News

The dangers of justification

When our beliefs are threatened by facts, we turn to unfalsifiable justifications On being told physics could undermine religious claims, believers said faith was more about living a moral life. It’s great to have facts on your side. The fundamentalist is delighted by...

ODR

Online and Alternative Dispute Resolution – what it means for Businesses in 2015 A Peaceful New Year? The EU is planning 2015 will bring peace to businesses and consumers they deal with. This is in the shape of new laws that will come into effect on 9 July 2015 . This...

Hats off to AVAAZ

Avaaz have asked us to sign a petition that we adhere to three principles which are: Show kindness and respect Strive for wisdom, and Practice gratitude. It does not matter who you are, where you come from or what cultures you hold dear, the entire human race holds...

Je Suis Charlie

In the words of Marshall Rosenberg, every act we find ourselves judging another for is simply a “tragic expression of an unmet need”. So what is the fundamental terrorist actually needing? We might guess at it: Acceptance, acknowledgement, respect, trust, inclusion,...

ODR

ODR is the way of the future for many traders and consumers. Cross border EU Directive comes into effect in July this year and the EU portal in January 2016. Are you ready? Do you need to call us about your requirements.

Judicial Approval of Mediation

Judicial Approval of Mediation Many will be aware of the judgement made by Mr Justice Norris in a Boundary Dispute in October 2014. In particular see paragraphs 21 to 25. In paragraph 22 Mr Justice Norris echoes the words of Sir Alan Ward in Oliver v Symons [2012]...

Listening skills

One of the first skills a mediator learns is to actively listen, by which we mean taking out all our mind clutter of judgment, what they might do, what we might tell them, what we long to share, who we think was to blame etc and simply listen without thinking, simply...

CMC to become a charity

The Civil Mediation Council, the body that ensures registered panels of mediators are appropriately set up with accredited mediators and annual flying hours of training and mediating, voted at its EGM on 1 May 2014 to become a charitable organization.  A good...

Why conflict is so threatening?

If we look at Social Identity Theory as created by Henry Tajfel in 1979 it helps to see why people are so threatened by conflict as it touches on our social identity, self esteem and self image. Tajfel outlined his theory as this. A person’s sense of who they are is...