Date archives "June 2011"

Lecture on the sustainability of open design

Sy Taffel attented the conference held in Westminster University and organized by Furtherfields.org, i.e Re-Rooting Digital Culture – Media Art Ecologies. I think this is a fair representation of my arguments, so I reproduce his summary: “One thing which left me somewhat confused was why the event was billed as an unconference, when in reality… Continue reading

Minimum Demands of Barcelona Protest Camp

Minimum demands from the Barcelona Protest Camp May 31, 2011   -TRANSLATION- from 15 May Revolution (Originally posted at  http://acampadabcn.wordpress.com/demandes/ consulted 31 May 2011 17:00 ) Minimum Demands In Barcelona several documents are being written collectivly, ?? they collect the wisdom and the contributions of hundreds of people. These documents speak about the different levels… Continue reading

Are self-organized networks a dangerous and mistaken idea?

Famous documentary-maker Adam Curtis has an intriguing editorial in the Guardian, which I recommend you read in full here. It’s hard to summarize but the essential thesis that the idea that ecosystems, and possibly human peer to peer systems, are self-organizing systems that tend towards equilibrium are a dangerous “right-wing” idea. This connection is even… Continue reading

Governance for the Global Commons: Recognizing Planetary Boundaries

1. Earth-system science is still in its infancy and much more needs to be known to create a robust solution to humanity’s global dilemma. Nevertheless, we know enough now about the functioning of the Earth system that we must learn to respect the hardwired limits of our own life-support system. 2. Respecting the boundaries means… Continue reading

Thesis of the Week (2): Four scenarios for the future of the alterglobalization movement

We continue our treatment of the excellent and stimulating PhD thesis from Jose Ramos, on the history and prefigurative future of the alterglobalization movement: * Dissertation: Alternative Futures of Globalisation. A Socio-Ecological Study of the World Social Forum Process. José María Ramos. Queensland University of Technology Division of Research and Commercialisation. May 2010 * Excerpt… Continue reading

Amicable networks and the peer governance mechanisms at Puerta del Sol

What is taking place within Spain at present is part of a wider narrative that police repression will simply not be able quell. A historic social and political shift appears to be taking place as an entire generation of young people attempt to take control of their own collective destiny – both in Europe and… Continue reading