Year: 2023

Theory and practice in activism

Meany #fashernistas have a troubling view of theory and practice. All good horizontalists understand that they come from practice. At the basis of this is #DIY that is working through practice to build theory.

To start from theory go ground and round and round then try and put this into practice, ends in a dizzy mess. When this mess is imposed as a solution we obviously get more #techshit to compost or academic wank to clean up.

We are building from what works #grassroots #DIY with #OMN #indymediaback #OGB based on theory from practices.

Good to engage with this flow to practice activism. Please try not to push mess our way, focus is important.

Talking about trust and power in networks

A. on the subject of “security” we have a #open policy of not trusting ANY client server security at all, so this should only be done as far as possible and having limited trust in #p2p security, even though we use this, because of the insecurity of the underlighting syteams it runs on, mostly old outdated phones, built as blobs by #dotcons this simple approach gets round much of the current thinking of technical “security” ie. the is almost non at a normal use level and little real security at the paranoid level as you will be talking to the normal level so there security will fail even if yours is solid. good to keep this in mind 🙂

The #OMN is all about people messing around with each others data 😉 but yes we need good basic security, (sudo anomumus) accounts, public audit trails (openprocess) everywhere. we will need digital hashes/cigs for media items etc. but the data it self just sloshes around and gets hacked at and added to. its a commons, the rules are social based on trust flows, they are not mostly hard coded or encrypted. but we add a smidgen of hardcoding and decryption ONLY were its needed. So 90% trust flows, 5% social norms, 4% hardcoded, 1% encryption is my thinking.

A. Data has the value the instance itself is transitory, and yes the instance is needed and stores the data but if it vanishes it has little impact on the value (the data), we build this into the network.

Q. am talking about the machines

A. We won’t the instance to stay up and be secure, BUT we build the network, so it keeps working when they are hacked and poisend by bad actors.

Q. Yes, but that doesn’t mean we make things easy for bad actors

A. Yes, the code and instances have to be secure, but the network flows, and the data soup have to keep working when the individual instances are hacked and poised, no security is fool prof and the #OMN is focused on building trust so is inherently more open to fools, we build with this in mind. We are building a #KISS semantic internet of data/flows. For example the idea of rollback as a core security model rather than more traditional hard (control) security is a good fit, due to the approach, the missing few days of data will (mostly) rollback into the instance so the cost of being hacked/trust failed is less of a block to being open and (social) trusting to bring in actors/sysadmins/moderates etc. On the tin, we are clear that our network is a trust based “lossy” network.

Where you can still run the #OMN as a hard control based secure network if you wont BUT it will not scale to the social change/challenge if this second option is the only one, this is the current #geekproblem we need to work our way out of. The first path of trust based “lossy” is where the real horizontal “power” comes from.

Q. We sometimes need to think/talk about “security”.

A. I can only repeat I don’t have a solution to this, but I have a path to one, make the user facing “trust” based then from this, “trust” them to fix the next “problem” the #geekproblem of the hardcoded #feudalism of all our networks and code. Or in other words head in sand and pray someone else will fix it, am bussey 😉

On the #OMN projects maybe we need to list what needs to be secure: the account, the activity feed, the data credit might be more but can’t think of much else off the top of my head. And yes to secure the account the instance has to be secure, to secure the activity feed the flows need to be secure, to secure the credit the likely needs to be some hashing done on the media objects.
We likely end up back close to the place we started, but we come to this from a very different place, if that makes sense. This path we take matters.

Examples, peertube and OMN

An example of how to do media with #AP https://visionon.tv/videos/local?sort=-trending&c=false&s=3 the content (video objects) comes in by federation https://visionon.tv/videos/recently-added trust links. Sadly the are no moderation link flows, I asked them to add this, but they have not done this yet. You can subscribe to any user account/channels etc as an AP actor, then each object (video) can have a AP native comment thread, likely as posts and reply’s. So it’s a pile of data objects (videos) feed by (trusted) flows. These objects and flows are native to the Fediverse, where you can share and interact with them. This approach is based on white listed ie trusted flows only to create the shared database.

Interestingly you can choose in the admin to share hosting as the streaming is done p2p, so each instance can manually choose to host video seeds for other instances.
The is technically a good example of what we want to build, BUT socially it’s a disaster, being too fixated on copying YouTube and the #dotcons. Currently, almost nobody sees content or interacts with it on the wider Fediverse.

Just about all the current Fediverse projects work fine as source flows and to a limited extent as comments/discushern. The #OMN want to build code that is social web native, based on historical working models, the is quite a bit of thinking needed on how to technically implement these, but the social side is well thought through and mostly documented #nothingnew. We are building code for trust groups this is obvuse and #KISS BUT it is strongly agenst much current thinking. Thus we get a lot of back pushing from people as we are pushing “open” as power for social change/challenge to the mess where many people are trying to hide from the current mess by pulling on the clock of “closed” to feel safe.

In this, feeling safe is not our project 🙂

Some of the #OMN projects

The #OGB project, stands for Open Governance Body. It is an initiative to create a governance body for the #fediverse, a network of decentralized social platforms that use the ActivityPub protocol.

https://unite.openworlds.info/Open-Media-Network/openwebgovernancebody  explains the motivation, vision and goals of the #OGB, as well as some of the challenges and opportunities it faces. Please feedback.

activism.openworlds.info is a #fediverse instance that hosts activists and social movements. It uses Mastodon, a decentralized microblogging platform that allows users to post messages, follow other users and interact with them. The website is part of the Open Media Network #OMN, a project that aims to compost tech for a better world.

https://campaign.openworlds.info website is another fediverse instance that hosts people, organisations and groups working on or supporting progressive social change. It also uses Mastodon, a decentralized microblogging platform that allows users to post messages, follow other users and interact with them. The website is administered by info@visionon.tv.

Hamishcampbell.com this website, a filmmaker and activist who is interested in horizontal socialist economics and #openmedia projects. Showcases work and ideas as well as videos and campaigns. Am a part of the Open Media Network (#OMN), a grassroots initiative to nurture a decentralized and federated network of media platforms that share common #PGA values and principles

The visionontv project is a part of the Open Media Network (#OMN), which is a grassroots initiative to create a decentralized and federated network of media platforms that share common values and principles. Creating an internet distribution channel for alternative news, covering topics such as social movements, environmental issues, human rights and more.

What is visionontv

The #visionontv project is a part of the Open Media Network (#OMN), which is a grassroots initiative to create a decentralized and federated network of media platforms that share common values and principles. Create an internet distribution channel for alternative news, covering topics such as social movements, environmental issues, human rights and more. The project also provides video production education and training for activists and citizen journalists. The visionontv grew from undercurrents and was co-founded by Hamish Campbell, a filmmaker and activist.

What is my website for

http://Hamishcampbell.com my website, a filmmaker and activist who is interested in horizontal socialist economics and #openmedia projects. Showcases work and ideas as well as videos and campaigns. Am a part of the Open Media Network (#OMN), a grassroots initiative to nurture a decentralized and federated network of media platforms that share common #PGA values and principles

A vision of a more democratic and egalitarian society, where people have control over their lives and resources, and media is open and transparent. Feel free to explore the projects and contact me for collaboration or feedback.

What is the #openweb

While the commercial web is dominated by large corporations, the #dotcons are what most people are familiar with, there is another side to the internet – the #openweb. In this article, we will explore what the #openweb is and why it matters.

The #openweb refers to the part of the internet that is not owned by corporations. Unlike the commercial web, where large tech companies like #Google, #Facebook, and #Amazon dominate the landscape, the #openweb is a decentralized space where people can create, share, and access content without restrictions.

The openweb is built on standards and protocols, which means that everyone can develop software or services that work seamlessly with existing tools and platforms. One of the primary benefits of the openweb is that it fosters humane creativity. Because we can all contribute to the open web, it encourages a diverse, liberal, range of voices and perspectives. Openweb technologies like blogs, wikis, and federated social networks have enabled people to connect and collaborate, leading to the emergence of new norms and social movements.

Another important aspect of the openweb is its commitment to transparency, it is a critical tool for promoting #freespeech and #democracy. Because it is not owned by any single entity or government, the openweb is a place where people can express themselves without fear of censorship or repression.

In recent years, the openweb has come under threat from the rise of the dominating #dotcons of the commercial web and the growing power of big tech companies. The commercial web is dominated by a few large corporations that control vast amounts of user data and use it to extract profit. This has led to concerns about, social control, and the concentration of power in the hands of a few tech giants and their agenders.

Despite these challenges, there are many organizations and individuals working to preserve the #openweb. From #grassroots groups such as #OMN to #NGO’s like the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) an international community that develops open standards for the web, while #mainstreaming organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Google funded #Mozilla Foundation are dedicated to promoting a liberal #mainstreaming open and accessible internet.

In conclusion, the openweb is a critical part of the internet that promotes, creativity and free society. It is a space where anyone can contribute and participate without restrictions, and it has played a vital role in social movements and democracy. While the openweb faces many challenges in the face of the commercial web and big tech, it is essential to work together to ensure that the internet remains an open and accessible space.

Socialist economics

Socialist economics is characterized by social ownership and operation of the means of production. This means that the control and management of resources, factories, and other productive assets are in the hands of society as a whole, rather than in the hands of a small group of individuals or corporations.

There are many different forms of socialism, each with its own unique economic model. Autonomous cooperatives are one common form of socialist organization, in which workers collectively own and manage their own workplaces. Another form of socialism is direct public ownership, in which production is carried out directly for use rather than for profit. In both cases, the goal is to prioritize the needs of society as a whole, rather than the interests of a small group of owners or shareholders.

Socialist systems that utilize markets for allocating capital goods and factors of production among economic units are designated market socialism. In these systems, prices are set by supply and demand, but the means of production are owned and controlled by society as a whole. When planning is utilized, the economic system is designated as a socialist planned economy. In a planned economy, production is centrally coordinated by a planning authority, rather than by the market.

Non-market forms of socialism usually include a system of accounting based on calculation-in-kind to value resources and goods. This means that resources are valued not based on their monetary price, but on their actual physical or labour inputs.

Marxian economics provided a foundation for socialism based on analysis of capitalism. Marx believed that capitalism was inherently unstable and exploitative, and that socialism offered a better path forward for society. Neoclassical economics and evolutionary economics have also contributed to socialist thought, providing comprehensive models of socialism that take into account both economic efficiency and social justice.

During the 20th century, proposals and models for both socialist planned and market economies were based heavily on neoclassical economics or a synthesis of neoclassical economics with Marxian or institutional economics. These models have varied widely in their effectiveness, but they have all been driven by a common goal: to create an economic system that prioritizes the needs of society as a whole, rather than the interests of a small groups.

In conclusion, socialist economics is a diverse field that encompasses a range of economic theories, practices, and norms. At its core, socialist economics is characterized by social ownership and operation of the means of production, and a commitment to prioritizing the needs of society as a whole over the interests of a small groups. While there are many different forms of socialism, they are all united by a common goal: to create a more just and equitable society through a more democratic and egalitarian economic system.

Anarchist economics

Anarchism is a radical left-wing movement that has a strong anti-authoritarian, anti-statist, and libertarian interpretation of socialism, communism, individualism, collectivism, mutualism, participism, and syndicalism. Anarchists support personal property based on mutualist usufruct, which refers to possession and use of property, but they oppose private ownership of productive property such as the means of production (capital, land, and labour) which is viewed as a fundamental aspect of capitalism.

In contrast to anarcho-capitalists, anarchists retain the labour theory of value and socialist doctrines, rejecting capitalism as a system that reproduces economic activity that they see as oppressive. Capitalist institutions such as private property, hierarchical production relations, collection of rents from private property, taking a profit in exchanges, and collecting interest on loans are viewed by anarchists as promoting and reproducing forms of economic oppression. They believe that the ruling class, including capitalists, landlords, and other coercive hierarchical systems, are the primary rulers of society. To remove such authority, anarchists endorse workers’ self-management, democratic education, and cooperative ideas.

Unlike right-libertarians, anarchists endorse possession-based ownership rather than propertarianism. Possession-based ownership means that ownership is based on use, while propertarianism means that ownership is based on control or domination. In possession-based ownership, the owner has the right to use the property for their own needs but does not have the right to exclude others from using it. This is a key difference between anarchists and capitalists, as anarchists believe in a system where everyone has equal access to the means of production and distribution of goods and services.

Anarchist economics involves the concept of mutual aid, which is a voluntary, reciprocal exchange of resources and services between individuals or groups. Mutual aid is based on the principle of solidarity, cooperation, and support rather than competition and profit. Mutual aid can take many forms, including community-based cooperatives, worker-owned businesses, and neighborhood support networks. Mutual aid is seen as a way to create a more sustainable and just economic system, one that is not based on profit but rather on the needs of individuals and communities.

Libertarian socialism

Libertarian socialism is a political philosophy that has gained popularity in recent years due to its emphasis on liberty and social justice. It is a left-wing, anti-authoritarian, and anti-statist movement within socialism that rejects the state’s control of the economy of state socialism. This philosophy is rooted in the idea that workers should have greater control over their workplaces and that centralized institutions should be dismantled in favour of decentralized, democratic structures.

Libertarian socialism is not a singular movement, but rather a broad socialist tradition that encompasses a variety of different schools of thought. This includes anarchism, Marxism, and other left-libertarian tendencies. These different strands of libertarian socialism share a commitment to freedom, a rejection of authoritarianism, and a desire to create a more equitable and just society.

One of the key tenets of libertarian socialism is the rejection of the concept of a state. Libertarian socialists argue that a truly free and just society can only be achieved through the abolition of authoritarian institutions that control the means of production and subordinate the majority to a ruling class. Instead, libertarian socialists advocate for decentralized structures based on direct democracy and federal or confederal associations.

These decentralized structures can take many different forms, including citizens’/popular assemblies, cooperatives, libertarian municipalism, trade unions, and workers’ councils. The goal is to create a society where power is distributed more equally and where individuals have greater control over their own lives.

At the heart of libertarian socialism is a commitment to workers’ self-management. Libertarian socialists criticize wage slavery relationships within the workplace, emphasizing the need for workers to have greater control over their own labour. This includes the ability to make decisions about the products they produce, the working conditions they face, and the distribution of benefits. Libertarian socialism is distinguished from the authoritarian approach of Bolshevism and the reformism of Fabianism.

In conclusion, libertarian socialism is a left-wing, anti-authoritarian, and anti-statist political philosophy that emphasizes workers’ self-management and decentralized structures of political organization. It rejects the concept of a state and seeks to create a more equitable and just society by dismantling authoritarian institutions and empowering individuals and communities. While there are many different schools of thought within the libertarian socialist movement, they all share a commitment to liberty and social justice.

Anti-capitalism

Anti-capitalism is a political movement that challenges the current economic system, capitalism. It is based on the understanding that capitalism is an unjust system that creates inequality, concentrates power in the hands of a few individuals and corporations, and exploits workers and resources for profit.

One alternative to capitalism proposed by anti-capitalists is socialism. Socialism advocates for public or direct worker ownership and control of the means of production, as well as an equal distribution of resources and an egalitarian method of compensation. This would lead to a society where all people have access to resources and decision-making power.

Socialists argue that capitalism unfairly concentrates power and derives wealth through exploitation. That capitalism generates wasteful industries and practices that exist only to create demand for products, which contributes to environmental degradation and the overconsumption of resources. Socialists contend that private ownership of the means of production imposes a tremendous waste of material resources.

Anarchism and libertarian socialism are two closely related ideologies that share a common goal of creating a stateless, classless society, organized along democratic and egalitarian principles. Both of these ideologies have their roots in the 19th century, when the Industrial Revolution was transforming society and capitalism was becoming the dominant economic system.

At its core, anarchism is a philosophy that rejects all forms of hierarchical authority, including the state, capitalism, and organized religion. Anarchists believe that people are capable of governing themselves through direct democracy and voluntary cooperation, without the need for a centralized authority to tell them what to do. Anarchists also reject the idea of private property, which they view as a tool of oppression that allows a privileged few to control the resources and means of production that are necessary for life.

Libertarian socialism is a more specific form of anarchism that emphasizes the importance of collective ownership and control of the means of production. Libertarian socialists believe that workers should control their workplaces, and that economic decision-making should be decentralized and democratic. They reject the idea of a vanguard party or a centralized authority that would guide the revolution or manage the economy after the revolution.

One of the central criticisms of capitalism from the anarchist and libertarian socialist perspective is the concept of wage slavery. This refers to the idea that workers are not truly free because they depend on wages to survive, and because their labour is exploited by capitalists who profit from their work. Their lives being dictated by the market and a small group of wealthy individuals.

Anarchism and libertarian socialism have a rich history of theory and practice. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, anarchism was associated with militant activism, such as the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886, which resulted in the execution of several anarchist labor organizers. The anarchist movement was also involved in the Spanish Civil War, where anarchist militias fought against fascist forces.

In recent years, anarchism and libertarian socialism have experienced a resurgence of interest, particularly among young people who are disillusioned with the current political and economic system. Some contemporary anarchist and libertarian socialist movements include the antiglobalization movement of the last 30 years, Zapatista movement in Mexico, the Rojava Revolution in Syria.

These movements offer a powerful critique of capitalism and state power, and they provide a vision of a world where people are free to govern themselves, work collectively to meet their needs, and create a more sustainable and equitable world.

Marxism is a social, economic, and political theory developed by Karl Marx in the mid-19th century. It argues that capitalism is an unjust and unstable system that will be replaced by socialism. Marxism sees capitalism as a historical stage that was once progressive, but has now become stagnant due to internal contradictions. Marx claimed that the capitalist mode of production creates a class struggle between the bourgeoisie, who own the means of production, and the proletariat, who must sell their labour to survive.

Marx believed that the contradictions inherent in capitalism would eventually lead to a political revolution, where the proletariat would overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a socialist society. In this society, the means of production would be owned by the workers, and wealth would be distributed more equally.

Contemporary anti-capitalist movements are often influenced by Marxist thought. Anti-globalization and alter-globalization movements also criticize capitalism, particularly neoliberalism and pro-corporate policies that have spread internationally.

However, the space for anti-capitalism has shrunk significantly since the end of the Cold War and the globalization of capitalism. Postmodern philosophers pushed the mess, of identitie politics. Many on the left have shifted their focus to multiculturalism and partisan culture war issues, leading to capitalist realism – the idea that capitalism is the only viable political and economic system.

For the last 30 years the has been a strong alt-globalization movement

The opposition to neoliberalism (the #deathcult) is a global movement that advocates for the protection of humane culture, environmental survivability, and democratic institutions in the face of economic globalization. The anti #mainstreaming of this movement argue that the neoliberal position of free trade and removing public sector regulation has not benefited society and global survival.

One of the key events that sparked this movement was the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the 1990s. This treaty aimed to liberalize cross-border investment and trade restrictions, but it faced significant opposition from civil society representatives, who argued that mandatory standards were needed to ensure that globalization did not put people or the environment at risk.

Critics of neoliberalism argue that the interests of investors are prioritized over those of people, and that this leads to the exploitation of workers and natural resources. Noam Chomsky, a prominent scholar and activist, argued that the term “globalization” has been appropriated by the powerful to refer to a specific form of international economic integration, one that prioritizes investor rights over human rights.

Opposition to neoliberalism is not opposition to globalization itself, but rather to the specific form of globalization that prioritizes the interests of private power systems over the rights of people. The movement for an alternative form of globalization seeks to promote international integration that attends to the rights of people, promotes democratic institutions, and preserves the natural environment.