The Commons

In a just world, the idea of wealth--be it money derived from the work of human hands, the resources and natural splendor of the planet itself--and the knowledge handed down through generations belongs to all of us. But in our decidedly unjust and imperfect world, our collective wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few. There is be a better way--the notion of the commons--common land, resources, knowledge--is a common-sense way to share our natural, cultural, intellectual riches.

In this innovative animation, filmmaker Laura Hanna, writer Gavin Browning and video artists/animators Dana Schechter and Molly Schwartz examine the concept of "The Commons" as a means to achieve a society of justice and equality.

Video licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ to view the license.

Inspiration from the film came from four provocative books:

Unjust Desserts: How the Rich Are Taking Our Common Inheritance and Why We Should Take it Back by Gar Alperovitz and Lew Daly ( http://www.thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title... )

Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water, by Maude Barlow ( http://www.thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title... )

Viral Spiral: How the Commoners Built a Digital Republic of Their Own, by David Bollier ( http://www.thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title... )

The Magna Carta Manifesto: Liberties and Commons for All, by Peter Linebaugh ( http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/10566.php )

In cyberspace, the "viral spiral" is a way ideas and innovations grow and be shared with ever-larger numbers of people. That spiral path could be the way the ideas of the commons can help shape a more just society. Learn more at OnTheCommons.org.

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license" in a prominent
place near the video frame.

You should also insert a web link to the Creative Commons page for the
Attribution license, which is: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• commentary
• analysis
• videonation
• creative
• commons

[shroomduke]

We are crushed under the weight of CORPORATE WELFARE which comes in many forms, from WAR, protectionist policies, patents, Tax breaks, loopholes (i.e. ENRON LOOPHOLE) the list is ENDLESS! They come up with new forms of Corporate Welfare every day!

STOP CORPORATE WELFARE

stop corruption!

Demand Oversight, Transparency and Accountability!

lets start with WAR CRIMES TRIALS, tax evasion, wall street investigations & crimes committed by our Government!

[ninjasownpirates]

the sad thing was, that wasn't the point of video. the video is to support creative commons licenses. The water example was to elaborate the sharing of commons.

[RnBramwell]

This is the same old evil of socialism and communism, reincarnated. It will have the same utterly destructive consequences. Even the Internet example is drastically flawed. Those providing free software hours are like the early youths on Israel's Kibbutzim (plural of Kibbutz). Working for little more than food, they were immature and idealistic. When they married and had to deal with their own children, they soon saw that the system failed them... and drifted out. Only one Kibbutz remains.

[annabrixthomsen]

Thanks for making this video. I agree that commons should be reestablished - but with emphasis on Equality for All Life. Support the Equal Money System for a Dignified Life for All

[awalino1]

nope

[NateBearclaw]

I prefer George Lakoff's presentation of the use of cognitive policy to establish a moral framing on a wide scale for the purpose of developing support for a commons-rooted governance system. I'm referring to his chapter on cognitive policy in "The Political Mind." This production communicates its messages effectively, and I'll continue to research into the organizations involved.

[ourearthhome]

Henry George pointed out over a century ago that the market value of the earth, its land and all its natural resources, is created 100% by the community as a whole and not by it "owners". This means that all land value is the commons even though the land itself can be privately owned. Private ownership of the earth for exclusive use makes sense but land value belongs to the community and should be taken back 100% via taxation to pay for community services all of which make land more valuable.

[stokeslawjk]

I dont understand why some people hate on this song its awesome.....Hey I just got the ringtone too at DownloadEveryTone . com -------------

[SilverRedIndigo]

OH, YES!!!

Please keep this information coming. Capitalism and Government have become so corrupt that people are ready for this knowledge and will soon be willing to implement it.

You might be interested in my video: Mystical Anarchy.