About the Principles

Partners In Empowerment (PIE or 1PIE when united) is a principle-based self-governance framework facilitated by Empowerment WORKS.

The below Sustainability Principles were sourced from 200 visionary leaders in six sector focussed think-tanks at THE GLOBAL SUMMIT™ first biennial in San Francisco November, 2008, ‘laying the foundation’, which was convened to gather stakeholder input into a new operating system for the 21st century and beyond.

The below principles were developed by participants from and for the following self-selected 1PIE sectors: 

© Empowerment WORKS, all rights reserved. Interpreted and expanded by Stephan McGuire.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES

  • Environmental accountability at all levels: Responsibility for the deterioration of the natural environment requires the allocation of environmental costs to the economic activities that caused said deterioration.  (SB)
  • Aligned with Nature – Natural systems – Models/Economies, biomimicry & permaculture models: Knowing ourselves to be part of the whole, we free ourselves from the delusion of separateness, and thus are able to work with Life for the benefit of the whole.  (SB)
  • Ownership at the C-Level: Beyond functional and technical know-how, to own at C-level is to demonstrate emotional intelligence as evidenced by business expertise, leadership ability and team-building skills.  (SB)
  • Comprehensive transparency & accountability:  Understanding responsibility means evolving past inquiry toward the bottom line of answerability.  (SB)
  • Cradle to cradle design & principles: Viewing materials as nutrients, biomimetic / regenerative architecture is a superior methodology.  (SB)
  • Rooted in abundance models/theory: In a benevolent Universe – we correct attitude and alignment to acquire material and spiritual wealth – regardless of economic or social “realities” previously conscribed.  (SB)

RESPONSIBLE MEDIA GROUPS

  • Accountability: When we each see ourselves as personally responsible – benefits come to all.  (RM)
  • Multiple cross cultural perspectives: In inter-cultural situations, understanding the influences on other’s thoughts and decisions in their specific context is key to creating a framework that can help one begin to appreciate other points of view – and in turn – expand our own.  (RM)
  • Environmental education solutions based: Because results we get in life are a function of what we have learned and the actions we take – we evolve to solve – even through the biggest challenges before us.  (RM)
  • Uplifting intention from beginning to end When intention is clear, the mechanism will appear to support it, and yet it’s not how you start, its how you finish!  (RM)
  • Walk the talk – sustainable production and responsible reporting ~ “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi  (SE) (RM)

ARTISTS IN ACTION

  • Education service in communities – Co-create inspirationBy doing our best to prepare ourselves for tomorrow – today we do what is possible.  Tomorrow, if we enter the state of flow, we do the impossible!  (AIA) 
  • Gather support and resources – Create communities ~ By encouraging and maintaining a whole range – from designed intentions to tangible technologies – we build and sustain positive relationships strong enough to face even our most enormous obstacles.    (AIA)
  • Roles & responsibilities Positions and capacities are a gift and the day we cease pushing-blame onto others is the day our life shifts toward an ultimate favourable-positive.  (AIA)
  • Assist with progress ~ All advancement requires the active support of willful minds. (AIA)
  • Sustainable pop culture ~ Use visual and performing arts for positive global impact. (AIA)

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS

  • Is it culturally/locally appropriate? – Is it asked for? ~ Situated approaches to development requires the incorporation of local autonomy, territory, identity and community’s vision of the future to increase potential of empowerment as well as raise the quality of life for everyone.  (SE)
  • Meaningful work: we are here to be part of something larger ~ When we feel in control of our own choices, are able to master new skills to improve.  By connecting effort with reward – and if our work is something we love – we can give clarity, drive, and happiness to all aspects of our life.  (SE)
  • Embrace mistakes ~ Always take chances and make mistakes because we grow when we fail.  How else can pain nourish courage enough to create a hero?  (SE)
  • Full community collaboration ~ Early dialogue, resource mapping, & goal setting.  (SE)
  • Personal sustainability first ~ We make the best contributions to others with coming from a place of health, wellbeing and self-love.  (SE)
  • Responsible to the next 7 generations ~ The 12th Century’s “Great Law of Peace of the Iroquois Confederacy” beckons as we ask ourselves: “What kind of impact am I making on the earth and am I in balance with the world around me?”.  (SE)

 

COLLABORATING NON-PROFITS

  • Trusting synergy ~ Be confident in your intuition and then interact and cooperate from that space.  (CNP)
  • Use interactive media – Digital narrative, visible – Vivid positive feedback loops ~  Embrace audiences by bringing them with you on your amazing techno-Universal journey and then inquire, investigate, analyse and compare with other’s unique Universal journeys!  (CNP)
  • Change fundraising context – NPO to “Social Investment” ~  Ethical investing considers not only financial return but especially social good.   (CNP)
  • Open source learning content ~  Allowing students to independently master the power and scope of the Internet is to create learning experiences that produce highly interactive possible-futures for everyone.   (CNP)
  • Cross-sector collaboration – From abundance – Local asset based ~ Living in a world of   unlimited wealth and opportunity by together focusing on how communities can thrive – so we shall!   (CNP)

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

  • Relevance to your own life:  Without fearing change and by confidently working with others, we do our best to keep finding reasons to live, while we continually assess the impact we make in the world.  (EI)
  • Social/environmental liberation & future studies ~ With substantial economic and environmental exploitation rising unabated globally, we seek to grasp new strategies that might give positive futures to oppressed communities and collapsing ecosystems. (EI)
  • Think like an ecosystem:  “Let me see…What does nature do here?”   (EI)
  • Emotional learning ~ When one recognizes one’s own emotions – and those of others – one can then discriminate between different feelings, and in turn, use that emotional information to guide future thinking and behaviour. (EI)
  • Exploration/inquiry ~ An inquiring mind is a vibrant mind and a vibrant mind is a satisfied mind.  Put a bunch of those kinds of minds together – and now that’s a party!   😀  (EI)
© Empowerment WORKS, all rights reserved. Interpreted and expanded by Stephan McGuire.