On being a commoner

The idea of commoning is on the rise, or rather, is having a resurgence. Talk of the commons appears in unexpected places, from the radical to the less so. From a marginal idea a few years ago it has drifted, with the help of digital technology, into a position where parties and campaigners refer to… Continue reading

Organizing and Governing the Commons: A Coop-Commons Multilevel Dialogue with Municipalities and Labour

In this rapidly changing world, existing systems are being weakened, resulting in risks as well as opportunities. The global economic crisis has degraded people’s working and living conditions but has also raised questions about the legitimacy of financialized capitalism. The development of digital technology has produced new types of precarious jobs, but it has also… Continue reading

3 Community-Based Solutions for Managing and Conserving Water Supplies

Cross-posted from Shareable. The oceans were the original global commons, fished and navigated for ages. But new technologies have added numerous challenges to sustaining our oceans: offshore oil drilling, deep-sea mining, and overfishing. However, it’s crucial that water, both freshwater and saltwater, remains a commons and held in the public trust, because access to clean water… Continue reading

3 Projects That Show How Cities Can Use Technology as a Force for Good

Cross-posted from Shareable. Platforms enabled by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), like Uber and Airbnb, are increasingly being seen as looters by cities. They are like Death Stars, extracting great swaths of value from local communities only to transfer that wealth elsewhere. Indeed, it would seem that the original ideas of sharing and peer-to-peer collaboration… Continue reading

Greece: Alternative Economies & Community Currencies Pt. 3 – FairCoop

Third of a three part series, Niko Georgiades takes on a journey through Greece’s post-capitalist alt. economy, this time by analysing the latest developments around FairCoop. Originally published in Unicorn Riot Ninja. Niko Georgiades: Athens, Greece – Tools born from the internet, applied across autonomous networks and movements seeking alternatives to capitalism, are providing the infrastructure… Continue reading

Project of the Day: Driver Co-op

Driver Co-op is an online co-operative platform app owned by private hire drivers and supported by The New Economics Foundation. The following article was written by Alice Martin, Work & Housing Lead, New Economics Foundation and originally published in Nesta’s Blog. The New Economics Foundation plans to conduct research to support the development of an online co-operative platform app owned… Continue reading

Greece: Alternative Economies & Community Currencies Pt. 2 – Kenya’s Sarafu-Credit

Second of a three part series, Niko Georgiades takes on a journey through Greece’s post-capitalist alt. economy, this time by way of Kenya. Originally published in Unicorn Riot Ninja. Niko Georgiades: Athens, Greece – Experimenting with alternatives to capitalism has continued to become more popular as huge wealth divides devour chances of relieving poverty across the… Continue reading

Barrio Solar: Solar Power for Puerto Rico

Hazel Henderson alerted us to this worthy campaign coming out of Puerto Rico. Reposted from the Barrio Solar Crowdfund page. On the subject of Puerto Rico’s energy grid, also don’t miss this reaction to Elon Musk’s white-saviour bro-capitalist solutions. BARRIO SOLAR was created on September 21st, the day after Hurricane Maria devastated the island nation of… Continue reading