Pyramid 2012 An Introduction “Pyramid 2012” is a global workshop event scheduled to happen on (and around) February 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 process Used 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, 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

How to plan for your Pyramid! Sign up at pyramid2012.net Download and read the manual Tell People about it and invite them to participate Select an issue to explore Prepare the materials you want to use DO YOUR PYRAMID! Document what you do with pics, video, text Post your results on the website Tell everyone about your Pyramid! FEB-MAR 2012

Basic Workshop Slides Use 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 change Nature conservation Population, wealth and poverty Human 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 causes 3. 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!

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 Challenge 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 Cause Cause … 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 your final conclusions …

CELEBRATE [Picture time!]

Follow Up Stay in contact with the coordinators of Pyramid 2012: ◦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]