I want to live in an environment where sharing and co-operation are preferred to competition and hierarchy. Where all can express freely and have a true access to the food and shelter they need.

I propose a general direction for a Community life project. Such a project could be set up in a very large house or a building with several apartments.

General principles

Ecology
I believe that the human is part of nature and that its presence must be harmonized there by reducing the impact of its actions, particularly for those who consume more. We could reduce our consumption and always evaluate our decisions according to its impact on the environment.

Self-management
I believe in a greater autonomy of the people and groups. I believe that it is of primary importance for the organizations and the individuals to manage themselves their orientation, their life and their authority.

Transparency
I believe that the groups must show transparency towards their members but also towards the others. No group evolves alone and all our actions have consequences. Thus, it is of high importance that the public can follow the actions and decisions of the various groups which compose society.

Self-sufficiency
I believe that our group must be self-sufficient and not depend exclusively on one important customer or on the state. Ideally, we will seek to diversify our sources of income and will invest in partnerships to develop sustainable and functional links of service.

Solidarity
I believe that that we are interdependent with other groups, organizations or individuals and that we should supports the initiatives of citizens. I also believe that a group is created from support and mutual respect of its members. Finally, I believe that sacrifices could be made so that the group does not wound humans and nature as a whole.

Equity and equality
I believe that all should have the same chance not only with the starting line, but also during the race. We could seek to eliminate the disparities between the individuals and to compensate for those which are impossible to eliminate.

Participative economy
I believe that the rotation of the tasks, the distribution of the set of the tasks, the variable modes of decisions and the participation of the workers in the definition of the work environment are important for a good integration of the members.

Social change
I believe it is important that the group shares its values and principles with the other communities and the society in general.

Communal Practices

Principles rise from common life practices. It is important that the members of the group feel at ease in this environment. Discussions could allow to modify or adapt these practices according to the needs and values for the group.

Working hours are equivalent
We grant the same value to the time spent by individuals, the value granted by the current system does not matter.

Shared food
We share all the food of the house and cook common meals regularly. These meetings are an occasion to discuss and to better know each other.

Local and environmental purchase
We try, as far as possible, to get organic food of local source. We attach a great importance to the impact which our consumption has on the environment and try to minimize or eliminate this impact in the purchase of material, use of vehicles and other decisions.

Celebration of the Community Life
The birthdays, the special occasions, the holidays, the rain and the good weather are excellent reasons to share good food, pleasure and our presence. We accomodate friends regularly, family and members of the community to share a meal, a festival or simply for fun.

Social Project
The house is more than one space where one eats, sleeps and lives. It is a social project is which aims to extend. We thus devote a significant share of our collective investment in the creation of a fund aiming at financing other similar projects.

Note: This text is based on Commeunecoop, written by The Anarkat