Posts

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In Search of Goal Setting Words for 2017 Starting in 2014, I began picking three words to remind me of my goals for the year.  Chris Brogan gave me the idea.   Here is his post on the topic.  In 2014 , I picked:  Robin, launch, and wealth. In 2015 , I picked:  Well-being, manifestation, and love.  Last year, I must have completely forgotten about the goal-setting exercise in the midst of my hectic transition to Qatar. But, now that I am settled and content in my new location, it is time to find three new words for 2017. I first though about fierce , physical , and fire .   These words reflected my response to the Trump election, but also recognized my commitment to health and well-being.  This week, I started my 19th consecutive week of fitness training. My friend, Heidi, and I meet at 6:30 a.m. four times a week. I swim for 20 or 30 minutes in a 16 meter pool.  She runs.  Then, we lift for another 45 minutes.   This emphasis on fitness

My Second Academic Year In Qatar Starts on Sunday!

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My Facebook feed keeps showing me photos from a year ago: My first day in Qatar on August 15, 2015, jet lag clearly present. My shopping trips with friends as I began housekeeping in my Porto Arabia Tower apartment. Delicious meals at the restaurants featuring a wide variety of international foods. The onboarding process at Qatar University for new faculty. Steamy nights exploring the souk. Some sight-seeing trips in the blistering evening heat. Exploring fancy spas. Morning walks on the harbor with West Bay skyscrapers visible in the distance. Dressing up for the law school's reception at the Ritz Carlton. I am happy and curious in all these photos.  I look at those photos and feel grateful that I am through that demanding transition process.  Doha is now thoroughly my home.  I have a new apartment in Qanat Quatier, an apartment complex desig

Peace, Justice, and Fairness in the Muslim Tradition

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 Peace Be With Us All This article , Principles and Practices of Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam , provides a very interesting synthesis of the role peace plays in the Muslim community.  It also discusses the role of conflict resolution in Muslim cultures, with a focus on Morocco. The author, Claudia Maffettone is a conflict resolution practitioner and a certified mediator. She trained the New York Peace Institute, Harvard Law School, the New York City Bar, Soliya and the International Institute for Restorative Practices. I have suggested that she present this synthesis at the next conference of the ABA Section on Dispute Resolution.  I think my colleagues would find it valuable.  

Global Legal Skills Conference 2016

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Another New Tribe Part of my transition as a new resident of the Arabian Gulf region involves finding new tribes to join and help lead.   In March 2016 , I talked about the ADR tribes that I’ve found in Dubai and Doha.  I found another tribe that reflects my new place in the world. At the end of May, I attended the Global Legal Skills Conference in Verona, Italy at the University of Verona's Facolta Giurisprudenza.  Last year, I attended this conference for the first time.  I came back for the reason that the folks organizing and attending this conference are highly dedicated professors of law from all over the world who want to learn how better to teach law across cultures and across languages.    In other words, they are process people – my type of people.  Mediators often say that if the process is good, the outcome will be just fine, too.   So, if we continue to explore skillful ways of teaching students for whom English is not their first languag
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Back in the Middle with You:  Re-Joining my U.S. ADR Tribe In early April 2016, after a gap of several years, I finally joined an old tribe of ADR scholars, trainers, and practitioners at the annual conference, this year in New York, sponsored by the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution . This ABA tribe claims my heart. These are great folks doing interesting and world-altering work. I love being among them. In my last post , I talked about several new tribes that reflect my transition to a new life in Doha, Qatar as a law professor. My new Arabian Gulf ADR tribes are important to my desire to scale-up my ADR practice and training. Yet, the anchor for my work has always been my old ABA tribe. I have tried to serve it in several ways: Member, Standing Committee on Ethical Guidance for Mediators (2006-2011). Co-Chair, Mediator Ethical Opinions Database Sub-Committee of the Standing Committee on Ethical Guidance for Mediators (200

Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Arab Gulf Region

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Building the  ADR Tribe Seth Godin's book, Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us (2014),  has played a big role in my thinking and behavior since I read it shortly after its publication.  Amazon describes the theme of the book as:  A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have joined tribes . . . . It’s our nature. Now the Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time. All those blogs and social networking sites are helping existing tribes get bigger and enabling new tribes to be born―groups of ten or ten million who care about a political campaign, or a new way to fight global warming. Who is going to lead all these tribes? . . . . Anyone who wants to make a difference now has the tools at their fingertips. Tribes will make you think (really think) about the opportunities for leading your fellow employees, customers, investors, believers, hobbyists, readers…. It&#