Info, news & debate

People

A governance commons to support the commons economy? Conversation with Dr Sonia Bussu

of INSPIRE |
| 2

Liberal democracy supports capitalism. What kind of governance system would support the commons economy? Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Stroud Commons in conversation with Sonia Bussu, Associate Professor in Public Policy at the University of Birmingham and project lead for INSPIRE (looking at democratic innovations and their limitations.

Read more about A governance commons to support the commons economy? Conversation with Dr Sonia Bussu

Friends in high places: billionaire-free, collapse-proof communications with LoRa and Meshtastic

of Creating Community Health |
| 1

Building and strengthening networks is crucial to improving our resilience to the changes and social upheaval heading our way. Our social networks buffer us against possible insults to our circumstances. Everything that improves our connections increases our resilience.

Read more about Friends in high places: billionaire-free, collapse-proof communications with LoRa and Meshtastic

Affordable climbing as a commons: Chik Shimasaki of Climbing Commons

of Stroud Commons |
| 1

Today I’m talking with Chikara Shimasaki, who’s building a climbing commons in Stroud, and will provide information for anyone wanting to do it in their own towns. Here are a few links: Dave: before we talk about what you’re doing – what’s the problem you’re trying to solve? What’s your motivation? Chik: the climbing commons …

Read more about Affordable climbing as a commons: Chik Shimasaki of Climbing Commons

Making an evaporative cooling vest from natural materials

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

Doing agricultural or building work in an ever-hotter world will become more and more difficult and dangerous in future. Evaporative cooling vests exist to help people stay cool and safe whilst doing heavy, hot work. Here, Geoffroy Levy describes his ideas for a DIY evaporative vest made from natural materials.

Read more about Making an evaporative cooling vest from natural materials

Ancient settlements show that commoning is ‘natural’ for humans, not selfishness and competition

of Lowimpact.org |
| 4

When I’ve had conversations about the commons with right-leaning people (and sometimes cynical people on the left too), a typical response might be something along the lines of: ‘don’t waste your time trying to build a more democratic, sustainable or peaceful society. It won’t work, because humans are inherently selfish, greedy and competitive’.

Read more about Ancient settlements show that commoning is ‘natural’ for humans, not selfishness and competition

Introducing commons ideas at the Festival of Commoning

of Lowimpact.org |
| 6

At the Festival of Commoning (Sep 13-14, in Stroud), our Stroud Commons group has a one-hour slot on the Saturday morning. I’m going to give an overview of commons ideas, and there will be representatives of the housing, land, energy and climbing groups to talk about what’s happening in their groups. Then we’ll have around half an hour to answer questions.

Read more about Introducing commons ideas at the Festival of Commoning

The role of the Credit Commons in the commons economy: Tom Woodroof of Mutual Credit Services

of Mutual Credit Services |
| 0

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Stroud Commons talks with Tom Woodroof of Local Loop Merseyside and Mutual Credit Services about the Credit Commons – a way to federate different groups all over the world that are building the commons economy (because you can’t get everything you need from just your community) – but it does it without centralised control.

Read more about The role of the Credit Commons in the commons economy: Tom Woodroof of Mutual Credit Services

Busted flush: why the big water corporations have to go

of Water21 |
| 1

The catastrophic problems of privatised English water companies are well known. Sewerage function and drinking water supply are now more deficient than even before privatisation. Terminal failure was in-built from the start, within the cultural, operational, & regulatory processes applied. Correcting these foundational criteria can help inform the quickest resolution.

Read more about Busted flush: why the big water corporations have to go

What makes the commons movement different? (A: it’s much more difficult to co-opt.)

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

The commons is a movement to create a different world, not just the same system with a few tweaks to make it more bearable. If successful, obviously there will be entities out there that will try to undermine it, buy it and ultimately, to crush it. But there are aspects to the commons model that will, I think, make it more resistant to this than existing models.

Read more about What makes the commons movement different? (A: it’s much more difficult to co-opt.)

A ‘Transcender Manifesto’ for a world beyond capitalism. A seed.

of Mutual Credit Services |
| 1

Dil Green is a founder member of Mutual Credit Services, who are working with Stroud Commons to design models for the commons economy for various sectors of the economy. This article first appeared on his blog 5 years ago, but it’s so relevant to the current commons movement, that we’re re-posting it here.

Read more about A ‘Transcender Manifesto’ for a world beyond capitalism. A seed.

People resources

Want to contribute?

Get in touch