A Burning Globe

Detachment. Flooded earth. Solidarity.

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Hello dear ‘world of readers’,

We are still in a beginning phase with this co-creative endavour of Worldwork Journalism (WWJ). It is a delicate experimenting, to feature the virtual dialogue that happened between us - a global group of 13 Ww-journalists in a virtual 2h session. All WW Journalists wrote after the dialogue a piece or some lines around their own experience or voices that they wanted to deepen. We as editors gathered the written pieces and try to compose an artifact so that new readers can also join and further deepen the conversation.

It was our third session (last for this first cycle) within the same group of WWJ pioneers. This time we chose to explore the topic:

Being a detached onlooker of disasters in other countries but so different when a disaster is happening in my area

For everybody new to world work or deep democracy facilitation (see more info at the end), we would like to give a short explanation. During the dialogues, we try to deepen our understanding of roles (or positions) around a certain topic, we express and listen to voices that are familiar to us and others we know (and maybe also like) less. We will not succeed in doing it ‘right’ for everyone, so feel free to add your standpoint. The deeper understanding esp. of the less familiar voices in and around us often leads to an atmospheric change and for some of us it creates more awareness around the given topic.

In a way the topics also interact with us as editors. We had more difficulties to edit this time and we decided to deliver less of a congruent story, but more ‘raw voices’ to offer more space to invite and co-create further with you dear readers and co-writers through the comment section. Please join the conversation, if you feel an impulse to ….

Disaster strikes across the world: Earthquakes, floods and fire rage

Few days ago the earthquake in Morocco, same time flood in Greece then Libya, … the ongoing terror of war in Ukraine, conflict zone Nagorno-Karabach heating up again …. it is too much, I withdraw …

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Why don’t I feel?

I make myself watch it

Wondering, where is my humanity?

Am I so detached from death and suffering?

I feel helpless and it is easier to focus on my own problems and sort them out. 

Because I am a human ?!

I struggle to look at you, pain and disaster, suffering and death.  Go away.  Fuck off! You’re too much for me to comprehend. 

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someone crying for help … they do not have any choice than to shout - do you, do we, understand this? it is a survival issue for them who shout, do we know what this means?

No, I do not. I can only guess into it, but your and probably also my ignorance or detachment drives me crazy …

and you know what? not all of them have a voice anymore to shout, some died, some are exhausted. it needs allies that shout. Who are these allies? Wake up!

Let’s find out, how I, you, we can be of help?

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I feel ashamed for not helping

It is all too much, I’m overwhelmed

And I move on into my day

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I cannot help but identify more with my ‘neighbors’ who are living through a disaster; they share my culture and language. They are closer to me! It is possible that I know someone affected. I recognise the damaged social infrastructure as well.

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I have rank

of not being in the immediacy of disaster

I have as yet never had to cling to the roof of my house while waters swirled around me, sheltered during a missile strike or watched my family die from starvation.

disasters have mostly seemed to happen elsewhere, to ‘others’.

It is a privilege to not fear for my life today, for my loved ones, for my community,

How is it best to use my privilege?

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The “lucky country”

 it is a temporary privilege and very localised

and reasons to re-think

I am anxious about the fires north of where I live,

this is country I know and love

it’s my neighbourhood

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What gives a higher rank to one disaster than to another? 

Someone mentioned that Turkey got much more attention after the same earthquake disaster than the Syrian neighbors. What makes the difference? All needed help. What gives a higher rank to one disaster than to another …

I feel desperate

then I hear Shirlz speaking with a tender voice: that is what I am doing. I am supporting Syrian refugees here in Australia.

This seems like a miracle to me, all this getting visible in our little virtual space of 15 people spread over the globe, I am deeply touched … there is help, not always and not enough, but …

there is solidarity - nearby and somewhere on the other end of the world.

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Empathy uncoils unbidden and floods through my body

I am not detached,

bodies wash up onto the shore

My humanity is awash in grief and shock

Not helping. Not there, but there, in my own, small, very distant way –

connected through visceral responses

human to human 

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There is a love that runs deep like a river connecting those here with those over there, in the homeland, under rubble, underwater. It doesn’t stop the grief, this love. It doesn’t turn back time on the disaster. It doesn’t stop the next one coming. But it might, somehow, make it a little more bearable, to see that even in the darkness, in the blazing fires, the swelling floods, the unthinkable violence… still, there is love. And a love that flows outwards, across continents, between people

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If we had waited for government or other help many would have died

I know now that all I can do is talk to the people around me with kindness and understanding and hope that this will help because This is the only way I can help.

The only comfort is to work on myself, do the inner work, I learned that this can change the world 

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I heard a friend and Yezidi woman speak, she refers to the genocide that happened in 2014 … did this get enough attention in our media and from me at the time and now? I hear the strength in her voice, this woman is my teacher

I am learning how to better ask for and be of help. 

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She says I live in a community that is different from you my friends, this session helps me to integrate with you, I also feel refreshing my soul, ending the pressure, I think talking about my experiences and my spots and hearing others, helps me to change my attitude in life and think positively 

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Vicky, Suneetha, Dave, Shirlz, Binafsh, Judith, Eileen, Marina, Sister Bobby Joe, Laura, Iina, Penny and Stephie

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The End

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… for now. And we know that there is only some voices caught and much more to say. Please dear readers and co-creators use the comment section to continue this deep and more than valuable dialogue and if you want to read or join upcoming conversations …

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About 🌏 Worldwork

Worldwork is an application of Processwork also known as process oriented psychology. As a psychological and conflict-resolution approach developed by Arnold Mindell in the 1970s, it's based on the principles of Jungian psychology, Taoism, and systems theory, and it is used in various settings, including therapy, organizational development, community building, and conflict resolution. At its core, Worldwork aims to explore and understand both individual and collective processes in order to address conflicts, promote personal growth, and create more harmonious relationships within groups and communities. It focuses on bringing awareness to marginalised or ignored perspectives, as well as the deeper layers of consciousness within individuals and groups.

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The initiators of this space

Stephanie Bachmair (B.ONFIRE/DDI Beta team & Faculty) is a communication passionate, facilitator, leadership coach, and process work diplomat. She supports individuals, teams, and organizations to explore and craft their stories, tell them with charisma, relate to their audience, and increase their transformative power through dialogue. 

Penny Watson (MACF) works as a coach, group facilitator and community development worker. She loves working with people in nature using process-orientated earth-based practices. She lives in Mparntwe, Alice Springs, and is deeply inspired by the people and lands of the Central Australian Desert.

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If you want more

• In case you are interested to join the next group of Worldwork Journalists group (1 session monthly from Nov 2023 - Jan 2024), please write to info@b-onfire.com

• If you are interested to know more & experience process work, there is a Deep Democracy training coming up soon: Birthing Our Future - 7-Day Deep Democracy Intensive in Nairobi, Kenya + worldwide online. From the 9th to the 15th of October. Register & find more info here. 

• More Writing/Reading/Podcast … B.Onfire Insights&Conversations is a separate publication here on Substack

• For professional updates on leadership, communication, and facilitation check our website www.b-onfire.com and other social media channels: https://linktr.ee/b_onfire