classes/workshops



	upcoming workshops ongoing workshops		The Center for Global Awareness ... Ongoing New Paradigm and Global Transformation Classes, Workshops, Lectures and Seminars The Center for Global Awareness describes its new paradigm and global transformation courses and workshops as a synergistic study that integrates interdisciplinary topics into a holistic, interdependent process. Listed below are part of the center's campaign to encourage greater awareness of urgent global issues, holistic views of history, and new paradigm thinking. Dr. Ames will be delighted to offer these or other workshops to interested educators, groups, schools, conferences, or organizations. The length of the workshops and fees are negotiable. Waves of Global Change: A Holistic World History This groundbreaking approach to history presents a holistic overview of the transformation of our human species through historical waves of change. Enfolded into our place within the Earth and the Universe, this “big picture” story is based upon a model of overlapping human waves – communal, agricultural, urban, modern, and global -- each reflecting universal patterns and themes that connect humans, the Earth and cosmos into an interdependent web. By gaining a deeper understanding of our past we will be able to make clearer decisions for a more sustainable and equitable present and future. Understanding Diverse Worldviews: Choices and Solutions Based upon our experiences, history, traditions, upbringing, and myths we view our world through various lenses or ways of understanding of reality. These particular perspectives or worldviews shape the choices we make in our everyday lives, influence the way we solve problems, sway our voting selections, and determine the way in which we fashion our future. In this workshop we thoughtfully examine four different worldviews in the United States and world today, and then analyze how each worldview affects how critical issues are understood and solved. We continue with an evaluation of our own personal worldview and see how it shapes the choices we make. We then deconstruct each worldview to better understand whether the worldview we personally hold harmonizes with the future we wish to bequeath to the next generations. Understanding Globalization: 10 Essential Factors We often feel bombarded by the forces of globalization that impact every aspect of our lives. In this thought-provoking workshop we will embark upon an exploration of how and why globalization, with an emphasis on economic globalization, has become the prevailing economic system governing our society today. Using a systems approach and drawing on our own experiences, we will uncover 10 essential factors that are necessary for the implementation and perpetuation of economic globalization. With this greater understanding we will exchange views about the advantages and disadvantages of economic globalization and its far-reaching consequences. We will wrap up with a lively dialogue about alternatives to economic globalization that contribute to creating a more just, equitable and sustainable future. Historical Roosts of Globalization: A Systems Approach Although it seems as though economic globalization has powered its way into our lives almost overnight, it actually has evolved historically over the last five centuries and intensified and expanded in only the last twenty-five years. Peering though a “big picture” lens we will explore the emergence of the capitalist economic system, investigate the different facets of its development, probe into how it has changed over the last 500 years, and link it to current economic globalization. Our economic history for too long has intentionally been presented as dry, arduous, and unconnected to our everyday lives. With a greater awareness of the economic forces underpinning the globalization project, we can more clearly and confidently assess the positive aspects and resist the detrimental aspects of economic globalization and embark upon fashioning a more just, equitable and sustainable future. Globalization and Our Future This inspiring workshop explores the far-reaching issue of globalization and its sweeping impact upon our everyday lives, the environment, and people throughout the world. Using a multifaceted systems approach we will inves1tigate the historical currents of globalization, examine specific global issues, and uncover 10 essential factors necessary for implementation and perpetuation of the globalization project. With this greater understanding of globalization our group will decide who benefits and who loses in this complex project and engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about possible sustainable and equitable paths for our shared human future. Imperialism and Globalization: A Violent Alliance This provocative seminar examines the historical roots of Western imperialism and exposes its unsavory link with economic globalization. Using a systems approach, we will investigate how and why global capitalism depends upon imperialist ventures to feed its insatiable economic expansion and domination. Highlighting particular historical and current case studies, we will disclose the destructive nature of imperialism to both the victims and perpetrators of its aggressive actions. We conclude with a more optimistic discussion of possible economic alternatives that repudiate imperialism as a necessary component of economic development. Shedding American Myths: A Time for Reevaluation How we perceive our society today and how we imagine a vision of the future are shaped by unquestioned, unconscious cultural myths or assumptions that are daily reinforced by the principal institutions of our society: media, education, friends and family, politics, and religion. Before we can fully understand the complexity of the global changes wracking our world today, we need to lay bare these deeply embedded myths that shape how we perceive and respond to reoccurring events, actions, and policies. Using a systems approach, we will uncover firmly held assumptions that we as Americans embrace as authoritative “truths,” trace their development over time, and access their impact on our lives. We will address the question: Do these myths provide a foundation for a sustainable and equitable vision of the present and future or should they be reevaluated? Traditional Wisdom: Learning from Indigenous Cultures For over 99% of our human history we have lived in small communities solidly connected within nature. Our modern way of life has separated us from these deep roots of community and nature. Part of our modern myth is that we have progressed from our primitive past to a higher level of achievements and advancements. Indeed our technological, medical, and educational strides are remarkable, yet our communities, families and individual lives collectively tell a sad story of isolation, alienation, depression and unhappiness. We can learn valuable lessons from indigenous people who have great wisdom to share with us about how to live a more grounded way of life in connection with community, nature, and sustainability. This workshop gives us a sampling of the immense wisdom that indigenous people have to give us and how we can incorporate this wisdom into our daily lives. If only we will listen! Shifting Directions: Creating Alternatives to Economic Globalization This thought-provoking workshop brings a fresh perspective to the overwhelming changes globalization is bringing to our world. Using a systems approach, a brief overview of economic globalization and its historical roots is given. Next an in-depth exploration of more just, sustainable, and equitable alternative to economic globalization will be discussed. We conclude with a lively dialogue about how these more life-enhancing alternatives may be integrated into our lives today. Globalization and the Future of Women This workshop explores the far-reaching issue of globalization and its sweeping impact upon our everyday lives, the environment, and people throughout the world. Using a multifaceted systems approach we will investigate the historical currents of globalization, examine specific global issues, and determine who benefits and who loses in this winner-take all phenomena. Special attention will be directed to the diverse ways women respond to global changes in their daily lives, such as their increased participation in the labor force and feminization of poverty. Our group will then engage in a thought-provoking dialogue about possible equitable paths for our shared human future. Mindful Consumerism: Consumption with the 7^th Generation in Mind We Americans are intricately interconnected to other humans around the world and to the environment. Yet, as participants in a rampant consumer way of life we are often unaware of the deep reverberations our actions have on others around the world. Without judgment, we will examine why we participate in this consumer rampage and suggest how we can become more mindful about our consumptive habits, so that our actions, as much as possible, will have less of a negative impact on others and the environment.