The “commons movement” is growing. More and more social initiatives in Thailand and globally discover that they share principles of “commoning” together with a great diversity of likeminded projects. Long time researchers on the “commons” David Bollier and Silke Helfrich emphasize that the legal form or the organisation structure of collaboration in a project is not in the first place what makes it belong to the “commons movement”, but the quality of “commoning” – a verb they invented. Silke Helfrich, Germany, was a resource person in the first international conference organized by the School for Wellbeing in 2011. New language is important to catch the importance of the commons movement for transformation of the economy, culture and politics. And what it means for personal development if you are active as a “commoner”. How can we build trust, what do we really want to share, what are our common goals? What are we willing to sacrifice and what benefits are we entitled to expect? Can we be a commons movement amidst an economy based on profit making at all costs? What does it take to survive living an alternative way of life in a hostile system?

In the 27th SEM Public Lecture Hans (English) and Wallapa (Thai translation) will try to answer the question whether the commons movement is relevant for the present protest movement in Thailand and the region. They will reflect on their own experience with 20+ years project development in the context of the SEM network with Right Livelihood Award Laureate Ajarn Sulak as the binding inspirational guide for so many independent groups and initiatives. And they will place these experiences in an East – West perspective as persons born in two corners of the world which are so different. They will analyse lessons learned in historic context of 400 years friendship relations Siam – the Netherlands as well as the rise of “engaged Buddhism” as a new path co-creating “engaged spirituality”. From this perspective they will explain – inspired by various historic persons, including Madam Blavatsky, Mahatma Gandhi, Krishnamurti, Rudolf Steiner, Pridi Bamomyong, Dr. Ambedkar, and more recently Elinor Ostrom (the only female recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics) and Judge Weeramantry from Sri Lanka – why Earth Trusteeship is essential for the “commons movement”. Earth Trusteeship stands for: “all global citizens are equal trustees of the Earth”. A trustee is a person who carries out ownership responsibilities and rights for the benefit of others. The purpose of Earth Trusteeship is to safeguard the wellbeing of future generations and the integrity of Nature, including Nature Rights.

Hans and Wallapa are happy that they can speak from the recent experience of the unique “40 Years Right Livelihood Award” conference they co-organised at Chualongkorn University, February 2020. Two days later the first flash-mob of protesting students was held at the same location.