Our Dear Green Commons
8 August, 2pm – 5:30pm
GalGael Workshops & Garden
A forum to learn from urban commons movements that seek to co-create alternatives to gentrification and privatisation, and invite deep reflection on what is needed most in these times of increased polarisation, conflict and systemic unraveling.
In a participatory session, contributors will share their work and insights, followed by group conversations to collectively articulate visions of the commons as infrastructures of care and mutual support. We will also weave in insights from our June events.
Contributors:
Eva Schonveld of Grassroots2Global on ‘Reclaiming the Commons of Politics’. Picking up on some of the ideas in this article, we’ll look at some of the deeper issues driving the system of power-as-usual and explore how this has practically impacted on plans to revive the local community council in Portobello, Edinburgh. We’ll be asking whether local governance has to be boring and frustrating? And is it possible to address our shared trauma around power, without scaring everyone off?!
Eva is a climate activist, process designer and facilitator, supporting groups to use power-with processes and shared decision-making.
Fergus Walker, The Orchard Project‘s project manager for Glasgow and Strathclyde, on orchards and community land projects as commons.
Fergus grew up on his family croft in the Isle of Skye, and this formative education sowed the seeds of an ongoing interest in sustainable food production. He is a founder and chair of practical projects to support small-scale and cooperative food growing in Scotland
Davey Anderson on Clyde Alive, a project by a group of Glasgow-based artists and activists to radically reimagine our relationship with the river, which asks:
‘What if we could swim in the Clyde? What if we daylight buried streams? What if we clean up contaminated sites? What if we listen to the river’s needs?’
Davey is a writer and theatre-maker from the East End of Glasgow, focused on creating participatory art events exploring the urban commons and river rights.
Toby Pepperrell on health inequities and enclosures, and working on community health sovereignty.
Toby currently works towards his PhD on urban agroecology for health justice, to support the movement towards an ecological and decentralised public health.
Notes for attendees:
This event is supported by the Commonwealth Games Festival Fund, which has made it possible to make spaces free to book. If you are unable to take up any spaces you have booked, please be sure to cancel them. We will ask for a donation on the day to support current and follow-up work.
Getting there: The GalGael Trust is a 4-minute walk from Ibrox subway station and close to Paisley Road West with various bus options. We’d like to encourage attendees to consider choosing public transport or active travel options where possible. However, there is free on-street parking, subject to availability, for those who need it.
People with children: There’ll be a dedicated space with materials for crafting and drawing. Due to the nature of the space, unfortunately, we are unable to operate a crèche. The GalGael is a workshop area with tools and machines on site, and guardians will be responsible for their children.
