27/10/2010

Existing Projecs and Academic Resources

I just looked up my knowledge collection and found two very comprehensive dissertations about complementary currencies. (unfortunately both in german)

1. Potential of regional complementary currencies for promoting a endogenous regional development (2004 - 130 pages -department geosciences)
2. An experimental review of the statements of the "freiwirtschaft-" theory (2003 - 90 pages - department economics)
(for Freiwirtschaft have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freigeld)

The first one mentioned in the introduction a local currency in scotland, the EKO.

http://www.ekopia-findhorn.org/eko.shtml
http://www.ecovillagefindhorn.com/news/onthemoney.php

Follwing some links of the most successful local currency project in germany, the "chiemgauer" (with cashless payment system)

http://www.chiemgauer.info (homepage)
http://www.chiemgauer.info/252.0.html (map of the circulation)
http://www.chiemgauer.info/uploads/media/Chiemgauer-Statistik_01.pdf (some statistics)

Again, unfortunately all in german, but maybe u can get an idea about the projekt.

13/10/2010

Transition Edinburgh - local currency?

The cuts in Child Benefit announced by George Osborne amount to a saving of £1
Billion.

Meanwhile bankers have received bonuses totaling £7 Billion, although more than
half of this will be taken in tax (see

http://www.cebr. com/wp-content/ uploads/London- and-the-City- Prospects- Press-Release- 5-October- 2010-City- Bonuses.pdf

for details).

And now, just when everyone else is about to be hit by spending cuts, they
expect bigger bonuses.

How is Transition Edinburgh getting on with plans for a localcurrency?!

12/10/2010

First proposal by Adam

Edinburgh Alternative Currency Models Event

The aim of the event is to run through the different alternative currency models that currently exist in Edinburgh and hear what other options there are. The ideal outcome of the event would be the formation of a group to look at taking ideas forward.

What is happen in Edinburgh
·         Edinburgh LETS - http://www.edinburghlets.org.uk/members/pages.php?id=18
·         West Edinburgh Time Bank http://www.edinburghtimebank.org.uk/
·         Greener Leith We love Leith bonus bag http://www.greenerleith.org/a-z/s-is-for/shop-local-shop-smart.html
·         others?

Other ideas
·         Expand the Greener Leith bag from 10% off items at 25 shops in Leith to cover local shops across Edinburgh
·         Complimentary currency - speakers could include:
Transition Town Brixton, Brixton Pound http://brixtonpound.org/
Greener/Transition Town Hawick, Hawick Pound http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8559637.stm

Other relevant ideas:
·         no-interest banks http://www.feasta.org/documents/review2/carrie2.pdf
·         local capital/community benefit co-operative e.g. http://www.ekopia-findhorn.org/about.shtml
·         others?

What is needed to take this idea forward:
·         need to form a group of people to plan the event
·         find out if there is any potential funding available
·         prepare program, invite speakers
·         book a venue
·         publicise the event
·         run the event on the day
·         hopefully meet regularly after the event to take ideas forward
·         anything else?