| STWR Newsletter: November 2012 |
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In recent months, STWR has attended a number of conferences and published various papers in which we argue the necessity of sharing global resources, and call on everyone to raise their voice for global sharing. An update of news and activities from Share The World's Resources. Contents
Editorial - Raise Your
Voice For Global Sharing
Raise Your Voice For Global Sharing At Share The World’s Resources (STWR), we are far from alone in talking about the importance of sharing in relation to the world’s most pressing problems. Today, it has become almost fashionable to talk about sharing in many different contexts, and yet very few people are discussing the need to share the world’s wealth and resources in order to tackle global poverty, inequality and climate change. There may be some justification for this – for example, no-one wants to be branded as religious or a socialist if you don’t ascribe to any particular creed or political ideology. But the practice of sharing is not beholden to any doctrine, ideology or ‘ism’, and remains a fundamental principle that humanity must implement into world affairs if we are ever to end poverty, engender peace or heal the environment. That’s why we argue it’s about time that everyone who perceives this for themselves starts to raise their voice about global sharing. There are many good reasons for doing so. To this end, STWR recently released a campaigners’ report on financing the global sharing economy. The report specifically talks about sharing in relation to how governments provide welfare and public services to their citizens, which is far from the usual conceptualisation of the ‘sharing economy’. But as the report posits, modern systems of welfare are perhaps the most advanced forms of sharing ever established on a nationwide level. Understanding sharing in these simple, practical terms helps us to cut through the complex debates of rival political parties and perceive the right path that governments should follow. It may also help us to realise, as ordinary citizens, why we all need to get involved in the global movement for sharing and justice. You can download the report, read it on Issuu or request a hard copy here. In recent months, STWR has attended a number of conferences where we’ve argued the necessity of sharing global resources. At the Globalisation for the Common Good (GCGI) Conference in Oxford, UK, we presented a paper based on our most recent report which can be read here. In a presentation given by STWR at the World Public Forum ‘Dialogue of Civilisations’ 10th Anniversary Conference in Rhodes, Greece, we argued that social injustice and ecological crises must be recognised as inextricable parts of the same problem: our failure to share the world's resources in a way that benefits all people and preserves the biosphere. The final report on the conference’s Ecology Panel included a call for a greater sharing of the world's resources in order to reverse the trend of increasing inequality and economic insecurity. Upcoming events in 2012 include a presentation at the Antalya Forum in Turkey on the theme of 'Rethinking the Global Economic Order'. On November 14th, STWR will also be one of the partners in the first ever Global Sharing Day, which is being organised by The People Who Share with the aim of shining a spotlight on the growing public discussion around sharing resources. Do come along to the event we’ll be attending in London on Financing the Sharing Economy, or host your own sharing event wherever you are in the world!
STWR's Presentation at the World Public Forum 2012
Visions of a
New Earth: Responding to the Ecological Challenge
Globalisation for the Common Good Initiative 10th Annual Conference
Why We
Should All Be Talking About Global Sharing
Proposing a
Vision of a New Earth
Financing
the Global Sharing Economy
It’s Time to
Prioritize the Global Sharing Economy
Living in
the Gift: On Retreat with Charles Eisenstein Global Sharing Day - November 14th On November 14th, STWR are one of the partners for the world’s first ever Global Sharing Day, which is being organised by The People Who Share. A host of different activities are set to happen throughout the day, including pop-up/flashmob style events in and around London and the UK. From 1-2pm, everyone is encouraged to take part in The Greatest Share on Earth by spending an hour sharing goods, services, time, knowledge and skills in an attempt to set a world record for the most sharing happening in a single hour. The aim is to shine a spotlight on the rapidly emerging sharing economy, bringing together entrepreneurs, social investors and the public to discuss new business models based around the sharing of resources. STWR will be participating at one of the main events in London on the theme of Financing the Sharing Economy. We’ll present our ideas around the need to think about sharing in global and political terms, as well as in relation to social entrepreneurism and community-based sharing. Do register to come along if you’re based near London, or else get involved wherever you are in the world by hosting your own event or helping to create a social media buzz on the day!
'Individual
Ownership is the No 1 Source of Inefficiency'
UN
Calls to Fund Social Safety Nets in World's Poorest countries
The Commons
as a Transformative Vision
Halving
Food Losses Would Feed an Additional Billion People
New Statistics
on Global Hunger
The Global
Citizens' Report for Seed Freedom
The Right to
Food and Nutrition Watch 2012
A Recovery
for All |