For our 10th anniversary Great Lakes Bioneers has chosen the theme RECLAIMING THE COMMONS as the frame to use as we select local programming and workshops.
What are the commons? When managed properly, they are abundant resources that
enable us to overcome scarcities and manage crises. The commons include:
· Natural Resources - forests, atmosphere, groundwater, surface water, fisheries
· Cultural Resources - arts, language, media, tradition, belief, elders
· Public Goods - public space, education, health, basic services, built environment
· 'Life Commons' - genomes, heritage breeds and seeds, our children
When the commons are "enclosed" they become commodities; with exclusive
borders built around them, they become private property and are no longer common.
Commodification and privatization are current dangerous trends that breed scarcity:
witness the fights based around access to farmland, water, parks, broadband, politicians,
plant genomes, and so on.
What can the Common People do? Recognizing and reclaiming the commons all around
us is a radical yet practical activity and necessary for our times. The commons begin with
the exercise of a claim such as "The water of the Great Lakes Basin is a commons not to
be privatized or turned into a commodity." The commons thrive when the people share
responsibility, exercise effective governance and practice justice. There are many models
and movements, including cooperative economics, open source Internet culture, copy
'left-ing', public trust declarations, land trusts, participatory governance, and community
gardening.
At this year's conference you can hear the latest news about the movements toward
greater common ground and tools being used to increase and improve our commons -
plus you can connect to people you have much in common with!
