In this period of economic crisis and political shifts,
ideas associated with the commons are emerging
across many levels of society as a new force. The
word is now heard more frequently in public discussion,
and is evolving into new linguistic forms as people’s sense of what the
commons means expands.
The scope of On the Commons (OTC) itself is
expanding, as we
show the commons is
more than an exciting
concept, it also offers
practical answers to
problems we face. Over
the past year, OTC widened
its focus to a set of “gateway” arenas, ranging from
food to energy to public spaces, in which commons
principles can be applied to redefine problems and
create new solutions. Our work now also embraces
commoning-community-based actions that
enrich people’s lives through social connection and
cooperative empowerment.
All together OTC is making strides toward fostering
a commons movement that pursues these goals:
1) Boosting awareness of the commons vision; 2)
Discovering and promoting commons-based solutions;
3) Broadening and strengthening the growing
cohort of commoners.
Thinking rooted in the commons is slowly growing in prominence
and influence last year, symbolized late last year
when commons champion Elinor Ostrom,
whose life’s work debunks the theory that only
privatization can protect scarce resources, won the
Nobel Prize for Economics. Good magazine highlighted
nine commons-based initiatives in its annual
“Good 100”, a honor roll of ideas and projects to
inspire hip, young readers.
In Barcelona, OTC’s David Bollier took part in a
seminal meeting opposing corporate control of the
Internet and culture that resulted in a manifesto to
protect citizens’ rights to fair use. In Milwaukee,
OTC is exploring strategies about how to protect
critical public services and the public realm itself in
times of severe budget cuts. The influential citizens
coalition Take Action Minnesota put the commons
at the center of a detailed campaign plan to make
a difference in 2010 state elections. The group’s
powerful vision statement poses a forceful challenge
to the prevailing view, “that ‘you’re on your own’,
and that we are better off when competing amongst
ourselves for our individual lot in life. We can see its
impact today: our land is damaged, groups of people
still face exclusion and oppression, our commonwealth
of schools, roads, bridges and parks have suffered,
we spend much less time with our loved ones,
and struggle to earn a decent standard of living.”
For On the Commons, this volatile era is a time
of evolution. In becoming more aware of the full
scope of commons-based action and possibilities,
we’ve broadened our focus into new fields and projects.