MercatorNet: Alternatives to Facebook. A religion of listening. A tattooed lady. | MercatorNet

I remember reading years ago about the Mondragon co-operatives of the Basque region of northern Spain, and thinking what a great idea it was. Not having given them much thought since, I was intrigued to read Karl Stephan's reference to them in discussing alternatives to the global giant -- a virtual state -- that Facebook has become.

Dr Stephan, an electrical engineer, eschews Facebook (his wife does not, and tells him everything he needs to know about it) but belongs to a neighbourhood messaging network which he finds very useful. Taking up an idea from The New Atlantis, he says there is no fundamental barrier to making a Mondragon co-operative Facebook-like entity -- for a smaller network of people. It sounds like something worth exploring, at least for more personal sharing.

Carolyn Moynihan
Deputy Editor,
MERCATORNET

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