We felt this interview is so important that we wanted to share some highlights of it in this edition of the New Dimensions Newsletter. This was taken from our program #3351, Creating the World We Really Want with Frances Moore Lappé, author of Food First and Getting a Grip 2: Clarity, Creativity, and Courage in a World We Really Want (Revised for the New Decade) (Small Planet Media 2010). (airing July 14-20, 2010, or can be found in the New Dimensions archive of programs)

Lappé: Most of us are told the best we can do, within this definition of democracy, is, maybe vote, and that's optional. So, all we really have to do is occasionally serve on a jury and shop. So, where is the meaning that violates the deep need to feel that we are real contributors and co-creators? When we don't feel that power, many profound psychologists and philosophers argue, that we are such creatures of meaning and doing; we are doers, not couch potatoes and whiners and, that if we are not encouraged to create in a positive way, then it comes out in a negative control and abuse of others.

So, we have to make our dent, as Erich Fromm writes. And, if we can't do it in a positive way, then we have to do it in a negative way. The challenge then, right now, is how do we learn from what brings out the worst in us? And, I argue, what brings out the worst, is concentrated power and anonymity, so that we aren't seen, like what happened on Wall Street. Those folks knew that what they were doing was really invisible and, in fact, one of the things I say in the book, is that the slogan, in part of the financial industry during the worst of the creation of these very risky financial instruments in the selling of things they knew were so risky was, IBGYBG: I'll be gone; You'll be gone. Meaning that, we'll be out of here by the time the thing collapses, and no one will know our role in it.

So, anonymity brings out the worst in us: secrecy, non-transparency. And third is blame: the blame game, always believing that my predicament is because somebody else did someone wrong. And this doesn't mean we can't criticize one another, but every time we are critica¬l—just take the Wall Street debacle—It is easy for us to blame the greed on Wall Street. But wait a minute. We were all alive as the rules were pulled away, and the secrecy went over what was going on, and if we were paying attention, we condoned that.

Toms: What are the three conditions that bring out the very worst?
Lappé: 1)Concentrated power
2) Anonymity-we can hide and no one is watching what we do.
And 3) Othering, Scapegoating.

If we can identify those, and I think there may be others, but those seem pretty defensible. Then, how do we bring out the best in us? We dissolve or we flip those conditions, and create exactly the opposite.
1) Continuous dispersion of power
2) Creation of face-to-face community, openness and transparency so we can all be aware that our actions are being observed by others
3) Let go of the blame game, not that we don't criticize one another, but we recognize that we are co-creating our existence. (mutual accountability)

Some of the themes that I'd like people to remember is that, if we can then trust our social nature, our courage comes through. I'm sure you are aware of this, and all of our listeners are at some level; it is through, what I think of as a buddy system—through finding others, who will stand with us as we take risks—not people who will encourage us to sit back, but people who encourage us to test ourselves, to speak out, to find that backbone.

I'm recalling a study that was done at the University of Virginia, where they divided students into two groups and set them at the foot of a hill with big back packs on their backs. The only difference in the groups is that one had a friend beside them. And in the other group, the individuals were standing by themselves. Then, they asked, "How steep is the hill in front of you?" And you are not going to be surprised to learn, that those who had a friend next to them, and even though the friend wasn't carrying anything, the presence of the friend meant they judged the hill to be significantly less steep. So this idea, if we are feeling isolated and powerless, is to reach out, and be willing to share our own fears, and not stuff them and deny them.

I hope my book is an aid here. The real challenge today is disempowerment, and we know how to solve these problems. When we feel disempowered then, look for opportunities to engage in ways, that are building our power and the power of others looking through the power lens. I think the key then, is dealing with what I call bold humility. The bold part is rethinking fear, and reaching out to others to strengthen us. The humility part is simply realizing that. I learned to say my mantra, "it is not possible to know what's possible." That is the new humility we need.

The way I keep this idea of humility foremost in mind, is to remind myself, on a daily basis, the things that most inspire me. Take Costa Rica, which is almost completely on renewable energy now. Do you know it was one of the most deforested countries in the early 90s? From the early 90s on, they have gone from 20% coverage of the acreage of their country in forest to one half. This is remarkable. The United Nations environmental program set the goal of planting five billion trees all over the world with citizen based initiatives. Do you know what? They have had to keep upping it. Now, they have actually documented where people are planting ten billion trees on the planet. Who would have imagined that to be possible?

I think about the New Constitution in Ecuador. It acknowledges the right to nature for the first time in human history. Who would have predicted that, and so many positive things happening in El Salvador, or Africa? When I was young and writing Food First with Joseph Collins, the Sahel was seen to be the basket case with the desert encroaching. How many people know the Niger, a desperately poor country, citizens there, villagers have re-greened, reforested, and replanted, and have succeeded in reclaiming twelve and one-half million acres of land, that no one in this country hears about.

I always keep in mind, it is just not possible to know what's possible. And this helps me to find my courage. Again, I want to underscore, that if you accept any of the thesis of, Getting a Grip 2, that we really have these positive qualities, that are just in us by our evolution, then we have to accept the reason we are creating this world, that none of us as individuals wants, is that we haven't found a way to use fear in this jujitsu manner to propel us forward, and take stands for what is really our nature, and to create a society aligned with the best of us, and aligned with how to keep the worst of us in check.

What really gets me up in the morning, is the notion that we are in this unique moment. For the first time human beings have this perspective of history, of the lab experiments, of these extraordinary happenings around the globe, that are pulling out in this living democracy way. On the village level, or the city in Brazil that declared food a human right, and within a decade had reduced children's death in that city by 60% after they declared food a human right. And again, it wasn't a "do-for" model. It was a living democracy model, where people stood up, and came up with amazing innovations to keep the market answerable, accountable, available, to all of us. As I put it, redefining the free market as the freedom to participate in the market. They were able to make this dramatic gain towards life by reducing hunger and child death in their city within ten years.

So, this is what I hope people will come away with, as they read Getting a Grip 2. There is a way to see, so that our individual actions can help reverse the spiral of powerlessness, as we find that backbone by joining with our buddies, who encourage us to keep taking those risks.

R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) Of the Universe

For those of you in the Washington DC area do not miss this great opportunity. Michael and Justine Toms enthusiastically encourage you to go and see: R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) Of the Universe written and directed by D.W. Jacobs from the life, work and writings of R. Buckminster Fuller The Crystal City season is sponsored by Crystal City BID. May 28 - July 4, 2010
http://www.arenastage.org/season/09-10/the-history-mystery-of-the-universe/

Join Spiritual Cinema Circle and receive your first DVD for FREE, featuring Thomas and the Rainbow and Act As If plus two other short films (just pay S&H).

Until April 14th, Spiritual Cinema Circle is featuring Thomas and the Rainbow,

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Join Spiritual Cinema Circle and receive your first DVD for FREE, featuring Thomas and the Rainbow and Act As If plus two other short films (just pay S&H).

Thomas and the Rainbow: Maire (Connie Nielsen) transforms an orphan boy’s world when she brings him to live in her small island village, off the coast of Ireland. Her reticent husband Alec (Aidan Quinn) can barely hide his disappointment when he meets the frail, shy eight-year-old. Undiscouraged, Maire introduces Thomas (John Bell) to the wonders of his new world, and shows him that you can find magic anywhere — if you really look.

Act As If: One woman’s secret to winning at life is to “act as if,” which transforms her from a feisty blue-collar Boston kid into Harvard’s championship basketball coach. Kathy Delaney-Smith inspires on and off the court, demonstrating the power of the mind to overcome any obstacle, including her own life-threatening illness in this engaging documentary.