11-12-01
11-11-30
“Kooperation kann nicht heißen, für den Markt zu produzieren. Das ist unlogisch”. Interview zur Solidarischen Ökonomie mit Andreas Exner
Izabela Glowinska führte am 16.7.2011 ein Interview mit Andreas Exner. Die Themen: Solidarische Ökonomie (SÖ), Kapitalismus, Krise und die Alternativen. Das Interview fand im Rahmen von Izabela Glowinskas Diplomarbeit statt. Izabela Glowinska: Wie bist du auf Solidarische Ökonomie aufmerksam geworden … Continue reading
11-11-29
SolidÖk in Österreich
Einladung & Call For Contributions zur
2. WINTER SCHOOL “SOLIDARISCHE ÖKONOMIE” – 17.-19.2.2012 – KÄRNTEN
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Immer mehr Menschen interessieren sich für ein Wirtschaften, das auf
Gleichheit, Partizipation und Solidarität beruht, das die Bedürfnisse in
den Mittelpunkt stellt und dem Profitstreben eine Absage erteilt.
Vielfältige Beispiele – von Gemeinschaftsgärten und Kostnixläden über
Transition Towns bis hin zu Kooperativen und besetzten Betrieben –
zeigen: “Ökonomien von unten” bieten eine Alternative zu Staatsplanung
und Kapitalverwertung. Es ist jedoch noch viel zu tun, um Solidarische
Ökonomie zu einer tragfähigen Perspektive zum Kapitalismus und seiner
Krise zu entwickeln.
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Die “Winter School Solidarische Ökonomie” lädt Euch und Sie in diesem
Sinn zum 2. Mal zu Beiträgen in entspannter und doch intensiver
Atmosphäre ein. Workshops und Diskussionsrunden sollen der Vernetzung von Aktivist*innen, dem Erfahrungsaustausch und der Planung von Projekten dienen. Daneben wird es viel Gelegenheit zu lockerem Beisammensein und Entspannung geben.
Um Interessensbekundungen und Ideen zu Workshops, Diskussionsrunden oder Filmscreenings für die Winter School 2012 wird gebeten, ebenso um Voranmeldungen für die Teilnahme. Das Programm wird nach Einlangen der Beiträge im Jänner 2012 erstellt und über diese Verteiler wieder ausgesandt. Kontakt: krisu@riseup.net
Im Sinne eines direkten und barrierefreien Austauschs wird die
Arbeitssprache Deutsch sein, wir freuen uns aber natürlich besonders
über internationale Beteiligung! Eine limitierte Anzahl von
Gratis-Schlafplätzen mit Waschgelegenheit (privat und am
Veranstaltungsort) ist vorhanden. Bei Anmeldung bitte
Übernachtungswünsche bekannt geben. Ansonsten gibt es die Möglichkeit, in einer Jugendherberge zu übernachten. Frühzeitige Buchung von Vorteil.
Anmeldefrist für Workshops & Inputs: Mo., 16. Jänner 2011
Kontakt: krisu@riseup.net
Zeit: Fr, 17. Februar 2012, Beginn 11.00 Uhr
bis So, 19. Februar 2012, Ende 15.00 Uhr
Ort: Volxhaus Villach
Veranstalter_innen: Kritische & Solidarische Universität
http://krisu.noblogs.org/ und ÖIE Kärnten http://www.kaernoel.at/oeie/
11-11-27
Open response to keimform.de/Demonetize it! (Stefan Meretz)
We note that, in the announcement of our new book Life Without Money by Stefan Meretz, initially published at keimform.de and republished on the Demonetize it! website it reads:"However, the book cannot be obtained »without money«, it has to be purchased in a bookstore. And the website indicates, that strict copyright applies. Creative Commons licenses are not used, which contradicts the aim of the book."
As my co-editor (Frans Timmerman) points out to Stefan, Mao would probably categorize it as a 'non-antagonistic contradiction', meaning that there are benefits from (and logic to) the strategy, rather than its being totally irrational or contradictory in the mainstream meaning of the word. He asks, 'Haven't you (or someone else) paid for the computer you're working with? Or, even if you haven't, hasn't it been produced and distributed within capitalism? Even your time invested in creative free work on the Internet is likely to be partially supported by sustenance from the capitalist system, which we cannot extract ourselves from entirely right now.'
Actually your argument is very popular amongst capitalists and conservatives who imply we are hypocrites when they chide us: 'And so, don't you use money to live? Your position is unsustainable. If you socialists were sincere you'd give away all your possessions and live a simple spiritual life like St Francis of Assisi. Everything you produce should be free.' Oh boy, this takes us so far away from the real points that need to be made!
Frans's point is that under capitalism there is no way of printing and distributing a book, especially beyond a small locality, without someone spending money. In the present system, we have no (or very little) control over the means of production, which exists as a chain of monetary ownership and use so that any — especially material — goods are almost inevitably sourced or somehow connected with the capitalist system.
For many years I have been pointing out that, although we live in the 'free' world, we are not free to determine how we live. We are unable to live completely without money or irrespective of monetary structures and relationships and values because of the prevailing economic system and state structures that support the rule of capital and money. I will do many things in as money-free a way as possible but, in order to remain an activist within this society, I chose to follow certain strategies beyond doing things freely.
My MoneyFreeZone site has operated for years and a post of mine on Radical Notes (16 October 2008) spreading these ideas has received over 3000 visits and we have supplied my own creative work under a creative commons licence on the www.lifewithoutmoney.info website (see under Anitra Nelson in authors) as well as linking to other free sources of material. However, most people are not exposed to or don't seek out these kinds of spaces for learning and sharing their ideas. As one of my friends who has been involved in money-free activities for years said about our book, 'Wow. Now everyone can see what we're doing, and know why we're doing it!'
I'm not arguing in a reformist way for using the system to beat it. But I do think that we must engage with people deeply embedded in the monetary world and explain our position to them. If a successful way of doing that is by giving the rights of our work to a publisher to publish a book, which people buy, so be it. People can get our book through a library, and we advocate that they do that, as well as suggesting people pass on copies to as many people as possible.
These are imperfect practices in an imperfect world.
11-11-26
Book »Life Without Money«
The new book Life Without Money; Building Fair and Sustainable Economies (co-edited by Anitra Nelson and Frans Timmerman) has just been released. The ten contributors to Life Without Money argue that we need to dispense with monetary values and relationships — yes, money per se — in order to manage our world on the basis of humane and natural values.
The book brings together diverse voices with strong arguments against our money-based system’s ability to improve lives and prevent environmental disaster. It provides a strategy for undercutting capitalism by refusing to deal in money, and offers money-free models of governance and collective sufficiency. Life Without Money is written by high-profile activist scholars, including Harry Cleaver, Ariel Salleh and John O’Neill, and is an inspiring manifesto for those who want to take action.
However, the book cannot be obtained »without money«, it has to be purchased in a bookstore. And the website indicates, that strict copyright applies. Creative Commons licenses are not used, which contradicts the aim of the book.
From: keimform.deComments
11-11-26
It’s arrived!
Yesterday we received paperback copies of our new book, Life Without Money. With all the instability in the global financial markets and the international spread of the Occupy movement, this book will provoke deeper discussion of ways forward. The ten contributors to Life Without Money argue that we need to dispense with monetary values and relationships — yes, money per se — in order to manage our world on the basis of humane and natural values.The book brings together diverse voices with strong arguments against our money-based system’s ability to improve lives and prevent environmental disaster. It provides a strategy for undercutting capitalism by refusing to deal in money, and offers money-free models of governance and collective sufficiency.
Here's what Joel Kovel, author of Enemy of Nature (2002; 2007) and Overcoming Zionism (Pluto Press, 2007), has already said about the book:
‘The collapse of capitalism will also be an end to money as the prime regulator of society — an eventuality both hard to imagine and necessary to understand. Anitra Nelson and Frans Timmerman have assembled an indispensable collection for those who are bold enough to explore this dramatic prospect. Life Without Money is an essential guidebook for the great debate now unfolding and around which our hopes for a worthwhile future unfold.’
Get, or order, your copy from your local book store (or find links for online purchases at http://www.lifewithoutmoney.info). Then come back and enter the discussion.
11-11-21
Vivir Bien – Gut leben! Brief aus Bolivien und Ecuador (II)
Pacha Mama und die Wuerde der Menschen von Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen (Okt./Nov.2011) Seit 2007 und 2008 haben Bolivien und Ecuador neue Verfassungen, in denen “gut leben” (vivir bien) und die “Rechte der Natur” (Pacha Mama) als Inhalte dieses neuen staatlichen Gesellschaftsvertrags … Continue reading
11-11-18
Vivir Bien – Gut leben! Brief aus Bolivien und Ecuador (I)
von Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen Seit 2007 und 2008 haben Bolivien und Ecuador neue Verfassungen, in denen “gut leben” (vivir bien) und das “Recht von Mutter Erde” (Madre Tierra, Madre Naturaleza, Pachamama) als Inhalte dieses neuen staatlichen Gesellschaftsvertrags festgeschrieben sind. Einige Wochen … Continue reading
11-11-17
Pattern 4: Beyond Money
This is part 4 of a weekly series of articles to appear in the journal Critical Studies in Peer Production (CSPP). In the series I try to describe analytical patterns developed by the Oekonux Project since over ten years of research on Free Software and commons-based peer production. Please visit the introducing part for the background. Already released patterns: 1, 2, 3.
Pattern 4: Beyond Money
Since money only makes sense for commodities, a non-commodity (cf. pattern 3) implies that there is no money involved. Thus Free Software is beyond money. On the other hand, there is obviously a lot of money around Free Software: developers are paid, companies spend money, new companies are formed around Free Software. This has confused a lot of people, even on the left. They stick to an either-or thinking, being unable to think these observations as a contradictory process of parallel development in a societal period of transition (cf. pattern 10).
Money is not a neutral tool, money can occur in different social settings. It can be wage money, invested money (capital), profit, cash money etc. Different functions have to be analyzed differently. In Free Software there is no commodity form involved, so money in the narrow sense of selling a commodity for a price does not exist. However, Eric Raymond explained how to make money using a non-commodity: by combining it with a scarce good. In a capitalist society where only a few goods had broken out of the commodity realm, it is beyond question that all other goods continue to exist as commodities. They are kept scarce and they are combined with a priceless good. Using a perspective of valorization this is nothing new (e.g. spreading gifts to attract customers). Using a perspective of recognizing a germ form this way a new mode of production starts to develop within the still existing old model.
But why do companies give money if this money is not an investment in the traditional sense, but a kind of a donation, e.g. to pay Free Software developers? Why did IBM put one billion dollars into Free Software? Because they were forced to do so. Economically speaking they have to devalue one business area to save the other profit-making areas. They have to burn money to create a costly environment for their sales (e.g. server hardware). As the enclosure of the commons is a precondition for capitalism, the other way around is also true. Extending the commons in a field currently dominated by commodities means that this field is replaced by free goods.
However, the “four freedoms” of Free Software – use, study, change, redistribute – (Free Software Foundation, 1996) do not speak about “free” in the sense of “gratuitous”. The slogan “free as in freedom, not in free beer” is legion. This is completely fine and does not contradict the “beyond money” dictum, because the four freedoms do not say anything about money. The four freedoms are about free availability, are about abundance. Thus, the absence of money is an indirect effect. Abundant and thus non-scarce goods cannot be a commodity (cf. pattern 2) and cannot make any money. However, making money is not forbidden per se.
There have been a lot of attempts to integrate the non-exchange, non-commodity, commons-based free circulation of Free Software into the traditional economic paradigm, which is based on exchange and commodity. The most prominent one was the “attention economy” saying that the producers do not exchange goods, but attention (Goldhaber, 1997). They concluded that attention is the new currency. But this was only a desperate attempt do cling to old terms which neither worked properly nor delivered any new insights and thus was not relevant. Various other similar attempts are skipped here.
Being beyond money directly results from not being a commodity.
From: keimform.deComments
11-11-09
Leben ohne Geld — auf ProSieben
Ein Witz? Nein, nein, das Magazin Gallileo auf dem Privatkanal ProSieben hat Heidemarie, Raphael und elf Pavlik drei Tage lang begleitet, um ihr alltägliches Leben ohne Geld zu dokumentieren. Die Geschichte wurde gestern gesendet (Achtung: Werbeblocker einschalten!) und ist recht sympatisch geraten. Klar, sie hat zeigt auch die empörten Reaktionen der Art »Wenn das jeder machen würde«, geht aber leider dieser berechtigten und interessanten Frage nicht weiter nach. Es bleibt alles im personalisierenden Rahmen: Da machen drei Leute was ziemlich Abgefahrens.
Was nicht gezeigt wurde, keine Sekunde, können wir euch hier verraten: Christian und ich wurden ebenfalls von dem TV-Team zur Frage nach der Verallgemeinerbarkeit des Beispiels von Heidemarie, Raphael und Pavlik gefragt. Wir haben über die commons-basierte Peer-Produktion gesprochen, zahlreiche Beispiele genannt usw. — Doch davon kam nichts. Ich hab’s aber auch nicht anders erwartet. Geld oder kein Geld wird so nur als persönliches Problem vorgeführt.
[Update] Was mir sehr gefiel, war die Hintergrundstimme von »Dana Scully« aus der Serie Akte X – die unheimlichen Fälle des FBI (natürlich nicht von »Scully« selbst, sondern ihrer Synchronsprecherin Franziska Pigulla). Leben ohne Geld als »Akte X« — das passt doch 
[Update] Raphael hier im SWR Nachtcafé.
From: keimform.deComments