Your task
You need to define a plan of action to solve a challenge on your world. Use your creative thinking skills to come up with solutions. Consider what you know about your own world and other worlds. Explore where your defined ways of working will be an asset and where they might be a liability.
Draw up your plan on a flip chart ready to share with the Conference Delegates when they return.
The challenge: The flood decision
Heavy rainfall has begun, and the water level around part of your world is rising. You have enough time to protect one area properly, but not enough time to protect every area at once.
Two groups of citizens disagree:
- One group wants immediate action to protect the busiest central area.
- Another group wants protection to focus first on the smaller outer community, where the people have fewer resources and fewer places to go.
Your task leaders need to decide where to act first.
Consider:
- How will you make decisions quickly without abandoning your democratic values?
- Whose voices must be heard before the decision is made?
- How will you prevent one persuasive group from controlling the outcome?
- What practical care will you offer to those who are not protected first?
- Which world or worlds would you approach, and why?
- What could they offer that strengthens your response?
- How will you ensure the partnership supports your democracy rather than allowing another world to make the decision for you?
What has happened before
In the past, your world has tried to solve problems by listening carefully, discussing options and ensuring that people understand what is happening.
This reflects your caring nature, but it has sometimes created difficulties:
- Decisions have taken too long.
- Confident or persuasive voices have influenced others too easily.
- People have agreed publicly without fully understanding the consequences.
- The democratic system has been challenged when groups felt their needs were not represented.
- An elected group of task leaders.
- Strong listening, mediation and communication skills.
- A culture of finding options and solutions that support people.
- People willing to care for, shelter and support those affected.
- Water-management knowledge, including canals, barriers and routes.
