This week I have initiated something close to the pulse of why I still live in Ireland. I believe in good democratic processes. Being able to use my public voice, being able to stand up for human rights, march and demonstrate, vote, write letters to political representatives without repercussion, write submissions at national and local level on policy. Have an informed approach about Ireland, policy, Wexford county and local policy, etc. what did I miss?
I’ve launched an initiative to strengthen our public discourse, create a pathway for better policies, actively practice democracy and find cohesion. More on that in a minute.
Hi, welcome back or welcome here if you are new. These are my weekly notes that I write without the use of AI as I value the process of writing, thinking, connecting and sharing some thoughts.
I can see where the weekly practice of writing is producing benefit. I am mostly enjoying the process.
The studio notes are organised into reflection, insights, a question for you, resources and a view to the week ahead.
Reflection
I’m trying so hard not to moan about procurement, tenders and scraps of work.
Business is quiet. I have small bits of work in my diary for July and September. I’ve a lot of capacity that I look forward to finding some juicy client work to add value to.
I am loving the co-design project I am working on with Smart Dublin, let’s have more of that.
You can find out more about the services our business offers on this newly minted page:
At the beginning of the week I was responding to requests for quotes and reviewing potential tenders to go after.
On Tuesday RTE highlighted a significant biodiversity loss and another water body declared dead due to land run off of pollutants from farming. Our Lady’s Island, a local Wexford lagoon in crisis.
There can be a lot of wasted work with tenders and RFQs. Sometimes I wonder about how much time is lost filling out tender documents or polishing client enquiries for work that in reality are just tyre kicking.
As mentioned at the top of the post I’ve brought together several things I’ve been thinking about into to a new initiative; living and practicing democracy, public discourse, controversial infrastructure – data centres, coherence and better policy making.
Shared Ground, a public engagement initiative to pilot deliberative technology to find shared understanding and coherence in Ireland. If you have any questions about it ask, Please share it with your network and those you think would be able to support it or find it meaningful. It has its own dedicated page on the website and I have an introductory pdf and email if you’d like me to email it to you, please use the contact form on the Shared Ground page.
I was saddened to hear of the death of Sebastiao Salgado, the great photographer and in his later years a rewilder. I wrote about his work in my thesis, he was the contemporary example I used when talking about photography as a social justice tool, first used by Lewis Hine. Hine influenced a generation of photographers like Dorothea Lange. All three photographers have iconic work documenting social justice issues, what I might now refer to as the inside of the doughnut. I was glad to see his work in Cork 2023, it still carried a lot of impact.
Go raibh maith agat as an saol a chaith tú linn.
All three photographers continue to influence my work. I mention Dorothea in A love Letter to bejewelled Cobwebs, 2023.
Insight
We decided that it was no good asking what is the meaning of life, because life isn’t an answer, life is the question, and you, yourself, are the answer
Ursula K. Le Guin
Joy of the work makes it so much easier.
A question for you
What’s bringing you joy in your life at the moment?
Resources
- Before the Damage is Done Campaign from The Irish Health Foundation
- How lichens transform stone, a fascinating read
- Public libraries role in the circular economy http://www.makeathek.eu/ hope this initiative comes local.
A view to the week ahead
I’m in Dublin all week on the co-design project and then off to the UK to train with Rob Hopkins.
No I am not at the Mary Robinson Conference despite what is published on the website.
Thanks for being here, have a great week.!
Roisin Markham 
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