Community Cohesion makes cities more resilient says CEO of Rockefeller Foundations $100m 100 Resilient Cities Challenge At next weeks general meeting, I am asking Councillors to approve a feasibility study into a Redland City Council application for inclusion in this global challenge. Both Stradbroke Island and Sheldon/Mt Cotton are SEQs most hazardous bushfire prone areas. As a coastal area, storm-tide surge is another part of RCCs Disaster Management Plan/s A, B, C & D for Mainland, Stradbroke & Southern Moreton Bay Islands. There are many other issues such to be addressed but ONLY SOME will be able to be managed by Authority. Many of the challenges we face will need to be addressed by Community, but MOST OF THE FUTURE CHALLENGES WE FACE WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY Authority & Community WORKING TOGETHER, as we enter a climate of change. This article outlines why I believe in a post-economic boom time, we need to urgently look beyond SUSTAINABILITY in good times toward RESILIENCE under times of challenge & stress to see the REAL VALUE OF COMMUNITY is not just as rate-payers, but as ACTORS & CO-CREATORS of more robust, resilient & sustainable human futures. Some people consider my line of thinking romantic & idealistic (and I agree), but more than anything, the past decade of profound research into this area has led me to the unalterable view that THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STORY in the past, present and future OF HUMANITY. I am not a councillor because I want a career in politics (Id rather drill holes in my head!) I am a councillor and proud community future representative, because I believe fundamentally in the need to do EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to encourage Civic, Commercial and Community cohesion in the Common interest, on the active journey of change toward a more sustainable human future. I believe Redland City currently offers one of the best opportunities on the planet as a place to manage this transition. But its going to take a hell of a lot of work. And itll also require a massive dose of love. Next week, I hope Councillors support this notice of motion. In October, I will present a Masterclass on COMMUNITY RESILIENCE in Alice Springs at SEGRA (Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia), with a peer Kerry Grace. Our Co-Presentation was the result of winning the inaugural SEGRA CHALLENGE in 2013 at Coffs Harbour. (Ironically, our Pitch came one week after officers told me that RCC would NOT apply for Rockefellers 100 Resilient Cities, preferring instead to focus on Qld State Government adherence to Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness. Since then, we have had the 2013/14 Straddie Bushfires; and while RCC has further excelled at what people across Australia now see as global best practice Emergency Response, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS TO REALISE IS THE NEED TO BE SELF-RELIANT in times of Emergency. This is not a job for Superman. Survival under stress is not something AUTHORITIES can or should be expected to fix. This is not up to THEM, because THEY might be All the Kings Horses and All the Kings Men, but when our fragile shell of Normal is broken, the job of putting Humpty Dumpty together again and adapting to a New Normal can not be left to Authority, for they are just members of the community until order and normality returns. Community Resilience is not a job for Supermen. Its the work of We: You, Me, i, Us. Because when push comes to shove absolutely everybody in community is united by a local spirit of community connectedness that reminds us of the Aussie Battler heritage, of the ANZAC innovation of the Pioneering Vision and the Entrepreneurial Zeal that has made Australia into one of the most respected and diverse cultural nations on earth. As we enter a time of tumult and a climate of change, (regardless of the result of my Notice of Motion or our SEGRA Community Resilience Presentation), I urge each and every person who reads this to ask 2 Questions: A: Why are you alive in this current human form, and what would you like to see change before you leave it behind? B: What will you do to use the full extent of your awareness, intelligence & capacity to create change toward maximum positive effect, now and into the future? Once you sense this, perhaps you will be more willing, able and prepared to C. See the change you wish to be so you can B. Be the change you wish to see in the world. (M. Gandhi) A. Actions speak louder than words. Until then, The pen remains mightier than the sword, so I will raise my notice of motion and ask us all to keep both fingers crossed and those questions in mind. I will attach a few relevant links below to a minute range of things I have been involved with over both the past 2 years as a local councillor (in a minority) and as a researcher into sustainable human futures over the past decade. If you are a resident or interested observer, and on Facebook, or via other means, I welcome your constructive feedback. Thanks for reading, Paul Bishop -------%£€¥$&@!?%------- Repeat: Community Cohesion makes cities more resilient says CEO of Rockefeller Foundations $100m 100 Resilient Cities Challenge (More info below) greenbiz/blog/2014/08/12/michael-berkowitz-community-secret-ingredient-urban-resilience
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:53:35 +0000