Alternative Currencies Grow in Popularity - TIME

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Frequent-flier miles aren't the only alternative currency. Towns around the world are inventing their own

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http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1865467,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1865467,00.html

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  • Mickki Langston

    12 months ago

    
    
    

    Interesting take on 'alternative' monetary currencies, especially the emphasis on how it's NOT a replacement for standard money. Hmmm.

    Interesting take on 'alternative' monetary currencies, especially the emphasis on how it's NOT a replacement for standard money. Hmmm.

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    Commented in: Local Economies & Relocalization, flow

  • Wael Al Saad

    11 months ago

    
    
    

    do you know any existing solutions for alternative currencies especially to manage local economies?

    do you know any existing solutions for alternative currencies especially to manage local economies?

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  • Giorgio Bertini

    11 months ago

    
    
    

    Wael,
    
    There are many, please visit:
    
    Community currencies ::: Free currencies Movement .
    
    Local Community Development

    Wael,<br /><br />There are many, please visit:<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.twine.com/twine/11kn8jxv2-1q2/community-currencies-free-currencies-movement" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Community currencies ::: Free currencies Movement </a></b>.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.twine.com/twine/11xkj7xy5-5n/local-community-development" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Local Community Development</a></b>

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  • Wael Al Saad

    11 months ago

    
    
    

    Giorgio, pls help me and show me one easy to apply and up-to-date

    Giorgio, pls help me and show me one easy to apply and up-to-date

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  • Giorgio Bertini

    11 months ago

    
    
    

    Wael,
    
    If you are interested in starting a local currency program, should be clear that this suppose that there is an strong involvemnt by the community, and you are not implanting it from outside. Consider the local community, economy and currency, as part of a more general and comprehensive program. Take this Comment as a proposal for local conversations, not a receipt. As I am very careful about proposals from outside, some general considerations are included:
    
    1. Avoid a top-down approach. Solutions should come from within, owned by the community, and any action should be an empowerment initiative.
    
    2. The local community should be the focus, particularly the local economy, not just the local currency. Most of local economies find that their economic resources are controlled from outside the area. Research and analysis of resources and control is necessary.
    
    3. The local economy, local currency and local institutions should be embedded within the local social fabric. Social development should be an integral part of local development. Health, education, popular education, childcare, old people care, sports, cultural activities, and more, are as important as economic programs for trust building, awareness, motivation, mobilization, etc.
    
    4. Social learning is the key, particularly for social capital building, the crucial capital for a local community. This capital is built by relational and conversational processes, dialogical emotional processes, natural social processes of local communities. Avoid “expert” lead “consultations”.
    
    5. From within social capital, the community may work in several integrated and reinforcing strategies. Those strategies should be selected by the community, not by any expert. Risk analysis and possible failures are important tasks for the community to perform.
    
    6. Give importance to processes, rather than goals, projects or plans. Every step should be an instance of reflection, learning and planning. Spirals of planning, acting, reflection, learning …. as a continous process gives the community the sense they are the owners and they are being empower all along, even from mistakes.
    
    7. Some theory and, above all, good change methods are a necessary component of the action learning. Consider any initiative with the corresponding change method. Experiential learning needs a careful and detailed programming to be really effective.
    
    8. Consider organizing a learning community, actually an action learning community, for initial reading and later for community coaching and acting. Organizing and leadership development must be an integral component.
    
    9. Take all this as a enjoyable opportunity, for the community and the promoters. Most communities are tired of strategic planning meetings. Avoid them. Just look for flowing with the community, from their traditional knowledge and wisdom. Prepare yourself for a learning journey, not a lecturing one.
    
    To start with, just three readings:
    
    An Overview of Parallel, Local and Community Currency Systems. Long document.
    
    New Money for Healthy Communities.
    
    LETSystems. Look for the The LETSystem Design Manual.
    
    
    After these readings, let me know.

    Wael,<br /><br />If you are interested in starting a local currency program, should be clear that this suppose that there is an strong involvemnt by the community, and you are not implanting it from outside. Consider the local community, economy and currency, as part of a more general and comprehensive program. Take this Comment as a proposal for local conversations, not a receipt. As I am very careful about proposals from outside, some general considerations are included: <br /> <br />1. Avoid a top-down approach. Solutions should come from within, owned by the community, and any action should be an empowerment initiative.<br /><br />2. The local community should be the focus, particularly the local economy, not just the local currency. Most of local economies find that their economic resources are controlled from outside the area. Research and analysis of resources and control is necessary.<br /><br />3. The local economy, local currency and local institutions should be embedded within the local social fabric. Social development should be an integral part of local development. Health, education, popular education, childcare, old people care, sports, cultural activities, and more, are as important as economic programs for trust building, awareness, motivation, mobilization, etc. <br /><br />4. Social learning is the key, particularly for social capital building, the crucial capital for a local community. This capital is built by relational and conversational processes, dialogical emotional processes, natural social processes of local communities. Avoid “expert” lead “consultations”. <br /><br />5. From within social capital, the community may work in several integrated and reinforcing strategies. Those strategies should be selected by the community, not by any expert. Risk analysis and possible failures are important tasks for the community to perform. <br /><br />6. Give importance to processes, rather than goals, projects or plans. Every step should be an instance of reflection, learning and planning. Spirals of planning, acting, reflection, learning …. as a continous process gives the community the sense they are the owners and they are being empower all along, even from mistakes. <br /><br />7. Some theory and, above all, good change methods are a necessary component of the action learning. Consider any initiative with the corresponding change method. Experiential learning needs a careful and detailed programming to be really effective. <br /><br />8. Consider organizing a learning community, actually an action learning community, for initial reading and later for community coaching and acting. Organizing and leadership development must be an integral component.<br /><br />9. Take all this as a enjoyable opportunity, for the community and the promoters. Most communities are tired of strategic planning meetings. Avoid them. Just look for flowing with the community, from their traditional knowledge and wisdom. Prepare yourself for a learning journey, not a lecturing one. <br /><br />To start with, just three readings:<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.twine.com/item/11qcvzkqc-7k/an-overview-of-parallel-local-and-community-currency-systems" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An Overview of Parallel, Local and Community Currency Systems</a></b>. Long document.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.twine.com/item/11kzc4z1k-1fs/table-of-contents-new-money-for-healthy-communities" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Money for Healthy Communities</a></b>.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.twine.com/item/11y97kyxk-2s3/letsystems-the-home-page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">LETSystems</a></b>. Look for the The LETSystem Design Manual.<br /><br /><br />After these readings, let me know.

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