A free co-operative (Dublin)
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Monday February 12, 2007 01:12
by David Collins
A brief notice about a small web-based project which aims to facilitate free sharing of goods, and free provision of services.
Address: http://ie.uk.to/
Initially, this project would mainly be focused on 'shareable' goods - allowing users to both offer and request items. When offering goods, users can specify how long they are willing to lend them for, request a monetary deposit as security (in case goods aren't returned, or are damaged), request a proof of address from borrowers, and - in case one ends up lending items regularly - request donations to help recover the initial cost of goods.
Although an option to ask for donations is provided, the idea behind the project is really to enable people to share goods without the need for money. The project - if it goes ahead - would hopefully be an experiment in moneyless economics.
An option to request help / services is also provided.
For more information on the project, read here: http://ie.uk.to/motivation
Comments (1 of 1)
Jump To Comment: 1The FreeCycle org network which has spread very quickly in the last few years does something similar and is a mailing list network used for giving away free stuff -basically what you no longer need. If you go to the website home page at: http://www.freecycle.org/ you will get the blurb of what it is about exactly and when and why it was setup.
The free-cycle groups are region specific and already in Ireland 18 regional groups in Ireland, with the Dublin one with 4000+ members.
For the list in Ireland (and other countries) see the link below.
Obviously this lending network is another form of sharing stuff and is a great idea and complementary to the FreeCycle network. The money deposit is probably central to making it working and ensuring people don't just make off with the stuff without ever giving it back. If people can think up more variations of the theme then it is like to fill more roles in daily life in terms of access to things.
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