Community Exchange Network of Portland Discussions (3)

I had one of those moments again, when I was wondering about the people of this world ....

Again and again I'm surprised about how little people care about the money system. Money is something so essential and central to our civilisation, yet almost nobody ever makes the effort to find out how it really works. When talking about the money system, I don't mean to talk about budgeting or investments or what we use money for. Of course money can be used for good, and often is. What I mean i… Continue

I am working with the Americorps VISTA program and am looking at this for a way to facilitate trade and employment for my office that I currently reside in which is in Northport, Alabama. I think the CES model is good yet what is its effectiveness thus far? What are the numbers for success? Is there any place I can look or find this information?
Thanks,
Sean K. Liebel

Book Review: The End of Money and the Future of Civilization

By Thomas H. Greco, Jr

Published by: Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, Vermont, USA (www.chelseagreen.com), 2009. ISBN 978-1-60358-078-6

Thomas Greco is the most radical writer on money today. The very title of the book suggests that the future of civilization depends on abandoning money-as-we-know-it. What could be more radical and revolutionary than that? Yet on readin… Continue

The Point of COGS

COGS stands for Circle of Gifts, and is a complementary currency specifically designed to help local communities re-localise activities. The aim of re-localisation is to provide inhabitants with the possibility of an acceptable quality of life when traditional economic development fails, or their circumstances are against them.

We believe complementary currencies will become more important as energy supplies dwindle and impact the economic growth so essential for inter… Continue

People around the world are increasingly concerned and even fearful about the present state of our economy and the real possibility of a recession turning into a depression. Having grown dependent upon an economic system which has increasingly failed us now our economy is in a rapid state of decline. As a growing number of people are losing their jobs and homes, many are finding themselves in rather precarious and even dire circumstances. Should the economy significantly worsen none of us likes… Continue