Sussex Community Blog evolves

See the new page of the blog which is describing the transition in the year of the establishment of The Hastings Community Justice Panel
http://sussexcommunity.blogspot.com/p/history-of-sussex-community-website-and.html

Hastings Community Justice Panel

This blog post is about Hastings Community Justice Panel and "Ethical Outings"

For Friday 5th October 2012, the second anniversary of the pier fire, a team is preparing a performance of the "Ethical Outings in Hastings" play (http://ethicaloutings.blogspot.com)

I have begun to write a scene convening the first 
Hastings Community Justice Panel :

Paul Crosland: Thank you for accepting my invite to consider joining this team committed to a deep sense of justice. I've head-hunted you as the people I'd most like to have disputes with over the issue of whether justice has been done in Hastings. We might annually review which matters in our two towns we most wish to see brought to justice. For the time being we start with Hastings Pier Fire.



http://ethicaloutings.blogspot.com

Will 2012 be the year that the truth of the October 2010 Hastings Pier Fire comes out?

"The Truth Will Out" in 2012 (some say). Perhaps we have to wait longer before people are sufficiently ready (and supported) to talk?

So meanwhile, here's some of the 2011 highlights with campaigning for a "more caring and sharing Hastings & St Leonards", some brushes with local celebs (notably Sue Coates) and some personal disclosure and opportunity to understand more of why getting justice in Hastings is so deeply linked to my own story and what I want for those who were on the pier that fateful/fortuitous night!

Here's a flashback to the night of the fire (with Jeremy Birch):

& here's a bit more background (again as The 'Man of Many T-shirts'):

And now I search for another 'Man of Many T-shirts' this is what I've found:

Community Engagement and Development ideas -as applied to Hastings Pier

USING A STAKEHOLDER MAP
(Material adapted from that received on a course from the University of Sussex Centre for Community Engagement)

Community development workers and community activists involved in projects often feel that they are being pulled in several different directions - they seem to have to work with, and be accountable to, many bodies and have expectations placed upon them. It is useful, therefore, to map out where the potential tensions lie.

1. Make a Stakeholder Map:

Choose ONE issue e.g. the redevelopment of a pier and surrounding area with community regeneration aims:
Who are the active people already wanting to be consulted?
Who are the silent people whose views ought to be sought?
How much power do they have and what authority do they have to make decisions?
What is their level of concern about the specific issue
Is there a lead person or organisation who has responsibility for delivering the project?

Draw out your map as in the film above.
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The stages of group formation & function are reflected on below:

Restating the Paul Crosland personal mission statement & publishing what the Observer did not

I give my service to generating a more caring & sharing Hastings & St Leonards.

In doing this I'm learning & practising inclusivity and happiness.

I moved to St Leonards because the arrestees after Hastings Pier Fire were from St Leonards; addressing all these wounds is a driving force for me.

I hope my work contributes to creating a town in which no-one wants to set light to any buildings.

In working towards this goal, I treat people ('arsonist' or otherwise) with respect and dignity.

Paul Crosland 

(November 2011)

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Publishing what the Observer did not:
Dear Editor

My interest in the pier fire, which prompted me (and the organisations I head) to move to St Leonards, is not so much in finding someone to blame as in encouragaging the relevant young people in this community TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

It seems unlikely that those who were on the pier on 5th October 2010 will come forward to take responsibility until some combination of the following occurs:
1) A deeper understanding of why talking truthfully about what happened matters so much to a (growing?) number of us.
2) A conscience that recognises that a better way to deal with things is to "come clean".
3) An awareness that many others in this community model how to take responsibility (eg for things they "got away with" that have nonetheless left deep wounds) & that actually taking responsibility works well for all.
4) They stop using excuses about others' as a way to deny the need to  take responsibility. (In Criminology these excuses are called the 4 techniques of neutralisation)
5) Hearing fewer voices from those who are only saying what they want FROM those who were on the pier (e.g. those who want further suffering as retribution)
6) Hearing more about what others want FOR those who were on the pier e.g. opportunities for a life that values your skills, determination and wish to live a meaningful life, living harmoniously within your chosen community.
7) Something that sufficiently addresses your fear of talking out about what happened, so that you take courage and do it before someone else reveals your painful secret.
Kind regards
Paul Crosland

CEO Mediation Support & the main blogger on (healing) the pier fire (here at www.sussexcommunity.blogspot.com)

Hastings Truth & Reconciliation Commission

The HASTINGS TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION was an idea that came up around the anniversary of the fire; more of which can be found on http://agoodweek.info and on this most inspiring of 3 videos recorded on the second weekend of October 2010 without showing the face of my interviewee:

3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tgL1OAesYo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Now, Here are some of the videos shown at the Public Meetings around the 1st Anniversary of the Pier Fire in Hastings. (The fire was on 5th October 2010 -see sussexcommunity.blogspot.com)

PAUL WELCOMES THE ATTENDEES  & the two group introductions - a police officer and a foreigner from Hastings

The work being done in restorative Justice under the umbrella of "St Leonards Sharing" Consortium is sustainable if you register on the NatWest site and then click to support us.http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/5827

That address again for supporting "St Leonards Sharing" is http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/5827">here
1) Maria Arpa

2) Burning Bridges [The 35 minute film from the IIRP]

[& see http://sussexcommunity.blogspot.com/2011/01/screening-of-bridges-dvd-with-pier.html]
3) Discussing the viewpoint that "Restorative Justice is no alternative to Justice"

4)Jo Nodding on Restorative Justice

5)
6) Police Community Resolutions and the idea of a community bridging fund:


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The films recorded at the 5th October meeting:
Film 1 of 4 (at top of this page)
Film 2 of 4:

Film 3 of 4:

Film 4 of 4:


*****************************************************************
And the first 2 films of Kier on the Pier
1)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWbuOEGb0j8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

2)


**********
and a film I recorded 4 months before setting up the "St Leonards Sharing" Consortium:

Please now register your interest in "a more caring and sharing Hastings & St Leonards" here:
http://actionforhastingshappiness.blogspot.com/p/stleonardssharing.html