Commons in Intentional Communities - 2013

From P2P Foundation
Revision as of 23:36, 18 April 2013 by Julio Lambing (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

In a Nutshell

Side-Event to the „Economics of the Commons Conference – From Seed Form to Core Paradigm” (ECC), for further information on ECC see: Overview of the Economics of the Commons Conference

Date: 21/05 - Time 13:30 - 18:00 - Berlin
International Roundtable of 18 persons (max). Two speakers, discussion.
Participation only after registration and communication with the organizers

There is a gap between ecological commons activists and digital commons activists - concerning habitat, world views, life style, communication style, and so on. Not seldom the former feel obliged to rural life styles, the latter are not seldom orientated on urban life styles. Using the example of the holistic approach of ecovillages, the roundtable will examine opportunities for mutual learning, exchange of practices and mainstreaming of the achivements of both camps.

Concept

The movements for protecting ecological commons (such as protection of biodiversity or climate) and the movements for cultural commons (such as open source software or free access to knowledge) share both a deeper understanding of sustainability. A coalition will increase presumably the viability and impact of both camps. But the alliance between them is neither broad nor deep nor strong – if it exists at all. Not seldom the former feel obliged to rural life styles (and emphasize corresponding ideals), the latter are not seldom orientated on urban life styles. Sometimes activities of the other side are belittled as irrelevant, sometimes there are seen as a step backwards. How to interlink and integrate them? How could they benefit from each other?

The phenomenon of socalled 'ecovillages' might be one concrete show-and-tell object for these challenge. Due to their size and the quantity of residents, ecovillages are the best known examples of intentionally created communities for an ecological and social sustainable way of life (Intentional Sustainable Communities = ISCs). ISCs are important laboratories for commons-sensitive lifestyles and a new kind of economy. All ISCs deal in one way or another with commons and common goods. An enormous store of knowledge about new economic models, environmentally friendly technical advancements and the function of communities can be found in these communities. Some of these ideas and experiences are already enriching the actual discussion about the commons. But is that really all what metropolitan commons movements can learn from ecovillagers - and vice versa?

The roundtable wants to focus on the possibilities to implement social and technical innovations of ecovillages into urban contexts (such as new types of housing and living) and consider the value and usefulness of urban commons activities for a rural sustainable development and the economic cycle of ecovillages.

The event seeks an understanding and exchange of experience between

  • commons activists dealing with digital and knowledge based commons and people living in intentional communities
  • commons activists representing urban and metropolitan milieus (such as digital and knowledge based commons) and commons activists representing rural milieus

The roundtable is planned to be a part of a series of workshops and conferences in 2013 under the title: "Sustainable lifestyles through commons economy”, organised by the European Business Council for Sustainable Energy (e5) and the Global Ecovillage Network of Europe (GEN Europe). All of them will be held in Germany and in German language. This series will explore the commons economy in ecovillages (and other intentional communities) and their technological, social or economic innovations. Which of them could be mainstreamed in the established economy? Activists from ecovillages, the urban commons movement and sustainable business as well as representatives form science and politics will come together to work on the question how impulses from ecovillages can support the transition of society. The findings of these meetings will be involved in a concluding study on the economic potentials of the commons economy in ecovillages. The general project will be funded by the “Umweltbundesamt”, the central German environmental protection agency.

Organizer

Responsible for content and design of this roundtable is Julio Lambing

The European Business Council for Sustainable Energy (e5) was founded 1996 in Germany in order to promote the potential of sustainable energy use and the implementation of modern, climate-friendly technologies in the European Union (EU) and at the early international climate negotiations. Now, the future viability of European business depends on whether we terminate the global overexploitation of our ecological resources and whether we can foster and advance the human web of life based on ecological, social, cultural and technological commons. e5 meets this challenge by posing four questions: How can business contribute to the advancement of sustainable lifestyles? How can eco-innovation be accelerated? How can business assist in the endeavours of poor societies for resources-efficient economic development? How can business advance the commons sensitivity of the modern economy?

Here you will find more information about e5 and e5's commons strategy:
http://wp.e5.org/projects/commons-sensitive-economy/

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) was set up in 1995 to support the experimental creation and preservation of human settlements that not only sustain, but regenerate their social and natural environments. The Global Ecovillage Network of Europe (GEN Europe) is the European ecovillage association promoting social resilience, environmental pro­tection and restoration of nature through the concept of ecovillages as models for sustainable human settlements. GEN europe actively supports the de­vel­opment of ecovillages and networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

More information about GEN and the general project:
http://gen-europe.org/activities/news/news-detail/artikel/models-for-sustainable-living-new-gen-project-started/index.htm

Date and Venue

  • Date: 21/05
  • Time 13:30 - 18:00
  • Venue: Berlin, Germany
    • location not yet confirmed

Schedule

Commons in Intentional Communities (CIC)

<tab class=wikitable sep=comma head=top> Time,Agenda,Speaker, 13:30, Welcome, , 14:00, Introduction
Ecological versus Digital Commons, Julio Lambing (e5), 14:30, Introduction of Participants, , 15:00, Ecovillages as a Holistic Way of a Commons Economy
Afterwards Discussion, xx, 16:00, Coffee Break, , 16:20, New Developments in the Open Source Movement and Economy
Afterwards Discussion, xx, 17:20, Personal Conclusions and Recommendations, all participants, 18:00, End, , 

</tab>

Contact

Project Manager
Ms. Katalin Kuse
Katalin.Kuse@e5.org
Tel: +49 (0) 178 6935137

Methodology

Working Language: Probably English

Participants: ca. 18

Design: 2 presentations, expert discussion


Possible Participants (to be invited)

Participation is only possible only after registration and communication with the organizers.
Participants of the CIC roundtable may be part of the ECC, but this is not mandatory.

List of people invited to ECC or only to the Rountable CIC <tab class=wikitable sep=comma head=top> Name,Contact,To ECC?,To CIC?, Other comments test, test, X, X, test </tab>

Retrieved from "https://wiki.p2pfoundation.net/index.php?title=Commons_in_Intentional_Communities_-_2013&oldid=73849"