Date archives "January 2006"

John Heron on the concept and history of relational spirituality

Relational spirituality defines itself in contrast to the vertical spirituality that focuses on inner transformation alone, in abstraction from the relational basis of human life; and in contrast to the authoritarian aspects of many traditional and contemporary spiritual paths. The following can serve as a good introduction to the topic. Authors who have pioneered the… Continue reading

Wireless Networking for the Developing world

Yasmin Masidi informs us of the following development, as a way to increase internet access to the developing world: (see also this item on the related FON project)I’ve come across mentions of this in a few blogs: “Wireless Networking for the Developing Worldâ€? is, according to the website, a practical guide to planning, building and… Continue reading

Continuing the dialogue with David Bollier: P2P, the Commons, the Market

This is a continuation of our dialogue with David Bollier, of the On the Commons blog, which we had started earlier, responding to a first series of six questions. 7. How stable, extensible and protectible is P2P, esp. given its dependency on the market order (and on public policies that are congenial with large, backward-looking… Continue reading

Towards a Value-based Quarternary Economics

We recommend the reading of Wim Nusselder’s vision of the evolution of economics towards a quarternary stage. We summarize his views, give excerpts,and offer some addtional commentary at the bottom of this entry. This is an economics based on Robert Pirsig’s Metaphysics of Quality (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Lila). It’s fourth section… Continue reading

The campaign against network neutrality

Network neutrality is the principle that obliges data carriers, the telecommunication companies that transport internet traffic, to not discriminate as to the content that they transport, they are ‘neutral’ towards it. However, they are campaigning to change it, under the rationale of differentiate service according to the ability to pay. This is very very dangerous… Continue reading

Call for Papers of Ephemeraweb.org: Affective and Immaterial Labour

Forwarding a call for papers: ‘Ephemera: Theory and Politics in Organisation’ ( www.ephemeraweb.org) Forthcoming edition (January 2007): “Affective and Immaterial Labour Explored” (working title) * Edited by Ben Trott, Emma Dowling and Rodrigo Nunes That Capitalism has undergone a series of transformations over the past few decades, and that these transformations have been expressed –… Continue reading

Canadian event on free software based innovation and peer governance

We are reproducing their Call for Papers: Appel à communication – colloque ACFAS Colloque du 16 mai 2006 Le logiciel libre en tant que modèle d’innovation sociotechnique : pratiques de développement et de coopération dans les communautés (Congrès de ACFAS, 15-19 mai 2006, Université McGill, Montréal) Veuillez diffuser Nous vous invitons à présenter une communication… Continue reading

The three power systems: hierarchy, heterarchy, and responsible autonomy

In my presentations on the emergence of the peer to peer mode of production, governance, and property, I always insist on the difference between decentralized and distributed systems, with P2P applying to the latter. This differentiation is echoed in the theory of Triarchy, which makes the interesting distinction between three modes of power. Combined with… Continue reading

Special issue of Metamute on the Knowledge Commons

Metamute, an excellent magazine on digital culture developments, has a special issue on the Knowledge Commons and its contradictions. Here’s an excerpt introducing the issue: All agree that the knowledge commons must be extended and defended.But this endeavour is not without problems, political, tactical and philosophical. In this first issue of the new format Mute,… Continue reading