The 2019 edition of the Transformative Cities initiative has started with the publication of the Open Call (Open until 15th of March).

We invite you to apply to the 2019 “Transformative Cities Award”; this open call being a great opportunity to highlight grassroot initiatives that have made a difference in their community on Housing, Energy, Water and Food Systems

RIPESS joined a group of organizations that are promoting the 2^nd edition of the “Transformative Cities Award” aiming to highlight political practices and solutions that can serve as inspiration for others – See related information HERE.

In this second edition, the award is looking for initiatives that have succeeded in articulating an inclusive vision for a social majority to transform their city or defined environment. The prize aspires to create a new model of awards, which is participatory, inspirational, and rooted in exchanges and learning; the idea would be to highlight practices that can be replicated in other regions and places.

“Transformative Cities Award”: all you need to know!

You can find all the information of the prize here.

Or you can watch a video with basic information: https://youtu.be/yhhDkLPqIqo

Who can apply?

This initiative is open to collectives not individuals. A collective can have the form of a social movement with recognizable structures and goals without a formal legal recognition, a legally existing civil society organization, a citizens platform seeking to gain institutional power at municipal and/or city level via a political candidacy, an established city council, or other forms of collective action that centre their practices in a specific location that is not generally recognized as a region, state or similar delimitations.

Transformative… doing what?

The second edition of the award (2019) will look at the three issues of the first edition: Energy, Water and Housing plus an additional one: Food systems. Each initiative can also apply to several issues simultaneously under the same application.

Ok… but what do you mean by “transformative”?

“Transformative” recognizes that these struggles have succeeded in articulating an inclusive vision for a social majority to transform their city or defined environment. These practices will have measurable results, since they have been implemented successfully, and they will be practices that can be replicated in other regions and places. 

How they can submit their initiative?

Completing this online form or sending the attached Application form to transformativecities@tni.org

What is the deadline to submit the proposal?

They can submit their application until the 15th of March 2019 at 23.59h CET.

What is the selection criteria?

These are the key elements of a Transformative Practice:

• Equity and participation
• Capacity to inspire collective action
• Impact
• Transferability and replicability
• Accountability and Transparency
• Solidarity and Public ethos
• Sustainability and efficiency
• Fairness of labour conditions and the recognition of care and domestic work

It is just for “cities”?

The concept of “city” is a highly contested one, scientifically or politically. For the purpose of the award, they define cities in very broad terms as the locations for place-based struggles for basic rights. They understand that cities have certain strategic advantages to advance social, environmental and gender justice – in terms of combining critical masses of people as well as potential for more accountable governance. This will encompass transformative practices happening in urban and rural areas and in areas that could be described as both.

Who is behind this award?

The Transformative Cities initiative is launched by a group of regional and international organizations (in alphabetical order): European network for community-led initiatives on climate change and sustainability (Ecolise), Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), Global network of continental networks committed to the promotion of Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS), Habitat International Coalition (HIC), the Global Platform for the Right to the City (GPR2C) and the Transnational Institute (TNI). 

Watch (and share and comment) this 2 minute video (English only for now – other languages coming soon): 

Twitter https://twitter.com/TransfCities/status/106269135219291340 
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/TransfCities/videos/251609742180147/
Youtube https://youtu.be/yhhDkLPqIqo


Got any questions? See https://transformativecities.org/frequently-asked-questions 

You can help to promote it, forward this email and/or use the suggestions below.

Consider applying and spread the word with those who might want to use this opportunity.

Twitter

You can follow https://twitter.com/TransfCities 

Please RT this one https://twitter.com/TransfCities/status/1062691352192913409

Or send your own tweets, here you have some suggestions

.@TransfCities is launching the 2019 edition of #TransformativeCities Peoples Choice Award  .
 Apply, share your story of transformation and connect with other initiatives  https://transformativecities.org/open-call-201

In the face of #water, #energy, #food and #housing crises, communities worldwide are finding inspiring solutions. Are you working on transforming your community from below? Apply for the 2019 #TransformativeCities https://transformativecities.org/open-call-201

More suggestions and content here https://pad.tni.org/p/Transformative_Cities_Open_Call_Launch_2019 

Cool visuals here in English here:  https://nextcloud.tni.org/index.php/s/sYeF32HtrA8GbQx  

Facebook
Like Transformative Cities https://www.facebook.com/TransfCities/ 

And share the video we launch today calling to the open call https://www.facebook.com/TransfCities/videos/251609742180147/ 

YoutubePlease like us if you didn’t yet https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiSTZKtBfz7R5BC2fxrLsGg 

And take a look at the video https://youtu.be/yhhDkLPqIqo 

At the initiative of the UFISC (Federal Union for the Intervention of Cultural Structures) and of all its member organizations, more than twenty networks of professional actors in the field artistic, cultural, social, solidarity International, Citizenship, Solidarity economy co-organize three days of reflection and debate. This event named POPMIND will bring together more than 300 people, professionals, academics, citizens and public partners with a red thread: defending and putting human rights to work for today and tomorrow.

This event will take place from March 19th to March 21st, 2019 in Rouen (1h30 of Paris).

In March, upstream of the European elections, these days will allow us to share our concerns, our analyses and our recommendations to think of a declaration of our initiatives on the issue of European construction.  You can find the program here (in French only for the moment, sorry).

The registration period for Comun_ESS, Meeting of Communication and Solidarity Economy, which will celebrate its third edition from 15 to 17 March in Barcelona, is now open.

Organized by the Xarxa de Economia Solidària and the REAS Red de Redes, these dates will be used to meet and continue to reflect and build a new communication paradigm that reflects the values of the SSE and allows us to broaden our reach, our audience and our practices.

Under the slogan “They talk about us”, this edition of the meeting will include training, conferences, round tables and practical workshops to explore new tasks, resources and strategies for building communication for social transformations. Initiatives and projects from all over Spain will be present, as well as people responsible for communicating the different SSE initiatives.

More information:: comunicarestransformar.net

Towards Co-operative Commonwealth is a free, massive, open, online course offered by Synergia Institute with support from Athabasca University that sets out what effective systems change means, and the most promising ways to secure our communities’ basic needs in increasingly difficult times. It is a master class in movement building for a new model of political economy that is sustainable, democratic, socially just and based on the principles of co-operation and the common good.

It is suitable for newcomers to social change work as well as veteran activists, practitioners, policy-makers, students, and researchers. Individuals on their own and people working for social change through organizations, networks, and movements can use the course material and the accumulated expertise of the Synergia team, and that of fellow participants, to advance their own work.

Many of you are already familiar with Synergia’s work and are working with us to promote the course and reach both individuals and groups to participate. We are deeply grateful to you and your continued support will be essential to make this course a success and a key resource for all change agents.

To facilitate this effort, we are attaching for information an updated newsletter and descriptions of the MOOC to help spread the word and give people an idea of what we are aiming for

     Pièces jointes

Synergia Newsletter Course description Study and Action Circle Guide

  Plus d'informations

John Restakis, Mike Lewis, Mike Gismondi, Pat Conaty

Independent media are close to the SSE, often by their status and especially by the values they defend. But how do they approach it? Here is a selection of independent media articles from the last three months. You can also find them on the map of socioeco.org: Journalism of Solutions (the articles are located in the city where the experience is taking place or, in the case of a general article, in the city where the media is based).

As you will see, the articles are in their original language, due to the diversity of European countries. For Greek, for which the Efsyn journal is particularly present with sometimes several articles per week on SSE, an English summary is included. This will allow you to perceive which themes are covered by these media: sustainable development, refugees, self-management, cooperatives, organic agriculture, etc. Feel free to send us an article or a media site to improve the map and our knowledge of SSE. Write to Françoise Wautiez: fwautiez[at]socioeco.org

Image Cover of Stir Magazine, Winter 19

French

• Les luttes non-violentes de Rajagopal, activiste indien bientôt à Paris Michel Bernard, Anne-Sophie Clémençon, Article de Reporterre, 22 nov 2018 [lire]
• Étude de chaîne de valeur soja biologique au Togo, Pierre W. Johnson, Article de Transition et Coopération Pierre Johnson, 2018 [lire]
• « Nous sommes une start-up anarcho-communiste » : Coopcycle auto-organise les coursiers à vélo, Benoît Borritz, Article de Basta!, 16 janvier 2019 [lire]
• Ethique Les baskets Veja tiennent-elles leurs promesses ?, Justin Délépine, Article de Alternatives économiques, 29/01/2019, [lire]

English

• Creating a Solidarity Economy Giving Project, Cheyenna Layne Weber, Article in Philantrhopy Women, 28 January 2019 [lire]
• Beyond the Market: Housing Alternatives from the Grassroots, H. Jacob Carlson, Marnie Brady, Gianpaolo Baiocchi, Article of Dissent Magazine, Fall 2018[lire]
• Stir Magazine: winter edition 2019: Looking back, looking forwards [lire]

Spanish

• Mercados sociales, la unión hace la fuerza, Brenda Chávez, Artículo de El Salto,23/12/2018 [lire]
• Más allá del mercado: alternativas de vivienda desde las bases, H. Jacob Carlson, Marnie Brady, Gianpaolo Baiocchi, Artículo de El Salto,18/12/2018[lire]

Catalan

• Mas Corcó: el pagès que fa de forner i el forner que fa de pagès, Articulo de Setembre, 05/01/2019 [Lire]

Italiano

• “Se trovare soluzioni all’interno del sistema è impossibile, forse è meglio cambiare il sistema”, Pietro Raitano, Articolo de Altreconomia, 1 gennaio 2019 [lire]

Greek

• ΚΑΛΟ: επένδυση για δίκαιη ανάπτυξη (ESS: investir pour une croissance juste)
  Aristotélis Andréou
  Article of EFSYN, 15/12/2018 [lire]
• Το εναλλακτικό μοντέλο των πέντε ηπείρων (The alternative model of the five continents)
  Lena Kyriakidi
  Article of EFSYN, 10/12/2018 [lire]
• Το εργοστάσιο που παράγει… αλληλεγγύη (The factory that produces … solidarity)
  Kostís Roússos, Vangélis Vragotéris, Cháris Malamídis
  Article of EFSYN, 10/12/2018 [lire]
• Στήριξη με τρία κλικ (in three clicks)
  Article of EFSYN, 08/12/2018  [lire]
• Προστατεύοντας τους σπόρους ως κοινό αγαθό (Protecting seeds as a common good)
  Lena Kyriakidi
  Article of EFSYN, 26/11/2018  [lire]
• Ανοιχτή μέρα περμακουλτούρας στο χωράφι της Νέας Γουινέας (Open day in the field at the New Guinea farm)
  Article of EFSYN, 21/11/2018 [lire]

Article of P2P Foundation

WHEN: 21st March 2019 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
WHERE: University of Westminster (Room UG05); 309 Regent St; Marylebone, London W1B 2HT; UK
COST: Free

Michel Bauwens, Vasilis Kostakis & Alex Pazaitis (P2P Foundation) –Book Launch ‘Peer to Peer. The Commons Manifesto’ (University of Westminster Press)

Not since Marx identified the manufacturing plants of Manchester as the blueprint for the new capitalist society has there been a more profound transformation of the fundamentals of our social life. As capitalism faces a series of structural crises, a new social, political and economic dynamic is emerging: peer to peer.  What is peer to peer? Why is it essential for building a commons-centric future? How could this happen? These are the questions this seminar tries to answer.

Biography

Michel Bauwens is the Founder of the P2P Foundation and works in collaboration with a global group of researchers in the exploration of commons-based peer production, governance, and property.

Vasilis Kostakis is the Professor of P2P Governance at Tallinn University of Technology and Faculty Associate at Harvard University. He is also Visiting Professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Vasilis is the founder of the P2P Lab and core member of the P2P Foundation.

Alex Pazaitis is a Core Member of the P2P Lab and a Junior Research Fellow at the Ragnar Nurkse Department, Tallinn University of Technology.

You will find in annex the call for contributions for the second edition of the international conference “Social Solidarity Economy & the Commons”, which will take place from the 6th to the 8th of November 2019 at Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL) in Lisbon, Portugal. The general theme of this year’s edition is “Contributions to the Deepening of Democracy”. Please submit proposals by email to  ssecommons.cei@iscte-iul.pt . The submission deadline is May 31st 2019.