Rather than sticking with the conventional 'three-legged-stool' framework of sustainability, Moksham has always highlighted the importance of culture, worldview, values and spirituality as a critical fourth dimension of sustainability.
The 4 Dimensional Whole Systems Design Framework to create an Eco Model. Change in worldviews and culture change go hand in hand. They are the drivers of behaviour change. The why affects the how and what we design. As our worldview changes, so do our intentions and our real and perceived needs. A holistic, participatory and ecologically informed living systems view of life explores the why of sustainability and regeneration providing a basis for reframing humanity's guiding story from one of separation to one of interbeing. Such a perspective allows us to synergistically integrate the social, economic and ecological aspects of the transition ahead.
During the social dimension participants explore how to create a shared vision for collective projects and improve their communications skills. Inclusive decision making, creative conflict resolution or mediation, and effective work in social networks form part of this dimension, just as much as constructive ways to celebrate diversity and work creatively with differences in perspective and worldview. Participants learn to reframe biocultural diversity as a source of resilience and the collective intelligence necessary for transformative innovation. Multi-stakeholder process facilitation is a vital for effective change agents.
The economic dimension highlights the structural dysfunction of our current economic and monetary systems and explores diverse strategies for creating and strengthening vibrant local economies. Learning about BALLE, nef, ISEC, the New Economics Coalition and the Solidarity Economy helps participants realize that we already have viable alternatives to neoclassical economic globalization. By introducing methods and principles for creating community currencies and exchange systems and new types of economic success indicators, and by reviewing the legal forms, business models and financing mechanisms that can support the creation of social and regenerative enterprises, the framework enable participants to become active catalysts in the transition to vibrant regional economies based on ecological and social values and supported by global collaboration and solidarity.
The competencies that are fostered during the ecological design dimension include how to 'carbon footprint' a project and design for carbon-neutrality or even carbon sequestration. Regenerative water management that integrates with the unique conditions of place, and a basic introduction to a broad range of decentralized renewable energy sources and their most appropriate application, are equally a part of the curriculum as ecological building methods and sustainable materials that are elegantly adapted to bioregional resource availability. An introduction to the importance of local food economies, key methodologies of regenerative agriculture, permaculture design principles, and the cradle-to-cradle framework, are part of enabling graduates to facilitate ecological design conversations in support of increased regional food and seed sovereignty, local circular bio-economies and a shift towards increase local production for local consumption.
This dimension explores the why of creating sustainable and regenerative cultures. Participants are invited to contemplate the role of spiritual practices like meditation, self exploration, solo-time in nature in creating deeper socio-cultural and ecological ties with the place we inhabit and the communities we participate in. Studying integral theory, Aldo Leopold's 'land ethics', the importance of a (bioregional) 'sense of place' and 'sense of belonging' lead participants to question and become aware of their own perspectives and those of others. Methods for collective future state visioning and backcasting are introduced as potential catalysts for collective action and local collaboration. New and ancient (Indigenous) frameworks of meaning and the role of rituals and rites of passage, plus healthy lifestyles, socially-engaged spirituality and evolutionary activism are all offered as potentially useful methods and perspectives that can help individuals and communities to become more effective agents of positive change.