Stolon Mesh – Manifesto

Stolon Mesh – Manifesto:

  1. The Internet is a utility that should be shared and available for all to access.
  2. While this mesh begins as a stolon (a community mesh network) exists primarily online, we recognize that through the online we also connect to the land and the neighbourhoods across it. The project acknowledges that the area called Vancouver is within the unceded Indigenous territories belonging to the Musqueam, Skxwú7mesh-ulh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. We recognize that the colony of British Columbia was created through organized dispossession and colonial violence.
  3. Consider this network a collective space: uses of the network shall remain just, caring, and responsible of others.
  4. this mesh begins as a stolon (a community mesh network) stands behind and adheres to 221A’s Organizing Values and code of ethics.
  5. This project is dedicated to fostering and supporting just and caring principles as guided by The Canadian Anti-Hate Network which prohibits discrimination based on  race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. 
  6. The network’s goal is to respond to its community of users; it recognizes that the shape of a community constantly shifts and takes new forms.
  7. This is a network made up of individuals: users agree to not utilize the site for corporate, law enforcing, or other similar purposes. Still, it is not a punitive project. This is a community space that dissuades responses to conflict and harm that privilege the carceral. 
  8. By joining – this mesh begins as a stolon (a community mesh network) – you are agreeing to embody this manifesto as you use the network. 

Content generated as part of the Stolon Mesh project*, is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. You are free to: remix, adapt, and build upon these elements in a reasonable manner and for non-commercial purposes, as long as you credit this project and license any new creations that grow from this resource, under the same terms. 

This manifesto was inspired by other terms of service and agreements researched and designed by a number of others including: NYC Mesh, Mozilla’s Data Futures Lab, Detroit Digital Justice Coalition, and SFPC.

*the Stolon Mesh Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are not covered under this creative commons license. If you have questions about it and would like more info, please be in touch [hello@221a.ca]

Protocols:

  1. This network is free to use.
  2. Users are free to know the underlying infrastructure behind this mesh network.
  3. Being part of this network is a responsibility: the network is available to those who centre its manifesto and who are committed to enacting the network’s anti-hate and anti-discriminatory priorities. As a community, this network prioritizes mutual respect, trust, safety, and comfort with one another.
  4. This network serves as a conduit, providing access to other resources and content. Use of the network should centre the manifesto as external content is considered to connect with.
  5. This network is fluid, responsive, and reliant on a variety of conditions: the ability to connect and provide access to the internet is not always guaranteed.
  6. Following the network’s anti-hate priorities, as well as those prompted by NYC Mesh: those utilizing this network agree to use the network in good faith, and to: “not transmit contents that might jeopardize the well being of other participants or operation of the network itself, including, but not limited to illegal content, unsolicited communications, and malicious software.” (NYC Mesh)
  7. A key question at the heart of this network continues to be: what kind of space should this network take? Please centre this question as you participate across it.
  8. As the project develops, we hope that participants will connect new nodes to the network, extending in multiple directions and on to many others following these terms of service.
  9. While this network operates using standard protected access, users should remain aware of and vigilant about their own security when using this and any network. As with most online networks, operate under the assumption that your data is not 100% safe: here are some tips you can use to keep your data and information protected while using this network
  10. While this network strives to be responsible to participants, given the nature of the project, the network is ultimately not responsible for the actions of participants across it.