“Mt Oak was established at the 2nd ConFest in 1977 as a new type of collective community challenging the very notion of land ownership, and as a proving ground for pioneering dry-land self-sufficiency techniques such as permaculture, alternative energy and the keyline system.”
Link to their official website.
Link to the Ultraculture website about MOVE and to the extraordinary documentary film, ‘Let the Fire Burn’ which shows footage about the ‘back to the land’ Black commune led by John Africa in West Philadelphia, USA, which ended in the government backed police onslaught in 1985 in which eleven died, including five children, and 61 houses were destroyed.
John Africa, “All living beings, things that move, are equally important, whether they are human beings, dogs, birds, fish, trees, ants, weeds, rivers, wind or rain. To stay healthy and strong, life must have clean air, clear water and pure food. If deprived of these things, life will cycle to the next level, or as the system says, ‘die’.” The MOVE family may be splintered but their vision of the land, forests, rivers and all wild things flourishing stays “Ona Move.”
Controversial, and a largely forgotten chapter in urban commune history.
Danish intentional community. On this link you can find out a bit about life there and view some video clips. They say that: “Our small community is made up of three dimensions:
Community and Democracy
Ecology and Sustainability;
Cohesion”
The Australian first peoples of the Murrawarri (also spelled as Muruwari) declared their own republic in 2013. They informed the British Crown and the Australian State and organized elections with a provisional People's Council presiding. They still use the Australian Dollar as a currency, but declared that "they have maintained a physical, spiritual and cultural connection to their Ancient Lands, Subsurface, Natural Resources, Waters and Airspace and did not cede their Sovereignty Dominion and Ultimate Title through any process of treaty nor through any act of war declared on the Murrawarri Nation and its Peoples by the British Crown, Government or their servants."
Influential Libertarian American anarchist who wrote and spoke eloquently about the ecology, consumption, technology, the future of society(ies) and more. ‘Crisis in our Cities’ was one of his influential books on environmentalism. And ‘Remaking Society’ is possibly his most relevant today. Latterly, he broke with anarchism in favour of communalism. He died in 2006.
Links to a hub site about his work and writings. And a video of Murray talking about his life and beliefs.
Based in the USA, this is a hub site with lots of video links and information/resources.
“The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space promotes and archives the work of community activists and artists in the squatting movement, which successfully reclaimed and repurposed derelict housing stock, and affirming those practices as an alternative sustainable strategy for social and community development.”
Located in New South Wales, Australia this ecovillage is a relatively new development having first been occupied in 2013 after a longish planning phase. There are 55 families there now. They say:
“We will research, design and build a stylish, inter-generational, friendly demonstration Ecovillage at Narara, blending the principles of eco and social sustainability, good health, business, caring and other options that may evolve for our wellbeing. “
Link to their official site and a short video about their Ecoburbia Festival.
N.A.R.: Netwerk Alternatieve Reizigers. Some historical info about the NAR festivals/green gatherings and travels, provided by Antwan Van de Kerkhof. And a link to their main site.
From 1816-1919 one of the first mini-nation states existed. The website tells some of its history, stating that: “It had the form of a wedge of cake and was situated south of the present Three-country-point near Vaals. It was rightly called a mini state, as it measured only 344 hectares and had a circumference of 11 km. Originally, there were only 256 inhabitants.
However, for the longest period of its existence it formed a Four-country-point together with Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.”
Link to Teara online encyclopedia, which provides a short history of NZ intentional communities, with some references to similar communities in other countries. Maoris traditionally lived communally. 1960s/70s communities included Wilderland and Karuna Falls.
Second link to the Christchurch City Library resources which suggest that there are between 50 and 100 intentional communities in NZ.