[P2P-F] an evaluation of the flok

Mon Jul 7 14:49:41 CEST 2014

Thanks Gordon, and thanks Michel, also for the latter one you sent, for these open honest and detailed emails. Though I didn't mean to force you to wrote down all these details, I believe, at least for my self, they have been pretty helpful to get a broader and clearer picture of what happened, actors involved, and what can happen in the future. Hope we could hear details from Daniel, Carlos, Bernardo, so on, to complete the picture. That I believe that picture will provide a very important even historical resource/record feeding in processes of building political alliances from bottom up. Like we have people who have roots on the ground, they prefer that, they believe in it; then we have those who is good and interested in interlocking various networks horizontal and vertical, and then we have those who are good, experienced and want to focusing on changing vertical ones from the top or middle..  historically there have been all sort of conflicts between these, so neither convergence nor unity was impossible... today we all know it very well and sincerely that none of these can win alone, nor by making deals with the powerful on their behalf. 
Today is a good day to make it work, so that the survival of the life on the planet, even not anymore the humanity can be secured. That takes successfully collaborating 'layers' free globally connected local networks, as Willi corrected me before. Yet mean while there can be some social protocols for p2p or flat networks, adoptable to local context, showing the way. Also release futile tensions and stress, by giving nodes chance to rest in awareness, easing the way for collective mindfulness, allowing broader self and mutual recognition.           
Orsan

> On 7 jul. 2014, at 05:44, Michel Bauwens <michel at p2pfoundation.net> wrote:
> 
> Just responding to some of Gordon's points.
> 
> I did meet Carlos, repeatedly, after arriving in Quito.
> 
> Just to make a few points: the contradictions of the project became apparent very very fast, since we didn't get paid because of it, until the end of March. I'm not sure if everyone appreciates how serious that it for precarious activist-scholars, i..e most of our team. (only the flok mgt had a basic income)  We had to pay our tickets, rent guaranties, rent, food etc .. without an income and reserves. And the stress of not knowing when it would be solved, but the main issue of course: why the hell where we invited if the project was not supported, why were we invited and sabotaged at the same time. I knew the reasons of the conflict since October, but only experienced its effects as of January. It is only 2 days after I went public with the issue, that it was resolved. After the departure of our rector, we were refunded and things improved. Since I had won my case by threatening to leave, it frankly didn't make any sense to leave having obtained satisfaction.
> 
> From then on, we just did what we could, in imperfect and hard circumstances, and tried to respond as best as we could to the huge expectations that the flok generated. I still don't think an early departure would have a better option. Because of the depth of the abuse that Gordon was subject too, I understand he has a different view of it, but the research team had to take into account many factors and expectations.
> 
> I just want to make a point that though, for someone who has lived under the poverty level / minimum wage for years, though the income was very important to me and my family, it is not something that can keep me quiet. If money was the factor, I would not have taken a 90% pay cut since 2002. This is why I have always continued to speak out against the abuses, as can be readily seen in the public mailing list of the project. My main aim was to react against the systematic defamation that was used as a mgt tool, but otherwise leave the hierarchical process as is because I was powerless to change it. I just ignored the many entreaties to ask for permission for my activities. so the research team operated fairly autonomously outside of the ambit of the hierarchical process. We have been entirely free in our research and expression of our research results.
> 
> The mgt team has always systematically tried to minimize the role of the research team and my role in particular, but I don't think it was very effective. The willful defunding of the translation of the transition document was rather easily circumvented by an appeal for volunteers; the way the summit was organized was similarly carefully calibrated to diminish my role, but the flok mgt team proceeded from the mistaken assumption that my reputation was a threat to them, while the truth is , my strategy is entirely invitational. Nevertheless, I see the purposeful policy to refuse a discussion on the transition proposals, as a huge strategic mistake. While they were hoping for the backroom deals that never materialized, though some may ultimately come to fruition, let's hope, the generic discussion about the commons is exactly what was needed to have a lasting impact.
> 
> I make my work as interesting and signficant as I know to, and respond to invitations. I never see myself as competing or as needing to push away anyone else to do this. It's not something they are able to see from their scarcity-driven point of view, but I entirely adapt this and never push against such attempts. I proceed from the pov that quality work ends up being noticed.
> 
> As Bethany argued elsewhere, while many of the papers and concrete proposals may soon be forgotten because of the lack of engagement of the authorities, the general ideas and concrete human connections are exactly the lasting impact that our work will have there.
> 
> Michel
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Please note an intrusion wiped out my inbox on February 8; I have no record of previous communication, proposals, etc ..
> 
> P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net  - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net 
> 
> Updates: http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
> 
> #82 on the (En)Rich list: http://enrichlist.org/the-complete-list/ 
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