Saturday of the Halloween bank holiday and I was outside the central bank of Ireland on Dame St. I arrived as the protest that had begun from Gardens of rememberence turned the corner onto Dame street. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruCweuvYlAk&feature=feedu
As I was watching, a few guys in their mid 20's passed by and in an attempt to mock the camp shouted "Free the Whales" to the response of another quick witted Dubliner who was a part of the protest "No lads, the whales are already free, it's SAVE THE WHALES" to which the originators laughed out loud and carried on their way, hopefully to return again.
The reason I use this exchange as the opening to this entry is that I see a need for every person who passes the Occupy Dame Street Movement to have the chance to learn as much as they want about the movement in a way that suits them. It is not everybodys cup of tea to take the microphone and speak to the assembled public, nor is it appealing to some to stop and ask somebody to tell them what's happening (Especially when there are no apparent leaders around).
As I approached the area being used for the general assembly there was a man with a megaphone chanting "No Political Banners...No Political Banners" and urging the crowd to point at the 3 men holding a banner belonging to a campaign. These people looked just like the people on the march... Oh wait, it was them. They are the 99%. Just like me, like you, like the man with the megaphone. But if we are all the 99% why are we doing things differently? Why can't I express my opinions in a way that I want, such as a banner? (I know why, but i still think that asking the question is a fundamental responsibility of a host). This was followed by a conversation between several of the gathered public, the 3 men and their supporters and the people in yellow jackets. I turned to my companion and expressed my delight at the apparent chaos that surrounded me.
But was this really chaos? Because there were people living here and people passing through, some of whom knew what was happening around them and some who had no idea, they just stumbled upon a group of people making noise on a holiday weekend. There was a general assembley, a PA system, a food tent for the campers and generators surrounded by fire extinguishers. If I didn't know better I'd say somebody had organised this whole thing...
I had a fantastic 3 hour conversation with one of the people who had facilitated some conversations at the camp and another 2 friends/colleagues of mine. We explored the reality of life in the camp and the movement, the moods, the politics, the fears, the visions, the confusion, the conversations, the order, the chaos, the order, the chaos, the order, the chaos...
I drew on a piece of paper what I had learned at the few Art of Hosting trainings I attended and co-hosted. The Chaordic path. We could clearly see how the Occupy Dame Street movement was floating between the circles and for some people it was in the sweet spot, for some it was out in chaos alone and others there was apathy because of there was not enough order for them.
I am very clear how the practices of the Art of Hosting can serve to strenghten the Occupy Movement and I plan to make some offerings of facilitation using these methods. The freedom that I feel now, having had such a great conversation, an authentic conversation between 4 people yesterday is leaving me inspired and with a clear vision of how I can contribute to the Occupy movement. I don't need to camp out, I don't need to march, I don't need to make a banner.
If I was a baker I would bring bread. I am not a baker and the skills I bring are those of facilitation.
So, off to Belfast I go. Tomorrow I'm back in Dublin for a meeting with the Occupy facilitators group to prepesent some ideas and explore collaboration. Watch this space...
