The aim of this group of pages (see end menu) is to help a growing number and diversity of people involved with CANs, find each other easily over time. The map and listings on this page are to help people find theme-based CANs, and support organisations or initiatives. A companion page, map and listing, South West England CAN is to help people find place-based CANs. A sub page of this one, South West England CAN support/video features related video.
Development of CAN support maps[edit | edit source]
Rather than a global map, a series of more localised maps is planned:
Scotland CAN support, South West England CAN support, Rest of UK CAN support, Europe CAN support, North America CAN support, Latin America CAN support, Africa, Asia and Oceania CAN support
Autonomy of CANs and self organising[edit | edit source]
The areas of these more localised maps is suggested by the current data. The current display is not intended to suggest any existing, planned or preferred network or networks of CANs. CANs have autonomy and may choose to self organise into networks based on areas of their own choosing, for example around bioregions. It is expected that the areas displayed by these more localised maps will evolve over time as more data becomes available.
CANs as a generic term[edit | edit source]
CAN is a generic term for new forms that are appearing everywhere. CANs have autonomy and their development can be described as fractal.
Reflecting what's out there[edit | edit source]
It's perhaps inevitable that any map such as this one, especially in the early stages of development, will be at best, an extremely partial view of the numbers, richness and diversity that's out there. For example just considering mutual aid alone, Mutual Aid Wiki currently (Sep 2022) lists 5781 mutual aid groups throughout the world.
It's well known that movements wax and wane and will be affected by events such as the global pandemic. The pandemic will have affected both what's out there and any attempts to reflect this in a complex variety of ways, sometimes opposite trends cancelling each other out for example. One of the more positive recent trends perhaps being the proliferation of intergenerational or multigenerational expressions of community agency. We're perhaps increasingly aware that we need to be in this for the long haul.
CAN support map[edit | edit source]
The map above is experimental and collaborative. Initially the data for the map comes from a small sample of Daily Alternatives articles mentioning CANs, and the Alternative Global Co-creators network. This is then be added to with similar information on organisations and initiatives identified via the ongoing development of CASwiki. It's hoped that over time we can develop the map through collaboration, people adding CANs (see below).
Add to the map[edit | edit source]
If you are a Co-creator with The Alternative Global's Co-creator Network you can use the form to add a theme-based CAN, or support organisation or initiative to the map. Otherwise please sign up first via the The Alternative Global website, via the 'Co-create' page.
- You can add a CAN and location to the map even if no website/link yet, for example if you're a co-creator looking to develop a CAN. You can include your name in the text box.
- The map is to help people find theme-based CANs or support organisations or initiatives. Please do not include place-based CANs. These can be included on a companion page: South West England CAN. Place-based CANs that are also support organisations can be included on both maps.
- Ideally the map will help people find active theme-based CANs and support organisations or initiatives. Apart from CANs in development this will normally mean signs of activity over the past 12 months. It is recognised that it is useful to also include some links to less recent initiatives for the purposes of reference, research or historical interest.
See also[edit | edit source]
Notes and References
- What is a CAN? Information from The Alternative UK, thealternative.org.uk
- Daily Alternative articles about building CANs, thealternative.org.uk/dailyalternative
