Take a Stand
An activity to explore the diversity of views about whether humanity can get into the Doughnut by 2050
Version 1.0 (September 2020)
Overview
This activity is based on the question ‘Can humanity get into the Doughnut by 2050?’, with four different answers represented in the picture. Participants are invited to ‘take a stand’ and go to the corner of the room that best represents their view, then share their thoughts with others, write them down collectively, then go to another corner and reflect on and respond to what they see. Thoughts and responses are recorded on large sheets of paper and then put on walls to create a gallery of ‘Doughnut debates’. The activity ends with a period of reflection, inviting participants to notice how their view has changed or not, based on what they’ve seen and heard from others.
Why do it?
- The activity is great for exploring the diversity of views held within a group by listening to, and learning from, others who express different views
- It creates an opportunity to explore what ideas and arguments change our minds
- And it creates a space to connect with and acknowledge the emotions that this question might bring up
Who is it for?
Communities | Educators | any groups interested in exploring the concept of the Doughnut
How long does it take?
90 minutes (but can be done in less time)
How many people is it for?
10 - 50
What materials do I need?
Picture (download below), 4 large sheets of paper (at least A2), pens, post-it notes
What does the facilitator need to know or be able to do?
Respond to and hold space for emotions that may arise
Acknowledgements
Original activity by Kate Raworth
Activity guide by Rob Shorter at DEAL
Additional contributions from Hannah Dewhirst
Links
Open the activity guide in Google Docs
Open the Take a Stand picture in Google Slides
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This tool is licensed under a Creative Commons BY SA 4.0 license. For full details visit our Licensing Rules. 
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Member
Susan Lyle
Swansea, Wales.
I am a retired teacher educator working part-time as a writer, educator and activist. I have been involved in global justice education and ecological understanding since 1979. I ran a Development Education Centre from 1985-1991 and produced 10 teaching packs on "Humanity in the Environment" to bring issues of global and environmental concern to children in both primary and secondary schools. I was a trustee for the World Studies Trust for many years and worked extensively on The Global Teacher project across the UK and with my student teachers in Swansea. I n retirement I was an education consultant until Covid and worked with research into Social Care with a focus on Care in everyday life. I continue to educate in schools and community working in classrooms and with teachers and producing articles for teachers and materials for children. I have been an active member of Extinction Rebellion since 2018. I am now a teacher of QiGong and a keen meditator.
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Member
Angelo McNeive
Bray, Leinster, Ireland
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Member
Marie Gildemyn
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Member
Alexandra Cook
London, England, United Kingdom
I am a secondary school teacher (Geography Ages 11+ - GCSE, Politics A-level) holding a BA International Politics. I'd like to incorporate doughnut economics into my curriculum and ensure students have a clear picture of economic systems and their impact before they leave school. Want to help stimulate a move towards a circular, inclusive economy, and do my part to help our society respond to a clear climate crisis in the 21st Century. Keen to collaborate with other educators.
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Member
Kevin Shea
Baiting Hollow, Calverton, New York, United States of America
Founder of Effective Altruism Rationality To Help (e.a.r.t.h.) 501c3; Designer, builder, resident of Long Island Green Dome and Gardens; Steward of O Parks, Wildlife and Recreation in Nicaragua; Just a general all-purpose terra-sapien
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Stéphanie Gauthier
Les Houches, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Teacher in economics and management, I am committed to resilience in the Mont Blanc valley
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Francesca Milocco
Amsterdam (The Netherlands) & Udine (Italy)
I am Italian, living in the Netherlands. My ambition is to contribute to develop a truly sustainable society by connecting people and projects within an international and interdisciplinary context. My background is in chemistry (master in Chemistry at the University of Trieste (IT), PhD in Chemistry and Postdoc in Chemical Engineering at the University of Groningen (NL) and next to my work as R&D Project Manager I like to engage myself in volunteering activities where I can use both my scientific background as well as my social skills in projects focused on sustainability. Therefore, with a group of people from the italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia, we recently founded a non-profit organisation "ReGeneration Hub Friuli" with the aim of connecting people who want to become the Generation of ReThinking, ReDesigning, ReCycling, ReDistributing, ReGenerating. In this context, we organise a yearly annual festival “NanoValbruna” (www.nanovalbruna.com), which brings together scientists, entrepreneurs, teachers, professionals and young people in a small mountain community of the Julian Alps, where they engage themselves in activities focused on ecosystem protection, sustainability, and circular economy.
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Member
John Frost
Bewdley, England, United Kingdom
