Info, news & debate
Economy
Come to the Festival of Commoning in Stroud, Sep 12 & 13
The Festival of Commoning is a space to build the commons, together. For those of us working on the ground—building the commons, running food co-ops, fighting for digital rights, or trying to manage a shared resource—the work can feel both vital and isolating. We’re all pushing against a larger, more powerful system, often with limited resources and in our own separate silos.
‘Money commons’: review of the Collaborative Finance (CoFi) Gathering
Katja Durrani of Bristol Commons and Lowimpact.org went along to the third annual Collaborative Finance Gathering in Austria, June 16-20. It’s an annual event – everyone welcome. Alternative finance is crucial for building a successful commons movement.
What many environmentalists get wrong about the money system, and why it’s important
We can’t build a commons economy with a capitalist money system. It will block us at every turn. But to build a new money system, first we have to understand the nature of money. Matthew Slater explains. Matthew is the author of the Credit Commons Protocol and white paper, and will be appearing at the Festival of Commoning in Stroud in September.
The potential for community energy and commons in north Wales
Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Stroud Commons talking with Lowri Hedd-Vaughan and Phil McGrath of DEG, a group (CIC) in north Wales, who are doing interesting, commons-related things around energy and more.
Help make the world’s first community-owned, commons climbing gym a reality
The world’s first community-owned, commons climbing gym is getting closer to reality. It will be a flagship for the commons models (around finance, governance, asset locking and federation) that we’re trialling in Stroud.
Money Commons: Review of ‘Remaking Money for a Sustainable Future’, by Ester Barinaga Martín
Remaking Money for a Sustainable Future: Money Commons by Ester Barinaga Martín was published in 2024 by Bristol University Press in its series Alternatives to Capitalism in the 21st Century. Available through Open Access, you can download it as pdf or epub here: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/89799 The book provides an in-depth view and thorough analysis of various …
May the 4th be with you: the Empire vs the Commons Rebel Alliance
There’s a global corporate / state machine (let’s call it ‘the Empire’) that destroys nature, democracy and community, and prevents peace. None of this is planned – it’s systemic, even though Empires are always founded and led by the worst among us.
How the commons, unlike other movements for change, can reach working-class communities
We’ll need to produce and distribute food and other essentials, and maintain houses, energy and water infrastructure outside of the corporate system – and that requires working people to do it.
The fundamentals of Commoning, Part 1: Introduction
I’m interviewing Dil Green about the fundamentals of commoning. Dil is part of Mutual Credit Services (MCS) – designing models for the commons economy, that groups in Stroud and Liverpool in the UK are using in several sectors of the economy, including housing and finance.
Making local food production and land commons more viable with procurement hubs
small, local food producers are having a hard time making ends meet, because small farm incomes are falling, due to supermarkets constantly squeezing farmers/growers, to make food prices cheaper and cheaper. Here’s a potential solution.
Green light for the UK’s first commons-owned climbing centre
Some exciting news to start the year for climbers and commoners. The UK’s first climbing commons, in Stroud, has finalised a deal with a location in Stroud, and if all goes well, there should be a commons/community-owned climbing centre opening in the summer.
Commoning the flax/textile industry: Dil Green of Mutual Credit Services
I’m talking with Dil Green of Mutual Credit Services, who design models for building the commons in all sectors of the economy. Today we’re talking about building a textile commons around the flax / linen industry.
Darren Allen on civilisational collapse
There’s a debate about whether humans are in a ‘collapse era’. Here’s one of our favourite authors, Darren Allen’s take.
Feb 2025 news from the commons movement in Stroud & Liverpool
This is the first monthly news update for what’s happening in the budding commons movement in Stroud and Liverpool, plus Mutual Credit Services and our partners and friends around the UK and the world.
Stroud Housing Commons looking for tenants for its first house
At Stroud Housing Commons, we’re looking for a tenant for our first house – and you can add yourself to the waiting list for future commons houses.
A governance commons to support the commons economy? Conversation with Dr Sonia Bussu
Liberal democracy supports capitalism. What kind of governance system would support the commons economy? Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org and Stroud Commons in conversation with Sonia Bussu, Associate Professor in Public Policy at the University of Birmingham and project lead for INSPIRE (looking at democratic innovations and their limitations.
Friends in high places: billionaire-free, collapse-proof communications with LoRa and Meshtastic
Building and strengthening networks is crucial to improving our resilience to the changes and social upheaval heading our way. Our social networks buffer us against possible insults to our circumstances. Everything that improves our connections increases our resilience.
Affordable climbing as a commons: Chik Shimasaki of Climbing Commons
Today I’m talking with Chikara Shimasaki, who’s building a climbing commons in Stroud, and will provide information for anyone wanting to do it in their own towns. Here are a few links: Dave: before we talk about what you’re doing – what’s the problem you’re trying to solve? What’s your motivation? Chik: the climbing commons …
12 economic growth myths and how to counter them
It’s essential that we stabilise the global economy. More people understand this every year, but corporations and governments don’t, and so we continue to destroy nature for profit. They’ve built up a bank of myths around the necessity of perpetual growth. Here are 12 common ones, and how to respond to them.
What happened at the first ‘Festival of Commoning’ in Stroud, Sep 13-14?
So, the first ‘Festival of Commoning’ happened in Stroud on Sep 13 & 14. This is a short report from one festival-goer, Dr Laura James.