Are more democratic systems necessary before important social-ecological transformations can occur on a large scale? Podemos is a Spanish political party that appeared in early 2014. The relevance of Podemos as a seed lies in its potential to democratize politics by challenging the two-party system that has ruled Spain for 30+ years. The most remarkable aspect of this initiative may be the degree to which Podemos has been able to activate [...]
An experimental method using technology to connect thousands of people to develop creative solutions to governance problems rapidly Objective: to improve governance and decision-making, as well as the design of interventions, using crowd-sourcing methods Connected Citizens (http://game.connected-citizens.org/about) is a global conversation about how connectedness will change the relationship between citizens and governments, and how government services will be designed and delivered in the future. New civic technologies are changing the relationship between people [...]
Connecting people to people, rebuilding understanding of how systems work: Can creative, international and interdisciplinary education structures focusing on broad topics such as the Anthropocene create synergies and networks that could improve information flows and help to change ingrained ways of thinking and behaving? Objective: To affect participants intellectual, emotional and consequently scientific engagement with the idea of the Anthropocene The Anthropocene Campus & Curriculum was a 10-day event run by the House of [...]
“Tribal parks” - are an example of Aboriginal people asserting their rights to govern and use land in ways without the prior approval of a national government. In Canada, some tribal parks have been converted into co-managed national parks (e.g. Gwai Hannas national park), while other exist in an interesting legal gray area where they form partnerships with some levels of government but are not formally recognized by others (e.g. Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Park ). These parks are interesting because they represent a way in new way in human, and historical values have been incorporated in the protection of ecosystems. They are also interesting because they have been asserted not by the state, but by colonized people who have historically been displaced by the state. By enhancing the diversity of land ownership and land governance systems these tribal parks potentially provide opportunities for experimentation and learning that can benefit broader society.