Alternative Economy Cultures: Helsinki, April 3 to 5

Still time to jon us if you are in Finland!!

To check remaining registration possibilities send email to alt.econ.cult [-at-] pixelache.ac

The Program:

Friday 3rd April, 10.00 – 18.00

FULL 1-DAY SEMINAR

Cultural practitioners, activists, and economic theorists from Finland and abroad, working from different contexts, strategies and institutional backgrounds, have been invited to contribute to this theme.

Michael Albert (US), Michel Bauwens (BE/TH), Geraldine Juárez (MX), Tapani Köppä (FI),
Kristoffer Lawson of Scred (FI), Wojtek Mejor (PL), Saija-Riitta Sadeoja of Porkkanamafia (FI), Oliver Ressler (AT), Sara Sajjad of Piratbyrån (SE), Felix Stalder (AT), Tere Vadén (FI), and
Eero Yli-Vakkuri of Uuva Project (FI).

Sunday 5th April, 15.00 – 17.00

WORKSHOP ABOUT PEER-FUNDRAISING

Afternoon session 15.00 – 17.00 at Demos Helsinki Office (Laivurinkatu 41)
Hosted by Andrew Gryf Paterson and Roope Mokka.

Discussion-based workshop led by Geraldine Juárez of Tanda Foundation (MX), featuring also Michel Bauwens (BE/TH), Kristoffer Lawson of Scred (FI), Lennu Keinänen of Suomen Verkkomaksut (FI), and others.

What it is about?

“Cultural production and social-networking, especially the digital online versions of the recent decade, have promoted new ideas of wealth, opportunity, scarcity, and exchange. Importantly, it also reminds us of old ones. Surrounding those ideas are developing practices, cultures and entrpreneurship.

Some of these have long roots and heritage. There was an old Scots phrase, common weil, meaning ‘common good’ or ‘public welfare’ way back in the 16th century. The concept of ‘mutual aid’, for example, was reflected upon by Russian intellectuals, late 19th century, as an important quality in human evolution. Certainly, cooperation, especially in rural villages, has been a feature of everyday and seasonal life for centuries in different parts of the world; in Finland, for example, through the common understanding of talkoot. Following, the social-clubs (seurantalot) built in the early 20th century were based on peer-to-peer activity. In the contemporary context, similar motivations form within internet collaboration and Wikipedia entries. Commonly, moving house is often done with peer-to-peer mutual aid, and chipping in together with friends to buy a boat is an appreciated local example of peer-funding.

Thanks to digital tools and internet network connections, the ability to creatively adjust and innovate has expanded to the mass population. Established holders of wealth are challenged as others (often portrayed as the younger generation), who gain new materials, resources, and the ability to create value anew. The Pirate Bay has been on trial in Sweden, and free culture is maybe not running only on volunteer energies. Furthermore, technologies are enabling us to participate in and co-ordinate production – raising and distributing ‘added-value’ – in a more transparent fashion.

Market-led capitalism and state-led socialism have both crashed in spectacular forms over the last 30 years. We are currently amid financial crisis where virtual credit affects physical and emotional health. These systems have proven to be unsustainable in their use of resources and people, and lead towards environmental and economic collapse.

Can we move forward in a sustainable and ethical way, leaving behind inequalities, appropriation and exploitation?”

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