![]() When I first heard that Covid-19 was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a global pandemic, my training in Warm Data came into gear. “How we think our way through the mess we’re in, when the way we think is part of the mess?” - Nora Bateson, International Bateson Institute (IBI). Warm data allowed me the opportunity to understand a problem from different angles of a system at play, recognising the inter dependencies of different contexts, within a system. So, in everyday language what that means is billionaire Technocrat Bill Gates views the world from technology/economy contexts and that technology has all the answers. So, his widely reported influence on WHO declaring it a pandemic after considerable donations to assist them, was not ideal because it does not recognise the inter dependencies of other contexts such as culture, education, health, politics, and economy within a system. Subsequently, when a uniform response is proposed by WHO dominated by a technology context of vaccines, lock downs, sanitisers and masks, which may work in western dominated cultures, who have access to vaccines and sanitisers and masks and live-in individual dwellings and can access a supermarket. But for a big chunk of the world’s population who live off subsistence agriculture and need to have communal food exchange to survive and feed their families this pandemic response for them has been disastrous. When we view the pandemic from the context of health, our doctors, and nurses on the front line, who have families that are also in lock down with the support of scientific evidence are our go to for their health and care. However, when senior Health officials state- ‘always wear your mask and don’t start a conversation with people who you may run into when grocery shopping or exercising’. This response may be effective to limit transfer of any virus, however keeping in mind we touch products in the shopping process which cannot be cleaned before someone else touches it? So, when viewed from the context of community, for people living on their own, that may be the only conversation that person has all week- this response of their neighbour ignoring or limiting their interaction with someone who is already feeling isolated could be disastrous for their mental health and well being- the irony of the lock down and that it’s for our health does not escape me. The response to the pandemic of non-consultative predominantly political lack of consultation with education, community, health (we have never seen the health advice- just the political interpretation of this advice) all the contexts within the system it operates. Highlighting the lack of understanding of seeing the system as interdependent contextual relationships - hence not being able to see the forest from the trees, analogy comes to mind. This lack of understanding and respect for the interdependent relationships between these contexts, can be disastrous and will impede the objective of protecting and keeping the people safe. It’s also not conducive to living a human existence. From an educational context, the home-schooling when children are being forced to learning online, that may be Ok for a child who has access to the technology and their parents are able to work from home and home school. But for struggling families who need to make a choice do we pay rent, food, or technology for school, I’m pretty sure needs of shelter and food are prioritised. Our schools must manage providing support for learning in both an online capacity and have limited staff at the schools for children of essential workers. The teachers (who also have families in lock down) continue to teach the curriculum meanwhile students see the dominance of technology in isolation, disconnection from friends and possibly family and from their communities which give them a sense of identity and belonging. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs identifies shelter, food and then social interaction as an essential element of being human. Just like if we took a lion from the wild, and placed it in a cage enslaved to perform for humans, it is no longer a lion but a performing enslaved animal. On a personal note, I have struggled during the lock downs, and I am privileged enough to be able to exercise living close to the beach(ecology), I am able to work from home(economy), I live with my (family), I am not going to lose my business or worry about how to feed my family and if I can pay the rent. Those needs are being met, however my social needs of my friends and connecting with them (community) and sharing my experiences face to face (identity) and with a deeper connection (spirituality) and physical contact recognising that it was a much-needed part of my life (culture). I’m also completing my postgraduate studies online (technology/education) and can practice my self-care in nature (ecology). Hence, this privilege affords me the vision to see that the system is broken, as certain contexts do not recognise that they are interdependent on other contexts or that they are part of a system. So, what should we do? Well, we can start by recognising that we operate and live in a dynamic system that has contexts interdependent on one another and the links between these contexts are broken. Hence we begin mending the relations and understandings between these contexts, building bridges and two way communications - that would be a good place to start, because it’s not personal it’s a system’s failure.
7/6/2021
Our Legacy ...![]() At our Community Environment Network, our people (volunteers and staff) come together because we share similar values. Most of us share our knowledge and skills with the purpose of benefiting our community and the people who live in our geographical region. The hope is to leave the legacy of a healthy environment and in turn community for future generations. Our First Australians have left us this legacy of a beautiful country with the rich tapestry of our natural environment making it one of the most spectacular countries on earth. If we call ourselves Australians, we should be looking after country and all who live in our communities- humans included and continue this legacy. As outgoing Chair of CEN, at our committee meetings we have lively discussions about how to respond to challenging and unsustainable developments in our region. Our range of skills and insights vary on how we as a voluntary community-based organisation should respond. This diversity is essential in any community organisation, reflecting the natural environment in which biodiversity is vital in sustaining our environments’ resilience; to extreme weather and unsustainable developments encroaching on our wetlands, native forests, and oceans that we have inherited. At our upcoming AGM, I will not be renominating as Chair, but I will be staying on our Executive committee with the focus on our CEN Youth, which I created 2 years ago when I took up the role as Chair. This will be one of my legacy’s. What legacy will you leave behind for our Central Coast Community and future generations? Please join us in creating the legacy of a healthy environment and community for years to come. Hale Adasal CEN Chair
15/1/2021
2021 the Year of ...![]() Well for me personally, it is about healing, having had health concerns and losing my Father in 2020 (not Covid related). I have made some major changes in my life to find a more balanced approach to life and living. Life is always changing and always has since our ancestors at some point in our history were nomadic. Had they continued to move, staying connected with nature and local environments we may not be suffering as much as we are now, as a society and community. Once we stayed put and began changing our natural environment, we began to disconnect slowly but surely from life’s cycles, tuning out of the seasons, cycles of the moon, sunrise, and sunsets, etc. Last year and unfortunately as the restrictions continue, we have seen people flock to nature. Why is that? Could it be that we feel at home in nature, as nature is at peace and shows us unconditional love (no matter if we harm her, she continues to generate life). This year should really be about healing as we transition from a system of dominance over nature to a world reconnected with nature. As we heal from a transactional way of interacting with one another and our environment to a relational way of interacting with one another and our local environment. Seeing the spirits of ancestors as our First Australians do, in our large old growth trees, in our mountains, waterways and with our wildlife. Connecting us deeply with life, breath, sustaining us with healthy soils/earth, water, and foods. We are so lucky living on the Central Coast as we are surrounded by the best nature has to offer. But with that privilege comes a responsibility to protect and look after her as she does us and maybe time to repay the unconditional love. Join us in 2021. Hale Adasal CEN Chairwoman
26/11/2020
Metamorphosis![]() Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops relatively abruptly, changing its body structure through its cell growth and differentiation. This is often accompanied by a change of nutrition source or behaviour. The environment is changing and hence our food source for all living beings (non-human included). This extreme weather will be reflected in our local communities that are interdependent on these changes. Just like the animal our physical structure reflected in our societies and natural environment are morphing into something new. But unlike the animal process and community metamorphosis is something we as a network can shape what this change will look like. When we as a community stand up to protect our natural wonders, which have been proudly acknowledged as the primary reason we call the coast our home. From our wetlands to our coastal open space systems, our forests and national parks, our lagoons, oceans, and beaches, need I go on. Hence, now is the time to get involved with local groups across the Central Coast who are volunteering to ensure the bush is cared for and all the living beings who live in these habitats survive. The diverse species builds our resilience to the changing climate and just like in our community organisations if our pool of go to people are rich and diverse in skills and knowledge the organisation which is most diverse will come up on top enhanced by the changes and transformations taking place. We would love for you to join us with our programs, projects for young and wise to get involved and support your local community and environment network to meet the challenges we face together. Hale Adasal CEN Chairwoman
2/8/2020
The Three CCC's![]() Whenever I go into the CEN office located at Ourimbah campus, to attend meetings or catch up on tasks as the volunteer in chief, I am always greeted by the wonderful energy of community members in our centre. It is great to catch up with staff and the inspirational work that they do. But I also love speaking with our other volunteers, who like me spend numerous hours of their week, working to make our Community Environment Network the success story that it is. Whether it is caring for the plants, getting them ready for our monthly plant sales. Or in the nursery, developing the plants from seedlings. Or it could be designing logos for our programs and events or data entry for our community nature programs. Not to mention our front-line volunteers who answer our phone calls and respond to our emails. They are all members of our Central Coast Community who realise that Connecting with people who have the same vision for their community and our local environment is key for our well-being. Once we make this Connection, we can Collaborate, bringing our thinking together to Create models of how our community should look and function. So, it makes sense, the energy I feel when I speak with volunteers like myself who share their skills and passions volunteering for CEN. We connect to something bigger than our individual selves in which everyone has a role to play. The current Climate the way it is and the inevitable Change that will take place whether its forced on us or we prepare our human communities to face these Challenges. All we will have, are these relationships, that Connect us with one another and our natural environment. An essential first step to ensure the Collaboration and Creation of community models follows. The stakes are high, but the rewards will be world changing. Community is Everything Hale Adasal CEN Chair
1/7/2020
It Takes A Village![]() It Takes A Village Is originally, an African proverb. We have all heard it and understand that raising children and the next generation requires multiple members of the community, such as extended family, teachers, mentors, surrogate family members and friends to support and help them develop. Parents are not enough, children need mentors, teachers, surrogate aunts, uncles, grandparents, go to people, to understand their place in the community, their role and identity. The recent Covid -19 restrictions have separated us from these go to people putting all the weight on the parent/s. Creating quite a bit of stress on members of our community, in which everyone has been impacted. If we look at it from the perspective of the next generation, predominately Youth and their social connections with their friends and peers was not available during the restrictions. So, the opportunity to share their experiences and grievances was lost during this period. Our health and wellbeing as social creatures are essential for living fully functional connected lives. Our Community Environment Network (CEN) Youth group that I have had the privilege to develop have shared with me the frustrations and suffering young people are facing. A middle-aged woman as I, has built the resilience and skills to manage the social isolation and find creative ways to connect with friends and family. This opportunity may not be readily accessible to many Youth. Our CEN Youth group have been catching up regularly online, touching base and sharing experiences with each other, acknowledging that they are experiencing the same suffering not being able to connect, face to face with their friends and family. We are also planning a short hike (following the restriction guidelines) with a team building exercise for our next catch up. It is important we try to understand how it must feel from their perspective to see the changes that are unfolding as a new system develops. Hence why Youth voices must be heard and supported as they will be inheriting this future we have already started to create. Community is Everything Hale Adasal CEN Chair |
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