July 2015 - P2P-Foundation - lists.ourproject.org

Fwd: [CommonGood] european affairs
by Michel Bauwens 06 Jul '15

06 Jul '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: tina ebro <cgebro(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 3:32 PM Subject: [CommonGood] european affairs To: Common Good Newsgroup <commongood(a)listi.jpberlin.de> Dear Birgit and Friends, Thanks so much, Birgit, for the valuable thoughts and updates! Sending you a Solidarity Statement with the Greek people and government that we are circulating in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We are also sharing with you the* Agenda for a Social ASEAN* that was presented last May in KL at the ASEAN People's Forum by the following organisations: Parliamentary Network for Human Rights in the ASEAN, the ASEAN Trade Union Council, Migrant Forum Asia, FES-Asia and the Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP). NTSP is a broad regional network that is reclaiming the social commons for a "life of dignity for all" and also for transformative system change. It has focal groups in most countries in the ASEAN, including regional workers networks and urban poor movements, and regional organisations of the elderly and people with disabilities. In warm solidarity, Tina Cristine "Tina" Ebro *Coordinating Team*Asia Europe People's Forum (AEPF) *www.aepf.info* <http://www.aepf.info/> *Co-Convenor/Co-Facilitator* Network for Transformative Social Protection (NTSP) Mobile : +63-9178146311 When you seek love with all your heart, you shall find it's echoes across the universe. Rumi *"Your Struggle is Our Struggle"* We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with the people of Greece and the Syriza-led government as they prepare for a referendum on July 5, 2015 on whether to accept the continuation of the program of neoliberal austerity or chart a new course free from the debilitating stranglehold of the “troika” - the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, and the European Commission. We support the call of Syriza for a 'no vote' as the only option for the people of Greece, especially the working classes, to assert sovereign control over the country's economy and their own future. We condemn the “troika” and their allied political institutions, for forcing their policies of neoliberal austerity, privatization, deregulation, and savage cutbacks dismantling the public sector. We, therefore, hold the “troika” responsible for the massive unemployment, increased poverty, greater social inequality, and a severe economic depression now being experienced by Greece. The irony of it all is that the huge debts the “troika” is demanding for repayment did not go to Greece but were used to repay private sector creditors such as French and German banks. In other words, these are onerous and illegitimate debts. We had welcomed the election of the Syriza-led government on a program committed to ending the neoliberal-austerity policies imposed by the EU creditors and we stand in solidarity with them as they struggle to implement an anti-austerity program. The austerity program has been assessed as a colossal failure by leading economists worldwide. Despite this, the insistence of the EU creditors and their political and economic allies to resuscitate this failed program, can only be construed as a cynical political maneuver whose real aim is to bring down the Syriza government, the first anti-neoliberal, anti-austerity government to be popularly elected in Europe. Syriza was a product of the mass movements’ and working people’s struggles against neoliberal austerity promoted by unbridled capitalism. Similar political organizations have arisen across Europe, such as Podemos in Spain, a product of the anti-austerity 'indignados' movement. The specter that haunts the European capitalist class is a 'Syriza syndrome' spreading to other parts of Europe, particularly in Spain, with the election of an anti- neoliberal Podemos government. By bringing down the Syriza government, the capitalist hydra aims to strangle such a movement at its birth. Peoples from all over the world, in both developing and developed countries, have been struggling for the past decades against the imposition of a whole range of neo- liberal measures - liberalization, deregulation, and privatization, including neoliberal austerity programs imposed by capitalist governments led by the US and its allies, through the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial institutions. There has also been a long history of struggles against debt repayments and for the cancellation of odious and illegitimate debts. The world has experienced how debt burdens and neo-liberal impositions have created havoc on economies, depleted natural resources, exacerbated inequalities, and impoverished peoples while siphoning off billions of dollars to global capitalist banks, giant corporations and imperialist governments. We welcome the people of Greece into the struggle of peoples of the global South against neoliberalism, onerous debts and austerity. Your struggle, is our struggle. Your victory, is our victory. > > > > *AGENDA FOR A SOCIAL ASEAN* > > > > > > *In Introduction* > > > > > Inequality and poverty levels remain high in ASEAN, with Gini coefficients > ranging from 35.6 to 46.2.[1] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> In > some countries in the region, inequality and poverty levels are escalating > despite economic growth.And while in some ASEAN countries a smaller > proportion of the workforce is now living in poor households (i.e. living > on less than $2 per day), their absolute numbers have risen[2] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> > . > > > > Inequality is eroding the economic gains from market integration and > economic progress.“Inequality may lead to the misallocation of capital and > hamper poverty reduction and growth, possibly eroding social cohesion, and > institutional stability. It also runs counter to the AEC’s [ASEAN Economic > Community] overarching goal of equitable growth with reduced development > gaps between and within Member States.”[3] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> > > > > Yet, the commitmentsof governments of the ASEAN Member States to the > social dimension of regional and global integration remain lukewarm.But the > people of ASEAN aspire for and demand a*Social ASEAN*. Therefore, the > people of ASEAN and their organizations collectively took the initiative to > frame an *Agenda for a Social ASEAN*. > > > > The*Agenda for a Social ASEAN*is the condensation of the aspirations and > demands of the people of ASEAN for a strong social dimension in the current > process of integration in the region.[4] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…>It > is an instrument that embodies the necessary components of an alternative > regional development paradigm that seeks to construct a truly caring and > sharing ASEAN community. The *Agenda for a Social ASEAN* – > > > > *Puts people first*. A strong recognition of the primacy of people’s > rights and demands over markets and profits and carrying out democratic, > participatory and people-centred processes at the national and regional > level. > > > > *Steers towarda socially justand sustainable development*.The integration > and complementarity of economic and social policies so that economic > policies not only aim at attaining growth but also in narrowing, and > eventually eliminating, all forms of inequality. Here, both counterchecks > to profits and social redistribution measures are necessary. > > > > *Creates decent work conditions*.The recognition and implementation of > core labor standards and fundamental principles and rights at work > (including the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, > and the elimination of work discrimination and all forms of forced labor); > the creation of (full and secure) employment; the promotion of social > protection of workers from unemployment, sickness and old age; and the > strengthening of social dialogue among government, employer’s and labor’s > representatives for the facilitation of conflict resolution and attainment > of social justice. > > > > *Enables a life of dignity*. The overall goal of the *Agenda for a Social > ASEAN* is to put in place conditions to enable the people of ASEAN to > attain a life of dignity. Foremost is the provision of accessible, free or > affordable social services and social protection for all. A life of dignity > also means providing political, economic and social opportunities for > people to fully develop their potentials. > > > > *PrPrinciples underlying a Social ASEAN* > > > > The underlying principles of a *Social ASEAN* encompass the following: > solidarity, rights-based approach including gender justice and migrant > labour rights, universality, comprehensiveness, state-driven based on the > needs of people, participatory, and transparency and accountability. > > > > *Solidarity* means “the dynamic and collective process of taking active > responsibility for our inter-relationships on both a local and global > level… in ways that foster diversity, autonomy, cooperation, communication, > and shared-power (direct democracy)”.[5] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> > > A *rights-based approach* means subordinating market rights to the > fundamental rights of human beings and nature, not the other way around. > These fundamental rights are enshrined in the UN Declaration of Human > Rights (1948), the core ILO Conventions, and the various ASEAN Declarations. > > > > *Universality* means that all people as human beings are entitled to all > these rights. Comprehensiveness, not piecemeal, means that the exercise of > the rights above requires complementary and coordinated policies and > actions by state and non-state actors. > > > > *State-driven* means that state policies and actions must be driven by > the needs of the people and guided by roadmaps for the immediate > realization of these rights for key functions such as financing, > administration and regulation. This includes a constitutional framework > that underpins the realization of these rights, with institutionalized > mechanisms that insulate state policies and programmes promoting and > protecting these rights from patronage and protect them from future > administrations that may scheme to dismantle them. > > > > *Participatory* means the active participation of the people of ASEAN in > the design and implementation of laws, policies and programmes aimed at > enabling people to fully exercise and enjoy their rights and in defining > the role of labour and other social partners at the national and regional > level. Without the people’s effective participation, ASEAN’s goals of > equitable economic development and reduction of poverty and socioeconomic > disparities are unlikely to be met. > > > > *Transparency and accountability* means having public participation and > control mechanisms that allow peoples’ voice and participation in the > design, implementation and monitoring of state policies and programmes that > create the conditions for the full exercise and enjoyment of every > individual of all the rights listed below. > > > > *The current integration and development model will not build a Social > ASEAN* > > > > The current ASEAN integration process has been marked by a system of open > (neoliberal) regionalism predicated by free trade agreements (FTAs) within > and to a greater extent outside ASEAN. This open regionalism has further > deepenedthe liberalization of trade, investment, macroeconomic policies, > services and skilled labour, with the transnational corporations (TNCs) and > big businesses as its main drivers and beneficiaries. As a result, market > forces have been reigning people’s lives and communities leading to the > loss of traditional means of livelihood, continuing exploitation and > informalization of labour, degeneration of all forms of labour protection, > the domination of oligopolistic and monopolistic firms forcing out micro, > small and medium sellers, the private appropriation and pillaging of > commons and natural resources for the exclusive benefit of an extreme > minority, and increasing democratic deficit. Thus, despite booming > economies for the most part of Southeast Asia, the ASEAN people continue to > experience rising joblessness and insecurity, increasing poverty and > vulnerability, rampant inequalities, and environmental degradation. > > > > Although the ASEAN governments have adopted various significant > declarations – ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the > Rights of Migrant Workers (2007), the ASEAN Guidelines on Good Industrial > Relations Practices (2010), the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (2012), the > ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection (2013), and the ASEAN > Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Elimination of > Violence Against Children (2013) – as part of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural > Community pillar[6] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…>, > the non-binding and non-enforcement nature of these instrument reflect the > lack of political will of ASEAN governments to put in place the social > dimension of integration. Further, the missing social dimensions in ASEAN > developments and processes are evidenced by the lack of: a) bottom-up > consultations, b) participation and inclusion of civil society and trade > unions in political policy-making processes, and c) binding and > accountability mechanisms. > > > > Clearly, the current integration and development model in ASEAN will not > build a *Social ASEAN*. > > > > * Building a Social ASEAN* > > > > Building a Social ASEAN requires governments of the ASEAN Member States to > pursue by all appropriate means, both at the national and regional level, > the attainment of conditions for the realization of the four core areas or > principles of the *Agenda for a Social ASEAN*. It should be noted that > these core areas or principles are co-dependent and co-evolving, that is, > they mutually reinforce each other.The attainment of one core area > reinforces the attainment of the other areas; the measures required to > achieve one area may necessitate equivalent or corresponding measures in > other areas. In this regard, the rights and demands and their corresponding > implementation mechanisms relate to the attainment, in varying degrees, of > a combination or all of the four core areas. > > > > All people of ASEAN irrespective of their gender and sexual orientation, > age, religion, ethnicity, race, age and physical and mental abilitiesare > entitled to all the measures embodied in this Agenda. > > > > > > *Essential services and social protection for all* > > > > Universal and quality health care, education, humane and low-cost housing, > living requirements for water and energy are public goods and part of the > social commons. They are connected to the survival, dignity and development > of individuals, society and nature.The provision of these essential social > services has to be guaranteed and financed by the state. This calls for a > reversal of privatization of these public goods. Public-public > partnerships, that is, state partnerships with non-profit groups like > peoples’ cooperatives on housing, water, energy, health and other essential > services, instead of private-public partnerships, are people-centred, > transparent and accountable modalities of social services administration > and delivery. > > > > Social protection includes social security such as living pensions for the > elderly and disabled, child allowances, maternity protection, and income > guarantees during unemployment, ill health and natural disasters.Universal, > not targeted or means-tested, social security coverage means all people > (citizens, women in paid and unpaid work, young workers, elderly persons, > persons with disabilities, migrants, refugees, undocumented people, people > in formal and informal sectors) are entitled. Social security is a public > good and thus it should remain in state hands it must be driven by the > needs of the people. Governments should endeavour as well to raise > progressively the system of social security to a higher level without > putting financial burden to the people. > > > > Funding for the provision of essential quality services and social > protection for all may come from the revenues derived from progressive > taxation (taxing the rich more than the poor), taxes on all monetary and > financial transactions (Tobin tax), taxes on sales of transnational > corporations, and taxes on idle lands based on a given threshold of land > size. These policies at the same time redistribute income from the rich to > the poor. The promotion of public banking is also a way to generate funds > for social priorities. As a matter of public policy, public spending on > social protection for all, especially on health and education, should be > raised to a minimum of 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). At the > ASEAN level, setting up a Regional Social Protection Fund, funded through > the financial transaction tax, and a Global Fund for Social Protection, can > help poorer countries in the region to meet the basic costs of putting > social protection systems in place in all the ASEAN Member States. > > > > Social protection also includes people’s access to safe and affordable > food, produced from ecological and sustainable agriculture of small farmers > and farm workers. Small scale farmers and food workers and their > organizations should have an effective voice about how food is produced, > how fisheries are maintained and how land and natural resources are > controlled and managed.As half of the world’s population are engaged in > agriculture, social protection systems, industrial policies and development > measures should aim at improving the incomes of the rural population, > protecting the legal rights of peasants, and recognizing women’s role in > food production. > > > > Land as well as other productive resources like forests and water is a > common resource that should be made accessible to all. This calls for an > end to multiple forms of dispossession. > > > > *Decent work for all* > > > > ASEAN governments should create the conditions for the achievement and > maintenance of the highest possible level of stable employment, with a view > to the attainment of full decent employment for all. In this regard, ASEAN > governments need to pursue macroeconomic and sectoral policies that promote > formal employment, focusing especially on the development of sustainable > micro, small and medium enterprises, while protecting workers’ rights. > > > > Decent work means just conditions of work (i.e., work hours, rest periods, > holidays, formal employment contract, etc.), safe and healthy working > conditions and fair remuneration for all workers, irrespective of firm > size, gender, ethnicity or race, political views, and sexual orientation. > Also, the full exercise of the right to organize and bargain collectively > by all workers regardless of employment status, sex, religion, nationality, > and political views should be guaranteed. Trade unions have the role and > responsibility to organize and unionize all workers, including migrant > workers and workers in the informal economy, including those engaged in > micro and small enterprises, so that these workers do not remain abused and > exploited. > > > > Several measures can create the conditions for the achievement of decent > work. These are the following: ratification and implementation (i.e., > national legislation, institutional support and enforcement mechanisms) at > the national level of all the ILO core labour standards;policies that > disallow job contractualization; work guarantee programs; and living > wagesthat cover the decent living expenses of a whole family. Funding for > the two latter measures may come from the same sources of funding for > essential services and social protection. These revenues can be used to > subsidize the grant of a national living wage for workers engaged in micro > and small enterprises and in the informal economy. > > > > *Economic, legal and social protection of vulnerable and disadvantaged > groups of people* > > > > The advancement and protection of women remains uneven in ASEAN. > Considerable progress in promoting gender equality can be substantially > achieved through a combination of various national laws and social policies > in compliance with the international standards in employment, and the > ratification of ILO Conventions and UN agreements on gender equality. > > > > The attainment of gender equality is closely connected to the achievement > of decent work. Concrete measures necessary to reach this goal include > reinforcing the policy to reconcile work and family life, narrowing gender > pay gaps, respecting the principle of equal pay for equal work, offering > opportunities for skills development and vocational training, supporting > women entrepreneurship, and enabling women to take on leadership roles, > which lead to the social and economic empowerment of women. > > > > Children and young persons should be ensured of the care, assistance, > education and training that they need and protected against negligence, > violence and exploitation. States should endeavour to provide free public > education to children and young people. > > > > The ASEAN governments came up in 2013 with the ASEAN Declaration on the > Elimination of Violence against Women and Elimination of Violence against > Children.The full implementation of this Declaration will require > ASEAN-wide legally-binding domestic laws and appropriate policies, > institutions and enforcement mechanisms. > > > > Governments should take necessary measures to provide persons with > disabilities with education, vocational training and guidance to enable > them to access employment and livelihood opportunities. > > This can be done by adopting measures that encourage employers to hire and > keep them in employment under working conditions that meet the needs of the > disabled.To promote their full integration and participation in the life of > the community, measures that aim at overcoming barriers to communication > and mobility and enabling access to transport, housing, cultural activities > and leisure should be put in place. > > > > Migrant workers and their families have the right to protection and > assistance*. *This calls for thefull implementation, in terms of > appropriate policies, institutions and enforcement mechanisms, of the > commitments of ASEAN Member States in the Declaration for the Protection > and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, particularly on the > provision of safe, transparent and accountable migration processes. > > > > *Democratic, participatory and people-centred processes* > > > > ASEAN governments should create the conditions for people’s voice and > participation in matters that affect their political, economic and social > well-being. One way is the creation of venues and structures at the > national and regional level that effectively allow trade unions, peoples’ > organizations, civil society organizations, and the academe to engage in > ASEAN processes, particularly in the ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting (ALMM), > the ASEAN Commission for Human Rights (AICHR), the ASEAN Commission on > Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), and > other ASEAN-level Committees created to implement the various social > Declarations. Another measure is creation of an ASEAN ‘social dimension > scorecard’, jointly designed by ASEAN governments and organizations of > ASEAN peoples, can be used to monitor and track progress on the > operationalization of the various ASEAN Declarations in terms of the > adoption by all ASEAN Member States of legally-binding and inclusive ASEAN > instruments, and the measures to fully realize the various rights of ASEAN > people identified above. The scorecard mechanism will require an ASEAN > reportorial system by which ASEAN Member States are required to report > annually their progress in the attainment of the mechanisms and strategies > listed above. The ASEAN Secretariat shall be empowered to call on > governments to make the necessary adjustments and/or corrections. National > contact points can be set up to implement this reportorial system. > > > > Corollary, the establishmentof a supervisory mechanism in the AICHR, with > equal representation from ASEAN governments, social partners and civil > society organizations, including trade unions, can effectively ensure that > ASEAN Member States improve their practices to fulfil the global standards > of human rights, including a stronger assertion of workers’ rights.Setting > up a complaint mechanism in AICHR enables aggrieved workers and their > organizations the opportunity to seek legal redress. > > > > *** > > > > The full and effective realization of the measuresembodied in this Agenda > leads to the attainment of a life of dignity for all ASEAN people. The > adoption and implementation of the policies and strategies articulated in > this Agenda places primacy of the rights and interests of people and their > communities over markets and profits. In short, this Agenda is a seedbed of > an alternative national and regional development paradigm that emphasizes > the pursuit of the full development of human potential based on equality, > solidarity and sustainability, and through democratic and participatory > processes. > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > [1] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…>See > International Labour Organization & Asian Development Bank (2014). *ASEAN > Community 2015: Managing integration for better jobs and shared prosperity*. > Bangkok: ILO & ADB, p. 6. > > [2] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…>For > example, in Cambodia between 1994 and 2008 the share of workers living on > less than $2 per day declined from 75.3 per cent to 49.6 per cent of total > employment, but the number of poor workers increased from 3.3 million to > 3.7 million. In the Philippines between 1991 and 2009, the share of the > working poor fell from 50.0 per cent to 37.2 per cent, but the number > living on less than $2 per day rose from 11.2 to 13 million. (ibid.) > > [3] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> > Ibid. > > [4] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> These > aspirations and demands have been articulated in various regional meetings > of trade unions, civil society organizations and the progressive academia, > particularly the following: Workshop on Social Commons in Kuala Lumpur > (March 2014; hosted by AEPF, NTSP, FES); ASEAN Unions Assembly in Bali > (August 2014; hosted by ASETUC); Workshop on ASEAN Social Charter in > Singapore (August 2014; hosted by FES); AEPF Roundtable Dialogue on Social > Protection in Yangon, incl. 1 day discussion on ASEAN Social Charter > (August 2014; hosted by AEPF); and Strategy Workshop on Developing and > Promoting a Social Agenda for ASEAN (March 2015; hosted by FES). > > > > [5] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…> Miller, > Ethan (2004). ‘Solidarity Economics – Strategies for Building New Economies > from the Bottom-Up and Inside-Out ’, pp. 6-7. Downloaded on 06 March 2015 > fromhttp://www.geo.coop/archives/SolidarityEconomicsEthanMiller.htm. > > [6] > <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#14e3aec47b57f8c0_14e1a8292466e0ac_14e0ae2…>The > goal of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community is the promotion and advancement > of human development (including education and decent work), social welfare > and protection, social justice and rights, environmental sustainability, an > ASEAN identity, and narrowing the social dimensions of development between > and within ASEAN. > _______________________________________________ CommonGood Mailingliste JPBerlin - Politischer Provider CommonGood(a)listi.jpberlin.de https://listi.jpberlin.de/mailman/listinfo/commongood -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Fwd: [CommonGood] Asia-Europe Statement of Solidarity with the Greek People and Government
by Michel Bauwens 06 Jul '15

06 Jul '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: tina ebro <cgebro(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Jul 6, 2015 at 10:57 AM Subject: [CommonGood] Asia-Europe Statement of Solidarity with the Greek People and Government To: Common Good Newsgroup <commongood(a)listi.jpberlin.de> *Dear Birgit and * *Friends,* *Despite the blackmail and threats of the Troika and EU elite, we are jubilant that the Greek people voted NO to austerity and YES to sovereignty, dignity, human rights and democracy. * *Please receive the Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF) Statement of Solidarity with the Greek People and Government.Do know that Syriza, Podemos and other people-centered parties in Europe have participated as resource persons at AEPF events.* Much thanks and warm wishes, Tina *==========* *Cristine "Tina" Ebro* *Coordinating Team* *aepf.info <http://aepf.info>* *Mobile:+63-917-8146311* ------- *‘SOVEREIGNTY AND LIFE IN DIGNITY, NOT AUSTERITY FOR GREECE’* *AEPF statement of solidarity with the Greek people and government* *5 JULY 2015* We from the Asia-Europe People’s Forum – a strategic civil society network of Asian and European social movements working for social, economic and ecological justice, and fighting to end poverty and inequality – stand with the Greek people as they assert their sovereignty, reject austerity and vote for a life in dignity this Sunday, July 5. The imposition of neo-liberal austerity measures by the Troika – the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, and the European Commission – is destroying Greece. It is responsible for severe financial and economic crisis and for the social catastrophe – e.g. massive unemployment, intensifying poverty and social inequality, rising suicide rates, and the dismantling of social services and security – being experienced by the Greek people. Moreover, the huge debt repayments for which the Troika is demanding have not been for the benefit of the citizens of Greece. They have been utilised to repay private sector creditors such as French and German banks, it is thus highly immoral for the people and government to be forced to pay these debts while depriving the people their basic socio-economic rights to a life in dignity (jobs, food, healthcare, housing, electricity, and other basic needs.) The impositions of the Troika are not only causing misery to the Greek people and government. Outside Greece, similar neo-liberal austerity measures are destroying societies and people in Europe and other parts of the world. We therefore stand in solidarity with the Greek people and the Syriza-led government as they struggle to be free from neo-liberal austerity and odious debts. Over the past decades peoples from developing and developed countries have been resisting against the whole range of neo-liberal policies – liberalisation, deregulation, and privatisation – imposed by capitalist governments through the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and other financial institutions. Peoples have struggled against repayment of odious debts and for the cancellation of illegitimate debts. They have experienced how debt bondage has resulted in poverty and elite privileges. In addition, neo-liberal austerity impositions by the international financial institutions have devastated their economies and environment, crushed human rights and exacerbated inequalities while billions of dollars flowed to transnational corporations and banks and imperialist governments. The debt payment terms cannot over-rule international law. Article 103 of the UN Charter provisions prevail over all other treaties. Therefore no treaty or loan agreement can force a country to violate the civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of its population, nor can a loan agreement negate the sovereignty of a State. Any agreement that would require such a violation of human rights and customary international law is *contra bonos mores* and hence null and void pursuant to Article 53 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties. Now is the time to raise our voices against this threat and stranglehold on the people of Greece by the European elite. This critical moment also requires everyone to speak up against world’s economic elites who have held us hostage and made our lives miserable for decades and who have prioritised the interest of banks and corporations over the people and planet. With the citizens of Greece, we say NO to austerity and YES to dignity, sovereignty, human rights, and democracy! _______________________________________________ CommonGood Mailingliste JPBerlin - Politischer Provider CommonGood(a)listi.jpberlin.de https://listi.jpberlin.de/mailman/listinfo/commongood -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Fwd: Art of Commoning JPG with new offer
by Michel Bauwens 03 Jul '15

03 Jul '15

thanks for sharing this on other networks!! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: davie.cultivate.ie <davie(a)cultivate.ie> t> **New **Concession** Rates Announced* ART OF COMMONING The P2P SUMMER SCHOOL August 25th - 27th, 2015 Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Tipperary, Ireland *Due to enough people booking at the higher rate we can now open up a concession rate for low income and students to this very timely and unique event. * *There are only 40 places available for this event and full participation in the 3 days is required. * Standard Fee: *€380 * *Concession Fee: €340* *Low income/ no income rate: Pay what you can and a little bit more.* Note the organisers and speakers have sacrificed their fee to ensure low income participants can attend. The minimum needed from each participant will be €180. *There will also be two bursary places **offered for the event. *To apply for this send us an email telling us your story. *Full details at www.openeverything.ie <http://www.openeverything.ie/> or in the attached PD* Booking Summer School: To book a place contact Philippa at Cultivate philippa(a)cultivate.ie For more information: Contact Davie Philip davie(a)cultivate.ie or Kevin Flanagan kevin(a)p2pfoundation.net Davie Philip ------------------------------------------------ Cultivate Living & Learning (Sustainable Ireland Co-operative Society Ltd.) WeCreate Workspace Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, Ireland. E-mail: davie(a)cultivate.ie Skype: sustdavie Twitter: @comresie Office: 0505 56061 Mobile: +353 (0) 87 6340697 Web: www.cultivate.ie -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Fwd: Wezer summer hacking camp du 2 au 12/8/15 à Teris, Riols (34), France
by Michel Bauwens 03 Jul '15

03 Jul '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Valeureux Sybille Saint Girons <sybille(a)valeureux.org> Date: 2015-07-03 19:58 GMT+07:00 Subject: Wezer summer hacking camp du 2 au 12/8/15 à Teris, Riols (34), France To: Merci de nous rejoindre et/ou de RELAYER cette proposition à vos réseaux. Bonsoir Je serai honorée de vous accueillir à Teris pour construire ensemble les prochains pas de Wezer. Nous tisserons nos coeurs et nos compétences techniques au service de biens communs pour les communautés. Voici le détail : Wezer summer hacking camp be a wwoos enjoying South France! du 2 au 12/8/15 à Teris, Riols (34), France Ensemble nous développons le module #emergence de Wezer tout en savourant les beautés du Languedoc. Objectifs faire Wezer #emergence v1.0 partager la vie de l’éco-lieu Teris jouer, se baigner, chanter, se promener... Détails experts en Odoo, Python, XML, graphic design, UI design sprint extensif (4 à 5h par jour) hébergement & nourriture végétarienne offert voyage à votre charge (bourse possible à discrétion) Trains et avions par Béziers, Castres, Mazamet, Montpellier, puis bus à 2€ jusqu’à St Pons de Thomières (34220) pour nous rejoindre merci de nous contacter sybille(a)valeureux.or <sybille(a)valeureux.org>g julien(a)valeureux.org Plus d’informations : wezer.org et teris.camp Belle Nouvelle Lune, Sybille ------ Sybille Saint Girons Présidente et co-fondatrice de Valeureux <PastedGraphic-5.pdf> <PastedGraphic-10.pdf> <PastedGraphic-11.pdf> La fabrique participative d’outils, jeux et processus d'Actualisation de Richesses en bien commun pour les communautés. *lanceur de la plateforme wezer.org <http://wezer.org/>* *Ensemble, contribuer à l'émergence, à la reconnaissance et au partage de toutes les forme de richesses au service de la Vie.* ____________________________________________ _______________________________________ -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Re: [P2P-F] Opinion piece: Our responsibility to vote ‘NO’ in the Greek referendum
by Michel Bauwens 03 Jul '15

03 Jul '15

wonderful editorial, thanks a lot, will diffuse it maximally! On Fri, Jul 3, 2015 at 4:09 AM, Theodoros Karyotis <tkaryotis(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi all, > > I have written a brief text highlighting the necessity to struggle, from a > grassroots movements viewpoint, to give meaning to this ambiguous > referendum. > > http://roarmag.org/2015/07/greek-referendum-no-vote-austerity/ > > In solidarity, > Teo > > > autonomias.net > twitter.com/TebeoTeo > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ...buscar y saber reconocer quién y qué, en medio del infierno, no es > infierno, y hacer que dure, y dejarle espacio... > -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Fwd: [CommonGood] european affairs
by Michel Bauwens 03 Jul '15

03 Jul '15

report on the first meeting, followed by personal appreciation by birgit daiber * Birgit Daiber:* "On May 26, the Intergroup on the Commons was launched. The conference focused on the definition of the commons and included the participation of both scholars and activists. It aimed at sharing experiences and analysis on what the commons are, how they can be relevant for Europe and what role the intergroup can play within the debate on the commons. This launch - first event of a long series to come - is the preliminary step for future activities of the intergroup, whose board is composed by M. Matias (GUE/GNL), S. Cofferati (S&D), A. Jongerius (S&D), D. Tamburrano (EFDD) and E. Urtasun (Greens). The meeting started with a video by Stefano Rodotà - Italian legal scholar expert of commons - focusing on the importance of the commons from a legal perspective in a context of social and economic crisis, and on the connection between the debate of the commons and fundamental rights. The first panel focused on legal, economic and political approach to the commons, with interventions by Anne Le Strat (former president of Aqua Publica Europea), Paolo Napoli (legal scholar) and Benjamin Coriat (economist). Several key aspects of the debate and of the definition of the commons were discussed with legal and economic contributions going from Ostrom, to the current legal approach of Italian scholars. The idea that it is time for commons to find their place in the legal debate was reinforced; this should be done by adopting a perspective that considers law as a dynamic tool, both at national and European level. Furthermore, it was stressed that it is time for making commons part of the European political debate, using them to pave the way for alternatives to the current socio-economic model. During the second panel, some concrete examples and experiences were presented. Two relevant perspectives were discussed within the debate: water and digital commons. For the digital perspective, Michel Bauwens (Director and founder of the P2P Foundation) and Ricardo La Fuente (Free Culture Activist) discussed the importance of participatory processes and cooperation. Jan Willeam Goudriaan (vice president of the ECI Right2Water and Secretary General of EPSU) and Ruben Martinez Moreno (Fundacion de los Communes and la Hidra Cooperativa) elaborated on water and commons. Goudriaan underlined the importance of future approaches of the intergroup in view of the interaction with the European Commission policy process. Moreno focused on the commons as a way to reinvent the concept of public and to respond to economic and social crisis, especially in more affected countries such as Spain and Greece. Creativity, sustainability, transition, participation and circularity are among the key words that emerged from the interventions and the following debate. Both panels, indeed, were followed by interesting debates with the audience, which was itself made of activists and organisations involved in the debate about the commons. Different areas of interest for the future of the intergroup have been identified at the level of theoretical analysis as well as of concrete experiences. The importance of a legal recognition of the commons, including in a human rights perspective, goes in parallel with the discussion on property and State. It emerged the importance of elaborating a reflection based on practices, such as: urban commons, natural resources, self-organised workplaces, collaborative economy, digital commons and knowledge. The global scale of the debate was also stressed, referring to the threats represented by international trade agreements such as the CETA and the TTIP. The event was closed by the MEPs involved in the board who are committed to the topic and are oriented to create a space for further discussions. In particular, the role to be played by civil society was strongly stressed by the MEPs (and by the public along the whole debate). Furthermore, in the view of the need for a legal recognition of the commons, recognized by all the participants as fundamental, two possible steps are identified by the MEPs: on the one hand a more consistent analysis of what already exists and can be used to protect and reinforce the commons and, on the other hand, the elaboration of a joint resolution on the Commons. A lot was discussed and still a lot remains to be done. But, it’s definitely time for the commons in Europe!" ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Birgit Daiber <bir.dai(a)hotmail.com> Date: Fri, Jul 3, 2015 at 1:18 PM Subject: [CommonGood] european affairs To: "commongood(a)listi.jpberlin.de" <commongood(a)listi.jpberlin.de> Dear Friends and Colleagues, sorry to be late informing about the first session of the Intergroup on Common Goods in the European Parliament on May 27. I’m continuously trying to understand the driving interests destroying the European Union as we have known it in these days. Seen from a European point of view the battle led by some Governments (Germany, The Netherlands, Finland and the Baltic States in the first row) seems to be irrational and missing the least sense of common interest. No beautification by the propaganda machines can help to hide this. What is called “compromise” is the expression of intransigence and unwillingness to find solutions for the existential problems most of the EU-Countries are facing in the 7th year of the continuing crisis. Europe as a political entity seems to fall apart and national interests command. This means: it’s not only a continuous battle upon the biggest piece of the cake it’s splitting up into winners and losers. This is the lesson we learn from the Greece case: While the winners try to lead the Left Government of Greece like a lamb to the slaughter they execute their victory and continue to tell the myths of austerity policy to those Euro-Zone-countries (it’s the majority of the 19 Euro-Zone-States) still fighting against high and higher growing state-debts and mass unemployment. And all those countries suffering difficulties and potentially belonging to the losers keep quiet and are afraid to be the next getting under fire. Just to remind: weren’t there the two basic promises of the 20th-century’s European Integration wealth for all citizens and peace? Well, the 21st-century’s European Integration tells another story. Wealth is something exclusively for winners – i.e. minorities within the countries and a few countries within the European Union. And even peace is under threat if we look to Ukraine and some initiatives of Baltic States and Poland for a military intervention … But let’s come back to the first session of the Intergroup on Common Goods in the European Parliament. Attached you find the conclusion of the event by Elisabetta Cangelosi and a kind of roadmap for the debates. The debates in Italy (with the history of the referendum on water as common good) are the most advanced reflecting the content and strategic options. A interesting input gave Ernest Urtasun from the Catalonian left-green party – referring to a more general approach for a Fundamental Charter on Common Goods. With all best wishes – Yours, Birgit *bir.dai(a)hotmail.com <bir.dai(a)hotmail.com>* *www.birgitdaiber.eu <http://www.birgitdaiber.eu>* *Fon: 0039-090-9452432* *Mobile: 0039-366-4207762* *Brussels: Rue du Canal 19, B-1000 Brussels* *Sicily: Casella Postale No. 28, I-98055 Lipari* _______________________________________________ CommonGood Mailingliste JPBerlin - Politischer Provider CommonGood(a)listi.jpberlin.de https://listi.jpberlin.de/mailman/listinfo/commongood -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Richard Stallman on the Greek Referendum
by george dafermos 02 Jul '15

02 Jul '15

A few words to Greece -- Richard Stallman The international banks, and their plutocratist politicians, have rejected the easy course of giving Greece a path back to growth and to repaying most of its debt. They demand Greece accept six months more of the "help" that would leave Greece even more desperate. Apparently they want to make an example of Greece to intimidate other victims. With their rejection of Greece's last offer, their arrogance is now explicit: they demand Greece choose between the disaster of economic exclusion and the disaster of economic occupation. It seems to me that it is better to suffer by fighting and weakening one's enemies than to suffer by surrendering and serving them. It seems to me that these banks oppress all of Europe, so rebelling against them is imperative. Thus, it seems to me that Greece should choose NO on July 5. No to the banksters' ultimatum, no to their dominion, and no to their parasitism. That's how it seems to me; but it is easy for me to say such things, since I won't be the one who suffers. It is for Greeks to say how it seems to them. Source: https://barikat.gr/content/liga-logia-gia-tin-ellada

1 0

Fwd: [tapas] Open / Data / Freelancer Cooperatives
by Michel Bauwens 01 Jul '15

01 Jul '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Annemarie Naylor <annemarie(a)commonfutures.eu> Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 3:02 PM Subject: [tapas] Open / Data / Freelancer Cooperatives To: tapas(a)lists.p2pfoundation.net Cc: COMMONING LIste engl <commoning(a)lists.commons-institut.org> Dear All Further to our discussions re Open / Data / Freelancer Coops – I’m sure you will find the following of interest (please spread the word!). And, very well done Pat et al ;-) DRAFT TEXT FOR PUBLICITY The case for co-operation A new book outlining fifty innovations to boost the British economy is out from the network for co-operative businesses, Co-operatives UK. Based on three years of research, The Co-operative Advantage <http://shop.newint.org/uk/co-operative-advantage-ebook.html> analyses growth sectors around which economic co-operation has an edge and a fit that offers a competitive advantage. The 50 potential innovations dovetail with emerging trends in technology and markets and the total economic value of the sectors examined add up to 61% of overall GDP and account for 64% of total employment in the UK. The innovations range from social co-operatives, where staff and users run care services together, to data co-ops giving people control over data about them and a freelancers’ union for the growing numbers of self-employed people. Ed Mayo, the editor or the multi-authored book and secretary general of Co-operatives UK <http://www.uk.coop/>, said: “Britain needs to nurture a new approach for economic success. A vital ingredient will be harnessing current innovation trends that encourage a far stronger dose of economic collaboration. Many of the world’s most successful firms are achieving results by embracing collaboration – creating informal networks, harnessing customers’ ideas, empowering their employees. In an innovation economy, where knowledge is the new currency, businesses must co-operate to compete. “ “The co-operative advantage is realised by giving the people involved in a business – the employees, the customers, the suppliers – a stake in it. Their participation has a triple effect, boosting innovation, productivity and entrepreneurship.” The Co-operative Advantage has been described by Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive of Nesta, as “a very substantial, impressive book”. It is published by the co-operative, New Internationalist - http://shop.newint.org/uk/co-operative-advantage-ebook.html Best wishes, Annemarie Annemarie Naylor Director, Common Futures T. 07525 236797 E: annemarie(a)commonfutures.eu W: http://www.commonfutures.eu/ Follow me on twitter @commonfutrs 12 Sandford Close, Wivenhoe, Colchester, Essex, CO7 9NP Common Futures is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 8481503 -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

Fwd: Call for Papers IASC Thematic Conference on Urban Commons (Bologna, 6-7 Nov.), deadline 9 Aug. and other IASC Conferences
by Michel Bauwens 01 Jul '15

01 Jul '15

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: collective-action <collective-action(a)uu.nl> Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 2:15 AM Subject: Call for Papers IASC Thematic Conference on Urban Commons (Bologna, 6-7 Nov.), deadline 9 Aug. and other IASC Conferences To: Dear Sir, Madam, The Research Team Institutions for Collective Action would kindly like to draw your attention to the call for papers for the 1st IASC Thematic Conference on Urban Commons (Bologna, Italy, 6-7 November 2015; deadline abstracts: 9 August 2015) as well as to the other IASC-conferences scheduled for 2015-2017. Kind regards, René van Weeren Project Assistant Research Team Institutions for Collective Action Executive Director IASC (per 1 July 2015) ______________ *Call for Papers for the 1st IASC Thematic Conference on Urban Commons* (Bologna, 6-7 November 2015), hosted by the Laboratory for Governance of Commons (LabGov) and the Urban Law Center of Fordham University *Deadline abstracts* 9 August 2015 *Conference website* www.labgov.it/urbancommons *Full version call for papers > see attachment* Inspired by the recently implemented* Bologna Regulation on Collaboration for the Care and Regeneration of the Urban Commons*, as well as by other commons-based experiments in cities around Italy by the LabGov project (e.g. Co-Mantova, Co-Battipaglia and Co-Palermo), the 1st IASC Thematic Conference on the Urban Commons will bring together leading scholars, researchers, policymakers, practitioners and social innovators to take stock of the developments in the interdisciplinary study of the urban commons and related questions of urban governance. Although the urban commons has increasingly appeared as a topic of scholarly inquiry, there has yet to be sustained attention to the research questions, methodologies, and disciplinary approaches necessary to more fully conceptualize and develop the idea of the “urban commons” and the new challenges and facets it introduces into the ongoing study of the commons in diverse fields. The conference will seek to better understand the idea of urban commons at different scales, under what circumstances and contexts urban commons emerge, what contributes to their durability and effectiveness, and what undermines them. The conference will stress the importance of an "urban commons narrative" for urban infrastructure, urban welfare, and urban development. Additionally, the conference will focus on questions of urban governance and will explore different frameworks for governing common urban resources, and the city, in a collaborative manner. The conference will highlight six thematic questions, which are: i. Conceiving the Urban Commons ii. Mapping the Urban Commons iii. The Urban Commons and Democratic Innovation iv. The Collaborative/Sharing Economy as the Basis for a Commons-Based Urban Economy v. Social innovation as the Basis for a Commons-Based Urban Welfare vi. Designing and Governing the City as a Commons These thematic areas will be examined through two full days of plenary panels, keynote presentations, and parallel sessions with selected papers from the call for papers. The conference will conclude with a roundtable discussion intended to reflect on the methods and future directions for urban commons research. Abstracts may be submitted for any of the six thematic tracks described above from June 20 onwards via *urbancommons(a)labgov.it* <urbancommons(a)labgov.it>.. The abstracts shall consist of a 500 word maximum description of the research or paper and its originality or value for urban commons studies. All abstracts should be submitted *before 10 August 2015, 12:00 AM CET.* *Other upcoming IASC-Conferences 2015-2017* In addition to the conference mentioned above, the following IASC-conferences have been scheduled for 2015-2017: *IASC Regional Conference (Europe), 10-13 May 2016, Bern, Switzerland (see flyer in attachment)* ‘Commons in a 'glocal' world: global connections and local responses’ Hosted by the University of Bern. *3rd IASC Thematic Conference on Knowledge Commons, 20-21 October 2016, Paris, France* ‘Advancing knowledge commons through legal and social changes’ Hosted by SciencesPro and The Université Catholique de Louvain *IASC Regional Conference (N. America/Arctic), Fall 2016, Anchorage, Alaska, USA* ‘Reality, richness, and responsibility of an arctic commons’ Hosted by the Institute of the North *XVIth Biennial IASC Conference, 10-14 July 2017, Utrecht, The Netherlands (*See www.iasc2017.org) ‘Practicing the commons’ Hosted by Utrecht University A poster overview of these conferences can be found tin the attachments of this e-mail. Keep updated on all these and other conferences via the website of the IASC http://www.iasc-commons.org/conferences -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0

bauwens interview in le monde on uber and sharing economy the most popular so far this year
by Michel Bauwens 01 Jul '15

01 Jul '15

this interview of mine on uber and the sharing economy is my most popular and shared so far this year, dozens of retweets every day since it appeared, and no sign yet of letup: http://www.lemonde.fr/entreprises/article/2015/06/25/michel-bauwens-uber-et… -- Check out the Commons Transition Plan here at: http://commonstransition.org P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net <http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation>Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/

1 0