The Trapese Collective
(Triggering Radical Action thru Popular Education and Sustainable Energies)
What is consensus Decision-Making?
Consensus is a process for group decision-making. It is a method by which an entire group of people can come to an agreement. The input and ideas of all participants are gathered and synthesized to arrive at a final decision acceptable to all. Through consensus, we are not only working to achieve better solutions, but also to promote the growth of community and trust.
Is it different to voting?
Voting is a means by which we choose one alternative from several. Consensus, on the other hand, is a process of synthesizing many diverse elements together.
Voting is a win or lose model, in which people are more often concerned with the numbers it takes to "win" than with the issue itself. Voting does not take into account individual feelings or needs. In essence, it is a quantitative, rather than qualitative, method of decision-making.
With consensus people can and should work through differences and reach a mutually satisfactory position. It is possible for one person's insights or strongly held beliefs to sway the whole group. No ideas are lost, each member's input is valued as part of the solution.
A group committed to consensus may utilize other forms of decision making (individual, compromise, majority rules) when appropriate; however, a group that has adopted a consensus model will use that process for any item that brings up a lot of emotions, is something that concerns people's ethics, politics, morals or other areas where there is much investment.
What does consensus mean?
Consensus does not mean that everyone thinks that the decision made is necessarily the best one possible, or even that they are sure it will work. What it does mean is that in coming to that decision, no one felt that her/his position on the matter was misunderstood or that it wasn't given a proper hearing.
Consensus takes more time and member skill, but uses lots of resources before a decision is made, creates commitment to the decision and often facilitates creative decision. It gives everyone some experience with new processes of interaction and conflict resolution, which is basic but important skill-building. For consensus to be a positive experience, it is best if the group has 1) common values, 2) some skill in group process and conflict resolution, or a commitment to let these be facilitated, 3) commitment and responsibility to the group by its members and 4) sufficient time for everyone to participate in the process.
Forming the consensus proposals
During discussion a proposal for resolution is put forward. It is amended and modified through more discussion, or withdrawn if it seems to be a dead end. During this discussion period it is important to articulate differences clearly. It is the responsibility of those who are having trouble with a proposal to put forth alternative suggestions.
The fundamental right of consensus is for all people to be able to express themselves in their own words and of their own will. The fundamental responsibility of consensus is to assure others of their right to speak and be heard. Coercion and trade-offs are replaced with creative alternatives, and compromise with synthesis.
When a proposal seems to be well understood by everyone, and there are no new changes asked for, the facilitator(s) can ask if there are any objections or reservations to it. If there are no objections, there can be a call for consensus. If there are still no objections, then after a moment of silence you have your decision. Once consensus does appear to have been reached, it really helps to have someone repeat the decision to the group so everyone is clear on what has been decided.
Difficulties in reaching consensus
If a decision has been reached, or is on the verge of being reached that you cannot support, there are several ways to express your objections:
Non-support ("I don't see the need for this, but I'll go along.")
Reservations ('I think this may be a mistake but I can live with it.")
Standing aside ("I personally can't do this, but I won't stop others from doing it. ")
Blocking ("I cannot support this or allow the group to support this. It is immoral." If a final decision violates someone's fundamental moral values they are obligated to block consensus.)
Withdrawing from the group. Obviously, if many people express non-support or reservations or stand aside or leave the group, it may not be a viable decision even if no one directly blocks it. This is what is known as a "lukewarm" consensus and it is just as desirable as a lukewarm beer or a lukewarm bath.
If consensus is blocked and no new consensus can be reached, the group stays with whatever the previous decision was on the subject, or does nothing if that is applicable. Major philosophical or moral questions that will come up with each affinity group will have to be worked through as soon as the group forms.
Roles in a consensus meeting
The facilitator(s) aids the group in defining decisions that need to be made, helps them do it, keeps the meeting moving and to the point; makes sure everyone has the opportunity to participate, and formulates and tests to see if consensus has been reached. Facilitators help to direct the process of the meeting, not its content.
A recorder can take notes on the meeting, especially of decisions made and means of implementation
A time-keeper keeps things going on schedule so that each agenda item can be covered in the time allotted for it (if discussion runs over the time for an item, the group may or may not decide to contract for more time to finish up).
For more information see:
www.seedsforchange.org.uk
http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/Consensus.html
A good ice breaker. Get people to stand in a circle and read statements from cards. You can pre-make these cards or get the group to write statements on pieces of cards. You might want them to reflect local issues. An example of cards is included at the end of this pack.
If other people feel that the issue on the card applies to them ask them to take a step into the circle and explain what it means to them. The point of the exercise is to show that lots of us have much to say on many issues.
Another good ice breaker. Pick an issue like globalisation, or the G8 or privatisation. You need a medium size room with lots of clear floor space. Imagine one end of the room represents a strong endorsement of globalisation or whatever issue and the other end represents a strong rejection of globalisation.
People have to place themselves on this imaginary line according to how they feel about the issue. Afterwards, get people to say why they stood where they did.
You can also do this around other issues, such as war, violence or voting. Once, I asked the question ‘is voting effective?’ I got two people standing at opposite ends of the room
Line up 10 chairs and get a person to stand behind each chair. Explain that each person represents 10% of the population of the UK and each chair 10% of the wealth. If all money were distributed equally, one person would have one chair.
In the world today, the richest 10% own half the wealth. So choose one person to occupy 5 chairs (50% of the wealth), and the other 9 people can squeeze on the other 5 chairs.
In the UK, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that in 2004 the richest 10% owned 54% of the country’s wealth. So get one person to occupy five and a half chairs and the rest have to occupy the remainder.
Then say that the richest 50% actually own 90% of the wealth. So now 5 people take up 9 chairs, with the remaining 5 people squeezing onto 1 chair. Prompt discussion about who has all the wealth and wh is remains so concentrated.
5 items laid out on a table:
football
Football kit
item of food
bottle of wine
trainers
Ask people to describe what they see. Ask them again and ask them what they missed the first time round – it’s not just a football/bottle of wine. Where has it come from? Most people miss this.
Then ask what are you wearing? Where does it come from?
Work in groups of 2-3 and write on post-it notes where shoes, coats and bags come from.
Using a world map, place the post-it notes on each country
Try and calculate for each object how far they have travelled to the UK
Make some remarks about these countries. What do people know about them?
What kinds of conditions do they work in?
How old are they?
How much do they get paid?
Nike
Many people are wearing Nike. You can discuss the following.
The personal wealth of Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike is over £7 billion.
In 1992 Nike paid Michael Jordan £13m for endorsing their trainers, more than they paid their entire Indonesian workforce. Workers in Indonesia take home 23p (0.4%) of the £60 paid for a pair of trainers in a UK shop. Average daily wage for workers at Nike factory in Indonesia: 60p
Try and prompt a discussion around the following:
Geography of economic change – where are things made and why? Why are they not made in UK anymore?
Consumer society. We buy things from other side of the world, what does this mean for the people who have to make them?
Environment. What are implications of transporting goods thousands of miles?
Citizenship. What can we do about this? Contact the government, the companies?
Have a look at recent communiqué and press release from leaders after and before summits. We need to really find out what they mean. Take it sentence by sentence. What do you think they are really saying? Have a think about the following:
Bringing the world’s leaders to Gleneagles is not only a privilege; it is further recognition of the international reputation of Scotland and its people and of our excellent facilities and infrastructure. The summit will provide a unique opportunity to raise the profile of Scotland as a destination, a business location, and as a potential place to live. We will seize that opportunity and showcase our ambitions for Scotland. (First Minister of Scotland)
The G8 was originally created to discuss economic issues. Of course we still do this, but increasingly the focus has moved towards issues of international solidarity. This is because it is clear that in an interdependent world, what blights or enhances one part of the world, affects the other parts too. It is morally right that we extend democracy, cut poverty, remove the causes of conflict and instability and bring the hope of advancement to all nations. But it is also now clearly in our enlightened self-interest. If global terrorism and the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons are the new security threat we face, we recognise it cannot be defeated by security measures alone. Political freedom and rising prosperity as much as force of arms will be our ultimate shield. The G8 this year recognised this reality. We look forward to deepening it under British chairmanship next year (Tony Blair)
This game takes about 1 hour and needs some materials and preparation, but is good fun. About 30 people is a good number. There are 5 countries with about 6 people in each group. You can chose the countries, but it is a good idea to get a range of different countries.
USA Britain
India Cuba
Malawi
The aim of the game is to make as much money as possible – ie develop, progress with the resources you have. There are 3 rounds of trading lasting 10 minutes each
Pick a President of the World Bank who sits in front and give them a name badge. They have 2 roles – buying goods and giving loans. Make sure you have a blank piece of paper where you note all the loans made to each country through out the game. Pick a Head of International Resources. They sell more resources – paper, pencils etc
Rules include:
Late sales will not be included
Trading (ie swapping) is allowed between countries
Measurements must be exact
In each of the 3 rounds, each group must nominate a finance minister (job is to go to the bank), a trade minister (job is to buy, sell, swap resources). Use sticky labels to identify yourselves.
Trading starts and each round has different rules. For example:
A 10x10cm square can be sold to the bank for $100
A 8x8cm square can be sold to the bank for $100
A 10x15cm rectangle can be sold to the bank for $150
A 12x12cm square can be sold to the bank for $100
There are also a number of secret rules like:
The Banker will give favourable loans to Britain and USA.
Head of International Resources will be favourable to Britain and USA if they want more of anything. Make sure that Malawi and India pay more for all resources than Britain and USA Limit the amount of things that Cuba receives. USA can have more paper for free.
Cuba CANNOT sell money with coloured dots in 3rd round because of international sanctions
USA can have all material at a cheaper rate and paper free
Britain can have all material at a cheaper rate
Malawi must pay over the odds for all material. Loans come with conditions. ie for every $100 they want to lend they have to give a piece of A4 paper to head of international resources.
You need country cards and round cards explaining to each group the role of their country and what will happen in each round. Examples are included below:
At the beginning, distribute resources as follows:
Bank
Needs lots of paper notes. Make lots using the templates below.
Head of international resources
Has lots of extras of everything especially paper (ie 200 pieces)
USA
20 blank A4 bits of paper
4 rulers
5 pencils
20 coloured dots
3 scissors
Britain
5 blank A4 bits of paper
3 rulers
5 pencils
10 coloured dots
2 scissors
India
10 blank bits of A4
1 ruler
2 pencils
2 coloured dots
1 pair of scissors
Cuba
5 blank bits of A4
2 blunt pencils
1 ruler
10 coloured dots
Malawi
2 bits of A4 paper
1 pencil
At the end of the 3rd round, count up all the money made through trading by each country and subtract the amount of debts from this. If you have played it right, the USA and Britain should be the winners by far with the other countries trailing behind and Malawi in huge debt.
Try and get people to reflect on the rules and make connections with the way international trading currently operates, for example through subsidies, domination of the EWTO and IMF by the USA, embargoes, boycotts and plundering of natural resources.
USA
You are the world’s richest country. You must aim to keep this advantage. Don’t give poorer countries access to new technologies. It may help them develop and put US jobs and economic growth at risk.
UK is a good friend so support it where you can.
Don’t trade with Cuba as they are evil terrorists/communists. They must be defeated at all costs.
UK
You are the humble servant of Washington. Do all you can to help them.
You have a historic obligation to India, but don’t take it too seriously.
You kinda like Fidel Castro in Cuba, but for the sake of relations with the USA, don’t give them any privileges.
You might consider giving something to African countries in the name of charity.
India
You’ve always been part of a strong non aligned movement. You feel you have the resources to go it alone. You especially respect Cuba and like to help struggling small poor nations.
You would like to gain advantage over the USA, but how? Maybe through alliances?
Cuba
You are one of the remaining countries in the world committed to socialist revolution and speaking out against the USA and neoliberalism. But for this, you face tough economic sanctions in the world. You would like to trade more but are blocked at every move by the USA. You have the knowhow, but you have to convince people to help you.
Malawi
You’ve always struggled. You have few resources and little technology. All the money you have seems to go on servicing your debt and paying back loans. You’d like other countries to show some solidarity and maybe lend or give you some money. You feel they really owe you it anyway
India 2nd round
1 coloured dot adds $500 to value of square
UK 2nd round
1 Coloured dot adds $1000 to value of square
USA 2nd round
1 Coloured dot adds $1000 to value of square
CUBA 2nd round
2 coloured dots adds $500 to value of square
USA 3rd round
square of 6x6 is worth $2000
add 2 coloured dots to it and its worth $3000
Malawi 3rd Round
We need $500 for outstanding debt interest
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Don’t feel powerless – people have always struggled for making life for them and others more just
Civil Disobedience. It’s not new, its at the heart of our democracy.
Abraham Lincoln once said something useful which we can use in our country:
'this country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it'
Here are some examples of people who have fought for community, democracy and freedom using their civil rights:
The Luddites – who broke machine in 1812 in the north of England to protect their families and their way of life
The Suffragettes who risked their lives and freedom to ensure equal voting rights for women
The Zapatistas in Mexico who are subsistence farmers in Mexico who today have taken over an area bigger than the UK in order to ensure that they have the right to grow food for their families.
Poll Tax campaigners who successfully stopped the government bringing in increased taxation
Hackers who use new technologies to change websites and hack into corporate infrastructures
Subvertisers who change messages on all pervading billboards
Ghandi in India who fought the power of the English empire through non vilent peaceful resistance.
The Peace movement who for decades have protested against the use of weapons and the waging of war by governments and millions of innocent deaths
Reclaim the Streets who used parties to disrupt city streets and offer alternative ways of living in cities
The Solidarity Union in Poland who resisted the repressive centralised communist government
It’s difficult to link our actions to concrete effects (ie cause and affect difficult to gauge)
Inflated hopes/expectations can often lead to disappointment
Remember victories can be temporary, but defeats can be permanent
There a difference between:
-changing ourselves (the ordinary evil in us) and thinking about how our daily actions affect others, especially in other parts of the world.
-changing some of the big structures around us which lead to war, poverty, genocide, ecocide etc (ordered evil)
We need to combat both and we can think of ways to do it.
Many people feel that try to change the system from within is a waste of time as big business, politicians are pretty much one and the same and have as their main interests profit and power rather than the needs of ordinary people.
As a result, many people are choosing to work outside the system to build their own alternative worlds which, along with likeminded people, they can have a say in how things are run.
Changing ourselves ‘be the change you want to see’:
Living: set up a housing co-operative or a social housing project (more info at www.radicalroutes.org.uk; www.eco-action.org/catalyst, www.upstart.coop)
Food: join a veg box scheme; get an allotment and grow your own food; join a food co-operative; shop locally rather than in supermarkets; support farmers markets; buy organic.
Work: join your trade union; set up a workers co-operative (see http://www.radicalroutes.org.uk/workers.html); distribute information in your workplace; support those out of work;
Travel: use a bike or public transport; if you have to use a car, join a car share scheme or convert to bio fuels;
Energy and service: join the phone co-op (www.thephone.coop/index.html); subscribe to a green energy provider; install photo-voltaic cells (solar panels), passive solar water heating use less energy and unnecessary appliances
Changing the world around us
Lobbying politicians/business people (many of us have found this a waste of time or disempowering as it achieves little)
Circulating information in workplaces/communities about the effects of companies (how they damage the environment, treat their workers, over[pay their bosses, arm dictators etc etc)
Taking direct action – through office occupations, squatting, subvertising billboards
What works well, or doesn’t work?
What are the limitations?
Where can you get money to support these activities?
How can we make time to get involved in them?
You could use the questions below to think about making a plan of action for working towards change.
What’s happening in your community?
Name three things you like about your community
Name three things you dislike
Name three things you’d like to change
Name three things you’d like to stay the same
Name three things you could do in the next month to change your community
Name three things you could do in the next year to change your community
Name three people who you think could help make your community better
Name three people you think would stop you improving your community
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Buys fair trade tea/coffee |
Knows someone has been sacked when the firm they work for went overseas |
Bought something in last few days made overseas |
Wears trainers made in Asia |
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Is a member of a group in their local arwa |
Is worried about genetically modified foods
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Is member of a union at work |
Works for a big company that is based overseas |
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Has eaten fruit grown outrside of Europe in last few days
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Has visited another country on holiday
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Has seen gas/electricity bill go up recently |
Pays more for their bus/train fares than a few years ago |
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Thinks big companies have too much influence over politicians
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Tries to eat organically or locally grown food
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Has ever written to their MP on an issue that concerned them |
Has wanted things to change but feels powerless to do anything |
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Knows who are the members of the G8
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Knows what the WTO stands for |
Has seen layoffs a work, while company profits still rise |
Knows people affected by benefit/pension cuts |
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Knows a local school or hospital that has been closed down
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Knows a local wood/park/green area which is under threat |
Has seen local shops close down over last few years |
Has seen an increase in car use, pollution and dangerous roads in their area |