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

Re: [P2P-F] [P2P-URBANISM WA] Detroit and Seattle
by Michel Bauwens 19 Mar '11

19 Mar '11

Dear Stefano, Nikos: I'm interested in a separate update on the Chiesa project, if you have anything available, Michel On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 2:50 AM, Stefano Serafini < stefanonikolaevic(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Привет Глеб! > > I like your interest in Kondratiev, and would like to share some ideas. I'm > taking care of the research of the International Society of Biourbanism ( > www.biourbanism.org ), and I think 3 actual issues we are working on can > fit with your research: 1) Biopolitics; 2) Ecovillages; 3) Politics issues. > All are related with P2P. > > 1) Massimilano Caserta and me are especially interested in biopolitics > issues. Massimilano focuses more on the analysis of space as organized by > the power (according to the thought of Michel Foucault), while I'm more > engaged in the relation between urban form degradation and > hyper-real/images/spectacle/interface, seeking for solutions based upon > human body (biophilia, neuroergonomy). > > 2) Massimo Locci operates in Denmark, and is now researching on > Eco-villages experience in Northern Europe, collecting informations and > models. > > 3) You probably know mr. Giulietto Chiesa (Джульетто Кьеза): he proposed > to our Society to develop a human resistance tool, to be used enforcing a > political transition to post-carbon and post-collpase cities. Nikos > Salingaros is directing this work at the moment. > > Hoping you to stay in touch. > > Best regards, > > Stefano Serafini > > > 2011/3/18 Gleb Tyurin <glebglobal(a)gmail.com> > >> Dear friends! >> >> My name is Gleb Tyurin.I have been registered as a member of that network >> recently.. I am very glad to do it. >> >> Let me say few words about myself. >> >> I am from Russia. Now I live in Moscow. >> >> For many years I have been working with rural development in the North of >> Russia, in Archangelsk region. I worked with development projects in far >> remote villages, providing them with education, consulting. I created an >> NGO called Institute for Social and Humanistic initiatives. We managed to do >> many things and achieve certain success, few dozens of development groups >> appeared and started to work development projects. But we also faced certain >> difficulties. >> >> >> >> Now I live in Moscow. I try to create my own school in St. Petersburg >> which is going to deal with issues of innovative development. I also try to >> promote a program on local development of one of TV channels. >> >> I am very interested in creating partnership aimed on building >> understanding how to develop small places. >> >> Gleb >> >> >> >> >> 2011/3/16 Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004(a)gmail.com> >> >>> Via >>> http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/real-cities-real-transformations/2011/03/16 >>> >>> Real Cities, Real Transformations<http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/real-cities-real-transformations/2011/03/16> >>> [image: photo of Sam Rose] >>> Sam Rose >>> 16th March 2011 >>> >>> Check out our recent blog post on our new blog at >>> http://blog.futureforwardinstitute.com/2011/03/15/real-cities-real-transfor…<http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/real-cities-real-transformations/2011/03/16> >>> This post is a response to "How Seattle Transformed itself<http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/how-seattle-transformed-itself/>" >>> by Edward L. Glaeser. Some highlights: >>> >>> Systems Matter >>> >>> First, system-effects matter. Cities exist in networks of flows that >>> depend on existing infrastructure. That infrastructure has system-level >>> properties, and it is these properties, not merely the properties of the >>> cities themselves, that produce system-wide effects. For example, in "Nature's >>> Metropolis" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cronon> William Cronon >>> explains the systemic effects of railroads and grain elevators on the >>> development of the American midwest. In fact, the field of "environmental >>> history" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_history> is rife >>> with analyses of how differing contexts have shaped civilizations. >>> >>> In his article, Glaeser acknowledges that cities exist within broader >>> environments, but then he lays his argument at the feet of the people within >>> those cities. In other words, for Glaeser, network effects and systemic >>> properties seem to be relevant *only insofar as they alter the >>> properties of the parts, not of the system as a whole*. Cities change >>> because of their positions in an ecology of cities, and people change >>> because of their positions in an ecology of other people, but he fails to >>> adequately acknowledge that the system itself has properties *outside of >>> its effect on the the properties of its parts*. >>> Comparing the Parts >>> >>> Second, Glaeser's comparison of Seattle and Detroit with respect to >>> density also falls short. >>> Glaeser's claim about "[d]ense, smart cities like Seattle," offered at >>> the expense of Detroit, is hard to square with the fact that Year 2000 >>> U.S. Census <http://www.demographia.com/db-2000city50kdens.htm> data >>> ranked Detroit as 84th in municipalities over 50,000 ranked by density, and >>> Seattle 87th. The Census Bureau's 2010<http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/SUB-EST2009.html>estimates still rank Detroit as the eleventh largest city in the nation. >>> >>> To be sure, much of this confusion can be laid at the feet of Economics >>> as a discipline, which has been notoriously remiss in it's recognition of >>> systemic effects. Macro-level systems-thinkers from Keynes to Schelling have >>> consistently pointed out the shortcomings of micro-level analyses. Even >>> post-Internet, Economics has tended to reject any claims that connective >>> technologies fundamentally alter the landscape, for ex. Hal Varian's"Information >>> Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy"<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Rules> >>> . >>> >>> What's Missing? >>> >>> After a recent visit to Detroit<http://shareable.net/blog/detroit-community-resilience-and-the-american-dre…>, >>> Millicent Johnson, community engagement manager at Shareable.net and a >>> native of New York City, noted: >>> >>> It may be more pronounced here, but if we stay on the current track of >>> trying to house ourselves in single family homes, consuming without regard >>> for practicality or sustainability, and looking to a single source for our >>> well being--in our case straight-up consumer-driven capitalism, there is no >>> need to look into a crystal ball, the snapshot of our future is staring us >>> in the face in the stereotypical shots of Detroit. >>> >>> But, I believe Detroit also holds the key to the future of this great >>> nation. We must evolve to a more sustainable way of living if we are to >>> survive, and I think we all innately sense it. We know that >>> two-income-dependent housing prices, while unemployment and underemployment >>> approaches the double digits, does not add up. >>> >>> Harvard Law School professor, Yochai Benkler, urgues us to recognize the >>> "increased diversity of ways of organizing production" in the new economy. >>> >>> "The point is that the networked information economy makes it possible >>> for nonmarket and decentralized models of production to increase their >>> presence alongside the more traditional models, causing some displacement, >>> but increasing the diversity of ways of organizing production rather than >>> replacing one with the other. This diversity of ways of organizing >>> production and consumption, in turn, opens a range of new opportunities for >>> pursuing core political values of liberal societies -- democracy, individual >>> freedom, and social justice." >>> >>> from Freedom in the Commons<http://p2pfoundation.net/Essays#Yochai_Benkler_on_Peer_Production> >>> >>> From this perspective, when Glaeser asks: "Can Detroit find the road >>> forward?" the real response is "Detroit is*already* on the road >>> forward." By freeing itself from the constraints of legacy infrastructure, >>> Detroit gains the flexibility to "harness complexity" to explore and adapt >>> to a new era (see Axelrod and Cohen, "Harnessing Complexity"<http://www.amazon.com/Harnessing-Complexity-Organizational-Implications-Sci…> >>> ). >>> >>> "I really think it's a blessing that we've been deconstructed. We just >>> have to build it right this time. If we do, we can show the world how to >>> live in a sustainable way, with a city that can move quickly to adapt to >>> whatever changes comes its way" said Mike. (Mike Han - Community Development >>> Director of "I AM YOUNG DETROIT <http://www.iamyoungdetroit.com/>." >>> >>> from Detroit, Community Resilience, and the American Dream<http://shareable.net/blog/detroit-community-resilience-and-the-american-dre…> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> 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 >>> >> >> -- >> 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 >> > > -- > 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

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Please help fund our guide to Understanding Today's Economic Transformation
by Samuel Rose 19 Mar '11

19 Mar '11

we just kicked off this project on RocketHub! We're hoping many of you will find this work useful enough to contribute, and pass along to others: http://rockethub.com/projects/1349-understanding-today-s-economic-transform…<http://rockethub.com/projects/1349-understanding-today-s-economic-transform…> Understanding Today's Economic Transformation [image: 1300474757-xl] *Project Description* *Do you want to understand what is driving our evolving economy in a way that you can use today?* It is no longer news that the old economy is collapsing around us. But it is easy to miss the new economy that is emerging. *This project will produce a guide that brings together research and a model into a set of literacies for understanding today’s changing global economy.* This guide will be based on: 1. *research* on today's changing global economy as an evolving system. 2. a complex systems *simulation* people can use to understand important dynamics transforming that system. This work will draw on work from key thinkers in fields ranging from social media to economics (for example, Howard Rheingold, Douglas Rushkoff, Lawrence Lessig, Chris Anderson, and Elinor Ostrom). Merging the work of these key thinkers with the dynamics of the model will reveal how what is collapsing creates opportunities for what is emerging. The resulting guide will provide you with scenarios and suggestions for creating strategies to help you move forward in the new economy. *The Creative Team* Future Forward Institute: http://futureforwardinstitute.com - Sam Rose is an expert in open-source software, hardware, open data and open knowledge background. Sam has participated in curriculum development, research and real world implementation in the areas discussed in this proposal. - Richard C. Adler is an electronic records archivist, former Borders buyer/merchandiser, and information culture historian who bring a historical perspective on the long-term trends and pivotal events that created the old economy and what factors may influence the creation of the economy to come. - Paul B. Hartzog is a scholar of panarchy, complex systems, emergence, ecology, cooperation, commons, culture, politics, economics, and social theory. Note: 1. RocketHub is not an investment or charity. It is an exchange: funds from fans for rewards from me. 2. It's an All & More funding mechanism: if I don't reach my financial goal I get to keep what I raise. But if I do reach my goal, I get access to exciting opportunities. Please see http://rockethub.com/projects/1349-understanding-today-s-economic-transform…<http://rockethub.com/projects/1349-understanding-today-s-economic-transform…> to contribute and for more information -- -- 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://futureforwardinstitute.com http://forwardfound.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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Re: [P2P-F] important debate: fighting cuts in an age of powerdown
by Michel Bauwens 19 Mar '11

19 Mar '11

Many thanks Andy, very useful, Michel On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 4:58 AM, Andy Robinson <ldxar1(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hiya, > > Two related articles attached, one of them mine, the other is from an > autonomist on similar issues. > > Basically, I think the link between the cuts and the ecological issue is > the need to recompose everyday welfare networks and replace commodity with > subsistence production. > > The fight against the cuts is just, but I'm not sure it's winnable in the > North, as popular movements do not have the power to exert greater force on > states than the capitalist class can exert, and it's the kind of issue where > the state has the final say (it will cut or it won't), not the kind where it > has to 'enforce' its decision and faces an ongoing war of attrition. The > fight against climate change has been derailed by excessive reliance on the > state in the previous, less-austere period. The global states had their > chance in Copenhagen, they didn't take the threat seriously enough (unlike > the banking collapse), and the movement has gone the way of the US anti-war > movement after Obama sold-out, it lost momentum and collapsed. > > One of capitalism's plans for a new leading sector is 'ecological > modernisation', which is a dead-end ecologically (consumption gains are > offset by increasing consumption) but might work economically. Capitalism > might handle resource shortages by compressing its core still further, > abandoning increasingly large marginal zones as competitors for global city > status are weeded out (i.e. Brazil, Russia, India might go the way of > Africa). Historically though (see Sing Chew's work), economic systems tend > to collapse rather than adapt when they reach the limit of their > resource-base. We could see a systemic implosion, and the question would > then be what comes next. Chew says of previous phases that they've led to a > period of population decline, movement outwards from cities to surrounding > areas, diffusion rather than concentration of power, and the primacy of > local over global knowledge (being a modernist, he calls this a 'dark age'). > > > The other complication here is that, the cuts blip notwithstanding, social > movements (in the core countries) are at something of a low point. We're > still 15 years off when the next big movement wave should be, and there's > immense tactical difficulties: basically, the system has found ways around > existing movement tactics and the 'political opportunity structure' has > resultantly closed. In past waves, successful new tactics seem to begin at > the outlying points and move inwards, and I think the characteristics of the > next wave are already circulating in activist texts drawing on these > precursors: blockades or sabotage of key nodes (including virtual nodes), > the emergence of ungoevrnable zones in areas outside high-density economic > areas, diffuse networked communication (which needs a LOT of work to be > fully activism-friendly), secondary targeting of points networked to primary > targets (imposing costs leading to the isolation of targeted nodes), and > maybe the exploitation of information vulnerabilities. Anyway, I suspect > (following autonomism) that wave-switches happen in response to (and as > recuperation of) resistance waves, in which case the current crisis will be > a long one, stretching until the next wave appears. > > bw > Andy > > > > On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 6:32 AM, Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> >> http://transitionculture.org/2011/03/15/richard-heinberg-interviewed-in-tot… >> >> Dear friends, >> >> I have some difficulty in articulating the following issue, and hope you >> can help me in framing this in the right way, >> >> >> so, here is the problem, >> >> on the one hand, we have a classic systemic 'end of wave' crisis of >> capitalism, a bail-out of the financial class and austerity measures imposed >> on working people to fund it, hence, a natural mobilization to defend the >> population against those cuts by 'getting the money where it is' >> >> on the other hand, we have a much more systemic systemic crisis due to >> climate change, peak oil, etc ... and we have forces such as the transition >> movement, these people are saying, it's useless to fight the cuts, they >> reflect the end of growth, etc .. in one of the articles I read, I forgot >> about which town, you could see how these people were talking to the >> austerity-minded cost-cutting conservative city hall while there was a >> massive mobilization of the anti-cuts movement going on, >> >> so, we have 2 contradictory realities, yes, the current austerity is fake >> and the money is there but captured by the elite, but, yes, the deeper >> crisis is also there and we have to think about changing our economic system >> more fundamentally, and part of this is indeed changing the growth system, >> etc .. >> >> my hunch is that it is essential to be in solidarity with the workers and >> citizens in the anti-cuts movement, but this somewhat reflective attitude >> needs an add-on, a broader context, that reflects the second truth, but >> without putting us on the side of the plutocracy in justifying the cuts .. >> >> so, how to formulate the right frame that honours both truths? >> >> 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 >> >> >> >> >> >> > -- 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

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feasible - legally - to set up an alternative government body in Wisconsin ?
by Dante-Gabryell Monson 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

It seems that governments are legal entities, similar to corporations. hence it may be worth to check the constitutionality of setting up another government, with support of the hundred thousand and more people converging in Wisconsin, to legitimize the alternative government. this alternative government, even if only symbolically, setting up its own laws. as the police itself seems to be unhappy with the current government, they can also claim allegiance to the alternative government... as for the judiciary, it may be of interest to check to whom they owe allegiance - based on the constitution, and based on the legitimacy of governmental corporations. it may also be possible, in case the judiciary does not want to recognize, in spite of potential constitutional right, a legitimized ( by the people ) government, that an alternative judiciary be set up. a complementary currency, too , may be set up, to back up a government set up by the people, for the people, legitimized by the people. more references about legal frameworks regarding current governments of the US, UK, and Germany, below. It seems like a good way of reclaiming "a" government - "(y)our own" - potentially more legitimate government. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dante-Gabryell Monson <dante.monson(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, Mar 3, 2011 at 4:05 PM Subject: artivist project: set up complementary collapsonomics network of governments - as legal framework ... if a government is a legal framework similar to a corporation, it is possible to set one up , and organize ways to legitimize it... elections ? or "give shares of membership" providing access to decision making or delegation of decision making. more below... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dante-Gabryell Monson <dante.monson(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 5:41 PM Subject: Legally : what is a nation state ? To: p2p-foundation <p2p-foundation(a)lists.ourproject.org>, econowmix(a)googlegroups.com, hc_ecology(a)yahoogroups.com, sustainable_solidarity(a)yahoogroups.com Perhaps some of us know more about this topic. Is there a legal difference between the status of "Nation State" - its constitution, and its potential recognition by other nation states, and that of the legal status governing such nation State ? >From documents I provide below, it seems that some governments and the legal framework related to the functioning of the current operating states may actually legally be "Corporations" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporation Hence what is the relation between the legal status of a Nation State, and that of legal frameworks assuming control over such Nation State ? And what is the relation between humans and/or legal persons, with the original nation state, or with the entity which controls in the form of a state the nation state ? Also , what does it mean regarding supra / trans-national contracts ? And what is the position of humans in relation to these ? ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_international_law ) And what does it mean in relation to "Property" , and the legitimacy of certain laws ? Do they apply ? Or do they only apply if we make a contract - in that case, what is considered as a contract which binds humans to certain of these legal frameworks ? For the United States, Germany, and the UK, I find some of the following documents... ---------------- US : http://www.serendipity.li/jsmill/us_corporation.htm excerpts : *"In essence, this Act formed the corporation known as THE UNITED STATES. Note the capitalization, because it is important. This corporation, owned by foreign interests, moved right in and shoved the original "organic" version of the Constitution into a dusty corner. With the "Act of 1871," our Constitution was defaced in the sense that the title was block-capitalized and the word "for" was changed to the word "of" in the title."* * * *"The date is February 21, 1871 and the Forty-First Congress is in session. I refer you to the "Acts of the Forty-First Congress," Section 34, Session III, chapters 61 and 62. On this date in the history of our nation, Congress passed an Act titled: "An Act To Provide A Government for the District of Columbia." This is also known as the "Act of 1871." What does this mean? Well, it means that Congress, under no constitutional authority to do so, created a separate form of government for the District of Columbia, which is a ten mile square parcel of land."* --------------------- Regarding the UK : http://tpuc.org/node/558 http://www.tpuc.org/Acts_and_Charters John Harris - 'It's an illusion' talk at the Stoke 'Lawful Rebellion'Conference ---- Regarding Germany : http://vimeo.com/5506711 http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=ubuntu&channel=fs&b… Vortrag von Hr. Görlitz zur Rechtslage in Deutschland (2. Fassung mit besserem Ton) In diesem Vortrag beschreibt Herr Görlitz die Rechtslage in Deutschland. Die BRD wurde 1990 durch die Streichung des Geltungsbereichsartikels 23 des Grundgesetzes aufgelöst. Das Deutsche Reich existiert nach wie vor und wird wieder handlungsfähig gemacht. Heutige Beamte der 'BRD' sind seit Auflösung der BRD reine Privatpersonen. Das 'Bundesvermögen' und sämtliche 'Finanzämter' werden von der Firma 'Bundesrepublik Deutschland Finanzagentur GmbH' verwaltet. Gültiges Recht sind die Reichsgesetze, die auf der Weimarer Verfassung vom 11. Aug. 1919 fußen. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grundgesetz_f%C3%BCr_die_Bundesrepublik_Deutsc…

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Worker Ownership, Scale of Production, and Use Value
by Patrick Anderson 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

Worker Ownership is a very widely accepted as being the obvious answer to wage slavery. It is said that Workers must have at least *some* Ownership in the Means of Production lest they otherwise be exploited by those owners. But when the situation is on a very small scale, the idea seems to break-down and become almost absurd - for would you have a network technician become part owner of your home network because you hire him to install some wires and configure your router? Let's try "stepping through" the logic of this - the way a programmer might "step through" a program as he is trying to debug what, *exactly* is wrong, and so what *exactly* must change. We will do this by reducing the scale to just one owner, and then slowly increasing the scale... Imagine you own a single Olive tree. You pick the fruit yourself and turn some of them into oil - all for your own, personal use. You use all of the outputs of that tree and you do all of the work. One day you slip and hurt your back. You can no longer pick the Olives, but the work must be done. If you hire someone to work for you, should that worker have some ownership in your personal tree? If yes, then should the mechanic that fixes your car become also co-owner of that vehicle? What about a plumber that fixes your pipes? Should he become part owner of your home? What if you hire someone to fix your laptop? Should he become a stakeholder of that device? Why do these questions seem illogical? What if the Olive tree is co-owned by you and your neighbor? What if an orchard is co-owned by 10 people? What if by 100? And 1,000? 1,000,000? The same of the other questions. What if the car is co-owned by 2 people? 3 people? 4, 5, 6, 7, etc... What if the house has more than one owner? What if it is an apartment complex? What if the laptop is a massive datacenter? When does the answer to the question of "Should the worker have ownership in the Means of Production" switch from "Obviously NO" to "Obviously YES"? But maybe this is simply the wrong question. What am I missing here? Why should the end-user retain full ownership in some cases, and under what circumstances should the workers become shareholders? I suspect it has something to do with whether the owners are using the product directly as compared to them selling it to other agents. When the product is used directly, it seems we do not have a problem with the users retaining ownership of their trees, cars, houses, etc. But if those owners intend to *sell* some of the product, then I think we feel the workers then deserve part of the Profit that will likely be collected from those buyers. So when Production is Imputed - where the owners of the Means of Production use all of the outputs of that production and nothing is sold - it seems under that condition, that Workers do not need ownership ... since I guess it would do them no good anyway. When the owners do not sell the product, there is no Profit to divide-up. Also, when all user-owners have sufficient ownership in the Means of Production, the usual tactic of stopping other Workers from accessing those Means (to increase wages) cannot be achieved by Workers gaining ownership for themselves, for when the users have sufficient ownership, they can allow any worker to reverse-bid for that job.

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Fwd: Japanese disaster
by Michel Bauwens 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Anthony Judge <anthony.judge(a)gmail.com> Date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 9:34 PM Subject: Japanesedisaster To: Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004(a)gmail.com> Hi Michel You may find this of interest: Anticipating Future Strategic Triple Whammies In the light of earthquake-tsunami-nuclear misconceptions http://www.laetusinpraesens.org/docs10s/tranplan.php Contents: Multi-whammy preparedeness: a Strategic Whammy Scale? Transcending the obvious "Acts of God"? Systemic neglect -- of warnings Identifying strategic options characterized by marginalization of warnings Best Tony -- Anthony Judge <anthony.judge(a)gmail.com> www.laetusinpraesens.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

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important debate: fighting cuts in an age of powerdown
by Michel Bauwens 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

http://transitionculture.org/2011/03/15/richard-heinberg-interviewed-in-tot… Dear friends, I have some difficulty in articulating the following issue, and hope you can help me in framing this in the right way, so, here is the problem, on the one hand, we have a classic systemic 'end of wave' crisis of capitalism, a bail-out of the financial class and austerity measures imposed on working people to fund it, hence, a natural mobilization to defend the population against those cuts by 'getting the money where it is' on the other hand, we have a much more systemic systemic crisis due to climate change, peak oil, etc ... and we have forces such as the transition movement, these people are saying, it's useless to fight the cuts, they reflect the end of growth, etc .. in one of the articles I read, I forgot about which town, you could see how these people were talking to the austerity-minded cost-cutting conservative city hall while there was a massive mobilization of the anti-cuts movement going on, so, we have 2 contradictory realities, yes, the current austerity is fake and the money is there but captured by the elite, but, yes, the deeper crisis is also there and we have to think about changing our economic system more fundamentally, and part of this is indeed changing the growth system, etc .. my hunch is that it is essential to be in solidarity with the workers and citizens in the anti-cuts movement, but this somewhat reflective attitude needs an add-on, a broader context, that reflects the second truth, but without putting us on the side of the plutocracy in justifying the cuts .. so, how to formulate the right frame that honours both truths? 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

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Re: [P2P-F] important debate: fighting cuts in an age of powerdown
by orsan＠tie-netherlands.nl 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

One small thought on how to go from here to there, we may need to start efforting urgently for creating a peer network of peer nettworks, based on peerage as its internal annd external relational dynamic, and its aim would be bridging key people from various movements, theorists, activists, practitioners, researchers and workers at the shop floor and formulate harmonic voice for overlapping core demands. Self-organizing coordination [working?] group may be a good base for such an platform [organized network since such platform needs to be firmly grounded to real world self-organised peer networks, that would in fact reclaiming the state at local and national levels. Such an alternative networked subject can put forward commonalities between labour and transition movements as well as others, as free culture, free software, environmental, commons, etc. make a common call for for harmonised actions, strikes as well as media actions, direct actions, and festivals promoting common demands.

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Re: [P2P-F] important debate: fighting cuts in an age of powerdown
by Michel Bauwens 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

please note someone inserted a wrong address for our list, i.e. p2pfoundation(a)lists.ourproject.org instead of: p2p-foundation(a)lists.ourproject.org would be nice if you could resend your recent emails to the right address, so the others can share in your insights and the discussion, Michel On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 6:07 PM, Walton Pantland <waltonp(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Good points. > > This argument has its manifestation in the UK in the form of David > Cameron's Big Society. Superficially it's a good idea: let's do away with > heavy handed state bureaucracy, and a faceless centralised system that runs > things with no regard for local needs, and replace it with a system where > active citizens run things at local levels. This sounds good, and generally > I am in favour of subsidiarity. > > However, after Cameron came into power, the real meaning of the Big Society > became apparent: the Government would massively cut funding to public > libraries, community centres and a number of other institutions. If local > people wanted to keep them open, they could volunteer to run them, for no > remuneration. So the plan was to replace paid public servants with > volunteers, and in some cases compel the unemployed to 'volunteer' to keep > services open. > > In the end, a Big Society needs infrastructure - a Commons that everyone > can access. > > Cheers > > Walton > > On 18 March 2011 10:40, Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> thanks Jean! >> >> >> On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 5:30 PM, jean lievens <lievensje(a)yahoo.com>wrote: >> >>> Hi Michel, >>> >>> Sorry, cannot use Outlook because I am in Sweden... >>> >>> In my opinion, there is no real contradiction there, only two sides of >>> the same coin. >>> I think that capitalism is faced with a whole range of contradictions >>> that cannot be solved if the present system is maintained. >>> I’ve been reading a lot about ‘happiness’, the paradox of choice, >>> behavioral economics etc. lately and what strikes me is that all these >>> studies can be used in two ways: it can be used in defense of the system >>> (rich people are not necessarily more happy than poor people, envy makes you >>> unhappy, religious people are often more happy than non-believers, etc.), >>> the system is rational but people are not… But on the other hand, I think >>> these studies contain far more arguments in favour of a more just, >>> egalitarian and far less materialistic society. I think ordinary people will >>> gladly accept ‘cuts’ if they do not need to worry about their basic needs >>> anymore (and that means extending the public sector, not cutting it), have >>> more free time and far more control over their own lives. This means a fight >>> for real political and economic democracy. Only in creating a system that is >>> not based on the profit motive, but on the fulfillment of human needs, can >>> the present contradictions be solved. >>> But this is off course a general idea. The question is: how to get there? >>> I think the role of the state and government are crucial here. We will not >>> be able to jump from ‘here’ to ‘there’ in one leap as for example Chomsky >>> seems to suggest. In order to get there, working people need to take over >>> the control of the state, but at the same time turn the state institutions >>> around and run them in a democratic manner. I think that self-organizing >>> coordination groups over the internet will play a major role in this >>> democratization process, but we need to develop this further. >>> And in the meanwhile, we need to stand firm in defending working people >>> and civil servants against unfair cuts. The elite will use any argument to >>> let people swallow their austerity, including 'limits of growth' (as in the >>> seventies) and the protection of the environment. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> 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 >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > -- > Walton Pantland > > 2/1 48 Waverley Street > Shawlands > Glasgow > G41 2DZ > Scotland > UK > > Home: +44 (0)141 649 0645 > Work Mobile: +44 (0)785 499 6113 > Private Mobile: +44(0)7920100826 > Skype: Leischa > Twitter: @Leischa > Web: http://redstarcoven.com/ > http://cyberunions.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

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Fwd: Call for Applications - Re-Visiting the Contact Zone
by Michel Bauwens 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: European Science Foundation <conferences-info(a)esf.org> Date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 7:09 PM Subject: Call for Applications - Re-Visiting the Contact Zone To: Michel Bauwens <michelsub2004(a)gmail.com> Re-Visiting the Contact Zone: Museums, Theory, Practice We invite young and established researchers in museum studies, anthropology, art history, sociology, architecture, design, archaeology, and all related fields including practitioners in museums, galleries, and archives to apply for the *Re-Visiting the Contact Zone: Museums, Theory, Practice*Conference. This conference is organised by the European Science Foundation (ESF) in partnership with the Linköping University (LiU). The conference will take place on *17-21 July 2011* at Scandic Linköping Vast, Linköping, Sweden. Submission Deadline: *17 April 2011* *Grants for Young and Early Stage Researchers available.* Further information can be found below and at www.esf.org/conferences/11365<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/961277822f35fc48f08ce25a8679c043?pa=3170668…> We would very much appreciate if you could circulate this announcement among your colleagues and your contacts. [image: 2011_365_image1] © courtesy of the Manchester Museum *Re-Visiting the Contact Zone: Museums, Theory, Practice* 17-21 July 2011 *Chaired by:* Sharon MacDonald - University of Manchester,UK Cilly Kugelmann - Jewish Museum Berlin, DE * Programme* Museums form an important part of the cultural heritage of all European countries. As institutions museums have tended to remain focused on the nation state for historical, political and financial reasons, but many of the issues museums aim to respond to today transcend national boundaries. This international European Science Foundation funded conference seeks to provide a platform for exchange, reflecting on the new EU-wide interest in museums as spaces of cultural encounter that occupy a unique position at the junction between 'the local', 'the national' and 'the global'. [More]<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/e1db23170002d117dc0ec317c2e9b4ce?pa=3170668…> *Invited speakers will include* *Tony Bennett* - University of Western Sydney, AU *Mary Bouquet* - University College Utrecht, NL *Hans Hollein* - Atelier Hollein, AT *Marta Lourenço* - University of Lisbon, PT *Eithne Nightingale* - Victoria and Albert Museum, UK *Anthony Shelton* - University of British Columbia, US *Pamela H. Smith* - Columbia University, US * How to Participate* Attendance is possible only after successful application. Full conference programme and application form accessible from www.esf.org/conferences/11365<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/961277822f35fc48f08ce25a8679c043?pa=3170668…> A certain number of grants are available for students and early stage researchers to cover the conference fee and possibly part of the travel costs. Closing date for applications: *17 April 2011* * Sponsor a Conference* This conference will be providing the opportunity for leading scientists and young researchers to meet for discussions on the most recent developments in their fields of research. We enable collaboration between international scientists from EU, first world and emerging countries which acts as a catalyst for creating new synergistic global contacts across disciplines. We invite you to join us in harnessing this great potential, working towards an even more cohesive scientific force in Europe and beyond by contributing to our intense, dynamic and fun events. If you are interested, please visit our Sponsor Resource Center page: www.esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/sponsor-resource-center.html<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/f07690950c9e70808c38a685237740fc?pa=3170668…> *Why did I receive this mail?* This call for abstract was sent to you because the programme committee thought that this event would be of interest to you. If you would like to be kept informed about ESF conferences and calls for papers, please use the following link to *subscribe to the mailing list<http://go.madmimi.com/redirects/72bfc4cb21c60e2ed0a1d5f79a75c5ab?pa=3170668…> * If you do not want to receive any more updates about research conferences in your scientific domain, please use the link below to *unsubscribe*. 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Unsubscribe<http://go.madmimi.com/opt_out?fe=1&pact=3170668777&amx=340257421> Powered by Mad Mimi<http://madmimi.com/?fe=1&pact=3170668777&utm_source=European+Science+Founda…>® -- 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

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