Starting Point Links for Learning More About 113 Related Fields of Activity

(113 Fields of Activity Related to Peacebuilding,
Community Revitalization, and Ecological Sustainability)

The document attached to this post is an Appendix for my current work-in-progress (“Calling ‘the better angels of our nature’: Preparing for Ongoing Re-evaluation of Peacebuilding, Education, and Community Revitalization Efforts as Part of Responding to the Challenges of Our Times”). This piece of the larger work is still in draft form, but it can provide enough of a glimpse into the many forms of good work, being done in communities around the world, to support the statement: “We have the resources necessary to overcome the challenges of our times”.

This “Starting Point Links…” document represents development of the IPCR website section “105 Related Fields of Activity” into a form which will eventually replace the current “Links” section (at the IPCR website; www.ipcri.net ).

Also included here is 1) the current draft of the introduction to this Appendix, and 2) the current draft of the Table of Contents for the above mentioned work-in-progress (the draft Table of Contents is also accessible as part of a series of posts I made at my Facebook page) (see my worldpulse journal entry “Sharing of a More Personal Nature….”).

1) Introduction (draft)

We live in very complex world. There are very difficult challenges ahead. These challenges include, but are not limited to: the economic crises, global warming, peak oil, resource depletion, an ever increasing world population, global inequities, cultures of greed, corruption, and overindulgence, a marginalization of the wisdom associated with religious, spiritual, and moral traditions, and insufficient understandings of which basic elements of community life and cultural traditions lead to enduring peace and which do not. More and more people are coming to the realization that resolving these challenges will require problem solving on a scale most of us have never known before.

At the same time, more and more people, in more and more parts of the world, are seeing sufficient evidence for affirming the following four beliefs

a) As a result of the unprecedented opportunities created by the expansion of the Internet, we have now arrived at a very auspicious moment in time… for at no other time in the course of history has so many people had access to so much in the way of time-tested guidelines, inspiring role models, and service-oriented initiatives.

b) There are countless numbers of ‘things people can do in the everyday circumstances of their lives’ which will contribute to peacebuilding, community revitalization, and ecological sustainability efforts, in their own communities and regions—and in other parts of the world.

c) Even now, as you are reading this, truly inspiring contributions of genuine goodwill are being generated in a variety of ways—and in a variety of circumstances—by countless numbers of people in communities around the world.

d) We have the resources necessary to overcome the challenges of our times.

The IPCR Initiative is an accumulation of documents, resources, and observations brought together to support the propositions that we-- collectively-- have both the need, and the potential, to be

a) much more organized and deliberate about \"... bringing to the fore what is often hidden: how many good people there are, how many ways there are to do good, and how much happiness comes to those who extend help, as well as to those who receive it.\"

b) much more multi-faceted and participation-friendly in our approaches to peacebuilding, community revitalization, and ecological sustainability

c) much more resourceful in the use of the storehouses of accumulated wisdom and \"embodied energy\" which are now accessible to us

This section of the document “Calling ‘the better angels of our nature’….” provides comprehensive, detailed, and practical starting points for becoming involved—or increasing involvement—in many fields of activity which are critical to overcoming the challenges of our times.

This section has been paired (in Appendix B, see Table of Contents draft below) with Appendix 5 from a previous document, and the document “Divine Intervention….” as a way of emphasizing that there are some very important connections between spiritual wisdom and right livelihood… which many people illustrate by their lives even if they do not associate with specific teachings or traditions. When people really care about the welfare of our home, the Earth, and their fellow human beings, the above mentioned “connections” become more visible to others, and to them.

(Note: There are some sections of this list which are more developed, with text and excerpts from various sources. This whole document is a draft version of a work-in-progress, and thus some of the content represents notes made by this writer relating to ideas which he hopes to develop more as the work progresses.)

2) Table of Contents (draft)

Draft of Table of Contents for

Calling “the better angels of our nature”

Preparing for Ongoing Re-evaluation of Education, Peacebuilding, and
Community Revitalization Efforts as Part of Responses to the Challenges of Our Times

(Note: A Draft which would include the major themes being explored in each of the sections below may be available in two months or so….)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Section 1. Assessment of the Challenges of Our Times (which will include reference to “A Ten Point Assessment of the Most Difficult Challenges of Our Times” at http://ipcri.net/images/Ten-Point-Assessment.pdf
Section 2. Frameworks (“World Views”) and Socialization
Section 3. Education
Section 4. Spiritual Formation
Section 5. Community Revitalization
Section 6. The “1000Communities2” Proposal
Section 7. Preliminary Survey Questions
Section 8. “Community Teaching and Learning Centers”
Section 9. How Do the Teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Influence the Choices for Sections and Content in This Document?
Section 10. Problems That May Arise
Section 11 The IPCR Initiative and the Role of the Non-Confrontational “Trellis” Approach as a Relevant Response to the Challenges of Our Times
Section 12. Evaluation

Appendix 1

A. The IPCR Mission Statement…………………………………………………………………
B. Brief Descriptions of The Eight IPCR Concepts
C. Three Different Introductions to the 161 page “1000Communities2” proposal
D. A 15 Step Outline for a Community Visioning Initiative
E. About IPCR Workshops (from The IPCR Website at www.ipcri.net).......................................
F. The IPCR Copyright Policy
G. About the Writer……………………………………………………….

Appendix 2

A. Starting Point Links for Learning More About “113 Related Fields of Activity”
(113 Fields of Activity Related to Peacebuilding,Community Revitalization,
and Ecological Sustainability)
B. Appendix 5 from “1000Communities2” document
C. “Divine Intervention: A Collection of Quotations from ‘Sathya Sai Speaks’ Vol. 1-15”

Appendix 3

A. Notes and Source References
(Note: this appendix will not be included in draft versions)

End of Post (SP)

In the interests of sharing discoveries which may help others respond to the challenges of our times,

and With Kind Regards,

Stefan Pasti, Founder and Outreach Coordinator
The IPCR Initiative