Netzwerk Oekonomischer Wandel (NOW) - Meeting in Kassel and possible cooperation with the Care Revolution network

by Ann Wiesental

The meeting of NOW - Netzwerk Oekonomischer Wandel took place during the fifteenth Documenta in Kassel. This year's documenta was curated* by the Indonesian artist collective ruangrupa, who based the exhibition on the values and ideas of lumbung. Lumbung is the Indonesian word for a communal rice barn where the surplus harvest is stored for the benefit of the community. This refers to an alternative economy of collectivity, shared resource building and equitable distribution. Following the idea that the exhibition is lumbung, a practice that changes dynamically in the interaction between people, we were also with the NOW meeting art and exhibition. On 8 and 9 September, visitors were able to view and interact with us at zukunftsDorf22, part of documenta. In addition to this special feature, the NOW meeting was just as special because the network had agreed on an orientation in advance and now wanted to invite a wider audience and win over more players for its path. The agreement in advance consisted of three paths being formulated as connecting elements of the network. These three paths are: 1) aligning the economy with the common good and reducing market competition, 2) comprehensively democratising society and 3) expanding commons. The approach and political practice is understood as a questioning advance in the knowledge of a common orientation towards a needs-orientated and deeply democratic society in harmony with our environment. These paths and steps are combined to form a transformation strategy. Care is an important foundation for the NOW network. Care as a macroeconomic logic must have a place. In this respect, the NOW network would like to approach the Care Revolution network and has formulated initial thoughts and wishes in this regard at the meeting. Two NOW representatives would also like to take these to the Care Climate Workshop in Buchenbach to discuss them further.

I personally found the NOW meeting in Kassel very inspiring, with lots of nice people and exciting projects. I have the impression that the three paths formulated by NOW go very well together with the basic ideas of the Care Revolution network and would be happy to cooperate and work together.

*I would like to mention here that various anti-Semitic artworks were exhibited at this year's documenta, some of which were taken down and some of which were left standing. The artists' collective ruangrupa did not take sufficient responsibility in this regard.