2006 has already proven to be extraordinarily busy for many working in the field of deliberative democracy.  And so the first eBulletin of the year  comes packed with content that captures some of the exciting developments to date.  (A huge thanks to Bob Carlitz of www.Info-Ren.org for helping d-d.net manage the transition to a new email server!).

The eBulletin now has more than 700 subscribers, and so it is becoming an ever-valuable resource for sharing news about developments in participatory and deliberative democracy. If you pass along the emails you receive, we just might be able to top 1,000 readers in 2006.  Please help us meet that goal by sharing the eBulletin with your colleagues in the field.

And thanks always to everyone who contributed to this month's edition of the eBulletin.

Very best regards,

Lars Hasselblad Torres
Editor

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1 | IBM PUBLISHES "MANAGER'S GUIDE TO CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT"
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[from americaspeaks.org] Last month the IBM Center for the Business of Government published a report it commissioned AmericaSpeaks to author that provides an introduction to the field of deliberative democracy and some of the leading practices in face-to-face and online methods.  The report, titled "Public Deliberation: A Manager's Guide to Citizen Engagement," draws on original research and a substantial literature review from many works that have preceded it, including the OECD's seminal, "Citizens As Partners."

The report is available online at:
http://www.businessofgovernment.org/main/publications/grant_reports/details/index.asp?GID=239


2 | CANADIAN POLICY RESEARCH NETWORKS UPDATE
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[From cprn.org] Two recent presentations from CPRN argue the case for developing and strengthening avenues for public involvement in policy development.

"Getting the Public into Public Policy," a presentation to the Canadian School of Public Service, distinguishes citizen engagement from processes like public communication and public consultation. The latter entail one-way, rather than interactive information flows. She reiterates the key arguments for engagement – overcoming the disconnect between citizens and governments, the need for legitimacy and sustainability in public policy and programs, and achieving more effective policies and programs.  Access or download a copy of the presentation here:
http://www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=1398

"Engaging Citizens in Policy," a presentation to the Sustainable Calgary – Municipal Policy Making Workshop sketches a problematic context – growing complexity in governance, declining public trust, urban concentration, social diversity and an ageing society. Such complexity calls for responses that employ citizen engagement as part of their arsenal.   Access or download a copy of the presentation here:
http://www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=1399


3 | CONFERENCE: DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
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[from vermontlaw.edu] The Environment and Public Policy Section (EPP) of the Association for Conflict Resolution  invites proposals for presenters in the 2006 EPP Section Conference. This year the EPP Conference will focus on four major themes, each introduced by a keynote speaker or invited panel of experts. The themes will be developed during concurrent breakout sessions.  EPP seeks proposals from individuals or groups wishing to lead the breakout sessions. 

EPPs primary theme, "Deliberative Democracy: New Directions in Public Policy Dispute Resolution," will focus on potential relationships with professionals doing democracy building of various kinds. Public policy dispute resolution professionals have been in the trenches doing democracy-building work for many years, and there is a great deal of theory and innovative practice related to civic engagement that has remained outside the traditional orbit of dispute resolution. EPP will examine the differences and overlaps between the field of public policy dispute resolution and other fields that seek to address public matters through dialogue. It is expected that proceedings will reveal tremendous opportunities for collaboration with others, thereby expanding the field of public dispute resolution.

For more information and to access or download registration materials, please visit:
www.vermontlaw.edu/elc/index.cfm?doc_id=1199 


4 | CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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[from aasci.org] The 2nd International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology sponsored by the American Academy of Sciences will be held on August 19-22, 2006 in Houston, Texas, USA. The conference will provide a multidisciplinary
platform for environmental scientists, engineers and management professionals to discuss the latest developments in environmental research and applications. Please visit the conference website for more information:
http://www.AASci.org/conference/env/2006/index.html


5 | CIVIC PROJECTS IN NIGERIA PARTNER WITH KETTERING
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African Refugees Foundation (AREF) has signed an affiliate merger agreement with Civic Life International (CLI); a  U.S non-profit organization, as part of a strategy to implement innovative, non-violent, educational and civic engagement programs in Nigeria. The pact was signed February 11, 2006 at a short ceremony at the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, Ohio,USA. The affiliate pact with Civic Life International is part of a strategy to strengthen collaborative programs on Peace mediating and Conflict resolution both in Nigeria and at international levels

Mr.Olujimi Olusola III , AREF  Projects Coordinator who is on an International assignment in deliberative dialogue, signed before Abbie J. Birchfield in Kettering, USA. Mr Olusola reiterated that  the merger would allow for collaborative use of resources in nnovative democracy initiatives, deliberative dialogue, citizens diplomacy, micro projects, peace initiatives, and inclusive participation in public policy issues. 

Both AREF and CLI recently co-organized a deliberative forum in the oil rich and tumultuous Niger Delta region with the support of US based Kettering Foundation/ Centre for Public Policy Education (CPPE) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). 


6 | CDC WRAPS UP UNIQUE DELIBERATIVE CONSULTATION ON PANDEMIC FLU
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[From keystone.org]  In one of the most exemplary recent US government efforts to engage the public around an urgent issue, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) convened a series of public consultations on pandemic flu in the last quarter of 2005.  According to one of the project's sponsors, "To conduct this public consultation, the sponsors engaged stakeholders from various organizations with an interest in pandemic influenza (the National Stakeholder Group), and individual citizens-at-large from the four principal regions of the United States, including Georgia (South), Massachusetts (North East), Nebraska (Midwest), and Oregon (West)."

"The purpose of the Public Engagement Pilot Project on Pandemic Influenza (PEPPPI) was to inform decision-makers about the public's priorities for the use of pandemic influenza vaccine during a period of anticipated shortage.  This information is intended to lead to a sounder, more supportable decision and to demonstrate that citizens can be productively engaged in informing vaccine related policy decisions thereby leading to more public engagement in the future."

According to Patty Dineen of the National Issues Forums Institute, "This is the best public engagement project and report that I have seen.  I really think that what you've done is groundbreaking and should be required reading for all of us who are involved in - or care about—public engagement."

To view a report of the consultation, please visit the Study Circles Resource Center, which carries an excellent article and links:
http://www.studycircles.org/en/Article.393.aspx


7 | CALL FOR PROPOSALS: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
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[From iap2.org] The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is planning for an exciting, innovative, and participatory conference in November 2006.  IAP2 welcomes a variety of approaches to conference sessions, with a particular emphasis on participation. IAP2 conference organizers are looking for conference session proposals that reflect, among other topics:
• A new methodology or technique for attendees to learn or practice?
• A case study or project that brings hands-on experience, including ways to involve marginalized or hard to reach communities, and/or embraces diversity or differences?
• A creative or new experiment – that worked well or maybe not so well?
• The roles and perspectives of practitioners, decision-makers, active citizens, and elected officials?
Please visit www.iap2.org for more information or to complete the submission online.


8 | VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO FEATURES DOCUMENTARY ON TOWN MEETING
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[From vpr.net] More than a century ago, lawmakers designated the first Tuesday in March as a day for a town meeting. However, changing times are threatening the health of this democratic institution. On March 1, 2006, Vermont Public Radio presented an hour-long documentary exploring the tradition of Town Meeting Day, its importance to Vermont life, and the challenges to grassroots democracy during changing times. With stories and comments from voters, moderators, clerks, the governor, the secretary of state, the legislature, and the political scientists, the show also includes ideas that are being put forward to strengthen town meetings in the future.
To listen to the audio documentary, please visit:
www.vpr.net/vt_news/commentaries/town.shtml


9 | CITIZENS HEALTH CARE MEETINGS IN THE US CONTINUE WITH LARGE-SCALE FORUM IN IN LOS ANGELES
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[From citizenshealthcare.org] The Citizens Health Care Working Group, established by the US Congress in 2003, is mandated to create a nationwide public debate about improving the health care system to provide every American with the ability to obtain quality, affordable health care coverage.  Congress is expected to vote on the recommendations that result from the debate.

In service of its mission, the group has lined up a series of small and large-scale public meetings aimed at engaging the American public in establishing the values and priorities that must drive health care reform in 2008 and beyond.  The first large-scale forum, designed and facilitated by AmericaSpeaks, was held March 4 in Los Angeles and engaged more than 500 residents from the across the city.

Between January and May of 2006, more than 30 public have been scheduled across the country.  To learn more about this initiative, please visit the Working Group on the web at:
www.citizenshealthcare.gov


10 | TORINO OLYMPICS YOUTH PEACE MEETING
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[From comune.torino.it] In fulfillment of its role as host of the 2006 Olympics, the Youth Policy and International Cooperation and Peace department of the City of Torino invited young people from around the world to participate in “Young words happening,”  an international peace dialogue in September, 2005.  The program consisted of three days of dialogue around the key issues of access to information, economic development, and cultural integration in the context of the Olympic Truce Torino 2006.

The purpose of the event, which engaged more than 1,000 Italian and foreign youth, was to experiment with dialogue between people of opposing opinions, cultures, and faiths, creating room for listening and reflection to prevail.  During the three-day dialogue, the city of Torino became an "arena of participation” in which plenary assemblies were held using an adaptation of AmericaSpeaks' 21st Century Town Meeting method, an approach to participatory discussion used for the first time in Italy.

For more information about this unique gathering of young people, please visit the "Young Words Happening" site at:
http://www.comune.torino.it/treguaolimpica/youngwords/


11 | "WE MEDIA" CONFERENCE: JOURNALISM AS DIALOGUE
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[From mediacenter.org] Increasingly, media is coming to be understood as engaged in a dialogue with its consumers, who are beginning to contribute as much as they consume.  The days of a passive audience are receding as new social technologies create opportunities for citizens to report about the stories they experience. The We Media Global Forum brings together innovators who are wiring the connected society - the thinkers, innovators, investors, executives and activists who seek to tap the growing connections among people everywhere.

This year's We Media Forum will be conducted at and hosted by The BBC and Reuters in London and will include a series of keynote, general and small group conversations and workgroups, as well as networking receptions and a World Café - a global "town hall" meeting with Web, satellite, television and other avenues of participation from around the world.  Inaugurated in New York in 2005, We Media gathers about 300 international participants: senior executives, decision makers, storytellers, artists, investors and innovators from media, advertising, public relations, marketing, news, entertainment, finance, telecommunications, technology, philanthropy, government, NGOs, social activism and academia.

They come together to learn from each other and to think about, explore, be inspired by and build upon the shared knowledge and the collective intelligence of the connected society. Their collective efforts spawn new ideas, information, services and businesses.  This will be an exciting gathering and there will be much for deliberative democrats to learn and to share.

For more information, please visit the We Media website:
http://www.mediacenter.org/pages/mcevents/06/london/home/


12 | US NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ISSUES CONSULTATION RFA
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[From nih.gov] The National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health has just issued a Request for Applications (RFA), "Public Consultation to Inform the Design of Possible Large Scale Studies of Genes and Environment in Common Disease." (See http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HG-06-008.html).  The purpose of this RFA is to provide support for a specialized center to conduct a pilot public consultation study to obtain wide societal input to inform the design of a possible large U.S.-based longitudinal cohort study of the role of genes and environment in health and disease.  Letters of intent for the RFA are due April 10, 2006.  The application receipt deadline is May 10, 2006.
 
If you are interested in applying or would like more information, please contact Dr. Jean McEwen at jean.mcewen@nih.hhs.gov or (301) 402-4997.


13 | CREATING THE "VISUAL VOICE" OF YOUNG PEOPLE ON WORLD AIDS DAY
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On World AIDS Day (December 1st) 2005, the "visual voice" of more than 1,200 young people affected by, living with or concerned about HIV/AIDS in over a dozen countries was exhibited at sites around the world.  Part of the first International Peace Tiles Project World AIDS Day initiative, young people who participated in arts and discussion workshops in advance of World AIDS Day contributed more than 100 wood "tiles" on which they had created intimate collages.  These personal works of narrative art, when combined with others from around the world, created powerful messages of hope, prevention, and advocacy.  Murals were installed in South Africa, India, and at the Global Fund in Geneva and exhibited on World AIDS Day.

For more information about this unique visual dialogue, please visit:
http://www.telecommunity.us/peacetiles/wad