Frontiers of Commoning, with David Bollier

Jack Kloppenburg, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and founder of the Open Source Seed Initiative, discusses the critical importance of seed-sharing in agriculture. He highlights the shift from communal seed resources to proprietary ownership by large biotech firms. Kloppenburg draws parallels to the open-source software movement, advocating for collaboration to promote biodiversity. He addresses the urgent need for community-centered approaches to ensure food sovereignty, especially among indigenous groups, while combating corporate monopolization in agriculture.

Tom Llewellyn, Executive Director of Shareable, dives into the fascinating world of organized sharing. He discusses the innovative concept of Libraries of Things, enabling communities to borrow everyday items. The podcast explores the rise of mutual aid networks in response to crises, showcasing their effectiveness during disasters like Hurricane Maria. Llewellyn emphasizes how grassroots organizing and shared infrastructures foster resilience and empower communities, highlighting the exciting potential of collaborative initiatives for the common good.

What are some of the distinctive ways that precarious arts collectives share resources, support each other, and make art? This episode hears from artists' collectives in three countries to learn how they organize their commoning practices. The three collectives are the "-" (dash) collective in Iran (with an artist who goes by the pseudonym "M" for political reasons); Papaya Kuir, a lesbo-transfeminist collective for Latin American migrants in the Netherlands (with Mexican-born Alejandra Maria Ortiz); and Indonesian artists who practice 'nongkrong' (Angga Cipta, aka "ACip," on left in photo, and MG Pringgotono, founder of Serrum and Gudskul, on right). More on commons at www.Bollier.org.

Radio Kingston host and executive director Jimmy Buff interviews David Bollier about his new, updated and revised edition of 'Think Like a Commoner,' originally published in 2014. This popular introduction now includes material on the commons as a living, relational organism, bioregionalism and the relocalization of economies, governance of digital commons, legal hacks to support commons, and new ways for state power to facilitate commoning. More about the book at https://www.thinklikeacommoner.com. More on Bollier and the commons at https://www.Bollier.org.

Anthropologist Amber Huff, coordinator of the Centre for Future Natures at the University of Sussex in England, explains how popular genres like comic books, zines, social media, podcasts, and video, among others, can illuminate contemporary commons, enclosures, and the disorienting crises of capitalist modernity. What does this moment of crisis and collapse feel like, and how can subjective experiences and emotions be organized to create commons and new visions of the future?

Valeria Graziano, an activist and author from Italy and England, teams up with Tomislav Medak, a Croatian activist with two decades of experience in challenging privatization. Together, they introduce 'Pirate Care'—a grassroots movement promoting compassion and community solidarity against systemic neglect. The conversation covers the underfunding of welfare systems, the rise of mutual aid, and revolutionary strategies that reimagine caregiving. They emphasize the need for innovative care practices and building collective strength against oppressive structures.

Yuria Celidwen, an Indigenous researcher in the Department of Psychology at University of California Berkeley, discusses how contemplative practices in Indigenous traditions can expand mindfulness, heartfulness, compassion, and planetary flourishing. Her new book, 'Flourishing Kin: Indigenous Foundations for Collective Well-Being,' argues that relationality lies at the heart of Indigenous cultures, as seen in seven key principles. Celidwen explains that happiness is "only possible in community, when we cultivate our relationships toward all kin, from human to more-than-human, and to our living Earth." Learning to listen mindfully to life is an essential process in healing the Earth, the alienation of modern, Western cultures, and Indigenous cultures traumatized by genocide and other colonial traumas. More on the commons at www.Bollier.org.

Zoe Gilbertson, a British fashion ecologist, is revolutionizing the fashion industry through sustainable practices like bioregional fibersheds, focusing on crops such as hemp and flax. She discusses her journey from conventional fashion to promoting localized garment production, tackling the ecological harms of fast fashion. The conversation highlights innovative European enterprises, the balance of imagination and practicality in sustainable farming, and the importance of community-driven systems. Gilbertson champions a fashion revolution that fosters ecological practices and celebrates local craftsmanship.

Stefan Gruber, an Associate Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, specializes in urban commons and participatory design. He dives into the intricate battle between capitalism and communal spaces, showcasing cities as incubators for self-determined communities. The influence of grassroots movements on urban policy and projects like the High Line is examined, alongside the historical significance of Red Vienna's housing model. Gruber also discusses redefining ownership in collaborative initiatives and the need for sustainable practices that prioritize communities over markets.

Brandon Letsinger, a Seattle organizer and cofounding director of the Cascadia Department of Bioregion, dives into the roots of bioregional activism in the Cascadia region, spanning from British Columbia to northern California. He highlights the importance of ecological self-reliance and indigenous practices in fostering community resilience against climate change. Letsinger emphasizes collaboration among diverse movements to tackle political challenges and advocates for bioregional learning centers to enhance ecological stewardship and local governance.