It will not cost the

earth

It will not cost the earth to prevent catastrophic

climate change,

but it will cost the Earth not to do so.

Tom Burke

Governments, scientists and climate conferences alone will not make sufficient difference fast enough.

We must all play our part.

If you think you can’t make a difference, here’s an example….

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

On May 1st 2007, Modbury hit the international headlines as the first UK town to turn its back on plastic shopping bags.

Led by Rebecca Hosking, all of the Modbury retailers stopped issuing plastic bags and started selling reuseable, and biodegradable bags instead.

This action by a small group in Modbury catalyzed action from retailers and consumers around the world.

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

One Year Later

• The butcher now packs meat in biodegradable corn-starch bags

• The florist wraps flowers in corn starch cellophane and uses raffia

• The local deli owner puts sandwiches in brown paper bags

• The green grocer carries mainly loose produce, with brown paper bags for packaging.

The change has been sustained and is growing.

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,

committed citizens can change the world. Indeed,

it is the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

Imagine the impact that 100 small thoughtful groups would have on climate change in the UK

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

If our ‘tell and sell’ approaches do not work what will?

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Most of our attempts at resolving climate change ignore the essential difference between

reason and emotion

reason leads to conclusions while

emotion leads to action.

One such approach is the Wisdom Council

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Approaches that connect hearts and minds, and stir emotions in positive ways

that lead to massive action.

Approaches that: “Amplify our

Collective Intelligence, Collective Wisdom and

Co-creativity” George Por

“Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers” Alfred Lord Tennyson

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

"The atmosphere was one of calm and tranquility, and everyone commented on

how a complex problem had inroads made with no talking down, no interruption, and

true use of the talents in the room."

Chairman, AMED Scotland

"The Wisdom Council has really helped us to find the team spirit we needed to get

started. It has lead us all to go deeper into our feelings and thoughts, reveal our true "us" as a team but also as individuals in

this team. This has been a great experience."

Philippe Bonnet, Account Managing Director, Y&R Europe

“I am impressed with the Wisdom Council. It is simple yet profound.

It kept us out of our sometimes-dysfunctional communication styles

with each other.

"We worked the issues, we listened to each other, we had more equal

participation across the whole group than we typically do with other

meeting styles."

Bob Johansen, President, Institute for the Future, USA

“Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers” Alfred Lord Tennyson

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

"The atmosphere was one of calm and tranquility, and everyone commented on

how a complex problem had inroads made with no talking down, no interruption, and

true use of the talents in the room."

Chairman, AMED Scotland

"The Wisdom Council has really helped us to find the

team spirit we needed to get started. It has lead us all to go deeper into our feelings and thoughts, reveal our true "us"

as a team but also as individuals. This has been a

great experience."

Philippe Bonnet, Account Managing Director, Y&R Europe

“Knowledge comes but wisdom lingers” Alfred Lord Tennyson

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

"The atmosphere was one of calm and tranquility, and

everyone commented on how a complex problem had

inroads made with no talking down, no interruption, and true use of the talents in the room."

Chairman, AMED Scotland

“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life. ” Immanuel Kant

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Who?

We have trained over many years to lead Wisdom Councils around the world.

We will hold 100 Wisdom Councils or, as we are calling them Climate Change Councils, in the UK in 2008/09.

Patricia and Mike Bell

“Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.” Martin Fischer

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

What is a Climate Change Council?A Climate Change Council is a form of participative democracy that leads to action.

It is a way to resolve complex challenges by evoking the collective wisdom of people by looking into an important issue from eight perspectives that make up a sequence of wholeness.

It has been described as “a deep process that enables participants to step back from the pressures and demands of any situation and open their minds and hearts to listen, to consider, and to source wisdom from deep reflection. “It begins with a question that the person, group, community, or team surfaces that affects the well-being of the whole.“ WE & RH Kinney-Linton, The Change Handbook: Group Methods for Shaping the Future, 2007.

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” George Bernard Shaw

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Aims

• To catalyze individual, local group and national actions to address climate change.

• To create an ongoing community of practice with the power to exponentially impact change.

• To communicate the recommendations for action that come from the 100 Councils to the Copenhagen Climate Conference in 2009.

How you can get involved and benefit …

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

How?

Our only home/office will be a motorhome for 12 months – the most carbon efficient way of achieving our aims – as we travel the UK to lead 2 Climate Change Councils a week.

How you can get involved and benefit - 1

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Host Climate Change Councils

If you are a local or national organisation with branches, we will lead Climate Change Councils for your members. Benefits:

• Increased visibility as part of a unique year long environmental programme

• An additional opportunity for your members take action on climate change

• A national and global voice for your members on green issues

• An opportunity to attract new members

• Be part of a community of practice sharing and learning together

• Experience a new way for resolving personal and community challenges

• An innovative ready-made project, tailored to your needs and at no cost

How you can get involved and benefit - 2

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

Sponsor Climate Change Councils

Benefits

Unlimited opportunities for local and national press and TV publicity for a 12 month campaign.

A wealth of current information about people attitudes and preparedness to take action.

100 CLIMATE CHANGE COUNCILS

For more information about

100 Climate Change Councils

www.thewisdommeme.com/climatecouncils

mike@thewisdommeme.com