Report from the Nordic Summer University

[luzula]

So I went to a conference this weekend; the purpose was to bring together people from the environmental movement and open source tech people. The title was "DIY In Anthropocene". I enjoyed it a lot; there were all sorts of interesting people from various backgrounds. For example:

- someone who'd written a book about eco-villages in Sweden
- a guy with a background in the Swedish Pirate Party who had gone to Silicon Valley and imbibed their values and now talked about how it was inevitable that humanity would expand into space and the Singularity would soon come
- a French woman who'd worked with guerilla gardeners doing fruit tree grafting
- a Norwegian anarchist who expounded on anarchism seen through the lens of progressive rock
- a Brazilian now living in Sweden who told us about a coop with a local currency in Catalonia
- a sociologist analyzing the 3D-printer open hardware movement.

Etc. I didn't have a presentation myself but I enjoyed the discussion and the clash of worldviews. : )

Comments

[isis]

That sounds like a wild time!

[luzula]

Subject-wise, yes! But socially I wouldn't describe it as wild--we were all pretty sedate except for a bit of beer-drinking.

[brigantine]

OMG I WANT TO JOIN THE PIRATE PARTY!! *cough* Sorry. I was momentarily overcome. ;)

[luzula]

I think you have one in the US although it's very small? Actually, the Icelandic Pirate Party is now the largest party on Iceland in the opinion polls...

[kabal42]

That sounds fun and diverse! Curious about the prog-rock anarchist myself, but that's probably the musicologist speaking :)

[luzula]

Well, his favorite band was one called Yes that I have never heard of. *knows very little about prog-rock* Among other things, he was talking about counterpoint melodies embodying anarchism because everyone is doing their own thing while contributing to overall harmony, compared to ordinary harmonies where the harmonies are just supporting the melody.

But he went on to speak of social issues as well, it wasn't all music. : )

[jesse_the_k]

That sounds highly stimulating (in a good if not erotic fashion).

Did you learn any new songs?

Best boots in house?

How was the food?

[luzula]

Mentally and socially (if not erotically) stimulating, yes!

I learnt no new songs, although I'm still planning to check out the anarchist guy's favorite prog-rock band. Best boots were definitely mine, partly because I think I was the only one wearing boots, and because mine are good boots.

The food was delicious! Yum. We were at some small hotel/restaurant using local ingredients and bread from a local bakery. Partly paid for by the Nordic taxpayers (the whole Nordic Summer University is some sort of Nordic cooperation thing).

[riverlight]

Oh, how fascinating! That sounds like such fun. The whole create-your-own-community is so fascinating to me.

[luzula]

Yes, it was fascinating! I like seeing what different things people put into that concept.

[lyr]

That sounds like a pretty fascinating conference!

[luzula]

It was! The atmosphere was good, too, with lots of open discussion.