1. An Urgent Situation - Men's Role
In our lifetime we are witnessing the most violent century in human history.
Today much of the world is on alert, poised to react or retaliate with weapons of mass destruction. We are experiencing dramatic climatic changes caused by global warming. The gap between rich and poor is growing exponentially resulting in b illions of people starving and without access to food, shelter and clean water.
Global terrorism in its multiple forms is a regular occurrence. Domestic violence, sexual assault and female trafficking is rampant in many countries including modern democracies.
In her ground-breaking works, Riane Eisler emphasizes that the mix of the domination model and high technology -- the nuclear, biological, and chemical technologies that threaten us and our natural habitat with irremediable harm -- is not sustainable in the long term.
Her research inspired my ideas of sustainable masculinity ; a masculinity that could change to meet the need of the times - that could re-invent itself as I had done becoming more partnership oriented.
Unless we adopt a different approach, we will face more of the same; we are too powerful to consider past “solutions” as options. The cooperation of all humans, the use of all available resources is required to meet these great challenges.
Unfortunately it is fact that most violence is carried out by men. Given that male babies are not born violent we have to wonder what happened to make them violent.
As a male I find this next statement hard to swallow which is why I determined to do something about it.
Michael Food (ANU Australia) says:
We must note that historically, wars have been intensely masculine endeavours. The vast majority of the world’s soldiers are men. So are most of the prison warders, the police, and almost all the generals, admirals, bureaucrats and politicians who control the systems of collective or institutional violence. Most murderers are men. Almost all armed robbers and muggers are men. Nearly all rapists, most domestic bashers, and most people involved in street fights and riots are men.
It is significant that such endeavours were decided without equal input from women. Also it is useful to remember men were groomed to serve the dominator model and now need to be de-groomed. Just like soldiers who have been trained to kill need to be -re-trained to lead normal lives, though sadly this does not happen.
Thus the old forms of masculinity, the dominator forms, if continued, constitute one of the gravest threats to the future of humanity.
Some of the major crises of our times are:
Wars
We have just witnessed the most violent century in human history (200 million dead from war - mostly women and children) Today much of the world is on alert, poised to react or retaliate with weapons of mass destruction. Global terrorism in its multiple forms is a regular occurrence. Domestic violence and sexual assault is rampant in many countries including modern democracies.
Climate Change
We are experiencing dramatic climatic changes caused by global warming. As resouces such as food, water and even clean air diminish, more conflicts will arise.
Destruction of Nature
Nature is not something that is separate from us - it is an extension of ourselves - the trees which make oxygen are an extension of our lungs. Fred Matser often says, "The chaos in the environment is a reflection of the disorder in our minds and hearts –our invironment." As we heal ourselves we heal nature!
Economic Inequity
Billions of people are hungry and without access to clean water. The gap between rich and poor is growing exponentially. In our times, 100 -125,000 people die daily from poverty related causes - this new trend corresponds to the widening of globalisation about two decades ago. Our current model needs to be modified so that it serves the majority. (If continued at its current rate it would represent about 1.7 billion over the century)
Misogyny
Johan Galtung, one of the world's greatest peace scholars, describes misogyny as a major world problem. I would agree! Misogny, mistrust or hatred against women, shows up as in many forms from female infantacide, rape, domestic violence, unequal pay, sex slavery, deaths from wars, (women and children are becoming the prime victims of wars) structural and cultural violence.
The reasons for misogyny are multifactorial but linked to male socialization. It is a huge problem and one of the primary reasons for this site - it must be tackled compassionately and with courage - indeed we consider it to be a major cause of global violence. It is worth reflecting on the fact that most all humans spent their first nine months in a woman's body.
No blame
Rather than blaming men, we can view this as a systems flaw. The new paradigm transforms the reductionist (dominator) worldview into an holistic frame (partnership).
As the author of this site I acknowledge the numerous positive contributions men and certain 'masculinities' have made to the world. I am passionate that men in partnership with women can meet the current and future challenges we face.
Not Pretending - Owning My Past
I did not escape male socialisation. I'm not proud that in my past, acting from a limited feeling function and narrow world view, I have hurt many of those I've loved. I have worked hard to make amends and grow my consciousness so that I might do less harm in the future. I mention this because the world needs leaders who walk their talk. I am not 'spotless' but strive to own my shadow and heal my life.
Please read my bios for more details. (click here)
The Challenge
Large numbers of us need to start healing our feeling function while simultaneously engaged in our respective peace efforts.
Peace by peaceful means
Angry wounded healers do not bring sustainable peaceful solutions to the world.
The shadow of wounded peace workers will always destroy attempts to create more equitable systems. We have witnessed that in all the 'revolutions' - what is required is a collective 'evolution' occurring in a critical mass of people - those devoted to raising planetary awareness. This is the role that men can play, and I would say must play, if we are to collectively survive.
Partners in Peace
I have joined my work efforts with Grace Gawler to provide a balanced male/female leadership training team. We are working to raise consciousness in men and women throughout Australia and worldwide.
One of our vehicles for corporate change is our Redwood River Corporate Training Tours to Exotic Locations Oregon, USA, Costa Rica, Patagonia, Chile, The Daintree, Australia..
Click here for information about
Redwood River Journeys
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Australian and Global Peace Campaign
Promoters of war and terrorism are very determined. Become "passionate" about spreading peace -
- support the Australian and Global campaigns to Create Departments and Ministrys of Peace.
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Discussion
Wars
In our lifetime we have witnessed the most violent century
in human history (200 million dead from war - mostly women and children) Today much of the world is on alert, poised
to react or retaliate with weapons of mass destruction. Global terrorism in its multiple forms is a regular occurrence.
Domestic violence and sexual assault is rampant in many countries
including modern democracies.
Climate Change
We
are experiencing dramatic climatic changes caused by global warming. As resouces such as food, water and even clean air diminish more conflicts will arise.
Economy
Billions of people are hungry and without access to clean
water. The gap between rich and poor is growing exponantially.
In our times, 100 -125,000 people die daily from poverty related causes - this new trend corresponds to the widening of globalism about two decades ago. Clearly our current model needs to be modified so that it serves the majority. (If continued at its current rate it would represent about 1.7 billion over the century)
Dominator Model of Governace and Commerce
In her ground-breaking works, Riane Eisler emphasizes that
the mix of the domination
model and high technology -- the nuclear, biological,
and chemical technologies that threaten us and our natural
habitat with irremediable harm -- is not sustainable in the
long term. Unless we adopt a different approach, we will face more of
the same; we are too powerful to consider past “solutions”
as options.
Partnership Models
A model allowing for the cooperation of all humans, the use
of all available resources is required to meet these
great challenges. This is the partnership model.
Men's Role
Historically, because men have been hunters and protectors, they devised systems where men acting without equal input from women have
been the political, economic leaders and decision makers
-- the ones who took us to war, the ones who raped, committed
domestic violence, the ones who tolerated widespread poverty and hardship.
The old forms of masculinity, the dominator forms, if continued,
constitute one of the gravest threats to the future of humanity. The economic, political, legal, education, food production, education and social sytems that have given us great wealth, wonderful technological advances, more equality, women's rights, on the one hand, have reached their limits and now cause planet threatening climate and massive global poverty as globalisation passes its limits.
Benefits
Since most of the systems men historically designed have arisen from our wounded feeling function, men are the first to gain as we heal that wound. For it is the feeling function that gives us our sense of purpose, our values, joy and our meaning in life. The healed feeling function in men knows the true value of serving the greater good - beyond the egoic behaiours which are predominantly self serving.
Wider Benefits
Typically men who engage in this healing and the subsequent work that arises - healed men and women automatically become healers - report that they have found themselves and that they would not, indeed could return to the old belief and values systems from their past. It goes without saying that as men benefit so too do their children, their partners and extended families, their communities, their nations and all of nature benefits as well.
No blame
It is not men who are to blame, it is a systems flaw since the systems they designed came from a "reductionist" (dominator) worldview rather than a holistic frame (partnership). Without a healed feeling function brilliant government and corporate leaders will perpetually lack the holistic oversight and sensitivity to design systems that are life affirming on social and environmental levels.
Therefore as the author of this site I do not in any way seek to blame men; indeed I acknowledge the numerous positive
contributions men and certain 'masculinities' have made to the
world. Indeed I am passionate that men in partnership with
women can meet the current and future challenges we face.
So the work is for large numbers of us to attend to our feeling function healing while we are engaged in our respective peace efforts. Angy, wounded healers will bring sustainable peaceful solutions to the world. Peace by peaceful means is crucial to our endeavours and the shadow of wounded peace workers will always destroy attempts to create more equitable systems. We have witnessed that in all 'revolutions' - what is required is a collective 'evolution occurring in a critical mass of people devoted to raising planetary awareness - the role men can play in this work is enormous.
Partners in Peace
To this end I have joined my work efforts with Grace Gawler to provide a balanced male/female leadership training team working to raise consciousness in men and women throughout Australia and around the world.
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