Who in the world is interested in online mediation? The answer might just surprise you. According to Google, the mediators, mediation trainers, and ADR practitioners who visit our Virtual Mediation Lab website because they are interested to learn more about online mediation live in many different countries. Source: Google Analytics Virtual Mediation Lab is an online mediation project sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution Hawaii Chapter. For more information about the Virtual Mediation Lab, please visit here.
Mediation Center of the Pacific News
The latest issue of The Mediation Center of the Pacific’s “The Center Letter” is out! Please click on this link to read the full January 2016 edition and learn more about MCP’s plans for the new year: JANUARY2016CENTERLETTER
*Article originally published at Mediate.com. See the original article here. by Giuseppe Leone December 2015 During Cyberweek 2015, an annual conference on Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), I attended a webinar titled “The African Union and Prospects of ODR in Africa”. Ijeoma Ononogbu, Morenike Obi-Farinde and Ayo Kusamotu, three attorneys and ADR practitioners in Nigeria, presented the challenges and opportunities for ODR in their continent. In short, the good news is that more and more people in Africa now use every day mobile devices (e.g. iPad, iPhone, Android tablet or smart phone) in their home or office. The bad news is that only few people know what ODR means, and how it can help them resolve disputes quickly and inexpensively. During the webinar Q&A session, I made some comments related to online mediation – one form of ODR and a field that I have some experience in, having run hundreds of online mediation simulations in 9 languages with mediators from 30 countries. I pointed out to the webinar presenters that, in my view: >>If the idiom “Seeing is Believing” applies to Africa as well, it is much better to show what online mediation means and how it works – rather than just talk about it. >> Online mediation should be shown in as many languages (or dialects) as possible. In Nigeria, for example, in addition to English, their “official” language, there are three other major languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. A few days after Cyberweek, during a video conference with Morenike Obi-Farinde and three other Nigerian mediators interested in online mediation, we came up with a 2-step plan. STEP 1 – I will set up, run and video record an online mediation simulation of a commercial case in English, with the participation of 3 mediators playing the mediator’s and the parties’…
The Mediation Center of the Pacific “The Center Letter” is out This year the MCP Volunteer Recognition and Holiday Gathering will take place Friday December 11, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Hawaii Federal Credit Union
ACR Hawaii member Thomas DiGrazia’s new book Light On Peacemaking: Appropriate Dispute Resolution and Mediating Family Conflict has just been published, and is now available on Amazon.com and directly from the publisher Business Expert Press ~~~ Many books have been written about the practice of peacemaking, and few, if any, deal with the non-violent, spiritual side of this ancient science, discipline, practice and art form. This book will speak to that lack and explore the spiritual, non-violent element in peacemaking as it applies to mediating family law disputes. Universities will find the book helpful as a textbook in their peacemaking and mediation degree and certificate programs, most particularly, in those courses that stress a pragmatic, spiritual, eclectic and educated approach to non-adversarial, peaceful conflict resolution. The book is intended for the professional peacemaker, mediator, lawyer, law student, conciliator, and dispute neutral. Everyday people who wish to improve their own communication skills and strengthen their primary relationships will profit greatly from this book. These individuals, particularly those in the family law field, will find much benefit from the peacemaking processes, and family counseling psychology. Mental health family practitioners, who are often called upon to act as default, if not formal mediators and neutrals, will find useful the mediation and peacemaking experiences, techniques and literature related here. Light On Peacemaking also offers the Yoga practitioner a very practical avenue, through example in the legal field, for engaging in seva or service to humanity.
State of Hawaii Proclamation signed by Governor David Hige and Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui City and County of Honolulu Proclamation signed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell Certificate signed by all Honolulu City Council Members County of Hawaii Proclamation signed by Mayor Billy Kenoi County of Kauai Proclamation signed by Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.
When and Where Friday, December 4, 2015 – 5:30pm to 7:30pm Fresh Cafe – 1111 Nu’uanu Ave – Honolulu Parking Chinatown Municipal Parking, 27 N. Beretania St. between Nuuanu and Smith, $3 after 5 p.m. Also Mark’s Garage, Diamond Parking Services, Chinatown Gateway, Walmart, or Street Parking. Please Note: We do NOT validate Menu Fresh Cafe’s excellent pizzas, pupus, and fresh salad. Drinks can be purchased at the bar, but the event includes a tasting of fabulous wines, compliments of Silvert & Saibene Wines LLP Live Music Starts at 7:00 p.m. with Grant Peacock and “Imagine Jazz” featuring hit songs from 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s Cost FREE for ACR Hawaii members – $20 Guests ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING – AGENDA Call to Order Approval of Minutes November 2015 2015 Financial Report – Bruce McEwan 2016 Officers and Directors Election – Cindy Alm – Nominees 2015 Recap – Anne Smoke Incoming President’s Remarks – Lisa Jacobs Adjournment GUEST SPEAKER Our distinguished Guest Speaker is Peacemaker and ACR Hawaii member Tom DiGrazia, who will talk about his new book Light On Peacemaking: Appropriate Dispute Resolution and Mediating Family Conflict Register by November 27, 2015 – Click Here
In honor of Conflict Resolution Day, an annual International celebration sponsored by ACR and held every third Thursday in October, ACR Hawaii and the Matsunaga Institute for Peace present a list of books on conflict resolution recommended by Hawaii’s top scholars and practitioners These books are available at: Barnes & Noble – Ala Moana Barnes & Noble online at Barnes & Noble The University of Hawaii System Libaries The Hawaii State Library (Downtown) University of Hawaii Manoa – Bookstore
The Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Accord Consultants 3.0 present “Science, Politics and Governance: Constructing Better Dialogues and Producing Better Results”, a 2-day conference which will take place on November 12 & 13, 2015. This event is co-sponsored by ACR Hawaii and Scholars Strategy Network Hawaii Chapter. For more information and to sign up click here
In honor of Conflict Resolution Day, an annual international celebration sponsored by the Association for Conflict Resolution and held every third Thursday in October, Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center is hosting an Open House from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15. The event is free and open to the public. “The highlight of our Open House is our one-hour Brown Bag Series simulation from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. We will conduct a mock mediation session so that the public can see a live-action demonstration of a mediation in process,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. Various other activities are interspersed throughout the day. The morning line-up includes a 9:30 a.m. showing of the video “Mediation: An Alternative to Court,” a 10:00 a.m. live demonstration of “Got Conflict? What Happens When You Call Us For Help!” and a 10:30 a.m. presentation on “Foreclosure Mediation Program.” Afternoon activities include a 1:30 p.m. panel with volunteer mediators on “Why Do You Mediate?”, a 2:30 p.m. presentation on “5 Principles of Mediation,” and a 3:00 p.m. presentation on “Youth Peer-To-Peer Mediation.” On display will be proclamations in honor of Conflict Resolution Day 2015 from Mayor Billy Kenoi and Governor David Ige. “The public is invited to meet our staff, watch mediation videos, listen to mediation PSAs, browse literature, explore the office, make a donation, and more,” Mitchell stated. Open House visitors will also have a chance to sign the “Hawai‘i Mediation Pledge,” an aspirational document stating that signers will strive to resolve all disputes outside of litigation using alternative dispute resolution processes such as negotiation, mediation, ho‘oponopono, or other appropriate non-legal process. “We hope community members, parents, teachers, professionals, social service agencies, businesses, civil servants, and others will join us at our Open House,” said Mitchell. Conflict Resolution Day promotes awareness of…
