Natalia You are such a believer in the power of Gaia. Perhaps you are right, and there is nothing for us to do and mother Gaia has already decided whether we survive or not.
However, I prefer to believe myself to be a functioning part of Gaia, and hence think I have an obligation to do what I can in 'the right direction'. And with respect to money I believe that this means looking much more closely at the assumptions that underpin our money practices, deciding which ones are helping and which ones are hurting and moving to assuage the hurt. Hence, my interest in community currencies which are much much more than many people realise. When done properly, they are actually a new way of dealing with wealth, value and money in the world - and a much needed way. However, they aren't even enough by themselves. What is needed is to create the infrastructure through which they can become mainstream - and that's altogether another problem. But when we get that right, we will have discovered new ways to think about how to get done what needs doing and how to ensure that those who do it can survive in the world (which is another way of saying we will have created a new world of work). thanks for keeping the dialogue open regards Charles Brass Chairman futures foundation phone:1300 727328 (International 61 3 9459 0244) fax: 61 3 9459 0344 PO Box 122 Fairfield 3078 www.futuresfoundation.org.au the mission of the futures foundation is: "...to engage all Australians in creating a better future..." ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darryl or Natalia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 7:36 AM Subject: [Futurework] money, currencies and Gaia > Hi Charles, Ed, and All Members still interested in money, > > Just downloaded six weeks worth of mail after installing a new computer > tower, hence the very late reply. > > Your last e-mail, Charles, which I quote only in part below, urges me to > say that optimists are not necessarily required to come up with all > solutions to the world's problems. It suffices that they give a damn, > and speak up. They are hardly expected to resurrect that which never had > a clear pulse to begin with. > > I very much relate to systems of local currencies for the reasons you > cite, but fail to appreciate how invoking the perfect currency system > will be applied to our chaotic systems of creating money/wealth. In > other words, we need an honest system, reflective of real value in the > creation of money -- for the perfect currency system to take roots and > mean anything.. > > Think of the way in which governments grant leaseholds and rights to > industry to exploit natural resources owned by the nation, who is taxed > in order to support corporate startup and operational costs. Big money > gets rights to the wealth of the world, but the people who pay the taxes > to support this practice get less than nothing in return. This > government assisted investment class is quite exposed, yet even proving > such activity as price gauging at the gas pump fails to result in any > kind of redress. The privileged have ensured that the laws protect their > powers. Waiting for these leaseholds and exploration rights to expire, > then not renewing them unless on sustainable and equitable terms is one > optimistic view of making amends, but most resources have been signed > off for 50-100 year terms, as far as I know. This leaves little room for > change, as you pointed out in an overview of Gaia's predicament, that > can have effect in time for any correction by legislation.. > > I am counting on Gaia to correct the situation shortly. The Northwest > Passage is now clear enough for a sail from Tokyo to Boston. Arctic ice > typically melts into mid September, such that next year's permanent ice > will be much reduced. A total summer melt is forecast for 2030. With > these kinds of forces at play, I doubt we need bother about ideal > economic systems that accommodate flawed values, monetary and otherwise. > > Once natural corrections temper, having displaced most destructive > industry and activity, local currency systems will likely be the only > kind to have meaning or effect. Hopefully, the internet will survive to > spread word of sustainable practices for all activity. > > Thanks for your last reply, > Natalia > > All of the 'missing money' you refer to below arises because of the way we >> have >> commodified money and allow people to manipulate its supply for their >> personal >> gain. >> >> Hence, my interest in creating systems which, while they may not be able >> to >> entirely avoid human greed, at least ensure that the greedy are much more >> visible and accountable - ie community created and managed currencies. >> >> >> So, at its core, I hope my interest does not exclude your passionate >> calls >> for >> us to be more sustainable about our use of Gaia's resources. >> >> >> Charles Brass >> >> >> >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > Futurework@fes.uwaterloo.ca > http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list Futurework@fes.uwaterloo.ca http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
