Over the past century, unprecedented technological breakthroughs have advanced the development of cities and promoted a move away from agricultural lifestyles. In rural areas, farmers have embraced the economic efficiencies technology provides and the practice of monoculture has thrived. In urban areas, people have become increasingly dissociated from the source of their food and completely dependent on monetary systems as their primary resource.

D.I.Y. CASH – the missing link in the quest for sustainability

''Helen Dew, a founding member of the Living Economies Trust presents the first in a series of articles addressing the ‘Cinderella’ of the sustainability debate: Money.

Many economic activities are deeply influenced by and to a significant extent predetermined by the design of our monetary system.
Following the New Zealand speaking tour of German author Prof Dr Margrit Kennedy in 2002, the Living Economies Trust (1) was formed to research and promote community currency systems in New Zealand. Living Economies works for balanced, sustainable and empowering economies for Aotearoa/New Zealand – based on and respecting the living systems of our planet.
Through educating themselves and participating in international conferences, members of the Trust have gathered the knowledge and developed networks that enable them to provide support for those wishing to explore and implement currency systems appropriate for their communities.
The Trust welcomes enquiries about currency models and resource materials.''

Here’s a link to my You Tube interview where I explain how WAIS vouchers are used by members of the Wairarapa Green Dollar Exchange. Helen Dew on Local Currencies
Anneleise has just begun a contract to promote participation by local businesses.

Wellington Workshop - EXPLORING LOCAL CURRENCIES: 27, 28 August
The current money system based on debt and centralised control is not only killing the planet and destroying communities but is currently imploding on its inherent unsustainability.

How can we create our own decentralized currencies that honour our values, are interest free, and <strong>build real wealth and community wellbeing</strong>?

This workshop will fully inform you on the working knowledge of 3 key models that are being used today and how these can be initiated in your own community, town or organization immediately following this workshop.

• TIMEBANKING
• LOCAL EXCHANGE & TRADING SYSTEMS (LETS)
• GENUINE WEALTH SYSTEM

Thomas Greco international expert on the monetary system and building viable alternative localized currency is in the country over the next two weeks. He is presenting public lectures in Auckland on Tuesday 7th April at Waiheke Cinema 7.30pm and Auckland University 8th April 7.00pm Theatre OGGB5 Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Rd, and Wellington Tuesday 14th April 7pm St John Church Centre cnr Dixon & Willis St. He will also be keynote speaker at the Community Currencies Conference April 17 - 19th Whanganui

Trading through troubled waters
Exploring the how and why to building viable working systems of currency, trade and barter for community wellbeing in hard times.

This is probably the most important conference this year. “With global financial systems of fiat currency and corporate greed lying in tatters, we need to move fast to find the means to create economic wellbeing in our communities, to create prosperity and avoid suffering” W.A Jones

The special key note speaker will be Thomas H. Greco, Jr, Author and International Monetary Expert, presenting 20 years of knowledge on community currencies and information from his soon to be released new book THE END OF MONEY AND THE FUTURE OF CIVILIZATION.

The conference is held on 17th, 18th and 19th April 2009 at the Quaker Settlement in Wanganui.

For more information and registration, please download the conference brochure here: CC Conference Tri Fold Brochure.pdf (274.51 Kb)

A radio interview recorded with Deirdre Kent and broadcast on 12 Nov 2008.

http://www.odeo.com/episodes/23611429-Deirdre-Kent-and-the-Financial-Crisis

Deirdre Kent is the author of Healthy Money, Healthy Planet: Developing Sustainability through New Money Systems. In this fascinating interview she delves into the roots of our current financial traumas.

Our economy is drifting into increasingly difficult times. The media is full of headlines about failing finance companies and investment banks, rising food and fuel prices, unaffordable mortgages, high exchange rates and the 'credit crunch'. After months of assurances that the problem is over, it is getting worse. The American government is preparing to bail out the finance industry on Wall Street with a trillion dollars.

Many people involved with Transition Towns have come to realise that creating a local currency is part of the mix for promoting resilience in their communities.  For some the issue is possibly in the ‘too hard’ basket, or not seen as a priority.  Others will have attended presentations last April by the Japanese currency expert “Miguel”, and they may also have viewed the eye-opening film Money as Debt.

International expert in local trading systems “Miguel” Yasuyuki Hirota is visiting New Zealand (10th – 18th April) as a guest of the Living Economies network, an organisation that researches successful models for localizing money systems to strengthen regional economies and make them more sustainable.

“Given the developing instability of the global economy the time is right for local currency systems to flourish.” says Miguel who has travelled the world researching a myriad of innovative exchange systems in a diversity of communities.

"What people don't realise is that any community can create its own money based on the products, services and values of that community,” he adds enthusiastically.