Proposal Side Event: Commons in Intentional Communities - 2013

Proposal by Julio Lambing (e5) Titel abbreviation of the Side Event: CIC

Concept

Proposal for a 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

International Roundtable of 20 persons (max). Two speakers, afterwards discussion.

Intentional Sustainable Communitys (ISCs) are important laboratories for resource efficient lifestyles and a new kind of economy. Especially known – due to their size and the quantity of residents - are socalled 'ecovillages'. 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. Many of these ideas and experiences are already enriching the actual discussion about the Commons.

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

Background

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). 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.

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?

More information on e5's commons strategy, you will find here:
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 on the general project you will find here:
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

<tab class=wikitable sep=comma head=top> Time,Agenda,Speaker, 13:30, Welcome, , 14:00, Introduction
Ecological versus Digital Commons , Julio Lambing (e5), 14:10, 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, 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

Possible Participants (to be invited)

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>