"In considering the essential problem of how to produce and distribute material wealth, virtually all of the great economists in Western history have ignored the significance of the commons — the shared resources of nature and society that people inherit, create and utilize. "Already the system of state capitalism is breaking down, threatening the entire planet, its institutions and species. When this collapse can no longer be contained and a global monetary crisis ensues, world society will … Continue reading
Podcast: A Conversation with Helena Norberg-Hodge with Charles Eisentein
"This is a conversation with the political thinker and activist Helena Norberg-Hodge. She had a huge radicalizing influence on my political thinking through her film Ancient Futures. By "radical" I don't mean the usual leftist politics. Helena is a tireless advocate for re-localization, the reclaiming of the commons, and the importance of direct participation in community. She is deeply insightful in linking these to global issues. Having spent decades in Ladakh, she is also one of the first to … Continue reading
The Commons Collaborative Economy Explodes in Barcelona
"Barcelona is not a city in reform from the top down; it’s a city in transformation from the bottom up, and up, and up. It’s taking on the challenges of economic and civic change from an inclusive and deliberate position, maturing its street-level praxis into a political force that won’t be contained by its own borders. It’s ready to share its hard-won knowledge and experience with others internationally. "Barcelona is not alone in its evolution. From our point of view, 2016 is shaping up to be … Continue reading
Urban commons have radical potential – it’s not just about community gardens
"It has become fashionable to talk about the “urban commons”, and it’s clear why. What we traditionally conceive of as “the public” is in retreat: public services are at the mercy of austerity policies, public housing is being sold off and public space is increasingly no such thing. In a relentlessly neoliberal climate, the commons seems to offer an alternative to the battle between public and private. The idea of land or services that are commonly owned and managed speaks to a 21st-century … Continue reading
Better, Not More
Better, Not More is a short film from EDGE Funders Alliance: Engaged Donors for Global Equity, who are amplifying the Justice Funders movement for a Just Transition to a collaborative economy.... "As we assess the current state of our world and consider together the elements that are essential to a ‘just transition’, and ultimately, a just economy, we are called to consider four goals: to decommodify nature, reimagine work, liberate knowledge and democratize wealth. These are interrelated, … Watch video
‘The Commons’ Documentary Film Trailer
"The Commons is a documentary film about communities all over the world re-asserting sustainable, responsible futures using ancient Commons principles. The Commons are the shared resources of the world, owned by all, not just a few. The Commons are an ancient-new open-source code around the sharing of resources. Five years in the making, we listened as 49 communities in the Americas, Europe and south Asia told us what has made their Commons work over the centuries. In the face of … Watch video
Interview: A Cultural Shift to ‘The City as Commons’ with Professor Christian Iaione
"We are talking about a cultural shift. The new governance model proposed is a new way for us to relate to almost everything, from economy to society as a whole and to other people, in other words: our vision of the world changes. Whether this cultural paradigm takes expression in sharing a car, or caring about where the trash ends up, this is all part of a 21st century way of living: a way of sharing things, sharing services, sharing spaces, sharing production and sharing responsibilities." ~ … Continue reading
The Promise of the Commons
A compelling short film from New Story Summiteer and Film Maker, John Lui, emphasising the importance of reviving The Commons. "The concept of The Commons is connected to the ancient past, a world order that is older than the state and the marketplace. Could this ancient knowledge hold the potential to address a number of inter-related global problems - poverty, food insecurity, biodiversity laws and even climate change?" Watch video