ABOUT
The Open Co-op is a workers cooperative.
We run projects and organise events to kick-start the regenerative economy.
The Open Co-op was founded in 2004 and has a long history of work on systems change.
Our network includes a global community of friends and organisations working on inter-related projects, but it’s our family of Pioneers that run things, because The Open Co-op is a DoOcracy: an organisation in which those that Do decide what gets done.
As the name implies, we’re an open organisation, and everyone is welcome.
We run open finances, make open source software and develop and promote open protocols.
Members of The Open Co-op aspire to, and are working towards, our shared vision of a collaborative, regenerative economy.
Recognising the value and power of small teams and micro solidarity, The Open Co-op does not seek to become a large, centralised organisation but to network together, create and support, a diverse community of small, decentralised groups.
The regeneration of nature, and the creation of sustainable systems to support a thriving, equitable, decentralised society is our goal.
proaction not protest:
Humanity is facing a polycrisis.
Our theory of change is inspired by Richard Buckminster Fuller, the American philosopher, systems theorist, architect, and inventor, known as Bucky, who said:
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
Instead of wasting time protesting, we are working together to develop the tools, technologies and narratives to manifest positive systems change.
Our governments have vested interests in maintaining the extractive economy.
If we want the system to change we have to create a new system which makes the present system obsolete.
As one of our Members said:
“Capitalism doesn’t care what you do as long as you are earning and spending its money.
You can protest all you like – but that won’t change how the economy works.
The proactive way to solve the climate crisis is by co-creating the new economy – and by transferring your earning and spending out of the capitalist marketplace and into the collaborative, regenerative economy.”
Our work covers:
New ownership
models
to provide equitable access to the organisations and resources we rely on.
New governance structures
to provide democratic methods to steward our collective endeavours.
A new
narrative
to underpin these new systems and replace the ‘money rules all’ mentality.
we design Network coordination systems
To help people discover, connect with and co-create the collaborative, regenerative economy.
A new way to build and manage interoperable directories
and maps via decentralised profiles.
A co-op of co-ops that flips the standard data model
via inter-coop marketing and promotions.
we build Commons infrastructure
To provide collectively-owned, surveillance-free, open source tools for collaboration.
Open source email, messaging and collaborative tools powered by renewable energy.
Open source meeting and conferencing tools,
powered by renewable energy
we promote Economic change
By highlighting the solutions, and developing the tools, to power alternative economies.
Awareness raising project highlighting the work of Fuller and Riegel to promote our most powerful tool for change, money.
A UK network and open source directory, matching and notification system for mutual credit payments.
In order to collaborate effectively at scale humanity requires a decentralised coordination system to manage our collective endeavours.
We are working towards this goal via a concept we call…