Theme: Meet me there

TEDxPrinceAlbert is concerned with investigating, exploring, identifying and sharing ideas that enable us to effectively resolve complex and deep-seated conflicts. The speakers and participants will have an opportunity to discuss how to creatively address the conflicts that occur in and amongst the multiple relationships we have with ourselves, with others and with the environment, so that we ensure a thriving planet.

We know that human existence on the planet is in a critical phase. Human activity on the planet is clearly negatively affecting the essential life sustaining natural systems which surround us. In order to survive and thrive, we need to co-operate in co-ordinated action in order to stop, reverse and /or cope with our negative impact on our environment.

However, so much of human activity is marred by intractable conflict. In the context of multiplying and intensifying environmental crises, it seems necessary now, more than ever, to find creative solutions to difficult conflicts. From the perspective of Depth Psychology, it is clear that unless we deal with our own inner (and possibly unconscious) conflicts, we are unlikely to resolve conflict in our relationships with ourselves and our environment. For us to address large and small scale environmental challenges, we first need to find innovative ways to resolve deep seated conflicts within ourselves, and between ourselves as communities.

Theme of TEDxPrinceAlbert
1 September 2012

“Meet me there: Working Beneath, Between and Beyond towards a thriving planet.”

To this end, interested people are invited to participate in a weekend process in order to generate, share and implement such ideas. At our TEDxPrinceAlbert event, TED TALKS, video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection.

The event will be combined with other processes which would serve to deepen the engagement further. These include a facilitated large group conversation in which ideas can be explored and a “social dreaming” process which allows the wisdom of the unconscious to be included in our discussions. This means that the weekend will consist of a series of conversations at many levels – formal and informal – and using a range of ways of conversing. These will include several plenary sessions in which everyone comes together. The outcomes of the weekend will be filmed and distributed through the TEDx format in order to further share the ideas.

The church hall
Prince Albert, Western Cape, 6930
South Africa