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I've just received an invite to this conference that will bring together about 150 leading figures in commons-based studies and activism for a multidisciplinary, internationally focused conference. The event will explore the range of commons-based policy and social approaches that now exist and forge a new network of commoners who will collaborate on commons-based initiatives in the future. The gathering will also serve to incubate entirely new ideas and strategies that the participants will bring to the conference, including new communications strategies, prototype commons, funding models and research needs. And, last but not least: it is supposed to draw attention of the classical media and the blogosphere to the issue.

The idea was born in follow-up meetings to the Manifesto, which took place in France. Our discussions revealed the urgent need for more appropriation of both the commons concept and its strategic value, which will only be possible if we nurture collective reflection within social movements and organizations at different scales (from local initiatives focused on a certain issue to global and interdisciplinary networks). Many organizations announced their openness for cooperation and their willingness to contribute.

The vocabulary of the commons is expanding as more people realize the practical value of these ideas and actions. No longer simply a noun, the commons is now spoken about with verbs and adjectives.

Regarding the Manifesto, my main interest is in how we can turn it into one of the strange attractors for the self-organizing collective intelligence and collective consciousness of the global commons movement.