Commons
Commons is a millenia-old concept which has recently gained interest as a potential foundation for a transition to a Wellbeing Economy. The contemporary Commons movement is grounded in the undisputable recognition that “no one is an island.” We live in community, inherit a history, and are born into interconnected cultural and geographical contexts. So how do we share what we have in common?
There are several ways that people use Commons.
Commons-based governance is designed by a community in a democratic, non-hierarchical way to share resources in ways that meet the needs of community members.
Commons can also refer to a specific thing that is shared and managed under a Commons-based governance system. That can be something physical like a park or a housing community that is put under a Commons or Community Land Trust.
Artists also use “Creative Commons” to put their works into the public domain as a way to be shared and built upon by others.
Resources
- Commons Transition Wiki
- Next System Podcast Episode on Commons with David Bollier
- WEAll brief on Commons in a Wellbeing Economy
- Bologna Regulation article on p2p foundation website
- Yes! Article – The Yurok Tribe Is Using California’s Carbon Offset Program to Buy Back Its Land
Partners
- US Solidarity Economy Network https://ussen.org/ Land Trusts
- p2p foundation https://p2pfoundation.net/