Info, news & debate
Commoning
Starting from scratch: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 1
Donald Trump recently derided Greta Thunberg and everyone pleading with government to heed environmental science as ‘doomsayers’. The more imminent peak oil or environmental collapse appear, the more intransigent our political system seems to be. Whatever the reasons for this, responsible citizens can only accomplish so much while the political and economic winds are blowing …
Disillusioned with the parliamentary route to a better society? Here’s an alternative.
Before the election in December, I had a ‘lively debate’ with a friend – an old-school Labour supporter and Corbynite – who was trying to convince me that the only way that we can have an effective social safety net is by voting in a genuinely redistributive party, taxing the rich properly and spreading wealth …
Is Greta Thunberg right, and if so, what do we do about it?
I identify with Greta Thunberg. I’m also aspergic, and I understand why she’s so motivated. I talked with several people over the Christmas period who don’t like her, for various reasons – her voice; her team fly even though she doesn’t; her parents are manipulating her; she’s too angry; she once used a plastic bottle, …
Become one of the first movers in a new, collaborative economy: Open Credit Network Alpha launch
Lowimpact.org are working with Open.coop to build a new, co-operative, moneyless, mutual credit trading system for the UK, with a view to joining many similar schemes around the world to create a new global trading system, that requires neither banks nor interest. The point of this article is to invite you, if you own or …
New topic – ‘commoning’ – and why ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ is wrong
At university, back in the 80s, we were taught about ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ – an essay by Garrett Hardin, about how common resources are always abused, because humans are basically selfish. It seemed plausible at the time, but has since been shown to be false.
How the REA / Value Flows model can change the world: Lynn Foster of Mikorizal (Part 2)
Here’s the second part of our interview with Lynn Foster of Mikorizal and the Value Flows model. Part 1 is here.
Understanding the REA / Value Flows model: Lynn Foster of Mikorizal (Part 1)
Today Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org / NonCorporate.org is talking with Lynn Foster of Mikorizal and the Value Flows model. We’ve heard some very good things about her work, together with her partner, Bob Haugen.
The elephant in the room is capitalism. Maybe.
Chris Smaje of Vallis Veg and Small Farm Future shares his thoughts as to why the elephant in the room is capitalism. Maybe. It’s over to Chris from here…
Networking small businesses and co-ops to replace corporations: Micky Metts on the new economy
This is part 2 of a conversation with Micky Metts of Agaric – a co-op in Boston, Massachusetts that provides online tools for other co-ops. Part 1 is here. I told Micky about some of the meetings and discussions we’ve been having in the UK with people working to build ‘new economy’ infrastructure, like community …
How to build a global, moneyless, interest-free trading system: Matthew Slater of the Credit Commons Collective
Today I’m talking with Matthew Slater, author of the Credit Commons white paper – an idea to link together mutual credit schemes anywhere in the world to create a global, moneyless trading system.
A strategy for challenging the giant corporate platforms: Duncan McCann of the New Economics Foundation
We talk about a strategy for challenging the giant corporate platforms in Part 2 of an interview with Duncan McCann, who’s working on a platform co-op alternative to Über in Brighton.
Building the open web: an interview with Micky Metts of Agaric
Dave Darby interviews Micky Metts of Agaric, based in Boston, Massachusetts, who is active in both the co-operative and free/open source movements.
Moving towards post-capitalism, or: why I’m working on mutual credit
Looking ahead to a future post-capitalism, Dil Green of NonCorporate.org shares how and why he’s working on mutual credit as one of its core pillars. This piece was originally published on the blog ‘Digital Anthropology‘.
Developing local entrepreneurs and keeping out giant corporations: Jay Tompt of the REconomy Project
Today we’re talking with Jay Tompt, of the REconomy Project. This is part of a series of interviews with people who are helping to build a new economy.
A moneyless trading system for the UK: the Open Credit Network launches website and conducts first trades
Big news as the Open Credit Network launches a website and conducts its first trades, laying the foundations of a moneyless trading system for the UK.
A ‘Transcender Manifesto’ for a world beyond capitalism
Dil Green shares a Transcender Manifesto for groups to develop networks of transcendent social relations for a world beyond capitalism.
How do we grow the ‘co-operative commonwealth’? Interview with Pat Conaty
We talk about growing a co-operative commonwealth in the second part of an interview with Pat Conaty, senior research fellow at NEF and Co-operatives UK and author of the Resilience Imperative, with Michael Lewis.
Free online course: Toward Co-operative Common Wealth MOOC
Calling all activists, practitioners and policy-makers! We share news of a masterclass in movement building in the form of a massive open online course (MOOC) starting on 25th March 2019.
What are ‘the commons’ in the 21st century? Interview with Pat Conaty
We meet Pat Conaty, senior research fellow at NEF and Co-operatives UK and co-author of the Resilience Imperative, to discuss ‘the commons’.
How do we build a new, non-extractive economy? Dil Green of Lowimpact.org
How can we build a new, non-extractive economy? Dave Darby interviews Lowimpact.org’s Dil Green to find out.