Library of Stuff - Turkey

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EMRAH GÜLER:

"’s very own Gezi Protests, are defining new decade. On purest and most simple level, se civil uprisings and mass garings are revitalizing forgotten communities, creating new ones, and reclaiming public spaces as, well, public spaces.

“Community is nearly impossible in a highly monetized society like our own,” says Charles Eisenstein, popular speaker, teacher, and author of “Sacred Economics: Money, Gift & Society in Age of Transition,” in one of his essays. “That is because community is woven from gifts, which is ultimately why poor people often have stronger communities than rich people.” In his book, and many of his essays, Eisenstein portrays a picture of transformation from a financial system to a gift economy, “better reflecting our emerging sense of interrelatedness.” Many alternatives to today’s market-based, monetized economy have been emerging next to se very markets. Gift economy, sharing economy, crowdfunding, collaborative consumption, and mesh economy are some of se systems gaining more followers each day. has been home to some innovative organizations and communities, practicing and advocating se alternative economies. Eşya Kütüphanesi, of , is one of m. Started in late 2012 by two young entrepreneurs, after taking first place in Startup Weekend Istanbul competition, of is a sharing platform that works through ir website, esyakutuphanesi.com, and social media.

 of  lets you lend and borrow. Its founders, Aysu Erdoğdu and Ayşe Gökçe Bor are both graduates of Ankara’s Middle East Technical University, both were introduced to social entrepreneurship through ir graduate studies, and both are willing to use entrepreneurship for social benefit.   of  matches lenders and borrowers, location being  most important criteria at  moment. “What we are trying to achieve with   of  is to revive  sense of sharing and solidarity seen in  old neighborhoods through using  internet,” said Erdoğdu. “We try to facilitate borrowing and lending through our website. You can become a member, lend your  or you can check who has  item you need, so that you can borrow.” 

“re are altoger around 200 listings on our website,” said Bor. “ most lent items are books, sports equipment and electronics. most wanted items are bicycles and cameras.” Any unusual items? “An online survey we had held revealed that re are some willing to lend a concrete breaker, a welding machine, even a boat,” answered Bor. While of was working sharing ethos before Gezi protests, “ spirit of Gezi was a dream for everyone who was part of sharing economy,” said Erdoğdu. “Gezi helped awaken in many of us a sense of sharing and solidarity. It might be best thing coming out of protests and following period.” exchange markets held in parks, forums and elsewhere regularly in last month, perhaps, are a testament to that.

An online survey asking 250 users why y signed up to of revealed three major reasons; to help reduce use of natural resources, to help ors, and for displaying a stance against consumption culture." (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/sharing-and-gift-economies-bloom-in-.aspx?PageID=238&NID=51124&NewsCatID=344)

More Information

• Zumbara, Istanbul Time Bank