February 2011 - P2P-Foundation - lists.ourproject.org

Re: [P2P-F] local community development in Egypt
by Kevin Carson 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

I'm cc'ing this to the P2P Foundation's list. Kevin On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 2:12 PM, Keith Taylor <taylorkeith(a)gmail.com> wrote: > My friend Omar in Egypt and I are talking about this... who knows where it > will go, but I am excited! Omar is a force :) > Keith Taylor > Doctoral Student > Human and Community Development > University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign > ph: (217) 689-4021 > > > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Keith Taylor <taylorkeith(a)gmail.com> > Date: February 18, 2011 2:11:30 PM CST > To: Omar El Bassiouny <omarelbassiouny(a)gmail.com> > Cc: Tahreer Araj <tahreer.uiuc(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: local community development in Egypt > > Omar, > AMAZING idea! > Personally, I think as much as possible, services should stem from the > community level and be collectively owned and democratically governed > (cooperatives!). We know that in Egypt, there is a tendency to capture > resources for individualistic purposes through the government. I think to > keep these services community-oriented is one approach to prevent capture by > special interests, and create diverse, democratic institutions throughout > Egypt (imagine if democracy was in the workplace AND government?!). > I am excited about this, Omar! > Keith Taylor > Doctoral Student > Human and Community Development > University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign > ph: (217) 689-4021 > > > On Feb 18, 2011, at 2:01 PM, Omar El Bassiouny wrote: > > Sounds good. Below is a small intro I quickly put together on the subject: > > People’s Committees > > > > Introduction: > > Starting Friday night, January 28, Egypt witnessed a systematic withdrawal > of any police presence from all streets countrywide. This opened the door > for thugs and thieves – often armed – to roam the streets to vandalize and > rob stores and office buildings, and to terrorize, harm and in some cases > kill the local residents. > > The dangerous situation stimulated an immediate reaction from citizens all > over the country to take their security in their own hands. Every street > organized road blocks, widely known as ‘People’s Committees’ which were > guarded overnight by several shifts. Creative systems were developed to > enable communication between neighboring road blocks. > > In a relatively short time this efficient scheme significantly improved the > security situation and lead to the capture of hundreds of thieves which were > handed over to the army. A similar scenario, although less organized, was > witnessed with respect to garbage collection. > > In general, government capabilities are limited and there is a lot of room > for civic participation that would enable the achievement of important > goals. This Egyptian experience – while somewhat extreme – highlights that > citizens can efficiently solve their problems when they take their matters > in their own hands without relying too much on the government. > > This initiative aims to build on the ‘People’s Committees’ experience and to > create a sustainable local organizational scheme to empower citizens in > shaping their future. > > Objectives: > > Create a grassroots organizational structure composed of local units to > empower citizens and encourage activism. > Create a local forum for discussion and awareness > Community problem solving: trash, recycling, parking, utilities, etc. > > > On Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 9:31 PM, Keith Taylor <taylorkeith(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Ill be on Skype at 5pm my time. I look forward to it, Omar "Revolution" >> Bassiouny >> >> Keith Taylor >> Doctoral Student >> Human and Community Development >> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign >> ph: (217) 689-4021 >> >> >> On Feb 18, 2011, at 1:00 PM, Omar El Bassiouny wrote: >> >> > Hey guys, >> > >> > I have a community development idea that I would like to discuss with >> > you. Let's set up a Skype conference sometime soon. Tonight would be perfect >> > 5-6 pm your time, but I'm also flexible otherwise. >> > >> > Best, >> > Omar >> > > > > -- Kevin Carson Center for a Stateless Society http://c4ss.org Mutualist Blog: Free Market Anti-Capitalism http://mutualist.blogspot.com The Homebrew Industrial Revolution: A Low-Overhead Manifesto http://homebrewindustrialrevolution.wordpress.com Organization Theory: A Libertarian Perspective http://mutualist.blogspot.com/2005/12/studies-in-anarchist-theory-of.html

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Re: [P2P-F] New Full Text Book (Free) From MIT Press: Access to Knowledge in the Age of Intellectual Property « INFOdocket
by Michel Bauwens 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

great book indeed, with generous excperts from here: http://p2pfoundation.net/Access_to_Knowledge_in_the_Age_of_Intellectual_Pro… On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 1:10 AM, Chris Pinchen <chris(a)cataspanglish.com>wrote: > > > http://infodocket.com/2011/02/09/new-full-text-book-free-from-mit-press-acc… > > > > *Chris Pinchen* > http://cataspanglish.com > http://twitter.com/cataspanglish > > > > > > -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens Commons Strategies Group, http://www.commonsstrategies.org/

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thingiverse takedowns
by Michel Bauwens 22 Feb '11

22 Feb '11

Is there anyone who can follow up the below and perhaps report on it? Kevin? many thanks ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <openmanufacturing+noreply(a)googlegroups.com> Date: Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 6:35 PM Subject: [Open Manufacturing] Digest for openmanufacturing(a)googlegroups.com- 1 Message in 1 Topic To: Digest Recipients <openmanufacturing+digest(a)googlegroups.com> Today's Topic Summary Group: http://groups.google.com/group/openmanufacturing/topics - [thingiverse] dmcs and thingiverse <#12e42daa2443dd0e_group_thread_0>[1 Update] Topic: [thingiverse] dmcs and thingiverse<http://groups.google.com/group/openmanufacturing/t/aae8ecfb7dfba8ea> Bryan Bishop <kanzure(a)gmail.com> Feb 19 08:10AM -0600 ^<#12e42daa2443dd0e_digest_top> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: rbisping <wizzman6969(a)yahoo.com> Date: Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 1:39 AM Subject: [thingiverse] dmcs and thingiverse To: thingiverse <thingiverse(a)googlegroups.com> I just got done reading the various blog posts on the recent dmca takedown of two objects on thingiverse and figured i would check here to see if there was already a thread on the topic and if not start one. I have seen some of the comments to the blog that were rather critical of thingiverse and makerbot for complying with the takedown. both thingiverse and makerbot acted correctly even if the claim were false. this doesnt make the dmcs correct but that is how the law and the world works. it is reasonably apparent that this claim is false but either way the proper procedure has to be followed. As a side note this gives good indication that mirrors of thingiverse need to be established in non crazy countries so that situations like this that happen in the future dont remove perfectly legal and important objects from circulation. another subject that tends to get overlooked by our community is the distiction between a object and copyright. the copyright only applies to the files that discribe the object and not the object its self. thankfuly there is still a distiction between copyright and patent. since copyright lasts for life of the author plus I beleive 90 years, and patent only last for a very limited duration (15-20y depending). for a number of years now buisness and industry has been trying to apply copyright protection to patend only situations, thankfuly all these attempts have been thwarted. I seriously hope that we open source advocates do not give more strength to these attempts. It would be a crushing blow to any kind of advancement. It would in many ways push humanity back to the days of trade secrets and guild rule. I may have more to spout about later but this is a discussion that does need to take place. -- Go visit thingiverse at http://thingiverse.com and stay tuned to the blog at http://blog.thingiverse.com. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "thingiverse" group. To post to this group, send email to thingiverse(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to thingiverse+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/thingiverse?hl=en -- - Bryan http://heybryan.org/ 1 512 203 0507 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Open Manufacturing" group. To post to this group, send email to openmanufacturing(a)googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to openmanufacturing+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/openmanufacturing?hl=en. -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens Commons Strategies Group, http://www.commonsstrategies.org/

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Anyone know about Comingled Code?
by Samuel Rose 21 Feb '11

21 Feb '11

http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item/default.asp?ttype=2&tid=12308 quote: "Discussions of the economic impact of open source software often generate more heat than light. Advocates passionately assert the benefits of open source while critics decry its effects. Missing from the debate is rigorous economic analysis and systematic economic evidence of the impact of open source on consumers, firms, and economic development in general. This book fills that gap. In The Comingled Code, Josh Lerner and Mark Schankerman, drawing on a new, large-scale database, show that open source and proprietary software interact in sometimes unexpected ways, and discuss the policy implications of these findings. The new data (from a range of countries in varying stages of development) documents the mixing of open source and proprietary software: firms sell proprietary software while contributing to open source, and users extensively mix and match the two. Lerner and Schankerman examine the ways in which software differs from other technologies in promoting economic development, what motivates individuals and firms to contribute to open source projects, how developers and users view the trade-offs between the two kinds of software, and how government policies can ensure that open source competes effectively with proprietary software and contributes to economic development. About the Authors Josh Lerner is Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment Banking at Harvard Business School, with a joint appointment in the Finance and Entrepreneurial Units. He is the author of The Boulevard of Broken Dreams: Why Public Efforts to Boost Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Have Failed and What to Do About It. Mark Schankerman is Professor of Economics and Research Associate at the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics and Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London." -- -- Sam Rose Future Forward Institute and Forward Foundation Tel:+1(517) 639-1552 Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451 skype: samuelrose email: samuel.rose(a)gmail.com http://forwardfound.org http://futureforwardinstitute.org http://hollymeadcapital.com http://p2pfoundation.net http://socialmediaclassroom.com "The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition." - Carl Sagan

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Fwd: "If We Ran the World" : do-able microactions
by Michel Bauwens 21 Feb '11

21 Feb '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dante-Gabryell Monson <dante.monson(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, Feb 17, 2011 at 9:10 PM Subject: "If We Ran the World" : do-able microactions To: econowmix(a)googlegroups.com, hc_ecology(a)yahoogroups.com, sustainable_solidarity(a)yahoogroups.com, gifteconomy(a)lists.gifteconomy.org, opencc(a)googlegroups.com http://ifwerantheworld.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM0VOgazG8g note: thanks to Seth ps : open source it ? ;) http://ifwerantheworld.com/we_would/open-source-IfWeRanTheWorld?sms_ss=emai… -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens Commons Strategies Group, http://www.commonsstrategies.org/

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cfr new bk by Michael Chorost to lecture at Duke, March 14
by Michel Bauwens 21 Feb '11

21 Feb '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nancy Holliman <nancy.holliman(a)duke.edu> Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 8:35 PM Subject: Save the date: Michael Chorost to lecture at Duke, March 14 To: Hastac <hastac(a)duke.edu> *"Michael Chorost is not only a clear and concise science writer, but also a visionary." --New York Times, 2/14/2011* * * Dear colleagues: HASTAC is pleased to announce a return visit by the lively, thought-provoking and influential science writer and futurist, Michael Chorost, on *March 14, 2011 from 12-1 pm* in Bay 4, Room C105 of the Smith Warehouse at Duke University. Lunch will be provided. Chorost will read from his new book,* Word Wide Mind: The Coming Integration of Humanity, Machines, and the Internet*. His first book, *Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human* depicts and analyzes his experience with hearing loss and his decision to get a cochlear implant<http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/cochlear-implant/overv…> in 2001. The *Times* writes: "In that eloquent and thoughtful book, [Chorost] refers to himself as a cyborg: He has a computer in his skull, which, along with a second implant three years ago, artificially restores his hearing." In *World Wide Mind*, Chorost takes this idea a step further to explore the possibilities and implications of integrating humans and computers, outlining how brain implants could "read" from and "write" to the human brain to create sensory and emotional forms of communication. Brand-new neural technologies like optogenetics have made this conceptually feasible. They could lead to the emergence of a *World Wide Mind*, a new form of intelligence composed of people and machines working together. Sparkling, accessible, and dryly funny, Chorost's book offers a provocative take on the future of the Internet and humanity. The reading will be immediately followed by a Q&A and discussion led by students in Cathy Davidson's courses, "This is Your Brain on the Internet" and "Twenty-first Century Literacies." Any and all are welcome to linger and to participate in the discussion (also held in Room C105, from 1:00-2:30). We hope you will be able to join us for this exciting lecture! The book will be available for purchase and the author will sign copies after the event. Sincerely, The HASTAC Team at Duke University *Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory* www.hastac.org -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens Commons Strategies Group, http://www.commonsstrategies.org/

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new facebook page
by Michel Bauwens 21 Feb '11

21 Feb '11

Dear friends, just discovered this, http://es-la.facebook.com/pages/Michel-Bauwens/143137875703604, and not sure who initiatied it? in any case, thanks for eventually 'liking' it, Michel -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens Commons Strategies Group, http://www.commonsstrategies.org/

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Fwd: [P2P-URBANISM WA] Call for applications - Editorial Board - Journal of Biourbanism
by Michel Bauwens 21 Feb '11

21 Feb '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Alessia Cerqua <alessia.cerqua(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 7:04 PM Subject: [P2P-URBANISM WA] Call for applications - Editorial Board - Journal of Biourbanism To: p2p-urbanism-world-atlas(a)googlegroups.com The *International Society of Biourbanism* (ISB) invites applications from members to form a new Editorial Board. The Editorial Board will work on a voluntary basis and consist of the managing editor, the editor of the website, and the appointed members. The Board will develop the publications strategy, content, and vision of the ISB's different publications (Journal of Biourbanism, newsletter, web). It will guarantee the disciplinary, thematic, and geographic diversity and outreach as well as the scholarly excellence of ISB publications. Members should be available to participate actively and be committed to close collaboration, both in order to define the content and profile of the publications as well as to perform executive tasks related to the publications. Members should be well connected in their field(s) of expertise. The first priorities of the Board will be to initiate the publication of the Journal of Biourbanism, and to assist the development of the website. The call for application is open to all ISB members. Applications should consist of a CV and a covering letter specifying the candidate's appropriate skills and qualities. Applications should be emailed to Journal of Biourbanism, JBU(a)biourbanism.org, and received no later than 31st March 2011. The search committee will appoint the members of the Board by the end of April 2011. It will ensure that board members have diverse and complementary qualifications and backgrounds and that the composition of the Board guarantees an outlook beyond the traditional centers of International academia. Applications should be emailed to: Journal of Biourbanism: JBU(a)biourbanism.org Web: www.biourbanism.org -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "P2P-Urbanism World Atlas" group. to register to the group http://cityleft.blogspot.com/ To post to this group, send email to p2p-urbanism-world-atlas(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/p2p-urbanism-world-atlas?hl=en -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens Commons Strategies Group, http://www.commonsstrategies.org/

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Article : Egypt Takes a Step Back From IMF Ways
by Dante-Gabryell Monson 21 Feb '11

21 Feb '11

http://www.truth-out.org/egypt-takes-a-step-back-from-imf-ways67925 Egypt Takes a Step Back From IMF Ways Saturday 20 February 2010 by: Emad Mekay | *Inter Press Service | Report*<http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54544> Cairo - Egypt could soon be looking for a new economic model – one that will be different from the traditional system that has been promoted for years by international financial institutions such as the World Bank, the IMF, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), under the reign of ousted president Hosni Mubarak. "Lots of Egyptians after the revolution realized the level of injustice against them, and that they were being ripped off for many years," Abulezz Al-Hariri, a former opposition member of parliament, told IPS. "They started asking for their rights," he added. "This cabinet is just trying to cater to that immediate realization." Since the mid 1980’s, the World Bank, the IMF, and USAID have sought to encourage policies that limit the role of government in the economy, cut budget deficits, and give more influence to the private sector and corporations. Under pressure from the public following the success of the January revolution, the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq - originally appointed by Mubarak but kept by the military to run the everyday affairs until new elections are held - quickly rolled back some of the controversial policies. Many of the moves announced over the past few days are designed to be a quick fix to the economic situation faced by millions of Egyptians who are eager to enjoy concrete benefits of the 18-day revolution in which 365 protesters died. The new government has announced that all citizens are eligible to apply for monthly portions of sugar, cooking oil, and rice. The previous cabinet, which was comprised of businessmen and former corporate executives, had frozen the rations. This decision overturned the previous policy of providing monthly rations only to those who prove they are poor through a lengthy process of paperwork and red tape. Last week, new finance minister Samir Radwan said that the country will not change its current subsidies system, which offers reduced food prices for some 65 million Egyptians. Furthermore, the new government promised to offset any extra cost in food prices that might accompany rising prices internationally. Radwan put the initial cost at 2.8 billion Egyptian pounds (about 425 million dollars). Under the new policies, the health ministry will offer free health care 24 hours a day at public hospitals. Days before the Jan. 25 revolution, the Mubarak regime had limited free health care hours from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Temporary workers who have spent at least three years working for the government will now be given permanent contracts that carry higher salaries, and benefits such as pension plans, and health and social insurance. Many municipalities also saw long lines of applicants after the interim government said that it will offer subsidized housing for young people on an expedited basis. And on Wednesday, the Central Bank of Egypt said it will be a "guarantor" to achieve the demands of banking sector employees, which include curbing top management compensation packages and salaries as well as offering greater benefits for employees. But while the new measures remain limited, their implementation has raised questions about whether Egypt may be heading back to its strong socialist past, which flourished under the rule of former president Gamal Abdelnasser, who ran the country in 1950’s and 1960’s. Some officials say that the new programmes constitute an initial reaction from a team known for its pro-capitalist background and are only temporary. "We are not moving back to a socialist past," Amina Ghanem, deputy finance minister, told IPS. "We are just trying to extinguish fires." "We are not going to lose our reforms," said Ghanem, who was also deputy to outgoing finance minister Youssef Botrous Ghali. "We want people to work and not take charity from the government." For measures already announced, the interim government will find funding by re-allocating spending to more high-priority areas, rather than re-making the Egyptian economy, she said. "Instead of spending now on, say, for example, landscaping, we’ll re-channel that money to more urgent needs," she explained. Al-Hariri, a member of the left-of-centre Tagammu Party, agreed that the current interim government is not taking a U-turn away from capitalist policies inspired by Western financial institutions. "Their measures are just like tranquilizers; something to kill the pain but not cure anything," he said. Al-Hariri added that past policies under Mubarak were not effective and that any future government should find an alternative. He recommended long- term plans to create more jobs, and what he called "real industries" and "real investments". Confiscating wealth looted by cronies of the former regime, more egalitarian distribution of wealth, gradual taxation, better government oversight, and placing "a reasonable ceiling" on profitability of goods and services sold to the public are among the measures that should restore an economic balance to society, he said. Mamdouh Al-Wali, a business writer with the Al-Ahram Daily newspaper, said Egypt’s path towards a new economic direction will be fraught with dangers from deeply-rooted interests, such as businesses, former regime symbols, and international financial institutions. "A future new government, even though elected, may not be able to resist all that counter-pressure," he told IPS. "The change will be hard."

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Gli arabi e la rivoluzione dal basso
by Bertram Maria Niessen 20 Feb '11

20 Feb '11

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