An Open Letter to the Commoners and Co-operators of the World to
participate in the Ecuadorian transition towards an Open Commons-
based Knowledge Society.

Dear Global Co-operators and Commoners,
In a speech on Sept. 19, 2012 [1], President Correa of Ecuador appealed to the young
people of his country to fight for and realize a vision of “good living” based on a
commons-based and open knowledge society. The FLOK Society project (Free/Libre
Open Knowledge) has been created to propose a transition plan and a policy
framework to achieve this unique vision. In accordance with Ecuador’s National Plan
[2], there can be no 'good living' policy that is not inspired by, and rooted in, free and
open knowledge and a thriving commons.
The FLOK Society project is a joint research effort sponsored by the Co-ordinating
Ministry of Knowledge and Human Talent, the Senescyt, (Secretaria National de
Educacion Superior, Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion) and the IAEN (Instituto de Altos
Estudios del Estado). Our aim is to finalize proposals to be presented at a conference
in April 2014, which will bring together the President, government officials, civil society
participants, and global experts on the commons. The project received its impulse
from IAEN Rector Carlos Prieto, Project Leaders Xabier E. Barandiaran & Daniel
Vázquez, and Research Director Michel Bauwens.
Here is the link to the FLOK Society project:

http://www.floksociety.org

The project seeks the involvement and input of local civil society, but also includes an
explicit appeal to the global co-operative and commons movements to assist us with
advice and policy proposals. It is our belief that the Ecuadorian people will be inspired
by the best of what is happening abroad, in all countries of the world. Hence our
appeal to you, global co-operators and commoners.
If you are engaged in transformative social change that is inspired by open knowledge,
co-operation, and the building of commons for the well being of all, we ask you to send
us information and benchmark proposals on leading local or global initiatives in your
area of expertise.
Imagine a society that is connected to open knowledge commons in every domain of
human activity, based on free and open knowledge, code, and design that can be used
by all citizens along with government and market players without the discrimination
and disempowerment that follows from privatized knowledge.
Imagine an ethical and sustainable economy that is based on the creation of a co-
operative commonwealth rooted in reciprocity, mutuality, peer-to-peer production, and
the mobilization of an informed and engaged civil society.
Imagine the speeding up of social innovation and knowledge-sharing enabled by open
knowledge commons in the fields of culture, technology, science, and every other field
where local and global solutions can be shared and built upon.
Imagine that such open commons are linked to an ethical market and economy
whereby individuals, community organisations, co-operatives, and commercial and
social enterprises can freely co-produce such knowledge using enabling governance
and property models that do not enclose the commons, but facilitate their growth.
Imagine an enabling and facilitating Partner State which encourages economic and
social co-operation built on public/civil partnerships.
What would it take to achieve this?
Neither the Ecuadorian people alone, nor of course the FLOK Society research team,
can offer full solutions. But together, in co-operation, we can envision and build

proposals for a sustainable, open, and ethical society and economy which the
Ecuadorian government could assist in coming into being, with concrete policies and
support.

This is the first time that a nation-state and the President of a country has legitimized

the desire of commoners and co-operators all over the world to create a more just and

sustainable civilization, using commons-inspired principles.

In the spirit of sharing and co-operation, we ask for your solidarity and support!

Our research streams focus on the following key areas:
1. Human Capabilities and Open Learning, Paul Bouchard
2. Changing the Productive Matrix, George Dafermos
3. Social Infrastructure & Institutional Innovation, John Restakis
4. Open Technical Infrastructures, Jenny Torres
5. Physical Commons, Janice Figueiredo

Help us turn vision into reality.
In Solidarity and Co-operation, John Restakis, Research Associate, Co-operatives UK;
Research Investigator, Legal and Institutional Frameworks, [e-mail]
Michel Bauwens, Research Director; founder of the P2P Foundation and partner of the
Commons Strategies group, [e-mail]

FLOK Research Team:
Daniel Araya, [e-mail]
Paul Bouchard, [e-mail]
George Dafermos, [e-mail]
Janice Figueiredo, [e-mail]
Jenny Torres, [e-mail]

Other names:
Co-signed by David Bollier and Silke Helfrich, Commons Strategies Group
For General Input, please send to Michel Bauwens ([e-mail]); and
Daniel Araya ([e-mail])
If you want to help us more concretely, see also:

http://en.wiki.floksociety.org/w/How_Can_You_Help_Us

For subject-specific input, please send your comments directly to the Stream
Researchers above.
References:
[1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjajy-ia-SE

[2]

http://buenvivir.gob.ec/versiones-plan-nacional