alternative currency / austin time exchange network / complementary currency / economia solidaria / lets / solidarity economics / time bank / ussf

Solidarity Economy at USSF

Unfortunately, I haven’t blogged much on my experience at the US Social Forum. in short, it was great and I recommend attending any one you can get to. Hopefully Iĺl follow up on that statement. I have multiple social interests, so my time was divided. I also attended as part of a family vacation, so … Continue reading

alternative currency / complementary currency / lets / solidarity economics / time bank

Almost a million Berkshares in circulation

There are about 844,000 BerkShares in circulation, worth $759,600 at the fixed exchange rate of 1 BerkShare to 90 U.S. cents, according to program organizers. The paper scrip is available in denominations of one, five, 10, 20 and 50. In their 10 months of circulation, they’ve become a regular feature of the local economy. Businesses … Continue reading

austin time exchange network / complementary currency / economia solidaria / money / solidarity economics / time bank

Barcelona Time Banks on "The World"

PRI’s “The World” ran a great story on a Time Bank experience in Barcelona. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports that a barter system is catching on in Barcelona, Spain. People register with what’s called a time bank to trade services. They might teach a language or do home repairs. The hours they work become time … Continue reading

austin time exchange network / complementary currency / time bank

Austin Time Exchange 1st Anniversary Celebration

Austin Time Exchange 1st Anniversary Celebration Please come celebrate with us!!! You are invited to attend an event marking the 1st anniversary of the Austin Time Exchange. On Sunday, June 3rd from 6pm-9pm, we will be hosting a gathering at Monkey Wrench Books. We will be enjoying beer and light refreshments from 6pm-8pm and will … Continue reading

complementary currency / economia solidaria / solidarity economics / time bank

Economia Solidária

Economia Solidária I have trouble blogging frequently because I use to write fully researched articles and was called a journalist before bloggers came along. Instead of infrequency, I think I’ll settle for short bursts like others do. This time, I’ll point out the remembrance that I understand Spanish and Portuguese. I often enjoy story that … Continue reading

commons / complementary currency / lessig / lietaer

Consensus and the Commons

In the Future of Ideas and Money and Lessig and Lietaer posts, a community currency is compared to the Internet. Both of them form an innovation commons. Associated with community currency design is protocol. Contrast this with national money where laws generally regulate use. Protocols on the Internet are generally established by the IETF. Jeanette … Continue reading

commons / complementary currency / lessig / lietaer

Tangled Up in the Future – Lessig and Lietaer

This is a followup to The Future of Ideas and Money. Bernard Lietaer reveals the difference between money and currency. What a central authority requires in payment of taxes, thereby imposing it as legal tender, is money. Taxes lock us into money. Money is the Yang. It promotes competition and scarcity created through hierarchy. Currency … Continue reading

commons / complementary currency / lessig / lietaer / money

The Future of Ideas and Money

Kellan suggested that some books are read better together and asks “Do you have favorite pairings?” Following Rich’s post on the Creative Commons, I’ve been thinking about Lessig’s The Future of Ideas and ever since the Naropa Workshop on Intentional Economics, I have thought it would be great to pair Lessig with Bernard Lietaer, author … Continue reading