Article in Directa: “The Tor case and communal assets that aren’t communal anymore”

Today Directa published this article by Joan Pedragosa, an Emprius member:

“El cas de Tor i les muntanyes comunals que ja no ho són”#

directa.cat/el-cas-de-tor-i-les-muntanyes-comunals-que-ja-no-ho-son#

(…) It would be good if the Tor case could raise questions — important and overlooked — about communal ownership. The history of the commons reminds us that our ancestors had much more interesting ways of organising themselves than we often assume, and that today’s systems were built on plundering our communities’ wealth. As historian E. P. Thompson (opens in a new tab) says, the commons disturb people because they prompt questions about property’s origins and about people’s historic rights to land.
Facing the challenges of the 21st century, some of us believe that communal and collective forms of management and governance hold vital possibilities and inspiration. At Fundació Emprius (opens in a new tab) we see it that way and work to promote it.