Current Revision for Activation Date:  1.3 August 2024 

Prepared by::  Kara Stonehouse, Felipe Leall, Silvana Raveane, Stephen Gomes, Melina Angel.

Harvested and inspired by:  years of conversations, prototypes, diverse streams of work including Ancestral Councils, Rainbow Family, The Hague Center for Global Governance Innovation and Emergence, Global EcoVillage Network, Hypha, SEEDS, (Dragon Dreaming, Sociocracy, Holacracy, CNV and other diverse dynamic governances and methodologies of participation.  

This proposal has been prepared by the GAIA HUB DAO core team as a guide for establishing an initial structure for the  Governance of GAIA Commons Hub / DHE (Distributed Holonic Ecosystem)  and the Voting procedure for GAIA community decision-making. 

Definition of Governance

“Governance determines who has power, who makes decisions, how other players make their voice heard and how account is rendered.”
Institute of Governance, Ottawa Canada 

“The only legitimate purpose of governance is to protect and cultivate the health and vitality of the planet and all its inhabitants for generations to come.”
Eco Governance by Dr. Shelley Ostroff

Definition of Catalyst Phase

The Catalyst phase of governance means implementing official governance processes for the first 6-12 months starting in 2024, for the first approximately 72 to 144 people.

In this phase, we are not using DAO software but preparing by using principles and tools of distributed and dynamic governances.

We are using Coda and other project management software to keep fluid, transparent, secure and user friendly collaborative records and prototype our processes.

A global ecosystem network with distributed organizations which stewards large areas of land, and supports regenerative projects and businesses using holonic governance practices.

Gaia Union:

The Vision of a Planetarian Family that achieves the Union of Diversity in Harmony… emerging as a synchronized conscious movement for the benefit of all Beings and the awakening of Gaia`s maximum potential.  There is no organization or brand for Gaia Union, we sense it emerging organically in time, from the whole global movement of movements.

Gaia Hub:

Gaia Hub is a network of networks who are aligned on the overall vision and movement of conscious regeneration and thriving.  Its purpose is to be a neutral co-creative space where organizations and networks synergize and share resources.  Gaia Hub provides spaces, events and tools to foster greater coherence and strategic collaboration for impactful global transformation.

Gaia Commons

Gaia commons is a membership eco-system of conscious individuals who are aligned and committed in their pursuit of a well nourished planet.  Members commit to contribute social and financial capital to the Shared Basket of Abundance for the good of the whole and the future generations. Members receive an abundance of benefits such as meaningful experiences, funding, work and exchange opportunities, community belonging and deep connection, discounted prices on regenerative goods and services, and social benefits including holistic education and alternative health services and retirement care. 

Project areas include:  Housing and Infrastructure, Agriculture, Education, Technology, Holistic Health, Ecotourism, Businesses & Experiences in general.  All these goods and assets are stewarded by the Commons using a holonic, distributed and dynamic governance, economic and communication system, for more efficient connection, collaboration and coordination (CO3). 

Legally,  we use a mixture of entities in several countries to achieve our goals including legal DAOs in jurisdictions which recognize them,  a charitable foundation in Switzerland (existing), a non-profit in Colombia (existing) and tribal Church in USA (Strategic Partnering) and a network of for-profit B Corp businesses and co-ops (not yet established). This mix will continue to evolve functionally.

Gaia Network

Everyone inside the previous levels of Gaia  plus anyone who would like to join the open directory of conscious initiatives and/or who are on the mailing list and join events.

Oneness And Love Consciousness

Above all circumstances, what is important is the Awakening of Consciousness.  Compassionate honesty is important.  All conflicts can be resolved with well held communication processes.

Distributed Power With Meritocracy

Embodying a better world means learning how to share power and activate collective wisdom. Roles assignments are validated by knowledgeable stewards with appropriate training and ethical standards upheld.

Positive Expectation

Without burdening ourselves with unnecessary expectations, Our duty from governance is to capture any implicit expectations in self and others, catalyze them if they are in service of the purpose or reject them if they aren’t.

Role Awareness

The duty to argue every action, decision and vote of one of your roles or missions at the request of another member.

Transparency

The duty to transparently share all work in which you are involved and, if requested, provide reasonable estimates of when results can be expected.

Resolution

A Tension is a gap between Reality and what is perceived as reality. Each Gaia Member is committed to process all felt Tensions in the corresponding.

To connect global and local (“gLocal”) projects, people, networks and organizations who are innovating and implementing integral solutions and regenerative systems. 

We offer a governance framework & suite of practical tools for efficient and effective coordination, collaboration, communication (CO3) to ground, strengthen and evolve a gLocal Commons Holonic and Distributed Ecosystem.  (Implementing New ReGenerative Systems) In short, Love Organized. More specifically:

Strengthen networks of conscious leaders and indigenous elders

To lead this cultural transformation towards a society of wisdom, with global, long term perspective, integrity, accountability and unity of humanity as core principles.

Develop and practice the governance processes

And economic tools, and models to aid humanity to navigate the transition from extractive growth to sustainable and regenerative thriving.

Develop and implement a global investment policy

For Gaia Commons (Hub/Org), including determining capital allocations to the Investment Organizations.

Provide a legal and financial framework

To the g-Local Investment Organizations to steward and manage their resources and the processes in general.

Distribute funding to the non-profit organizations

That support Local Organisations (BioHubs / BioRegional Learning Centers and/or Community Resource Centers), whose rights are protected by smart contracts (NFTs).

Distribute returns

To regenerative investors who hold investments.

Monitor and manage

The Organization’s portfolio of investments and donations.

Provide tax exemption certificates

Provide tax exemption certificates in the cases that it applies.

Gaia Commons serves the following functions:

Gaia Hub facilitates coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders, including bio-regional organisations, non-profit entities, communities, projects, funders and investors. We strive to create synergies and foster partnerships that amplify the collective impact of regenerative initiatives.

Gaia Hub facilitates coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders, including bio-regional organisations, non-profit entities, communities, projects, funders and investors. We strive to create synergies and foster partnerships that amplify the collective impact of regenerative initiatives.

Gaia Hub provides governance and oversight to ensure the effective and responsible management of resources. We establish policies, guidelines, and frameworks that guide decision-making, accountability, and transparency. Through our governance structure, we foster democratic processes and promote the active participation of stakeholders in shaping the direction of our initiatives.

Gaia Hub serves as a knowledge hub, facilitating the sharing of best practices, research, and innovations related to regenerative practices. We provide educational resources, training programs, and capacity-building initiatives to empower organizations, projects and communities with the knowledge and skills needed to implement regenerative solutions and be more resilient.

Gaia Hub advocates for policies and practices that support regenerative principles at local, regional, and global levels. We raise awareness about the importance of ecological balance, social equity, and economic vitality, promoting a shift towards regenerative thinking and action. Through strategic communication and advocacy campaigns, we engage with stakeholders and the wider public to drive positive change.

We envision humanity thriving in societies where local communities feel deeply connected with each other and steward their land as a sacred place.  People are wealthy in joy, love and fulfillment. The basic needs and human rights of ALL are met as first priority before other luxuries and privileges can be enjoyed. Governance is wise, distributed to the most local levels possible.  Leadership is radically transparent and firmly accountable to the commons.   Indigenous and Post-Modern/ Integral thought leaders and deep wisdom keepers work together for wise governance.

Economic models are used to produce wealth by regenerating and stewarding eco-systems, community wellbeing and higher principles like harmony, enlightenment and joy.  People benefit the most when they serve the community to the best of their ability. Bio-regions organize for larger scale projects like developing sustainable transportation networks and regenerative agriculture strategies. Global governance bodies focus on education and training for this type of governance, robust processes for deeply compassionate justice, peace between regions and cultures, and healing intergenerational wounds from past wars and conquests.

Selfish and violent actors are neutralized by being removed from decision making roles quickly. They are supported with swift, compassionate justice and healing work, for as long as it takes to become productive members of society again.  Aggression and Warrior leader energy is treated with respect and managed to be channeled into productive work or well facilitated tribal activities. Technology aids us to solve complex problems and scale out best regenerative practices, create closed loop production and distribute resources and wealth equitably. Education focuses on the whole person developing to be a responsible and caring global citizen who fulfills their potential and serves the good of the whole.  

Gaia Union has coordinated funding and collaborative processes to empower conscious and regenerative pioneers.  With this support we have collectively set up the economic and governance tools to empower people to conserve land, offer regenerative products and services and live sustainable lifestyles. The end goal is everyone in the network can meet their basic needs for life and fulfill their higher purpose. This economy of abundance is regenerating community, restoring ecological health, generating sustainable wealth, and inspiring all of humanity to make this shift. 

Bio-Regional  learning centers support regenerative farming in rural areas and connect their goods to customers to cities.

Facilitators like Joe Brewer in Barichara assist communities to have the dialogues and create the projects they need to thrive as bio-regions. Beautiful retreat spaces and eco-villages are thriving with ecotourism businesses supported by a global marketing effort. 

Digital currencies backed by regenerative land, products and services enable a sustainable flow of wealth aligned with the needs of ecosystems.

On-line marketplaces such as LocalScale for trading regenerative currencies, products and services are fully functioning so people can buy real goods with the currency they earn contributing to the regenerative Gaian system.  Large partners such as Wholefoods, Patagonia and local aligned businesses will accept the currency with a gift card program. A learning and earning platform offers people a way to onboard into the new system and make it a career choice. Profitable businesses like green rentals, retirement facilities, tourism, tech companies are set up to multiply the abundance and re-invest into the Gaia Commons EcoSystem.

The ‘Spirit of Gaia Commons’ has the most powerful position in the center of the organization.  This refers to a spiritual consciousness of the collective with which we are able to communicate and receive guidance.  We use collective deep listening processes to help the team make strategic directional decisions using this guidance.  

People with demonstrated experience and maturity will be awarded ‘Steward’ Badges to fulfill leadership roles. Stewards have the authority to make high level decisions in their domain of expertise. A ‘certificate of trust’ process will be used for validation.

Vision Stewards have held the larger vision aligned with Gaia Commons for at least a decade, are skilled at connecting with spirit and listening to the needs of the members. They hold the vision and assist Gaia members to do deep listening practices. Vision keepers have the authority to amend the constitution in consultation with the Constitution Stewards.

The Gaia Constitution, Gaia Commons Governance document, and the Operations Guides are our set of official Collective Agreements (Gaia ZeWa).  They guide our vision and daily distributed decision making processes.  If there is an issue, confusion or proposal to change the core documents, the active Constitutional Steward Badge holders will be consulted.  In case of continued dispute, issues may be escalated to the Vision Keeper Stewards for resolution.

Focalizers are leaders who are fully aligned with the vision and have a whole-organization view. They are approved by 3 vision keepers. They have authority to coordinate the Core Operations Sphere, which includes three holons, Strategy and Direction, Legal and Admin and Internal Communications and Human Processes.

Holons are teams working on certain domains. Holons have the power to decide who takes what roles inside their holón, hire and fire members, and decide how to achieve their objectives and propose their budgets.

Spheres are several Holons whose domain, purpose or mission is connected and decisions may affect each other closely, and are gathered into a Sphere. Operative Spheres share a similar color in the organizational illustrations.

When two holons are not sure how to make decisions and resolve tensions, they can meet with the next (“highest”) level holon to explore needs and create proposals for action. If the path is still not clear, the issue is escalated to the next level holón or sphe

Contributing to the community over time might earn you up to 10 times more decision making authority (Voice) in each specific domain. (details described in Voice section below)

If someone has an objection to the proposal, they are responsible to come up with a reasonable counter-proposal to test their assumptions and concerns, by a certain date defined by the meeting facilitator, or their objection will be noted, and the proposal approved. If consent is not reached by a  predetermined dateline, then the process will be resolved by voting. The percentage of agreement required is determined by the Focalizers / Stewards of the holón or sphere. 

The default criteria is that a minimum of 33% quorum is present for the scope of the decision and if a proposal goes to vote, 66% alignment is a pass. If an issue has an urgent deadline requiring action and the 66% does not pass, a revised proposal will be voted on with a simple majority.

Vision Stewards Council

Have the authority to amend the constitution in consultation with the Constitutional Stewards.

Core Focalizers

Have the authority to change the Governance documents and Operations Guide with the Vision Keepers approval only or vice versa.

Can change the Operations Guide sections relevant to their domain in consultation with the Core Focalizers.

Proposes their budget and decides how to divide their budget among its holons. Holons have the authority to determine how to meet their objectives and spend their allocated budgets.

Collects the budget proposals and proposes the final budget allocations for each Sphere.

Facilitate the process of aligning objectives and budgets among the spheres and resolving tensions between spheres. 

 Revise their proposal and approve or deny it.

Will be a large membership community of people participating within the agency and in diverse projects, communities or organizations in general working on planetary transformation, cooperative productive systems and/or enterprises willing to share part of their profits with the Gaia Commons Community.

Budgets and major funding decisions will be transparent and published on digital platforms and in a staging process. Proposals can be discussed over a determined time frame, usually one to four weeks, and concerns addressed before final approval or vote. The sphere or holon stewards set the minimum quorum, pass rate and timeframe for the vote based on the content, importance and urgency of the decision.

Can read and comment digitally on proposals on the online platform, only Gaia Commons members can vote on their respective Holons and/or Spheres. Members can earn a voice in decision making meetings by being recognized as contributing to the community in meaningful ways or by their verified expertise.

Will consult with content experts and with community members in Telegram, Nestr and/or Discord threads or focus groups as is felt appropriate. AI tools will help members make inquiries and get answers or clarify confusions. Holons will inform the community members through Newsletters and regular community connection calls.

Will be making important relational and financial decisions and holding complex roles. Transparent budgets and results will be accessible on the online operations tools (DAO tooling ) currently Coda).

To high ethical and performance standards by their holon, the relevant stewards, focalizers and the community as a whole.

Each holon will have charts for budgets, objectives and indicators. Each Holon is accountable for its results towards those indicators as a whole and will be rewarded collectively for achieving outcomes. Holons not achieving their objectives will be supported by the Core Focalizers to make any required changes and creatively find solutions to achieve or modify the objectives. 

Will be supported within their holon to find solutions. Holón and/or Core Focalizers may support this process and tension resolution, team members or other Stewards may be invited as needed if issues are not resolved in a timely manner within the holon.

Each person contributes their individual capacities according to their life conditions, so that the harmonic collaboration and the coherence of our actions and work contribute to the achievement of common objectives.

The higher purpose acts as a catalyst that drives and guides the actions and decisions of the group. It serves as a moral compass and unifier of efforts providing a solid foundation for collaboration, teamwork and sustained commitment. This shared consciousness fosters self-management, where individuals have the ability to make decisions and resolve internal issues with autonomy and responsibility. People are empowered and given the opportunity to take responsibility and leadership for the common purpose.