{"id":63980,"key":"Community_networks","title":"Community networks","latest":{"id":1273522,"timestamp":"2026-09-16T14:10:58Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Familienkonferenz Hannover Nordstadt 160b3b Mütter und Väter im World Café im Zelt der Familienkonferenz.jpg|thumb]]\n\nAs with all networks, community sustainability networks can help build and share inspiration, enthusiasm, information, knowledge and [[CASwiki resources|resources]]. Networks can also lead to greater influence for people and groups than they could expect if working alone or in isolation. Many sustainability projects develop as networks. As sustainability projects often involve a wider range of stakeholders, and sustainability encourages awareness of the bigger picture, this seems to a certain extent inevitable. Networks also encourage learning and mutual support, sometimes in expected ways, sometimes in unexpected ways. This article can also be viewed as a shared work space, open to all, for developing ideas for networking, both virtual and real world, for local and wider community action for sustainability.\n\n== Video ==\n\n<div class=\"grid\">\n\n{{Video\n| 7b41dO3i-PY\n| title = What Is Hylo? A Quick Overview\n| authors = Hylo, ''1.01 mins.''\n| date = 2026-05-20\n}}\n\n{{Video\n| W5iIpUGg7VA\n| title = Towards An Open Civics - Theory of Change\n| authors = OpenCivics, ''7.00 mins.''\n| date = 2025-08-15\n}}\n\n{{Video|0trewdlxpY0}}\n\n{{Video|NUN0QxRB7e0}}\n\n{{Video|rqjYcp4W1JE}}\n\n</div>\n\n== News ==\n\n{{News card|keyword=Networks|limit=3|more=Networks, news and comment}}\n\n== Community action projects ==\n\n[[File:Social Media Marketing.jpg|thumb]]\n\n* convene meetings of local stakeholders about community concerns or bigger picture issues such as [[climate action]]\n* set up or develop community action for sustainability initiatives in your local area, use wiki pages on CASwiki to develop your initiative and practical projects\n* local quality of life conferences\n* [[Visions|visioning]] exercises and developing future plans for the area, energy descent or resilience plans\n* green fairs or other sustainability events\n* sustainability weeks\n* sustainability treasure hunts\n* green picnics\n* [[Networks#Green Drinks|Green Drinks]]\n* green maps and green guides\n* sustainability walks or trails\n* appreciative enquiry applied to communities and localities: valuing \"the best of what is\", Envisioning what might be, Engaging in dialogue about what should be, Innovating what will be {{W|Appreciative inquiry}}\n* support asset based community development\n* local sustainability libraries or resource centres, including making use of online networks to share books and other resources\n* support community empowerment through [[community involvement]]\n* encourage partnership working\n* encourage and develop local sustainability indicators\n* DIY networks - community solution for affordable internet access, see [[Networks, news and comment|news and comment]] November 8, 2016\n\n== Conversation starters ==\n\n* the Good Life Conversation, Cormac Russell, September 7, 2017 [https://www.nurturedevelopment.org/blog/abcd-practice/good-life-conversation/ nurturedevelopment.org]. \"In simple terms the following questions help people to explore what contributions they might make to communities in which they reside.\"\n\n== Quotes ==\n\n<blockquote>To change everything we need every one, Naomi Klein...[https://counteract.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/To-change-everything-we-need-every-one-compilation.pdf counteract.org.au]</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Civic networks emerge in the space beyond government or the market, serving citizens need for knowledge that can enable them to be more active, resourceful, creative and influential.\" Professor Stephen Coleman, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>A defining difference between Empire and Community, Suicide Economy and Living Economy is the shift from hierarchy to networking as organizing principle.\" David C. Korten </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>Networks are the language of our times, but our institutions are not programmed to understand them.\" Demos </blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>A network entrepreneur understands that social change lives beyond any single organization, Nell Edgington...[https://www.socialvelocity.net/ Social Velocity]</blockquote>\n\n<blockquote>We are not looking for a shallow consensus - a vision we can all agree to half-heartedly but do nothing about. We want a seven generation vision that is inspiring, because that is the world we want to live in, and leave to our children and grandchildren and beyond - the kind of seven-generation consensus that brings every living voice to the table, to consider the needs of those not yet born.\nThere is no need, then, to be limited by what any current government would do. This process is so much more efficient than theirs that we will rapidly pull ahead of them. We must assume that a sufficiently compelling vision could capture people's imagination and cause political and economic changes in ways unforeseen and unforeseeable. \" Sustainable Nova Scotia </blockquote>\n\n== Other resources ==\n\n* [https://greattransition.org/ Great Transition Initiative]\n* [http://web.archive.org/web/20191216035726/http://backfeed.cc:80/ Backfeed], \"Social Operating System for Decentralized Organizations, enabling massive open source collaboration without central coordination.\"\n* [https://studycollaboration.com/ Study Center for Group Work], includes for example, a lesson plan on Participatory Asset Mapping\n* Wikipedia: [[Wikipedia:Social network|Social network]]\n\n'''more video''':\n\n* Peggy Duvette, CEO WiserEarth on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uyAVyaquqM youtube]\n* Dan Mcquillan at mypublicservices on [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwD4ZnsVap0 youtube]\n\n'''Definitions'''\n\n'''Networks''': '...the process by which relationships and contacts between people or organizations are established, nurtured and utilised for mutual benefit.' Alison Gilchrist: 'Community Development & Networking' (2000)\n\n''''Networking''' is a means of communicating and organising according to a common cause, and a means of providing access to information, support, resources and influence. As such, networking is central to community development practice.' Community Development Exchange {{W|Community Development Exchange}}\n\n== Notable networks and concepts ==\n\n<div class=\"grid\">\n\n{{Video\n| video = 7jyi080_Y5s\n| title = Celebrating the 2015 Transition Network International Conference\n| authors = TransitionTowns, Nov 3, 2015\n}}\n\n{{Video\n| video = 112849164\n| title = Edgeryders - LOTE4: The Stewardship\n| authors = Sam Muirhead, Nov 25, 2014\n}}\n\n{{Video\n| video = 49474841\n| title = How we like to get stuff done\n| authors = Good for Nothing, 2012\n}}\n\n{{Video|FSSAtO6l5o8}}\n\n</div>\n\n=== CANs ===\n\n* [[Citizens Action Network handbook|CAN handbook and guide]] (Under construction)\n* Yes, we CAN, information and action points from [https://www.thealternative.org.uk/yes-we-can The Alternative], ''added 15:40, 7 March 2022 (UTC)''\n* Daily Alternative articles about building CANs, [https://www.thealternative.org.uk/dailyalternative/tag/Citizens+Action+Networks thealternative.org.uk/dailyalternative]\n\n{{Card|text={{Newslist|keyword=CANs|limit=3}}}}\n\n''see also'': [[Networks UK#Citizens' action networks or CANs|Networks UK]]\n\n=== Asset-based community development ===\n\nAsset-based community development (ABCD) is a methodology for the sustainable development of communities based on their strengths and potentials. It involves assessing the resources, skills, and experience available in a community; organizing the community around issues that move its members into action; and then determining and taking appropriate action. {{W|Asset-based community development}}\n\n=== Community action for sustainability ===\n\n[[File:Greenwich park drawing1.jpg|thumb|]]\n\nCommunity action for sustainability (CASwiki / this wiki) has a focus on the concerns of communities and ordinary citizens, and is concerned with empowering communties to take practical action towards more sustainable futures.\n\nA lot of the mainstream environmental movement historically has, very differently, had a focus on the concerns of organizations themselves, non-profits, think tanks, and so called 'leadership', concerning itself primarily with interaction with big government and big business. This is not to argue against interaction with government and business, just to point out that if that's all that's seen as important then this inevitably gives the impression that the concerns, capabilities and agency of local communties and citizens matter hardly at all.\n\nBy contrast community action for sustainability asserts that communities and ordinary citizens are hugely important actors in their own right in moving toward low carbon and sustainable futures. Sustainability isn't just something for experts. It's about everyone's quality of life and we all have a part to play...[[Why grow community action for sustainability?]]. Many now agree that innovation doesn't just come from where you might expect. Our best chance of successfully tackling climate change comes from inclusive involvement and consent. Increasingly knowledge and expertise is not restricted to the few and we all have a role in ensuring knowledge is used wisely. Assessment of needs and aspirations must involve the communities affected. Local knowledge helps find solutions which work...[[Citizen Centred Participation - Phil Green]]. The world does not remain as it was before the internet. Networks matter, \"we-think\"...[We-think: The Power of Mass Creativity (2008), Charles Leadbeater {{W|Charles Leadbeater#Works}}] emerges, crowdsourcing {{W|Crowdsourcing}} works, \"Here Comes Everybody\" {{W|Here Comes Everybody}}, but most importantly of all, it is in local communites with their integrated and holistic vision, where sustainability and climate change issues become most real, solutions are often first glimpsed and where the change to a better quality of life is most genuinely and viscerally appreciated.\n\n=== Environmentalism ===\n\n[[File:240px-The Earth seen from Apollo 17.jpg|thumb]]\n\nEnvironmentalism or Environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements. Environmentalism advocates the lawful preservation, restoration and/or improvement of the natural environment, and may be referred to as a movement to control pollution or protect plant and animal diversity. For this reason, concepts such as a land ethic, environmental ethics, [[biodiversity]], ecology and the biophilia hypothesis figure predominantly.\n\nAt its crux, environmentalism is an attempt to balance relations between humans and the various natural systems on which they depend in such a way that all the components are accorded a proper degree of [[sustainability]]. The exact measures and outcomes of this balance is controversial and there are many different ways for environmental concerns to be expressed in practice. Environmentalism and environmental concerns are often represented by the color green. {{W|Environmentalism}}\n\n=== Environmental movement ===\n\nThe environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement), also including conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behavior. In its recognition of humanity as a participant in (not enemy of) ecosystems, the movement is centered on ecology, health, and human rights.\n\nThe environmental movement is an international movement, represented by a range of organizations, from the large to grassroots and varies from country to country. Due to its large membership, varying and strong beliefs, and occasionally speculative nature, the environmental movement is not always united in its goals. The movement also encompasses some other movements with a more specific focus, such as the climate movement. At its broadest, the movement includes private citizens, professionals, religious devotees, politicians, scientists, nonprofit organizations and individual advocates. {{W|Environmental movement}}\n\n=== Extinction Rebellion ===\n\n[[File:Declaration of Rebellion at Parliament Square 52.jpg|thumb]]\n\n'''''Main article:''''' [[Extinction Rebellion]]\n\nExtinction Rebellion (abbreviated as XR) is a socio-political movement with the stated aim of using civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance to protest against climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse. {{W|Extinction Rebellion}}\n\n=== Global Ecovillage Network ===\n\nThe Global Ecovillage Network is a global association of people and communities (ecovillages) dedicated to living \"sustainable plus\" lives by restoring the land and adding more to the environment than is taken. Network members share ideas and information, transfer technologies and develop cultural and educational exchanges. {{W|Global Ecovillage Network}}.\n\nWeb pages exist for the major regional associations of ecovillages. Those include:\n\n* Africa: [https://gen-africa.ecovillage.org gen-africa.ecovillage.org]\n* Europe: [https://www.gen-europe.org gen-europe.org]\n* Latin America: https://ecovillage.org/casa-2/\n* North America, primarily the U.S. and Canada: https://ecovillage.org/region/genna/\n* Oceana and Asia: https://ecovillage.org/region/genoa/\n\n[https://ecovillage.org/ Global Ecovillage Network] ''added 15:15, 28 April 2020 (UTC)''\n\n''see also'': [[Ecovillages]]\n\n=== Good for Nothing ===\n\n\"...a growing community of thinkers, do-ers, dreamers, makers and tinkerers, finding time to gift our ideas, skills and energy to help accelerate the impact of social innovators, change makers and epic projects of social good.\" Licensed under the Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).\n\n* [https://www.goodfornothing.com/ Good for Nothing]\n\n=== Green Drinks ===\n\nGreen Drinks is an informal networking event where environmentally minded people meet over drinks. Started in [[London]] in 1989, by Edwin Datschefski, Paul Scott, Ian Grant and Yorick Benjamin, it has spread to 51 cities in the [[United Kingdom]], 400 in the [[U.S.]] and many more in [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[Poland]], [[Sweden]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Japan]], [[Singapore]], Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Manila, [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]], [[Argentina]], [[Chile]], Puerto Rico and [[Lebanon]]. As of March 2011, 770 Green Drink Chapters have been established worldwide. {{W|Green Drinks}}\n\n* [https://www.greendrinks.org/ Green Drinks]\n\n=== Transition Network ===\n\n''Main article'': [[Transition Network]]\n\nThe Transition Network is a UK charity founded between late 2006 and early 2007. It was set up to disseminate the concept of the Transition towns. It has published books and films, trained people and facilitated networking. The network's website contains a listing of the initiatives that have registered there.\n\nSome of the material has been translated and adapted to other languages/cultures, including Portuguese, Danish, German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and Irish. {{W|Transition Network}}\n\n* [https://www.transitionnetwork.org/ Transition Network]\n\n=== Other networks ===\n\n'''Reconnect Community Action Network'''\n\nWorldwide Club for Seniors to Connect, create communities, participate in action groups and adventures and make new friends. Reconnect Community Action Network on [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4313469435407500 facebook.com], ''added 18:13, 10 March 2022 (UTC)''\n\n'''Edgeryders'''\n\n* [https://edgeryders.eu/ Edgeryders], community of changemakers aiming to co-create self-sustaining projects for the common good. ''added 09:24, 10 February 2022 (UTC)''\n\nInformation about networks more relevant to specific topics can be found or shared via our many [[CASwiki topics|topic]] pages. ''See for example'': [[Climate action#Networks|Climate action, Networks]]\n\nSimilarly information about networks more relevant to specific locations can be found or shared via our many [[CASwiki places|place]] pages\n\n== Networks of networks ==\n\n* [https://www.opencivics.co/ OpenCivics], A movement for culture & systems change rooted in self-organized collective action, ''added 09:55, 22 February 2026 (UTC)''\n\n''section needed'' for example mention [https://www.hylo.com/groups/bioregional-commons/ Bioregional commons on Hylo]\n\n'''Resources'''\n\n* [https://networkweaver.com/ Network Weaver], free library that includes resources, blogs, and events for network weavers, ''added 18:40, 10 May 2026 (UTC)''\n\n{{Community networks footer}}\n\n'''See also''': [[Community networks UK]], [[Citizen Centred Participation - Phil Green]], [[Citizens data initiative]], [[International sustainable community events]], [[Collaboration]], [[:Category:Collaborations]], [[Maps for community action]], [[Quotes about community action and the power of community]], [[Sharing]], [[Visions]], [[Community resources]]\n\n{{Localtopic}}\n\n{{CASwiki footer}}\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| description = See how community networks on Appropedia bring people together to take green action locally and beyond.\n}}\n\n[[Category:Networks]]"}