Lakewood
Public Library
Communities across the world are responding to advances in technology and the structural shift to the global economy. A heightened focus on community economic development, exchange systems, local assets and the future of money is now emerging. This heightened focus is giving rise to complimentary currencies, community currencies and targeted currencies. Lakewood citizens can become better acquainted with community currency applications, developments, models and philosophies by exploring the content provided here.
According to Paul Ray’s (author of The Cultural Creatives, Harmony
Books, 2000) study, 83 percent of Americans believe that the top priority should
be to re-build community, and yet the kind of currency we use in our transactions
is precisely one that eliminates community. The word “community” comes from
Latin, “cum munere.” “Munere” is “to give,” and “cum” is “among each other”—so,
community means “to give among each other.” In short, it turns out that dollar
exchanges tend to be incompatible with a gift economy. Complementary currencies
are.
Bernard Lietaer
"Complementary
Currencies for Social Change," Nexus, Colorado's Holistic Journal, July-August,
2003
Sartin, V. David, Lakewood currency would stay at home. Plain Dealer 11/15/04.
Read "the buzz" and share your opinion on the LakewoodBuzz Community Forum.
Community
Currency in the United States: The Social Environments in which it Emerges
and Survives [pdf] < http://www.usm.maine.edu/soc/collom/collomcc.pdf >
This paper tests macro, environmental variables as determinants of community
currency system emergence and success. The author looks at 82 community currency
systems over the past 13 years and presents detailed findings and implications
about this "non-trivial movement" and the types of environments in which local
currencies emerge and survive.
Access Foundation < http://www.accessfoundation.org/ >
Dedicated to the "betterment of humankind through the understanding and
use of complementary monetary innovations." Educates about traditional
and complementary currency systems, addressing the limitations of the conventional
system and promoting strategic complementary currency initiatives.
Transaction
Net: Complementary Community Currency Systems < http://www.transaction.net/money/community/ >
Models of and resources for complementary community currency systems and local
exchange networks.
Bernard
A. Lietaer: Community Currencies: A New Tool for the 21st Century < http://www.transaction.net/money/cc/cc01.html >
The author presents community currency as a tool for tackling the prevalent,
contemporary issues of unemployment, ecological destruction and community breakdown.
Edgar
S. Cahn - Time Dollars: Creating a New Currency to Build Community < http://www.pioneernet.net/chab/timedollars.htm >
A brief essay on Time Dollars, an important element of rebuilding communities,
plus the elemental principle of Co-Production. Cahn posits the Co-Production
Imperative: Reciprocity must be central to achieve social change.
Margrit Kennedy - On the Subject of Money < http://www.margritkennedy.com/ >
This architect, planner and consultant in complementary currencies is a major voice for money reform for social justice,
a sustainable world economy and a healthy environment.
Time Dollar USA < http://www.timedollar.org/ >
Edgar Kahn is founder and President of the Time Dollar Institute, a non-profit
corporation that creates and sponsors initiatives so that the beneficiaries
of social programs can become co-producers of education, justice, self-sufficiency,
opportunity, community development, and social change.
Ithaca Hours < http://www.ithacahours.org/ >
Ithaca HOURS are a local currency in the Ithaca, NY area, issued by a community
organization to keep local wealth recirculating within the community. Residents
have been earning and spending Hours since 1991.
Toronto Dollar < http://www.torontodollar.com/ >
Since 1998 Toronto has used this community currency to strengthen the local
economy. The "10% solution:" 10 cents of each dollar goes to a community
projects fund.
ReinventingMoney.com < http://www.reinventingmoney.com/ >
Established by Thomas H. Greco, Jr., monetary researcher and author of Money:
Understanding and Creating Alternatives to Legal Tender, and "devoted
to the advancement of economic democracy, self-determination, and global harmony." Presents "leading-edge
ideas on monetary and non-monetary exchange."
Living Economies - Aotearoa/New Zealand
(formerly, Stable Money Trust for
interest free currencies) < http://www.le.org.nz >
This organization supports those conducting feasability studies or implementing
complementary currency pilot projects in New Zealand. See the article by
Deirdre
Kent, "Buy Local Loyalty Card."
Rushkoff,
Douglas, "Open Source Currency" < http://www.thefeature.com/article?articleid=101119 >
Article about wireless technology's intersection with complementary currency
systems on TheFeature, Nokia's
community forum for exchange of ideas about the mobile world.
CC Information Technologies
Worldwide < http://ccit.wji.com/tiki-index.php >
Wiki of the World Wide Complementary Currency IT Department.
International Journal
of Community Currency Research < http://www.le.ac.uk/ulmc/ijccr/ >
"The aim of this journal is to provide a forum for the dissemination of knowledge and understanding
about the emerging array of community currencies being used throughout the
world both at present and in the past."
Targeted Currencies
Network < http://www.targetedcurrencies.net/ >
An open business model company that designs targeted currencies.
E.F.
Schumacher Society < http://www.schumachersociety.org/frameset_local_currencies.html >
Founded in 1980 by Robert Swann; named after the author of Small Is Beautiful:
Economics As If People Mattered. Dedicated to the premise that "both
social and environmental sustainability can be achieved by applying the values
of human-scale communities and respect for the natural environment to economic
issues. Building on a rich tradition often known as decentralism, the Society
initiates practical measures that lead to community revitalization and further
the transition toward an economically and ecologically sustainable society."
community
currencies < http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/cc/index.html >
A rich list of articles on this rat haus
reality site plus links to other Web sites. In particular, see "Community
Currencies at a Crossroads: New Ways Forward," by Tim Cohen-Mitchell, and "Local
Money Strengthens Communities," by David Block
LETSystems < http://www.gmlets.u-net.com/ >
Describes the LETSystem, a trading network supported by its own internal currency.
Alternative
Currency in Canada - Creating a Local Currency: The Example of Salt Spring
Island, Vancouver < http://www.prosperityuk.com/prosperity/articles/saltsp.html >
The goal is to promote local spending and provide a revenue resource for community
projects; the challenge was to develop an alternative currency 100% redeemable
into the national currency.
Salt
Spring Island Dollars < http://saltspring.gulfislands.com/money/welcome.htm >
The brainstorming child of the Sustainable Salt Spring Island Coalition was
born in 2001. SSI Dollars are accepted universally on the same basis as the
national currency, backed 100% by the Canadian dollar. Bills not redeemed by
an expiry date represent a "profit" used to cover costs and support community
projects.
Strohalm - Valuable Local Currency System < http://www.strohalm.org/vlcs.html >
In an effort to improve community currency systems, this program targets circulation of the local currency
to diversified sectors of the local economy. It evolved from recognition of typical problems
with local currency, the first problem being stagnation.
"Don't say yes, don't say no" by David Boyle, New Statesman, 5/19/2003, Vol. 132, Issue 4638 - The future of currency and money from a British perspective, including a survey of innovative currency technologies and approaches.
"Local money helps revitalize towns", In Business, May/June 1998, Vol. 20 Issue 3 - A survey of several municipalities in North America that have begun printing and issuing their own currencies.
"Expert to discuss psychology behind currency during Boulder, Colorado lecture" by Carlotta Mast, Daily Camera (Boulder, CO), 2/2/2003 - Presents an overview of the ideas of Bernard Lietaer, a world-renowned authority on local and alternative currencies.
"German teenagers invent a currency" by Mariana Schroeder, Christian Science Monitor 10/30/2003, Vol. 95 Issue 235 - Six students in Prien, Germany launched this local currency program that is accepted by 80 business owners.
"Hour town" by Mark Wallace, Harper's Magazine, November 2001, Vol. 303 Issue 1818 - an overview of the Ithaca HOUR currency.
"World's largest local currency loan made to credit union", In Business, May/June 2000, Vol. 22 Issue 3 - a news report on the Ithaca HOUR system, which made the world's largest local currency loan ($30,000) to Alternatives Federal Credit Union/CUSO in 2000.
"In each other we trust" by Paul Glover and Monica Hargraves, Whole Earth, Spring 1998 Issue 92 - Discusses the benefits of Ithaca HOURS, the oldest of the recent local currencies, including its advantages over a federally issued currency. Written by the founder of the HOURS system.
"Home-grown currency", Civilization, August/September 1997, Vol. 4 Issue 4 - Provides basic information on the currency used in Ithaca, New York; also includes a brief overview of other communities that have created their own currencies.
"Keeping the money at home" by Kathyrn Kingsbury, Progressive; January 1997, Vol. 61 Issue 1 - Places Ithaca as part of an international movement toward local self-sufficiency in capitalist countries; also features other communities in the United States that have adopted hometown money systems modeled on Ithaca's.
"Creating ecological economics with local currency" by Paul Glover, Whole Earth Review, Fall 1995 Issue 87 - includes a "Hometown Money Starter Kit" that explains the start-up and maintenance of an `hours' type currency system.
"The ultimate barter" by Michelle Silver, Mother Earth News, August/September 1993 Issue 139 - How the Ithaca HOURS system resulted in a boon to the local economy of Ithaca. Also includes how to create a local currency in your community.
"In Ithaca we trust: town builds spirit with cash" by David Holmstrom, Christian Science Monitor, 7/8/98, Vol. 90 Issue 156 - General overview of the system; covers benefits and drawbacks, and economists' interest in the idea of alternative money.
Cahn, Edgar S., Time dollars: the new currency that enables Americans to turn their hidden resource--time--into personal security and community renewal. 302.14 CAHN
Daly, Herman E., For the common good: redirecting the economy toward community, the environment, and a sustainable future. 338.9 DALY
Douthwaite, R. J., The ecology of money. 332.4 DOUTHWAITE (Foreword by Bernard Lietaer)
Greco, Thomas H., Money: understanding and creating alternatives to legal tender. 332.42042 GRECO
Raddon, Mary-Beth, Community and money : men and women making change / Mary-Beth Raddon. On order.
Shuman, Michael. Going local: creating self-reliant communities in a global age. 338.973 SHUMAN
