Frontiers of Commoning, with David Bollier

Bram Büscher, an activist-scholar in sociology at Wageningen University in The Netherlands, has launched an ambitious international project to invent noncapitalist forms of land conservation. He calls it "convivial conservation." Instead of locking up land as wilderness or using it to make money through ecotourism and genetic patents, "convivial conservation" is about enabling humans to become integral, respectful co-creators with nature. The new Convivial Conservation Centre, with staff in five countries and many allies worldwide, champions constructive, symbiotic human relationships with local ecosystems and the bridging of the deep divide separating humans from nature. More on commons: www.Bollier.org

Safouan Azouzi, a Tunisian scholar of the commons and participatory social design, discusses how cultural traditions in desert oases hold important socio-ecological lessons for the world. For the Global South, long victimized by colonialism and capitalist extraction, oases culture embodies an eco-friendly, alternative vision of development. For the industrial West, oases reveals the importance of commoning in building stable, regenerative economies in sync with ecosystem needs. More on the commons at www.Bollier.org. A PDF transcript of Episode #52 can be found here: https://www.bollier.org/files/misc-file-upload/files/Safouan_Azouzi_Ep._52_transcript.doc.pdf

Chilean political philosopher Camila Vergara discusses plebeian constitutionalism, arguing for citizen assemblies to counter elite abuse. The podcast explores oligarchic foundations of the US Constitution, challenges liberalism's flaws, and advocates for plebeian institutions to empower the common people.

Alon Schwabe and Daniel Fernández Pascual, the artistic duo, blend art and activism to explore local ecosystems, capitalism, and food. They discuss the impact of modern diets on global landscapes and work towards reinventing local foodways through commoning. Topics include the ecological harm of salmon farming, intertidal cohabitation projects, and community-based solar initiatives.

Activist-scholar Nathan Schneider discusses the potential of democratic governance online and its importance for real-world democracy. He emphasizes the need for progressive activists to learn from social movements and use technology creatively. The podcast explores the evolution of the internet, challenges of online democracy, and the importance of grassroots power and democratic innovation.

Will Ruddick discusses 'commitment pooling' in creating community currencies to empower marginalized African groups. The evolution of community currency systems is explored, highlighting the shift towards collective ownership and stewardship. The podcast advocates for redefining ownership through traditional practices in economic commons and breaking free from the wage slavery system.

Kathryn Milun, community-engaged scholar, shares the innovative Solar Commons model, using decentralized solar arrays to generate revenue for community wealth. Challenges faced in implementing solar commons, developing a digital dashboard, and creating prototypes for community solar projects are discussed. The potential of solar commons in right-of-way corridors and public lands is explored, along with the importance of understanding legal, financial, and participatory aspects for creating a solar commons.

Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann, an international secondary school educator, discusses her project to develop a regenerative economics syllabus that challenges traditional views. She explores alternative economic approaches such as 'Doughnut Economics' and the circular economy, as well as the inclusion of commons and household care economy. The project aims to debut in September 2024 and has attracted international attention.

Professor Aaron Perzanowski discusses how artistic communities like tattoo artists and chefs flourish as commons without copyright protections. The podcast also dives into the right to repair movement and the challenges faced by repair-commoners. It explores the influence of social communities on property rights and highlights recent developments in legislation and industry response to the right to repair movement.

Shane O'Donnell, a sociologist and researcher, has been at the forefront of the "device activism" and #WeAreNotWaiting movement, a globe-spanning community of techies and people living with diabetes who have pioneered patient-led innovations in medical devices and healthcare. Outflanking a stodgy, risk-averse medical device industry, the movement has relied on commoning to develop the Tidepool Loop device, the first open source, interoperable, and automatic insulin-delivery system, and Nightscout, a collectively managed data system for treating diabetes more effectively.