Moira Deslandes, 51, Australia
Why this question is important to Moira:
People have hearts, heads and hands – and together they all are needed to make better decisions. It is important that all the voices can be heard, not just the noisy ones, and when more people are involved in deliberative processes I have confidence that better decisions can be made.
I have been involved in many collective and community based reflections and decisions and know from my experiences in the peace, justice, community development, and public participation fields that quality decisions are outcomes of diversity of thought and experience, and imagination and creativity comes when people can spark off of one another. I am currently the Executive Director of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) www.iap2.org and so there is alignment between my personal and professional experience
I would like the spirit of deep listening that leads to good decisions for all species and our planet to be fostered in the international event of the Parliament of World Religions and I encourage everyone to explore how they can involve more people in making decisions that affect our planet through all forms of community engagement and public participation that is not limited to a vote but instead reaches deeper into the spirit and vision of a future that is nonviolent and sustainable for life on earth and the earth itself.
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Moira’s question is one of thousands of questions gathered during a dropping knowledge question campaign. The power of these questions is evident. These questions demonstrate just how thoughtful the public can be if asked to name what it believes is important.
