The little-known story of how the U.S. government came to hold nearly one-third of the nation’s land and manage it primarily for recreation, education and conservation. “A much-needed chronicle of how the American people decided––wisely and democratically––that nearly a third of the nation’s land surface should remain in our collective ownership and be managed for our common good.”—Dayton Duncan, author of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea America’s public lands include more than 600 million acres of forests, plains, mountains, wetlands, deserts, and shorelines. In this book, John Leshy, a leading expert in public lands policy, discusses the key political decisions that led to this, beginning at the very founding of the nation. He traces the emergence of a bipartisan political consensus in favor of the national government holding these vast land areas primarily for recreation, education, and conservation of biodiversity and cultural resources. That consensus remains strong and continues to shape American identity. Such a success story of the political system is a bright spot in an era of cynicism about government. This book is essential reading for anyone who cares about public lands, and it is particularly timely as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Caring is a nitty-gritty process. Cultivating Common Ground teaches us how to care at work with real life experiences, rather than through conceptual thinking alone. Caring relationships to our work and each other give meaning to our work and provide a powerful source of energy for our organizations. Therefore, we must release relationships from their hiding place in the informal structure of the organization. The way to do that is to work together, to cultivate common ground, in order to make a conscious commitment to hold a life and a task in common. As old structures crumble, we have the opportunity to build caring communities at work. This book explains what went wrong in the first place, names our fears, and provides real-life examples of how to release the power of relationships in the workplace. Daniel S. Hanson is President of the Fluid Dairy Division of Land O'Lakes, Inc., an instructor at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and a speaker and author on the subject of organizational change and personal empowerment. Hanson draws on his 30 years experience as a corporate executive for four Fortune 500 companies, his extensive research, and his own life-changing experience to offer practical, hands-on presentations and trainings. He is also the author of A Place To Shine: Emerging From the Shadows at Work, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1996. "This is a compassionate and powerful call for caring in the workplace. Dan Hanson is right on the mark when he suggests that we need to take courageous steps toward a new, caring workplace. He is one of the best teachers of building community at work you'll ever meet." --Richard J. Leider, founding partner, The Inventure Group, author, "Repacking Your Bags" and "The Power of Purpose" "Dan Hanson delves broadly and deeply into the nature of relationships in the workplace. He lays before us the common ground that nourishes results as well as meaning and satisfaction for the human heart and soul. Hanson provides the tools and knowledge we need to cultivate this garden. We are called to fertilize the soil with our own courage." --Margaret A. Lulic, author, "Who We Could Be at Work"

Placed within the context of the academic environment, this multi-focused book identifies students as active contributors and learners; faculty as researchers, teachers, and learners; and administrators as a synthesis of all three modes of collaboration. While focusing on the mutuality of educational enterprises, Common Ground raises provocative questions about the dynamics of gender and cooperation at various levels of academia. It reveals the transformative power of collaboration by challenging traditional notions of single authorship and beliefs about knowledge as individually owned and acquired. By offering different perspectives on feminism and collaboration, this book establishes the basis for re-thinking Romantic notions about creativity, re-conceptualizing conventional ideas regarding competition, and re-reading traditional hierarchies and authoritarian relationships.

Wallerstein examines what holds psychoanalysts together as common adherents of a shared science and profession. He describes what the diverse perspectives have in common and what differentiates them, all together, from all the other theories of mental life. The common ground rests in the shared clinical enterprise in consulting rooms where therapists relate comparably to the immediacy of the transference-counter-transference interplay with their patients. He applies these conceptions to clinical material of three of the major perspectives in the field: the ego psychological, the Kleinian, and the object relational.

Technologies that electronically mediate conversation, such as text-based chat or desktop video conferencing, draw on theories of human-human interaction to make predictions about the effects of design decisions. This lecture reviews the theory that has been most influential in this area: Clark's theory of language use. The key concept in Clark's theory is that of common ground. Language is viewed as a collaborative activity that uses existing common ground to develop further common ground and, hence, to communicate efficiently. The theory (a) defines different kinds of common ground, (b) formalizes the notion of collaborative activity as a “joint action,†and (c) describes the processes by which common ground is developed through joint action. Chapter 1 explains why a purely cognitive model of communication is not enough and what is meant by the phrase “collaborative activity.†Chapter 2 introduces the idea of common ground and how it is used in language through an example of two people conversing over a video link. Chapter 3 indicates where the interested reader can find out about the antecedents to Clark's theory. Chapter 4 sets out the fundamental concepts in Clark's theory. Chapter 5 uses five published case studies of electronically mediated communication to illustrate the value of the theory. These include studies of a computer-supported meeting room (Cognoter), a video tunnel that supports gaze awareness, video conferencing in medical consultation, and text chat.

In a world grappling with the devastating consequences of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, "Mediation Common Ground in Ukraine Russia" emerges as a beacon of hope and a roadmap for peace. David Hoicka, a seasoned mediator based in neutral Singapore, presents a compelling exploration of the potential for reconciliation and renewed cooperation between these two nations with deep historical and cultural ties. Unveiling Paths to Peace Drawing on extensive research and a deep understanding of both Ukrainian and Russian perspectives, Hoicka uncovers a wealth of common ground that exists beneath the surface of current tensions. From shared cultural heritage to complementary economic strengths, from joint scientific endeavors to collaborative approaches to global challenges, this book illuminates the myriad ways in which Ukraine and Russia could benefit from choosing cooperation over conflict. The author presents a balanced, neutral analysis that respects the concerns and aspirations of both nations while focusing on the tremendous potential for mutual benefit through peaceful engagement. Through carefully crafted chapters, readers are guided through various domains where Ukrainian-Russian cooperation is not just possible but potentially transformative: - Economic partnerships that could drive growth and prosperity on both sides of the border - Cultural exchanges that celebrate shared heritage while respecting distinct national identities - Scientific collaborations that could position the region as a global hub for innovation - Joint efforts to address pressing humanitarian and environmental challenges A Vision for the Future More than just an academic exercise, this book offers a vision of a future where Ukraine and Russia move beyond current conflicts to forge a relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests, and a commitment to the well-being of their peoples. Hoicka argues persuasively that such a transformation is not only desirable but necessary for regional stability and global progress. Practical Insights for Peacebuilding "Mediation Common Ground in Ukraine Russia" goes beyond theoretical discussions to offer practical insights and strategies for building bridges between the two nations. Drawing on successful examples of conflict resolution from around the world, Hoicka presents innovative approaches to dialogue, trust-building, and collaborative problem-solving that could pave the way for meaningful reconciliation. Key features of the book include: - In-depth analysis of historical, cultural, and economic ties between Ukraine and Russia - Case studies of successful cooperation in various fields, even during times of tension - Interviews with experts, policymakers, and citizens from both countries, providing diverse perspectives on the potential for peace - Concrete recommendations for policymakers, business leaders, and civil society organizations on fostering dialogue and collaboration Why Read This Book? In a world where the drumbeats of war often drown out voices of reason, "Mediation Common Ground in Ukraine Russia" stands as a powerful reminder of the possibilities for peace that exist when we have the courage to seek out our shared humanity and common interests. It is an indispensable read for anyone committed to building a more peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative world.

In recent years the traditional approach to common ground as a body of information shared between participants of a communicative process has been challenged. Taking into account not only L1 but also intercultural interactions and attempting to bring together the traditional view with the egocentrism-based view of cognitive psychologists, it has been argued that construction of common ground is a dynamic, emergent process. It is the convergence of the mental representation of shared knowledge that we activate, assumed mutual knowledge that we seek, and rapport as well as knowledge that we co-construct in the communicative process. This dynamic understanding of common ground has been applied in many research projects addressing both L1 and intercultural interactions in recent years. As a result several new elements, aspects and interpretations of common ground have been identified. Some researchers came to view common ground as one component in a complex contextual information structure. Others, analyzing intercultural interactions, pointed out the dynamism of the interplay of core common ground and emergent common ground. The book brings together researchers from different angles of pragmatics and communication to examine (i) what adjustments to the notion of common ground based on L1 communication should be made in the light of research in intercultural communication; (ii) what the relationship is between context, situation and common ground, and (iii) how relevant knowledge and content get selected for inclusion into core and emergent common ground.

This book presents current research that discusses some of the major issues in pragmatics from new perspectives, and directs attention to aspects of fundamental tenets that have been investigated only to a limited extent. Current pragmatic theories emphasize the importance of intention, cooperation, common ground, mutual knowledge, relevance, and commitment in executing communicative acts. However, recent research in cognitive psychology, linguistic pragmatics, and intercultural communication has raised questions that warrant some revision of these major tenets. Debates about the place of intention in pragmatics have indicated that Gricean intentions may play a less central role in communication than traditionally assumed. Cognitive psychologists pointed out that individual, egocentric endeavors of interlocutors play a much more decisive role in the initial stages of production and comprehension than current pragmatic theories envision. Some researchers criticized the Clark and Brennan's common ground model and Clark's contribution theory arguing that these approaches retain a communication-as-transfer-between-minds view of language, and treat intentions and goals as pre-existing psychological entities that are later somehow formulated in language. All these developments are addressed in the papers of the volume written by prominent scholars representing several disciplines.

When a small group of women set out to march to Greenham one summer day at the end of August 1981, none of them could have imagined that this outing would change their lives forever. Nor did they dream that their gesture that day would spark off a feminist protest movement that would last for decades spreading its influence across the world. This highly entertaining and evocative history of the common traces the development of the protests from the summer of that year through the climax of the Cold War to the present day. It is a quintessentially English tale in which a disparate group of dedicated and sometimes fractious women confront the full military might of the United States, not only to raise their voices against nuclear weapons but also to safeguard the ancient customs and rights of common ground. As alive to the women's concerns as to the wider political implications, Fairhall paints a vivid picture of life at Greenham, from the challenges and frustrations of the night time raids and appearances in court to the exuberant self-expression of the camps at the various rainbow-coloured Gates. More recently, he shows how the respectable residents of Newbury, where the women were often given such a hostile reception, have used the same laws exploited by the women in their own fight to restore the ancient rights of public access to the common and protect it as open heathland for future generations. The protests at Greenham Common are a powerful symbol of the 20th century which still arouse strong feelings today. There are many 'Greenham women' still around. But what did they really achieve? As public concern focuses both on the proliferation of modern weapons of mass destruction and the need to preserve the threatened British landscape, this is a timely moment to consider their legacy.

Imagines a village in which there are too many people consuming shared resources and discusses the challenge of handling our world's environment safely.