Reclaim the Commons – Commons should be open accessible

A further argument against Jochum: Gavin Baker zitiert aus dem Manifest des World Social Forum (Belem, Brazil, January 27-February 1, 2009):

Humankind is suffering from an unprecedented campaign of privatization and commodification of the most basic elements of life: nature, culture, human work and knowledge itself. In countless arenas, businesses are claiming our shared inheritance – sciences, creative works, water, the atmosphere, health, education, genetic diversity, even living creatures – as private property. A compulsive quest for short-term financial gain is sacrificing the prosperity of all and the stability of the Earth itself. …

Agressive intellectual property politics harness those suffering from neglected deseases or who can’t purchase patented medicines, reduce cultural diversity, limit access to knowledge and education, and promote a global consumerist culture. …

As more citizens discover this reality, a new vision of society is arising – one that honors human rights, democratic participation, inclusion and cooperation. People are discovering that alternatives and commons-based approaches offer practical solutions for protecting water and rivers, agricultural soils, seeds, knowledge, sciences, forest, oceans, wind, money, communication and online collaborations, culture, music and other arts, open technologies, free software, public services of education, health or sanitization, biodiversity and the wisdom of traditional knowledges.

The signers of this Manifesto, launched at the World Social Forum of 2009, call upon all citizens and organizations to commit themselves to recovering the Earth and humanity’s shared inheritance and future creations. …