New Publications

Dear friends and colleagues,

Christine Wamsler just published a new article that might be of interest called “Mind the gap: The role of mindfulness in adapting to increasing risk and climate change." It can be accessed here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-017-0524-3

Also, I have a new article published yesterday called "Mindfulness under neoliberal governmentality: Critiquing the operation of biopower in corporate mindfulness and constructing queer alternatives." The first 50 copies are openly available here: http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/jCgm2mytAcsS5r6YBRq7/full

Warm wishes,
Zack

Hi Zack @zackwalsh thank you so much for posting about these publications they look fantastic and congratulations on your publications! Warmest Regards, Patricia

Hello everyone,

I’d like to share another update on recently published research pertaining to the contemplative commons.

First, one of our members, Peter Doran, published two articles in the last month:

Here: http://www.culturematters.org.uk/index.php/culture/religion/item/2743-towards-a-mindful-commons

And here: https://www.voluntaryarts.org/mindfulness-and-the-contemplative-commons

As for myself, I began a weekly research blog called “Contemplative Ecologies” here: http://www.snclab.ca/category/blog/contemplative-ecologies/

Also, the Arrow published a special issue today on Dharma, Degrowth, and Climate Change, which includes my feature essay, “Contemplating the More-than-Human Commons,” and several essays in response.

Special Issue: https://arrow-journal.org/dharma-degrowth-and-climate-change/?mc_cid=516141e78c&mc_eid=7e44f948a5

My article: https://arrow-journal.org/contemplating-the-more-than-human-commons/?mc_cid=516141e78c&mc_eid=7e44f948a5

PDF: https://www.academia.edu/36285294/Contemplating_the_More-than-Human_Commons

I hope you find these helpful.

Be well,
Zack

More water for the mill of the commons!

Fellow friends and commoners,

Christine Wamsler just published a wonderful new article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901117312959

Abstract: "This paper examines whether or not specific forms of adaptation governance that involve city administrations and citizens can help (or hinder) creating a foundation for more sustainable climate adaptation and transformation. Based on the analysis of recurring patterns of social adaptation dilemmas (caused by the interdependencies between adaptation providers and beneficiaries), associated actor constellations, policy approaches, and gaps, this paper presents principles for supporting city–citizen commoning for climate adaptation (i.e. joint actions needed to create systems to manage ‘shared’ adaptation resources). The presented principles can assist in facilitating the management of public goods for adaptation, including privately-provided adaptation goods, and relate to four strategic aims: i) the effective management of collective and individual resources; ii) comprehensive risk reduction; iii) sustained local–institutional linkages (mainstreaming); and iv) matching different actors’ views, efforts and capacities. The principles synthesise and extend the literature by considering, and providing space for, a comprehensive understanding of risk and its root causes, and for alternative rationalities or (‘nonrational’) behaviours intended to address them. The latter takes account of the subjectivities (e.g. emotional attachments to resources and seascapes), which are as important as power structures with respect to how climate adaptation is managed. In fact, subjectivities are central to the operation of city administrations as they are an integral part of how people understand their relationship to others. In an adaptation context, this means focusing on practices and interactions that are required for taking adaptation actions, and how they can both promote and frustrate attempts to collaborate. We conclude that the developed principles can support more sustainable climate adaptation and transformation by holistically addressing existing adaptation dilemmas, actor constellations, and the associated policy gaps that make current approaches ineffective."