Danny Attfield Reflects on SA AoC in 2014

Agents of Change helped me rediscover what I realize is a very deep respect for nature.  It helped me express my feelings about the environment and my anger and sadness about what people have done to the Earth.

Agents of Change itself allows discussion about the environment without making anyone feel guilty or telling people  "It is your fault that there is global warming because you don't recycle!" It also taught me about the environment and how everyone is connected.

It gave me a space to feel very peaceful and write poems or meditate even when I was feeling upset or anxious.

I think that Agents of Change has helped me to become a more calm person and worry a bit less about everything in general.  It is nice to think of solutions instead of just stating that there are problems or scaring everyone into not leaving their taps to drip because it would basically lead to the collapse of society.

Agents of Change has helped me believe that I can actually help, even if my contribution is small.  Ripples always start out small.  Thank you Agents of Change.

SA AoC Science Center Cape Town 7 January 2015

I had a surreal experience during the holidays while I was standing in the Supermarket.  I'd always thought it was full of food, but when I looked around me, I saw manufactured products that are harmful to health, plastic bottles of water or sugared and coloured drink, and stuff that people don't need.  I thought about the plastic in the sea, and all of the bags that harm wildlife.  It had always been a problem I saw as existing "out there", something that people were doing, but not me.  But I began to realize the amount of rubbish that leaves my house every week, taken and disposed of somewhere I can't see.  I saw how unnecessary so much of what I buy without thinking actually is.  I'm going to change that.  Even just cooking your own food, washing a spoon or drinking water from the tap can reduce the amount of throw away plastic.  By making these little changes, I can make a contribution.  (no name).

We live in a plastic world
Where we drive toy cars
And eat cardboard food

We live in a plastic world
Where we scoop the oceans
And burn the trees

We live in a plastic world
Where we weave plastic lies
With our sewing lips

But our world isn't only plastic
We can make it stone and wood again
We can turn the grey to green

We must stop making our world plastic
Otherwise we too become plastic
A little more everyday
(Danny)

Listening to the different thoughts today, from the children feeling joy and wonder at the outside world, to adult (and teen) sadness at all of the plastic in the oceans and in landfills, I realized how much I love our process, because it gives space to everyone, and acknowledges all feelings and perspectives.

Just before New Year, I realized how reluctant I was to get involved in a conversation about equal rights and equal voices, because some of the people started telling somebody else what to think.  I was worried that if I got involved or tried to share, it could make things worse, and the conversation could become hurtful (this happened before).  At that time, I realized how much I love this work, and how much space there is to share and explore when there is empathy and respect.  It really is a relief to work in this way.  We need all different perspectives and many voices to add to our conversations.  (Nicci).

Nicci Attfield Reflects on 2014 and AoC , 20 December 2014

I've been working with James on Agents of Change in South Africa, and he's been guiding and helping (mentoring our work) over here.  About a week ago, I was doing some reflection on AoC and activism, and what I have learned from social sculpture.  The work with Agents of Change has had massive impacts for me, and these have happened in a very positive way.

 I feel very inspired by social sculpture, because it's different to other forms of activism, and it has helped me a lot.  I'd learned a lot about social injustice and privilege, but I've realized how talk of inclusion or multi-culturalism sometimes relates to capitalism and the capitalist system. I started to feel uncertain about  this concept a year a go, but I wasn't sure how to explain this fully.  I know know that it focuses on how to include people within a system which (our AoC discussions believe) are not helpful to people or to the world.

Without being able to untangle the need for a deeper respect for humanity and the environment from capitalism, the system perpetuates itself.  And it restricts the ability of people to respond in creative ways, because it imposes the belief that Western logic, prestige and status are the values to fight for.  Through Agents of Change (which interconnects with my growing interest and questioning around indigenous spirituality and traditional healers), I've learned that there are many ways of being within the world, and so many ways of sharing.

 Agents of Change has been incredible because it has created a platform without hierarchy. All people are valued as a part of our process, and everybody is considered to have the ability to share.  AoC acknowledges systemic and environmental  injustice, but puts the voices of the participants into the centre on an entirely equal footing.  It introduces a sense of community where different people with different perspectives can speak and share.  And the other participants (including me) get to see how there are different ways of being within the world without anybody being seen as right/wrong/more or less powerful.

I've been very interested in traditional healing as a way of re-connecting with body and spirit, and a means of seeing the world of animals, earth, body and air combined with community and prayer (the sweat lodge introduces all of these things), and I enjoyed the way that healers bring a sense of possibility and a focus on 'now' combined with a sense of community.  But as James and I have recently been sharing, this happens with Agents of Change too.  There is a beautiful awareness that reality is in transition, as a part of a process, and that by using imagination, we can shift and create new contributions to the world.

It's refreshing to be a part of a system which  as acknowledges the need for transformation and then gives equal space for freedom and choice of how to work towards a better future.

AoC SA Science Center 17 December 2014

Today, we had two groups:  the teens who wanted to come along, and then the Science Centre kids who took part.  I ran two groups.  Rita was questioning the fears that come up when you realize that you want to change your life, because there is no going back.  Rita wants to bring changes and she met with some resistance, and she was upset by it.  She ended up feeling anxious.  I know this anxiety (and the resolution happened for me at Moulie Point while I watched the waves), and so I thought it was important to facilitate and share it so that she could find resolution.  The group ended up showing each other support and offering to be there for one another in times of doubt, which was lovely.  I think the AoC group means a lot to the teens.

Everybody who supports me is a blessing and those who don't want to support me make me want to show them that they are wrong because I can do it, I am greater than I look.  I know I have great things ahead of me.  Negativity is something I want to get out of my way (Rita).

Drawing inspires me.  Follow your heart and you will succeed.  Never listen to what people say about you.  (Jemima).

I am very grateful to have the support that I do in my life.  When I feel supported it makes a big difference to the situation I am facing.  I can automatically cope better.  I know that no matter how things turn out I will have friends and family who care about me.  When I think of support I think of rope.  Rope holds things up and keeps things strong.  My friends and family are my rope (Danny).

I feel anger and despair at the lack of value for life.  I want to share beauty.  I realize that art is my voice, and that is alright.  (no name).

Sharing anxiety today reminded me of how I started to feel anxious because I saw the world differently and my beliefs started to change.  I knew I had to find space for them, and now something new is coming to life.  Anxiety is a part of change, I think, and support means such a lot when you share and connect with people who think like you.  Creativity is so inspiring and it helps you move beyond anxiety.  But anxiety is a part of our process, and the way that we can help and support each other means a lot.  It is a very valuable part of the process (Nicci).

And the kids....I ask the kids what they value about being outside.  These are their reflections:

I love flowers.  Flowers are my best.  (Carla)

I think flowers are really beautiful because they really brighten the world.  Flowers are really, really beautiful!  (Tarquin)

I like soccer because when I am on the pitch, I am at home.  I love the king protea but I couldn't find it today (Daiyaan)

Keeping what you love close to you is so important.  Photos of family, children, life.  But we keep money close to us, and I have seen something new today (parent).

I like to be outside because there is more air.  I like flowers.  I like to play soccer.  I like games.  I like my friend Carla.  (Shayan).

Thank you for this work and images- Nicci, Danny, Jemima, Carla, Rita, Tarquin, Daiyaan, Shayan  and thank you to the Science Center in Cape Town for having AoC. 

AoC SA Science Center Cape Town 12 November 2014

Dandelion is my favorite flower.  I feel very happy about it. It smells good.  It keeps away the mosquitoes and the flies (Edwin).

I like to play outside.  I like the flowers that grow.  And I like to sit under the tree, where it is shady.  It is very nice in the shade. I can throw down blankets and sleep under the shady trees.  I love nature and plants.  I also love to read and to play netball.  At my house I play with a skipping rope.  I feel very happy, and good when people listen to me.  I like flowers very much.  My flower's name is Iris and she is pretty.  When it rains, she opens up. I want to look after flowers when I grow up.  Some flowers don't smell good but there is a reason for this.  The reason is that they keep mosquitoes away.  My flower's colours are white, brown, purple and yellow.  The bees drink the nectar of the flowers.  The bees make sweet honey. (Denishe).

I feel very happy when people listen to me.  If people don't listen to me, then I won't listen back.  I like Dandelion flowers.  They are very nice flowers.  I want to look after flowers.  They give people and animals food.  We care nicely for our flowers.  The bees come to drink nectar from them.  (Tamzin)

I like to play outside, that is very fun for me.  Outside, I can also play in the sand.  I also like to play rugby.  I liked to look at the flowers.  (Winston).

I don't really like to be outside.  I can get burned by the sun.  I like to play soccer, that is my favourite sport.  I like to listen. It sounds like someone tells me stories.  I liked having a dandelion in my hand.  The stem is nice and I liked it.  I like flowers(Riana).

I like art, and when I am at home I like to draw.  I like it when people listen to me and my friends.  Today, I found a very, very beautiful flower.  I like the colours which are white, purple, yellow, green and brown.  It is a beautiful Iris flower. (Micaundre).

I like Dandelion flowers.  They are very beautiful to me.  I want to look after them, because they are beautiful.  My grandpa is a botanist.  We have a flower garden at home.  We look at it, and every two days, we give it water.  Bees sit on the flowers.  Flowers are very special and beautiful.  Just as special as I am.  (Nazley).

I don't like to be outside because it is very dangerous. I feel very happy.  I like Dandelions, and I like flowers very much (Riedwhaan).

I like outside very much, because I can play with my friends. I like nature and flowers.  I also like to sit under the trees and read my book.  I also like to play outside with my skipping rope.  I enjoy being outside and playing outside.  I love the blue sea.  I also like reading very much.  It helps me to communicate with my school work.  When I have finished my schoolwork, I read.  My flower's name is Iris.  Its colours are white, purple and yellow, and hte stem is green.  I have flowers in my garden and every day I give them water.  Some flowers give us honey (Anthea)

I like being outside because I need to get the fresh air. I like to watch the children play, and to pick flowers. I like to play with my friend.  It felt calm to listen and respect him, and it is very fun to listen to each other.  I have a flower named Pentas.  I love the flower because it is beautiful and colourful.  It's colour is pink (Milla).

Thank you Nicci Attfield for facilitating this beautiful process today and to everyone for these lovely images.

SA AoC at the Science Center in Cape Town 5 November 2014

Do I like nature?  Yes I do because it is beautiful and graceful.  I hate it when people destroys places we like.  It is unfair what they do because animals is living out there.  I love playing with animals because they are almost like human beings.  Today I thought that all the things I looked at are as special as I am. (Zoey)

I like the world outside.  I like blue sea.  I like the flowers and all the things because it is nice to me and fun.  I also like the nice blue mountains with the sea around it.  It looks nice to me.  I also like the cars.  It is a lot of fun to me.  And I also like cooking and baking because it is fun also.  It is special because it is nice.  I also like me because I'm special.

When I look at the flowers, I think the flowers is also special like you.  How bright that color is.  You are also bright and special like that flowers. (Chrisandra).

I like to be outside because it describes South Africa, the green describes the green world.  Outside is beautiful and colorful so I like it outside.  I like watching movies also because they are exciting.  I like movies because sometimes they make you understand how difficult life is.

Outside, I first saw the tree and I thought they are also helpful to the world and many people don't see it that way.  The trees give us shadow and shadow is very important for the people and the animals (Anita).

I like to be outside because it is nice and we can play because all the children want to play outside and my friends play sometimes in the gardens.  My best game is soccer.  I like it because all the boys play soccer.  Today, I love that tree because it is nice for me and other children.  The children can sit under the tree. (Alexis)

I like to play outside because its the land and our yard is green.  And I like to play at the park, because there is fun.  If it's spring then I like to play outside because in spring the flowers are beautiful.  And I like to play sports like netball, soccer, tennis.  I like to cook food.  Cook is very important to me because one day I want to be a chef.  I like the sand because it is soft and clean.  And I like myself because I am respectful and nice to people (Chantel).

 Today was a lovely experience for me too.  I think the children felt valued when they listened to each other and shared, because they speak about being special quite a lot.  I also think some connected to the outside that way too.  They were very sensual and interactive with the outside spaces, and the Science Centre is quite lovely for that. (Nicci)

http://nicciattfield.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/you-are-also-bright-and-special-like-that/

SA AoC Film 2014

Agents of Change in South Africa.
A film by Danny Attfield