Humanize the Earth!

Streets and the Commons

Great post at OnTheCommons.org. An excerpt:

Sidewalks and streets are the frontlines of the commons. They are the place where we most often bump into one another—figuratively as well as literally. The social vitality of any community can be measured by how many people are out on the streets. It’s where old friends reconnect with a joyous hug, where love affairs begin with a mutual glance, where you can watch the parade of life pass by.

This is a photo from the front page of last Saturday’s Oregonion newspaper in Portland accompanying an article about RecentChangesCamp. Top right corner you’ll notice the Local Commons Survey Project, and if your eyes are really good, you’ll see my name in the top right corner of the posting. I was convening a dinner-time conversation Friday night about the Commons generally, and doing this survey in my neighborhood in Chicago, perhaps Marshall Square and perhaps the larger Little Village area. The idea is that the Market is well understood, that which is privately owned and can be traded. The Commons, however, that which we own in common, is not well understood. We don’t even really have language to talk about it. So doing this survey would be finding out what of the Commons exists here, and the report we’ll produce will go even further in that direction as neighbors, politicians and the press are exposed to some new ideas.