Phoenix speaking at - Reclaiming the Commons: practical steps and galvanizing action

Reclaiming the Commons: practical steps and galvanizing action



Room 3E (third floor)

University of London Union (ULU)

Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HY



10:00-10:30

Coffee/Tea and informal get together



10:30-10:45

Greetings and brief introductory session of participants (name, organisation, their particular interest in the commons)



10:45-11:10

What are the commons?

George Por - Fundamental principles

Tim Flitcroft - Different types of commons

Tina Bakolitsa - Ostrom's principles of commons management



11:10-11:50

How can re-claiming the commons work in practice?



Clive Menzies - Financial / Economic commons

Fereshteh Eshan - Wild law/ Commons Law

Melanie Strickland - Community bill of rights

Julie Timbrell - Participatory decision making



Anne Betz - Health commons

Phoenix B - FB library

John Bywater - Digital commons



11:50-12:50

What types of commons are important to you and how can you get involved in re-claiming the commons? (breakout groups)



Two half-hour sessions, so that people with more that one interest can switch groups.



12:50-13:00

Group feedback

Reclaiming the Commons: practical steps and galvanizing action


The theory of the Commons is simple: all resources that mankind holds in common, whether from Nature or created by man, are communal gifts and should be shared equitably.


Land, air, water, energy, minerals, telecommunications, human knowledge, the monetary system and so on, are resources whose ownership needs to be shared as widely as possible, not be exploited by individuals or corporations. The Commons should also be preserved for future generations.


The concepts of broad ownership (stewardship) and sustainability of common resources translate into economic justice and protection for the environment. Under these conditions, Commoning, what the community does in order to make the resource productive, also makes for a less selfish and more co-operative society.


At times, as is currently the case around the globe, there is a need to reclaim the Commons. In the UK for instance, 0.6% of the people own 50% of the land. This concentration of land ownership creates scarcity and drives up land prices for ordinary people. Sometimes we need to establish a Commons where one hasn't been considered before - for example how we manage the atmosphere and the oceans.


On Sunday 11th November, the last day of the Putney debates, we will be looking at practical steps for reclaiming the Commons in several areas, from law, the economy and participatory decision-making to health, local services, knowledge and the environment.


What are, in each case, the opportunities and challenges for promoting the Commons? Are there other movements, campaigns and initiatives that align themselves with the theory of the Commons? And how can we go about creating our own Commons?


Join us from 10am to 1pm at the University of London Union (ULU) on Malet Street - directions and program below.