Managing local and global commons

MANAGING LOCAL AND
GLOBAL COMMONS

JAMES BERNARD QUILLIGAN
GLOBAL COMMONS TRUST

Thursday, 13 October 11 1

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-PRODUCTION
COLLABORATION 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 NEW
SOURCES 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-CLOSURE
MOVEMENT

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 & REINTEGRATE
THE COMMONS ...

MARKET STATE

COMMONS


... TO SEE THEM ALL AS PARTS OF
A GREATER COMMONS

MARKET STATE

COMMONS


MANAGING LOCAL AND
GLOBAL COMMONS

JAMES BERNARD QUILLIGAN
GLOBAL COMMONS TRUST


Managing local and global commons

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Managing local and global commons