boulder going local, getting local farmers to provide food
International corporations
-          Going into other countries’ problem areas
Play Pumps International
-          http://www.playpumps.org/site/c.hqLNIXOEKrF/b.2589561/k.C08/The_PlayPump_System__The_Water_Problem.htm
-          A water pump that looks like a merry-go-round but as kids play on it, it purifies and pumps water
School funding
-          Something in between taxes funding schools and donations
-          No child left behind? How does this play into it
-          Nicholas Christoph – New York Times article on school funding situation
      
Projects going on around the world – GREAT Web site
http://worlded.org/WEIInternet/projects/projectsbysector.cfm (by sector)


Class Notes 1/22/09

-Research of environment issues & impacts

-Reintegration of refugees

      *Hope Againàannual conference to create network around child soldiers

      *Invisible Childrenà what are the impacts of a travel trip turning in to a youth led movement, it is great to see people acting and making a difference

-grassroots movements, better to come from people

-Counseling for war zonesà landmines, rape, children etc

-collaborative way to support better teachers & schools

      *inequality

      *hard to address issue, who do you talk to school board, teachers? Bureaucracy, exhausting

-immigration

      *Annunciation Houseà address multiple levels of the conflict, educates US groups through Border Awareness Experience, politically active, provide housing, food, job and legal assistance to immigrants (whether they are legal or not), well rounded organization

      *living wage campaign, temporary workers (have a high turn over, helps University not the workersà University of Colorado

      *cultural reconciliation--. They should learn English, there are structural things that are barriers to learning languages, example forced into certain neighborhoods, schools, SWAP

Katie finn

Vicki Van Antwerp

Laura Gooch

Kevin Cummiskey

Ted Geissler

Lindsay Koffler

Haley Sladek
Group 2: Cara Wagner, April Harnett, Tora Delancey, Colin Hickey, Justin Kutner, Zuhra Faizi

Project Ideas

   1. Community in Gaza specifically for Women who don’t have land
   2. Accountability to the media referring to the conflict in between Israel/Palestine
   3. Conflict Resolution program for children in the intra ethnic conflict in Ghana
   4. Building Bridges with Muslims in the US

1/22 Brenna, Thuy, Ryan, Rene, Kayla, Michael

Common Purpose
-       people with disabilities cant get jobs.... mass media campaign to educate
(fights prejudice)
-       educational reform: Columbine elementary school... tests arent bilingual
-       oil drilling money doesnt go to locals who have their environment destroyed
-       land use reform in developing countries/conservation/ sustainable
development


Continued Possible Topics Discussion -- January 27, 28


Notes for
Bradford Bowen
Justin Kutner
Kevin Cummiskey
Ryan Cambe

Partisanship has been taken to a new level/era. how to get past partisanship.
How to reconcile domestic issues between party lines.  What impact have the neo-cons had? Tax cuts or helping the poor? dispute systems/tolerance persuasion. research how to get past partisanship, third party promotion?

Getting rid of stereotypes in media.  Obsession film, stated it is not a normal Arab, but then sensationalized terrorism and Arab people.  Racism in movies.  focus on popular media like Hollywood.  Oppositional campaign.  how bridge the cultural gap.  fight the normal views of Saudis cheering at 9/11.  why would/should this be important? what drives you to want to change this?

Community work and changeing cultural stereotypes

Community Group Discussion
 

orphans in afghanistan: orphan sponsoring programs. give an incentive for people to learn about the country and be involved in the childrens' lives. not just sending money but more personal involvement

handle crisis: womens rights education in africa: in the congo perhaps. also HIV/retroviral drugs. education about how to use them properly and correct administration. training programs. also work with pharmaceutical companies so that access to drugs is more available. start a training center perhaps. would start it out in one community and then try to spread it. 

group with people who don't have any familiarity with guns to come learn how they work so to limit the danger of guns in the hands of people who don't know how to use them. community groups bringing together victims of gun violence and gun owners to discuss issues and the future of legislation. community classes that were supported by the city. open forum for discussion about issues. realistic ways to prevent deaths/violence etc. 

solar panels into gaza. israel controls electricity to gaza so this would help them be energy independent. would help minimize the disruption to people's daily lives. government subsidized so that solar cell companies would want to go there and set up shop. good politically for the relationship between israel and gaza because israel has such a power lock on them.

long-term shelters for victims of abuse and rape. counseling as well. something with refugees perhaps since rape is so widespread in war zones. psychological help for these women as well.

Group Names:

Vicki Van Antwerp

Emily Batts

Thuy Huynh

Cara Wagner

Kerri Cordy

Katie Finn

Tucker Pyne

 

    * Notes from Group Discussions:
          o Common Purpose project: to get people to work together that haven’t worked together before
          o Complex purpose project: to get two groups of people who will/ haven’t worked together before because of their intractable conflict
          o Topics should be different from one another
          o Creating a better system for charter schools which are public schools and they choose who they let inà so for low-income families this is a problem. Because some of these children who are of low-income don’t have the ability to get into these schools (may be parents lack of interest).
                + How do you get parents to value education
                + First step could be to motivate the kids
          o Mentor program at Centaurs High School with students.
                + By purposely not including a specific population, you can create conflict.
          o Union Hill: journals to help children learn English, the teachers are failing these children because they cant participate and the children have low self-esteem. So creating a mentor program to help these children gain back some self-esteem.
                + Have children the same ages writing to one another (a non-English speaking student writing to an English speaking student)
                + Getting kids together that have English as a second language, so that they can share their troubles and experiences with it.
          o Looking at public schools and promoting healthy relationships between teachers, parents, and students.
                + Working to help parents foster a healthier relationships with their child to continue encouraging their children in their pursuit of education.
                + Family Liaison idea
          o 2nd topic ideas:
                + Immigration ideas
                + Bringing business leaders and environmental leaders together

February 2 -- Conflict Project Development Exercise


Teaching Conversational English in Schools (Project Idea)

-Being able to have a more in depth understanding of a language besides the vocabulary/grammar part traditionally taught in schools
-Being able to make learning a language for practicality
-Being able use it realistically (real world scenarios)
-Starting at a younger age that way language is absorbed and practiced for a longer period of time and is easily understood before being immersed in English only and then having to attempt to learn the language
-Finding teacher who would be willing to teach but more importantly have a want to teach the language (not be “checked-out” mentally)
- Finding a way to change through Community Reintegration, Public attitudes; showing people that being able to speak to one another through one’s native language allows for learning experience for everyone
-In grade schools, during the recess period allowing students an option to go and talk to someone to get to know them better or practice the language better
-School Departments/parents/ utilizing community resources (people who know the language quite well, places to visit)
-By putting this project idea to work it could help bring new skills to people by having them learn a new language as well as learning to be more understanding towards other cultures. It would allow for more diversity in an area but at the same time making it more closely knit because there wouldn’t be the same type of segregation towards one group or another
-Finding the people responsible for the language curriculum and showing that knowing the grammar and vocabulary isn’t everything for a class but learning the basic “self- survival” phrases and a strong understanding of the language is what matters
Morgan Barclay
Michelle Smith
Kristi Mohrbacher
Felicia Montano

HS Conflict group notes:
Project Design Questionnaire
1.       What social issues are you addressing?
Racism, stereotyping
2.       What is your orientation toward the conflicts?
Intermediary seeking to increase the constructiveness and decrease the destructiveness with which the issue is being addressed.
3.       What are the core goals of your effort?
To help build awareness of racism and stereotyping from a young age and give students/kids tools to recognize it, avoid it, resolve it and prevent it.
Equity an fairness, limiting violence, wiser and more informed decisions
4.       What kind of project you propose? For ideas consider:
School curriculum – classes on racism, stereotypes, role-playing, multi media, etc.
5.       How do you think your project will fit into the larger context?
Starting at a younger age, through education create a conscious awareness of issues of racism, results and how to avoid them.
Theories of change: Individuals change, healthy relationships and connections, reduction of violence, social justice, political elites, public attitudes, culture of peace
6.       Why do you think that these projects represent the strongest contribution you could make to the underlying issue?
Education is the primary way to change attitudes and ideas on a long-term scale. For example: children in the 70s and 80s were some of the first to begin learning about civil rights, equality etc. and it is this generation that is in their 20s, 30s and 40’s right now – and this group had a huge hand in Obama getting elected. So,  we think this is where to start on building awareness and by making it required/mandatory in schools, it will reach a wider group of people.
7.       How would you structure the key project components?
Curriculum: very simple ideas/games/skits for kids in elementary schools, more complex issues being touched on in middle school, and in high school do a much higher level of analysis of racism/stereotypes. These lessons can span all subjects: geography, literature, art, music, etc.
Process Choices
-          Training (either uni-lateral or bi-lateral/multi-lateral)
-          Inter-group dialogues
-          Interactive conflict resolution (also called problem-solving workshops)
-          Public peace and tolerance education

What is your strategy for:
-          Selecting participants: kids/students etc. are our participants
-          Recruiting partners: Women’s rights groups, Victim Assistance, charities and non-profits that already touch on these issues, Safehouse, MESA, gender violence
-          Determining venues: schools
-          Building trust in your project: community education, making info available to the community
-          Refining goals and strategies based on input from affected communities: this will be a work-in-progress and constantly changing based on feedback
-          Dealing with people problems and potentially troublesome group dynamics: open lines of communication, resolving workshops etc.
-          Dealing with power inequalities: open lines of communications
-          Coordinating with other processes: lots of research, getting input from educators, parents, students etc.
-          Evaluating your efforts: speaking with kids, looking at number of incidences of school violence spurred by racism/and stereotyping


CONGO
• What social issues are you addressing?
       ○ Misplacement of citizens into other countries
• What is your orientation toward the conflicts?
       ○ Intermediary (third sider)
• Level of Action
       ○ Must be Level 1 Top Leadership
• What are the core goals of your effort?
       ○ Equity and fairness
       ○ Limiting violence
       ○ Creation of relationships
• What kind of project you purpose?  For ideas consider:
       ○ Theories of change
               § Social justice
               § Reduction of violence
               § Community Reintegration
       ○ Need 'checklists'
               § Legitimate Force
               § Block Tyrants
               § Correct Stereotypes
               § Control Propaganda
• Make a difference Guidelines
       ○ Focus on projects that people want to do
               § People might not want to focus on the issue because there are issues that directly affect them at home (U.S. economy)
               § People will want to take care of themselves rather than others first
• How do you think your project will fit into the larger context?
       ○ Displaced persons
       ○ Reduce the number of new refugees
What is your strategy for:
               § Selecting participants
                       □ Must be in the country
               § Recruiting partners
               § Determining venues
                       □ Teleconference because they all hold territories and they will never go into each other territory ; however, a lot of people do not have technology
                       □ Neutral
                       □ non threatening
               § Building trust in your project
               § Refining goals and strategies based on input from affected communities
               § Dealing with 'people problems' and potentially troublesome group dynamics
                       □ Deconstruct superiority complex of the leaders
                       □ Get leaders into neutral non threatening forum
               § Dealing with power inequalities
               § Coordinating with other processes
               § Evaluating your efforts
                       □ Assessment
                       □ Formative (mid-course)
                       □ Summative

Caitlin Gordon

Community Group Discussion


orphans in afghanistan: orphan sponsoring programs. give an incentive for people to learn about the country and be involved in the childrens' lives. not just sending money but more personal involvement

handle crisis: womens rights education in africa: in the congo perhaps. also HIV/retroviral drugs. education about how to use them properly and correct administration. training programs. also work with pharmaceutical companies so that access to drugs is more available. start a training center perhaps. would start it out in one community and then try to spread it.

group with people who don't have any familiarity with guns to come learn how they work so to limit the danger of guns in the hands of people who don't know how to use them. community groups bringing together victims of gun violence and gun owners to discuss issues and the future of legislation. community classes that were supported by the city. open forum for discussion about issues. realistic ways to prevent deaths/violence etc.

solar panels into gaza. israel controls electricity to gaza so this would help them be energy independent. would help minimize the disruption to people's daily lives. government subsidized so that solar cell companies would want to go there and set up shop. good politically for the relationship between israel and gaza because israel has such a power lock on them.

long-term shelters for victims of abuse and rape. counseling as well. something with refugees perhaps since rape is so widespread in war zones. psychological help for these women as well.

Cara Wagner, Zuhra Faizi, Tara Delancey, Sarah Yearsley, Laura Gooch, Kayla Berg

I.    What social issues are you addressing? Gaza
a.    Opening the borders with Israel for purpose of moving goods
i.    Pro
ii.    Cons
1.    They don’t want Hamas to bring weapons in.
2.   
II.    What is your orientation toward the conflicts?
a.    Intermediary seeking to increase the constructiveness and decrease the destructiveness with which the issue is being addressed
III.    What are the core goals of your effort?
a.    Equity and fairness
b.    Promotion of win-win compromises
i.    Checkpoint (for weapons checks)
IV.    Meta-Resolution
a.    Aid and Economic Development
V.    Level of Action
a.    Top Leadership
VI.    Process Choices
a.    Negotiation/Mediation
VII.    Theories of Change
a.    Sustainability
b.    Healthy Relationships and Connections
c.    Reduction of Violence
d.    Economic Action
e.    Culture of Peace
VIII.    Checklist Topics
IX.    Logistics
a.    Partners: EU, UN
b.    Involve locals
X.    Increasing security at the borders, work with youth to foster understanding and reduce threat of violence

2/3 Global Warming Discussion Group

Brenna Schaetzle, Tucker Pyne, Bradford Bowen, Dan Hutchinson, Ted Geissler,
Rachel Ptaszek, Colin Hickey,Katie finn



What social issues are you addressing? Individual habits/lifestyle adjustments/
resource use and valuation/ industrial market


-national capitalizing solutions co.: looks at natural resources as a form of
capital... increase valuation... encourages small-med business to make profit
from running in a green way... common interests!

Climate smart campaign: CFL distribution campaign

Xcel now has a fed. Subsidy for discounting

Most likely an advocacy project for pushing an ecological consciousness
    -advocate going local for food/clothes
    -encourage reduction of meat intake
    - town/city ordinances?
    - subsidies and tax breaks advertised
    - benefits noted?
    - probe to find out what it would take to get people to change their
lifestyle?
    - fact finding?     IPCC

-    media campaign ab how everyone will (eminently) be negatively affected
-    encourage inter-university development of university programs

GROUP WORK: Vicki Van Antwerp; April Harnett; Michael Johnson; Justin Kutner

   1. What issue are we addressing: Stimulus Plan
         1. Allow people to go back to work
         2. Advocate the stimulus of the economy
   2. What is your orientation toward the conflicts?
         1. Advocacy: we are trying to seek allowing people to get back to work
         2. Intermediary: We are seeking to allow for the increased constructiveness between the parties and then allow for the destructiveness of the economy to stop affecting the American people
   3. Will your project be prescriptive or elicitive?
         1. Elicitve: We are not experts
         2. Prescriptive: We could being in experts, to work together to see whats going on.
   4. The core goals of our efforts?
         1. Equity and fairness
         2. Promotion of win-win compromises
         3. Limiting violence
         4. Wiser and more informed decisions
         5. Preservation relationships
         6. Reduced costs and delays
   5. Project do you propose:
         1. A bi-partisan panel to talk or discuss the issues, but this bi-partisan panel is not responsible to Congress
         2. Educational component to this effort
   6. How do we become a legitimate group?
         1. Entice the experts, such as Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, to come into the effort.
         2. Place in a level of education in this such as a life-skills class. Adults would be able to have economics in a night class offered at local schools. Along with teaching seniors and junior in high school life-skills classes, that teach them about mortgages, banking accounts, credit, etc.
         3. Reconsider the NAFTA. This will allow for American jobs to possibly be reintegrated here into the US.
         4. Texting reminders, Ads on the internet, Ads in the Newspapers, television ads, etc to advertise the cause. (Also call on the media to take up their role as watchdogs to the political arena and call them out on their wrongs.)
   7. Process Choices:
         1. Education will also encourage domestication here in the US. (Also could do this by encouraging people to grow/buy local food within 100 miles).

                                                               i.      This could also show an employment on domestic food production and farming.

   8. How can we prevent this crisis from happening again?
         1. Watchdog media
         2. Cycles of economic ups and downs

Februrary 4-5 Columbine Game



   1.  Corinne Sober, Nikki Kilberide, Maribel Avlia

 

   2. Columbine Elementary Exercise

 

   3. Accountability Advocacy
         1.  Teachers
               1.  Motivation and giving hope they are smart and can do it
               2.  Focus on reading comprehension instead
         2.  Community action
               1.  Near by university teams up with high percentage failed CSAP schools for community service credit
               2.  After school program where there is communication between the middle school and the elementary school. Transferring knowledge of the incoming 6th grade class
                     1.  have DS lite’s for postive brain activity.
               3.  Give aid and focus to the schools scoring low.
         3.  The CSAP
               1.  This is the problem
               2.  Too much pressure on the teachers.
         4.  Parents
               1.  Working late and double shifts so allow students to stay after school

Michelle Smith & Nicole Newquist
Rocky Mountain Center for Community Problem- Solving

Different standards for the teachers at this school
•       Bilingual
•       Higher standards
•       After school program, tutoring—for the language barrier and for the test
itself… some parents may not be around to help their kids

Changing the way the testing is given… something different building up to this
test, being able to meet different levels

Why do some kids not want to go to Columbine?
•       Not provided with the right skills, need the same resources as a school
right next door
•       Funds to contribute to these programs, do the kids who have open enroll
out do their parents taxes go toward the school they go to or toward the school
in their district
PACS 4500 class discussion-

Maribel Avila
Corinne Sober
Nikki Kilbride

group: School Accountability Advocates

We decided that the school needs to focus on the learning around the subject matter that is on the test.  This can either be by approaching the teaching in a different way, or having an after school learning program where we stress reading, writing, math and science skills.  With this type of socio-economic and latino background, most parents are working two full time jobs, and are not there to help their kids with their homework or read to them at night. An after school program with volunteers from the local high school or from CU to help the elementary school kids would help not only the children but also create further bonds within the community.  It would be important to keep the communication between the learning center and the elementary school going to work on a specific subject such as the CSAT testing, reading comprehension, etc. An increase in the quality of ESL learning, such as motivation, teacher aptitude, and comprehensive learning would also increase test score
 s!

Cara Wagner, Thuy Huynh, Colin Hickey, Katie Finn, Laura Gooch
PACS 4500 Columbine Elementary Exercise III – Teachers Approach
Problem: Help school get better test grades without drastic action
I.    Professional Training
a.    How to prep for test
b.    How to deal with non-English speaking kids (ELL)
i.    Problems they face and how to adjust in the classroom to help
II.    After School Programs
a.    Homework first hour, play second hour
i.    Beneficial for school (high test scores), Teachers (more pay), Parents (can work longer)
b.    Can be both at school or at a community center (s) where kids attend frequently that may be cheaper for parents
III.    Buddy System
a.    Older ELL kids with younger ELL kids
IV.    Program for Parents
a.    Progress reports home
b.    Sessions with parents



February 9-10, Obama Challenge

    *  GROUP WORK:  Vicki Van Antwerp, Rachel Ptaszek, Kevin Cummislley, Dan Hutchinson, Ted Geissler, Ryan Cambe.
          o Debate on the stimulus plan was that we should have taz cuts from the trickle down effect, whereas the democrat say it should be a ground up thing.
          o Problems were that the banks took all the money and they bought other banks rather then buying back bad loans.
          o The first one was passed so fast, that there was no regulations. So now the second half there has to be more rule.
          o The new head of the GOP: was saying that its not jobs its work. Because Obama’s plan has a lot of New Deal projects that are just for now. But the new Deal still works, because the ideas are that we are going to boost the economy to make it a working function. The GDP will go up which is what we need, they are saying we are “Europization” of America.
          o Daly show he said that the government should have paid off the government debt. The initial bailout should have allowed homeowners to refinance their homes at a lower rate and then pay off their home, if they default on this lower rate, then they owe back what they originally owned in the first place.
          o How are you going to trust citizens to make responsible choices, if you cant trust the banks to make responsible choices?
          o The Buy America plan could work. We do have the resources to have a steel industry here, by putting this plan back in action. If you give breaks to the companies that produce their work here, and tax heavily the companies that are heavily exporting their work, then you could make it harder for them to export their work. Because American Labor is more expensive (due to the regulations) it would be better to get these companies back in here to America, and encourage the boost on the economy.
          o The Passerby Effect (Someone passes out on the street and its not my responsibility to call, someone else will) - the economic situation isn’t my responsibility to take blame of., someone else will NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE BLAME FOR THE ECONOMY AND HOW IT GOT HERE.

Jessica Morgan
Tucker Pyne
Sarah Yearsley
Lindsay Koffler
Kayla Berg
Colin Hickey



Conflict Handling Challenge 1

-    Of course he has to offer a bipartisan solution to the problem, but on the other hand, the democrats did win…
-    But perhaps the Bush administration failed because they weren’t really working together
-    If you’re working just to make the other side happy, it wont work, it shouldn’t be so surprising that the GOP is delaying his bill, the system is designed for argument
-    Would tell Obama to be less concerned with polarizing certain others (like Limbaugh) youre just going to waste everyones time
-    Having a T & R commission would be humbling, admitting that we did something so wrong, Nixon was pardoned by his VP, would we be willing to offer Bush a pardon under similar conditions?
-    A T&R commission would be more about finding out who is accountable and investigating what all happened
-    Would it be more like kicking a dead horse? It might just be more constructive to move on and prevent it from the future
-    Having only 2 parties does not help our democracy
-    As far as filibuster threat, he already has the support of 3 GOP senators, the focus should maybe be on getting it passed and then stick with what is gonna solve the problem in the long wrong even if people aren’t all happy with it, if it works in the long run then it is all worth the criticism
-    How would Obama convince people to just hang tight while we struggle for a while and assure them that it will all eventually be better, he needs to continually reiterate this
-    People will never know how much worse it could be, people are always going to be critical of the situation
-    Roosevelt’s fireside chats compared to Obama’s youtube videos, great tool for public education
-    If college students cant understand fully how the economy works, then clearly its tricky.  Many Americans don’t have the background knowledge necessary to accurate evaluate our economy, should we let an elite few rule the many? Classical conservatism
-    Paternalist argument- should he sit back and let the people decide or should he take charge and regulate without full support
-    Maybe it would be best to go with the path the experts are suggesting but explain that step by step to the public in order to keep up his approval rating

April Harnett
Michael Johnson
Zuhra Faizi
Tara Delancey

Truth and Reconciliation Commission:
-some what of a slap in the face to South Africa
-war crimes must be tried
-how could you get Bush to admit to anything?
-people already knows what happened
-would be incredibly partisan; push sides further away from each other
-goes against the Obama “bipartisan” movement


Stimulus
-Limbaugh=total spoiler
-Obama should ignore the incorrigibles (they are too small of a group to spend time)
-recognize the extremists
-so difficult to get bipartisanship on this issue
-they are certain negotiable aspects
-“slow moving” stimulus plan= lowering expectations somewhat; people want immediate fixes
-tell the people what they NEED to hear, as opposed to what we WANT to hear
-difficult sell to conservatives
-democrats need to stop being self-interested and sacrifice for the greater common good
-national GDP has dropped 5% in the last 4 month
-Obama has to encourage grassroots movements to get legislation passed
-reinforce the idea of “checks and balances” in terms of requiring banks to show where the money received by the stimulus package is going.

Cara Wagner, Emily Batts, Thuy Huynh, Katie Finn, Kerri Cordy

Barack Obama Stimulus Package
    Advice:  to get the republic view without directly opposing it. Show the democratic point of view and bridge together and create bi-partisanship. Show benefits which it will have on the US and the whole of the international community. 
    Possibly using support of the international community to sway the vote, consider advice from other countries.
    Limbaugh: If Obama fails, we all fail.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission
    Revisit in a few years when economy is better and time is more appropriate.

Caitlin Frantz
Michelle Smith
Jonnie Vonburg
Kendra Cromwell
PACS 4500, February 9, 2008
Barack Obamaʼs Speech
-Could see this speech as giving a plan
-thereʼs much more than just our list, but weʼre pretty sure heʼll at least address all of
these things in some respect
-bipartisanship: heʼs used it a lot lately in speeches: we should look at it in the sense
that weʼll all have to deal with these problems
-Rush Limbaugh: not sure why heʼs getting any more airtime- there are other people
who donʼt like Obama, so why arenʼt they getting this kind of attention (or why arenʼt
these other people speaking up)? Because Limbaugh is entertainment, and the
American people will pay attention to the media
-stimulus plan: staggering amounts of money; until this crisis no one ever talked about
numbers this big. NPR report: the “ripple effect” of economic stimulus could generate
three times the stimulus package. Spending needs to be immediate, canʼt be delayed
too much (like in infrastructure project). However, how many people are actually going
to spend this money? IF economic outlook is as gloomy as the situation is now, how
many people will spend this money as opposed to putting it in the bank?

February 11, 12 Environmental Conflict Movie

Kristi Mohrbacher

Environmentalists – overgrow, not making living off environment, don’t understand completely
Loggers – have to understand they aren’t the only ones using the forests

 Forest thinning vs. clearcutting

1)      Start with dialogue – no decisions made, presenting research on both sides,

2)      Problem solving workshops – case studies, joint projects, loggers and environmentalists having to find viable options to do this,

3)      No final, ultimate decisions due to the heated issues, gun-carrying, threats

4)      Creating jobs using environment – ecotours, hiking etc.

 There is always compromise – not exactly sure how to find it here.

 
2/12 Brenna Schaetzle, April Harnett, Thuy Huynh, Cara Wagner, Kerri Cordy

What would you do if you lived in Kalispell?

-all agree no violence or vandalism

-    both parties are concerned about the land

-John Stokes’s incendiary tactics are prohibiting progress and preventing
constructive conversations

-    dangerous stereotypes are radical... how to break down the hatred?

-there needs to be an economic solution here...
    -locals dont want to have a new industry... latching on to timber... what
about tourism?



-need to educate what an environmentalist actually is and why

-    maybe an encouragement to have the forests re-evaluated (they’re burning)

-    reduced impact logging practices adopted?

2/12/09
Colin Hickey
Ryan Cambe
Lindsay Koffler
Justin Kutner
Laura Gooch


We talked about how hard it might be to actually mediate any type of discussion between groups, given the extremism and intense demonization. It might not be feasible to take the course of reason/rationality/argument.

So we figured a couple of things might help:

If you can’t make a moral argument and convince someone, make the economic argument. It seemed that a (the) main concern for the “anti-environmentalists” was economic stability and jobs. It didn’t seem like they were attached to cutting down trees because hearing the roar of a saw was the only thing that gave them pleasure in life. They wanted secure jobs, a thriving economy, and financial independence. So if there is a way to get at those aims while maintaining the environmental integrity, then that is a line to pursue. Look to alternative sources of income (maybe eco tourism…)

Put regulations on logging, so some trees can be cut for forest health, but a median that does not allow for clear cutting. In this, perhaps analyze how much logging could be sustainably done. This is a possible compromise that would allow logging and promote ecosystem health that the environmentalists are looking for.

We discussed, briefly, the idea of legal action against the radio broadcaster and his language that was inciting violence and hate crimes.

Also police protection for peace seekers and environmentalists being attacked would be a necessary first step.

These first steps and economic incentives probably need to be in place before any sort of reconciliation or community harmony projects begin. It’s about putting a stop to the destruction first, calm the fires, then rebuild relationships.



Rachel Ptaszek        2-12-09

Brad Bowen

Dan Hutchinson

Kevin Cummiskey

Vicki Van-antwerp

What would you do in this city in NW Montana? (from film)

    * Get environmentalist to show up to town meetings, cuz townsment felt frustrated they weren’t there.
    * One party side-frustration
    * Student from last semester called john stokes, was hung up on and called back.
    * Unsolved death in film
    * Both sides want environment, but for different reaons. They both love the envioronment.
    * Loggers people want logging for income/industrializing city
          o Way of living-economic issue, don’t want to see decreasing livlihood.
          o Will have to relocate once trees are all gone cuz being prevented from logging. (under assumption that there is overlogging)
    * Environmentalists want certain road closes for revegitation
          o Vegitation won’t just grow back over night.
    * Education
          o Not the issue-realize vegitation won’t grow back at same rate, issue is property rights and their personal property rights-they should be able to use land however they want.
          o Preservation-better to let nature go natural course, no hurt in let it burn naturally. Also, if there’s no trees to burn down then certain vegitation can’t spread.
          o Fires could also burn down homes.
Group: Zuhra Faizi, Kayla Berg, Tara Delancey, Tucker Pyne

A diverse economy would be a way for the entire community to compromise. Such an economy would include selective logging, tourism, fishing, and other community relevant activities.

Selective logging--figure out how many trees burn yearly, cut trees most likely to burn

Tourism--in places like Brazil, eco-tourism is a new and growing economy; however, it is best to control this aspect of the economy. As mentioned in the documentary locals do not appreciate wealthier people coming into town, while it is more difficult for them to live there. Nonetheless, tourism still has to be included in the economy, but regulated.

Another important thing to target is the overall culture of the community. These people are proud of their traditional lifestyles; however, they are ignorant of the danger of excessive logging. Some ways to change this may include having another radio show which represents the different sides of the issue and community gatherings.

February 19 Silver County

Group Members: Christie, Ally, Felicia, Jonni and Jenni

- Goals: promote a mutual understanding/respect
    ○ This is the most important
    ○ See what the opposing sides interests are
    ○ Focus groups
- Who has decision making authority?  How much freedom of action do they have?
    ○ The state, city county would have the say in the end
    ○ They hired consultant, did tons of research
- You have the decision makers, and those that influence the decision makers (Financial persuasion)
- They had prewritten statements from long ago about how the government at that time wanted to see the community be.  Original decisions. Old documents.
- Maps from back then (original) and comparing it to nowadays.
- Who do you want to participate in the project, how are you going to recruit them?
    ○ Convey the impression that all the big wigs are coming, everyone will come so they have a chance to sit down and talk with
    ○ Part of it is a networking game
    ○ Get big named people to send out the invitation
    ○ Hiring some type of motivation speaker
    ○ Recruit as much people and get them involved
    ○ Recruit people from different towns, who don't really know what is going on to be as the third unbiased standard
    ○ Get the newspapers involved, reporters
    ○ Students
    ○ Get experts
    ○ Reaching outside of the community into other communities
    ○  have free food or stuff
- How do you structure the meeting?
    ○ Alcohol, make people relaxed
    ○ The leaders, speakers have to be unbiased
    ○ Make sure that there is a structure
        § So people don't go off on tangents
    ○ Have a mediator
        § Have the more passive side go first, say one of their main points
        § The other side is not allowed to make a rebuttal
        § Vice versa
    ○ Have people prepared for what is going to be talked about so they don’t just go off on the first thing on their head
    ○ Q and A
    ○ Make sure that people still have room to move around
    ○ Make sure that the people feel comfortable
- How do you build public confidence and trust in the public?
    ○ Make sure the public knows it is an unbiased thing
    ○ No behind closed doors
    ○ Mediators: show the public that they have credibility
        § Stats
        § Projects they worked on before
    ○ Posting it up, filtering comments

** Nicole Newquist, Maribel Avila, Seth Dunn, Evan Wright**

What goals would you like to develop in pursuing your project?
•    It is important to go to the different mountain towns and asking what they
want to see happen… try to have a give and take approach that will ultimately
please everyone.
•    If there is expansion in silver cliff and vermillion then the other mountain
towns will feel the need to expand more too… a center in the middle will
definitely bring about expansion
•    We want to have a community vision as well as promoting mutual
understanding and respect

Decision making authority
•    Silver county land- use decisions
o    Who has decisions making authority?
•    The actual landowners, authorities are already set in place… you can have
representatives stating what they want to take place, the decision maker will
have the ultimate say but can take in majority thoughts into consideration
•    Create a list of wants and needs
o    How much freedom of action do they have?
•    Bring all sides to the table, who has authority to do what, they need to try to
please all sides of the debate

Influence
•    Land use decisions:
o    Who has influence over decision makers?
•    Who is actually in charge of the land… it is private property but the
companies and shareholders have a say
    Forest services have rules about the land… don't have much freedom to
play with it
    County governments can come to agreements with the forest services,
negotiate policies even though it is a national decision, keep coalitions happy
    Other municipal governments
•    How much clout do they have?

Participation
•    Who would you like to recruit as participants in the project?
o    A combination of money and people who will go along with what we think,
won’t challenge us… founding partners?? Type of people to attract others
•    How do you plan to recruit them?

Process
•    How would you structure grassroots, public sessions?
o    Small groups is good so people feel important and that they are being
heard, actually making a difference… leaders for each group to set up the
structure and make sure that what they talk about will be heard
o    Having these small groups within community fairs and meetings… this will
bring the community together and closer and will give out good vibes and
people will want to negotiate and come to an agreement
•    How would you structure the lead decision- maker negotiations?

Trust
•    How would you build public confidence and trust in the project
o    Make the public feel like they can make a difference and they are going to
be heard
o    Make sure the public is well aware of all of the meetings and fairs… send
out flyers to everyone
o    Progress reports.. a plan of the decision making and making sure it is
based on values shared by the community, using media/ PR, keeping the
public’s attention
Michelle Smith, Darryl Houghton, Andrew McQuade
Development Goals:
Preserve the quality of life of all in group
Increase dialogue in between groups/group preferences
    -Individual towns: growth of individual lifestyles
Mutually beneficial development of towns
    -Focus on immediate problem

Powers and influence:
-County council, representatives from each town
    -Make sure that smaller towns are represented and have a voice
-Constituents, people
    -Contractors of the mall, voters, outside influences (EPA, environmentalists,
etc)

People involved: Participation
Experts: environmentalists, contractors, ecologists
    -People and case studies on similar locations and situations
    -Town spokesmen
Grassroots campaigns, local participation and involvement

Process:
Establish Guidelines; to insure all have equal opportunity, obtain commitments
to participate from key stakeholders
Facilitator: guided dialogue between town committees
    -Identify problems, possible solutions, individual preferences
    -Bring grassroots opinion to community leaders
Create enforcement of agreement
    -Annual reassessments of progress

Trust:
If all groups are held to solution by agreements and annual assessments
established by grassroots campaign and officials
        -Joint project, so all have stake in outcome

Corinne Sober
Cameron Casey
Matt Gurwitz
Kendra Cromwell
Caitlin Frantz (notetaker)

What goals would each group have to enhance the quality of life?
-each side needs to have a defined set of requests; identify interests of constituency group and decide the degree to which they are common ground and which they'll have to fight about
-designating certain regions within the town for conservation, development, open space, outdoor use
-establish  needs and concerns of both sides
-once that has been done, reframe so that both sides feel that they are thoroughly understood
-after concerns and interests have been prioritized you can establish ground rules for debate (ex/ for roads- quota for construction, roads can only go so far and shopping center can only be so large)
-Focus on a "community vision"

Who has decision making authority and how much freedom of action do they have?
-people who own the land should have a say about what can be done with their land
-a neutral board could be created to advise civil servants (mayor, council members, county commissioners, etc.)

People who influence decision makers:
-in the end, esp. with county commissioners, it comes down to $$$- who gave you the most? what interests are you beholden to? who do you have to make happy in any situation?

How would you network effectively?
-Food
-canvassing

How will you structure the meetings?
-open bar
-personal touches: greetings, conversation
-first impressions matter
-facilitated dialogue

How would you build public confidence?
-build trust through actual relationships


HEY GUY! HAVE AN AWESOME WEEKEND!

2/19/2009
Brenna Schaetzle, Rachael Ptaszek, Tucker Pyne, Ryan Combe, Sarah Yearsley

SILVER COUNTY! YEAH!

-    have community contract or consult environmental impact assessments /
economic projections to thoroughly consider what development in either area
would really entail, and thus reveal people’s top priorities
-    identify who’s involved and what their specific goals are, and how those
individual goals if played out would affect the communities
-    county meeting for people to get together and discuss with outside/neutral
mediators, with rule that it must be civil and constructive


Who has decision making authority?
-    work with the forest service?
-    The people who have voiced concern will possibly frame the authority, but
everyone in residence has a right to be heard
-    survey the quiet ones... get a community suggestion/ feedback process
-    power checks by community... need to get approval via proposals to the
people
-    structure this as power equalization

mailing lists...
encourage small group meetings to select representative delegates

participants:
-residents
-declared potential future residents
-developers
-biologists
-unbiased mediators
-county commissioners
-forest service
- county government officials

need to consider grassroots and leadership roles


Funding:
- students work cheap! ha!

What process/ ground rules?

-    a series of meetings of different sizes to encourage efficiency and
productivity
-    -big meeting everyone can speak, then create groups/delegates
-    have an open public meeting on a private site with rules of civility


building trust:

-including everyone
-unbiased outside mediators
-votes shaft the minority
-open communication throughout
-make easy and small honest promises
- involve established trustworthy individuals

-grievance process

funding:
-appeal to the fat pockets that the best interest of everyone would improve
their image
-fund matching
-sponsorship

Jessica Morgan
Katie Finn
Vicki Van Antwerp
Emily Batts
Justin Kutner

Goal:
-    Take a more democratic approach, perhaps put it to a vote?
-    Town hall meeting where we wrote down everyone’s concerns and then comparing differences, identifying a “common ground”
-    Open community forums on several nights so that people from all towns could attend
-    Hire group of researchers/high school students doing a project to analyze, collect, and index the data
-    Give each community equal time to speak at the town halls
-    Each group should identify their most important values that they are most concerned with preserving
-    Each town have their own town meetings to identify their goals and then have intermixed meetings
-    Focus on preserving logging industry somehow, hire government EPA worker to estimate how much logging should be done to preserve safety, reduce fires, and sustain integrity of the area
-    Bring people together and immediately identifying their most important interests

Decision Making Authority:
-    We want to have the support of the EPA and environmental studies students to help explain environmental measures and ensure safety
-    We want representation from the different counties so that they can work with their communities
-    We want the voters to understand the issues
-    Inform developers of our progress and environmental findings

Participation:
-    We want support of EPA involved in all our decisions
-    State & country representation, city council, different interest groups (including environmental) to help with funding and awareness
-    Country commissioners
-    Landowners
-    Potential developers
-    Executives of the main businesses/natural gas companies that will be involved
-    Representatives from the mall developers
-    Environmental studies department from the university to help conduct research
-    Community leaders to generate awareness and activity
-    Local news stations
-    Water industry
-    Round table of different community leaders to work with mediator
-    Approach voters
How we will recruit them:
-    Emphasize that they should be involved because its seriously going to effect them
-    Explain to developers that they will look better and will be more supported if they are taking an active role
-    Have community leaders spread the word, hold their own meetings, take ads out, etc. to spark interest
-    Make terms of the debates clear so that people know what they are participating in
-    Outreach pamphlets sent out to area explaining why the issue is so important and how they can get involved
-    Phone tree
-    Grassroots networking

Process:
-    Funding from state county
-    Start with large group of people and pair it down so that everyone doesn’t have to be at every meeting, community leaders
-    Round table type talks
-    Set ground rules to make sure no one goes over time limits or gets out of control
-    After each person takes their turn addressing their topic, the mediator asks if other people have any questions and if they do they raise their hand and get 5 minutes to ask questions or respond to what was said
-    Active listening

Trust:
-    Having involvement from environmental spectrum will make people realize were working in the best interests of the land and the community and that the businesses are being regulated so that the people will have more trust in the businesses
-    Have trusted community leaders try to activate people
-    Equal representation
-    Leaders that people are familiar with, more official looking people
-    Make easy promises that can be followed through between meetings so that a relationship is built

Group 2: Cara Wagner, April Harnett, Zuhra Faizi, Thuy Huynh, Michael Johnson
Group Discussion: Silver County Project
I.    Goal: Articulating community vision through understanding and let it organically develop.
II.    Decision Making: Who has decision making authority? How much freedom of action do they have?
a.    County Land Board:
i.    Will focus is merely this issue of land development.
ii.    Members: elected with 2 year repeatable terms that represent each city equally + an outside representative appointed by the county government who will bring their personal experience perspective as well as to serve as moderator/facilitator who will not have a vote (and whose position will be defined by the county government) + Lobbyist to work for the land board in Washington DC
iii.    Infrastructure: will be set up by the county government
III.    Participation:
a.    Who would you like to recruit as participants in the project?
i.    Community members
ii.    Non-community land owners
iii.    PR representative to market the land board most likely in Vermillion
b.    How do you plan to recruit them?
i.    Use a PR rep to promote the board
ii.    Have meetings at sites of development occasionally
IV.    Process:
a.    How would you structure grassroots public sessions?
i.    Town Hall Meetings using the standard Robert rules of order to be enforced by moderator of the meeting.
ii.    Board, Representatives, and PR Rep have to be responsible for encouraging attendance to meetings
b.    How would you structure the lead decision-maker negotiations?
i.    Formal Government session
V.    Trust: How would you build public confidence and trust in the project?
a.    Establish full transparency
i.    In the case of a private session have a representative of the media there to report the meeting minutes back to the public
b.    Representatives have to report back to their city meetings
VI.    Funding: How are you going to keep costs within budget constraints? In kind contributions? Reliance on volunteers wherever possible? Matching funds? Sponsorship/Advertising?

PACS 4500 Town Development Simulation Notes
Colin Hickey
Ted Geissler
Tara Delancey
Kerri Cordy
Nikki Kilbride (M/W class)

Goal – The overall aim of the project would be to find points of mutual understanding among stakeholders. This may result in common ground projects, and surely will include the private sector’s participation.

Overarching goals – problem solving workshop where people get to know each other as people and work to avoid demonization, stalemate, and agree on mutually beneficial solution.

Land use decision – We’d try to get together a steering committee with true representatives from the county, the forest service, the public, and the developers. Hopefully these groups could come together in dialogue and agree to a solution that would then easily be enforced. We need them all to buy into the commission and agree to its status, so they don’t see it as a destructive force that they could do better without.

Who participates? – Have a public meeting at an accessible location. From this have interested citizens sign up to take part in steering committee meetings. As for gathering the county, developers, and forest service, we’d get out the phone book/contact list and try to see who from those areas would be interested to represent their constituency. We’d try to get them involved by showing the dire circumstances and consequences for non-action and non-cooperative action.

How structure meetings – The public interest meeting would be kind of a forum to gauge interest and show situation. Less formal. It’d be like a kick off event. The steering committee would, however, have a facilitator and more serious ground rules enforced to get things done and encourage proper dialogue/information exchange.

How to build trust/confidence – Transparency in who meets, minutes of meetings, budget, etc. All on website with blog where people can voice their dissent or support (public input survey).


Lindsay Koffler, Laura Gooch, Kevin Cummiskey, Caitlin Gordon, Kayla Berg

     We discussed using a portion of the land, not for building houses (except if the land had already been purchased for said means), but for open space.  A portion of the open space would remain wild, a portion would have trails, which would accommodate both recreational motorized vehicles and forest thinning services.

      For the meeting, we wanted to invite the forest service, the county commissioner, private landowners, logging companies, land-use committees (elected representatives from each town), environmentalists, county-wide committee, and a few different media sources.  We would publicize the meeting through the media.  We would encourage the media to record groups' positions and promises to hold them accountable later on.  We would also like to bring in representatives from areas that have had similar problems, just as we talked about in class with representatives who have lived through the transition from tyranny to democracy.  This would be the initial meeting.
     We really liked the idea of one of the other groups about having the meeting outdoors, or in one of the areas that the changes would take place to be more involved with it.

     Kayla Berg

Afghanistan March 2, 2009

Hi Guy,

Here are our group notes:

*LECTURE 3/2/09

Group Discussion: Question 5 (which can include 4…)
Kendra Cromwell
Cameron Casey
Jonni Vonburt
Evan Wright
Darryl Houghton

1.  People who have been violated need to come forth
       -feel protected, safe environment where they are able to express feelings, not threatened
       -creation of a median, organization at government level
The people who are perpetrating the human rights are those who will not support this
2. If we transfer the money from not attacking and searching for enemies to a sanctuary instead (idealistic and very utopian)
3.  What people would run this “safe space?”
       Previous victims who have overcome abuses, atrocities
               -from that country, perhaps from the country whom they are at war with
               -“Parachute In” interventions…need to make a commitment to stay there and build cooperative.  Eventually this can build credibility and become a part of the community.
               -PR reps: clear communication, what is the source of the human rights violation
                       -must keep in mind what is tolerable (human rights v. human rights violation) in the specific culture you are working with.
                       -How do we define human rights?
                               1. Open discussion of what is an infringement on Human Rights
                               2. Radio show
                               3. Mass communication defining each experience and determining where to draw the line, based on those experiences
                                       -must respect all opinions
4. Organizations like Habitat for Humanity/Community Building Organizations (Infrastructure, etc.)
       -build centers for abused women; install clean water, schools for children
5. How do you convince tribal communities to rid their extreme animosity?
Can’t negotiate in between two cultures unless you have lived in both
       -as to not be discredited, have a foot in each culture, know the language
       -relationship between religion and culture/society
6.  Mass media to be exposed to the stories and through public outreach have busses or provide options of how they can escape or get to the relief centers
       -but then you have to be careful that by word of mouth the organization (which is anti-patriarchal societies that oppress these women) will not endanger women.  If the family members find out the women are going to these open dialogue forums, they could get in even worse trouble.
Culture-centric in all aspects makes simplistic peace plans look silly
       -how could you ever say that what you think is better or has moral hierarchy over them
       rather provide and option or an “out” if they want it instead of bombarding them of what is right and wrong

Kendra Cromwell

Nikki Kilbride
Kristi Mohrbacher
Matt Gurwitz
Josh Ozeri
Corinne Sober
Afghan outrage against government corruption

Any time you install a government, you are going to have corruption

Bush Administration that did all this was (in our society) by definition ‘corrupt’

Corruption = having a gameplan, motives

Can have trouble defining the boundary between things sort of corrupt and what is okay

Definition of grossly corrupt is also hard to define.

Corruption = abuse of power to exploit people who have needs/desires and using your power to demand something in return for what they want

If there were to be a revolution against current government, it would be the Taliban to take over because they already have so much power in the country.

Possibility to hold free elections – but could it work?
 
Similar to Putin where he’s installed a new government but still runs the country.

Chile (70’s) – Chicago boys instilled free market system on the country because they were in a power shift – was awful, severe problems  with inflation and privatization issues. Did not work out.  Economy with no regulation = terrible failure. Extreme poverty, disappearances (military issues),

 If people thought differently, it could change. The way people think right now, eliminating corruption is not an option. People can't have blind faith that the three branches of the govt will be complete checks and balance for each other.

Change the structure of the government, creating transparency for the government (freedom of the press)

Two part possibilities:
1) Increase the salaries of officials in the country, that way the opportunity cost of losing their job is higher
2) Increase legislation with stricter enforcement/ and increase penalties for white-collar crimes

Why do Afghan and tribal area leaders want the "invaders" to be gone?
       -potential loss of traditions and cultures
Solutions
       -make sure that Afghan and tribal leaders are a part of whatever government replaces the corrupt one
       -try to make it clear that we are there to help people in Afghanistan; we can leave at such a time that                   Afghanis find us "unhelpful," on the condition that the country not fall under the control of another group                like Al Qaeda
       -If the people feel that we're not making a valuable contribution, we should leave
       -on the other hand, though, we don't want terror groups to have a safe haven
       -make guarantees on resources, negotiate control over the area
       -recognition that although the war itself seemed unnecessary to some, and crucial to others, we now must all  come together and work to find constructive solutions. regardless of how the war has been conducted, it              should be ended responsibly (a common ideal among people who support the war and those who do not)
       -build up infrastructure so that the people can see gains being made and reduce dependency and support       for the Taliban
       -can the Afghans find a galvanizing political figure to lead them out of this mess?
      

Allie Hunter
Nicole Mewquist
Seth Dunn
Mirabel Avila

Caitlin Frantz (notetaker)

Jessica Morgan
Lindsay Koffler
Sarah Yearsley
Laura Gooch
Katie Finn
Kerri Cordy
Cara Wagner

Humanitarian Efforts in Afghanistan

-    Educating women on what they have the ability to do, letting them be an example for other women in area
-    Set up schools similar to the ones Kristoff visited
-    Find out what the women actually want, there will be cultural differences
-    Slowly helping to integrate women’s rights into their culture, especially on a legal basis
-    Using media to promote positive images of women
-    Generating support from men in the area to respect women because a mans opinion is more respected in their country
-    Generate support from the international community to place further pressure on the country
-    International community strongly condemning human rights violations
-    Educating young boys to respect women so that they view womens as equals, have boys and girls in same classes, female teachers
-    Giving women authority positions to generate more respect for them
-    Incorporate women into peace building process
-    Enforce legitimacy in police force, maybe have some kind of community board that evaluates domestic abuse cases and brings them to public attention
-    Generating support for outreach programs that go to smaller villages to help women that are too afraid to leave abusive situations
-    Create more jobs for women so that they can become more independent and have their own skills/resources
-    Permanent housing for women who leave abusive situations so that they have somewhere to go long term
-    Trying to legally establish custody rights for women so that if they leave abusive situations they don’t have to leave their children
-    Have board that investigates false imprisonment of civilians by Taliban
-    Investigate the assassination of tribal leaders by Taliban, bring it to public attention
-    Establishing shelters for those fleeing from religious persecution, place shelters strategically to promote safe passage and encourage their use

Zuhra Faiza
Ted Geissler
Kayla Berg
NOTE TAKER: April Harnett

Afghan outrage against government corruption
-be tried for human rights violations
-warlords effective during conflict with the Soviets, but now are destructive and wanting more power
-responsibility lies with US; but US is no longer viewed as trustworthy
-install a truth and reconciliation commission like South Africa enforced by the UN
must offer immunity to people who come forward
problem: hard to structure it so everyone gets a face-saving way out
somehow convince regime to transfer power
-anti-corruption campaign that can be nationally accepted and participative
-restoring legitimacy of the government
-Obama is willing to work through this difficult issue that the Bush administration simply ignored; admit to past fallacies and wrongs
-must address the poppy production issues: possibly sell to pharmaceutical companies BUT there is a strong anti-drug rhetoric that stops these movements
-exposure is dangerous cycle because people who want to expose the wrongs, will end up getting murdered
-is the only way to stop this cycle completely removing the power?
-US needs to stay out, but at the same time it is our fault
-try to empower the younger generation to place political pressure instead of military force
-there is a lot to be said about “respect”


Caitlin Gordon

Rachel Ptaszek

vicki vandantwerp

kevin cummiskey

tucker pyne

tara delansey 

Tribal and citizen rage and desire for defense against taliban intimidation:

Constructive efforts to deal with this, how to best support? 

two factions fighting for allegiance of people: taliban and government corruption

            *third entity that people could form an allegiance to, third-way idea

            *taliban isn't an entirely homogenously evil faction, some will condemn others within their group

            *power mix strategy

            *ideological differences regarding acceptability of killing

            *american soldiers represent an ideology regarding rules of conduct that clashes with those civilians who are allied with the taliban. There is no middle ground.

            *village basis: build up community, leadership

            *emphasize allegiance to community rather than government or taliban structures since there is no win-win solution there. Either way you are likely to end up threatened. Self sustaining community structures.

            *break reliance/dependency on taliban because taliban takes advantage of people's impoverished living conditions, if the taliban is providing aid then people are likely to align with them, likewise if americans are providing aid. answer might be to create projects that promote sustainable development so they don't feel like they have to align with the government, be pro-US, taliban, in order to receive aid.

            *education: reduce misunderstanding, good islamic education

            *can't be peacekeepers forever, what kind of military commitment are we really willing to make?

            *possibility of training and arming civilians to defend themselves from taliban intimidation on their own


Group members:
Michael Johnson
Emily Batts
Colin Hickey

Our group (topic 2) believes that the best way to start working with the people of Afghanistan, is to basically win their hearts and minds. This may be done by:
1) Help them to find a new economic source for their income, other than an opium trade that will always be control by groups like the Taliban.
2) Lay out the conditions of why we are there and make them clear and succinct, with no intention of staying for a long term.
3) Give guarantees of our exit and back them up.
4) Start a PR campaign to get the word to the common people.
5) Split our forces into two distinct groups: Military and Aid. Make the distinction clear by seperating completely, including different uniforms and a non-militaristic insignia/symbol for the Aid Corp.
6) Try to make contacts with individual Tribal warlords. There are too many to think that we can disrupt, or conquer them, so learn to work with them and find out what it will take for them to allow us to complete our mission and leave.
*Remember, that while Osama Bin Laden should be our primary mission, along with other high ranking Al Queda, he is a hero to the people here, so covert means might be necessary in our dealing with the Warlords.
7) We must practice empathy when dealing with the people of Afghanistan.
8) Find a way to relate the Cuban Missile crisis to this, i.e. find a way that both sides can win with their own people.
9) Make sure that we get our message across to them as to why our agenda benefits them.
10) Support those that stand against corruption in their government and ensure the people know that we are doing so, while in no way controlling the people, or the government. It did not help to basically install the current government. trying to get an international election commission to oversee the election, without our involvement would most likely be the best way.
11) Practice a modicum of cultural relativism/understanding.
12) Help finance Afghani-run schools and education programs.
13) Involve NGO's in raising money toward these ends.
14) Support a locally run free press and media.
15) Set up positive messages on local radio and internet.

Matt Gurwitz

4 problems in Afganhistan:

1. Taliban 
2. external evaders
3. human rights
4. weak government 

Tribal Leaders: We would happy with compromise with non-violence. Peace Agreement or non-aggression pact. We stay out of your backyard if you stay out of ours. Sovereignty. Fewer wars if we decided if what they do behind doors is not our business, but this is changing. Different levels of non-aggression and some type of control - local control. Local governments better than national b/c of terrain as it like the Rocky Mountains. 

Reconciliation: 
- Mediation 
- Shuttle Diplomacy 


March 9-10,  Peace Movement versus Peace Workers

Jenni Vien
Cameron Casey
Josh Ozeri
Felicia Montanna
Nikki Kilbride

• Sometimes violence is necessary, such as in Africa because the government was so oppressive, it just depends on the context
• Realistically in the system that we live, that peace work is the only way that we can produce a result
• Peace movement is
    ○ over arching, 60's
        § However a large portion of the population was for culture of peace, but the system didn't allow it
        § Some of it was a success
    ○ Keeps progressing
    ○ It's kind of unrealistic
        § Maybe on a small scale
        § But not international level
• What is WWII happened today?  Would the US enter into it?
    ○ Probably not, no public support
    ○ Under our current cultural ideals, people don't want to fully commit, no it won't happen
• When is violence necessary or justified?
• Bi-partisan
    ○ No progress with partisanship because when one group is in power, it completely erases what the other group did
• We have to work within the framework of Peace Work, it is more tangible and less idealistic but we are trying to move to a movement




Jessica Morgan

Emily Batts

Laura Gooch

Ryan Cambe

Kerri Cordy

Katie Finn

    * Differences between the idealistic and the realistic
    * We identify with what we can actually see ourselves doing, its often hard to see that we could accept violence as never ever being acceptable, peace work is more within our realm of understanding
    * Though it depends on the situation, you must accept all alternatives and peace movement doesn’t involve that
    * Peace work is realistic now, but maybe in the future peace movement is an option
    * Fighting the system is a movement within its self, a lot of the requirements for a peace movement entail numerous movements, so they need to be handle individually
    * Believe in peace movement and try to make it work, move towards it with that goal in mind
    * View it as more of a scale rather than only having 2 options
    * You can still be advocating for a culture of peace while working within the system to achieve your overall goal
    * Peace movements can be involved with revolutionaries (but not the violent side) while peace work is more involved with activism
    * Justice may not necessarily be a precondition for peace, but it must be one of the main goals of your peace work if it is not already existing
    * Other ways to fight without violence (litigation, etc.) that are more effective because they are focusing on more moral grounds, violence is the last resort
    * Defensive violence can be necessary
Group Names: Vick Van Antwerp, Lindsay Koffler, Sarah Yearsley, Cara Wagner

 

    *  Peacework is more of a realistic approach because it’s a better way to look at something.
          o There is always going to be violence and war so you might as well work with it rather then fighting against it entirely.
          o Because its bi-partisan it will attract more people.
          o Because of working with other well established movements help to guide legitimacy to the peace work that will try to be accomplished in whatever conflict is trying to be resolved.
          o Peace can happen without justice for everyone within the conflict.
          o It’s a more honest approach to the way that things could within societies across the world.
          o It could also incorporate some elements of different cultures within the peace outlooks as well.
    * Peace Movement is too idealistic and naïve to believe that violence will never happen.
          o And too bias to believe that peace is always a possibility.
          o There is also never true justice, if you are waiting for the true just peace it will never happen.
          o Especially if there is a wide conflict, than one justice is subjective.
          o You cant get justice for everyone, not everyone is always going to be at peace with every decision that is made
          o Culture of Peace? What is it that every culture will  be peaceful, what we discussed is that true peace within a society is engrained within them. They want to deal with or work with one another to create a peaceful situation or communities.

Brenna Schaetzle, Tara, Tucker Pyne, Colin Hickey, April Harnett, Justin

Fitzduff debate...
Peace movement (pacifist) vs. peace work

What if we got rid of radical methods all together? Would moderate still be
moderate? Or do we need them as a balance of complements, to drive the
effectiveness of the other.

Motivators

Sometimes it is necessary to re frame fundamental principles if they’re really
idealistic to accomplish more.... some pacifists just dont get enough done, there
needs to be incentives

Principles vs. pragmatism....

Difference in a compromise between combatants and a compromise in
principles?

Sometimes force is necessary... in extreme measures

-will genocide in Sudan be stopped w/out force?



Dan Hutchinson

Ted Geissler

Rachel Ptaszek

Brad Bowen

Kevin Cummiskey

3-10-09

 

Question of the day: Which is better-peace movement or peace work?

 

-It’s good to have both--peace work (ghandi, MLK—wider spread change).

-Sometimes peace work might not go far enough and need peace movement to implement more change.

-Peace movement proliferates peace work because it allows you to start a peace movement. Demonstrations—fuel peace work, more organized to help center peace movement.

-Peace movement is conducive to peace work rather than peace work precluding peace movement. Peace work is more likely to undermine peace movements.

-Historically seems like peace work is more successful, not as much as peace movements

-Changes didn’t come about afterwards, but came about within the system. Created the support and drive.

-More to peace movement-anything outside of system. (sometimes huge rebellions).

-Pacifism is reflective of all the work it takes for the movements-takes a lot of effort to not act out in violence.

-Peace movements create a space for peace work. Movements create need for work.

-Both needed for different reasons. Without the peace movement no drive to initiate change, without peace work there’s not way to implement the peace movements.

-seems like it’s difficult to keep nonviolent when trying to change the institution/system.

-if there is a revolution someone is going to get hurt.

-Have to hurt someone to get somewhere. Collateral damage (ex. If want healthcare for all, insurance companies have to get hurt).

Dan Hutchinson
Ted Geissler
Rachel Ptaszek
Brad Bowen
Kevin Cummiskey
3-10-09

Question of the day: Which is better-peace movement or peace work?

-It’s good to have both--peace work (ghandi, MLK—wider spread change).
-Sometimes peace work might not go far enough and need peace movement to implement more change.
-Peace movement proliferates peace work because it allows you to start a peace movement. Demonstrations—fuel peace work, more organized to help center peace movement.
-Peace movement is conducive to peace work rather than peace work precluding peace movement. Peace work is more likely to undermine peace movements.
-Historically seems like peace work is more successful, not as much as peace movements
-Changes didn’t come about afterwards, but came about within the system. Created the support and drive.
-More to peace movement-anything outside of system. (sometimes huge rebellions).
-Pacifism is reflective of all the work it takes for the movements-takes a lot of effort to not act out in violence.
-Peace movements create a space for peace work. Movements create need for work.
-Both needed for different reasons. Without the peace movement no drive to initiate change, without peace work there’s not way to implement the peace movements.
-seems like it’s difficult to keep nonviolent when trying to change the institution/system.
-if there is a revolution someone is going to get hurt.
-Have to hurt someone to get somewhere. Collateral damage (ex. If want healthcare for all, insurance companies have to get hurt).

March 12 Culture Discussion


April Harnett: note taker

Kevin Cummiskey

Sarah Yearsley

Kayla Burg

Colin Hickey


3/12/09

Cross-Cultural Interactions


-using your left hand in Ghana is highly disrespectful

-being in a predominantly Muslim area during Ramadan and not being able to eat in public

-In Vienna, the drinking culture, expecting to drink with dinner but being a non-drinking

-Thailand working with kids and not being able to touch the kids heads and taking off shoes

-Not being able to use credit cards in Europe

-Euro coins being valuable as opposed to coins in the US

-Calling an Native American “chief” and him being very upset

-in Ireland-chain smoking; Garda not carrying guns

-Paris, security guards with AK 47s at the Eiffel Tower; PDA

-Amsterdam: doing recreational drugs in public

-Nude beaches in Europe

-Restaurants, tipping, in Europe

-Vegetarianism in certain places

-differences, prejudices towards Americans

-Thailand-not being allowed to mention the “king”

-running into neo-Nazis on the train in Germany

-Dining etiquette


Effects of Culture on Conflict: Mono-culture vs. Cross-cultural

-Likely points of conflict:

---communication: language, non-verbals, structure of, process vs. linear, translations especially in foundational documents like the Bible, vocabulary for thoughts, categorizing

---Trust: promises, written contracts verse oral cultures, signs of trust, “don’t trust strangers” vs seeing everyone as your brother

---Facts: we want proofs and facts and objectivity vs observation and subjectivity

---Escalation: subtleties must be attended to, in US culture we almost value violence but we are also taught to “talk it out”

---Persuasion: as a tool, with major mediums, major propaganda

---Exchange: currency, communication, bartering, dowry

---Force: coercive vs verbal




Caitlin Gordon

Zuhra Faizi

Bvenna Schaetzle

Kerri Cordy

Jessica Morgan

Thuy Huynh

 

Group Discussion on Cross-cultural interactions

 

significant differences between cultures:

 

 

*Indians and pakistanis: very sensitive subject, if you confuse one for the other it is very offensive

*in france: clash between the french and french-algerians, french talk about how they don't recognize ethnic differences, every french citizen is the same, but people not really treated this way.

*culture clash between mexican americans and european-descendended americans.

            national

            identity groups

 

cross-culture like differences within groups:

*costa rica: racism, entire east coast has lots of jamaicans etc, english speaking people called rastas, don't like the spanish, some people just afraid of new people all together, hierarchy with rastas ignored for the most part, nicauraguans hated there-called negras, despite talking about being an open culture it is blatant racism (comparable to the way narrow minded americans talk about mexicans in the US but worse). very hard to tell the difference between negras and costa ricans because they aren't even much darker but costa ricans make a clear distinction. Any other kind of cultural group isnt discriminated against. Acceptable to talk very derogatorily about nicarauguans.

 

*at CU, lots of iranians and some afghanis so speak the same language but have very different views. Irans consider themselves persian but afghans don't has to do with the way the persian empire viewed. issues with "immigrants" in afghanistan but they are actually refugees, some people see them as unwelcome and inferior.

 

*south africa: socioeconomic divide between white, colored, and black.

 

*Northern ireland and Ireland: northern ireland is split between people who want to be ruled by Great Britain and those who don't. Peace wall separates the two cultures from each other so they cant even interact. capital city is split in half in northern ireland.

 

*nearly always some out-group within a culture.

 

 

Mono-culture versus cross-cultural

economics, politics, and religion would probably be an issue in both cases

facts might be more important in mono-culture where trust is already likely established to some extent- since you look/act/speak the same.

in cross-cultural there are likely to be more chances for misunderstanding so clear communication is really key

in mono-culture there may be greater escalation since the conflict is so close to home, but at the same time cross-cultural does too because of the lack of understanding that is likely to occur. Probably more likely that there will be a use of force between cultures than within them, it's easier to dehumanize and villanize someone who you have fewer similarities with. Mediation of exchange may be more important in cross-cultural conflicts to ensure that each side is understanding the other side, important in mono culture conflicts so that each side has an equal opportunity to express their views. More likely with mono culture conflicts to assume you understand the opposition without really taking the time to listen to them.

 

people identify with many different cultures/groups: you can be an american and also a woman an immigrant an upper class educated democrat, a christian, all ways to define who you are. You can identify with your city as well as your state as well as what coast you live on.

Jenni Vien
Felicia Montanna
Seth Dunn
Corinne Sober

- Every culture is very complex within itself, we must be able to acknowledge that there are differences
- What are the implications of these cultural differences?
- It is IMPORTANT to not put one culture above another
    § Do not say one is better than another, I'm right you're wrong
    § Acknowledge that there are differences and accept that
    § Approach it with a sense of humility
- It's a different way of very life
- Appreciating humanity
- Culture is always changing
    § It is conceptions, those conceptions drive behavior, those conceptions change and so behavior change
- One of the big things is to know what you don’t know
- You are looking at culture through another lens
- Cultures have difference tolerances
- Human/global culture
    § Instinctual
    § Protect what you love
    § Unfortunately it is more western pop culture

3/17/09 Lederach: trade-offs PEACE TRUTH JUSTICE MERCY

Josh Ozeri
Seth Dunn
Jonni Vonburg
Felicia Montano

Come up with some strategy so that the truth is uncovered before applying peace. You would need a lot peace and mercy with a little bit of justice. Peace stops the whole spirally conflict. If you don’t have peace then the conflict continues so you would need to make it a priority. Make the people feel like they are being heard so they don’t have to revert to violence. Have goals set so that people know that there are steps moving towards peace. Need hope for peace so that you know that things will improve. Try to create a culture of peace and prove that violence does not eloquently show how you are feeling. Try to show some statistics to the people that violence and war is not effective and how. Give people reassurance that we are working towards peace. Educating the public on the issue of conflict so that people have a good idea of what is going on and can make an educated stance on the issue. Set the tone for peace in that everyone will have a different stand on issues and way of viewing the world or issues.




Economic Mega Worry-Justice Group
Caitlin Frantz
Nicole Newquist
Ally Hunter
Maribel Avila

-All the CEOs, company executives, etc. use their personal money that they’ve received from bonuses and extreme pay and give large portions “back”
-Holding the FCC accountable for not looking into tips/memos about certain people and/or companies
-Implementing a maximum yearly pay for executives and they work their way to that set pay through seniority
-Certain percentage of their pay must go to a charity/education/ etc.
-Only paid a certain percentage of the companies profits
-Have stricter overseeing of financial institutions
-If company gains/profits are higher than expected, the company and main people involved must show how, who, when, and why these gains were made and report to the government

Brenna Schaetzle

Current economic strife (limited to US?)

Back corner: ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Restore harmony and balance

-necessary to trace back to where scandals/schemes/shadiness started
-exclude guilty parties from bail out packages


-maximum legal persecution for illegal actions


-how far does this need to go back? Economic disparities or actual actions that
led to complete down spiral?

-commission to determine guilt/fault/causation



AIG.... claims that will be sued if bonuses not issued... money WILL be reclaimed
by government.... cooperation by all parties to limit red tape and extra spending

First break up

Peace: dont really know what’s up yet (peace is the sum of the other three!)
    -outline what would be a state of peace
    - community meetings

Truth: need a truth commission.... need transparency, we need to keep better
track of where this money is going,

Mercy: truth and reconciliation commission.... admit and be forgiven, give back
money

Justice: government fact finding investigation committee: find fault and hold
people maximally accountable, increased regulation,


Jenni Vien
    Cameron Casey
    Evan Wright
    Corinne Sober
    Kristie Mohrbachar
   
• MERCY: we can't right unrightable wrongs, its time to approach the future together
• Mercy is forward looking instead of backward looking
• Truth commissions works well with mercy
• Mercy has a human feel to it
• It is intangible
• The oppressed can give the greatest gift of humanity to the oppressor
• Kill them with kindness
• Whenever there is conflict, it is a missed opportunity to be working together
• Truth commissions
    - What happens when the party who did wrong, doesn't feel bad about it?
    - They can be coming from a superiority complex
• Mercy purposes an option to the victim
    - Still be stubborn
    - Or let it go
• Mercy involves emotion, feelings,
• Mercy means different things to different people
    - Must take culture into context
• Mercy is correlated with religion sometimes
    - Can be used as an in…
    - Or it can complicate a lot of things
• Mercy is trying to get out of multi-century grudge, stop the hate, part of it is that you have to forgive
• If you want to fight over the past I can't help much, but if you want to build a future I can help.
• Hate can drive a conflict much longer

Alliance for Truth – Collin Hickey, Kayla Berg, and others…
•    Truth needs to come first, but we don’t think it’s a good first step because the people pretty much know what happened due to the media
o    Media owned by corporations
•    Mercy for AIG very hard
•    Maybe not truth, but transparency = truth moving forward
•    No truth commission
•    People need to know exactly where their money is going
•    Trust in truth

All together – Kayla Berg, Rachel Ptaszek, Vicki Van-Antwerp, Tara Delancey
•    Steps – 1. Truth, 2. Justice, 3. Mercy, 4. Peace as ultimate goal
•    How punish and who to punish?  Policymakers, banks, government?
•    Where does mercy fit into the justice system?  Should it go first, or should people be punished
•    No forced justice because it could build more division in politics
•    

 

o

Peace and Conflict Studies
Guy Burgess -- burgess@colorado.edu -- 303-492-1635