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March marks the return of Kate Reed and the second season of the USA network television show Fairly Legal. Kate continues to mediate disputes on the small screen between estranged lovers to large corporations. Since the majority of real-life mediations are kept confidential, most folks won't know what is…

One of the things that many of us do when we are in conflict, is to make assumptions about the other person and his or her motives. Depending on the person, the situation, what is said or done (or not said or done), and our frame of mind and heart at that time, there are varying levels of assumptions we may make. For instance, we may start out giving the other person the benefit of the doubt and make excuses that demonstrate some empathy and/or understanding. This may be of the nature, “He…

From Colin Rule's blog on ODR.info:

ODR experts wanted for online facilitation

If first impressions are so important in a variety of interactions and professions, what role could it play in mediation sessions? 

Many mediators say they use the "toolbox" method.  That is, they do "whatever works." At first blush, this sounds sensible.  Read the full article for a discussion of why it might not be such a good way to go. 

Many of us experience inner reactions to another person’s words, actions, attitude or behaviours, but do not let him or her know. Fear of retaliation, encountering some other sort of combative response, becoming more upset and other perceived consequences often keep us from raising our concerns and pre-empting unnecessary friction. And suppressing our feelings does not help as inevitably they erupt somewhere along the road, and may even result in situations that can be even more unsettling.…

Because, whether we want them to or not, our connections with others are enduring. We can ignore them or deny them but, once made, they stay with us forever — as do any any loose ends left in our connections.

This beautiful 3 minute video called "Porcelain Unicorn" says it all.

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My thanks to my friends, Tom and Joan, for sending me the link to…

• A new Oxford University study has found that a beta-blocker drug may possibly reduce “subconscious” racism. The drug is thought to work by clocking activation of the peripheral autonomic nervous system and in areas of the brain involved with formulating emotional responses, including fear.
• The Transitional Justice Institute…

The Israel Project…

Join us for our next twitter as we conclude "March is Mediator's Beyond Borders Month at ADRhub.com."

We will be discussing various…

Engaging in conflict conversations is a common happenstance. Some discussions however, lead to uncommon sentiments and reactions when we lose our sense of self and control. One of the consequences is that we may tend to put conflict conversations off indefinitely. Or, we may blurt out something awkwardly or at inappropriate times, or any combination of approaches that make for counterproductive communications.

Becoming masterful at conflict communications – to talk out…

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As part of the annual National Youth Violence Prevention Week (March 19-23), we will be talking about what we can do about the conflict and violence that surrounds bullying and cyberbullying.

For those of you who work with youth (K-12) and anyone in higher education you know that cyberbullying is a…

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Erik Cleven has been studying interethnic conflict all over the world.  Here's a blog entry describing his latest article. Read the blog here

• A key player in the 2011 Conservative party campaign for Guelph is refusing to answer more questions, on the advice of his lawyer, from Elections Canada investigators probing fraudulent robo-calls in the riding during the last election that allegedly misled voters. In an extremely rare move, the Conservative…

One of the things that sometimes happens when we are embroiled in an interpersonal conflict is that we perceive the differences between us as a matter of right and wrong. That is, that we are right and the other person is wrong! That perspective may be the other person’s too, of course. In many cases, such attributions do not apply and mostly, they don’t serve us well. Yet, when there is a need to find fault, it seems many of us think in positional terms of black versus white and hold…

• The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released a new report discussing the threat of the terrorist group Lashkare-Taiba (LeT) in South Asia. The report suggests that the group is the second most dangerous terrorist group in the region, after al-Qaeda.
• The United States named…

The coaches’ coach.  That’s sort of how I think of Cinnie Noble (pictured right).  I’ve gotten to know Cinnie a bit over the last couple of years, through social media, and via reading her excellent book,…

• A new American initiative to improve the notoriously poor LGBT rights in sub-Saharan Africa is reportedly inspiring a large backlash. Sub-Saharan Africa is marked by widespread homophobia as well as chronic dependence on foreign aid, in particular from the US, and the idea that the two issues might now be linked seems…