June 8, 2010
Local currencies aid resilience
For some, the idea of a local currency is no more than a fun way to reinforce the ‘shop local’ message. But others see it as having much greater significance. Richard Douthwaite, the economist and writer, puts it this way. “If people living in an area cannot trade among themselves without using money issued by outsiders, their local economy will always be at the mercy of events elsewhere. The first step for any community aiming to become more self-reliant is therefore to establish its own currency system”. Want to learn how to do it?
Local currencies aid resilience
As you know, the way that money works today is one of the great invisible drivers of our rapacious earth- and community-devouring economy. So much so that Richard Douthwaite has said:
“If people living in an area cannot trade among themselves without using money issued by outsiders, their local economy will always be at the mercy of events elsewhere. The first step is for any community aiming to become more self-reliant is therefore to establish its own currency system”.
It is with this very much in mind that we have created a 5-day course in community currency design called On The Money that runs from August 14 – 18 here in the Findhorn ecovillage – please visit www.findhorncollege.com/proftraining/moneysoul.php for more details and to download a flyer. The week will be held by currency designer, John Rogers and Jonathon Dawson and includes teleconference presentations and discussions involving internationally celebrated community currency experts, Richard Douthwaite, Margrit Kennedy and Bernard Lietaer.