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COMMONS MAGAZINE

Food and Agriculture

As the actual environmental and economic costs of the industrial agricultural system become more evident, we are seeing many new campaigns to regain control over what we eat—food safety initiatives, local food movements, fights against genetically modified food and destructive trade policies, and the Slow Food movement.

November 17, 2006

The Seed Gestapo And Third World Farmers

A Filipino farmer is drug into court for breeding his own seeds.
October 11, 2006

In Search of the 100-Mile Meal

The local food movement gains ground.
September 7, 2006

French Chefs and the Power of Social Norms

French chefs illustrate the power of social norms to protect creativity in the commons without resorting to intellectual property rights.
September 1, 2006

Reclaiming Shelf Space for Commons-Friendly Food

Global trade rules are threatening family farms and local economies in developing nations. Now farmers are fighting back with a new vision of global food sovereignty.
April 29, 2006

Value Subtracted

When it comes to everybody's favorite subject – food – we see just how important the commons is for enhancing our lives.
January 18, 2006

How Dooney’s Café in Toronto and a Minneapolis junk shop with no name make the world a better place.

December 12, 2005

Seedy Business: Plant Preemption Bills Stalking State Capitals

Biotech giants throw their weight around to stop local communities from restricting use of GMO crops and products.
December 2, 2005

Terminator Technology and Seed Industry Consolidation

Farmers around the world are increasingly forced to use GMO seeds.
December 1, 2005

Terminator Seed Technology - It's Back!

Terminator seeds are back. Despite passionate protests from every corner of the globe, biotech corporations are introducing sterile seeds that cannot be saved for next year's crop.
August 18, 2005

The Struggle to Define Social Reality: Market vs. Commons

As Americans reconsider junk food, the commons plays a new role in defining social reality.

The Great Lakes Are Declared a Commons

A diverse group of activists from both sides of the border declares the lakes a common endowment

A thriving shopping street lined with local businesses

State of the Commons 2041

A look back at a political, cultural & economic revolution that saved the world

Monsanto Goes All Out to Keep GMOs a Secret Ingredient in Our Food

Polls show California voters favor labeling GMOs, but agribusiness dumps millions to defeat labeling in November election