The Dueling Loops Videos

Here is the list of videos. Or you can start on the first one.

The above diagram is from the first video in the new video series on The Dueling Loops. This is a simple model of why there is such strong resistance to solving the sustainability problem. The model shows the low leverage point that problem solvers are presently pushing on and why that doesn't work. It also shows the high leverage points they must push on instead, and why that is much more likely to solve the systemic change resistance part of the problem. The background photo is on Cedar Creek in the Congaree Swamp National Park, US.

Imagine yourself paddling along that creek, just as you may be paddling along right now trying to help solve the sustainability problem, when you come around a bend and there, hanging in the air, is a simple, understandable model of the very problem you have been working on. It explains so much that you stop and snap a picture, so you won't forget it. That night you read the Dueling Loops paper, ponder it a bit, and then watch the Dueling Loops videos. The next day you share the photo with your fellow activists at lunch and explain how it works, and before you know it everyone is excitedly pointing out which loop has been causing what, and my gosh, why don't we start pushing on that high leverage point?

That is the potential of the Dueling Loops model. Here's what activists are saying about it:

"I'd like to order ten more Dueling Loops books. I was reading the one you mailed me, and I kept getting all these Ah Ha's. I know several professors, managers, and other contacts who I think would love to read this. ... It was a real page turner. I couldn't put it down, which is not something you can say of typical academic works. They tend to be heavy and hard to read. By contrast, this was easy to read." - Rhonda Durlacher, Solsberry, Indiana.

"When I read the Dueling Loops paper, I felt enlightened." - Philip Bangerter, Global Sustainability Director, Hatch, Brisbane, Australia.

"I discovered your website and The Dueling Loops while doing research for content to drive a major community public radio station initiative on sustainability issues in partnership with the University's Environmental Studies Program. [The Dueling Loops are] fascinating, thought provoking and caught my interest as a possible content focus for our campaign. Would you be interested in discussing the possibilities?" - Leigh Carrigan, Salt Lake City, Utah.

"I just received the Dueling Loops book—thanks! From what I’ve read so far, your premise is spot on.  I really don’t see another process which is more compelling—especially since your analysis of the political powerplace is so thorough and logically appealing to me." - Michael Hollcraft, New Carlisle, Indiana.

"Your work on the dueling loops is brilliant. Nice analysis. ... Could you send me the Dueling Loops book, please?  I'd like to see how I could contribute to your effort, and obviously need to know a lot more to have a sense of how I could best do so.  I think you're on to something important, as our present approaches to sustainability are too incremental to have the wide-reaching impact needed to deal with the climate change crisis." - Peter Hess, President, CHANGE Partners Inc, Lambertville, New Jersey.

Are you and your organization ready for a whole new way of thwinking?

Feedback

Here's what the first user of the first 11 videos had to say about them on April 6, 2007. Glenn is the person who requested that the videos be available for download:

Jack: What did you think of the full set of 11 videos?

Glenn MacMillan of Melbourne, Australia:

Jack, I've really enjoyed them.

I must admit, when I first read the book, I was getting a little confused. If I had the videos to look at back then I think it would have been a less stressful journey.

However, I'm actually glad I did it this way as it has now allowed me to sit down and watch the videos, then grab the book and thumb to the relevant part and read even more detail.

I am now going to sit my wife and close friends down to watch it. I've tried to string them all together to create a continuous video, but I have not been successful yet.

Your commentary is also very helpful. It helps put in perspective some of the 'vocabulary' throughout the book. I am now trying to capture the sound of the video to put onto my IPOD. It actually helps me draw the loops in my mind rather than seeing you do it on the video.

I'm looking forward to the remaining videos to be done... I hope this doesn't put too much pressure on you. :-)

Keep up the great work.

Regards,

Glenn

Photo Credits

The background photo for the Dueling Loops sketch and the photo of George and Wilma Turner canoeing were taken in Congaree Swamp National Park on March 30, 2007. The mosquito alert level was a mild 3.5 on a 1 to 6 scale that day, though we have visited other parks with a scale of 1 to 16, where 16 was "no survivors reported."