managing local and global commons

MANAGING LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMONS

JAMES BERNARD QUILLIGAN

GLOBAL COMMONS TRUST

1Thursday, 13 October 11

WHAT IS A COMMONS-BASED APPROACH?

SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

SCHOOL OF COMMONING

LONDON


LOCAL & GLOBAL

AT COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL LEVELS, COMMONS ARE LARGELY A TERRITORIAL CONCEPT INVOLVING LOCAL APPROPRIATION, USE AND BENEFIT OF A PARTICULAR GOOD OR PROPERTY

AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL, COMMONS ARE MORE OF A FUNCTIONAL CONCEPT INVOLVING SOVEREIGN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT


DIFFERENCES IN SCALE

GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES FOR LOCAL COMMONS DO NOT YET SCALE UP (OR DOWN) FROM THE COMMUNITY TO THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL


ACHIEVING SCALE

NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR MULTI-LEVEL MANAGEMENT OF THE COMMONS ARE ARISING THROUGH THE OPENNESS OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND THE INTERCONNECTIVITY OF ECONOMIES AND INFORMATION NETWORKS

THIS REQUIRES PRINCIPLES AND LINKAGES THAT REACH FROM THE LOCAL LEVELS OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION TO HIGHER LEVELS OF MULTILATERAL GOVERNANCE


LOCAL COMMONS


‘TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS’

GARRETT HARDIN’S 1968 ARTICLE IN SCIENCE

‘WHEN A PASTURE IS SHARED BY HERDERS, THERE IS NO INCENTIVE TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CATTLE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HERDER PUTS INTO THE PASTURE’

‘THE PASTURE WILL BE OVERGRAZED AND DESTROYED’


OPEN ACCESS REGIMES ARE NOT COMMONS

HARDIN WAS DESCRIBING AN OPEN-ACCESS REGIME WITH NO COMMUNITY, NO RULES AND NO BOUNDARIES FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

THIS IS NOT A COMMONS!


WHAT ARE COMMONS ?

COMMON POOL RESOURCES -- UNORGANIZED AND UNCLAIMED RESOURCES

COMMONS -- RESOURCES THAT A COMMUNITY OR GROUP ORGANIZES BY NEGOTIATING INFORMAL PRACTICES, NORMS AND RULES


BASIC ELEMENTS OF A COMMONS

RESOURCE (REPLENISHABLE OR DEPLETABLE)

PEOPLE WHO SHARE THIS RESOURCE (USERS, MANAGERS, PRODUCERS AND PROVIDERS)

BOUNDARIES SPECIFYING COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP AND THE EXTENT OF THE RESOURCE

RULES GOVERNING PEOPLE’S ACCESS TO, AND BENEFIT FROM, THESE COMMON RESOURCES

VALUE CREATED THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OR PRODUCTION OF THESE COMMON GOODS


WHAT ARE COMMON GOODS ?

SOCIAL

CULTURAL

INTELLECTUAL

SOLAR

NATURAL

GENETIC

MATERIAL


SOCIAL, CULTURAL & INTELLECTUAL

INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND TRADITIONS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS, NEIGHBORHOODS, VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS, LABOR RELATIONS, WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, FAMILY LIFE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, CREATIVE WORKS, LANGUAGES, WORDS, NUMBERS, SYMBOLS, HOLIDAYS, CALENDARS, STORES OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM


SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, ETHNOBOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE, IDEAS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, DATA, INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION FLOWS, AIRWAVES, INTERNET, FREE CULTURE, SPORTS, GAMES, PLAYGROUNDS, ROADS, STREETS, PARKING, SIDEWALKS, PLAZAS, PUBLIC SPACES, NATIONAL PARKS, HISTORICAL SITES, MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, UNIVERSITIES, MUSIC, DANCE, ARTS, CRAFTS, MONEY


NATURAL & GENETIC

SOIL, AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, WILDERNESS, TREES, FORESTS, WETLANDS, ECOSYSTEMS, PASTURES, PARKS, GARDENS, PLANTS, SEEDS, ALGAE, TOPSOIL, FOOD CROPS, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, POLLINATION, LIFE FORMS, SPECIES


MATERIAL & SOLAR

ROCKS, MINERALS, METALS, CHEMICALS, HYRDOCARBONS, TECHNOLOGY, HARDWARE, BUILDINGS, THE ELEMENTS, SOLAR ENERGY, WIND ENERGY, TIDES, HYDROPOWER, BEACHES, OCEANS, LAKES, SPRINGS, STREAMS, WATERSHEDS, AQUIFERS, LAND, INORGANIC ENERGY, ATMOSPHERE, OZONE LAYER, STRATOSPHERE


MATERIAL & IMMATERIAL THINGS:HOW ARE THEY INTERRELATED?

THE VALUE OF COMMON GOODS ARISES THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTEDNESS WITH THEM

-- FOR SUSTENANCE AND LIVELIHOOD

-- FOR INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSON AND PURPOSE

-- FOR SOCIAL COHESION, QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL- BEING


PRIVATE & PUBLIC GOODS VS. COMMON GOODS

PRIVATE GOODS ARE PRODUCED AND SOLD BY BUSINESSES TO CONSUMERS

PUBLIC GOODS ARE REGULATED AND PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENTS TO THEIR CITIZENS

COMMON GOODS ARE PRESERVED OR PRODUCED BY EVERYONE


WHY ARE COMMON GOODS UNIQUE ?

COOPERATION

INCLUSION AND EQUAL ACCESS

FREE AND FAIR STANDARDS

TRANSPARENCY

PARTICIPATORY SOCIAL PRACTICE

SOCIAL CREATVITY AND INNOVATION

MUTUAL BENEFIT

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY


HOW DID WE LOSE THE COMMONS ?

ENCLOSURE OF PROPERTY AND LEGAL ENFORCEMENT

COMMODIFICATION OF THINGS INTO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC GOODS

FUNGIBILITY OF COMMODITIES THROUGH A UNIVERSAL STANDARD OF VALUE


HOW CAN PEOPLE ORGANIZE A COMMONS ?

SOCIAL CHARTERS

CO-GOVERNANCE

C0-PRODUCTION

COMMONS TRUSTS

CIVIL SOCIETY

PARTNERSHIP GOVERNMENT

JOB CREATION


SOCIAL CHARTERS

DECLARATION BY STAKEHOLDERS BASED ON A CUSTOMARY OR EMERGING IDENTIFICATION WITH

AN ECOLOGY

A FORM OF COLLECTIVE LABOUR

A SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY

A COMMUNITY NEED OR SHARED CONVICTION

A CULTURAL RESOURCE AREA

AN ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS OR LINGUISTIC AFFINITY

AN HISTORICAL IDENTITY


CO-GOVERNANCE

PLURALISM -- A WIDE VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM

SUBSIDIARITY -- CITIZENS TAKE DECISIONS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF AUTHORITY

POLYCENTRISM -- DECENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT IN THE USE, PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF A RESOURCE

CHECKS & BALANCES -- STAKEHOLDERS CREATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR GOVERNANCE, REBALANCING THE MARKET’S DOMINATION OF GOVERNMENT


CO-PRODUCTIONCOLLABORATION OF RESOURCE USERS AND PRODUCERS

BARTERING, GIFT ECONOMIES, COMPLEMENTARY CURRENCIES AND COMMUNITY RECIPROCITY SYSTEMS

FREE SHOPS, FAIR TRADE MARKETS, PRODUCER COOPERATIVES, TRADE UNIONS, ENTREPRENEURIAL NETWORKS, SCIENTIFIC AND ACADEMIC COMMONS

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE, OPEN ELECTRONIC MEDIA, SHARED LICENSING, COLLABORATIVE KNOWLEDGE AND DESIGN, SOCIAL NETWORKS, CREATIVE COMMONS

COPYRIGHTS, WIKIPEDIA, WEBSITES, FILE SHARING, EMAIL AND CHAT ROOMS


COMMONS TRUSTS

ESTABLISH THE LEGAL CONDITIONS TO PRESERVE AND MANAGE RESOURCES INHERITED FROM PAST GENERATIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE AND PRESENT GENERATIONS

COMMONS TRUSTS ARE THE ONLY FIDUCIARY INSTITUTIONS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LONG-TERM PRESERVATION AND SUSTENANCE OF A RESOURCE


CIVIL SOCIETY

... IS A GENUINE VOICE OF PUBLIC OPINION BUT LACKS THE AUTHORITY OF ELECTORAL LEGITIMACY

... MUST OVERCOME ITS FEAR OF CHALLENGING CONSTITUTIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE EQUITABLE ACCESS, PRODUCTION AND USE OF COMMONS

... MUST INVOLVE RESOURCE USERS IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCTION AND MOVE AWAY FROM OWNERSHIP TO TRUSTEESHIP MODELS



COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE BETWEEN COMMUNITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT

PARTICIPATORY ENGAGEMENT AND DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY BY PEOPLE IN THE CREATION OF THEIR OWN RESOURCE BOUNDARIES, RULES AND POLICIES


HOW WILL THIS TRANSFORM THE PRESENT SYSTEM?

SOCIAL CHARTERS

CO-GOVERNANCE

C0-PRODUCTION

COMMONS TRUSTS

CIVIL SOCIETY


JOB CREATION


CONSUMERS ARE THE PRODUCERS OF THEIR OWN

RESOURCES

WHEN RESOURCE USERS BECOME DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF A COMMONS RESOURCE

... THEIR MOTIVATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS BECOME PART OF THE PRODUCTION PRAXIS

THIS LEADS TO NEW WAYS OF INTERACTING AND COORDINATING NATURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE


RESOURCE USERS/PRODUCERS CREATE A TRUST

TRUSTS ARE GENERALLY CREATED TO PRESERVE DEPLETABLE RESOURCES (NATURAL, MINERAL)

TRUSTS CAN ALSO BE CREATED TO ENHANCE OR PROTECT REPLENISHABLE RESOURCES (NATURAL, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, INTELLECTUAL, DIGITAL, SOLAR)


RESOURCE CAP

TRUSTEES SET A STRICT LIMIT OR CAP ON THE EXTRACTION OR USE OF A RESOURCE ACCORDING TO NON-MONETIZED, INTERGENERATIONAL METRICS

SUSTAINABILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL-BEING

THIS PROTECTS THE COMMONS SAFELY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS


BUSINESSES BENEFIT

THE TRUST RENTS A PROPORTION OF THE RESOURCES BEYOND THE CAP TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR (OR TO STATE BUSINESSES AND UTILITIES)

THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROFITS FROM THE EXTRACTION AND PRODUCTION OF THE RESOURCES OUTSIDE THE CAP


THE STATE IS TRANSFORMED

GOVERNMENT SHIFTS ITS EMPHASIS FROM CREATING CORPORATE CHARTERS AND LICENSING THE PRIVATE SECTOR

THE STATE SUPPORTS THE PROTOCOLS, BOUNDARIES AND LEGAL RULES FOR THE COMMONS ESTABLISHED THROUGH NON-CLOSURE MOVEMENTS, SOCIAL CHARTERS AND COMMONS TRUSTS


TAX ON BUSINESSES & TRUSTS

A PERCENTAGE OF THE REVENUE OF BUSINESSES AND THE RESOURCE RENTS PAID TO TRUSTS IS TAXED

THE STATE REDISTRIBUTES THESE FUNDS TO CITIZENS AS DIVIDENDS OR SUBSISTENCE INCOME,

INVESTS THEM IN THE RESTORATION OF DEPLETED RESOURCES(LAND, OCEANS, ATMOSPHERE),

AND ALSO USES THEM TO ENHANCE REPLENISHABLE RESOURCES (FREE CULTURE, ARTS, COLLABORATIVE KNOWLEDGE, PEACEKEEPING)


7 COMMONS PRINCIPLES

REALIZE COMMON GOODS AS A THIRD SECTOR

RECOGNIZE THAT PRIVATE AND PUBLIC GOODS ARE COMPONENT PARTS OF A GREATER COMMONS OF LIVING AND NON-LIVING THINGS


1. END THE DIVISION OF LABOUR

USERS OF RESOURCES BECOME CO-PRODUCERS OF THEIR OWN GOODS

THROUGH MUTUAL PLATFORMS, NETWORKED COLLABORATION, PEER TO PEER PRODUCTION, EMPLOYEE-OPERATED BUSINESSES AND COOPERATIVES


2. GENERATE NEWSOURCES OF VALUE

LONG-TERM VALUE IS NOT GENERATED THROUGH THE POTENTIAL FINANCIAL REVENUE OF COMMONS ASSETS

VALUE ARISES THROUGH THE PRESERVATION OF COMMONS RESOURCES AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE GLOBAL COMMONS TO SUPPORT LIFE AND LIFE SYSTEMS


3. BUILD A NON-CLOSUREMOVEMENT

ENCLOSURE REMOVES PEOPLE FROM THEIR SOURCES OF SURVIVAL, SUSTENANCE AND LIVING WEALTH

THIS BRINGS RESOURCE OVERUSE AND DETERIORATION, LEADING TO FAILED COMMONS, RESOURCE CONFLICT AND SECURITY CRISES

RESIST ANY FORM OF EXTERNAL CONTROL THAT DOES NOT PROMOTE LIFE, DIGNITY, SECURITY AND WELL-BEING


4. TRANSFORM OWNERSHIP THROUGH TRUSTEESHIP

INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP GIVES EXCLUSIVE CONTROL

COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP, TOO, IS SUBJECT TO SOCIAL HIERARCHY AND ABUSE, SINCE A CO-OWNED PROPERTY MAY BE MANAGED BY A MAJORITY, EXPLOITED AND DIVIDED, WHETHER EQUITABLY OR NOT

TRUSTEESHIP IS NOT OWNERSHIP


5. CREATE COMMONS TRUSTS

COMMONS TRUSTS DO NOT OWN PROPERTY

TRUSTS INVOLVE THE PARTICIPATION OF USERS AND PRODUCERS/PROVIDERS IN THE PRESERVATION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF A RESOURCE

TRUSTS HOLD AND MANAGE THIS RESOURCE AS A COMMON PROPERTY FOR EXISTING AND FUTURE GENERATIONS


6. ESTABLISH CAP AND RENT

CAP THE STOCK OF COMMON RESOURCES (THROUGH PRESERVATION AND APPROPRIATION)

RENT THE FLOW OF MATTER AND ENERGY (THROUGH ALLOCATION AND USE)


7. DEVELOP A NEW ETHIC OF COMMONING

COMMUNICATION ALTRUISM

CREATIVITY SOCIABILITY

TRUST FRIENDSHIP

COOPERATION RECIPROCITY

AUTONOMY CIVIC VIRTUE

LIBERATION EMPATHY

BENEVOLENCE GOODWILL


GLOBAL COMMONS


COMMON RIGHTS

THE HISTORICAL RIGHTS TO LOCAL COMMONS HAVE THEIR BASIS IN NATURAL OR CUSTOMARY LAW

GLOBAL COMMONS HAVE THEIR BASIS IN PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE AND PUBLIC DOMAIN

PUBLIC TRUST AND PUBLIC DOMAIN SAY THAT UNRESTRICTED OPEN ACCESS TO RESOURCES SHOULD BE MANAGED AS PUBLIC PROPERTY


SOVEREIGNTY VS. COMMONS

THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE GLOBAL COMMONS -- WHETHER IN PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE, PUBLIC DOMAIN, NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONS, AND INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, PROTOCOLS AND CONVENTIONS -- IS THUS GOVERNMENT SOVEREIGNTY

STATE SOVEREIGNTY EMPHASIZES THE MANAGEMENT OF A TERRITORY AND THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED WITHIN IT


WITHOUT GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

... ALL CLAIMS ON THE GLOBAL COMMONS MUST BE APPROVED BY EACH STATE AS A NOMINAL MEMBER OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF STATES

... NATIONAL PRIORITIES -- STEMMING FROM THE SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT -- DETERMINE WHETHER NATURAL RESOURCES MAY BE CONSERVED, EXPLOITED OR DESTROYED


THIS AMOUNTS TO EXCLUSIVE AND NON-SUSTAINABLE USE OF THE GLOBAL COMMONS BY INDIVIDUAL STATES

THE GLOBAL COMMONS IS LEFT WITHOUT EFFECTIVE MEASURES OF ENFORCEMENT OR DEVELOPMENT


METALOGUE ON THE COMMONS

GLOBAL TALKS MUST BECOME MORE REPRESENTATIVE, CROSS-SECTORAL AND INTERDISCIPLINARY

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, AID, ENVIRONMENT, TRADE, FINANCE, MONETARY POLICY, ENERGY, CLIMATE CHANGE, HUMAN SECURITY AND POLITICAL SECURITY MUST ALL BE INTEGRATED


1970-80: COMMON HERITAGE OF HUMANITY

FOOD & CULTURAL LEGACIES

SEABEDS (BEYOND COASTAL JURISDICTIONS)

ANTARCTIC & THE MOON

SATELLITE ORBITS & SPACE COMMUNICATIONS

SOLAR ENERGY, TECHNOLOGY & COMMODITIES

ENDANGERED SPECIES, GENETICS, RAIN FORESTS

ATMOSPHERE & OCEAN RESOURCES


1980-NOW: NEO-LIBERALISM

DENIAL OF ALL COMMONS THROUGH ECONOMIC TOTALIZATION

TRANSNATIONAL PLATFORM OF MARKETS AND STATES

’MARKET STATE’ - AS DEFINED BY PHILIP BOBBITT AND PHILLIP BLOND


TOWARD A MACROECONOMICS OF THE COMMONS

WHY ISNT THE ECONOMY MANAGED AS A COMMONS?


MIND-BODY SPLIT

AFTER THE WRITINGS OF PHILOSOPHERS JOHN LOCKE AND RENE DESCATES IN THE 17TH CENTURY, WESTERN CIVILIZATION CAME TO REGARD MIND (NOOSPHERE) AND NATURE (BIOSPHERE) AS SEPARATE THINGS

THIS ’MIND-BODY SPLIT’ INFLUENCED ECONOMICS, WHICH DOES NOT SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC DECISIONS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT


FINANCIAL VS. MONETARY

BEHAVIORISM, POSITIVISM AND UTILITARIAN IDEAS HAVE ALSO STRESSED THE PRIMACY OF FACT (RATIONAL MIND) OVER VALUE (NATURE AND HUMAN SUBJECTIVITY)

BUSINESS AND FINANCE -- NOT THE COMMONS -- ARE NOW TREATED AS THE SOURCE OF MONETARY OR CURRENCY VALUE


ECONOMY IS A SUBSIDIARY OF THE BIOSPHERE

TODAY, SETTLEMENT OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS WITH THE WORLD’S BIOPHYSICAL IMBALANCES REQUIRES A MONETARY FRAMEWORK BASED ON AN AGREEMENT THAT THE NOOSPHERE IS A PART OF THE BIOSPHERE


SPECIES AND MATERIAL RESOURCES

... AND ALSO SPEAK FOR THE COMMON HERITAGE OF EARTH’S LIVING AND NON-LIVING SYSTEMS


INTERGENERATIONAL ETHICS

THIS REQUIRES A NEW KIND OF INTERNATIONAL PLANNING BASED, NOT ON GEOPOLITICAL OR CORPORATE OBJECTIVES, BUT ON GLOBAL RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION RELATIVE TO POPULATION GROWTH AND ECOLOGICAL CARRYING CAPACITY


PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

GIVING THE SAME WEIGHT TO THE WELFARE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE AND PLANETARY LIFE-FORMS AS WE GIVE TO THOSE NOW LIVING OBLIGES US TO INCREASE THE PRESENT WEALTH PER CAPITA

THE USE OF A PRECAUTIONARY RESOURCE CAP WOULD TRANSFORM THE BALANCE OF TRADE, FINANCE AND AID FOR THE CURRENT GENERATION AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS


ECONOMY AS SUBSYSTEM OF EARTH

Q: BUT HOW DO WE GENERATE PROSPERITY TODAY WHEN WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO LIMIT DESTRUCTIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH ACROSS THE PLANET?

A: THE MONETARY SYSTEM ITSELF MUST BECOME PART OF THE FINITE BIOSPHERIC COMMONS, WITH ITS INFLOWS OF RAW MATERIALS AND OUTFLOWS OF WASTES


GLOBAL ADJUSTMENT

WITHDRAWAL RATES OF DEPLETABLE RESOURCES ARE SLOWED TO ALLOW STOCKS TO CATCH UP WITH FLOWS

WITHDRAWAL RATES OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES ARE EQUILIBRATED WITH THEIR REPLENISHMENT RATES

THIS BRINGS LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMONS FULLY INTO SCALE AND MAKES THE ECONOMY A COMPONENT PART OF THE ENVIRONMENT


ECO-DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY ARE FUSING WITH NATURAL RESOURCE COMMONS

THIS ENABLES INSTANT PARTICIPATION IN RESOURCE INFORMATION-GATHERING ON A PLANETARY BASIS

WE CAN TRACK A VARIETY OF COMMONS IN REAL-TIME


BASKET OF COMMONS GOODS

UNDER A NEW RESERVE SYSTEM, THE COMMON ASSETS OF THE ENTIRE PLANET WOULD FORM THE BASIS OF A COMPOSITE STANDARD OF VALUE

WE CAN CREATE A RESERVE BASKET OF GLOBAL COMMON GOODS

SO WHAT’S IN THIS BASKET?


COMMONS RESERVE INDEX

CULTURAL RESOURCES -- INDIGENOUS WISDOM, HOUSEHOLD WORK AND THE ARTS

SOCIAL RESOURCES -- HEALTH, LITERACY, ECONOMIC OUTPUT AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION

INTELLECTUAL RESOURCES -- SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INFORMATION FLOWS

NATURAL RESOURCES -- AIR AND WATER QUALITY, ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

GENETIC RESOURCES -- LIVING CREATURES, ORGANS AND MINERALS, WATER AND THE ATMOSPHERE


SUSTAINABILITY RATE

AN INDEX OF THE SUSTAINABILITY LINKAGES AMONG THE VARIOUS COMMONS IS CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED, ESTABLISHING A VALUE FOR MONEY

THIS EXPRESSES THE RELATIVE SCARCITY AND REPLENISHABILITY OF THE WORLD’S KEY RESOURCES

... REFLECTING THE CAPACITY OF THE GLOBAL COMMONS TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN INCLUSIVE WEALTH FOR GLOBAL SOCIETY


TO MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT -- BOTH AT THE LEVEL OF FINANCING AND DEBT, AND AT THE LEVEL OF FINITE BIOLOGICAL AND MATERIAL RESOURCES AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES -- THE SUSTAINABILITY RATE IS CREATED ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT OF INTEREST RATES AND MARKET GOODS AND SERVICES


THE VALUE EXPRESSED THROUGH THIS SUSTAINABILITY RATE IN EVERY EXCHANGE OF GOODS AND SERVICES IS SECURED BY THE RESILIENCE AND DIVERSITY OF THE WORLD’S SOCIAL, CULTURAL, INTELLECTUAL, NATURAL, GENETIC, MATERIAL AND SOLAR RESOURCES


AS MONEY IS SPENT OR GAINED IN EACH TRANSACTION, THE DEFICIT OR SURPLUS IS ACCOUNTED WITH REFERENCE TO THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY RATE


IF THE SUSTAINABILITY RATE IS LOW, MONEY IS WORTH LESS RELATIVE TO ITS VALUE IN AN EXCHANGE, WHICH MAY CAUSE A BUYER TO SPEND LESS, OR PERHAPS NOT SPEND OR TO POSTPONE SPENDING

IF THE SUSTAINABILITY RATE IS HIGH, MONEY IS WORTH MORE IN THE EXCHANGE, WHICH MAY CONVINCE THE BUYER TO SPEND MORE


THE SIGNALS ABOUT THE ACTUAL SCARCITY OF RESOURCES AND THE COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND SOCIAL DISPARITIES ARE CONVEYED DIRECTLY THROUGH OUR MONEY -- NOT PRICES!


PURCHASING POWER

WHEN GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY IS EXPRESSED THROUGH CURRENCY VALUE , EACH OF US HAS AN IMMEDIATE REALIZATION OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF OUR PURCHASING POWER IN SPENDING, SAVING OR INVESTING

THIS MAKES IT WORTH LESS TO DO ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL HARM, AND WORTH MORE TO BE ECOLOGICALLY AND SOCIALLY RESTORATIVE


EVERY PERSONAL SPENDING DECISION IS A VOTE

EACH USE OF MONEY -- WHETHER THE SUSTAINABILITY RATE IS LOW OR HIGH -- IS LITERALLY A VOTE

... FOR THE MINIMIZATION OF SOCIAL INEQUITIES

... AND THE LONGEVITY, REGENERATION AND DIVERSITY OF THE PLANET’S COMMON GOODS


THE SUSTAINABILITY RATE ENABLES BUYERS AND SELLERS TO DETERMINE THE VALUE OF THEIR OWN PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

... BASED ON THE CAPACITY OF THE GLOBAL COMMONS TO SUSTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELL-BEING OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS AND EARTH’S LIVING SYSTEMS


WHERE TO START ?

HOW DO WE MAKE THIS ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENT?


BRIDGING LOCAL & GLOBAL

WE NEED A MUCH DEEPER AWARENESS AND STRONGER IDENTITY BETWEEN LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMONS

LOCAL COMMONS GROUPS NEED THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND KNOWLEDGE OF A COMMONS-BASED MULTILATERALISM

GLOBAL RULES AND INSTITUTIONS MUST ALSO EMBODY THE EXPERTISE AND SKILLS OF COMMUNITY GROUPS AT THE GRASSROOTS


SCALING UP & DOWN

THE EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT PEOPLE HAVE DEVELOPED THROUGH LOCAL MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES MUST BE SCALED UP TO THE GLOBAL LEVEL

YET LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ALSO NEEDS AN INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT IS GENERATIVE -- NOT TECHNOCRATIC, NATIONALISTIC OR COMMERCIAL

NEW INCENTIVES FOR SHARING THE GLOBAL COMMONS MUST BE BUILT INTO GLOBAL RULES AND INSTITUTIONS


GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS ?

THE POSTWAR INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM CREATED REGIMES FOR SECURITY, TRADE, FINANCE AND MONEY

THE UNITED NATIONS AND MANY LIBERAL INTERNATIONALISTS HAVE CALLED THE RESOURCES OF THESE REGIMES ‘GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS’


GLOBAL COMMON GOODS

... BUT STATES MUST NOW GIVE LEGITIMACY AND AUTHORITY TO NEW GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF GLOBAL COMMON GOODS


GLOBAL COMMON GOODS

SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS OF INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES MUST BE IDENTIFIED AS GLOBAL COMMON GOODS TO BETTER MANAGE THEIR LONG-TERM RISKS

... INCLUDING FOOD, CLEAN WATER, ATMOSPHERE, ENERGY, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, INFORMATION, JOBS, NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION, PEACEFUL MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCE CONFLICT, SECURITY OF GLOBAL SUPPLIES, AND REPRESENTATION OF POOR NATIONS IN GLOBAL DECISION-MAKING


GLOBAL RESOURCE POOL

CO-PRODUCTION OF GLOBAL COMMON GOODS CAN THEN BE FACILITATED THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN LOCAL RESOURCE USERS AND GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS

NATIONS COLLECTIVELY AGREE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE VARIOUS COMMONS OF EARTH AND MAINTAIN A POOL OF SHARED PRODUCTION AND GOODS LARGE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR EVERYONE’S SUBSISTENCE NEEDS


SHARE THE WORLD’S RESOURCES

MANY OF THE RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR PRODUCTION -- AND THE GOODS THEY PRODUCE -- WOULD GO INTO THIS COMMON RESOURCE POOL

THE GLOBAL GOODS WHICH MANY PEOPLE NEED WOULD COME OUT OF THIS MASS WAREHOUSE


SURPLUS IS RECYCLED

... RICH NATIONS RECYCLE THEIR EXCESS RESOURCES INTO THIS GLOBAL CLEARINGHOUSE, WHICH ARE THEN REDISTRIBUTED TO POOR NATIONS NEEDING ASSISTANCE


THE COMMONS

... NOW COME INTO SCALE THROUGH TRANS-LOCAL COLLABORATION

BOTH LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMONS ARE GOVERNED THROUGH VALUES, PRINCIPLES AND RULES NEGOTIATED BY A COMMUNITY TO PRESERVE AND PRODUCE ITS RESOURCES


THE COMMONS ARE ORGANIZED

SOCIAL CHARTERS

CO-GOVERNANCE

C0-PRODUCTION

COMMONS TRUSTS

CIVIL SOCIETY


JOB CREATION


COMMONS PRINCIPLES

1. END THE DIVISION OF LABOUR

2. GENERATE NEW SOURCES OF VALUE

3. BUILD A NON-CLOSURE MOVEMENT

4. TRANSFORM OWNERSHIP THROUGH TRUSTEESHIP

5. CREATE COMMONS TRUSTS

6. ESTABLISH CAP AND RENT

7. DEVELOP A NEW ETHIC OF COMMONING


INTERCONNECTIONS

MARKETS, STATES AND COMMONS INTERPENETRATE WITH MANY OVERLAPPING DEPENDENCIES

SO THERE ARE MIXED USES OR HYBRIDS

BUSINESS CAN BE EMBEDDED IN COMMONS

STATES CAN ACT AS TRUSTEES OF COMMONS


DIFFERENTIATION

YET IT IS VITAL TO DIFFERENTIATE THE COMMONS FROM THE MARKET AND STATE

TO ESTABLISH THE IDENTITY AND VALUE OF COMMONS

AND ALLOW POLITICAL SELF-DETERMINATION AND ECONOMIC SELF-PROVISIONING AT THE COMMONS LEVEL


HISTORICAL PROCESS

SOCIETY-CENTERED MARKETS MARKET-CENTERED SOCIETIES

COMMONS-BASED EXCHANGE


DIFFERENTIATE & REINTEGRATETHE COMMONS ...

MARKET STATE

COMMONS


... TO SEE THEM ALL AS PARTS OFA GREATER COMMONS

MARKET STATE

COMMONS


MANAGING LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMONS

JAMES BERNARD QUILLIGAN

GLOBAL COMMONS TRUST


managing local and global commons

Technology