mutual-flourishing/human-dignity/adaptations

Local and Regional Adaptations

This directory contains interpretations and implementations of the declaration principles in specific contexts.

Purpose

While the declaration articulates universal principles, their application must be particular. This space is for communities to share:

• How they interpret the principles
• What modifications serve their context
• How they're implementing these ideas
• What challenges they face
• What successes they've achieved

Contributing an Adaptation

Format Suggestions

1. Context Introduction

   • Geographic location
   • Community description
   • Historical background
   • Current challenges

2. Principle Interpretations

   • How each article translates to your context
   • Which principles resonate most strongly
   • Which need modification and why
   • What's missing for your community

3. Implementation

   • Concrete steps taken
   • Institutions created or modified
   • Practices developed
   • Measurements of success

4. Learnings

   • What's working
   • What's not working
   • Unexpected discoveries
   • Advice for others

File Naming

• Use descriptive names: indigenous-amazon-brazil.md
• Include region/community: urban-commons-barcelona.md
• Add year if relevant: rural-kenya-2025.md

Types of Adaptations Welcome

• Geographic: City, region, nation adaptations
• Cultural: Religious, ethnic, linguistic community interpretations
• Organizational: How institutions implement these principles
• Movement: How social movements use the declaration
• Experimental: New communities testing these ideas

Principles for Adaptation

1. Honor the Spirit: While modifying specifics, maintain commitment to dignity, repair, and mutual flourishing
2. Add, Don't Subtract: Build on principles rather than removing them
3. Document Process: Share how you arrived at your adaptation
4. Include Many Voices: Ensure adaptation reflects community, not just leaders
5. Stay Connected: Link with other adaptations for mutual learning

Learning Across Adaptations

As adaptations accumulate, we can identify:

• Common patterns across different contexts
• Unique innovations from specific places
• Tensions that need addressing
• Principles that need clarification
• New articles that might be needed

Not Looking For

• Adaptations that exclude or demean any group
• Versions that ignore historical harm
• Interpretations that abandon ecological responsibility
• Modifications that center only individual or only collective
• Changes that claim universality for particular views

Questions for Adaptation

• What would these principles mean in practice here?
• What local wisdom should be incorporated?
• What historical injuries need addressing?
• What future do we want to create?
• How do we measure progress?
• Who needs to be involved?

Connection and Exchange

Adaptations aren't isolated experiments but part of a global dialogue. Consider:

• Linking with similar communities elsewhere
• Sharing challenges and solutions
• Learning from different approaches
• Building solidarity across adaptations

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Every adaptation enriches our understanding of how dignity and flourishing can be achieved in different contexts. Your community's interpretation matters.