Guérande (France) from the 7th to 11th of October 2013

Today global commons-based management is considered an ancient heritage established on citizen knowledge, skills, and governance and organization methods focused on the future. It is an alternative to predatory neoliberal policies which threaten cultural, social and environmental diversity.

As resources diminish and social and environmental problems increase, these governance methods inherited from the mountains, the sea and rural territories, demonstrate their sustainability and should be recognized as a proper right to help communities build their future while adapting to new situations.

In order to help find alternative solutions to the spoliation of our territories, the Sustainable Earth International University (SEIU) in collaboration with the World Mountain People Association (WMPA) organise the Guérande sessions (France) from the 6th to the 11th of October 2013 with the following objectives:

• Encourage the exchange of experiences by gathering local actors on an international level (Africa, Asia, America and Europe) that are involved on their own territory in commons-based governance of natural resources or in resistance to spoliations which affect them by defending their customs.

• Value and highlight at an international level examples of commons-based governance, struggles, resistance and develop alternatives based on experience narratives and case studies.

• Strengthen networking between these actors and their claims by collectively drafting a “Charter for the Right of Communities to global commons-based governance of territorial wealth”, which would stand as a founding principle in the struggle of territorial communities.