Minding the Gaps – Is Everything Old New Again?

The global world, both near and far,
Embraces forms of ADR
Fiji, Hong Kong, across the ditch
Scratch DR’s existential itch
New acronyms come into play
ADC, RI, NAJ
Inventive times they lie ahead
For UNCITRAL and for arb-med
Nudge theory tells us how to game
Those inclined to stay the same.
But there are sceptics, some have doubt
They grow irate and shout full out
This neuroscience and psychobabble
Leave it to academic rabble
But when they do need help I think
They will turn to Drunk Tank Pink
Amidst the fog of change and dread
The DR world is far from dead
Auspicious signs for all DR,
Through CPD or webinar
Happening both near and far
In the annals of our discourse a chapter still is lacking
Grave global issues aggravate without our learned backing
The major conflicts round the world are far from resolution
Refugees seeking security, invasion and pollution
War and greed claim countless souls, car-bombed and droned
While they endure exuberance must surely be postponed
Francis calls to arms on plights of humanity
In this vortex can DR bring needed sanity?
Could intercession for just peace be DR’s new refrain?
Dante’s infernos doused? A too ambitious claim?
The politicians, the corporates, play adversarial confrontation
How nice twould be if they could be next up for education.
And now it’s time to cease, forsooth, these stanzas terrible
Before the audience suggests: this is far too much Boulle.
- Resolution Institute, Sydney, October 2015