Becoming a global citizen in a doughnut economy
In today’s world, we still have a long way to go when it comes to an economy that takes the limits of the earth into account. To become global citizens, there is a role to play for us as individuals. The Doughnut Economics model is introduced and we’ll gain insight into the planetary boundaries. Working with both models will help us find out which areas in our lives could use more attention, change or action. The lifemap process starts by charting your own reality. Creating a combined image of your reality and your views is an important condition to make sure that you can integrate your findings from working with the theory in your life and work practice. After studying the models, a second layer is added to the poster. Reflection and discovery follows about the meaning of what it shows.
Description
The image shows the lifemap building blocks
A lifemap scenario and a workshop programme for a self-appointed group of four. A group coordinator receives the lifemap package for the group, containing the building blocks shown in the image for each member: the Blue planet poster and citizen stickers which are a variant of the city stickers. Although it is not shown on the image, a sticker sheet strip with the symbols shown below is part of the lifemap package.
During the workshop symbols are added to the poster to promote overview
The overarching goal for this lifemap scenario
The overarching goal for this lifemap scenario is to help people find direction and develop a compass for adapting their life to the challenging reality on our planet.
To develop ourselves as global citizens and stewards of the planet
Why work with the doughnut model? 90 % Of the decisions in politics, public life, business and at home are still only about us, humans. But we know for sure, now, that humanity has impacted the earth in such a way, that life conditions on earth are deteriorating. The doughnut model includes the just and safe space for humanity as well as the reality of the planet’s ecological ceiling. Seen from an individual perspective it is like a mega-compass that can help us to change our mindset.
Why does it make sense to relate to the world situation as an individual? Under the current economic regime people have become consumers. We use money to oursource most tasks, buying from others and acquiring technology to work for us. It is has become clear that several of the planetary biosphere areas are ‘in the red’. We cannot go on as we did, leading a life without limits. We also have to realise, that re-greening our lives and our places and bringing sustainability into practice is a journey rather than a set of measures. Being familiar with the areas of impact and understanding how they translate to the local scale and what that means for us as individuals is one possible step to take.
A method for individuals to relate to the world situation. Often people put off the moment to realise what is happening at a global level, holding everything at a distance. It is understandable since it is almost too much to relate at a world scale. In this lifemap scenario models are used as a method to enable individuals to do this. From the view of the individual we zoom out to the level of the world economy and the planet. We find elements from the models which are lacking in our world view and add those to the image on the poster. The three scales and the landscapes of the Blue Planet poster are used to evaluate what this means for the person involved. Although it is a conceptual excercise it provides an inner experience. In a group exchange people will endeavour to get explicit what it all means. In this way a foundation is laid for a deeper understanding.
Developing your own compass, using the doughnut model and the model of the planetary boundaries. Informed by the experiences the group will talk about the question: How can I create my own compass such that it is more aligned with the doughnut? What does a group exchange about this question look like? This question will bring up many differences and dilemmas. It is sheer impossible to have a conversation. So instead of having a dialogue we will invite people to express what is in them, while others are listening. We will not try to discover solutions or find generic answers, but we will be together, holding this big question.
Workshop programme summary
A workshop programme starts in a Zoom call with a short group introduction and questions and answers about the poster, the process and how to choose text stickers. A round of individual work follows, in which each person fills in the poster with text stickers. People do this preferably at home, in 2+ hours, often spread over several days. The next part of the programme is a Zoom call, dedicated to the introduction of the two models. Based on new insight, they go back to their poster, in another individual round, to change it or add to it. One 2+ hour Zoom call is dedicated to storytelling and listening to the stories told by others, without discussion, depending on what the group wants in terms of elaboration. In this lifemap scenario exchange does not mean to have a dialogue, it means listening to each other and actively supporting and empowering each other. The outcomes of the programme will be: an experience of working with both of the world level models, bringing conhesion and unity in your worldview, self-reflection about your own role and position in the world – all at a conceptual level, but based on reality.
Personal safety and privacy
How the built-in lifemap process facilitates a safe environment for sharing and how personal information is protected during the workshop and in the presentation of the harvest will be discussed in advance.