Par Excellence

Day 72: Renewable Sweden

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

............

Rock The Green
(Extracted on 21 March 2010 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/sweden-to-build-2000-wind-turbines-2020-50-percent-renewables.php.)

Not to be left out of the global shift to sustainability, Sweden made an announcement last week.  They are going even greener by aiming for 50% nation-wide renewable energy by 2020. 

In a country with limited year-around sun, storage is needed for renewable sun and wind energy.  So Sweden is paving the way for a distribution and storage agreement with Norway because both nations are on the same renewable page for the next 10 years.  Norway currently has about four times more hydro, so such an agreement could help stabilize the on-demand power needs in both countries while helping Sweden to avoid backup solutions like more nuclear, hydo, nuclear, and/or natural gas reports Associated Press (extracted on 21 March 2010 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/sweden-to-build-2000-wind-turbines-2020-50-percent-renewables.php).

Tree-Hugging Maud
(Extracted 10 March 2010 from http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/7534.)

In a country with limited year-around sun, storage is needed for renewable sun and wind energy.  So Sweden is paving the way for a distribution and storage agreement with Norway because both nations are on the same renewable page for the next 10 years.  Norway currently has about four times more hydro, so such an agreement could help stabilize the on-demand power while helping Sweden to avoid backup solutions like more nuclear, hydo, nuclear, and/or natural gas reports Associated Press (extracted on 21 March 2010 from http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/03/sweden-to-build-2000-wind-turbines-2020-50-percent-renewables.php). 

Act Locally and Think Globally
(Extracted on 21 March 2010 from http://www.climatepilots.com/maudolofsson.html.)

This announcement comes on the heels of Sweden's Enterprise and Energy Minister Maud Olofsson's visit to the US in November 2009.  During which, Maud particpated in a local change project in Virgina, USA after she met with "US President Barack Obama and the US Minister of Energy Steven Chu regarding the climate negotiations on a global level. . ."  Stating in a telephone interview from Washington to the local newspaper Östra Småland in Kalma, "'My reflection was that we need politics and climate agreements on a global level, but we also need this. We need this knowledge and inspiration, how we as individuals can change our behavior both when it comes to big and small things'" (extracted on 21 March 2010 from http://www.climatepilots.com/maudolofsson.html). 

Rock on Maud!  I sleep better knowing that someone like you is thinking locally while acting globally  What a way to pump up the volume!

So, where will the US extend their greener hand?  China?

May we think locally to make global politics and climate agreements realistic.  May we ask ourselves how we individually change our behavior in the big and small things.  May we inspire and be inspired by increasing our renewable resources individually, locally, nationally, and globally. 

So due to the new job and routine, I'm still running behind.  (I'm loving the job!)   I've shifted the topics for the last five days to the next two weeks to get caught up.  Tomorrow will finally be the Livable weekly series featuring Miami followed by a story about renewable energy from an unlikely source: a large and diverse group of simple and typically autotrophic organisms aka algae.

Weekly Program: Download Program_v1`1_20100307_Wk12

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 71: Believe In The Impossible

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

The Journey
(Extracted on 16 March 2010 from http://www.puyalluptribalnews.com/.)

Though my father lives in Switzerland, I was raised at the intersection of three First Nation tribes in Montana, USA: the Blackfoot, Flathead, and Nez Perce tribes.  Several of my friends were native and I often attended events.  Which at times felt a little odd given that I'm about as Native American Indian as I am Czech.

Regardless, I felt a deep connection to the tribal cultures and ways of being.  The values made sense to me.  Honor mother earth, one another, and humanity to honor yourself.  The honor included honesty, generosity, and compassion.

As I progressed through my life, it was always a dream of mine to work with a First Nation group.  Since I never saw an entry point for such work, I went on with my life.  Then several weeks ago, I saw a posting for a Project Coordinator position with Pullayup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA).  I applied in a why-not manner and as of yesterday, my dream came true. 

I am now supporting The Puyallup Indians who "have lived along the shores of Puget Sound for thousands of years."  In their native language they are "known as S'Puyalupubsh, meaning 'generous and welcoming behavior to all people (friends and strangers) who enter our lands'" (extracted on 16 March 2010 from http://www.puyallup-tribe.com/). 

Like many First Nation tribes, the Puyallup Indians have "grown considerably in recent years" and now are "in excess of 3,800 people" (extrated on 16 March 2010 from http://www.puyallup-tribe.com/).

Generous & Welcoming Pride
(Robert Satiacum & Family, extracted on 16 March 2010 from http://www.puyalluptribalnews.com/.)

Many exciting developments are emerging from this generous and welcoming group.  Starting with the Land Settlement of 1988, the Puyallup International, Inc. turning a simple bingo hall into Emerald Queen Casino riverboat, which grew responsibly to one of the most profitable casinos in the Pacific Northwest.  Moving on to the funds from that enterprise growing into a marina, an international port, the Chief Leschi School, a model health care clinic serving approximately 32,000 First Nation members, a center for elders, a justice center, a philanthropic body that donates millions each year to the surrounding area in King County, USA, social services for all tribal members, and ongoing improvements in facilities and community development.

Few First Nation tribes were as affected as the Puyallup Tribe by treaties with the US Government.  "For years, members of the Puyallup Tribe suffered from serious health and social problems, many of which could be attributed to the reservation process, federal government neglect, and discrimination against Indians practiced by more recent settlers to the Pierce County, WA (Puget Sound) area. And the members of the Puyallup Tribe were not alone—the larger Native population in the county suffered from the same problems. In the early 1990s, for example, 95 percent of the Indians living on or near the Puyallup reservation had, or were affected by someone who had, a substance abuse problem. As recently as the 1970s, the Indian population on the reservation and in Pierce County generally had little or no health care. The Puyallup Tribe provided a few contract referral services through the Indian Health Service (IHS) and managed a small dental clinic and women’s health clinic in a church basement, but apart from these, there were virtually no other services available to meet local Indians’ health needs" (extracted on 16 March 2010 from http://www.hks.harvard.edu/hpaied/hn/hn_1999_quality.htm).

On the banks of desirable industrial land and waterways, the tribe clung to hope.  The tribal leadership "remained strong, consistent and dedicated in regaining" their rightful place on their "reservation. It has not always been an easy path but one that has moved forward. . .."  As they "approach a new Century" their "vision for a better life for" their "people has not diminished."  They "recognize there are many issues yet to be resolved."  Stating, "We are thankful and appreciate all who help us along this path" (extracted on 16 March 2010 from http://www.puyallup-tribe.com/index.php?nav=history&id=7).

As I step into this new experience, I will keep you posted.  May we learn to traverse the difficult paths in our life by moving forward and approaching our future with an undiminished vision for a better life.

Tomorrow the weekly Livable series will feature Miami and some of the amazing things that they are doing there to make their city a more livable place to be. Again, my goal the week is to get ahead as much as possible so there won't be any more lags with the unexpected events in life.  It may take me a few weeks to do this, but we will get there.  Thank you for your patience and support.
 

Weekly Program: Download Program_v1`1_20100307_Wk11

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 70: The Design of Healing

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

The Art of Healing
(Extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://www.sharpmemorial.com/hospital-healing-environment.html.)

Creating a healing environment is transforming health care in San Diego.  From private rooms to a meditation garden, Sharp Memorial Hospital means it.  This revolutionary group is redefining how to effectively deliver health care service.

Beginning with the architectural design, nature is included in the healing.  Natural light fills rooms, skylights, and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the facility.  Gentle and inviting colors offset nature-based artwork.  Guests, as well as patients, are nurtured with plush furniture, live music, fresh fruit, spa water, and family lounges.  The garden offers an oasis of tranquility and respite. 

Caitlan Carrol of Marketplace Public Radio writes that, "At Sharp, families have a comfortable place to get coffee, put their feet up and gaze out at the garden. Even the beds play lullabies to help patients forget for a moment that they're in a hospital. If that helps patients relax, heal and get out of the hospital faster, that's music to everyone's ears" (extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/01/pm-hospital-design/).

Peaceful Meditation
(Extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://www.sharpmemorial.com/hospital-healing-environment.html.)

There's more.  Who wants to be admitted to the hospital for one problem and end up with another?  "According to the Centers for Disease Control, so-called hospital-acquired infections cost more than $30 billion every year. And it all adds up to more health care costs. Not to mention the added pain and suffering for patients" (extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/01/pm-hospital-design/).

Carrol asked Dan Gross,  Executive Vice President of Sharp Healthcare how the hospital was tackling this key issue.  Gross told Carrol that the facility is "'. . . a $200-million hospital in San Diego. And it's built with the principals of what's known as "evidence-based design.'"  Clarifying, Gross continues,  "'There's a lot of research today and a lot of conversation around how the design of a hospital really promotes comfort, healing and produces better quality outcomes for patients. Better outcomes as in fewer medical errors, infections and injuries. That saves hospitals, patients and insurers a lot of money.'  Gross points to a row of elevators to explain how the building design works. 'When we started designing our public transportation and our elevator system, we stole from the Disney concept of on-stage and off-stage work. There are a separate set of elevators for the public to keep germs away from patients with weak immune systems. Nurses have private areas off stage areas where they can prepare medications uninterrupted, so there are fewer distractions and fewer mistakes'"(extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/01/pm-hospital-design/).

"Most hospitals are about as calm and relaxing as a busy airport. But at Sharp the only noise you might hear is Dan Gross hushing some nurses as we get off the elevator. . . At Sharp, loud speakers are rarely used. There are no big carts rumbling down the hallways. Gross told Carrol that "'. . .patients are more relaxed, too.'"  Stating, "'They're resting and sleeping more than they ever have before and the request for pain medications are decreasing'" (extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/01/pm-hospital-design/).

"Nurse Carol DeVito says she had something to do with that. Staff members like her weighed in on the design changes." Stating, "'Actually I said these are non-negotiable. Two things, very simple, one was a linen hamper in every room, and the second thing was that I asked that we have some kind of cabinet or cart.  That way there is less need to move things. It's quieter and germs can't hitchhike on equipment as it rolls from room to room'" (extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/01/pm-hospital-design/).

Healing by Design
(Extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://www.sharpmemorial.com/hospital-healing-environment.html.)

Blair Sadler, a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement told Carrol that "alterations and additional medical gear can add millions of dollars to initial construction."  But, Sadler indicates that the investment pays off.  Stating, "Well if something costs an additional million dollars once and reduces operating costs by half-a-million dollars year after year after year, the payback becomes pretty obvious" (extracted on 15 March 2010 from http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/03/01/pm-hospital-design/).

So here we are.  We have an opportunity in front of us.  Sharp Memorial Hospital stepped out on a limb.  Will we?  In what ways can we advocate for a more holistic and service-oriented health care experience? 

May we take control of our health and health care service by advocating for the experience that we need.  May we advocate for ourselves, as well as those who are not willing or able.

Tonight I will publish a bit more about my new employer: Puyallup Tribal Health Authority.  (Yes, I got the job.)  Then, tomorrow, the weekly Livable series will feature Miami and some of the amazing things that they are doing there to make their city a more livable place to be. Again, my goal the week is to get ahead as much as possible so there won't be any more lags with the unexpected events in life.  Thank you for your patience and support.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 69: Caring for Health

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

Marceles on a Mission

Marcelas' mother became ill two and one-half years ago.  She then lost her job and health insurance.  After that, she lost her life.

11-year old Marcelas stood in front of Congress this week and told them, "'I am here because of my mom,' said Owens. ''My mom was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2006. She missed so much work she lost her job. And when my mom lost her job, she lost her health care. And losing her health care ended up costing her her life.' He continued, 'I don't want any other kids to go through the pain that our family has gone through. My grandma and I want Barack Obama and Congress and everybody to come together and to help get the health care bill passed'" (extracted on 13 March 2010 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/11/marcelas-owens-11-year-ol_n_495207.html).

Every one seems to agree that there should be no more stories like that of Marcelas.  Every one, liberal or conservative or somewhere in between, seems to also agree that the price of health care is too high in the US.  Further, few want to pay the high prices of insurance, much less be caught without insurance like Marcelas' mother.  Yet finding agreement on how to reform the current system consistently leaves the US split by 38-42% in favor of the US President's current health care plan.

Change
(Extracted on 13 March 2010 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/10/obama-bounty-hunters-will_n_492793.html.)

In the only industrialized nation without some form of universal health care, "Fifty-four percent (54%) of voters believe passage of the proposed health care legislation will lead to higher health care costs. Just 17% believe it will achieve the stated goal of reducing the cost of care.

Forty-nine percent (49%) also think passage of the plan will reduce the quality of care, while only 23% believe it will improve the quality of care" (extracted on 13 March 2010 from http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/healthcare/september_2009/health_care_reform).

Huffington Post reports last Wednesday that, "Democrats claimed momentum Wednesday in their drive to enact the sweeping health care legislation sought by President Barack Obama, citing near agreement on crucial issues despite persistent Republican efforts to knock them off stride.

Obama himself, rallying support outside Washington for the second time this week, shouted to a crowd in Missouri, "The time for talk is over. It's time to vote" (extracted on 13 March 2010 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/10/health-care-final-push-fo_n_492825.html).

So what are the options?  If Marcelas' mother had lived in countries with single-payer or public universal coverage (Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, India, Argentina, Cuba, China, North Korea, Kuwait, the Nordic countries like Sweden, Canada, etc.) would the outcome have been different?

"Universal health care systems vary according to the extent of government involvement in providing care and/or health insurance. In some countries, such as the UK, Spain, Italy and the Nordic countries, the government has a high degree of involvement in the commissioning or delivery of health care services and access is based on residence rights not on the purchase of insurance. Others have a much more pluralistic delivery system based on obligatory health with contributory insurance rates related to salaries or income, and usually funded by employers and beneficiaries jointly. Sometimes the health funds are derived from a mixture of insurance premiums and government taxes. These insurance based systems tend to have a higher proportion of private medical providers obtaining reimbursement, often at heavily regulated rates, through mutual or publicly owned medical insurers. A few countries such as the Netherlands and Switzerland operate via privately owned but heavily regulated private insurers. The compulsory insurance systems of central and eastern Europe typically fail to provide truly universal coverage, leaving up to 3% of their population without coverage. They often operate as two-tier systems and also fail to guarantee fee reimbursement due to means testing of sickness funds.

Universal health care is a broad concept that has been implemented in several ways. The common denominator for all such programs is some form of government action aimed at extending access to health care as widely as possible and setting minimum standards. Most implement universal health care through legislation, regulation and taxation. Legislation and regulation direct what care must be provided, to whom, and on what basis. Usually some costs are borne by the patient at the time of consumption but the bulk of costs come from a combination of compulsory insurance and tax revenues. Some programs are paid for entirely out of tax revenues. In others tax revenues are used either to fund insurance for the very poor or for those needing long term chronic care. The UK government's National Audit Office in 2003 published an international comparison of ten different health care systems in ten developed countries, nine universal systems against one non-universal system (the U.S.), and their relative costs and key health outcomes. A wider international comparison of 16 countries, each with universal health care, was published by the World Health Organizaiton in 2004 health care system, but many countries use mixed public-private systems to deliver universal health care. In some cases, government involvement also includes directly managing the health care system, but many countries use mixed public-private systems to deliver universal health care" (extracted on 13 March 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care).

There may not be an easy answer to what would have occurred to Marcela's mother in nations with universal health care coverage.  At times, universal coverage can be like jumping from the frying pan to the fire.  My personal experience is with the UK and Switzerland.  Both nations have their pluses and minuses. 

The minuses can be devastating.  When my father needed a hip replacement in Switzerland, it took months on a waiting list only to be met with four, let me repeat, four botched operations. 

Today, my father has a new hip that healed without an infection.  Yet, he will use crutches for the rest of his life. 

Such situations are not unusual in the UK either.  My brother and friends tell me story after story about the difficulty that they experience in getting adequate treatment.  Simply going to the doctor for a routine wellness visit in the UK can be an all day affair.  If they are referred to a specialist afterward, that can take weeks and even months to be scheduled.

As I watch this debate unfold in the US, I think of my father.  I know what we experienced with his health care.  I also know that the US has an opportunity before them.  This is a blank slate and forcing through a bill simply to be done with this debate may be a start.  A place to build from while we learn from what works and what doesn't work in other systems.

May we move beyond our current position and viewpoint to compare and contrast diverse perspectives.  May we look for more than compromise in protecting one of our greatest resources, our health and the health of our nation, and truly unite to collaboratively design an effective solution.

I'm simply not having extra time to catch up this week.  So, Day 70 will be published Sunday illustrating something that may be better about health care in San Diego at Sharp Memorial Hospital.  The weekly Livable series featuring Miami is rescheduled for next week on Tuesday. Again, my goal next week is to get ahead as much as possible so there won't be any more lags with the unexpected events in life.  Thank you for your patience and support.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 68: Love & Respect

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

The March of Human Rights
(Extracted on 12 March 2010 from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Bloody_Sunday-Alabama_police_attack.jpeg).

When I think of the 1965 Bloody Sunday event in Selma, Alabama, USA, I think of courage beyond measure.  I think of what Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga, recalls of his participation in the original march. "They came at us, released tear gas and started beating us up. I was hit over the head and fell with a concussion. Others were being beaten. I don't remember how I got back to the church but I did" (extracted on 12 March 2010 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2772040/bloody_sunday_the_45th_anniversary.html).

When I think of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, I think of someone at times called The Mother of South Africa.  I don't think of Selma, Alabama, USA.  Well, not until this week when Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, was the keynote speaker Sunday morning at the Martin and Coretta Scott King Unity Breakfast in Selma" (extracted on 12 March 2010 from http://www.telegram.com/article/20100307/APN/303079744).


On Sunday The Birmingham News writes that Madikizela-Mandela addressed a crowd in Selma, Alabama, USA commerating Bloody Sunday, "'I am truly honored to be among you.'  Remembering back 45 years ago, Madikizela-Mandela said annual remembrances like the one in Selma is important for not just America, but for all peoples struggling for equal rights. 'Celebrations remind us that to celebrate the present, we must revisit the past,' Madikizela-Mandela said.

The South African leader said that while Bloody Sunday was long ago and Apartheid became part of her own nation's past two decades ago, the struggle for full equality for all men and women of what she called mother Africa continues to this day.

'We continue the struggle in both our nation's today but it is one struggle,' Madikizela-Mandela said.

Madikizela-Mandela was introduced with a song whose words told her 'People will love you forever, children will love you forever and God will love you forever.'

Madikizela_Mandela seemed a little taken back.

'I'm not use to that at home,' she told the crowd. And for good reason. Madikizela-Mandela is a deeply controversial figure stemming from eyewitness accounts from the late 1980s that she and some of her bodyguards engaged in a reign of violence and terror including torture and murder, charges she has always denied but charges that were supported by the testimony of dozens of witnesses before South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the late 1990s" (extracted on 12 March 2010 from http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/03/winnie_madikizela-mandela_spea.html).



The mystery about the controversy deepens even further this week.  In a yet-to-be-verified-by-Madikizela-Mandela interview published on www.standard.co.uk, Madikizela-Mandela states, "Look what they make him do. The great Mandela. He has no control or say any more. They put that huge statue of him right in the middle of the most affluent 'white' area of Johannesburg. Not here where we spilled our blood and where it all started.

Mandela is now a corporate foundation. He is wheeled out globally to collect the money and he is content doing that. The ANC have effectively sidelined him but they keep him as a figurehead for the sake of appearance" (extracted on 12 March 2010 from http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/Politics/1057/47236b5b9adc40a791aad420457f822d/09-03-2010-04-08/ANC_looking_for_Winnie).

Is it possible for a person to be loved and respected as they emerge from the shadows of a controversial and possibly violent past?  It seems that at least citizens of Selma, Alabama, USA and Reverend Jesse Jackson think so.  Jackson and Madikizela-Mandela marched arm in arm on Sunday writes Associated Content (extracted on 12 March 2010 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2772040/bloody_sunday_the_45th_anniversary.html). Will Madikizela-Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, et al also demonstrate that which they fought hard for in their relationships with one another?  Will they demonstrate reconciliation and the law of truth and love amongst themselves to model forgiveness?

What ever this group does, may we challenge ourselves to also love and respect those in our lives that are emerging from a controversial past.  May we also find a way to forgive, love, and respect ourselves as we emerge from the things in our lives that we are less than proud of.

Day 69 will regard some of what gives with US health care and if there is something better and will be published tonight.  Then, Day 70 will be published Saturday morning illustrating something that may be better about health care in San Diego at Sharp Memorial Hospital.  Saturday night Day 71 is scheduled to for the weekly Livable series.  This week will feature Miami and an intriguing program they are using to unite positive change in their city.  That should bring things back to schedule for the week.  My goal next week is to get ahead as much as possible so there won't be any more lags with the unexpected events in life.  Thank you for your patience and support.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 67: Outrageous Possibility

Appreciative Reflections
(Extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://media.photobucket.com/image/sunrise/jcain462008/101.jpg?o=9.)

How do we fix this world that we live in? Our climate and economy is changing. The political structure of yesterday brings us to the brink of another world war today.  Sociology and Human Psychology tells us that humans cannot survive without one another.  Yet how do we survive, much less thrive, with all of our differences?

Instead of swimming in the murky waters of trying to fix the differences, what if we change our focus?  David Cooperrider, the founder of an Organizational Development model named Appreciative Inquiry, might say that we can take a proactive approach. 

Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.

In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.

 

Appreciative Inquiry is a change management process that is oftentimes shortened to the acronym AI.  At the very foundation of this process are extraordinary accomplishments.  AI approaches change in a remarkable way.  Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom (2003) write in The Power of Appreciative Inquiry that AI approaches change by focusing on the very best in each and every human and the systems that they are a part of.  Whitney and Trosten-Bloom add that this relational inquiry is grounded in affirmation and appreciation.  Put differently, AI focuses humans on what they do best.  And by focusing humans on what they do best rather than their weaknesses, presenting personal and organizational problems ultimately become irrelevant.   Because this approach is revolutionary, and may even feel counter intuitive, it can be better understood by using what founder David Coopperider named the 4-D Cycle.  Or what is also called the Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny cycle.  This cycle is based on first choosing an affirmative topic. The topic should be something that we are passionate about.  This blog, for example,  started with an affirmative topic that I was passionate about: excellence.  Whatever topic that is selected, the focus should be on what we want more of rather than what we want to fix.  Topics can be brainstormed and then selected by which topic energizes us the most.   After topics are chosen, the discovery phase explores the best of what is and has been thus far.  This is where we're at right now in this blog.  Discovering more and more about what works in our world on a daily basis.  This phase can include a series of one-on-one interviews to purposefully develop conversations that deepen connections between people adding more and more voices to the conversation. The result of this phase may include a mapping of the positive core of what works.  Our weekly recaps are a way to keep track of our stories and conversations so that we have a map of sorts of our positive core. As this positive core emerges,  excitement is common. The world can begin to look more friendly and hospitable.  Life can even feel more hopeful.  This does not mean that problems go away or are ignored.  Instead, the energy shifts to focusing on what works to develop that instead of nurturing more of a problem by trying to fix it. After the positive core begins to emerge, so do dreams or new shared visions of what could be.  This is the time to let outrageous possibilities of what could be flow.  As these outrageous possibilities are generated, appreciation is amplified even more as the the Design phase emerges. The Design phase is meant to create Provocative Propositions that affirmatively expand on the emerging positive image by creating compelling images of what we want to grow toward.  The 4-D cycle is concluded with the final phase.  The Destiny phase  should support what will be with concrete action items that serve us in getting more of what we want. If there were a simple way to explain this profound method, I would tell you that AI magnetizes people’s extraordinary accomplishments.  And the result is that people, organizations, nations, and quite possibly, civilizations can be enduringly changed using this process one relationship at a time. May we find more outrageous possibilities of what we want more of.  May we create provocative propositions to expand our emerging positive core.  May we revel in the excitement of a world filled with more and more of what we want to grow toward. Tomorrow I will continue the game of catch up and publish the weekly Rock On series for Day 68 tomorrow morning.  Third hint, Selma, Alabama, USA within the last seven days.  Day 69 will be published tomorrow night regarding some of what gives with US health care and if there is something better.  Then Day 70 will be published Saturday morning illustrating something that may be better about health care in San Diego at Sharp Memorial Hospital.  Thank you again for your patience and support.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. ..

Day 66: Altruism

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

Power of Giving
(Extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://media.photobucket.com/image/altruism/VmantheManChild/power-of-giving-5.jpg?o=33.)

Altruism is a buzz word.  Say it and different images are conjured in our minds.  I tend to think of the kind people that I've known throughout my life.  Those people in my life that helped me, made a difference in my life, changed the course of my life, and did it selflessly without any ulterior motive other than the joy of giving.

This year Forbes made of list of people that seem to take genuine joy in giving and helping people.  This group focuses their help by first researching and confirming what is helpful.  From advocating for the end of using shark fins for soup to indigenous services, these people are on a mission.

This year the list contains the following 10 of 48 names.
1) Peter Gautschi (famed Swiss hotelier),
2) Andrew Forest (Fortescue Metals founder),
3) Rohini Nilekani (the wife of tech-giant Infosys Technologies),
4) Ananda Krishnan (said to be the second richest man in SE Asia),
5) Jan Cameron (founder of outdoor-clothing chain Kathmandu and owner of Retail Adventures),
6) Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (Mother of global media mogul Rupert Murdoch),
7) Clive Palmer (Founder and chairman of Mineralogy and Resourcehouse),
8) Huang Nubo (Chairman of Beijing property developer Zhongkun Group),
9) Huang Rulum (Founder of property developer Golden Resources Group), and
10) Jack Ma (Alibaba Group founder).

Second on the list is Andrew Forest.  Forest is a now well-heeled-Don-Quixote type of man.  He may have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.  Yet, like Siddhartha, Forest found his own way.  After several significant failures, he found his stride selling iron ore to China.  His next stop was studying the US philanthropic models of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. 

Then Forest, James Packer, Kerry Stokes, and Lindsay Fox joined forces to form a bi-partisan philanthorpic group named Generation One. "The size of the donations by the four is a secret, but each is believed to have committed at least $1.8 million to launch the campaign, which is being designed by a group of U.S. online marketing experts" (extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-australia-aborigines-forrest-mining-for-jobs_2.html).

Gallery of Giving
(Forrest shopping for Aboriginal art works, extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-australia-aborigines-forrest-mining-for-jobs.html.)

Evidently, "The idea is to bypass the government and use advertising to raise public awareness and encourage more job opportunities for indigenous Australians." Forbes writes.  Generation One wants to ". . .promote greater one-on-one mentoring of Aborigines to prepare them for the workforce."  Intending to "'. . .take the employment covenant onto a public stage and say to every Australian that we don't have to have the indigenous disparity if we don't want it. It's not a matter of money. It's for people to say, even if they run a small business, that they can mentor an indigenous person'" (extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-australia-aborigines-forrest-mining-for-jobs_2.html).

Why was Forest bothered to do this?  He wanted a project that reversed the "'. . .downward spiral of welfare dependency.'" Concluding, "Able-bodied and able-minded people should not be committing their lives, or their children's lives, to welfare" (extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-australia-aborigines-forrest-mining-for-jobs_2.html).

On Giving
(Extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-technology-infosys-rohini-nilekani-india_2.html.)

In fact, more on the Forbes list of 2010 Altruists were determined to also reverse downward spirals that they saw.  One that Rohini Nilekani (the wife of tech-giant Infosys Technologies) saw in her community was the common practice of going to the bathroom in fields.  To change this and other development concerns, Nilekani ". . . has donated $40 million to a variety of groups supporting education, microfinance, health care, the environment and access to clean water and sanitation services.

A portion of these services are managed through the program Arghyam, which means offering in Sanskrit. "In 2005 Arghyam started focusing on the water sector, and it is now working in more than 800 villages. It supports everything from hygiene training to groundwater management to rainwater harvesting" (extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-australia-aborigines-forrest-mining-for-jobs_2.html).

Why does Nikekani do this? She wants to give more than she takes saying, "We don't just fly out to a party, for instance.  We try to live within our ecological limits. The rule of thumb is, if you spend X on yourself you give away so much more" (extracted on 11 March 2010 from http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0315/philanthropy-australia-aborigines-forrest-mining-for-jobs_2.html).  And that's about all she seems to say about that.

So, while some of us may never be on the Forbes 2010 Atruism List, what is it that drives us to help others?  In what ways are we living within our ecological means and giving away so much more?

May we experience the joy of offering.  May we give more than we use.  May we raise our awareness and create more opportunities for ourselves and others.

Since I'm lagging a few days due to an interview series with Puyallup Tribal Health Authority, I will publish Day 67 this evening: a quick Appreciative Inquiry summary.  (Yes, unless I have outstanding felonies that I don't know about, I got the job!!  I'll share more with you about that next Monday for the weekly random topic.)  Day 68 will be the weekly Rock On highlight published tomorrow morning.  The second hint is Desmond.  To continue the catch up, Day 69 will be published tomorrow night regarding some of what gives with US health care and if there is something better.  Day 70 will be published Saturday morning illustrating something that may be better about health care in San Diego at Sharp Memorial Hospital.  That should bring things back to schedule for the week.  My goal next week is to get ahead as much as possible so there won't be any more lags with the unexpected events in life.  Thank you for your patience and support.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 65: Just Keep Livin

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

Rights!
(Extracted on 7 March 2010 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8178776.stm.)

Imagine your migrant parents were forced to abandon you.  Basic things like shoes, clothes, food are beyond your 10yo reach.  Forget the antiretroviral medicine that you need or a roof over your head and a clean and safe place to sleep. Now add the fact that you are an Afro-Ukrainian in Kharkov where hate crimes are on the rise.

Now imagine that someone told you about a safe place that you could go.  This place helped you get basic needs met, including medicine, and this place helped you access education and community support.  All of this costs $365 per year.

Possible?  Yes.  Through the Afro-Ukrainian Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project, such a place and services exist. "The project’s founder, Mr. Bawakana Michael Kityo, grew up in Uganda. He has lived in the Ukraine since 1999, returning to Uganda to visit his family. In September 2005, Mr. Bawakana Michael Kityo visited the Northern Uganda Districts and when he met 10 destitute orphans and vulnerable children, he realized he had come face to face with the AIDS epidemic. He offered to find sponsors to pay the school fees for the 20 children.


Ukrainian orphans

THE AFRO-UKRAINIAN ORPHANS | MySpace Video

The project grew from there. THE AFRO-UKRAINIAN ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN Project was incorporated in December 2008. A board of four directors in Ukraine and a board of two trustees in Uganda support and monitor the program. In 2008 Miss. Becky Adong was employed as the Project Director in Ukraine. She spearheaded a preschool program that has been added to the original sponsorship program.

THE AFRO-UKRAINIAN ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN Project is about communities coming together, in Ukraine and in Africa. It is about providing children with the resources they need to live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. 'I want everyone to see Africa as a vibrant continent, full of possibility,' said Bawakana. . ..

Some of the Afro-Ukrainian children are neglected by there fathers/mothers who run back to Africa leaving these children fatherless/motherless and at the end raced because of there colour and because they have no fathers/mothers our work is to make these children feel at home and stay out of the street" (extracted on 7 March 2010 from http://www.myspace.com/afroukrainianproject).
 
The need will only increase since 100,000 to 6,000,000 migrant workers, refugees, and asylum seekers from China, Central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the African continent traverse the Ukrainian border each year. People have basic needs.  If there are jobs that no one else will do, there are many migrant workers willing to risk their lives and families to do them.

Like it or not, the face of the Ukraine and many European cities is changing quickly and more services are needed to meet the growing migrant-worker's need.  Thank you Afro-Ukrainian

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project for stepping in where the need is so crucial. For more information, please contact  President and Founder Bawakana M.K at afroukrainianproject@gmail.com. May we see and do something about the need in our communities.  May we learn from and collaborate with others doing the same. Tomorrow will be Day 66 of the 365-day Appreciative Inquiry into what we what more of and the story will be about the Forbes' 2010 Altruist List, who is on it, what a few of them do, and why. Day 67 will be a quick outline of Appreciative Inquiry and a few new projects that are focusing on what works.  Then, Day 68 will continue the weekly Rock On series.  The hint for who it is this week is rugby. Weekly Recap: Download Recap_v1`2_20100307-wk9 Weekly Program: Download Program_v1`1_20100307_Wk10 Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. ..

Day 64: La Joie de Vivre

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

Alice Waters

On the way to work one day, Alice Waters had a flash of inspiration.  As she continued her walk to her legendary Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, California, USA in 1996, Waters' wheels were turning.

Who is Alice Waters and what was her inspiration?  Waters is a ". . .a chef, author, and . . .American pioneer of a culinary philosophy that maintains that cooking should be based on the finest and freshest seasonal ingredients that are produced sustainably and locally. She is a passionate advocate for a food economy that is 'good, clean, and fair.' Over the course of nearly forty years, Chez Panisse has helped create a community of scores of local farmers and ranchers whose dedication to sustainable agriculture assures the restaurant a steady supply of fresh and pure ingredients" (extracted on 6 March 2010 from http://www.chezpanisse.com/about/alice-waters/).

Water's inspiration was an abandoned 1-acre lot at the back of the the Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School in Berkley, CA, USA.

Waters saw that 1-acre of abandoned land sprout an “eco-gastronomic” curriculum that actively involves thousands of students in all aspects of the food cycle.  She saw a model public education program that instills the knowledge and values we need to build a humane and sustainable future. She saw students involved "in all aspects of farming the garden – along with preparing, serving and eating the food – as a means of awakening their senses and encouraging awareness and appreciation of the transformative values of nourishment, community, and stewardship of the land" (extracted on 6 March 2010 from http://www.chezpanisse.com/about/alice-waters/).

What she didn't see was a program that would be nationally recognized for its efforts to integrate gardening, cooking, and sharing school lunch into core academic curricula.

Over the decade since, that 1-acre has turned into ". . . a thriving acre of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Now, each student at King Middle School attends 12 to 30 sessions in ESY kitchen and garden classrooms, depending on grade level. ESY reaches each of the nearly 1,000 students at King Middle School.

The visibility of ESY has also increased. The program hosts over 1,000 visitors each year—from educators, to health professionals, to international delegates—and has inspired countless kitchen and garden programs. In 2005, we launched our first affiliate program in New Orleans, Louisiana. Today, we have a small network of Edible Schoolyard affiliate programs in cities across the country" (extracted on 6 March 2010 from http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/).

The tree planting exercise at Oxford Road Community School with pupils, staff and governors including Alex Tatham from Westcoast, David Blair, headteacher Karen Salter, Councillor Graeme Hoskin, governor Marjorie McClure, Councillor Chris Maskell and Sharon Johnson from Trees for Cities (extracted on 6 March 2010 from http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/education/s/2065670_playtime_delivers_food_for_thought).

In 2004, the program also grew into the Edible Playground Project in the UK, which "Provides an opportunity for school children to connect the food they eat with where it comes from and develop a passion for growing and eating their own food. By organically growing fruit and nut trees and vegetables in their playground orchard or kitchen garden, children see first hand the vital interconnection between people and the natural world and cultivate a sense of environmental responsibility.

 

Like this?

(Extracted on 6 March 2010 from http://treesforcities.org/page.php?id=361.)

Children learn the science behind growing food and the importance of eating locally grown seasonal produce by:

Investigating local varieties of fruit and vegetables
Championing the importance of local distinctiveness and regional specialities
Taking part in tasting and cooking sessions
Setting up systems to look after, harvest and use the produce
With time the Edible Playground becomes a fully functioning part of the school and is cherished for many years to come.  

Trees for Cities has been planting edible playgrounds since 2004, so far we have planted an edible playground in five London schools and six schools in other UK cities, including Reading and Sheffield" (extracted on 6 March 2010 from http://treesforcities.org/page.php?id=361).
 

From France to Berkley and into the hands of the children of our world, la joie de vivre feeds and sustains us in body and soul.  May we find a way to inspire and be inspired.  May we enjoy life. May we find a way to grow as we nurture.

Tonight, Day 65, the story will be about The Afro-Ukrainian Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project and the effort to feed, educate, and improve the health care of orphans and vulnerable children. I will also publish the weekly recap and program.  Then tomorrow, Day 66 of the 365-day Appreciative Inquiry into what we what more of, the story will be about the Forbes 2010 Altruist List, who is on it, what a few of them do, and why.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..

Day 63: Rock On MLK J

by Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M. (about the author)

"There can be no justice without peace"

(Martin Luther King Jr, January 15, 1929 to April 4, 1968, extracted on 5 March 2010 from http://www.footnote.com/page/29204125_martin_luther_king_jr/).

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. was the face of civil rights using peaceful resistance in the 1960s. Inspiring people around the world to take a stand against hate and bigotry, King was well known for the I Have a Dream Speech in August 1963.

The lesser known fact about Dr. King is that on January 14, 1968 (less than four months before he was assassinated) he visited ". . . the famous singer and activist Joan Baez. Baez had been imprisoned for blocking the entrance to the Armed Forces Induction Center in Oakland. After spending over an hour with Baez, King came outside and was met by a couple of hundred supporters. A Pacifica radio journalist recorded his remarks. . ." (extracted on 5 March 2010 from http://www.democracynow.org/2002/11/19/dr_martin_luther_king_jr_and).


"Suffice it to say that the war in Vietnam has all but torn up the Geneva Accord. It has strengthened the military industrial complex of our nation. It has exacerbated the tensions between continents and races. The war in Vietnam has...played havoc with our domestic destinies. And I can never forget the fact that we spend about $500,000 to kill every enemy soldier in Vietnam and we spend only about $53 a year for every individual who is categorized as poverty-stricken in our so-called war against poverty which isn't even a skirmish against poverty. And I say that there is a great need for a revolution of values" (Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968, Santa Rita, CA, USA 18 January 1968).

"There can be no peace without justice"
(Martin Luther King Jr, January 15, 1929 to April 4, 1968, extracted on 5 March 2010 from http://www.footnote.com/page/29204125_martin_luther_king_jr/).

King was principled and uncompromising about human rights.  What occurred behind the scenes after he gave the Santa Rita speech may never be revealed. 

What we know is that after the Santa Rita speech King was asked by a young man if he should burn his draft card. King asked the man if he opposed the war. When the man said he did, King told the man to resist, even though it meant breaking the law.

Tomorrow, Day 64 of the 365-day Appreciative Inquiry into what works in our world, I'll be sharing how kids are being the change that they want to see by turning their playgrounds into edible gardens.  Then on Day 65, the story will be about The Afro-Ukrainian Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project and the effort to feed, educate, and improve the health care of orphans and vulnerable children.

Until then, may we take a stand for human rights in some way large or small.  May we ask is it right.  May each of us remember that human rights begins with how we care for and nurture ourselves.  Mother Teresa once said that we must first refill the oil in our lamps to light the way for others.

Deone Benninghoven, M.S.M.
..