Greek Town Creates Its Own Alternative Currency
Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:49 pm
[quote=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a ... e-currency]Speaking to NPR, Volos Mayor Panos Skotiniotis encouraged municipal governments around the world to consider similar programs of their own to fill in where government and the traditional market are failing to adequately serve citizens: "This is a substitution for the welfare state, and that is why this municipality is encouraging it and wants it to grow." For its part, though, the Greek Parliament is also very supportive, passing legislation to encourage various non-traditional forms of “entrepreneurship and local development.”
Thankfully, other governments are listening. Many more Germans have jumped into alternative currency systems since the Euro was launched. More than two-dozen systems now exist there. Christian Gelleri, managing director of one regional currency, enthused, “We want people to think about this more.… participants of the alternative currencies want to change the money system. We want to promote local charities and connect local businesses – that’s our objective.”
The United States, too, has a number of toes in the alternative currency water, including Cheers in Detroit, BerkShares in Western Massachusetts, the Bay Area Community Exchange timebank in northern California, Ithaca Hours in upstate New York, and more. San Francisco has set up a working group to explore how the sharing economy can benefit citizens and the Creative Currency is being held there later this month. More widely focused is Bitcoin digital currency. Some states, like Utah, have designated gold and silver coins as official legal tender.
Back in Greece, the TEMs system is but one of more than a dozen like it around the country. And, as the new thinking and new currencies take root, more opportunities grow. In Volos, daily markets allow people to barter and trade to their heart's content. Choupis noted. “They’re quite joyous occasions. It’s very liberating, not using money.” [/quote]
Thankfully, other governments are listening. Many more Germans have jumped into alternative currency systems since the Euro was launched. More than two-dozen systems now exist there. Christian Gelleri, managing director of one regional currency, enthused, “We want people to think about this more.… participants of the alternative currencies want to change the money system. We want to promote local charities and connect local businesses – that’s our objective.”
The United States, too, has a number of toes in the alternative currency water, including Cheers in Detroit, BerkShares in Western Massachusetts, the Bay Area Community Exchange timebank in northern California, Ithaca Hours in upstate New York, and more. San Francisco has set up a working group to explore how the sharing economy can benefit citizens and the Creative Currency is being held there later this month. More widely focused is Bitcoin digital currency. Some states, like Utah, have designated gold and silver coins as official legal tender.
Back in Greece, the TEMs system is but one of more than a dozen like it around the country. And, as the new thinking and new currencies take root, more opportunities grow. In Volos, daily markets allow people to barter and trade to their heart's content. Choupis noted. “They’re quite joyous occasions. It’s very liberating, not using money.” [/quote]
