by Edoardo De Stefani | Apr 30, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
According to a dictionary definition, cities are originally considered as any settlement where inhabitants decide to establish a community. In its simplicity, a city is an elaborate organization with fixed boundaries and certain powers of government over a densely populated area of citizens.
Ideally there are pertaining characteristics or belongings to a city, which are both physical and non-tangible. Alternatively, we can say that a city needs specific institutional arrangements and governing powers, certain structures, various resources as well as a minimum number of inhabitants.
However, if there is an urban community, a more or less tacit social contract will also be there. It means that the relationship between citizens, institutions and governance structures is defined by certain arrangements, which are the result of a complex process of social bargaining.
Public services are also part of this cluster of bargained arrangements and intuitively, every city proposes a different setting.
Virtually, it is impossible to satisfy all the preferences of the individuals, namely the organs of that specific society. Nonetheless, if anyone would feel to be unluckily born in the wrong place, here there is a game to plan your next departure.
Istatopoli, as called by its creators from ISTAT, the national institute of statistics, is a basic simulation that allows everyone to become mayor of his ideal city. In particular, giving the possibility to choose how to distribute services and public goods among the private, public or non profit sector, it is possible to understand which city in Italy fits mostly with our individual preferences.
The game is essentially based on a set of data that were collected in 2001 and it is complemented by an appealing map that shows in a glance how general services, like water, culture, health and instruction are nowadays distributed in Italy.
For further references or to become mayor for a day, click here for the game!
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Un divertente gioco può trasformarsi in un interessante esperimento di cittadinanza attiva.
L’obiettivo di Istatopoli è quello di far comprendere al cittadino come ciascuna scelta in termini di responsabilità e fornitura di servizi, possa creare città diametralmente opposte.
Scegliendo di assegnare la distribuzione dei servizi tra pubblico, privato e non profit, il giocatore definisce i parametri della sua città ideale. Infine, da un confronto con il database ISTAT, è possibile riconoscere quale sia la città che realmente si avvicina più alle nostre esigenze personali.
Per giocare e ulteriori informazioni, fare click qui.
by Edoardo De Stefani | Apr 13, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
On the 17th of April at Capannori (LU), one of the most virtuous Municipalities in Italy, there will be the occasion to talk about community and participation, thanks to the forthcoming initiative named “Scuola di altra amministrazione”.
The school is a great opportunity to share knowledge and experiences on the topic of active citizenship, with a specific glance at several successful experiences of “collaborative administration” such as the “Bilancio partecipativo” in Capannori presented by Luca Menesini or “the cultural imprint” in San Vito di Leguzzano, presented by Cristiano Filippi Farmar.
Thanks to the support of LAbGov and the participation of professor Christian Iaione, There will also be space for bringing the positive experience of the “Bologna Regulation on public collaboration for urban commons” and “Co-Mantova”, as ones of the most effective practices of positive and mutual contamination between active citizens and public administrations.
Further info about the school and program at: Link
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Il prossimo 17 aprile a Capannori, la Scuola di Altra Amministrazione promuoverà nuove forme di esperienze locali di cittadinanza attiva, attraverso il racconto di pratiche di contaminazione positiva tra enti locali e cittadinanza.
Nello specifico, grazie alle esperienze, competenze e testimonianze dei partecipanti alla giornata di formazione, sarà possibile analizzare più da vicino le dinamiche dei progetti di cittadinanza attiva e comprendere come il nuovo paradigma di collaborazione possa determinare il successo di progetti territoriali e urbani.
Per ulteriori informazioni, si rimanda al link
by Edoardo De Stefani | Apr 10, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
Thinking about cities, we cannot avoid thinking about pitfalls in public services or drawbacks of its uncured spaces. Also, we cannot avoid speaking about financial constraints, economic crisis and socio-cultural deficiencies.
Though, looking at the positive side, there are people, administrators, professionals, enterprises, academics or simply citizens that actively nudge for urban regeneration.
Eventually, this is also the idea of the municipality of Alessandria, which drafted and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Protocollo d’Intesa) with the two universities that are present on the territory, the University of Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro” and the Politecnico of Torino, with the objective of creating social innovation within the framework of the program “Noi Cittadini”.
The underlying idea is that of rethinking the city and its territory, but most of all the space and the role of citizens.
It is not a secret that public administrators cannot solve alone the enigma of social innovation, simply because designing a project is not only about money or calculus; there are several tangible and intangible resources which are needed for the success, and these include ideas, sentiments, energies, competencies and time.
For this reason it is very important to include all stakeholders in the “regeneration” project, both in the preliminary design phase and in the implementation stage.
The view of the Public Administration as a sort of financier must be abandoned, because again, projects are about discerning necessities and the particular socio-cultural microsystem, but also about finding a line of understanding between different stakeholders, namely a collaborative attitude. Having the opportunity to work collaboratively at a round table with the university and the public administration represents an opening to reverse the paradigm of the old and inefficient public plans.
Nonetheless, what it is important to acknowledge is that including different actors in the show does not mean having a divestiture of responsibilities, but simply a more legitimized process of democratic representation.
LabGov is well acquainted with the dynamics of collaboration between public administration, society and enterprises. It is all within the core of our quintuple helix approach, as represented by the LabGov logo. For this reason, the “Noi Cittadini” initiative represents a good opportunity to reflect on different collaborative opportunities, with regard to new partners and interlocutors.
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Sulla scia dei recenti successi di esperimenti di amministrazione condivisa, tra cui il Regolamento di Bologna sulla cura e rigenerazione dei beni comuni, diverse iniziative stanno poco alla volta prendendo piede sul territorio nazionale. Da un alto, l’avvicinamento a pratiche di collaborazione rappresenta una necessità finanziaria e di legittimazione politica, mentre dall’altro esprime la volontà di godere appieno del diritto di essere cittadini.
Per far sì che progetti interessanti e innovativi trovino poi concreta realizzazione, è necessario costruire un tavolo di progettazione condiviso al quale possano sedere congiuntamente università, cittadini, imprese e pubblica amministrazione.
Parlare di rigenerazione delle città, significa ripensare il ruolo dei vari attori che vivono un determinato territorio, ma soprattutto trovare quelle risorse utili a sostenere un progetto di lunga durata.
L’innovazione sociale e la sua sostenibilità richiedono uno sforzo condiviso, ed è proprio per questo motivo che il Comune di Alessandria, in collaborazione con l’università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale “Amedeo Avogadro e del Politecnico di Torino, ha siglato un protocollo d’intesa per “fare sistema”.
L’elaborazione di politiche innovative passa attraverso la costruzione di un asse portante tra forze territoriali, economiche, professionali e sociali.
In tal senso, l’operazione “Noi Cittadini” rientra nel quadro di innovazione sostenibile che il comune intende perseguire.
by Edoardo De Stefani | Mar 19, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
The neoliberal world-system has entered a multiple crisis, while the stalemate of the growth function is hampering the socio-economic progress. Energy provision, climate stability, food production and distribution, public service provision, land access and political stability are consequentially threatened by a system that is no more sustainable and self-reliant.
Moreover, the congestion and the rivalry upon the use and exploitation of resources leave no room for development, at least if the current structural paradigm is not questioned.
Seemingly, the current society is at the margin of disruption and far obviously, existing institutional structures are not functioning properly.
To put it differently, a wave of disruption is sweeping in from various marginal corners, in particular from the contours of cities that are slowly becoming the cemetery of social cohesiveness.
Though, the problem is much easier to identify than expected: a non-participatory attitude of citizens in the public life dislocates the foundations of civil society.
Nonetheless the problem is different: why citizens are not feeling included in the decision-making processes or in the public life?
Once again the answer is simple, if we accept that normal bureaucratic procedures and institutional ecosystems are not citizen-friendly.
The focal question then, is about redesigning existing structures in a functional way and in a sense that they could become appealing and welcoming.
Arguably the claim is not complex: if the functioning of the society were based on cooperation, solidarity, democracy, equality and responsibility, there would be enough reason to claim ownership over public spaces. And if people eventually get the chance to enjoy the public space, simply because they feel attached to it, energies and input would naturally flow into the social machinery.
Thus, the emergence of the idea of the Commons is instrumental to the paradigm shift. It is not merely about a smooth transition, but widely, it is the product of an exploding social enrichment.
The transition to a world of the commons corresponds to the establishment of a new social contract, which can defend and promote the opportunity for people to participate at the making of public life.
In a sense, opening the system to a path of systemic collaboration can stimulate a pioneering form of social co-working between the principal political, economic and social agents.
However, it is clear enough that a common-based economy cannot flourish without appropriate institutions, especially those that should play a sustaining role in the direct creation of value by civil society (see the concept elaborated by Michel Bauwens of the Partner State ).
It is for this reason that shareable cities have always represented an ideal chimera, till today.
Quoting an article by Jonathan Dawson appeared recently on The Guardian, it is from the marginal corners of our society that a new wave of disruptive innovation is coming.
Shifting from a passive form of electoral democracy to a generative democracy of radical engagement is what is currently happening in Italy, and it is real.
The city of Bologna and the “Regulation on public collaboration” (see also the article on Bologna Regulation on Public collaboration) carry a new vision of the sharing city, or commons-oriented one. Professor Christian Iaione, LabGov Coordinator, is one of the pioneers of such institutional innovation.
As he argues, what we need is a nudging class, in order to drive and convince society and institutions that sharing is the new frontier of social innovation.
The five actors of collaborative governance, as subscribed in the Quintuple Helix approach (expressed in LabGov logo), represent the emergence of an innovative platform of open cities.
Professor Iaione took seriously the idea that citizens have energy, imagination and responsibility, but mainly, that people can become themselves innovators, service designers, co-workers and experts.
And for those who think that Commons are just a naïve and ingenuous pretence, they may be interested in the dozen of other Italian cities that are emulating the Bologna initiative.
As LabGov, we are making governance at grassroots level because people need a new vision, new energies and powerful social relations to come out from a bottom-up perspective.
The economy of the commons cannot simply be understood as a ready to go policy, but I feel that wherever there would be enough imagination and confidence, we can really work on the role of collaboration.
Our commitment is just the first step for bringing a new social narrative, but there is only one way to challenge the typical narrow thinking, and that is about being agents of collaboration.
Therefore also LabGov owes a debt of gratitude to all those experts, professionals, citizens, students, and courageous pioneers that are collaborating for making this change real. See more at:
http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/the-city-as-commons-michel-bauwens-interviews-professor-christian-iaione/2015/02/24
http://commonstransition.org/the-city-as-commons-with-professor-christian-iaione/
http://www.shareable.net/blog/interviewed-professor-christian-iaione-on-the-city-as-commons
http://bollier.org/blog/labgov-pioneers-paradigm-city-commons
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/12/disruption-challenge-neoliberalism-commons-political-system
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Il fallimento dell’attuale configurazione istituzionale, nonché il susseguirsi di crisi economiche, politiche e socio-culturali, hanno lentamente spostato l’asse della società verso una fase di stallo apparentemente irreversibile.
Inoltre, l’incapacità delle amministrazioni pubbliche di fornire servizi adeguati e il contemporaneo disinteresse del cittadino alla vita pubblica, hanno ulteriormente peggiorato la situazione di crisi odierna.
Tuttavia, la soluzione alla crisi appare più semplice se inquadrata nell’ottica di un drastico cambiamento di paradigma istituzionale.
La città come bene comune diviene allora la nuova narrativa che può vincere il dominio dell’egemonia neoliberale.
E le shareable cities, finora ritenute un illusorio esercizio di stile, cominciano a smuovere le fondamenta degli assetti istituzionali tradizionali.
La città di Bologna rappresenta in questo senso un’innovazione, grazie anche al contributo delle idee e delle energie di visionari pionieri della democrazia intesa come inclusione radicale del cittadino, tra cui il Professor Christian Iaione Coordinatore di LabGov.
Il Professor Iaione ha realmente saputo catalizzare le idee e le energie per costruire un sistema istituzionale di governance collaborativa.
Grazie anche a LabGov, nuovi agenti della collaborazione stanno gettando le basi per costruire e coltivare l’innovazione sociale e nuove forme di governance collaborativa.
Una nuova visione della società civile, basata su un virtuoso scambio collaborativo tra stato, cittadino, imprese e università è già in proiezione.
Per questo motivo, LabGov onora il suo debito di gratitudine verso tutti quegli esperti, professionisti, studenti, università, cittadini ed incoscienti pionieri che stanno contribuendo a rendere reale questo cambiamento.
Appare evidente come il movimento dei Commons non possa più essere considerato un fattore di nicchia; rendiamolo globale.
http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/the-city-as-commons-michel-bauwens-interviews-professor-christian-iaione/2015/02/24
http://commonstransition.org/the-city-as-commons-with-professor-christian-iaione/
http://www.shareable.net/blog/interviewed-professor-christian-iaione-on-the-city-as-commons
http://bollier.org/blog/labgov-pioneers-paradigm-city-commons
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/mar/12/disruption-challenge-neoliberalism-commons-political-system
by Chiara Falduto | Mar 13, 2015 | The Urban Media Lab
In today’s society topics such as environmental and territorial issues are increasingly gaining importance. The impact that pollution has on the Planet we are living in is of central importance in many debates. Often, though, speeches are not enough to sensitize the population on such a delicate subject.
In this context, a new project has risen: ArtAbout. ArtAbout is an Open and Integrated Project Platform that aims at denouncing all the environmental issues surrounding us through the use of art. Indeed, since the very beginning of mankind, art has been a great tool for reaching towards men’s hearts by representing from a critical point of view uncomfortable matters.
The first theme that ArtAbout wants to deal with is the pollution caused by petrol, which represents a great problem especially in the Italian region Basilicata. Through the competition ArtAboutOIL, artists and publishers from all over the world are called to propose a project for a film work on site aimed at sensitizing the people about the oil issue.
Allelammie, Casa Netural, IAC – Centre of Integrated Art and SassieMurgia are the sponsors of ArtAbout: four Lucan agents that work in the field of social innovation and creativity. Launching the project ArtAboutOIL they want to restate their commitment to innovation and improvement of territorial and cultural issues by transmitting a message about the importance of safeguarding the wonderful Lucan territory before it gets seriously damaged by pollution.
As written in the grant, the sponsors have not received any kind of external founding for the project. This is why ArtAboutOIL not only calls artists to participate, but is also looking for investors that are willing to “donate” some money that will help to provide basic tools that will help to realize the project and will also help to found the winner’s prize: a 10 day stay in Basilicata, during which he or she will be able to realize the video-project proposed. Investing even a little amount of resources in ArtAboutOil will surely be a great symbolic act that will have an even greater impact especially in the local territory. In fact, it is important to understand that only through small actions we can hope to mobilize greater mechanisms of solidarity and union.
The kind of art that ArtAbout wants to enhance is a “partecipative art”, which means that people will not only be asked to observe the wonderful creations that the artists will produce but will also have to look at them critically, and will have to appeal their sense of civic duty to improve their community afterwards. We could also talk about a “360degrees-art” which wants to tell in an innovative way the reality of energetic production and its related issues. A reality which now more than ever is of great importance and of which we all need to become aware of.
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ArtAbout è una Piattaforma Progettuale Aperta e Integrata lanciata da quattro realtà Lucane che operano dell’ambito dell’innovazione sociale. In ArtAbout l’arte diventa il principale strumento per comunicare e diffondere messaggi relativi l’importanza della salvaguardia del territorio, dell’ambiente e delle culture locali.
Con il progetto ArtAboutOIL, ArtAbout vuole concentrarsi sul tema del petrolio in Basilicata; argomento molto importante che copre non solo tematiche relative all’inquinamento dell’ambiente ma anche alla questione delle politiche energetiche. In questo contesto artisti e produttori sono chiamati a partecipare ad ArtAboutOIL, creando un video focalizzato su questo problema.
ArtAbout non riceve nessun finanziamento esterno ed è per questo che fa appello anche a possibili investitori che desiderino contribuire economicamente alla realizzazione di questo progetto.
Con ArtAbout si parla di arte partecipata, dove ogni individuo è chiamato a rielaborare in maniera critica i messaggi trasmessi dagli artisti ed impegnarsi per migliorare la realtà che lo circonda.
