February
2nd Recap: Alternative to Plastic Bags
Day Of Action #1
Stay Tuned For Details Going Forward!!!
Our first daylong retreat on February
2nd was a huge success! We mostly explored Phase 1: Education,
Research, and Connections, from our community organizing model.
About 45 of us participated.
We were
joined by Senator Eric Schneiderman, Working Families Party Deputy
Director Bill Lipton, and our surprise guest was State Assemblyman
Brian Kavanagh.
Following
a morning meditation session, we were encouraged to bridge our
contemplative practice and our social action for the day by using
the instructions: bring awareness to the mind wandering from our
tasks, and return back to the breath and present moment. This
would serve as a reminder to treat the days’ events as part
of our practice.
We then
split up into 4 Teams:
Team 1 canvassed stores in
the neighborhood and...
...interviewed consumers in
the neighborhood. We researched opinions and trends about plastic
bag use, and introducing the IDP to our neighbors.
Meanwhile Team 2...
...researched legislative structures,
representatives, and plastic bag laws.
Nearby, Team 3...
...researched organizations,
community groups and projects that could be allied with or are
currently dealing with the plastic bag issue.
And Finally, Team 4...
...compiled publicity lists,
green arts organizations and their projects, and documented the
day.
With Teams 2,3, and 4 taking
over a large corner in the Whole Foods, there was a palpable energy
created through our focus and work together. That energy reached
out deeply into the East Village and Bowery community through
Team 1’s interactions with our neighbors.
At lunch, all teams experienced
each other in action as some interviews were conducted in the
“IDP corner” of Whole Foods, and some people changed
teams for the afternoon. Assemblyman Kavanagh was invited to the
day by Senator Schneiderman- he thought he could make it for a
few hours, instead he ended up working with Team 2 the entire
afternoon! It was challenging at times to bring the focus back
to our tasks, but by the final meditation session we were tired
in the best of ways.
When we regathered at Lila,
we sat in meditation and then every person shared an experience
from their day’s practice. It was deeply moving to listen
to the experiences of bridging social action with a spiritual/contemplative
practice. Then we began to compile and discuss our days’
experiences, challenges, and findings, setting up a great springboard
into the future of this project.
(Photos by Jeremy
Merriam and Rafi Santo)
Click
Here to Download a great article (pdf) that outlines
the problem posed by plastic bags.
Visit our Discussion
Board for much more about the development of our
activism and community service work.
If you would like to get involved
, contact: cassiemey@theidproject.com
Stay Tuned for Much More Info
Coming Soon
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