Archive for June 2018
What tragedy?
This year is the fiftieth anniversary of an influential article which, wrongly, gave commons a bad name. In 1968 Science magazine published a paper called ‘The tragedy of the commons’ by biologist Garrett Hardin. Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, explains. This was about the global population problem, in part inspired by an 1833 pamphlet by…
Read MoreThe rescue of Cassiobridge Common, Watford
We are celebrating the registration of Cassiobridge Common in Watford as a ‘new’ common. Hertfordshire County Council has approved its own proposal to register the common for the first time, which will ensure it is protected from development and encroachment. The common is a small, nearly one hectare, area of green space next to the…
Read MoreNominations now due for Elinor Ostrom Award
Our general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, will once again be acting as an assessor for the Elinor Ostrom Award on Collective Governance of the Commons for 2019. Nominations are due very soon: 15 June 2018. Please consider nominating a senior (more than 10 years after a PhD) or junior scholar, or a practitioner (individual or organisation).…
Read MoreCampaign to reopen ancient Gloucestershire route
We are pressing Gloucestershire County Council to reopen the ancient Bentley Lane, which runs to the east of Southam village onto Cleeve Common. The lane has been blocked by gates since 2010. The old track is laid out in the Bishops Cleeve Inclosure Award of 1836 with a width of 30 feet. It leads directly…
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