Peer2Politics

The idea of POC21 is to invent inexpensive, modular household devices, farm tools and energy systems that can be replicated cheaply and shared by anyone.

Another exceptional essay by Richard White. I really like the way he doesn’t shy away from the huge problems we face, yet he doesn’t sink into narcissistic doomer-ism that affects many authors delving into similar subjects. The original essay is quite long but thoroughly documented. We’ve selected a short segment on what he feels needs to be done. It would be really interesting to hold a conversation with him about some of the ideas we document and promote at the Foundation as concrete means to realise some of these proposals.

Common wealth trusts address the two greatest flaws in contemporary capitalism—its relentless destruction of nature and widening of inequality.

Here’s a very special treat. Originally published on Guerrilla Translation, Movimiento por la Democracia´s “Charter for Democracy” stands out as premier example of citizen-led solution making to the various crises we face. It is a constitution for the commons written by commons.

“Anyone reasonably informed today understands that we are going through a major cultural shift. Capitalism and logics of egoist accumulation have led to the destruction of the environment, and as the number of humans on earth does not cease to grow, worst case scenari beckons. The scale of environmental man-made damages suggests that we need to envision new scalable collective solutions. Everything humans do is a form of technology, so it is technology itself that needs to radically changed to revert the adverse effects on our environment. I propose this axiom to get closer to that “ideal paradigm” : “If a technology is good for the environment, it should be made available for everyone to use, modify, distribute.” That is simple enough to call for a volunteer action and establish a consensus among a group of individuals to work together towards a common objective.”