Difference between pages "Create a comprehensive vision of change" and "Urban gardening Peace Project"

From Urban Arena Wiki
(Difference between pages)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
 
Line 1: Line 1:
Examples from real world governance interventions:
Under development by [[User:Burcu Eke-Schneider|Burcu Eke-Schneider]]
*[[Dealing flexibly with and learning from resistance in Barcelona]]
*[[Co-creation of a sustainable neighborhood in Freiburg]]
*[[Regeneration of a deprived neighborhood in Rotterdam]]
*[[Inner-city community energy in London]]


== General ambition ==
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


A comprehensive vision of change is most influential when developed independently on two levels:
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. 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 the pilot 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.As a pilot 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 by the help of eco-education.


# '''Broad framework (at city level)''': One level refers to a vision of change developed for the whole city. By integrating several small-scale interventions (e.g. within the municipality) and aspects from different sectors, a comprehensive vision of change for the whole city towards justice and sustainability can be built. This can manifest itself in policies and laws. Key to this enabling governance arrangement is therefore the interaction between different scales of urban planning and policy making.
A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: by Burcu Eke Schneider https://wiki.urban-arena.eu/User:Burcu_Eke-Schneider
#'''Community-based organizations envisioning sustainable futures in detail (‘bottom-up’)''': This level refers to ways community based organizations define their (common) goals and their particular visions for the future (e.g. What is a “sustainable” way of living - in Vauban? What is desired for the neighborhood development - in Carnisse?).


== 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:


''Addressing the dimension 1.''
First, it can support inclusive processes of just urban transition that respect diversity of cultural backgrounds and ethnicity.


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


When creating and implementing so-called “Superblocks” in the city, Barcelona embedded them in multiple city-level policies. Very important for example was the “Citizen Commitment for Sustainability” which was first signed in 2002 by over 800 organisations (large and small enterprises, community groups, professional associations, political parties and educational institutions …). Superblocks are one of the several actions that are defined in the document and experience public support because of that. In general, Superblocks are connected to different policies e.g the Municipal Action Plan, the Barcelona Mobility Pact (1998), the Urban Mobility Plan of Barcelona (2013-2018), the cities’ Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity Plan (until 2020) or the Barcelona Commitment to Climate, which creates synergies and gives the city a vision for comprehensive change, whereas Superblocks are one of the many means of reaching that change. (Q18)
Third, it can convey new meanings of “collective struggle for a common future” in different languages, cultures and sacred places.


Learn more about this intervention:
* Take a look at the detailed [[Dealing flexibly with and learning from resistance in Barcelona]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Inviting citizens to a transformation of street space - flexibly dealing with resistance]].


''Addressing the dimension 2.''
https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f


''' ''Vauban neighborhood'', Freibrug'''


Vauban’s prospective residents as well as project proponents developed a shared vision on how to live in a more sustainable way i.e. parking free areas, sustainable mobility, affordable and inclusive housing etc. (Q.14).
✌️🌱☮️We are a group of peace thinkers..


Learn more about this intervention:
  Inclusivity
* 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]].


''' ''Carnisse neighborhood'', Rotterdam'''
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.


In workshops organized by local organizations, residents were invited to develop a shared vision of the district redevelopment and establish an agenda for transformative and experimental actions e.g. create a community center, a shared garden etc. (Q.14).
  Strengthening of women


Learn more about this intervention:
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.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Regeneration of a deprived neighborhood in Rotterdam]]
* check out the brief governance scenario called [[Trusting civil society and residents to co-shape regeneration projects in deprived neighborhoods]].


''' ''Repowering'', London'''
  Peace


The problematization of energy poverty, and the desire for education, employment, and projects for estates came directly from listening to community needs (Q.9). There was no formal vision development process with the community in this case, but their input (most likely) fed into Repowerings internal vision process.  
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.


Learn more about this intervention:
  Climate Justice
* 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 ==
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.


Visions on the first level (broad framework) are trying to overcome injustices caused by [[Unfit institutional structures]] and [[Uneven and exclusionary urban intensification and regeneration]].
  Biodiversity
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.
Uneven and exclusionary urban intensification and regeneration as a driver of injustice refers to the ways in which new urban developments might force trade-offs between the social and environmental goals of urban sustainability projects. It involves public efforts to improve a neighbourhood’s physical structure and boost its economy by attracting investment, usually in the sectors of real estate and tourism.
In this enabling governance arrangement, finding a balance between ecological sustainability, social and economical goals of a city is especially important, as a comprehensive vision built on integrated planning should guideline the city in balancing these goals, ideally accounting for greater sustainability and justice overall.


Community projects that actively work in a certain neighbourhood (i.e. on the level of individual community based organisations) can possibly better include voices of underrepresented groups in their area than what a municipality-led participatory process could achieve. Expressing a vision of the future through different types of exercises (e.g. drawing) can empower certain groups (e.g children/people not speaking the same language) that otherwise might not have the power/means to express themselves in other types of settings. Thinking about how you want your personal future to look like and how a project can help to reach that future has a huge potential in connecting individuals to one another, in fostering a sense of belonging and in generating momentum.
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.  


== Critical reflection ==
Feedback from a teacher after their school visit:


A potential problem with benefitting from a previously developed comprehensive vision of change lies in its actual implementation in small scale interventions. There is sometimes a gap between what is happening on smaller-scale-projects and bigger visions (and policies) as often economic considerations dominate the design and implementation of even sustainability oriented small-scale projects, leading to ecologically unsustainable or unjust outcomes also on a city-wide level.
“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 challenge then is not only the development of a comprehensive vision of change, but to also empower it to actually shape small-scale interventions.


Additionally, developing a comprehensive vision of change is a huge task community projects take upon themselves. It requires investing resources that can not at the same time go directly into changes in the neighbourhood/the project itself. Talking about where to go with a project in the longer term at the cost of working less towards tangible improvements also requires a lot of commitment, effort and belief. Especially community projects that completely rely on voluntary work might not have the resources, especially working hours, to do this. Projects therefore need to find a good balance between thinking about a vision for their project and actively working to achieve tangible results.
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.  


== Covid-19 connection/How does this enabling arrangement play out under the conditions of a pandemic? ==
One of the young women members of this peace project says:


This enabling arrangement does not seem to be overly affected by the pandemic. Still, community projects can not meet as regularly as normal and will face restrictions when doing so. Online formats may not completely substitute especially the spirit that some community projects rely upon as well, making the development of a comprehensive vision of change harder.
"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 10:52, 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. 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 the pilot 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.As a pilot 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 by the help of eco-education.

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


✌️🌱☮️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