Comments on: “Economics in Transition”: an evening in Totnes exploring the potential and future of the Totnes Pound. http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/ An Evolving Exploration into the Head, Heart and Hands of Energy Descent Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:56:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: John Rogers http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/comment-page-1/#comment-53107 John Rogers Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:32:26 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/#comment-53107 <p>It is exciting to watch the Totnes Pound from afar as it evolves. And it was great that you had such a bunch of experts to hand to give their commentary! I'll put this link on my website now. There have been thousands of experiments with CCs worldwide over the last few decades. Many of them have failed. A few have succeeded brilliantly. What can we learn from both failure and success about how to organise? I am finalising the first draft of a new Community Currency Design Manual that seeks to learn and apply these lessons so that people have less steep learning curves and we increase the chances of creating more sustainable systems. Please contact me if you are interested in this project.</p> It is exciting to watch the Totnes Pound from afar as it evolves. And it was great that you had such a bunch of experts to hand to give their commentary! I’ll put this link on my website now.
There have been thousands of experiments with CCs worldwide over the last few decades. Many of them have failed. A few have succeeded brilliantly. What can we learn from both failure and success about how to organise?
I am finalising the first draft of a new Community Currency Design Manual that seeks to learn and apply these lessons so that people have less steep learning curves and we increase the chances of creating more sustainable systems. Please contact me if you are interested in this project.

]]> By: David Barry http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/comment-page-1/#comment-53014 David Barry Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:08:22 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/#comment-53014 <p>The "critical event" that will prove that the Totnes pound is working is when someone tries to forge it!</p> <p>I hope the currency is time limited by the way; with the notes valid for, say, five year. When a note gets near expiry get a new one, or trade it in for sterling. This will allow you to keep track of leakage, which if your notes are attractive, not too expensive to make, and in small enough denominations, could be a significant source of revenue, expressing itself in the ability to issue a steadily increasing amount of backed currency.</p> The “critical event” that will prove that the Totnes pound is working is when someone tries to forge it!

I hope the currency is time limited by the way; with the notes valid for, say, five year. When a note gets near expiry get a new one, or trade it in for sterling. This will allow you to keep track of leakage, which if your notes are attractive, not too expensive to make, and in small enough denominations, could be a significant source of revenue, expressing itself in the ability to issue a steadily increasing amount of backed currency.

]]> By: Caroline Walker http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/comment-page-1/#comment-52995 Caroline Walker Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:31:57 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/2007/11/26/economics-in-transition-an-evening-in-totnes-exploring-the-potential-and-future-of-the-totnes-pound/#comment-52995 <p>I was listening to Start the Week this morning and heard the arts presenter Matthew Collings say, in relation to the perceived commodification of the art market, that in contrast to earlier times, 'We don't have any positive myth or narrative of the future.' Because of this, art today (e.g. the Damien Hirst diamond skull) is imbued with a spirit of futility and emptiness. This prompted me to reflect that the great contribution the Transition movement is making is to offer this positive narrative of the future, and to challenge the sense of futility and emptiness so pervasive just now. So, thanks!</p> I was listening to Start the Week this morning and heard the arts presenter Matthew Collings say, in relation to the perceived commodification of the art market, that in contrast to earlier times, ‘We don’t have any positive myth or narrative of the future.’ Because of this, art today (e.g. the Damien Hirst diamond skull) is imbued with a spirit of futility and emptiness.
This prompted me to reflect that the great contribution the Transition movement is making is to offer this positive narrative of the future, and to challenge the sense of futility and emptiness so pervasive just now.
So, thanks!

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