Shareable and Liveable

The Sharing City Seoul Project – a detailed description

This is a bit old, but I realised we never posted it here before.

The Sharing City Seoul Project – a Sharing City Paradigm

The “Sharing City, Seoul” project, includes 20 programs and policies for generating or diffusing “sharing city” infrastructure.

“The basic policy directions of “Seoul as a Sharing City” are set to promote or support civilian or private sector sharing programs by providing infrastructure for a sharing city, with the private sector playing the essential roles of exploring and implementing shared domains”

Seoul is not the only city declaring itself “sharing city”, but its local government is one of the few that has a full program and a clear strategy.

From the link above:

Seoul Metropolitan Government Act for Promoting Sharing

Article 1 (Purposes)
This Act seeks to stipulate the necessary matters to ensure the maximum utilization of resources, restore communities, and revive the regional economy by promoting sharing.

Article 2 (Definition)
The terms used in this Act shall be defined as follows:
1. “Sharing” shall mean the shared use of space, objects, or information to enhance their social, economic, or environmental values and to enhance the citizens’ benefits or conveniences.
2. “Sharing NPOs” shall mean non-profit organizations that have been designated pursuant to Article 8 to contribute to the resolution of social issues through sharing, including those related to the economy, welfare, culture, environment, and transportation.
3. “Sharing Corporations” shall mean corporations that have been designated pursuant to Article 8 to contribute to the resolution of social issues through sharing, including those related to the economy, welfare, culture, environment, and transportation.

Article 3 (Duties of the Mayor)
① The mayor shall strive to engage the public resources of Seoul Metropolitan City (“the city”) and its invested or funded agencies.
② The mayor shall provide the necessary support to promote the sharing of private resources belonging to the citizens and businesses.

Article 4 (Participation by Citizens, Etc.)
Citizens and businesses shall actively participate in the promotion of sharing by taking the initiative in the exploration or practice of sharing domains.

Article 5 (Policies for Promoting Sharing)
The mayor shall actively implement the relevant policies for promoting sharing, including the following:
1. Support for the exploration or practice of sharing domains
2. Development of and support for sharing NPOs and Corporations.
3. Spreading perception of promote sharing
4. Improvement of statutes or institutions for promoting sharing
5. Cooperation among sharing-related NPOs, Corporations, or institutions at home and abroad
6. Other matters deemed necessary to promote sharing

Article 6 (Relationship with Other Statutes or Acts)
This Act shall be followed unless specifically provided for otherwise in connection with the promotion of sharing under other statutes or ordinances.

Article 7 (Cooperation with Autonomous Districts)
The mayor shall support the policies implemented by autonomous district offices to promote sharing and implement policies for promoting sharing in active cooperation with them.

Article 8 (Designation of Sharing NPOs and Corporations)
1 The mayor may designate as sharing NPOs or sharing Corporations any NPO, corporation wishing to resolve social issues through sharing among non-profit, non-government organizations under the Act on Support for Non-Profit, Non-Government Organizations, non-profit corporations under the Civil Act, and small and medium businesses under the Framework Act on Small and Medium Businesses or social businesses or provisional social businesses under the Seoul Metropolitan Government Act on the Development of Social Businesses.
② Sharing groups or businesses designated as in Clause① above shall actively strive to spread the sharing culture and enhance the benefits or conveniences of the citizens.
③ The Seoul Metropolitan Government rules shall determine specific details, including the scope of social issues, requirements for designating sharing groups or businesses, designation procedures, or cancellation of designation.

Article 9 (Subsidy and Other Support)
① The mayor may provide the sharing groups or businesses with subsidies based on the availability of funds or administrative support including those for improving institutions based on a review by the sharing promotion committee under Article 11.
② Subsidies shall not be provided for identical purposes to existing projects that have been given subsidies by the Seoul Metropolitan Government or autonomous district offices in the same fiscal period to avoid redundancy.
③ Sharing groups or businesses that are given subsidies pursuant to Clause ① above shall enter into an agreement with the Metropolitan Government on the provision of subsidies according to the city-provided procedure. They shall set up separate accounts for subsidies to control receipts and expenditures.
④ Sharing groups or businesses shall faithfully perform projects given subsidies according to the agreement under Clause ③ and shall refrain from using the subsidies for other purposes.
⑤ The mayor may revoke the designation of sharing groups or businesses in case of abuse or illegal or unfair use of subsidies.
⑥ Specific matters concerning reporting, reconciliation, inspection or supervision of subsidies, and sanctions against their abuse shall be governed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government ordinances on the administration of subsidy or provision of subsidies to social organizations.

Article 10 (Fund Support for Fostering Small and Medium Businesses)
① The mayor may support sharing businesses with the Fund for Fostering Small and Medium Businesses or credit guarantee.
② The mayor may allow sharing groups or businesses to use public facilities or offer discounted use rates as required for public benefit.
③ Specific matters concerning such support or discounts under Clauses ① and ② shall be governed by the relevant provisions of the city’s individual ordinances or rules.

Article 11 (Organization of the Sharing Promotion Committee)
① The Seoul Metropolitan Government Sharing Promotion Committee (“the committee”) shall be organized subordinate to the mayor for review of or consulting on sharing-related policies and matters concerning support to sharing groups or businesses.
② The committee shall consist of not more than 15 members, including 1 chairperson and 1 vice chairperson.
③ The chairperson shall be elected from among the appointed outside members, with a general director-level city official in charge of innovation serving as vice chairperson.
④ Ex-officio members shall be appointed from among general director-level city officials in charge of economy, welfare, transportation, and innovation, with outside members to be appointed or commissioned by the mayor among the following:
1. Two city assemblymen recommended by the Seoul Metropolitan Council chairperson
2. Those representing the academe and possessing experience in research related to sharing
3. Those who have experiences in services related to sharing at NGOs, non-profit corporations, small or medium businesses, or social businesses
4. Lawyers or certified accountants who have experiences in social activities related to sharing
5. 4th or higher-grade government employees who handle or who have handled sharing-related duties
6. Those deemed to have qualifications comparable to any of those specified in Items 2 ~ 5 above
⑤ The term of service of the ex-officio members shall be their term of service in their government post. The service term of the commissioned members shall be three years and may be renewed once. Note, however, that members appointed to fill vacancies shall serve the remaining term of their predecessors.
⑥ The director of Social Innovation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Government shall serve as secretary of the committee to handle its administrative matters.

Article 12 (Functions of the Committee)
The committee shall review or provide consulting on the following matters:
1. Review related to the designation or cancellation of sharing NPOs or Corporations
2. Review related to support to sharing NPOs or Corporations
3. Consulting related to the development or assessment of policies for promoting sharing
4. Consulting related to the improvement of statutes or institutions for promoting sharing
5. Consulting related to other matters deemed necessary by the mayor for promoting sharing

Article 13 (Meetings)
① The chairperson shall convene meetings of the committee and preside over the meetings.
② Committee meetings shall be convened under the following cases:
1. When requested by the mayor
2. When requested by one third or more of the outstanding members
3. When deemed necessary by the chairperson
③ Committee meetings shall be held with attendance by majority of the outstanding members, and resolutions shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of majority of the attending members.
④ Members who have conflicting interests or those who discover conflicting interests with any of the agenda items for review or consulting shall not participate in the review or consulting.
⑤ The committee may listen to the opinions of government officials or experts or request them to submit the necessary information concerning its meeting agenda items.

Article 14 (Allowance or Travel Expenses)
The committee may pay allowance or shoulder the travel expenses of its members based on the availability of budget funds as provided for under the Seoul Metropolitan Government Act on the payment of committee member allowances or travel expenses.

Article 15 (Enforcement Rules)
Specific matters required for the enforcement of this Act shall be stipulated in the relevant rules.

Addendum
This Act shall take effect on the day of its promulgation.

Share To Save Cash In London

Available from https://londonist.com/2015/08/sharing-london

Photo by Gary Etchell in Londonist Flickr pool.

Sharing is big business. Airbnb, Uber and Zipcar are the big kids on the new block of the ‘sharing economy’ — allowing those with more space, time or stuff than they need to share with those who don’t. For a price. Which sounds more like ‘selling’ than ‘sharing’ to us. Thankfully, proper sharing is alive and well in London. From Freecycle to Time Banking, Londoners are using new technology to revive the old fashioned idea of give and take.

Trade without money

Yejide Adeoye is a jeweller and business systems consultant who trades in Echos, a time-based currency. Echo is the ‘economy of hours‘, a network of businesses, charities and individuals who trade in time, not money. Yejide earns one Echo for every hour that she works for people to improve their web security or mailing lists. “As a small business owner, Echo is a great way for me to test new ideas and services, and build my confidence,” says Yejide. She has spent her Echos on a photography course and is keen to book a massage from another network member.

Echo is expanding to include a business accelerator programme Echo++. “We are responding to demand for more structured, personalised support for startups in London,” explains Alex Gilbert from Echo++.

Budding entrepreneurs pay for the programme in Echos, which they earn by sharing their services in the Echo network. They test new ideas and get support for developing skills and business plans, all without cash.

Old school sharers will recognise the principles of Echo in Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS). LETS have been around since the 1980s, including several active groups across London. The London-wide LETS network connects people to exchange goods as well as service in their local area. Members trade with each other to learn a language, do someone’s mending, cook a meal and give away stuff they no longer need.

Time banking has been around for a while as a way to facilitate volunteering in local communities. London time banks are often based around local community organisations, and many are listed with Timebanking UK.

Give, take and lend stuff

Freecycle is another old favourite for London sharers. It’s a fairly simple website and list-serv to connect local people with stuff to give away to those who need it. Londoners have freecycled beds, baby gear, gardening equipment and plumbing supplies. It’s great for a clear out, and for getting the stuff you need to set up home or start a new project.

Photo by Norman Craig from Londonist Flickr pool.

Newer versions of Freecycle have appeared, which include feedback functions we know from eBay, Uber and other ‘peer-to-peer’ sites. Streetbank started in 2010 and allows members to lend things, announce community events and offer their time and skills, as well as the usual give aways.

Share the good life

London living isn’t always kind to those who dream of gardening or owning a dog. Conversely, busy London lifestyles can mean our pooches and petunias don’t always get the attention they deserve. Sharing land and dogs is the obvious answer.

Borrow My Doggy is a membership scheme that matches dog owners with dog borrowers. Landshare was kicked off by Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall to help more people grown their own food, on land that other people own but don’t use. Both have active communities in London, sharing simple pleasures without attaching a price tag.

The New Economy: Does Sharing Mean Caring? on BBC Radio 4

There is a new series on the sharing economy coming up next week on BBC Radio 4.

Full schedule here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b064nxjm/episodes/guide

Juliet Schor: The sharing economy: hyper-capitalism or a sustainable alternative?

This is an interview to Juliet Schor, the keynote speaker who opened the 1st Sharing Economy Workshop on the Sharing Economy.

Martijn Arets does a great job at unpicking some of the issues that Juliet pointed out during her talk.

Follow Martijn @martijnarets and @crowdexpedition

and Juliet Schor @JulietSchor

Debating the sharing economy

Here is an excerpt from an article on the sharing economy by Juliet Schor:

“The “sharing economy” has attracted a great deal of attention in recent months. Platforms such as Airbnb and Uber are experiencing explosive growth, which, in turn, has led to regulatory and political battles. Boosters claim the new technologies will yield utopian outcomes—empowerment of ordinary people, efficiency, and even lower carbon footprints. Critics denounce them for being about economic self-interest rather than sharing, and for being predatory and exploitative. Not surprisingly, the reality is more complex. This essay, based on more than three years of study of both non-profit and for-profit initiatives in the “sharing economy,” discusses what’s new and not so new about the sector and how the claims of proponents and critics stack up. While the for-profit companies may be “acting badly,” these new technologies of peer-to-peer economic activity are potentially powerful tools for building a social movement centered on genuine practices of sharing and cooperation in the production and consumption of goods and services. But achieving that potential will require democratizing the ownership and governance of the platforms.”

The full article may be found here: http://www.greattransition.org/publication/debating-the-sharing-economy#sthash.Ho4Uy3Kc.dpuf

The “Sharing City” Thought Experiment

Trade without money

Give, take and lend stuff

Share the good life