Difference between pages "Build bridges between separate stakeholder groups" and "Urban gardening Peace Project"

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Examples from real world governance interventions:  
Under development by [[User:Burcu Eke-Schneider|Burcu Eke-Schneider]]


*[[Bottom-up resistance against gentrification in Rome]]
The world requires transformation towards a culture of peace, which consist of values, attitudes and behaviours that reflect and inspire social interaction and sharing based on the principles of freedom , justice and democracy, all human rights , tolerance and solidarity , that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation and that guarantee the full exercise of all rights and the means to participate fully in the development process of their society.' https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d94ec670c5b607d9c896795/t/5ef0c35f16217c2827e84d65/1592836959623/For+Peace_UN+Resolution_Establishment+of+Ministries+and+Departments+for+Peace.pdf
*[[Co-creation of a sustainable neighborhood in Freiburg]]
*[[Citizens share in Berlin Energy Grid for sustainable energy]]
*[[Inner-city community energy in London]]


== General ambition ==
The Urban Gardening Peace Project is located on the grounds of the Alevi community of Wuppertal (AKM) and works closely with several actors in the hearth of the city.As an Avantgardenist thinkers and volunteer transformers we want to be part of collective search for paradigms and pathways towards a world that is sustainable, equitable and just.  The community garden invites different cultures and actors to establish a peaceful relationship with each other and at the same time to resume the dialogue with nature. The vision of this scientific project is to create in the sacred place a nature-based conflict transformation model while facilitating intercultural knowledge exchange processes.This space aims to create dialogue in the nature to find sustainable solutions and opens spaces for people to share their needs and hopes. Thus, this creative "Peacebuilding" project has a cultural and social dimension as well as a scientific approach to reduce the power of the drivers of injustice in the context of sustainable urban development.Peacebuilding with its new definition has been implemented in an urban transformation project for taking alternative actions on social inequality and ecological unsustainability in order to create more just and sustainable spaces.As a  study it has been realized in Wuppertal in order to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in a real-life laboratory context. It was not only set up to analyse root-cause problems but also sought to propose culturally sensitive solutions.


Metaphorically building bridges between separate groups of stakeholders often requires  the establishment of formal or informal roles (institutionalisation)  for individuals or organisations to intermediate, broker information and translate language between different stakeholders of a project. Such “intermediaries” play a crucial role by translating and enabling communication e.g. between civil society groups and governmental actors in order to realize a joint project. They have to be recognised in a way that both civil society groups and institutional/municipal actors feel heard and valued and thus build trust in stakeholders which follow different rationales and have developed different cultures of interaction. More important than how exactly the intermediary operates is its function, which at its core is often about enabling communication and furthering democratic participation on a decentralised, local level. Therefore an intermediary can be of different nature e.g a single project manager, a committee/platform, an open-meeting space or a dedicated organisation. In some cases, like in the fourth example below from London, local governments can also serve and work as an intermediary between different stakeholders. Such bridging roles are not exclusively found between institutional actors and citizens. Connecting/ translating language/ and intermediating between interests of different departments within a municipality can be equally important (to break up ‘silos’ or to counter ‘compartmentalization’)..
A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: by Burcu Eke Schneider https://wiki.urban-arena.eu/User:Burcu_Eke-Schneider


== Examples ==
It is an important intervention for preventing violence, it works with inclusiveness to help enable emergence of a common understanding in three main ways:


''' ''Anti-gentrification resistance'', Rome '''
First, it can support inclusive processes of just urban transition that respect diversity of cultural backgrounds and ethnicity.


The role of anti-eviction platforms was crucial as they contributed to voice the claim and to represent the interests of evicted/targeted citizens. The anti-eviction platforms  liaised between them and the municipality as well as the Housing Authority. However, they did not have a formal role in influencing policy making. (Q.13).  
Second, it can promote more environmentally friendly behaviour and attitudes among participants.


Learn more about this intervention:
Third, it can convey new meanings of “collective struggle for a common future” in different languages, cultures and sacred places.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Bottom-up resistance against gentrification in Rome]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Learning from successful community-based actions against gentrification]]


''' ''Vauban neighborhood'', Freiburg'''


The “Vauban city planning council” was a consultative committee consisting of municipal actors, local parliamentarians and citizens. It can be considered as an intermediary as it was a place for discussion and mediation between stakeholders (Q.15).
https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f


Learn more about this intervention:
Additionally, sharing resources and knowledge with the communities and inviting them into process to find solutions for their own communities by themselves about sustainable consumption behaviour and attitudes for human-wellbeing or finding local just solutions to address the growing issue of food waste, food affordability and its impact on the climate. Learning from one another and coming into contact with one another are clearly in the foreground, whereby the peace garden should not only be a utensil for social purposes, but also a place for communicating sustainable consumer behaviour.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Co-creation of a sustainable neighborhood in Freiburg]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Collaborating Across Institutional Boundaries: Co-Creating Sustainable Neighborhoods]]


''' ''Bürger Energie Berlin'', Berlin'''
✌️🌱☮️We are a group of peace thinkers..


There have been changes in terms of changing how the energy system can be imagined, who owns it and who participates in it. Political documents for example the coalition agreement in Berlin have some changes, particular attention has been given to citizens’ participation in the energy sector. Now there is also legislation for tenants’ energy self-consumption models which the citizen energy movement has contributed to (Interview with a BEB representative on Sep. 9,2020).
  Inclusivity


Learn more about this intervention:
We cordially invite everyone to participate in our peace project, regardless of age, gender, political views or origin. Previous knowledge of gardening or peace work is not required.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Citizens share in Berlin Energy Grid for sustainable energy]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Making local energy systems inclusively sustainable - by ourselves, with a little help by friends]]


'''''Repowering'', London'''
  Strengthening of women


The local government, Lambeth Council, which had a small group running a Low Carbon Zone served as an intermediary organization in the beginning which helped the team organize themselves and contact other relevant groups. The enabling configuration is the connectedness of this Council to various groups in the area. However, this group was small and had minimal capacity (Q.13).
We would like to encourage women in particular to participate in the project and further strengthen their social significance. It is important to us to include their creativity and their great collective knowledge about plants and seeds, medicinal properties etc.


Learn more about this intervention:
  Peace
* Take a look at the detailed [[Inner-city community energy in London]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[From electricity to empowerment, community energy growing out of the inner-city]]


== Relation to justice in urban sustainability governance ==
We are determined to create and maintain peace. The framework we have created should be understood as a protected space. We do not tolerate defamation or violence towards other people, neither in language nor in behaviour.


This enabling governance arrangement tries to overcome injustices caused mostly by the [[Lack of effective knowledge brokerage and stewardship opportunities]] as well as [[Unfit institutional structures]].
  Climate Justice


Lack of effective knowledge brokerage and stewardship opportunities  as a driver of injustice refers to the ways in which (access to) useful information and know-how around sustainable urban interventions, and their benefits, is not shared effectively or equally among social groups, sectors or disciplines and thus constrain the potential for both sustainability and justice. Creating bridging roles can help in overcoming barriers that certain disadvantaged groups might have, especially concerning the access to useful information of urban development projects around sustainability and justice. By translating language of practitioners/academia to one that disadvantaged groups can connect to in a better way, they can also express their needs and potential fears around these projects furthering especially procedural justice as well as justice as recognition.
In our peace project we feel obliged to contribute to more climate justice in an urban environment. We would like to contribute to the reflection on a more sustainable and just life and to a more conscious behaviour.


Unfit institutional structures as a driver of injustice refers to those aspects or functions of organizations, public offices, administrations and authorities that deal with urban governance and stand in the way of achieving just outcomes in urban sustainability.
  Biodiversity
Trying to bridge between e.g different municipal departments is key to overcoming silo-thinking and for the development of projects that integrate justice in urban sustainability governance. Institutionalising a role to translate language between municipal actors and underrepresented groups is also central when trying to commit to a meaningful participatory process.


== Critical reflection ==
The Peace Garden is intended to contribute to the greatest possible biodiversity in urban areas. Nature is a network of the most diverse forms of life, everything is connected with everything else. With the Peace Garden, we respect the dependence of humans on nature as part of nature.One of the study's result is: “an alternative educational model emerged: ‘Out of School Space’ for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the nature.


As mentioned, intermediaries have to meaningfully consider voices of all involved stakeholders of a project. They therefore possess a very powerful role, as they can steer the project in certain directions by favoring some voices over others. This is especially important in justice oriented sustainability governance as the past decades have shown that certain entrenched interests (economic, class-based, race-based...) have been given priority in urban governance. This means that intermediaries have to know about types of barriers that different groups of underrepresented citizens might face. These barriers can be very unique for e.g women, children, undereducated/poor residents or people who are underrepresented because of their race. Sometimes, exclusion of underrepresented voices may therefore even happen with intermediaries that are supposed to include very different groups of citizens, as it is very difficult to recognise these barriers if you come from a position of power yourself. Intermediators may also play a highly problematic role if they disguise or downplay actual differences in objectives between different actors (e.g. achieving ‘green growth’ vs. ‘overcoming capitalism’) for the sake of harmony, a feeling of common purpose or the success of tangible projects.
Feedback from a teacher after their school visit:


== Covid-19 connection/How does this enabling arrangement play out under the conditions of a pandemic? ==
“It is a nice idea to come again with our class or with a part of the class to your garden(s) in spring, when the weather is suitable, to build something and / or to plant something.  We could also very well imagine coming on other dates with other classes. We would also be very happy to plan such a visit together beforehand in terms of methods and activities.  Peace Garden's works and ideas are very impressive and have also given me personally new impulses, for example on the transformation of spaces and old objects. The idea of intercultural and interreligious cooperation in such very concrete joint projects like the “Peace Garden” is very nice anyway.” Gesamtschule Barmen Teacher


Institutions and processes that rely on different people to meet are facing restrictions concerning the number of people that can participate or even making meetings impossible at all. Purely switching to online formats does not seem feasible here as these bridging organizations build on low-entry barriers. Online meetings/formats could be a higher hurdle especially for older or less educated people as well as people who do not speak the language properly making the work of bridging roles more difficult.
The group members – mainly women – began to be part of change for a constructive future and the community they live in. New spaces can encourage the young generation, especially women, to be part of a positive change.
 
One of the young women members of this peace project says:
 
"I think the loss of identity and being out of touch with nature is an increasing issue, especially for people around my age and the following generations. I feel like people lose their awareness for how this world was developed and what we as humans need to do, to keep this planet safe for any living creature. Being caught up in the busy city life makes you forget what the essentials for a functioning and healthy world are. Being out of touch with nature makes you disconnected to the most natural thing you can actually experience".
 
Mehtap Çıplak’s quote, one of the culture and religious centre’s director where Peace Garden created, may serve as another constructive example:
 
“We (Alevi women) have to explain and open ourselves to the society and take more responsibilities where we live. We have a collective centre of faith and culture, yes that is true, but there are conflicts between nature and us. We need to share and teach our nature-based literature and culture, as well as our nature-based art background with the next generation. We have noticed that many other actors and artists in our city have begun to inspire themselves on the work of the Peace Garden, we are happy to be a pioneer community while hosting them in our culture center and peace garden”.
 
 
 
Publication links:
 
http://www.wuppertals-urbane-gaerten.de/gaerten-zum-mitmachen/urban-gardening-friedensprojekt/?fbclid=IwAR1__YTm-0mpCkyCl3xjBpurjypkqjc4uH2VwfU9lQjW_Jw6JO3LRoZGtNI
  Map Overview:https://anstiftung.de/urbane-gaerten/gaerten-im-ueberblick?view=map
  Deutsche Welle Article: https://www.dw.com/de/wuppertal-permakultur-einwanderung-perspektive-gesellschaft-schrebergarten-klimawandel-natur-polen/a-53898345
  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/491783505092197
  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/urbangardening_friedensprojekt/
  An Avantgardenist Approach: https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f
  Art and Peace-building : https://under-construction-wuppertal.de/media?fbclid=IwAR0nxzedr8MXJrOokd8SWWTcd8TQyB21rMSMvIXT9_YdKANg_QX8_CKlfig#type,archiv-der-traeume,1 (Here you can find how we contributed to the art scene for Pina Bausch centre’s under construction work with our creativity.. Pls follow the link on: “Büro für künstlerische Praxis” - Archiv der Träume Mansa Sabaghian (0:10:12) und Burcu Eke-Schneider (0:54:15)..)
  Essay by Burcu Eke-Schneider 'Der Sand' Vielleicht - page 11 https://die-wueste-lebt.org/der-sand/
  WZ Article : All people are equal in our peace garden https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/im-wuppertaler-friedensgarten-sind-alle-menschen-gleich_aid-62830993
 
 
Upcoming Presentations:
 
*2021 Swiss Sociological Association Congress Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty : "A Micro-level Peacebuilding Method for Sustainable and Just Cities" Geneva.(28-30 June)
*2021 International Degrowth Conference 'Caring Communities for Radical Change "Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods for Sustainable and Just Cities:Alternative Food Practices" Hague. (24-28 August)
*2021 Georg Arnhold Summer Conference "Environmental Crisis and Education" - Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods (23-27 August)
*2021 UrbanA Policy Action ICLEI (30 September- 01 October)
*2021 Peace Garden nominated and selected as a new eco-education model at NECE Campus "Networking European Citizenship Education" Platform which will be transferred to the NECE Conference 2021 in Brussels.https://www.nece.eu/campus/
*2021 Nominated as one of 3 finalist the category Social Innovation at the German Volunteer Awards 2021 https://volunteerawards.de/finalistinnen-und-jury/burcu-eke-schneider-setzt-sich-fuer-gerechtigkeit-ein/
*2022 Wupper:TEIL Interreligious Dialogue for a Sustainable Future Workshop in Wuppertal
*2022 Ecocity World Summit 2021 "Science to Practice : Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods" Rotterdam. (22-24 February 2022)
 
A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: Peace Garden
 
 
Contact Info : wuppertalforpeace@gmail.com

Revision as of 10:59, 7 January 2022

Under development by Burcu Eke-Schneider

The world requires transformation towards a culture of peace, which consist of values, attitudes and behaviours that reflect and inspire social interaction and sharing based on the principles of freedom , justice and democracy, all human rights , tolerance and solidarity , that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation and that guarantee the full exercise of all rights and the means to participate fully in the development process of their society.' https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d94ec670c5b607d9c896795/t/5ef0c35f16217c2827e84d65/1592836959623/For+Peace_UN+Resolution_Establishment+of+Ministries+and+Departments+for+Peace.pdf

The Urban Gardening Peace Project is located on the grounds of the Alevi community of Wuppertal (AKM) and works closely with several actors in the hearth of the city.As an Avantgardenist thinkers and volunteer transformers we want to be part of collective search for paradigms and pathways towards a world that is sustainable, equitable and just. The community garden invites different cultures and actors to establish a peaceful relationship with each other and at the same time to resume the dialogue with nature. The vision of this scientific project is to create in the sacred place a nature-based conflict transformation model while facilitating intercultural knowledge exchange processes.This space aims to create dialogue in the nature to find sustainable solutions and opens spaces for people to share their needs and hopes. Thus, this creative "Peacebuilding" project has a cultural and social dimension as well as a scientific approach to reduce the power of the drivers of injustice in the context of sustainable urban development.Peacebuilding with its new definition has been implemented in an urban transformation project for taking alternative actions on social inequality and ecological unsustainability in order to create more just and sustainable spaces.As a study it has been realized in Wuppertal in order to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in a real-life laboratory context. It was not only set up to analyse root-cause problems but also sought to propose culturally sensitive solutions.

A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: by Burcu Eke Schneider https://wiki.urban-arena.eu/User:Burcu_Eke-Schneider

It is an important intervention for preventing violence, it works with inclusiveness to help enable emergence of a common understanding in three main ways:

First, it can support inclusive processes of just urban transition that respect diversity of cultural backgrounds and ethnicity.

Second, it can promote more environmentally friendly behaviour and attitudes among participants.

Third, it can convey new meanings of “collective struggle for a common future” in different languages, cultures and sacred places.


https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f

Additionally, sharing resources and knowledge with the communities and inviting them into process to find solutions for their own communities by themselves about sustainable consumption behaviour and attitudes for human-wellbeing or finding local just solutions to address the growing issue of food waste, food affordability and its impact on the climate. Learning from one another and coming into contact with one another are clearly in the foreground, whereby the peace garden should not only be a utensil for social purposes, but also a place for communicating sustainable consumer behaviour.

✌️🌱☮️We are a group of peace thinkers..

  Inclusivity

We cordially invite everyone to participate in our peace project, regardless of age, gender, political views or origin. Previous knowledge of gardening or peace work is not required.

  Strengthening of women

We would like to encourage women in particular to participate in the project and further strengthen their social significance. It is important to us to include their creativity and their great collective knowledge about plants and seeds, medicinal properties etc.

  Peace

We are determined to create and maintain peace. The framework we have created should be understood as a protected space. We do not tolerate defamation or violence towards other people, neither in language nor in behaviour.

  Climate Justice

In our peace project we feel obliged to contribute to more climate justice in an urban environment. We would like to contribute to the reflection on a more sustainable and just life and to a more conscious behaviour.

  Biodiversity

The Peace Garden is intended to contribute to the greatest possible biodiversity in urban areas. Nature is a network of the most diverse forms of life, everything is connected with everything else. With the Peace Garden, we respect the dependence of humans on nature as part of nature.One of the study's result is: “an alternative educational model emerged: ‘Out of School Space’ for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the nature.

Feedback from a teacher after their school visit:

“It is a nice idea to come again with our class or with a part of the class to your garden(s) in spring, when the weather is suitable, to build something and / or to plant something.  We could also very well imagine coming on other dates with other classes. We would also be very happy to plan such a visit together beforehand in terms of methods and activities.  Peace Garden's works and ideas are very impressive and have also given me personally new impulses, for example on the transformation of spaces and old objects. The idea of intercultural and interreligious cooperation in such very concrete joint projects like the “Peace Garden” is very nice anyway.” Gesamtschule Barmen Teacher

The group members – mainly women – began to be part of change for a constructive future and the community they live in. New spaces can encourage the young generation, especially women, to be part of a positive change.

One of the young women members of this peace project says:

"I think the loss of identity and being out of touch with nature is an increasing issue, especially for people around my age and the following generations. I feel like people lose their awareness for how this world was developed and what we as humans need to do, to keep this planet safe for any living creature. Being caught up in the busy city life makes you forget what the essentials for a functioning and healthy world are. Being out of touch with nature makes you disconnected to the most natural thing you can actually experience".


Mehtap Çıplak’s quote, one of the culture and religious centre’s director where Peace Garden created, may serve as another constructive example:

“We (Alevi women) have to explain and open ourselves to the society and take more responsibilities where we live. We have a collective centre of faith and culture, yes that is true, but there are conflicts between nature and us. We need to share and teach our nature-based literature and culture, as well as our nature-based art background with the next generation. We have noticed that many other actors and artists in our city have begun to inspire themselves on the work of the Peace Garden, we are happy to be a pioneer community while hosting them in our culture center and peace garden”.


Publication links:

http://www.wuppertals-urbane-gaerten.de/gaerten-zum-mitmachen/urban-gardening-friedensprojekt/?fbclid=IwAR1__YTm-0mpCkyCl3xjBpurjypkqjc4uH2VwfU9lQjW_Jw6JO3LRoZGtNI

  Map Overview:https://anstiftung.de/urbane-gaerten/gaerten-im-ueberblick?view=map
  Deutsche Welle Article: https://www.dw.com/de/wuppertal-permakultur-einwanderung-perspektive-gesellschaft-schrebergarten-klimawandel-natur-polen/a-53898345
  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/491783505092197
  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/urbangardening_friedensprojekt/
  An Avantgardenist Approach: https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f
  Art and Peace-building : https://under-construction-wuppertal.de/media?fbclid=IwAR0nxzedr8MXJrOokd8SWWTcd8TQyB21rMSMvIXT9_YdKANg_QX8_CKlfig#type,archiv-der-traeume,1 (Here you can find how we contributed to the art scene for Pina Bausch centre’s under construction work with our creativity.. Pls follow the link on: “Büro für künstlerische Praxis” - Archiv der Träume Mansa Sabaghian (0:10:12) und Burcu Eke-Schneider (0:54:15)..)
  Essay by Burcu Eke-Schneider 'Der Sand' Vielleicht - page 11 https://die-wueste-lebt.org/der-sand/
  WZ Article : All people are equal in our peace garden https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/im-wuppertaler-friedensgarten-sind-alle-menschen-gleich_aid-62830993


Upcoming Presentations:

  • 2021 Swiss Sociological Association Congress Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty : "A Micro-level Peacebuilding Method for Sustainable and Just Cities" Geneva.(28-30 June)
  • 2021 International Degrowth Conference 'Caring Communities for Radical Change "Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods for Sustainable and Just Cities:Alternative Food Practices" Hague. (24-28 August)
  • 2021 Georg Arnhold Summer Conference "Environmental Crisis and Education" - Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods (23-27 August)
  • 2021 UrbanA Policy Action ICLEI (30 September- 01 October)
  • 2021 Peace Garden nominated and selected as a new eco-education model at NECE Campus "Networking European Citizenship Education" Platform which will be transferred to the NECE Conference 2021 in Brussels.https://www.nece.eu/campus/
  • 2021 Nominated as one of 3 finalist the category Social Innovation at the German Volunteer Awards 2021 https://volunteerawards.de/finalistinnen-und-jury/burcu-eke-schneider-setzt-sich-fuer-gerechtigkeit-ein/
  • 2022 Wupper:TEIL Interreligious Dialogue for a Sustainable Future Workshop in Wuppertal
  • 2022 Ecocity World Summit 2021 "Science to Practice : Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods" Rotterdam. (22-24 February 2022)

A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: Peace Garden


Contact Info : wuppertalforpeace@gmail.com