Peoples' Assembly:

Democracy and Care:

What does it mean to care for the well-being of other members of our community in the face of the infectious nature of Covid? What does it mean to care for the broader ecosphere upon which we depend and are a part? What does it mean to take care of the fragile ‘thing’ we call democracy...?

To care requires that first that we are prepared to pay attention beyond our own self-interest, without at the same time disregarding it. Then, if we accept that meaning is created within in a web of relationships (rather than in our heads), we recognise that the move toward actions founded in the idea of genuine care is something we can only do together.

Democracy does (in fact) promise the possibility of creating
meaning together, in relationship, and connected to the world that we
all share. If we can bring some vitality and integrity back to the idea of democracy, then we can face reality with a new set of understandings and actions.

This Peoples’ Assembly is an opportunity to claim back the possibilities of democracy by rediscovering how to do it – to listen to others, to respond (rather than react) and to do so in a human space unmediated by the algorithms and distractions of social media. The outcome of this assembly – what we decide together – will be sent to local councils and members of government for them to take notice of.

In addition, the fact that a body of people are prepared to do this will signal that we are no longer leaving the responsibilities of providing a caring democracy only to our representatives.

This event is taking place in some awareness of the particular context that WA has in the face of the current Covid situation.

• We encourage you to bring a mask, and there will be some available as well.
  
• Social distancing requirements will be easily met within this venue given the prospective numbers we have set for attendance.
  
• Hand sanitiser will be also be available.
  

Please be respectful of other peoples needs and perspectives around Covid while sharing this afternoon together.

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Preamble:

The problems we now face together are not aligned within some hierarchy, they are all connected. Agreeing with this statement is to accept the ‘wicked’, complex nature of our reality. This also implies that we create meaning together, thought a constantly shifting and interdependent web of relationships. While such a perspective is a useful step forward, away from a retreat into reduction and oversimplification, it still begs the question, ‘But then what?’ If we take a moment to explore some common ground existing between the contexts of Covid, the Climate Emergency, and the workings of Western liberal democracies, there are perhaps clues…

Here in WA, currently, the experience of Covid occurs at some level of remove as we witness the varying levels of chaos and hurt it is causing in Australia as well as globally. Nevertheless, it has brought a little closer to home the fragility of the system(s) in which we live and upon which we depend for our wellbeing. We can notice the effects even though they are not ‘in our face’. This sense of being distant from the effects is part of the common ground. Often the signal that something is wrong is only small, something we tend to feel rather than being able to directly name or point at in the here and now.

The climate emergency demonstrates how we are capable of ignoring a gathering storm of small signals. Unseasonal weather events, record temperatures in the Arctic, this ridiculous ‘winter’ in Perth – something that does not feel quite right to us… If we choose to pay attention, we know something is wrong at a fundamental, systemic level. Even though the hard data of science (generated through different forms of enquiry and abstraction than the subjective) tells us that the global ecosphere is moving towards disaster, it is still possible to hear arguments against what we now know. The fear of ‘real’ drives us back into the arms and illusions of the status quo.

Democracy is a system of government which is supposed to deliver equal voice to all. To provide safety from harm(s) as well the opportunity to live a meaningful life. This clearly is not what is happening – democratic forms of government currently limp along largely at the service of ‘the economy’. That particular tail wags the dog, and many peoples’ lives and needs go unnoticed and unattended. If we are fortunate enough not to experience the failings of democracy close to home, then we can be encouraged to disregard that feeling that something ‘is not quite right’ – and we can watch what is happening elsewhere as if it were a only a dream, or a piece of infotainment. However, we should not allow our fear of other threatened forms of government - tyranny, totalitarianism, or the free fall of some dystopian chaos – to keep us delegating our responsibility to look after our own democracy that is failing.

Nyungar forms of governance hold that we, humans living in this place, are cast in the role of carers of everything. What does it mean to care for the well-being of other members of our community in the face of the infectious nature of Covid? What does it mean to care for the broader ecosphere upon which we depend and are a part? What does it mean to take care of the fragile ‘thing’ we call democracy?
    To care requires that first that we are prepared to pay attention beyond our own self-interest, without at the same time disregarding it. Then, if we accept that meaning is created within in a web of relationships (rather than in our heads), we recognise that the move toward actions founded in the idea of genuine care is something we can only do together.

If we can bring some vitality and integrity back to the idea of democracy, then we can face reality with a new set of understandings and actions. Democracy does (in fact) promise the possibility of creating meaning together, in relationship, and connected to the world that we all share. This Peoples’ Assembly is an opportunity to claim back the possibilities of democracy by rediscovering how to do it – to listen to others, to respond (rather than react) and to do so in a human space unmediated by the algorithms and distractions of social media. If we want to care for our world and each other then we are going to have to take care of our democracy.

Extinction Rebellion has used Peoples’ Assemblies as a part of the way it wants to bring true democracy to its own processes, also as a means to empower those who take part in them, and … to lead towards its 3rd demand – A Citizen’s Assembly that is created and valued by government and which guides government in creating and enacting policies in response to the reality of the climate catastrophe which we are living into.