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Out of the rubble of the failed financial system

on Mon, 04/30/2012 - 23:33

The emergence of a commons-based economy seminar series

Out of the rubble of the failed financial system, economic recession, overconsumption and continuing environmental degradation the commons approach represents a coherent alternative model for a system based on social justice and environmental sustainability.

The Commons at the core of our next economic models?

on Sat, 04/28/2012 - 09:04
Every day new voices speak up against the toxicity of an economy based on credit-fueled growth depleting finite resources and destroying much of the social fabric in the process. What could constitute an effective transformational model? An umbrella under which our aspirations could be gathered? A tree from which to grow a wealth of micro and macro solutions? A social object that could mobilize efforts so as not to leave the healing of our ills to the adoption of scattered and confidential initiatives and to the natural evolution of consciousness and behaviors… while time is running out…

Symbiotic Demand and the Tragedy of the Commons

on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 14:59

Since Hardin's essay in the late 1960's, many have resigned themselves to the notion that the commons, or more broadly speaking that environmental externalities of the economy either have to be accepted or addressed through macro-economic policy and regulations.  This notion has recently been challenged by "Symbiotic Demand", a concept that utilizes new capacities such as eco-geo-intelligence, shared governance, and strategic doing.  Symbiotic demand emerged from the application of a Minnesota, USA state-level project addressing water quality and agriculture production as illustrated:

Can the commons be a foundation for compassionate institutions?

on Tue, 03/27/2012 - 15:00

Matthew Taylor, the Chief Executive of the RSA (Brtitain's Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Com

Commons: for a new Policy Beyond Market and State

on Sat, 03/24/2012 - 15:01

Below is a message that I've just recieved from Silke Helfrich and David Bollier, editors of new book on the Commons, featuring the School of Commoning. (The launch of the book's English edition in the UK will be hosted by SoC, later this year.)

Dear Contributor,

Making Worlds: An OWS Forum on the Commons

on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 22:28

A major event in the commons movements history is taking place at Occupy Wall Street #OWS.

Rome Forum on: Income, Commons, Democracy

on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 21:38

From European campaigns to the construction of an alternative Europe 10-12 February - Teatro Valle Occupato, Rome Over forty organisations, networks and social movements from eight European countries will meet in the 600-seat Valle Theatre in Rome to organise a common front to construct an alternative European model. This three-day forum will focus on the construction of common transnational campaigns on the thematics of the commons and guaranteed minimum income, also

A News Commons

on Wed, 01/25/2012 - 10:31

The privileged position held by the media in most democracies exists for one reason; in order to govern themselves, people need access to accurate and timely information on all topics relevant to their governance.

Once that information has been distributed, it is not sufficient for the citizens to passively absorb it as a means of entertainment, or even education. In order for self governance to occur, that information must be acted upon to correct flaws in governance.

A World that Works for Everyone

on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 16:57

You would expect Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business to focus its teaching on making profits from the world as it is instead of asking students to explore how to fundamentally change it.

But that means you probably haven’t met business Professor Leo Burke — a former entrepreneur, Motorola executive and, in his student days, manager of the Notre Dame football team.

At first glance, Burke ’70 hardly seems a rabble-rouser. Wearing tassel loafers, navy blue slacks, a tasteful blazer and wire-rim glasses, he looks exactly the part of a business professor. Yet when standing at the podium in an Executive Leadership Seminar — so slender it appears a strong breeze would carry him away — he sounds like a community organizer crossed with a moral philosopher. “When we are able to work out of our deepest values, we can work with a compassion for others that changes systems.”

The liberation of civil society through p2p working - Creating Commons in our life.

on Mon, 12/26/2011 - 20:02

Freed up creativity enabled by open source technology gives us the chance to liberate ourselves from the chains of an outdated economic model based on market pricing.

Will it enable us to co-create a commons orientated contributory culture? 

Our challenge is how to make the new prototype which cannot fully socially reproduce itself at present into a full mode of production for a sustainable society.

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