Really good documentary about Greeks returning to their heartland’s to create new localized economies. Strongly recommended! Background at Al Jazeera.
The maturation of alternative currencies in Brazil
Republished travelogue from Shane Hughes of the REconomy project: When it comes to the great global transition to a better world some places are completely fascinating to observe. For example, Bhutan and its policies of Gross National Happiness or Germany and their spread of community renewables. Brazil’s story of community banks and currencies is also… Continue reading
Occupy Medical – Do it yourself basic medical care
The Oregon Weekly reports on an initiative in Eugene, OR that brings volunteers together to provide not only basic medical services but also a haircut some food and a friendly chat. Occupy Medical What do you do if you are homeless, uninsured or just plain broke and you’re sick? Where do you go if you… Continue reading
The revival of the forest commons in France
After three centuries of forest policy that put the interests of the state above locals, the French are realizing that a more inclusive policy is better for both people and forests. Excerpted from Kieko Matteson: (read the whole article here) “It is all the more ironic, then, in light of its long history of legislative… Continue reading
Key Theses on P2P Politics
Written in 2007 but still valid: “1. Our current world system is marked by a profoundly counterproductive logic of social organization: a) it is based on a false concept of abundance in the limited material world; it has created a system based on infinite growth, within the confines of finite resources b) it is based… Continue reading
Eric Hunting’s commentary on Skyler Tidbits 4D Printing
Excerpted from Eric Hunting, our p2p urbanistic correspondent, who monitors modular architecture: “Skyler Tibbits’ concepts are really intriguing. At first glance my feeling was that this was something with huge potential, but all very distant. But the more I saw the more it seemed like there were some possibilities for demonstrating experimental architectural-scale structure in… Continue reading
P2P Futures for Futures Studies
Jose Ramos proposes six paths: 1. Communion in diversity “Communion in diversity means that, even though we represent radical hybridity, mutating into new contexts, we are drawing upon each other’s knowledge and experience in order to inspire ourselves and continue to evolve and mutate what we do. We need the field of futures as a… Continue reading
Massimo Banzi in the first Arduino “hangout” preparing the first European Maker Fair in Rome
A good status update on the movement’s evolution, with Banzi and guests:
Bitcoin and the fallacy of a non-political currency
While it is true that local communities have, in the past, generated successful communitarian currencies (that enabled them to improve welfare in their midst, especially at a time of acute economic crises), there can be no de-politicised currency capable of ‘powering’ an advanced, industrial society. An important and crucial argument by Yanis Varoufakis: * On… Continue reading
The new economy in Brazil: Through the eyes of a REconomist
A travel report via Shane Hughes of the REconomy project: I was very excited to be returning to Sao Paulo, Brazil and exploring it from a REconomy perspective. I lived there for 7 years during the 90’s and I know that pretty much anything is possible within the Brazilian economy. For example, do you… Continue reading