Has our present economic system been designed for another age? Does it truly serve the needs of the 21st century world? What are the stepping stones to a new economic structure? The answers to these and many other questions are addressed in this informative dialogue. In taking out a loan or a mortgage under the current system, Bernard Lietaer and Jacqui Dunne point out, “When you pay back interest, you’re actually using someone else’s principle. We are fighting for money that has not been created.” They go on to describe some very successful examples of complementary or cooperative currencies that are being successfully implemented today on some very large scales. For example: Frequent Flyer Miles, the Japanese Fureai Kippu (care of the elderly), TimeBanking, the WIR in Switzerland, the Banjar system in Bali, and many more. What these currencies do is link unused resources with unmet needs. That is why they are so successful. They describe a time when banks closed in Ireland for months at a time and Credit of Guinness became the vehicle of exchange. They also describe what led to the demise of the culture of the !Kung people in Africa. These people had been living sustainably for thousands of years. However, their society broke down in one generation after conventional money was introduced to their culture. You’ll also hear the inspiring story of the people of Curitiba in Brazil who turned garbage into a commodity and cleaned up their town, creating new jobs and prosperity. They make the case that a single currency does not allow for resilience. It is actually quite fragile and that is why we need a diversity of currencies to make a robust economic system as we move from the old industrial society to a brighter future.
