Via: ‘Paul Needham’s organization, Simpa Networks, makes solar energy available to the poor. By using a pay-as-you-go pricing structure modeled after mobile phone cards, Simpa gives its customers ownership of the electricity. Once the initial cost of the equipment is paid off, the device belongs to the customer and their electricity is free.’ Watch the… Continue reading
Date archives "August 2012"
Project of the Day: Trade School and the emergence of ‘barter-for-education’ communities
Trade School (started in NYC) is an example of the emerging Barter-for-Education Communities. Trade Schools have been popping up around the world and are now active in 15 cities and 10 countries. Trade School is associated with the barter initiative OurGoods. Here is a video about their expansion. For more details, see the interview excerpts… Continue reading
The Emerging Leader Labs: A new type of Social Incubator Running on the Gift Economy
In my opinion, a truly ground-breaking initiative, and a game changer. Thanks Venessa Miemis, the Quakers, and the whole team, for bringing this about!! Ask more details via @EmLeaders (twitter). Excerpt: “”The premise is pretty straightforward: There are plenty of passionate, driven people who want to make cool ideas and projects happen. Access to resources… Continue reading
Video of the Day: Karen Armstrong on Reviving the Golden Rule
Karen Armstrong: “The goal: Create a simple, concise, visually engaging website that invites and encourages people to learn, discuss, and share the merits of the Golden Rule with others. A few months later, we have a growing community of diverse people connecting on Facebook, Twitter, all sharing this timeless, universal message of peace, justice and… Continue reading
Essay of the Day: Peer to Peer Production as the Alternative to Capitalism
* Article: Peer to peer production as the alternative to capitalism. Jakob Rigi. Journal of Peer Production. Issue #1: Productive Negation, 2012. Jakob Rigi writes in the abstract: ‘The current crisis of capitalism has provoked protests, revolts and revolutions in major parts of the planet that include 3 billions of inhabitants. Even the mainstream Time… Continue reading
Proposals for the reform of copyright and related culture and media policy
The free cultural activist group La Quadrature du Net, has a set of proposals for legal reform of copyright, available in full here: “Now that the ACTA treaty has been rejected by the European Parliament, a period opens during which it will be possible to push for a new regulatory and policy framework adapted to… Continue reading
Video of the Day: Matt LeMay on What Changes When the Internet Archives Everything
This video is recommended by Kate Carruthers: “This talk gives us some really important insights into the changed world we now inhabit. The world in which our passing fancies and offhand comments were written on the wind has passed into history. Now most things that we click or share online are recorded and ready for… Continue reading
Book of the Week (2): Introduction to the Open Source Everything Manifesto
* The Open-Source Everything Manifesto: Transparency, Truth, and Trust. By Robert David Steele. Evolver, 2012. We presented Robert Steele’s book 2 days ago. Here are further excerpts, including the full introduction from the book, in Scribd format. On Integrity: From chapter 5: 1. “In the twenty-first century, intelligence, design, and integrity comprise the triad that… Continue reading
Occupying the politics of attention in a p2p world (2)
The following is the second part of an interview that excerpted from a conversation/interview with San Kinsley, conducted in the aftermath of the Paying Attention conference. * Interview: Towards Peer-to-Peer Alternatives: An Interview with Michel Bauwens. Conducted by Sam Kinsley. * from the special Issue: PAYING ATTENTION: Towards a Critique of the Attention Economy. By… Continue reading
Monitoring Bitcoin: WIKISPEED + Bitcoin, buying a peer-produced car with a p2p currency
Another P2P milestone: it is now possible to order a peer-produced car, or carparts, with a peer-produced currency! WIKISPEED is a project that has been highlighted in several occasions by the P2P Foundation for the powerful way in which it embodies the theory of Peer Production. That fact that there is a company developing more… Continue reading
The Second Green Revolution, the revolution of the young, is taking place in the cities
“We are in an era when gardens are front and center for hopes and dreams of a better world or just a better neighborhood, or the fertile space where the two become one. There are farm advocates and food activists, progressive farmers and gardeners, and maybe most particular to this moment, there’s a lot of… Continue reading