At OPEN 2017 one of the open space sessions which was proposed by Phil Carey focused on “Inter-generational Collaborative Platforms”. Here Phil explains what was discussed and the ‘call to action’ that developed from the session. Phil Carey: We live in a world that needs to accommodate an extra 3 billion people within 50 years…. Continue reading
It’s Time for a “Participatory” Democracy Instead of our “Consumer” One
How can democracies use technologies to strengthen themselves? Answers are emerging around the world, with the central theme being that technology can make politics more engaging, successful and legitimate by enabling people to become active producers of political outcomes instead of passive consumers. Devin Balkind writes about how technology can advance participatory democracy practices while citing policy-led… Continue reading
Patterns of Commoning: How the Bangla-Pesa Tapped the Value of an Informal Community
People usually don’t realize that money is an invention that works only because a community stands behind it, willing to use it in exchanges for goods and services. Most currencies are creatures of national governments that manage and back them. But what if a poorer community created its own currency to foster social exchange? That’s… Continue reading
The Ancient Norwegian “Klyngetun”
Norway’s Land Reform of 1859 was like America’s Land Ordinance of 1785 — planning based on surveys and private property, not around the land itself and community. Its a good time to revisit! – Ross Chapin The image, a painting by Nikolai Astrup named “Soleinatt”, is from a Norwegian “klyngetun”. In Western and Southern Norway… Continue reading
Urban commons initiatives in the city of Ghent: a Commons Transition Plan by Bauwens
Monica Bernardi, writing for LabGov gives a well structured overview of Michel Bauwens’ Commons Transition work in Ghent. Monica Bernardi: Commons represents an issue which has been subject of many studies and discussions. LabGov used to deal with the topic of the commons and its co-founders themselves (Prof. Sheila Foster and Prof. Christian Iaione) talk of “The City… Continue reading
Own everything! Together!
We live in times of high political turbulence. Surveying flailing governments from Spain to the United States, it seems a good moment to face up to the evidence of system failures that face us. Millions going to food banks or unable to afford decent housing in the richest countries in the world reveals a systems failure. An… Continue reading
Book of the Day: Integral Ecology: Toward a Perma-Circular Society
The following text was written by Christian Arnsperger and was originally published in Permacircular Horizons. Christian Arnsperger: My colleague Dominique Bourg (also from the University of Lausanne) and myself have just released a new book in French, entitled Ecologie intégrale: Pour une société permacirculaire(translation: Integral Ecology: Toward a Perma-Circular Society), published in Paris by Presses Universitaires de France. It’s… Continue reading
ECA Madrid: Introducing the Commoners
On the eve of the European Commons Assembly held in Madrid this week, we asked the participants to introduce themselves and their projects. Click on the titles below to jump to the different sections and join us at the assembly, if possible. Demetra Commons Josaphat Ministry of Space Groupe Chronos MediaLab-UGR Tenants Union Madrid Don’t… Continue reading
Should we fight the system or be the change?
Short-term campaigns versus building the beloved community: what are the real costs and benefits of pre-figurative politics? Mark and Paul Engler explore the tensions – and joys – of prefigurative politics. Originally published in Waging Nonviolence. Mark Engler and Paul Engler: It is an old question in social movements: Should we fight the system or “be… Continue reading
Postcapitalism & Beautiful Alternatives: A brief introduction to The Rules
Something is deeply wrong with the way the world works. You know it, and I know it. We are told everyday that unfettered economic growth and the accumulation of personal wealth is desirable, yet, though we may not always have the words to challenge it, we know the mantra ‘greed is good’ cannot be true:… Continue reading
Podcast: How is policing being used to maintain racial and class inequalities?
In this Upstream Conversation we spoke with author Alex S. Vitale about his new book, “The End of Policing,” which was published by Verso Books on October 10th, 2017. Alex Vitale’s work is based on a deep examination and structural critique of the fundamental nature of policing. Vitale stresses that it’s not enough to enact… Continue reading
Of Penguins and Power: Yochai Benkler defends Peer Production
In the essay below, Yochai Benkler answers convincingly in our opinion, to some standard critiques such as 1) that peer production did not occur or ‘failed’ and 2) that Yochai Benkler’s writings ignored power and 3) insufficiently predicted the emergence of new market powers. In his response, Prof. Benkler shows that the emergence of peer… Continue reading
This Platform Kills Fascists: Nathan Schneider on Platform Cooperativism
Nathan Schneider is interviewed on Platform Cooperativism for the book Tech Against Trump. This excerpt was originally published in Logic Magazine: Over the past few years, journalist Nathan Schneider has become a leading advocate for “platform cooperativism.” Together with the scholar and activist Trebor Scholz, Nathan co-organized the first conference on platform cooperativism at the… Continue reading
How to Fund a Universal Basic Income Without Increasing Taxes or Inflation
The policy of guaranteeing every citizen a universal basic income is gaining support around the world, as automation increasingly makes jobs obsolete. But can it be funded without raising taxes or triggering hyperinflation? In a panel I was on at the NexusEarth cryptocurrency conference in Aspen September 21-23rd, most participants said no. This is my… Continue reading
Patterns of Commoning: Helsinki Timebank: Currency as a Commons
Jukka Peltokoski, Niklas Toivakainen, Tero Toivanen and Ruby van der Wekken: In October 2009, while expecting another futile climate summit in nearby Copenhagen, a small group of friends in the Kumpula neighborhood of Helsinki got together to discuss practical alternatives. Surely there was something that could be done by people themselves! The result of that… Continue reading
Design global, manufacture local: a new industrial revolution?
Vasilis Kostakis and Jose Ramos: What if globally designed products could radically change how we work, produce and consume? Several examples across continents show the way we are producing and consuming goods could be improved by relying on globally shared digital resources, such as design, knowledge and software. Imagine a prosthetic hand designed by geographically… Continue reading