Commons reading list

On Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 8:52 PM, Mark Barrett <marknbarrett@googlemail.com> wrote:

In London we are presently developing a new series of assemblies on localism, community and the commons. We are developing an English language reading list and links for the commons theme, we have so far the following, please could you/others add any we should include for people new to the whole concept ?

Either on this list or in comments at http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2012/06/commons-links-resources/ where the same links are also posted

Thanks !

Mark

Reading Materials on the Commons selected by OWS’ Making Worlds

http://makingworlds.wikispaces.com/

Podcast recommended by Darren from PAN

http://www.bollier.org/podcasts

David Bollier:  Property & Commons, and The Gift Economy

School of Commoning 'Knowledge Garden' list of links http://www.schoolofcommoning.com/content/community-knowledge-garden

Essential commons resources for Occupiers (source George Por) 

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/04/09/social-charters-a-comprehensive-program-for-reclaiming-sovereignty-over-our-natural-and-social-commons-resources/">Social Charters: A comprehensive program for (re)claiming sovereignty over our natural and social commons resources

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2011/12/12/sage-advice-for-occupy-from-nobel-winner-elinor-ostrom/

Sage Advice for Occupy? from Nobel winner Elinor Ostrom

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/02/13/a-commons-inspired-occupy-theory-of-collective-action/

A Commons-inspired “Occupy theory” of collective action

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/02/21/occupy-commons-the-beginnings-of-a-beautiful-relationship/

Occupy + Commons: The Beginnings of a Beautiful Relationship

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/01/12/1533/

12 Reasons You’ll Be Hearing More About the Commons in 201

http://www.schoolofcommoning.com/content/convergence-commons-based-economy-18-may

Convergence for a Commons-Based Economy</a> – Quilligan’s closing remarks of his 12-day seminar series

Secondary List (also from George P)

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/04/08/first-occupy-second-claim-sovereignty-third-practice-subsidiarity/

First, Occupy the Market State: Second, Claim Sovereignty: Third, Practice Subsidiarity

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/03/21/occupy-as-a-business-model-the-emerging-open-source-civilisation/

‘Occupy’ as a business model: The emerging open-source civilisati

on

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/03/21/occupying-the-commons-a-commonsense-it-project/

Occupying the Commons – a Commonsense.it Project, an interview with Saki Bailey

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/03/21/campaign-brief-caring-for-the-commons/

Campaign Brief: Caring for the Commons

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/03/21/surveying-commons-activism-on-the-international-stage/

Surveying Commons Activism on the International Stage

http://thefutureofoccupy.org/2012/03/21/the-nascent-story-of-the-escuela-de-los-commons/

The nascent story of the Escuela de los Commons

http://makingworlds.wikispaces.com/Reading+Materials

Reading Materials on the Commons selected by OWS’ Making Worlds

http://antonionegriinenglish.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/93152857-hardt-negri-declaration-2012.pdf - Declaration by Hardt & Negri

 

Thank you for this. Gathering all this reading material in one place is very helpful. It represents a huge resource, one that can seem quite overwhelming to someone coming new to the concept of the commons as many of us are. However this does not need to be seen as a prerequisite to understanding the commons.

 I have been puzzling about how we can discuss the commons in our workshops when for many of us it is a totally new concept, as though we have to study it before we can talk about it. I would like to make a plea for also consulting our inward feelings to enrich our understanding of the Commons. I am talking about something like a universal memory born with us that recognises that we have a right to preserve and protect those elements which support our life and well being.  Something in us knows that we should be in charge of caring for our planet in a way that preserves it for our children and children's children.

Back in the 17th century the Diggers were one of the first truly egalitarian political movements  and the first to argue for full equality of men and women. They did not have access to the wealth of literature that we have but they asserted: “The World was made a common treasury for all!”. And of course the roots go back even further.

Let's use all this material by all means, but not to let it become too intellectual or academic an excercise. Let's remember it's roots in the earth and in ourselves which bind us to each other and the world  and which we can consult directly by looking within ourselves and accessing our own aspirations and intentions.

best love, Anna