Resources

About the Atlas of Utopias 2019

“Utopia lies at the horizon. When I draw nearer by two steps, it retreats two steps. If I proceed ten steps forward, it swiftly slips ten steps ahead. No matter how far I go, I can never reach it. What, then, is the purpose of utopia? It is to cause us to advance.” – Eduardo Galeano

The Atlas of Utopias is a global gallery of inspiring community-led transformation in water, energy, food systems and housing.

The atlas features 33 communities from 24 countries, who responded to the Transformative Cities initiative which seeks to learn from cities and the mosaic of collectives living in them  working on radical solutions to ensure access to water, food, energy and housing. This basic human rights are now jeopardized as a consequence of our world’s the ongoing climate crisis and our increasingly dysfunctional political andsystemiceconomicstructures driven by states, international institutions and transnational corporations., social and ecological crises.

The atlas is by no means a comprehensive mapping of transformative practices. Transformation in one area such as water management does not necessarily mean transformative practice elsewhere in the city. Nevertheless, the atlas showcases inspiring stories of communities challenging entrenched power and boldly developing alternatives. These range from small villages grassroots movements in Zimbabwe and Palestina Kenya to international cities like Parisor Barcelona  that haveeven defeated multinational corporations and hostile national governments in order to deliver democratic, people-powered solutions for access to basic human rights: water, food, energy, and housing.

The cases show how public solutions, based on principles of cooperation and solidarityrather than competition and private profit, have been more successful in meeting people’s basic needs-–and, perhaps just as importantly, in creating a spirit of confidence and empowerment that strengthen communities for many other challenges.

These initiatives demonstrate in practice that another world is possible, and is already happening. The Transformative Cities initiative is learning from and with the communities to explore what has been most transformative in terms of power relations and social and ecological justice and the lessons from their experience.

Do you want to be part of this collective effort? Are you missing Utopian practices that should be known more about? Do you have comments about the composition of this Atlas? Do contact us.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND SOLIDARITY TARIFFS IN REMUNICIPALIZED WATER UTILITY

GRENOBLE, FRANCE

This Alpine city reversed water privatisation, pioneered new forms of public participation and inspired a wave of cities across France to bring water back under public control. The city has saved users €20 million between 2000 and 2008 and advanced the right to water by ensuring no households pay more than 2.5% of their annual income on water services.

Summary | Full article

ENERGY TRANSITION BUILT ON DEMOCRACY, RENEWABLES AND JOBS

CÁDIZ, SPAIN

This coalition of citizen campaigners took over municipal government and initiated an energy revolution, based on 100% renewable energy, job creation and ending energy poverty. These activities are funded by profits derived from the largest private-public electric company in the country, and are informed by two public working groups bringing together specialists, environmental organisations, individuals, workers  and coop members.

Summary | Full article

DISPOSSESSED COMMUNITY FINANCES AND BUILDS AFFORDABLE HOMES

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

After 36,000 people lost their homes due to expansion of Tanzania’s Dar Es Salaam port, this community mobilised, securing 30 acres of land for resettlement and collecting about US$ 24,000 from its 300 members. The housing project has also improved access to water and sanitation and helped community members learn construction skills and participate in building their homes.

Summary | Full article

SUPPORTING FARMERS WITH CLEAN ENERGY

PORT LOUIS, MAURITIUS

This campaign is not only challenging Mauritius’ privately owned, non-renewable energy sector but putting forward a solar-powered, cooperative alternative, through which struggling farmers could generate energy to produce food in greenhouses.  Their actions have thwarted plans for a new coal plant, improved government transparency, and acquired land to produce solar power when they get the go-ahead.

Summary | Full article

CITIZENS’ MOVEMENT-ORGANIZATION WINS THE CITY

BARCELONA, SPAIN

This citizen’s platform emerged from movements that included those fighting house repossession. It won elections in 2014 and has advanced a progressive platform underpinned by a dynamic model of citizen engagement. On housing, it has limited licences for tourist apartments, fined owners of multiple properties who leave them empty and authorised municipal land in the city centre to be used by housing cooperatives.

Summary | Full article

WOMEN WORKERS ASSOCIATION BUILDS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES

SOLAPUR, INDIA

Led by women beedi (cigarette) workers, this movement formed cooperative housing societies, purchased land, mobilised to win government funding and has so far built 11600 homes. It plans to build a further 30,000 more homes for beedi workers, textile workers and other unorganised sector workers which will include infrastructure and services such as schools, a college, hospital, market, places of worship, roads, water and electricity.

Summary | Full article

TRANSFORMING AN OIL COMPANY TOWN INTO A PROGRESSIVE HUB

RICHMOND, UNITED STATES

This community mobilisation took over local government in an oil company town, extracting higher taxes from Chevron, raising the minimum wage, bringing in rent control measures and reducing local crime through community policing. The Richmond Progressive Alliance, the coalition of community groups that led the struggle have secured a super-majority on council and created a model for municipal action.

Summary | Full article

COMMUNITY-LED RESPONSE TO WATER POLLUTION CRISIS

COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA

This indigenous community defied municipal political authorities and developed its own system for treating wastewater and preventing contamination to its local river. San Pedro Magisterio on the outskirts of Cochabamba in Bolivia built their own water treatment plant, improved environmental awareness in schools and showed the power of participatory community planning in building public services and developing community confidence.

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CHALLENGING AND PROPOSING ALTERNATIVES TO PRIVATIZATION

LAGOS, NIGERIA

This water rights campaign in Africa’s largest city succeeded in stopping privatisation and when challenged by authorities developed an alternative roadmap for the city’s water systems. The Lagos campaign is the first major national campaign against privatisation in Nigeria campaign and has resulted in US$185 million in government funds allocated to ensuring clean water for Lagos’ people.

Summary | Full article

Please confirm your selections:

WATER:
Lagos, Nigeria: Challenging and proposing alternatives to privatization

ENERGY:
Port Louis, Mauritius: Supporting farmers with clean energy

HOUSING:
NOT SELECTED: Please go back and cast a vote for housing