Information on Consensus Decision Process in #OccupyDameStreet
What is consensus?
Consensus is a way of reaching decisions. It is a process which brings together the views of all members of a group but it does not mean that all have to agree in everything or abandon their personal values. Consensus decision-making requires that we share a common goal and are willing to work on issues together so that all concerns are addressed and we find a way forward. It is about an environment in which everybody feels welcome and safe to speak, get their views acknowledged and validated. In the consensus process, we share the responsibility for transforming our principles into meaningful change. Through the process, the group proposes amendments to the original proposals until everybody is comfortable with them.
Why use consensus?
The best answer was perhaps given at the Direct Action Conference during Berlin Climate summit in 1995.
The consensus process replaces competition with cooperation and ensures that all people who find themselves in a minority do not lose control over their lives. As a decision-making method, consensus is slow and has its limits but it never means a lack of action. Quite to the contrary, it makes action precise, sustainable and participatory. Decisions made by consensus are usually of a higher standard and speed action rather than stall it.
Consensus decision-making works best when:
- we realise that it is not only what we do but also how we go about doing things that is part of the world we want to bring about.
- we share common goals.
- we respect the process and other speakers.
- we work to foster mutual trust and are ready to assume that people have good intentions.
- we are committed to work collectively and creatively on the decisions that need to be made.
Consensus decision making does not work when:
- we conclude that our individual worldview is not only correct but also the only way to think about the world.
- we are not willing to take time to unlearn the patterns of behaviour that we have come to accept as ‘normal’.
- we are not open and trustful.
The role of facilitators:
- they do not have any agenda of their own beyond moving the meeting forward and helping to ensure that the process remains egalitarian, participatory and truly democratic at all times.
- they should extremely rarely express their own opinions and restrain themselves from using the hand signals.
- they are not chairpersons; they are not ‘leaders’ of the group.
Consensus map step-by-step:
This work is anti-copyright – free to copy, change and distribute as long as the final version remains anti-copyright.
Live link workshop with Occupy Cleaveland USA and Other Ocuppy 29th Dec,16.00 on SKype .
“Whats Consensus Mean For Us?”
Hi all,
Im glad to have you all respond with curiousity and support
for our online Occupy gatherings. Im deligthed and feel supported by all
your individual ieas and suggestions. For ease, I have decided to mail you
all together rather than answer all responses individually.
We hooked up on the 29th at 16.00 with Occupy Cleveland and others.Some
people unfamilar with skype group calls found it confusing at first.When
we all got clarity and where in the call some U.S.A police officers came
to search one of the camps involved and interacted with one of the
participants on our call for quite a while.Which meant confusion and
concern for the participants wellbeing expressed by the other participants
in the call.
With all this and our wish to be inclusive,supportive and fair.We decided
to halt and have another go on Thursday,29th december 011, 16.00 GMT.
So heres the invitation.Feel welcome to prepare and participate in this
event. You will need to provide us with your skype name.Send it to skype
contact:Flutterbouy or mail [email protected]
From the recieved technical suggestions for these group calls .
Heres what Jonathan is looking at with future calls in mind .Thanks for
sharing these.
http://www.dialoguecafe.org/about.php
http://maestroconference.com/
In the mean time I wish you all a easy,peaceful week+ of joyful resistance.
See you on the 29th.
Pears
Hi ,
Parachutes invite you to participate in a full day workshop .
‘Consensus Decison Making for Groups’
Consensus decison making aspires to reach agreement and decisions that
groups can
happily implement through fair and supported group participation.
Is consensus a tiring,struggle. Or is it a creative,dynamic and fun way to
achieve
decisions and action. We will explore these and more curious quetsions and
the
process and tools avilable to work well with consensus.
when:,04 December, 2011, 11.00-16.00
where: Seomra Sproai,10 belvidre Court D1.
.A social centre in Dublin 1.http://seomraspraoi.org/copy_of_contact-us
Contributions for workshop are
by suggested Donation of 5 euro for the full day.8 Euro including lunch.
booking is adviced please conatct Parachutes at :[email protected]
0857296088
in apprection all at
Parachutes.
Parachutes is a facilaiation,workshop and communications collective.We are
non
profit ,supporting the community in joyful resistance.
Hi Occupy Dame Street,
On Thursday 15th at 16.00 our time and 11.oo USA time. Parachutes
facilitation and workshop collective will be linking up with Occupy
Cleaveland (USA),other Occupy camps and consensus decision facilitators to
share ideas and needs around
“What Consensus Means For Us?”
We will do this through skype.
We invite you along to participate if you are curious,wish to share your
experience,need support on the consensus approach to decison making.
As its a Skype call this time places may be limited to 10. future link ups
may allow more people to participate at a time.
To participate you will need:
the use of a skype account.
TO share your Skype name in a mail with us by no later than 13.00 Our
time,Thursday 15th Dec.
We will invite the first peopel that provide their details and continue
until we reach maximum capacity on skype.
So contact Parachutes to participate at
[email protected]
In appreciation
Pears
Just like to say great job to all for updating the website ! It’s made it so much easyer for me to understand everything involved in the Consensus process
Really guys thanks so much !