SECTION 1: STORMS

introduction

Purpose: Prepare how to flex, to be ready when crises or opportunities arise. 

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How to use this section: Read this before you set an activity timeline or plan for risks.

We have learned that we live in systems, that we need to change their equilibrium to shift them, and that we need to navigate narratives, needs, communities, messengers and values to activate people. 

But change does not happen in a vacuum. Crises and opportunities come and go like storms in the natural world - and they can be prepared for. Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples follow their own seasonal cycles, different from the Western four-season system. They observe natural signs to predict weather changes* and plan activities like crop rotation or resource gathering accordingly.

Preparing for Every Storm

Storms can affect any and every level of a system. Storms come in three types: developmental (an identity challenge or opportunity), situational (operational challenge or opportunity) and existential (survival or evolution challenge or opportunity). 

Storms also have a beginning, middle and an end like any story. Here we use a storm chart to help plan for or create an event affecting your campaign and the system.

Interpreting storms

Watching a storm approach, we feel changes in air pressure. Similarly, events can start positively or negatively and shift unexpectedly. We should not underestimate storms or our ability to handle them. In Chapter 16 we sit in the eye of the storm, able to diagnose every kind of crisis or opportunity under one of three types.

Signs from Nature

Nature offers signs of approaching storms or seasons. Dolphins notice changes in water salinity, birds detect shifts in air pressure, and Aboriginal peoples observe insect arrivals. We explain what to watch for.

Prevention through Simulation

Prevention is better than cure. Simulation helps prevent crises by preparing us to adapt in real time. Testing our responses helps us turn situations to our advantage and reshape the system.

Working with Storms

When a storm hits, it is better to work with it than to confront it directly. Animals use four strategies: sidestep, adapt, shelter, or charge. They communicate and organize effectively. We show you how to apply these strategies in various situations.

Dealing with sustained challenges

During monsoon season or prolonged storms, we may need to adjust our goals or strategies to influence stakeholders effectively. This section guides you through managing sustained crises, system shifts, or ongoing challenges.

Sources: *https://australiancurriculum.edu.au/TeacherBackgroundInfo?id=56843

**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australian_seasons