waldzell - global dialogue for inspiration

waldzell meetings

2009-07-23T09:37:14Z

waldzell

Das ist alles großartig!

2009-07-23T07:06:13Z

Welchen Stellenwert haben Utopien für uns? kunstSTOFF hat Waldzell-Gründerin Gundula Schatz, Künstlerin Renate Pittroff, Architekten Josef Wiesingerund Historiker Peter Huemer im Beisein von Kulturvernetzer Josef Schick zum Gespräch gebeten. Moderiert hat Philosoph Leo Hemetsberger

Hemetsberger: Was bedeutet für Sie „Utopie"?

Schatz: Utopien haben viel mit Träumen zu tun. Das Wesentliche für Utopien in der Wirtschaft ist, dass wir sie auch leben und nicht nur darüber philosophieren. Interdisziplinäre Ansätze sind gerade jetzt besonders wichtig, denn: Wenn Utopien von einem Einzelmenschen kommen, sind sie vom Ego gefärbt und werden daher nie die Bedürfnisse aller berücksichtigen. Wir sollten alle zusammen eine gemeinsame Utopie kreieren und umsetzen.

Hemetsberger: Wie ist das in der Kunst, wo ja Vieles von Einzelpersönlichkeiten ausgeht?

Pittroff: Bei der Kunst stellt sich die Frage: Kann sich die Utopie mit der Avantgarde in Beziehung setzen? Die Avantgarde ist wie ein Ruderer, der nicht in die Richtung schaut, in die er rudert, sondern dorthin, wovon er wegrudert. Die Avantgarde definiert sich immer aus dem, gegen das sie sich absetzen will. Ob ein Kunstwerk utopisch ist, bezweifle ich daher sehr.

Hemetsberger: In der Architektur des 20. Jahrhunderts sind Ideen zur Gestaltung der Menschenwelt wichtig. Ein sehr utopischer Zugang?

Hiesinger: Utopie ist eine ständige - erfolglose - Suche nach dem Glück. Man steht etwa am Zuckerhut in Rio, schaut sich die üppige grüne Landschaft an und sieht, was die Menschen gemacht haben: Favelas, die sich den ganzen Berg hinaufziehen und alles überwuchern, sodass die Utopie, Rio zu besiedeln, wie eine braune Sauce den Berg hinunter rinnt und Symbol eines totalen Scheiterns ist.

Hemetsberger: Zur Frage nach dem Glück: Die Gefährten aus dem trojanischen Krieg kommen ins Land der Lotophagen, quasi ins Paradies. Aber dann sagt Odysseus: „Wir müssen hier wieder weg; das ist nicht unser Platz!" - ein enormes Spannungsfeld.

Huemer: Dieses Spannungsfeld zieht sich durch die Geschichte und erreicht seine Benennung mit Thomas Morus im 16. Jahrhundert, wobei die Utopie in der Literatur immer auch eine satirisch-böse Zeichnung jeweils gegenwärtiger Zustände ist, die einem Idealzustand gegenüber gestellt wird. Das 20. Jahrhundert hat sich ganz besonders durch Utopien hervorgetan, vom Judenstaat 1896 über die Utopien in der Kunst wie Futurismus oder andere Avantgardevisionen, vom Nationalsozialismus und Kommunismus bis hin zur Ökologie-Bewegung. Heute sehe ich eine einzige konkrete Utopie: Die Idee vom gläsernen Menschen: möglichst totale Sicherheit durch möglichst totale Überwachung. Eine grauenhafte Utopie.

Hemetsberger: Die Ressourcenknappheit hat uns die Grenzen unserer Möglichkeiten gezeigt. Gibt es in der Wirtschaft Utopien, die schon passieren?

Schatz: Utopische Ideen können auch wirtschaftlich nachhaltig funktionieren. Ich kenne einen jungen Mann in Indien, der hat eine Initiative gegründet, die Kindern hilft, ihre Träume zu realisieren. Der utopische Ansatz: Wenn wir als Menschen handeln und unserer inneren Stimme folgen, dann handeln wir nicht aus individuellem Egoismus sondern im Sinne des Ganzen.

Huemer: Bei den großen Utopien ist Gewalttätigkeit vorherrschend. In extremster Form im Nationalsozialismus und beim Stalinismus, aber auch der Zionismus hat gewalttätige Züge, ebenso die 68er-Utopie. Das muss nicht zu ihrem Scheitern führen, zeigt aber ihren menschenfeindlichen Aspekt.

Pittroff: Auch eine Demokratie kommt nicht ohne Gewalt aus.

Huemer: Aber wir wollen kontrollierte Gewalt. Ohne sie wäre die Gesellschaft anarchisch - also herrschaftsfrei - und hätte keinerlei Ordnung. Heute ist die kontrollierte Gewalt per Definition das Anti-Utopische.

Hemetsberger: Die Entwicklung der Baumaterialien im letzten Jahrhundert und neue Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten - das hat etwas Utopisches und bringt eine Sehnsucht der Menschen zum Ausdruck.

Wiesinger: Die Realisierung ist immer das Ziel von Utopien. Ich glaube aber, das ist falsch. Speziell in der Architektur, weil man die Utopie dann auf banale Dinge herunter brechen muss. Die Utopie ist im Geist, auf der Suche nach der Idee zu finden und nicht in der Realisierung.

Huemer: Die Architektur ist voll integriert in die Utopie vom Überwachungsstaat. Heutige Bürobauten bestehen hauptsächlich aus Glas. Jeder sitzt in der Auslage, ausgehend von diesem Idiotensatz: „Ich habe nichts zu verbergen." Diese Transparenz heißt Überwachung - und das geht auf Kosten des Freiheitsdenkens.

Hemetsberger: Die Freiheit ist immer in Gefahr. Wo ist der Weg aus diesem Dilemma?

Huemer: In der staatsbürgerlichen Gegenwehr. Die Frage ist, was das Internet dabei zu leisten vermag. Eine Utopie der Freiheit bedeutet die Möglichkeit, dem drohenden Überwachungsstaat zu entkommen. Ich setze auf den technologischen Fortschritt, der die Überwachung möglich macht, der aber auch dieses anarchische Element forciert.

Hemetsberger: Waldzell hat als Mythos Hesses „Glasperlenspiel". Wie geht der Weg weiter?

Schatz: Ich meine, dass Utopien, wenn sie uns weiterhelfen sollen, Geist und Materie verbinden müssen. Utopien in der Wirtschaft betreffen die materielle Welt und da haben wir, wie meine Vorredner zeigten, die Erfahrung gemacht, dass sie sich in der Realität nur allzu oft gegen uns gewendet haben. Bei Waldzell wollen wir Freiräume für einen zweckfreien interdisziplinären Dialog schaffen, um so Ideen zu kreieren, die zum Gesamtwohl beitragen. Dann könnten unsere großen Utopien sich auch in der Realität besser bewähren.

Hemetsberger: Sind Künstler die Referenzexistenzen in der Krisenzeit? Krise als Moment, wo ein System sich verändern kann? Bleibt nicht immer der Weg, Neues zu probieren?

Pittroff: Neues probieren müssen wir sowieso jeden Tag. Aber ob man da schon in Berührung mit der Utopie kommt, kann ich nicht beantworten.

Hemetsberger: Ist ein Leben für Menschen ohne Utopien, ohne Träume möglich?

Pittroff: Ohne Träume sicher nicht, ohne Utopien vielleicht.

Schick: Ich glaube an „kleine Utopien": Menschen tun sich zusammen, um eine konkrete Lebenssituation zu verbessern. Meine Vision ist eine Gesellschaft, die auf der Basis von „mehr zulassen" funktioniert. Sich weniger davon bedroht fühlt, dass andere Menschen andere Ansätze haben, anders denken und anders fühlen.

Hemetsberger (in die Runde): Mich würden Ihre kleine Utopien interessieren.

Huemer: Die Menschen sind durch die digitale Revolution unglaublich überfordert. Alles ist so unüberschaubar geworden, dass viele Angst haben. Plötzlich spielt der Heimatbegriff wieder eine große Rolle, der Rückzug auf das Vertraute und damit verbunden eine unglaubliche Aggression gegen alles von Außen.

Schatz: Nicht mehr aus der Angst heraus agieren, sondern aus Liebe handeln.

Pittroff: Utopien kommen nicht aus der Kunst, sondern vom künstlerischen Handeln: Gesellschaftliche Zusammenhänge werden in kleinen Versuchsanordnungen in Handlungsanweisungen umgeformt, die die Leute zwingen, sich weitergehende Gedanken zu machen.

Wiesinger: In der Architektur ist es vielleicht die Utopie, die durch den Einzug der Bionik entstehen könnte. Dass Gebäude mit den Menschen mitleben, zum Teil des Lebens werden. Es ist eine gefährliche, aber auch schöne Utopie, dass man die Welt noch länger bevölkern kann und dass sich eine angenehme Lebensweise für alle Menschen ergibt.

Huemer: Ich schließe mich euch an. Das alles, was jetzt gesagt worden ist, bis hin zu Liebe statt Angst, alles großartig.

Das gesamte Gespräch finden Sie auf www.kulturvernetzung.at.

Kurzbiographien:

Dr. Leo Hemetsberger ist Philosoph, Lebens- und Sozialberater sowie Mediator, Kursleiter am Institut für Kulturkonzepte, hält Seminare zu Marketingstrategien für Künstler und Kunstbetriebe und arbeitet als Coach und Trainer mit der NÖ Landesakademie zusammen. www.kulturkonzepte.at, www.philprax.at.

Dr. Peter Huemer ist Journalist und Historiker, geb. 1941 in Linz. 1969 bis 2002 Mitarbeiter des ORF: teleobjektiv, Club 2, Im Gespräch. Mehrere Auszeichnungen und Preise für die wissenschaftliche und für die journalistische Arbeit. Lektor an zwei Universitäten in Wien.

Dr.Renate Pittroff, freie Regisseurin in den Bereichen experimentelles Theater und akustische Kunst, konzipiert und inszeniert seit 1995 die Projekte des Theatervereins meyerhold unltd. Stellte zuletzt einige Kunstprojekte vor, die sich mit interaktiven Verfahren beschäftigen. www.samenschleuder.at, www.wechsel-strom.net

DI Gundula Schatz ist Biotechnologin, arbeitete am Aufbau von Tech Gate Vienna mit, war von 2001 bis 2005 stellvertretende Bezirksvorsteherin des ersten Wiener Gemeindebezirks und ist Gründerin und Leiterin des Waldzell Instituts, Initiatorin des „Architects of the Future"-Programms und Botschafterin des World Wisdom Councils.

Josef Schick ist Geschäftsführer der Kulturvernetzung Niederösterreich.

Peter Wiesinger, Gesellschafter der t-hoch-n ZIVILTECHNIKER GmbH, steht gemeinsam mit Gerhard Binder und Andreas Pichler für den effizienten Einsatz eines sich - bei jeder Aufgabe mit spezieller Anforderung, speziellem Ort und speziellen Auftraggebern - entwickelnden Wissens.

Fotos

http://db.onlinearchiv.at/SCHOLZ

Fotocredit

www.zolles.com

waldzell meetings (an impression)

2009-07-22T08:54:51Z

waldzell

Rupert Sheldrake at Waldzell

2009-07-22T08:50:51Z

waldzell

Waldzell - Analysis and Concept

2009-07-20T10:31:11Z

Analysis and Concept.pdf

Waldzell photos

2009-07-15T13:37:09Z

http://www.flickr.com/waldzell

Philanthropy

2009-07-15T11:33:34Z

Robin Hood Foundation

Philanthrophy.pdf

Banking for Social Entrepreneurship

2009-07-01T11:13:00Z

The calm after the initial storm has brought forth a pertinent conference organised by social entrepreneurs Emersense and the infamous, traditional Erste bank during Prague`s EU presidency, to find mutually enriching collaborations. Banking for Social Entrepreneurship from June 19th-20th at Česká Spořitelna couldn`t have come at a better time. Waldzell took a long anticipated trip on a train filled with eager, young social entrepreneurs representing an array of philanthropic organisations such as Ashoka, Caritas or feisty researchers and panelists compiling their final notes on the journey. Inevitably we started chatting on the way and we could tell just from the energy generated from our initial conversations, that this was going to be one dynamic event.

Dear Readers,

Waldzell took a long anticipated trip to Prague, for the conference on Banking for Social Entrepreneurship from June 19th-20th at Česká Spořitelna. After a long train ride, we arrived at the conference just in time for the opening speech by Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Erste Group.

I couldn`t help but notice a wavering of anxiety in his voice as he spoke out to an seemingly odd mix of social entrepreneurs, artists, bankers, press, politicians, and philanthropic facilitators. As he went on to stress, that the worst of the crisis is not over, it seemed that his anxiety came from suddenly feeling this huge responsibility--and about time too--to be accountable for social deficiencies that have been for so long ignored by banks in favour of profit making strategies.

With increasing demand for transparency, from both the governments and the public, we have arrived at a point in time, where banks are looking to social entrepreneurs to light the way through the smoke and ashes.

The New Landscape. Re-defining The Roles of Governments, Banks and Social Entrepreneurs

Governments are not the ones to dynamically navigate their way through public life. However, they provide guidance and support to increase best practice. Franz Karl Prüller, Director of Social Programs at the Erste Group highlighted governments` role to set standards and enforce these standards.

"We cannot have poor services for poor people, there needs to be services that do not infringe on the dignity of people and we need to have services that live-up to certain quality standards and that is another quality function to ensure that that is the case. Basic service provision, basic security provision and creating the enabling environment to set the standards. Then on the private basis fulfill the needs for people, raising the awareness with the social integration award. This is by saying that if I am going to make a difference there are people that recognise what I am doing, it gives recognition and motivation, this is awareness raising, social engagement, social action and provision".

I agreed enthusiastically. Evidently, government`s strengths have always been to regulate and to measure. For years we have looked to the government to solve micro issues in the social sector, when really, the scale and their responsibility to service major areas such as health and pensions hinders their speed of delivery on several fronts. Meanwhile, in many areas the public`s situation gets worse and more often than not, civil society has turned to fool and folly with impatient desperation. This can then cause illegal disruptions, that, in turn, provoke easy finger-pointing at victims of this inequality. Social Entrepreneurs and their enterprises are small and mobile enough to navigate into tight spaces, to where the issues are really going on-with the people, in small, dynamic and changeable groups.

Prüller, echoed my thoughts by eloquently stating that we need both. "We need the creative entrepreneur who is

able to point to the singular defect or challenge in society and we need those who work on a continuos basis to provide widespread large scale services on a sustainable basis. If we can find a combination of those two and if we can find a way that these become mutually enriching the experiences that are there in the social service providers and the creativity that is there in the individuals and social enterprises, then, I think we have won".

As, Felix Oldenburg, Ashoka`s Country Director of Germany added: "In my conversations with the Federal German Government and the European Commission that I have had over the past few months, there is a great curiosity about social entrepreneurship and the nature of social innovation and for a very practical number of reasons".

As both Prüller and Oldenburg, pointed-out, the government simply doesn`t have enough resources to provide for all the necessary services. "Government funding in discretionary social spending will dramatically go down as a result of not only of the crisis but also the large demographic shift which will force governments to spend an ever higher proportion of their budget on health care and pension". Oldenburg emphasised "but on the other hand.." as Prüller stated "..this form of taxation leaves space for privatization to come into play".

Through Innovation, Social Entrepreneurs are Transitioning Between Old and New Models

Oldenburg emphasised, "So there will be a huge gap to be filled and the government will have to find different sources of funding beyond the traditional state delivery models or the big established social sector solutions that are essentially 100% government funded. Certainly that is just the practical realization, beyond that there are promising signs that are starting to shape up the post lisbon strategy, if we indeed get to shape a European strategy around social innovation that will be a guiding idea for the next ten years that will be a very helpful top down model that will be encouraging governments to think about the role of social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurs are leaders of this innovative model, if we get a social innovation agenda, the role of social entrepreneurs will be very central indeed".

Re-building and Maintaining a Sense of Solidarity through Empathy and Awareness of Common Good

However, as Dr. Erhard Busek pointed out, this takes time. We need to give time, but, simultaneously we also need to move things ahead and make concrete successes.

How can we make these successes? Busek stressed the need for solidarity, but how can we create this kind of solidarity? There are several factors. One key ingredient that certainly caught my attention in light of Waldzell`s mission is empathy. Prüller echoed that this is a pertinent factor to promote in civil society. "Partly because of communism and partly because of capitalism, a large majority of society has been basically looking after themselves,

irrespective of other people`s concerns. Even some take a perverse joy in the suffering of their neighbor and it is exactly that mentality that we need to change". How can we change that? "...By working on the consciousness and awareness of people. By actively engaging them so that they can recognise that it is for their common good to support other people that are less fortunate and less able than themselves, then there will be an overall enormous societal gain and this conference is necessary helping us to go on with that".

Joint conferences and awards such as last weekend`s in Bucharest on Social Innovation are, as Prüller highlighted, instrumental in raising public awareness and important advocates of change. This is where the philanthropic associations step in. Ashoka has been providing an umbrella for the fragmented market of social entrepreneurs since 1981 and is one of the leaders, as well as key players, Emersense and good.bee an initiative of the Erste Group, all are gradually shaping the citizen sector. Putting Social Entrepreneurs at the forefront of this sector is a vital component this process.

"....A big shift that many people in the social sector have come to realise is that we need to think about the models of delivery and the models of finance. Ashoka world is at the tipping point that is fueled by these two factors. Increasingly the social sector or business people are beginning to identify themselves as change makers", hence the chosen name for Ashoka initiative with Erste Group: Change Makers "This is certainly a great day for this reshaping that we mentioned and a powerful statement for that shift". These synergies are shaping our new economy and we are able to look beyond our back gardens to find the fruits of our labour beginning to grow. How apt that we should collectively propose and experiment with solutions in the main building of Česká Spořitelna.

Are The Old Values Really the New Values?

Erhard Busek illustrated in conversation before the opening speech, that in fact the new values are the old values, a thought that echoed out across the conference. Busek mentioned that in order to gain an understanding of what we mean by solidarity, it is important to look to the trade unions. I took up Busek`s advice and closer to home, asked my father, a University Education Director, born the same year as Busek, what "solidarity" means to him. He points me in the direction of the Chartist movement. As I look, Fredrick Jameson`s famous phrase, "Always historiscise" rings through my ears. Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century between 1838 and 1850. The apparent failure of Chartism as a political movement in the mid-nineteenth century proved only to be temporary. Five of the six points in the Charter were adopted by 1918. Eventually it left a huge impact on parliament and gave impetus to a political reform and to trade union organisation. Suddenly, I realise the impact that Social Entrepreneurship can really have, but also how true it is, Busek stresses, this needs time. Time to have an impact on government, but, as Prüller states, in the meantime, we need to have concrete successes within these times. This is why Social Entrepreneurship as a collective movement needs to make these concrete successes happen.

Getting Back to Bank`s Old Values as a Key Component of Sustainability

Sustainability is a key factor here. Ashoka, as Felix Oldenburg recounts, through their Global Social Financial Services initiative are working with banks to help them to feel and understand what their core and basic values are. Banks are places that are able to make and find new connections with people who want to change the world. When they connect a source funding with a cause and enable that cause to help it grow far beyond what it could do organically, that`s been the role of banks for a thousand years. That`s how we`ve built the great businesses of today and that is how we will build the great social entrepreneurs of tomorrow".

So, Busek`s words ring true, the old values are the new values. In light of current times Felix Oldenburg recognised that "people see themselves more and more as change-makers. If you have a wealthy person today witnessing what has gone on over the past year or so, their thoughts may be, what`s my responsibility with the wealth I have accumulated, what will I do with my skills, my empathy, leadership, team-work and experiences and what am I going to apply them to, to create something that lasts and outlasts me, something that I can pass-on". Banks are part of the same equation and we need to factor that in when navigating through this new, evolving landscape. "The banks are about connecting people from around the world who would like to make a difference from different angles" Oldenburg pointed out. "Increasingly today, it is a one trillion dollar market but from the perspective of re-discovering what they are about".

The Future of Social Entrepreneurship

So what needs to be done? Prüller reminds us that "The social economy is in it`s infant stages in Central and Eastern Europe, we are just seeing the beginnings of it. In India and Latin American Countries these developments have gone much further. "We need the legal infrastructure, the creation of legal frameworks"...perhaps this is the further role of the government. "Already, one of the challenges to us overall as a region is to see to it that young people who have interesting ideas, in terms of what they can contribute to society and how they can make these contributions sustainable how we can create an environment for these people so that their ideas can grow, their ideas can live. There is no conducive, enabling environment for these sort of activities, this is a major challenge. To create an environment where people with good ideas can find not just the money, but also, the societal support for what they are doing". Prüller emphasises the importance of social services.. "They are actually the largest employers, this is not just costing society, but it is also bringing enormous wealth creation to society, this is one important element that is helping to create that enabling environment and as Oldenburg pointed out, it is a one trillion euro market. Waldzell is not only part of that market, but also part of the re-shaping of the landscape by providing, with it`s interdisciplinary framework a conducive environment to support and nourish social entrepreneurs with banks, corporations, governments and private investment individuals and to collectively define our harmonious future.

waldzell 2.0

2009-03-31T08:16:39Z

Waldzell has been going through quite a transformation in the last few months and we are now keen to inform you of our most recent developments:

The global crisis has taken a deep hold now and Waldzell has not been immune to the effects. Our mission has always been to evolve with the times, revealing contemporary dynamics through the most effective and deliberate means. With this in mind, the Waldzell team decided to fully consolidate what we all have created, before any new Meetings can take place.

With this new focus we are continuing to cultivate global networks that will bring about a collective change in consciousness. Furthermore, through our initiatives with our partners we are taking concrete steps towards enhancing a more humane and peaceful society based on mutual understanding.

We are also working on a new strategy to enlarge several projects of Waldzell, especially the already well established Architects of the Future Initiative and the recently started TARA Circles.

We want you on board of this venture and - more than ever - have you as active contributors and beneficiaries of this exciting community. Many thanks for your valuable support in the past and we hope very much to keep in touch with you!

Gundula M. Schatz
Founder of Waldzell

Archbishop Desmond Tutu: Statement on Tibet, China and the Dalai Lama

2009-03-20T12:10:50Z

"We the undersigned Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, human rights leaders and concerned individuals wish to express our concern at the current deterioration of the human rights situation in Tibet, and the apparent breakdown of the talks between the Chinese government and emissaries of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We are dismayed at the lack of any concrete progress toward resolving the conflict over the autonomy and religious freedom of the Tibetan people, and urge all parties involved to redouble their effort to achieve this vital goal. "To our dear friend His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we say: we stand with you. You define non-violence and compassion and goodness. Clearly China does not know you. It is our sincere hope that they will. We call on China's government to know His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as we and so many others have come to know him during the long decades he has spent in exile.

"We ask the esteemed Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit Tibet, and request that she be given access to assess and report to the international community the current state of affairs for the Tibetan people. The High Commissioner should be allowed to travel with journalists and other observers and, working with all parties involved, assist in bringing these decades of struggle to a peaceful resolution.

"China is uniquely positioned to impact and affect our world. We ask you to please use this position to improve our world by listening to the voices of the Tibetan people, and creating a new solution for Tibet that allows this culture to flourish.

"This will help not only Tibet. It will help China. It will demonstrate to us that China is willing to be a responsible partner in international global affairs.

"Finally, we ask that China stop naming, blaming and verbally abusing one whose life has been devoted to peace. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, is not simply a holy man. He is recognized throughout the world as one of our few true moral authorities. He is a teacher who has shown us all how to live our lives with compassion, non-violence and love."

In Ernest,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu

article from The Community.com

Waldzell: Then and Now

2009-03-10T13:49:21Z

From the dance of atoms to the logic of beauty, Waldzell offers participants that rare opportunity to reach beyond their discipline morphing fields of belief, knowledge, action and creativity. Waldzell empowers participants to collectively reveal truths that have been suppressed by daily demands to face the challenges of our time.

Since Waldzell`s 2004 meeting, our growing network of Nobel Laureates and social entrepreneurs have been exchanging truths and ideas that give us courage to reach beyond ourselves to co-create something greater.
The history of Waldzell has been a place where talents and capacities have been unified. At our 2007 Meeting, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, gave us a profound, spiritual insight into humanity, by emphasising the importance of living compassion in the here, and now.

From the field of sciences, Robert Gallo, who identified HIV, as well as Nobel Prize Laureates in Medicine Werner Arber, Günter Blobel, Christian de Duve, and in Chemistry Kary B. Mullis, have revealed the wonders of science to identify and transform suffering.

Writer and niece of Chile's president, Isabel Allende, showed us the strength and courage of female leadership and the importance of developing feminine energies in every man and every woman, to realise global change.

Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, led us to look beyond ethnicity as fixed, but rather dynamic and ever-changing, that must not be a reason for war.

Pritzker Prize winner Frank Gehry, awakened our senses to the importance of harmonious architectural space to cultivate community dynamics.

The personal search for vision, action and contemplation are all interlinked and Waldzell offers a unique mind space to incubate and re-frame ideas, co-create and give them life.