solidarity | COLIN HICKS - bolder together!

The Culture Forum model

Are you looking for an inclusive consultation and participation model?

Then see this solution from the UK West Midlands: wmca.org.uk – the West Midlands Combined Authority

They have provided a Cultural Leadership Board and a Cultural Response Unit

See also culturecentral.co.uk for another idea

Diversity of Cultural Expressions

The UNESCO Diversity of Cultural Expressions was agreed in 2005 and adopted in 2007

The right wing counter with Patriotism and don’t believe Theresa May 2012 : “If you’re a citizen of the world you’re a citizen of nowhere”

To combat this –

Be a cosmopolitan citizen of the world – International, Progressive, Digital, WordPressed, Global

Seek unipolarity in one world – read about Wilkie and International relations

Include Black History in your deliberations: see David Olusoga and the Black Curriculum

Combat nationalist exceptionalism and learn about why: The Peace of Westphalia, a treaty that launched the notion of inviolate State borders in 1648 – undermined by the bipolarity of the Cold War and the longevity of NATO

Get inspired or join in with the Freeword Centre, IFACCA, UKCCD and IETM

An odd choice for me to focus on you might say, but if you want to do something really practical to bridge the ever-widening socio-economic power gap, then spare a thought for all those young people making the transition from deep institutionalisation to a poverty-stricken independence. You could do worse than get involved with this particular cohort of young people, all at the threshold of becoming a responsible adult in a hostile environment.

Mental Health

The lockdown started with fears of dystopia and social breakdown, but appears to be ending with people more closely bonded and appreciative of nature than before.

The question is: How long can we get that mood to last, once capitalism revs up again?

Pay more attention to each other – there is more to life than money.

Provide a “gentle space” that will help socially isolated residents to reintegrate Cook for one another and leave food on the steps

Reconnect with friends

Get the beachfront as close to bustling as it is possible to get in an era of physical distancing: long queues for fish and chips and ice-cream, family picnics, play football, fly kites.

See https://unitedgmh.org

Open Democracy

Thankfully, it does what it says on the tin

English PEN

Surrounded as we are by the image, we all still rely on the word for our truth. This branch of an international organisation carries the torch for those whose voice is in danger of being muffled or even extinguished

The Equality Trust

An honourable and effective organisation that concentrates the mind on the increasing divide between the haves and the have-nots

The Conversation

A really good site that promotes a proper debate and unashamedly uses experts to give us reliably researched information so we can make our own minds up

More in Common

Looking for somewhere to understand the forces driving us apart and instead find the common ground that will bring people together? Then More in Common would be my recommendation.

And they’ve got a good research and publications site too

14. The Other

Previous or Start Again ?

“L’enfer, c’est les autres” Jean-Paul Sartre

For all their difficulty, human relations enhance Imprecision. We begin life believing that all external events are generated by ourselves, so “Me” is all it takes until we lose control of the breast or bottle that feeds Me when I want. When this is withheld for the first time it is a cruel shock. Continue reading “14. The Other”

Tag: solidarity