1. julian dobson: economic tragedy to reclaiming the streets dec '13
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Julian Dobson's presentation at the Land & Community: Creating a 21st Century Commons event.TRANSCRIPT
A 21st century commons: from economic tragedy to reclaiming the streets
Julian Dobson, director, Urban Pollinators
“Commons” is becoming a charged word, following a path similar to those taken by words such as “sustainability” and “resilience”, raised as a banner under which an increasing variety of people and organisations which to place themselves.
Dougald Hine, 2013
‘THE COMMON’A PLACE TO BE FREE, BUT NOT A FREE-FOR-ALL
THE REAL TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS...IS ENCLOSURE AND PRIVATISATION, NOT ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY
‘The inherent logic of the commons remorselessly generates tragedy... Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all’
Garrett Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons, 1968
‘Commoning has always been local. It depends on custom, memory and oral transmission for the maintenance of its norms rather than law, police and media.’
Peter Linebaugh, The Magna Carta Manifesto, 2008
THE ‘NEW COMMONS’ OF THE 21ST CENTURYFROM PERMITTED ACCESS TO PRODUCTIVE VALUE
‘We are seeing a growing number of people discovering what individuals working together, developing self-governing skills, can accomplish independently of governments, corporations, or private owners.’
Charlotte Hess, Mapping the New Commons, 2008
Based on Charlotte Hess, 2008
Education
Creative commons
Internet
Libraries
Peer production
Public domain
Science
Knowledge commons
Gift economy
Sharing economyMarkets as commons
Antarctica
Atmosphere
Biodiversity
Electromagnetic spectrum
Food security
Knowledge, cultural and infrastructure commons
Oceans
Rivers
Waste management
Water management
Global commons
Agriculture
Fisheries
Forests
Grazing lands
Land tenure and use
Villages and social organisation
Water and irrigation
Wildlife
Traditional commons
Electromagnetic spectrum
Internet infrastructure
Public radio
Wireless communication
Transport infrastructure
Infrastructure commons
Community gardens
Housing
Noise/ quiet
Pavements
Security
Streets
Neighbourhood commons
Gene pool
Hospitals
Medical budgets
Public healthcare
Health commons
Fashion
Indigenous culture
Music
Nonprofit organisations
Public art
Sacred spaces
Sports activities and locations
Tourism and travel
Cultural commons
MAPPING THE NEW COMMONS
The new commons are characterised by economies of the small scale: many people working together to create public goods, using resources wisely and effectively, and increasing a local and personal sense of agency and influence.
‘REGENERATION’: CREATING OR ERODING THE COMMONS?REGENERATION HAS FOCUSED ON MARKET FAILURE INSTEAD OF RETHINKING MARKETS
‘The route to a more productive, dynamic and sustainable economy in the UK begins when people can live lives that fulfil their potential and sustain their wellbeing. This will not happen when many are unable to contribute fully to the public good.’
ResPublica, Responsible Recovery, 2013
‘Only through a rethinking of the city commons can we begin to take social capital seriously in land use policy and law. Instead of conceptualising the city as an aggregation of private property rights, we should instead seek to identify and protect common resources and interests in the city commons.’
Sheila Foster, The City as an Ecological Space, 2006
A CHALLENGE: OUR STREETS AS THE NEW COMMONSCAN COMMONS THINKING MOVE FROM NATURAL RESOURCES TO URBAN ASSETS?
‘Within the community, the more persons who participate in a dance, the higher its value to each participant. Each added dancer brings new opportunities to vary partners and share the excitement.’
Carol Rose, The Comedy of the Commons, 1986
‘The present decade has been marked by a retreat from social concerns. Scientists bring to our attention urgent but complex problems bearing on our very survival... We respond by demanding more details, and by assigning the problems to institutions ill-equipped to cope with them.’
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Our Common Future, 1987
‘It is through the performance of creative acts, in art, in thought, in personal relationships, that the city can be identified as something more than a purely functional organisation of factories and warehouses, barracks, courts, prisons and control centres.’
Lewis Mumford, The City in History, 1961
Power without care creates blight. Care without power fuels helplessness and frustration. This is why a concept of stewardship must be at the heart of any vision to reclaim the land in our towns and cities for the people.
thank you
www.urbanpollinators.co.uk Twitter: @juliandobson