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Practising community and dialogical communities of practice for ecological justice and loving relationships
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Practising community and dialogical communities of practice for ecological justice and loving relationships

Dyann Ross
Australian Journal of Community Work, Vol.19/20, 1, pp.44-61
2019
url
https://www.acwa.org.au/ajcw/View
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Abstract

Social Work ecological justice love nonviolence study circles communities of practice dialogical communities of practice
The relationship focused and person-centred approach to community work practice is extended by suggesting an ecological ethical sensibility. This re-orientation recognises animals, eco-systems and planet Earth as beings of equal intrinsic worth and in equal relationship with people. The idea of ecological justice and the closely related principles of love and nonviolence are described and provide the basis for practising community with people, animals and the environment as an inter-connected and dynamic whole. This brings forth the relevance of community work in situations of ecological conflict where there is a need to engage with and influence the large power differentials between communities, governments and industry. The small group strategies of study circles and communities of practice can enable the practising of community in workplaces as well as in communities. In turn, when linked with the strategy of dialogical communities of practice, the strategies can build capacity to undertake justice work between low power and high power groups in situations of ecological conflict. Several examples are presented which demonstrate how linking study circles and communities of practice to build community capacity and improve worker's effectiveness with dialogical communities of practice may contribute not only to social justice but environmental sustainability and more considered care of all species.

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