Pyramid 2012An Introduction

“Pyramid 2012” is a global workshop event scheduled to happen on (and around) 17-19 February 2012. During that weekend, or just before and after, groups around the world will gather for one or two days to run their own “Pyramid” workshops and generate ideas and initiatives to help create a more sustainable world. This slide set is for people who want to participate in the global organizing process.

Introduction and Basic Workshop Slides (see Slide 7)

Purpose of Pyramid 2012

To accelerate learning and engagement in advance of the Rio+20 global summit on sustainable development

To generate ideas and initiatives that will inspire people to get involved

To have fun ... while doing an activity that is educational and meaningful

What is “Pyramid”?

A workshop processUsed in schools, universities,

and professional training programs

Also used in companies, government agencies, etc. as a tool for planning programs and initiatives on sustainability

Often includes building a small pyramid to record the steps in the process

The end of a typical Pyramid workshop

(University of Iceland,May 2010)

Origin of “Pyramid 2012”

Tom Mclean of Global Issues Network – a program to support global education in international schools – decided to run 20 parallel Pyramid workshops for 400 students, during their conference in Manila, 17-19 February 2012

They invited Pyramid workshop developer Alan AtKisson to give the opening keynote speech

Alan suggested globalizing the event by inviting other groups – of all kinds, from schools to communities to corporate teams – to also run parallel Pyramid workshops

Alan was consulting to the UN’s Division for Sustainable Development at the time, and suggested linking the event to Rio+20, and using “Pyramid 2012” to generate ideas, interest, initiatives, and inspiration for SD around the world

Pyramid 2012 Co-Sponsors

http://earcos-global-issues-network.org

http://atkisson.com http://isisacademy.com http://compasseducation.org/

How to plan for your Pyramid!

Sign up at

pyramid2012.net

Downloadand read the

manual

Tell Peopleabout it and invite them to participate

Selectan issue to explore

Preparethe materials you

want to use

DO YOURPYRAMID!

Documentwhat you do with pics, video, text

Postyour results on

the website

Telleveryone about your Pyramid!

FEB-MAR 2012

Basic Workshop SlidesUse the following slides as a template for your

workshop.

Adapt them and change them as you like!

Comments that are meant for the organizer are given in [brackets]

Welcome to …

A global workshop event …

to promote understanding and action

for a more sustainable world

Let’s Get Started …

Pyramid 2012

Background

[write something about why you decided to organize this workshop]

[This is also a good time for Introductions – ask participants to say a few words about themselves and their motivation for being here]

Background

[write something about Pyramid as a tool and about the global workshop – you may choose to include slides no. 2 and no. 3 of this presentation here, or you can make your own slides]

What is Sustainable Development?

“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

(UN, “The Brundtland Report”, 1987)

Creating a good future for both people and the natural world

It is also about creating and maintaining a good quality of life … for everyone

The Purpose of Today’s Workshop

[If your group has already chosen a Central Challenge for the workshop, you might want to write here briefly what is the main question to be addressed today]

[Otherwise, you might want to have a conversation to choose a topic with your group now. Is there a specific problem they are interested in exploring?]

[Examples of Critical Challenges]

[You might want to use this slide if it’s difficult to start the group discussions]

Global warming and climate changeNature conservationPopulation, wealth and povertyHuman wellbeing

Your own idea – your issue of interest can also be framed at a local level

The Process - 5 Levels

1. share information about the issue

2. think about the causes3. brainstorm ideas: ways

to address and improve the issue

4. make a plan about how to implement your ideas

5. To cap it off ... make a commitment to do it!

3.2.

1.

4.5.

The Sustainability Compass N is for Nature:

◦ Healthy air and water quality, sustainable resource use, sufficient habitat (especially for endangered species), the preservation of scenic beauty;

E is for Economy: ◦ Vital businesses, good infrastructure, the sufficient production

of goods and services, a solid financial sector, and good jobs or people at good wages;

S is for Society: ◦ The health of our communities, institutions, schools, cultural

traditions, and the arts, and the organizational structures and legal frameworks that protect equality and opportunity for all;

W is for Well-Being: ◦ Our individual health, happiness, education, satisfaction, and

fulfillment, as well as the health of our families and primary relationships, and the quality of our living and working environments;

[Divide the Group, if needed]

[If you are working with a large group, you might decide at this point to divide it into 4 teams, each focusing on one direction of the compass.]

Let’s Build the Pyramid!

Level 1. What is happening?

What are some of the things that are happening, that we know about, in connection with that Central Challenge?

What are the likely trends?

What is likely to happen in the future — especially if no action is taken to make things better?

Level 2. Why is it happening?

Central Challeng

e

Cause 1.1

Cause 1.2

Cause 2.1

Cause 3.1

Cause 3.2

Cause 3.3

…

WHY?

…

Cause 1

Cause 2

Cause 3

WHY?

Cause 1.1.1Cause 1.1.2

Cause 1.1.3

…

etc.

WHY?

EFFECTS

&

IMPACTS…

[Optional]

BREAK[X minutes, we meet at..]

Level 3. What can we do?

Select ideas for level 4

Consensus (or vote) on best ideas

Brainstorm ideas for positive change

Reflect on most important causes

Level 4. How can we do it?• What do you need?

Resources

• How will get what you need?

• How will you manage the implementation?

• Foreseen obstacles

Strategy

• Imagine success• Describe it!

Outcomes

• Steps to get there• Timeline

Plan

Level 5. The Capstone Agreement

Concrete project proposal

Idea to be communicated further

Short written statement

Options for yourfinal conclusions …

CELEBRATE[Picture time!]

Follow Up

Stay in contact with the coordinators of Pyramid 2012: info@pyramid2012.net

◦Document the Pyramid workshop

◦Document the project or initiative

◦Contribute to the global report that will later be submitted to the UN Rio+20 Conference

Thank You for Your Participation!

And stay in touch!

[Your contact information]