Proposal to organise a conference for exploring

alternatives to International Legal Order and

the Negotiation ProcessAn experiential learning program to train future leaders and ambassadors wishing committed to global

citizenships, and to discover a process for co-creating an alternative world order

Executive summary

A group of about 10-15 students will be recruited from HKU will organise an

international conference (July 7th-11th), based at the University of Hong Kong, which

will be targeted at university students from Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China

(about 100) who wish to develop the capacity for building international relations and

reaching consensus on global policies.

The program consists of a simulation of United Nation climate negotiations

(UNFCCC) so participants can directly experiences the structure of International law

and the framework of negotiation, and the assumptions of the current world systems.

The second part (“Emergent Global Consciousness”) consists of an alternative and

emergent form of “negotiation” based on “Bohm Dialogue” where participants will

critically reflect on their experience as negotiators and to examines the structure of

thoughts, the deeper assumptions and beliefs underlying the negotiation process. The

third part (“living lab”) will be an application of the skills and try to develop a

concrete action plan for developing a cross-broader project (i.e. a global alternative

tourism network.)

This conference is inspired by MIT Slogan School of Management, Peter Senge

and his idea of collective leaderships through individuals developing the discipline

of systems thinking. He is in turn, inspired by a famous quantum physicist called

David Bohm, who was frustrated with the UN negotiation framework, but

discovered, much of the fragmentations in the world today may be a result of the

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fragmentation within mind (that is, if one looks at the content of the thought, it is

inherently collective, like language, yet, the mind denies this, as it represents reality

to us). Therefore, while much of the humanitarian and environmental efforts have

directed at change people’s mind, presuming that we are fundamentally separated

from one another; this conference would invite participants to explore and develop

the capacities outside the field outside of the mind (i.e. emotional/body intelligence)

by which conflict and problems will be allowed to “dissolve,” while differences (in

cultural, religious, political ideologies) will be embraced as a side-product of

constantly feeling of and living in the interconnectedness and seamless unity of our

realities.

Objectives

Train future ambassadors who has:

1- Professional language and skill of current international negotiation framework

2- Ability to critically reflect and challenge the current world order and

institutions

3- Developed systems-thinking disciplines and skills committed to bring about

the necessary green revolution.

Learning outcome

Developed capacity suspend one’s own point of view and to manage difference

Developed capacity (of consciousness) to transcend cultural and ideological

differences (field of mind).

Ability to live and create workplaces full of self-expressions and reflective of the

interconnectedness of the realities.

Ability to use systems thinking skills (generate creative tension within one’s

body) to make positive changes at institutional levels (i.e. paradigm shift).

Why this conference? Why Systems Thinking

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Much of the current institutions are based on a growth model (assuming infinite

growth in a finite environment) which is unsustainable in itself, much of the

humanitarian and environmental efforts have unconsciously self-identified with

this model, and thus, producing outcomes which may in the long term amplify

the conditions of the initial problem despite the success of the project. The

tension felt by the young change makers of the inconsistency of the process may

sometimes lead them to give up their dream completely.

One of the implications of the growth model is that human beings are treating

themselves and the environment as an object, which can be controlled, managed,

regulated, manipulated, and the denial of this process. Thus, climate change,

environmental and social degradation can be seem as symptoms of this process,

treating nature, other human beings and our bodies as separated from ourselves.

The necessary implication of accepting human factors in causing climate change

is that the collective human being is acting on the planet at a scale equivalent to

or greater than the geological force of the planet; and which may irrevocably

alter the quality of the system beyond the point of systematic resilience (“tipping

point”).

Thus, the discipline of systems thinking (the capacity to look at the whole rather

than the parts) and be aware of our interconnections with other systems and for

the human beings to become self-aware of themselves a system or collective

becomes a capacity which may give evolutional advantages.

Tentative Conference Schedule

Day 1

- Research on the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, set negotiation

targets and develop bottom-line documents based on nation-state interests

Day 2

- Officially start the simulation of the negotiation

Day 3

- Systems thinking basic tool-kits and Bohm Dialogue

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Day 4

- Develop a global alternative tourism action plan

Day 5

- Reflection & Visiting Local Organic Food Farms (in collaboration with 長春社)

Partners

- Law Student Societies in Hong Kong/Macau/China Universities

- Faculty of Law of HKU (Assistant Professor Shahla Ali, Katherine Lynch,

Jolene Lin)

- MIT Slogan School of Management (Professor Peter Senge)

- Society of Learning (China) (a systemsthinking based management consultant

NGO Founded by Peter Senge)

- China Youth Climate Action Network (CYCAN), youth NGO based in

Beijing

- Guang Dong Civil Environmental Groups and Networks ( 田倩, 中科院华南植物园, 广州气候变化小组)

- 長春 社 (Sandy Yip, AYCS’08 Chief coordinator; HKU graduate)

- AIESEC HK & China (Chantal Leung)

- Climate Chance/ Greenwoods/ Environmental Life Science Association at

HKU

- 2041 Alumni Group (Inspire Antarctica Expedition -2041)

- CGIU Clinton Global Initiative Foundation and University Foundation

- Civic Exchange (HK NGO; Christine Loh)

Organization Schedule

Date Events

Nov 2010 Recruitment of Organising Committee (from all

Universities in Hong Kong)

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Dec 2010

Bei Jing Fieldtrip for OCs & Open Space Workshops

Visit Society of Learning (SOL China) & Chinese

Youth Action Network

January 2011Conference Schedule/Website Finalised

Recruitment of Participants

March 2011 Facilitator (for Bohm Dialogue) Recruitment &

Training

April 2011 Logistics Finalised

July 2011Conference July 7th-11th

Aug 2011 Evaluation

Budget Plan

1- Publication: Website; Pamphlets; Posters) $5000

2- Fieldtrip to Beijing $1000 X 10 = $10,000

3- Conference Transportation, Accommodation at student halls, Camping

Night$10,000

4- Self-cooked Organic Food for all organising committee meeting and

conference participants $5,000

5- Guest Speaker travelling expenses (Peter Senge) $10,000

6- Other logistics $10,000

In total: $50,000

Output/ Method of Evaluation

1- A short film and a collective of videos documents the entire process

2- A concrete action plan for realizing a cross-broader based project (Alternative

tourism/eco-tourism network)

3- A website which serves as an alumni network portal

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Appendix Initiators Profile

Trainer Profile

What is the Discipline of Systems Thinking

Bohm Dialogue

Initiators Profile

The initiators will be two co-coordinators of Climate Chance Network for

Change, a student NGO based in Hong Kong/Macau: Serena Wei Wei Gao and Ryan

Kilpatrick with about 138 active membership and 632fans. They are both interning

with Society of Learning (SOL China).

Serena Wei Wei Gao

LLB IV (Bachelor of Law), HKU

Since she attended the United Nation Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC

COP13), Bali 2007 as green advocates, her life became more than that of a law

student at the University of Hong Kong, but a part of the world’s transition towards a

reality more conscious of itself and its relationship with the planet.

She co-founded the Hong Kong Climate Change Coalition (HKCCC), which was

later renamed as Climate Chance, when they established a network branch in Macau,

and when there was a collective determination to make social changes based on a

possibilities and love (rather than through guilt manipulation and risk aversion or

fear).

Together with her fellow teammates, she co-organized the Asian Youth Climate

Summit (AYCS),an international conference which gathered more than 200 youth,

which took place in July, 2008 at the University of Hong Kong. She also represented

Hong Kong and selected a team to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University

(CGI U) in Texas, US. She then became part of the 60 students selected to atend the

BP 2041 Antarctica Expedition, and the UNFCCC Inter-session and Asian Youth

Climate Workshop in Bangkok in 2009.

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She is also one of the co-ordinator of the 350 International Day of Climate

Action Day on October 24th, 2009 coinciding with 181 countries and 5200 events

around the globe calling for a sustainable world.

She has also been having an internship with Society for Organizational

Learning(China), an NGO founded by Peter Senge which does management

consultant with NGO, businesses and governments using systems-thinking

methodologies.

She is committed to create workplaces full of self-expressions and the possibility

of human beings collectively realize the reality which loves and compassionate, where

our underlying interconnectedness is a working presumption.

Successful Cases & Experiences

- AIESEC HKU Climate Change Conference 2010 (April 24th)

o With about 20 AIESECers as participants, I helped designed and

facilitated the conference, which follows a similar structure for the

design of this conference (simulation of Copenhagen UN Climate

Conference and Bohm Dialogue).

o Reference: Chantel Leung; Outgoing Exchange Manager; AIESEC-

LC-HKU HKUSU (chantelleung@aiesechku.org)

- Living Lab with Lee Shao Kee Hall 2010 (October)

o The tutor and the warden of the student hall asked to me to organize

this program, which will be piloted for a month in October. More

information, please see this poster.

o Reference: Cheung Tang, Founder of Eco-bus HK, initiator of ELLO

(Environmental Leader Learning Opportunities”) program

(info@ecobus.org.hk)

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- Asian Youth Climate Summit (AYCS) 2008 (July)

o I was one of the 15 organisers of this International Conference at the

University of Hong Kong with over 200 participants from over 22

countries. Sponsored by Heng Sheng Bank ($200,000). My tasks

involved designing organization structures, programme, theme,

objective; inviting leaders and professional experts in the field of

climate change and youth advocacy for the panel sessions; making

publications, graphic design (for poster and website). Recruitment of

organising committee members and participants.

o Reference: Chong Chan-yao , Ex-Director of CEDARS, HKU 2009

(chanyau@hku.hk)

- 350 International Day of Climate Action Day – HK Rally (2009)

o I co-organized a rally across HK which synergized the passions of

university, high school students and members of wider HK

communities.

o Reference: Jessica Yuan, Co-organiser, Coordinator of Climate

Chance, Mphil Candidate of HKU.

Ryan Kilpatrick,

BA II ( Bachelor of Arts) HKU

ryank@thenetworkforchange.org

Leadership Experience:

Served on Executive Committee of Sierra Youth Coalition; founding member of

Ottawa-Outaouais Students Against the War;  spoke at national conference of New

Democratic Party on behalf of SYC; helped draft youth statement at UNFCCC

negotiations in Montreal; represented UK at UNEP youth conference in Cologne;

selected to intern as Communications Co-ordinator by Green Street Ontario; oversaw

various aspects of Youth Action Gatherings in Ottawa, such as designing promotional

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material and soliciting donations from local businesses; conducted media workshops,

wrote articles and produced televised news programmes at IFM/SEI Global Village

gathering in England.

Personal Vision

I believe that climate change presents us with the opportunity to create a better

world. In seeking solutions, we should encourage people to be creative and imagine a

world where the root causes of climate change are addressed. Although immediate

government action is critical at this stage to avert the worst of climate change and

assist those whose communities are being destroyed, change must ultimately come

from belong. We must change how we live and how we organise our societies. A

holistic approach, propelled by grass-roots action, is required.

Trainer/Partner Profile

Serena has been trained by Roger Burton and Peter Senge. Roger Burton is the

program director and the facilitator of the BP 2041 Antarctica Expedition which

Serena participated. The miraculous result of his work can be witnessed by the fact of

how he inspired the birth of the Renewable Energy division within an oil company

(BP) and played a large role in facilitating personal transformation of Serena.

Roger Burton

Mr. Burton is currently an independent and collaborative change agent and

management consultant. He is now collaborating with a wide variety of change

practitioners and clients with an emerging focus in the questions of change. Mr.

Burton is particularly focused on the underlying structures of change and its cross-

cultural applications. His practice includes not only the development of leadership to

face the challenges of today's world, but also the development of change agents and

communities of practice.

Mr. Burton has worked with a wide variety of business in about 40 countries to

date. He has been consulting professionally in some capacity for 20 years. His work

coaching senior executives up to the CEO level and their teams, consultant and coach

development, and conference design and implementation. Clients include: BP, BMW,

Cinergy, Astra-Zeneca, GSK, GE, Fletcher-Challenge, Mead, St-Gobain, Georgia-

Pacific, and the US Internal Revenue Service to name a few. (His full profile can be assessed at Mobius Executive Leadership website.)

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Peter Senge

Peter Senge is an American scientist and a management guru. He is the director

of the Center for Organizational Learning at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

He is known as author of the book The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the

learning organization from 1990 (new edition of 2007).

In Antarctica, Serena participated in his various MUN simulation workshops and has

been interning at his organisation Society for Organizational Learning (SoL) at the

office of Beijing.

What is the Discipline of Systems Thinking

Systems Thinking is a scientific methodology for understanding and managing

complexity. It intends to explore alternative ways to problem solving which

presumes linear causality, as Albet Einstein’s words that “we cannot solve

problems with the same mindset that created them.”

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The discipline of systems thinking involves individuals developing the ability to

Be aware of the affects of mental models, which are deeply embedded

beliefs (or the structure of thoughts) which affects our perception of the

world.

Generate creative and sustainable sources of energy for their actions by

paying attention to one’s vision/aspiration and feeling the current

conditions of problem. (Kind of like emotional/body intelligence)

Another way to understand systems thinking is that it is more like non-western or

Chinese mindset where the energy is focusing on creating context (i.e. relationship)

rather than the specific forms which consequently emerges from it (i.e. identity), it

focuses on developing emotional/body intelligence (or wisdom) in parallel with

intellectual capabilities.

Bohm Dialogue

The key format of discussion for the 3 hours meeting each week will be a

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dialogue process based on the ideas of David Bohm. This is the key process whereby

the discipline of systems thinking can be mastered.

David Bohm

David Bohm was a notable Quantum Physicist (1917-1992) who was particularly

known for his book Wholeness and the Implicate Order. Within it he draws upon his

knowledge and discoveries within the field of quantum mechanics to postulate a

worldview characterized by “undivided wholeness in flowing movement.” The root of

ecological, social and all forms of violence, he argues, is that we have forgotten this

underlying holistic ontology in favour of an atomistic cultural/thinking pattern, which

has resulted in systemic fragmentation of human activity. He noted that many well

meaning efforts to heal this fragmentation such as the ecumenical movement and the

United Nations have not been fundamentally successful. Such negotiations, at best,

may result in some agreement or compromise but they are seldom truly creative.

Why? Bohm asserted that reason for this failure is to be found within the nature of

thought itself. Not only are the products of thought characterized by fragmentation but

so is thought itself. We must realize that thought does not innocently represent the

world as it is, but rather that it occurs in and through a multitudinous web of

prejudices/assumptions/opinions that deeply bound within culture and language.

Transcending the fragmentation brought about through thought was Bohm’s

fundamental preoccupation and resulted, after years of group seminar experimentation

in the dialogue process, which is concerned not only with examining not only the

products of thought (ideas), but with the process of thought itself. A good friend of

Einstein and also of the spiritual educator Jidhu Krishnamurti, Bohm’s interests

spanned the scientific to the spiritual and reflected his questioning of the

fragmentation that he perceived to be the hallmark and challenge of our times.

What does Bohm Dialogue look like?

1- Participants sit in a circle

2- Participants observe their thinking process “Listen to how you listen”

a. whether they start attacking/defening and thus self-identifying with any

views

b. whether the group as a whole has a larger patterns of reactivity,

alliance formation, topic avoidance,

3- Facilitator interrupts and overthrows any attempt to impose a plan or structure

onto the others, to help the participants become more aware (and eventually

work herself/himself out of the job).

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