Date archives "November 2011"

Community-oriented microfunding

Via: “The new face of philanthropy: local, direct, and community-oriented: “Boston-based groups like Feast Mass, the Awesome Foundation, and the Cambridge Center for Adult Education’s CSArt program aim to make community-sourced funding more democratic and accessible. In a cash-strapped economy where arts funding has been deprioritized, such solutions have been particularly valuable.” How microfunding is… Continue reading

John Bonifaz on Revoking Corporate Personhood (#OccupyWallStreet Video Update)

Via Democracy Now: “After an Election Day that saw a number of wins for progressive causes nationwide, activists opposed to “corporate personhood” — the notion that corporations have equal rights to individuals — are pushing ahead with a campaign to add a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would reject the idea that corporations… Continue reading

The Spanish Revolution & the Internet: From free culture to meta-politics

Berkman Luncheon Series The Spanish Revolution & the Internet: From free culture to meta-politics Mayo Fuster Morell, Berkman Center Fellow Tuesday, November 22, 12:30 pm (Boston Time Zone – 18:30 Spanish State time zone) Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/luncheon/2011/11/morell In the context of multiple crises – ecological, political, financial and geopolitical restructuring… Continue reading

Should #OccupyWallStreet Protesters Lay Claim to the New Top-Level Domains for Cities?

Excerpted from David Bollier: As the Occupy Wall Street protesters contemplate “what next?” – and as they ponder how to combine a visionary agenda with achiveable, short-term political goals – I have suggestion. The Occupy forces in hundreds of cities should petition their local governments to acquire a new “top-level Internet domain” for their city,… Continue reading

#OccupyWallStreet as the start of a new Progressive era, or is it a Revolution?

(also read the inspiring editorial by Chris Hedges below: This Is What Revolution Looks Like) 1. Excerpted from JEFFREY D. SACHS: “OCCUPY WALL STREET and its allied movements around the country are more than a walk in the park. They are most likely the start of a new era in America. Historians have noted that… Continue reading

Climate change (2): changing the empathy-exterminating mindset to #OccupyWallStreet’s Climate Justice

1. Researchers with Yale’s Cultural Cognition Project have found that political/cultural worldview explains “individuals’ beliefs about global warming more powerfully than any other individual characteristic.” Those with strong “egalitarian” and “communitarian” worldviews (marked by an inclination toward collective action and social justice, concern about inequality and suspicion of corporate power) overwhelmingly accept the scientific consensus… Continue reading

Kristen Christian on Bank Transfer Day (#OccupyWallStreet Video Update)

Via Democracy Now: “Protests were held across the country Saturday to mark Bank Transfer Day, a campaign to move accounts from big banks into community banks or credit unions. Credit unions attracted more than 40,000 new account holders, reporting about $80 million in new savings, or an average of about $2,000 per new account holder…. Continue reading

Provisioning and direct democracy infrastructures at #OccupyWallStreet

The best documentary so far on how #ows works, decides and feeds itself! INfocus writes: “Occupy Wall Street has just celebrated its 30th day in the park. On Saturday, it inspired solidarity actions in 1000 cities and that is considered as an incredible achievement. We have heard a lot about what they stand for but… Continue reading

Global action networks: a 21st-century global governance model

“Global Action Networks (GANs) are a specific type of network. These are a new, innovative network that are addressing critical global issues like climate change, poverty, health, education, and human security. They do this by integrating seven characteristics.” Patrick McNamara reviews Steve Waddell‘s book on Global Action Networks: “The old ways of doing things are… Continue reading

Debating violence in Oakland’s #OccupyWallStreet Assembly

An excerpt from Rabbi Michael Lerner, followed by an account of the general assembly discussing violence. 1. Michael Lerner ” I have been participating both in Occupy Oakland and Occupy San Francisco, and I feel that the Occupy movement nationally has made a tremendous contribution to our society. By formulating things in terms of “the… Continue reading