Back to index of Nerve 22 - Summer 2013

Liverpool’s Collaborative History

merseycollectives.wordpress.com

Nerve and First-Take are working together on a project about collaboration and mutual aid in Liverpool. The aim is to seek out alternatives to the prevailing competition-based economic system and to learn lessons from the past. Workers and housing co-operatives, friendly associations, mutual aid centres, trade unions, credit unions, LETS systems, and social centres are all examples of collaboration. We will look at what these ventures did, why they did it, what effect they had, what worked, what didn't work and how this has relevance for today.

Here some of the participants in the project give their views on what collaboration means to them.

(Image to the right - Poster advertising an exhibition on co-operatives held in 1986. Provided by Paul Cosgrove)

An Appeal by Sue H

As diverse movements are coming together
to oppose this cruel government,
in our natural differences over tactics
we sometimes hear some slagging off,
instead of kindness and respect.
Kindness, not softness or weakness:
We need to argue
About best ways to campaign,
but stay friendly in the process.
Having once been a member
of a left political group,
I have seen sectarian attitudes
and personal abuse
destroy good alliances.

In searching for Alternatives to Capitalism
there are many models,
all valid in their way.
It's not just what we struggle for,
but how we do it.
As Michael Franti said,
"Stay Human".
And keep our humour:
art and music are part of this.
So I'm with Incredible Edible Todmorden:
and the Anfield Bakery and Cairns Street crews:
treat one another with Kindness.

Thoughts on collaboration

When early humans roamed the Serengeti, on their own, they were ripped apart by the other animals. They overcame this by grouping together and using their collective strength and intelligence. Human society and culture is built on co-operation. Advancements in equality and social justice can only be achieved by collective action. But this is contrary to the free market philosophy of individualism, with its promotion of status and economic wealth, as being somehow the pinnacle of evolution.

Film footage of Liverpool's Collaborative History is on merseycollectives.wordpress.com

The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

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