Jibber-Jabber

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Comment by Jeff Mowatt on March 14, 2011 at 8:31

UK Uncut got my attention today with a blog post advocating a 'person oriented society'  quoting Martin Luther King

“We as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a ‘thing-oriented’ society to a ‘person-oriented’ society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”

 

Perhaps UK Uncut/Person Oriented Society deserves a topic or a group here?

 

Comment by Jeff Mowatt on January 31, 2011 at 17:58

Hi All,  I'm Jeff . I run a profit-for-purpose business called People-Centered Economic Development (P-CED) which originated in the United States 

It started for me in 2003 when founder Terry Hallman returning from his social enterprise efforts in Eastern Europe took to fasting for economic rights from a tent. He was calling on the US to sign up to the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

That led us to incorporating P-CED in the UK the following year and after attempting to leverage investment for a "community interest" broadband plan, re-focussing efforts in Eastern Europe.

Since 2004, revenue from our software development business has supported the creation of economic development strategies directed at poverty and childcare reform. 

Comment by Colin Miller on January 16, 2011 at 16:16

You are right, money is very important, as is volunteering, but if we only focus on these aspects of the big society, we are in danger of ignoring much of the intent that lies behind the big society ideas (in either party), this is about reconfiguring the state; what it does and it's relationship with 'citizens' and communities. This is the intent of the ideologues behind the big society (just read Cameron's speeches pre election) and it is clear to is resonating with a lot of Labour Party people, Milliband and Crudas, for example. The key task is to engage with the parties on the nature of this reshaping. Now many could and do argue that the cuts is being used as a way of privatising the public sector under the 'smokescreen' of the big society, this may be true, but to be honest - possibly out of desperation, s is many of the larger third sector organisations, who, all of a sudden, are claiming they are community groups! But we must also encourage a clarity and honesty in this debate, about how communities can be empowered, what resources and support is required, how you can differentiate between effective work and bullshit, and how you can measure impact.  Both parties need these massages.

Comment by Colin Miller on January 16, 2011 at 14:11

From reading today's Observer re Milliband speech on the big society and interview with London Citizens, Maurice Glasman, it is clearer than ever that many of the radical ideas behind the big society are shared by the two parties. It's not so much a question of should we have something like the big society - empowerment of communities, radical devolution of decision making and so but, the form that it should take. As people deeply committed to empowering the poorest communities in our country we have a duty to talk to both parties from an informed and committed perspective. And we must do so in the spirit of openness and solidarity, not special pleading, claiming to have all the answers.

Comment by Simon Lister on January 7, 2011 at 14:02

I aint getting on no plane!

Comment by Colin Miller on January 3, 2011 at 13:11

Happy New Year everyone. I've been involved in the CD and community empowerment game, as an activist, practitioner, manager and now consultant,  for more years than I care to remember. A few years ago I teamed up with Gabriel Chanan and we have developed a small 'virtual organisation/think' tank called PACES a lot of the work we do is concerned with policy, skills, management and training. We are currently deeply involved in a Health based CD Project called HELP. We are deeply committed to helping take empowerment and CD forward, but are also well known for challenging many of CD assumptions. We are looking forward to publishing a follow up paper paper on the Big Society, community empowerment and CD this week.

Comment by John Skrine on December 23, 2010 at 15:15

Hi everyone. I've just joined, a bit of a slow learner when it comes to social networker, as another member of this group will confirm (Hello Isabel!).  Find out more about where I'm coming from at Empowering Communities'  Empowerment Works blog.  Compliments of the season, all.

Comment by Sophie Ballinger on December 9, 2010 at 10:34

I pity the fool that doesn't!

Comment by Emma Lees on December 9, 2010 at 10:28

Loving Mr T.