tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-354190332024-03-22T14:43:13.193+11:00co*create 26Random observations & bursts of insight and inspiration
contributing to cultural change & a sustainable future!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-7643897743975929932009-06-30T04:53:00.002+10:002009-06-30T05:02:31.458+10:00The "Strong Sustainability" Paradigm<span style="font-style:italic;">Recently I've been motivated to think about what peak oil and money systems have to do with where we need to focus our efforts for a better future. Here is what I've come up with:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Strong Sustainability Paradigm</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5czeQ79ZtO6tbeqSSUS8U5LEEz-DJAXgB8hnvthxsIdHqXQv08pqcPZ0e3ix_TOb50CGSwa37NcErCtdlGOJ_rBidazLjea2Y_wsHD9NkLk9vZrcfpIpEych12abHqpTw1Kcg/s1600-h/strong_sust.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5czeQ79ZtO6tbeqSSUS8U5LEEz-DJAXgB8hnvthxsIdHqXQv08pqcPZ0e3ix_TOb50CGSwa37NcErCtdlGOJ_rBidazLjea2Y_wsHD9NkLk9vZrcfpIpEych12abHqpTw1Kcg/s400/strong_sust.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352826786110935330" /></a><br /><br />The current economic crisis is not about the conflict between capitalism versus socialism, left versus right or about questions of globalisation versus social justice. The current crisis happens at a time when we start feeling the impacts of climate change and the degradation of the biosphere on a large scale. It has become an opportunity to examine our perceptions of our personal and economic relationships with the natural world. The current crisis gives us an opportunity to move from the business as usual of economic growth to an understanding and adoption of ecological economics.<br /><br />How can we find a real response to the needs of climate change and challenges of our times? In terms of current popular culture, a fundamental realignment of approach and priority and a culture shift is needed. We need an approach of Strong Sustainability. Changing the conventional order of things, this approach postulates that the economy is a subset of society (humanity) and that society is a subset of the ecology. All activities therefore ultimately need to conform to ecological limits.<br /><br />Ecological systems operate in cycles and are self-regenerating. Consumption and the use of biosphere services need to happen within the limits of this regenerative capacity. <br /><br />A successful reorientation is possible and it requires that we adopt a new set of ethics. In the new set of ethics, we leave the purely utilitarian approach behind and adopt a set of ethics that values life and the integrity of all systems that support life above all else. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Ecology</span><br />The success of this approach and the the application of policies can be measured by a set of specific indicators. What must be measured, first and foremost, is the health and quality of the ecology/biosphere. Among the available indicators to measure this are the ecological footprint, biodiversity indicators, air, water and soil quality standards. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Society</span><br />The next priority must be the quality of life and the development of human society. There are indicators that can be used for hat purpose, like the Human Development Index, and other Quality of Life measurements.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Economics</span><br />“The economy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the environment.” What does that mean? Not only does it mean that economic institutions and systems need to function in accordance with nature, but it also means that economic indicators come in third priority only, after the more important ecological and societal indicators. Since a strong sustainability approach cannot accommodate an ever and exponentially growing economy, a set of indicators must be adopted which reflect the quality of economic activity, rather than just its size and trough put. One such such indicator may be Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI). <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Economic Transformation</span><br />Following the principle of perceiving the economy as a subset of ecological activities, economic systems, institutions and policies need to be designed in a way that they permit and promote a steady state and ecological economy which flexibly adapts to natural cycles of growth and decline. Economic activity can be steered by ecological taxes, a social safety net that promotes social justice and a raft of other policies. Institutions like the financial and money system and values that are built on the premise of unending growth need to be abolished and replaced with systems that can usefully act within the natural limits of nature.<br /><br />The financial system needs our special attention because it is the 'operating system' of the economy. The global economic growth imperative is inherent in the nature and integral to our current money system, and as a result one of the main drivers of global warming and environmental destruction. Any challenge to the established economic growth paradigm must not just include the regulation of the financial industry, but extend to a fundamental reform of the money system. Invention and transformation can draw on countless experimental as well as established and proven alternatives to the current financial infrastructure which is based on bank issued debt money with compound interest. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Conclusion</span><br />Such an approach is a significant departure from the conventional way of thinking. It will not only provide a new vision for the future, but also require workable ways of transitioning from the current economic thinking to a new economy. Because in current practice economics and financial profitability and safety are the final bottom line, any vision of ecological economics and the policies for transitioning to it must be able to address any economic concerns individuals and the business community might have. We must be clearly able to show that the welfare of people is guaranteed even if we work within the ecological constraints of the planet and the land and abandon the growth imperative, and that overall we will be better off this way, rather than when we keep ignoring the ecological limits.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-62185642587454537032009-03-28T19:34:00.003+11:002009-03-28T19:49:25.267+11:00Understanding 'Zero'We have a dire need to expand our thinking around the understanding of money and currency. We also need to escape the box of the perceived need for never ending exponential growth. Using a mutual credit system could give us just about what we need to expand our thinking. Here, the concept of 'Zero' is an essential ingredient. Here it's not about the flow of money, or about having more and more – here it is all about relationships! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjHw06dgs17JxtiRQeSK-77DTj5obdzj23a-L0aONebW7ZmuxfhdPZA93ulikt3ox_Q4cpkZpejdPKUByXUI8qoOyQNZkvo-bLiFO8KHoP5kcS8JBt_sYb6GPsE_kyVrbfHDB/s1600-h/Zero000.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjHw06dgs17JxtiRQeSK-77DTj5obdzj23a-L0aONebW7ZmuxfhdPZA93ulikt3ox_Q4cpkZpejdPKUByXUI8qoOyQNZkvo-bLiFO8KHoP5kcS8JBt_sYb6GPsE_kyVrbfHDB/s400/Zero000.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318157408797137650" /></a><br />(Image from <a href="http://www.freefoto.com">FreeFoto.com</a>)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">What does “Zero” stand for?</span><br />- Zero stands for the sum of all currency in the system. In other words, if one adds up all the negative account balances and then adds all the positive account balances, one should arrive at zero. This will be true as long as a foolproof accounting system is used where every transaction is recorded on both the credit side and the debit side. <br /><br />- Zero stands for balance. However, that balance won’t be guaranteed if the Zero point is shifted by giving away “free” Points or if the balance is upset by granting larger credit limits than debit limits. As long as balance is kept, Green Dollars in circulation keep their value. <br />Zero stands for the dynamic centre. In order for a mutual credit system to work, everyone needs to engage in equal and balanced giving and receiving. There are always enough points in the system for trading. Participants need to trade through Zero at least once per year, or even better, several times per year. <br /><br />- Zero stands for the fact that relationships are more important than numbers. We’re conditioned in this society that “more is better” and we need to “get rich.” Both propositions are meaningless in the context of a mutual credit system. In such a system we find economic security not because we accumulate, but because we build relationships with other people. <br /> <br />- Zero is also the symbol of a circle, which stands for the community of which the participant is a member. In the conventional economy, we must all fend for ourselves in competition with everyone else. In a mutual credit system, we’re all in it together. When creating the means of exchange (Points, Green Dollars or any other unit), we do so ourselves in a transaction with another community member. What counts are only three positions in relation to the system: we’re either in dedication to the community because we’ve consumed ahead of providing something, or we’re in “recognition” to the community because we’ve provided before consuming. We also stay within the limits that we as a community have all agreed to. The community needs all three, and therefore both dedication (debit) and recognition (credit) are valued equally. The only other necessary ingredient is solidarity with the community: when we seek to trade to fulfil some of our needs and wants, we need to look within our own community first (buy local, so to speak) before going into the dollar economy. A mutual credit exchange suffers seriously if members abandon their solidarity with the community.<br /><br />- And finally, Zero is our balance when we join and Zero is our balance when we leave. We enter the system at Zero, and the only acceptable way out is at Zero again. Otherwise, a convenience to the individual creates a problem for everyone else in the circle. <br /><br />Understanding and living the concept of Zero require a culture of “we,” a culture of community. Calling the unit of currency in a mutual credit system a “dollar” is unhelpful, because it tricks us into thinking and behaving according to our mainstream competitive consumer culture. Applying the concept of Zero helps maximise trade while preserving equilibrium within the community and supports functional, fulfilling relationships between individuals and the community. By making everyone a winner, a well-maintained equilibrium increases the quality of life for the whole community.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-63082392234773692222009-02-10T18:56:00.005+11:002009-02-10T19:07:07.897+11:00What can we expect from Obama?<span style="font-weight:bold;">A declaration of independence from Wall Street</span><br /><br />Since we have so much money to bail out banks, why don't we have a fraction of it for education, healthcare and environmental restoration?<br /><br /><embed src="http://bkconnection.com/agenda/speech.swf" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" allowFullScreen="true" AllowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="353"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-55095970693530289702008-12-14T15:13:00.000+11:002008-12-14T15:16:39.112+11:00TIME Magazine & CNN report on alternative currencies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ010SZyTOHY1rhJrJNzBMsAfetjR97u7HlLDFmOeClU3B0456kH4-nOL1LSk9yR9XxJUzZRAC3fFKvDnjnBixcpRljxuN8VovDBxVcJtxJ2GvxR6AwfPJOxJ2f9i8L629qYls/s1600-h/alt_currency_1209.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ010SZyTOHY1rhJrJNzBMsAfetjR97u7HlLDFmOeClU3B0456kH4-nOL1LSk9yR9XxJUzZRAC3fFKvDnjnBixcpRljxuN8VovDBxVcJtxJ2GvxR6AwfPJOxJ2f9i8L629qYls/s400/alt_currency_1209.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279494383805803074" /></a><br /><br />Alternative Currencies are growing in popularity - even the TIME magazine is writing about them:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1865467-3,00.html">http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1865467-3,00.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-86585664791279565932008-10-12T09:40:00.000+11:002008-10-12T10:00:29.925+11:00Where from here?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierqkfurJPvgsP0g7nw8-FSMLFLH8gpHa8l6P6OxW_dwxDnq0VxI4Aft1PrdHupSIbA2CL1UhO_zHnX12wVG1_sXmLmk-iAcRejXfLRGBfZGPjjzxV8_aln73sM3e8ZWguAgoN/s1600-h/burning-money.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierqkfurJPvgsP0g7nw8-FSMLFLH8gpHa8l6P6OxW_dwxDnq0VxI4Aft1PrdHupSIbA2CL1UhO_zHnX12wVG1_sXmLmk-iAcRejXfLRGBfZGPjjzxV8_aln73sM3e8ZWguAgoN/s400/burning-money.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256034555203898514" /></a><br /><br />Even though we are in the worst financial crisis in decades, it is still very seldom one comes across anyone who can actually see the big picture of what is going on, someone who dares looking at the long term and recognises the money system for what it is. Most people are oblivious to the mechanics of our financial system and its profound influence on human behaviour! <br /><br /><a href="http://realitysandwich.com/money_and_crisis_civilization">Here</a> is one of the rare articles that clearly outlines the predicament we are in, and that also doesn't sink into doom and gloom, but actually points a way out! I've noticed that so far all solutions to the financial crisis that are being proposed aim to extend the life of the current system. All those solutions will ultimately fail, if we don't start looking outside the box.<br /><br />The elephant in the middle of the room, that everyone keeps ignoring, is the mechanism of debt-based money with interest, that set in motion the need for an ever and exponentially growing economy. That means that ultimately all social, cultural, natural and any other capital will need to be converted into money, to feed the system. A good example is the creation of tradeable emission rights, where we even convert pollution into money and create yet another opportunity to make profit. <br /><br />The system is is like an all-devouring monster on the loose. But the borrowing of new money to pay for old debts and interest cannot go on for ever. There are natural limits to growth on this planet. Sooner or later we have to face bankruptcy and collapse. <br /><br />What are the solutions, what is the way out? The only solution that will ultimately work is to abolish the bank-run interest-incurring debt-money system. A partial solution could be to reform the money system and restore the ability of government to spend currency interest-free into circulation. But, looking at the wide spectrum of how trade and exchange can happen, it would probably be very wise to move away from a monocultural approach of "one currency rules the whole economy", to an approach of diversity, where a host of systems and currencies take care of balancing out all the giving and receiving that is constantly occurring. <br /><br />The diversity of systems would include local currency systems as well as national and international systems running concurrently, alongside each other. <a href="http://www.timebanking.org/">Time banking</a> and various forms of <a href="http://www.gift-economy.com/">gift economies</a> would offer even more freedom of choice for all participants in our society. This would provide for a smooth running of the economy, even if one particular system, as right now, is in deep crisis. <br /><br />To restore the social and environmental damage that has been inflicted on the planet, many other accompanying improvements could be implemented, like taxing the 'bads' instead of the 'goods' (an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotaxes">ecological tax reform</a>) and the restoration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commons">the commons</a>. There are probably quite a few other measures that need to be taken to restore balance in both the economy and in our relationship with the environment. In short: to create a balanced, sustainable and empowering economy - based on and respecting the living systems of our planet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-73444100815655371042008-09-28T19:06:00.000+10:002008-09-28T19:08:39.183+10:00Money – why isn't there ever enough?Our economy is drifting into increasingly difficult times. The media is full of headlines about failing finance companies and investment banks, rising food and fuel prices, unaffordable mortgages, high exchange rates and the 'credit crunch'. After months of assurances that the problem is over, it is getting worse. The American government is preparing to bail out the finance industry on Wall Street with a trillion dollars. <br /><br />Alongside that, we also notice that the inequality between rich and poor is not being addressed and will likely keep increasing. Further more, we are in an election year, and the main parties are out in force with easy answers - tax cuts, apparently the panacea for our economic woes. <br /><br />It might be time to explore a bit further what is underlying all those symptoms we are experiencing. At the core of our economic system is something we call money and the financial industry. Most people never think about how money works, except that we will hurt if we don't have it, and therefore the best thing is to have as much of it as possible. The amount of money in circulation is rising rapidly - between 10% and 15% any given year, which is far beyond the increase of population in New Zealand - and this is far beyond the growth of the economy. Yet there never seems to be enough.<br /><br />If we take a closer look at how the money system works, then we see that the current difficulties were entirely predictable. Price rises across the board are caused by different things. There are at least three major reasons for why everything becomes more expensive: a) offer and demand in the international market place, b) expectation of profits and c) the cost of money.<br /><br />We are currently experiencing significant increases in the cost of basic items we need in life, like food and fuel. For both of these necessities, and for many other items, we depend on the global market. Peak oil and political uncertainty in many regions drive commodity prices up, fuel and food get more expensive because of higher transport costs, export restrictions and speculation. The demand and supply mechanism of the world markets is further enhanced with exchange rate uncertainties, with the highly valued NZ$ making imports even more expensive. <br /><br />The second reason for expensive prices is the expectation of profits. Oil prices, after hitting a high of almost $150 in July, have come down to below $100. Why is that in such a short period of time? Has there been a significant change in production – or is this rather a result of speculative trading with investors taking profits? In any case, those variances have a significant impact onto the prices we have to pay as a consumer. The same applies for food items.<br /><br />The third reason why prices (and mortgages and rents) keep rising ia the cost of money! There is hardly any property in the country that doesn't have a mortgage on it and most businesses operate on borrowed money as well. Despite the recent lowering of interest rates by the Reserve Bank, mortgages and other loans are still really expensive. At today's mortgage rates, one pays about 1.5 times the price of a house to the bank for the service of creating the money – that makes the buying of a house more than twice as expensive than the price advertised by the real estate agency. The cost of money creation – interest – is factored into all prices we pay, for everything, not just for major items like houses. <br /><br />This takes us right to the heart of how our money is created. It is a fact that about 98.5% of our money is loaned into existence by a bank that is collecting interest for the privilege to do so. Nowadays, money doesn't represent the value of gold anymore, as it used to do in the past. Today's currencies are 'fiat' currencies – money is just created by a key stroke on a computer – out of nothing!<br /><br />The only protection (or value!) money has, is the law that makes it 'legal tender' – that means that the government requires you to use a particular kind of 'money' to pay taxes. At the same time, if traders cannot agree to use another means of exchange among themselves, the law requires that one uses legal tender to settle any outstanding debt. <br /><br />When money is loaned into existence, the banks are required to balance the numbers keyed into an account with a balancing account entry – in the case of a mortgage the value of the property mortgaged. This is how the 'sub-prime' crises arose at the first place, when money was created for people who could not service the mortgage and didn't have enough property value to cover the loan. This all got worse when the real estate bubble burst and property values slumped. Since we live with a 'financial monoculture', where we have only one kind of money to run our economy, we all are extremely vulnerable to any upsets in the financial industry.<br /><br />Well then, what is being done about it? Having only one kind of currency to oil the economy, there are not many means to guide it. Reserve Banks in many countries believe that they only need to adjust interest rates to guide the economy. Currently the main aim seems to be to create a lot of money, by lowering interest rates, to keep the economy oiled – especially the speculative stock and currency markets, which far exceed 95% of all economic turnover. <br /><br />And still - why is there never enough money? Simply because the system is designed to be that way on purpose!<br /><br />What can we, the people, do about it? Maybe there is a great opportunity in this crisis! We've been putting all eggs into one basket: bank-issued money. Now, with the financial industry in dire straits, we might start looking at other solutions. Maybe it is time to transition from bank created money to community created money, from money created for private gain to money created for the common good, from money which is very expensive to money which is an almost free medium. <br /><br />There are many thinkers and economists who have developed concepts of monetary reform and monetary transformation. Monetary reformers usually call on government to retake the power of money creation and to do so in the service of the people. Monetary transformers, often coming together in community groups, go ahead and create their own means of exchange and use it to empower and grow local communities, insulating them somewhat from the ravages of globalisation and insensitive government policies. Both have in common that currency should be issued without interest, and therefore radically reduce the cost of money. <br /><br />More and more people are discovering that we have a multitude of ways at our disposal of trading and exchanging services and goods among each other. Money was invented because direct barter is often inconvenient. Money that is universally acceptable is a tangible form of trust – trust that we will receive something back for what we have provided on one hand, and trust that we contribute for what we have taken and consumed on the other hand. This trust could very well and easily be expressed in the form of complementary community currencies, timebanks and other non-exploitative exchange mechanisms. Trust could also be an implicit part of a culture of a community or nation. Such a culture would provide naturally occurring opportunities to share in the abundance that exists, unconditionally, without fear of lack. Ultimately, every individual human being can come to the realisation that we are all part of Nature, and that Nature and its intricate and interwoven systems will not stop providing – except of course if we destroy it in the process of satisfying and 'servicing' our current scarcity based money and economic system.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-44018117200017303052008-09-07T17:04:00.000+10:002008-09-07T17:38:02.587+10:00Transition Aotearoa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv0UxTLUK0Qh1kXhukbu3i2cTPb03-2cSfTQ4neZbyeOnRJeBaTU90w5teTpn5xyq6-yvtxUhxXOJGoLmBXqepq8oPmvTQxtasw0Fb5L7ZukLk4_sEVRwD02qeM6HO9ujMldT/s1600-h/TT_Head_V6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv0UxTLUK0Qh1kXhukbu3i2cTPb03-2cSfTQ4neZbyeOnRJeBaTU90w5teTpn5xyq6-yvtxUhxXOJGoLmBXqepq8oPmvTQxtasw0Fb5L7ZukLk4_sEVRwD02qeM6HO9ujMldT/s400/TT_Head_V6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243178413495943986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I haven't been very active on this blog recently, though quite busy elsewhere. I've been discovering social networking - though in a more sensible fashion than I usually get with Facebook and Co.<br /><br />My current online social network of choice is <a href="http://transitionaotearoa.org.nz/">Transition Aotearoa</a>, a <a href="http://ning.com/">ning</a> application that has managed to gather 372 members since 18 April this year, attracting 5 new people every two days.<br /><br />A lot of my online activities went in there! Transition to a new culture of doing this - a promissing start!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-21801854115050142842008-06-22T10:29:00.000+10:002008-06-22T10:30:28.059+10:00The car that runs on water<object style="width: 100%" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.reuters.com/resources/flash/includevideo.swf?edition=US&videoId=84561" width="344" height="320"><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.reuters.com/resources/flash/includevideo.swf?edition=US&videoId=84561" /><embed src="http://www.reuters.com/resources/flash/includevideo.swf?edition=US&videoId=84561" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="344" height="320"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-5044669588640060102008-06-05T12:58:00.000+10:002008-06-05T13:00:58.439+10:00Chainsaw massacre on World Environment Day<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4573334a6009.html">http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4573334a6009.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Christchurch City Council has ordered the destruction of six trees along City Mall on World Environment Day.<br /><br />The trees were removed early this morning from an area between Colombo Street and the Bridge of Remembrance as work progresses on Project City Mall.<br /><br />Concerned residents, who contacted The Press to report the destruction, said it made a mockery of the idea of sustainability on what was World Environment Day. <br /><br />The Christchurch City Council said the trees were identified for removal either because they were in decline or because their root systems would be affected by the construction of a new service lane planned for the area.<br /><br />Project director Sean Whitaker said removal of the trees would also open up the mall to create a clear view of the Bridge of Remembrance.<br /><br />New Zealand has been chosen to host this year's World Environment Day, which was aimed at raising awareness around the wiorld about climate change.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-20952743993120697452008-06-01T17:11:00.000+10:002008-12-10T23:44:37.937+11:00More than $100!Last week, for the first time, I paid more than $100 to fill up my tank. Suddenly, it seems, filling up my car changed from being a casual payment to a major expense. It was this additional digit in the price that made peak oil suddenly all real in my personal life.<br /><br />Of course, high oil prices have been a big problem for many people around the world for some time now (<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/shocked-how-the-oil-crisis-has-hit-the-world-837477.html">Shocked! How the oil crisis has hit the world</a>.)<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.oil-price.net/TABLE2/gen.php?lang=en"><br /></script><br /><noscript> <a href="http://www.oil-price.net/dashboard.php?lang=en">To get the oil price, please enable Javascript.</a><br /></noscript><br /><br />The oil price has been creeping up for a long time now. It's been at $135, and is currently at $127 as I'm writing this post. It will continue to rise, and together the price of petrol will rise, too!<br /><br />What consequences does this have for me? What options do I have to reduce my petrol use? There are several options, though there are also constraints. The obvious constraint that comes to mind is family: currently we are taking our two little girls to the preschool. It would be an inconvenient and time-wasting procedure if we didn't have a car. This, simply, because the way our city is built and the way public transport operates. For my way to work I have a convenient direct bus line, and I suppose I could take up bicycling again - even though I don't feel particularly safe riding a bike. Again, that is mainly due to the way our roading system is built. And yes, of course, we could down-scale the car we are driving, to something more modest, more modern and more fuel-efficient.<br /><br />However, putting those personal actions into the big context, I realize that it won't bring about the change we need. Nor does <a href="http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/canterbury+transport+project+receives+funding+boost">government policy that spends millions for transport</a>, where only a tiny little fraction of the budget goes to public transport and bicycling. Because of the general increase of living costs, certain voices call for the reduction of taxes on fuel - that would be a futile move as well, as the temporary relief it gives to the consumer will be voided by further oil price increases in the short term, while government would be permanently losing a source of income. I'm convinced, only radical change really make a difference.<br /><br />Given our culture of mobility and the layout of modern settlement, it is likely that we will continue to depend on individual personal transport. The only way out is if we finally disconnect our transport modes from the consumption of fossil fuels. It is about time that we develop alternative car engines, and mass-market them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GHbImfg5iNb1nZxyvgHPId2rlf8Mp4Jeaz4VbiPax6eBEb9iHZE-G5LFZggcudV8VUkNRaSaMUXoj57HXdB10cUTUnitZl_6YwSCs5YZOB9rQIkdC-z9g1gUkf6mkkllN9CR/s1600-h/air-car-0607.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GHbImfg5iNb1nZxyvgHPId2rlf8Mp4Jeaz4VbiPax6eBEb9iHZE-G5LFZggcudV8VUkNRaSaMUXoj57HXdB10cUTUnitZl_6YwSCs5YZOB9rQIkdC-z9g1gUkf6mkkllN9CR/s400/air-car-0607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206819136611832882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For years now I've been intrigued by the idea of an air powered car. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7243247.stm">It seems that now, finally, the Indian company Tata is starting to build them.</a> How long will it take until they come to New Zealand? I hope we don't have to wait for very long ...!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-50032703378369279682008-05-21T05:45:00.000+10:002008-05-21T05:47:37.572+10:00It is slowly sinking in ....An interesting little video on YouTube .... <br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1iKgoekcY9A&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1iKgoekcY9A&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-39661485165832445032008-03-30T07:53:00.000+11:002008-03-30T08:45:12.144+11:00Still a long way to go ...This is a letter sent the to The Press, in response to the <a href="http://www.earthhour.org/">Earth Hour</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4456988a6009.html">http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4456988a6009.html<br /></a><br /><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><blockquote><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Earth Hour in Christchurch was a success, far exceeding the expectations of the organisers. Yet, it was a small step on a long path. In order to succeed, our society needs to transition to a culture of sustainability. The 12.8% of reduction in electricity use during one hour, preceded by a long media campaign needs to lead to comprehensive Energy Descent Plans for each village, town, city and country. Our mentality of 'more is better' will have to be replaced with the common sense of 'less is better' and our economic systems and ideology need to turn away from the need of constant growth at all costs. Still a long way to go, indeed ... </p> </blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-89205332986623041712008-03-23T08:47:00.000+11:002008-03-23T08:59:02.825+11:00'Official Status' of Transition Towns'Transition Towns' is a new movement that has arisen in response to climate change and peak oil (and peak other stuff). People and <a href="http://www.transitiontowns.org/">groups in the UK</a> have been pioneering the ideas and concept.<br /><br />They've also started to formalize processes in some ways, and one of them is setting out <a href="http://transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork/Primer">criterias</a> of what is to constitute an 'official' transition town. This of course has stirred up some <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/nztt/browse_thread/thread/3d8bd5f9735306fb?hl=en">discussions</a>, notably on the <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/nztt?hl=en">New Zealand discussion list</a>.<br /><br />Here is my response to the <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/nztt/browse_thread/thread/3d8bd5f9735306fb?hl=en">thread</a>:<br /><br />Thank you very much for bringing this up. I think this is a very important issue. It is important because in order to succeed with transitioning to a better and sustainable future we need to be<br />grounded in our local environment. This not only in terms of food and energy production, but also in terms of economics, culture, philosophy and worldview. I noticed that we had some discussions in our Christchurch group on the same subject of this business of 'official status' as well, without coming to a final conclusion on what that is supposed to mean of us.<br /><br />While things like an 'official status' are clearly hangovers from our current traditional culturally imperialist midset, I also have an explanaition from the permaculture point of view. One of the<br />permaculture principles my teachers tought me was put into following words: "everything gardens". Every participant in the system is trying to influence its immediate environment in a way as to create more livable conditions for itself to survive and spread. Applying this principle to the social and economic sphere helps me understand a lot of what is going on.<br /><br />Everyone is constantly engaged in manipulating his or her environment and relationships with others in a way that suits his/her own character and purposes. This is neither good nor bad - this just is. All, everyone and everything is doing it all the time. But just because someone/something else is in the process of remodelling his/her/its systemic environment to suit its own purpose/character doesn't mean that we have to submit to those efforts ourselves.<br /><br />As far as I'm concerned, if someone declares his/herself as 'official' - then this is just their own problem and not mine. I only have to decide what I need to do in order to stay true to myself. In terms of the Transition Towns movement this might mean: Engage in networking to learn from others, if they have to teach us something useful. Yet on the other hand we might ignore what comes across as cultural imperialism and we should not feel obliged to submit to some 'official<br />guidelines' that are handed down from some gurus on the other side of the world.<br /><br />To me, the Transition Town's movement is about more than just energy descent. In order do succeed, we also need to create a new culture that is steeped in the systems' approach, rooted in the local environment of our planet and has evolved to embrace cultural and spiritual diversity.<br /><br />So, Gail, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think is it absolutely necessary that we are clear on why we are engaging the transition process as well as how we are relating to others who are<br />engaged in the same process, locally as well as internationally. While we are often engaged in discussing and learning the nuts and bolts - developing an understanding of the big picture of underlying dynamics is often more challenging.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-41959711110802551072008-02-28T06:14:00.001+11:002008-02-28T06:19:02.109+11:00Tiny village sues big oil and power companies over global warming<a href="http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nationworld/story/294294.html">http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nationworld/story/294294.html</a><br /><br />A tiny Alaska village eroding into the Arctic Ocean sued two dozen oil, power and coal companies Tuesday, claiming that the large amounts of greenhouse gases they emit contribute to global warming that threatens the community’s existence. <p>The city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kivalina">Kivalina</a> and a federally recognized tribe, the Alaska Native Village of Kivalina, sued Exxon Mobil Corp. and BP PL C, seven other oil companies, 14 power companies and one coal company in a lawsuit filed in federal court in San Francisco.</p> <p>Kivalina is a traditional Inupiat Eskimo village of about 390 people about 625 miles northwest of Anchorage. It’s built on an 8-mile barrier reef.</p> <p>Sea ice traditionally protected the community. But sea ice that forms later and melts sooner because of higher temperatures has left the community unprotected from fall and winter storm waves and surges.</p> <p>Relocation costs have been estimated at $400 million or more.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-66023657416622260672008-02-25T22:29:00.001+11:002008-02-25T22:47:05.537+11:00Understanding Complementary CurrencyHere is a good introduction into the understanding of what a true complementary currency is. I'm quoting Tom Greco's post from the CC Open Collective Skype channel.<br /><br /><br />***<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">[3.Feb.2008 04:59:16] Thomas H. Greco (USA) says: A recent email </span><span style="font-style: italic;">exchange prompted me to write the following, which i think may be </span><span style="font-style: italic;">helpful to some of those on this chat:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Because of legal tender laws, the "dollar" has come to have two meanings </span><span style="font-style: italic;">-- (1) as a medium of exchange or payment (a currency), and (2) as the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">standard of value measurement or pricing unit.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">An alternative currency must eventually decouple from both "dollars" but </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the more urgent need by far is decoupling from the dollar as a means of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">payment.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">As I've pointed out in my books, an alternative currency that is issued </span><span style="font-style: italic;">on the basis of a national currency paid in (e.g., sold for dollars), </span><span style="font-style: italic;">amounts to a "gift certificate" or localized "traveler's check." (See </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Money Understanding and Creating Alternatives to Legal Tender, Chapter </span><span style="font-style: italic;">14, pp 145-163). It essentially amounts to prepayment for the goods or </span><span style="font-style: italic;">services offered by the accepting merchants. As such, it substitutes a </span><span style="font-style: italic;">local, limited use currency for a national, universal currency.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That approach provides some limited utility in encouraging the holder of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the currency to buy locally, but the option of redeeming the currency </span><span style="font-style: italic;">back into dollars without penalty raises the question of how many times </span><span style="font-style: italic;">it will mediate local trades before being redeemed and leaking back to </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the outside world.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To truly empower a local community, a currency should be issued on the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">basis of goods and services changing hands, i.e., it should be "spent </span><span style="font-style: italic;">into circulation" by local business entities and/or individuals who are </span><span style="font-style: italic;">able to redeem it by providing goods or services that are in everyday </span><span style="font-style: italic;">demand by local consumers. Such a currency amounts to an i.o.u. of the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">issuer, an i.o.u. that is voluntarily accepted by some other provider of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">goods and services (like an employee or supplier), then circulated, then </span><span style="font-style: italic;">eventually redeemed, not in cash, but "in kind." In this way, community </span><span style="font-style: italic;">members "monetize" the value of their own production, just as banks </span><span style="font-style: italic;">monetize the value of collateral assets when they make a loan, except in </span><span style="font-style: italic;">this case, it is done by the community members themselves based on their </span><span style="font-style: italic;">own values and criteria, without the "help" or involvement of any </span><span style="font-style: italic;">government, bank, or ordinary financial institution, and without the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">need to have any official money to begin with.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is what I mean when I talk about liberating the exchange process </span><span style="font-style: italic;">and restoring (some part of) the "credit commons" and bringing it under </span><span style="font-style: italic;">local control. In this way, the community gains a measure of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">independence from the supply of official money (dollars) and the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">policies and decisions of the central bank (which in the US is the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Federal Reserve) and the banking cartel. That is the primary mission </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">that needs to be accomplished if we are to transcend the destructive </span><span style="font-style: italic;">effects of the global monetary and banking regime, devolve power to the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">local level, and build sustainable, economic democracy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With regard to the second meaning -- the "dollar" as a measure of value, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">we need to understand that a standard becomes established by common </span><span style="font-style: italic;">usage. We in the United States are accustomed to valuing things in </span><span style="font-style: italic;">dollar units. We know from our everyday shopping experiences what the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">value of the dollar unit is in terms of the things we buy and in terms </span><span style="font-style: italic;">of our own earning power. Any new "language of value" will have to be </span><span style="font-style: italic;">translated into the dollar "language" that we already understand. How we </span><span style="font-style: italic;">measure value is a separate question from that of how we create our own </span><span style="font-style: italic;">payment media. In the process of monetizing local production as </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">described above, we can choose to give our credit unit any name we wish, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">but it makes sense initially to define the value of that unit as being </span><span style="font-style: italic;">equivalent to that of the national currency unit. In the exchange </span><span style="font-style: italic;">process, large balances will not be held for long so the debasement of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the dollar unit through will result in only slight losses for users of </span><span style="font-style: italic;">the community currency.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It is when we begin to hold long-term claims denominated in our own new </span><span style="font-style: italic;">value unit that we will need to define it in concrete, objective terms </span><span style="font-style: italic;">to avoid following the dollar into the abyss of worthlessness.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The US dollar was originally defined as a specified weight of fine </span><span style="font-style: italic;">silver, then later on, gold, but those objective definitions were </span><span style="font-style: italic;">obliterated by laws that made paper currency "legal tender" that must be </span><span style="font-style: italic;">accepted in payment of "all debts public and private." So now the value </span><span style="font-style: italic;">of the dollar unit of measure of value depends entirely upon the value </span><span style="font-style: italic;">of the dollar currency, but the value of the dollar currency is </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">continually declining as more of it is issued on an improper basis, </span><span style="font-style: italic;">particularly on the basis of government debts that will never be repaid </span><span style="font-style: italic;">and that bring no concomitant value into the market.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A stable value unit will then need to be defined in terms of some </span><span style="font-style: italic;">commodity or group of commodities that are commonly traded. Such </span><span style="font-style: italic;">definition will then provide the "Rosetta stone" that enables us to </span><span style="font-style: italic;">relate, from day to day and minute to minute, our value unit to the old </span><span style="font-style: italic;">dollar language. That process is explained in my first book, Money and </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Debt: A Solution to the Global Crisis, Part III and Appendices.<br /><br />***<br /><br /></span>Examples of Complementary currencies that still depend on the conventional national currency are the <a href="http://www.chiemgauer.info/">Chiemgauer</a> or <a href="http://www.berkshares.org/">Berkshares</a>. Examples of true complementary currencies that do not depend on a conventional currency are LETS, Timebanking and <a href="http://ces.org.za/">CES</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-38086891976161843442008-02-02T19:32:00.000+11:002008-12-10T23:44:38.453+11:00We are all One!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZrsxzR0kNwG1DglUdXlqJOIX9uAhGfMk7MSWuHZCjncqYh0NYUWJo6RGlZTVXsgHzZOcfWu5BUObK2UZ1dNID2Y33ZkBAwftA17PDhNcIDOR5Ix_B400ur-wsgpPizjLi4_D/s1600-h/Saadii.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZrsxzR0kNwG1DglUdXlqJOIX9uAhGfMk7MSWuHZCjncqYh0NYUWJo6RGlZTVXsgHzZOcfWu5BUObK2UZ1dNID2Y33ZkBAwftA17PDhNcIDOR5Ix_B400ur-wsgpPizjLi4_D/s320/Saadii.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162298291228107122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are things that have always been known. One of it is that we are all One!<br /><br />Many have expressed that throughout history. An example I came across recently is in the writings of the Persian poet <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadi_%28poet%29">Sa'adi</a>, where he writes in 'Bostan':<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">All human beings are in truth akin;</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">All in creation share one origin.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">When fate allots a member pangs and pains,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No ease for others members then remains.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If, unperturbed, another's grief canst scan,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Thou are not worthy of the name of man.</blockquote>(<a href="http://www.farsinet.com/poetry/saadi1.html">http://www.farsinet.com/poetry/saadi1.html</a>)<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUhVjOk0m8T_EBR3OP2GBy8ceoKA5fYsptmGbnNYETDEIbVA6YKNxzGLxT6yYNqDtp4Tcd2OAe6w69SnqivqlYyIiCnmKy_s8p_CbhW23exRhOAvc6e7BgLaYbLFLDBDYj4tf/s1600-h/ShahBostan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUhVjOk0m8T_EBR3OP2GBy8ceoKA5fYsptmGbnNYETDEIbVA6YKNxzGLxT6yYNqDtp4Tcd2OAe6w69SnqivqlYyIiCnmKy_s8p_CbhW23exRhOAvc6e7BgLaYbLFLDBDYj4tf/s320/ShahBostan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162298299818041730" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-5670525594740310702008-01-30T08:43:00.000+11:002008-12-10T23:44:38.681+11:00A journey around the world, powered by the sun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4VZGcz2DEPW3hP-Ru97-xq-r-BYBIsH5mfEE03NsDEmOPJbhhe8jM_7_9dlUc-HmV7TLLSCa32pfHA8uZC11UR9Haakdz9pmypztTEQlo_ORBjkIbA84qNeqRelvKzp5KNlZ/s1600-h/solartaxi_chch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4VZGcz2DEPW3hP-Ru97-xq-r-BYBIsH5mfEE03NsDEmOPJbhhe8jM_7_9dlUc-HmV7TLLSCa32pfHA8uZC11UR9Haakdz9pmypztTEQlo_ORBjkIbA84qNeqRelvKzp5KNlZ/s400/solartaxi_chch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161017957182202210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />About a week ago, Louis Palmer, a Swiss national, traveled through Christchurch with his sun-powered Solartaxi. Unfortunately I missed the occasion and only read about it in the paper the next day.<br /><br />On his website (<a href="http://www.solartaxi.ch/">http://www.solartaxi.ch</a>) Louis states that <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Global warming can be stopped. Solutions are available."</span> I couldn't agree more!<br /><br />Here is his mission statement:<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">“On 3 July 2007 I set off on my first journey around the world with a solar powered vehicle. Admittedly, as a regular citizen I cannot change the world but I can demonstrate to the world just how dire the global climate situation has become and how many sophisticated solutions to lower the greenhouse gases already exist, which bring with them many other advantages. So that we can have a better world and a more secure future. The solar taxi should rekindle hope and a zest for life, set an example to counteract resignation and stimulate reflection. And show that every single one of us can take a step towards preserving our planet.”</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-73032945335194073972008-01-28T12:15:00.000+11:002008-12-10T23:44:38.808+11:00Words of Wisdom: Patents<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaaeJeltkxFYZXAMLngVFaL1SFPI3oXxCVaDQowWvjQ5JbFo4gYP9Y84HY7HEAFaELwPMtADDlzpOKw5Qv7TQYRSL7EXC2QpXdHXFERN8_clLVpbboTMK_wGIKlQ0uHrKJWVB/s1600-h/patents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaaeJeltkxFYZXAMLngVFaL1SFPI3oXxCVaDQowWvjQ5JbFo4gYP9Y84HY7HEAFaELwPMtADDlzpOKw5Qv7TQYRSL7EXC2QpXdHXFERN8_clLVpbboTMK_wGIKlQ0uHrKJWVB/s320/patents.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160336242793111890" /></a><br /><blockquote>"If people had understood how patents would be granted when most of today's ideas were invented and had taken out patents, the industry would be at a complete standstill today. ... <br /><br />The solution is patenting as much as we can. A future startup with no patents of its own will be forced to pay whatever price the giants choose to impose. That price might be high. Established companies have an interest in excluding future competitors."</blockquote><br />Attributed to Bill Gates, 1991<br /><br />Therefore don't underestimate the danger posed by patents in anyone industry!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-30886569926718406862007-11-10T20:29:00.000+11:002007-11-10T20:40:50.073+11:00Was there a crash, and nobody noticed?Was the so-called credit crunch more than just another fleeting economic alarm?<br /><br />On 9 August, all the big international banks simply stopped lending to each other, as jitters over the enormous extent of bad debts riddling world financial markets suddenly turned to tremors. It was unprecedented. It was like a run on the banks – but by other banks.<br /><br />Now, three months later, people are asking if anything happened. Some say there's nothing to worry about. But others are speculating that a landslide might have been triggered – one to match the worst economic collapses of any time in the past 100 years.<br /><br />It seems that the facts are still hidden from public gaze.<br /><br />To understand what is happening, one has to realise how much has changed inside the marble halls of high finance. Subprime mortgages are merely a symptom of a shift far more fundamental.<br /><br />Putting it simply, the first seismic shift is that credit – other people's debts – has become an asset which can be traded. The second is that trading in general has become wildly leveraged or geared. That is, most professional investing is now done with borrowed money or IOUs. ...<br /><br />Read the whole article here: <br /><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/4251617a13135.html">http://www.stuff.co.nz/4251617a13135.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-37182786729280104442007-10-31T09:31:00.000+11:002007-10-31T09:37:01.128+11:00Abandon the outdated ..."You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a NEW model that makes the existing model obsolete." <br /><br />- Buckminster Fuller<br /><br />* * * *<br /><br />"Gandhi is an example of the power of a unified state of consciousness. He was never 'against'. His consciousness was not in a divided state. He was always 'for'. So he acted, spoke, and transmitted into the collective an undivided state of consciousness. That's what has all the power. That's really significant... am I divided?" <br /> -- AdyashantiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-7671905666466320462007-10-22T15:19:00.000+10:002007-10-23T04:27:57.210+10:00Swiss Election ResultsWell, it is interesting to see that the election results in my home country Switzerland are so closely scrutinized here at the other end of the world. The Swiss People's Party may have achieved a resounding success, but I consider it to be a sad sign. It shows what the money backed demagoguery of a billionaire can achieve. As almost everywhere, when we are confronted with new challenges, like climate change, global integration and a declining economy, polarizing the argument and scapegoating immigrants always works - sadly. The only solutions the Swiss People's Party seems to promote is turning back the wheel of time, and kicking out the foreigners. Given the complex changes that are needed to address the problems we face nowadays, this seems to be a simple way out for many people, without having to face reality.<br /><br />This is also a sad sign, because it shows that there is no real political leadership and vision from the established parties, particularly by the Social Democrats, who were the leading (largest) party for many years. The only exception is maybe the emerging Green Party, which did very well, increasing both voter percentage as well as seats in parliament. While the Greens just missed the 10% mark, it needs to be noted that a fraction that recently split off the main Green Party, the newly constituted Green-Liberal Party, also achieved 3 seats in Parliament.<br /><br />While the Green emergence is slow yet steady and unstoppable, we shouldn't be worried too much by the backlash of the electoral success by the rightwing People's Party. The political system in Switzerland is very stable, and deeply rooted in local politics. This is also reflected in the Swiss economy, with the Swiss Franc being one of the most stable currencies around the planet. Switzerland is also the only country that never felt threatended by one of the Depression era local currency systems: WIR - all others, among them the JAK in Denmark, Wära in Germany and Wörgl in Austria were soon abolished by the political authorities. WIR has flurished and undergone changes over the decades and is now a firmly established player in the economy. In modern day Switzerland there are also a number of experimental local currencies, modeled on timebanking and others.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/index.html?siteSect=1700">Click here for results!<br /></a> and <a href="http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/elections/index.html?siteSect=1535">other related information.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-59598137284740353742007-07-03T15:34:00.000+10:002007-07-03T15:37:19.787+10:00The Future of LETSYou know, I really admire all of you who made Green Dollars happen here in New Zealand! That was a good job and a lot of work. It was also a learning curve for all of us and the still existing exchanges are certainly more mature for it. Just look at what kind of stuff they are still discussing in South Africa, three years after the introduction of CES there.<br /><br />However, I also realise that there is a whole generation of practitioners who is now retiring. This leaves us at a critical junction. When LETS was adapted to New Zealand the last time, there was a clear economic imperative and a lot of people in need of a complementary means of exchange. Today the situation is completely different. What is it that is at the forefront of our concerns nowadays? Social issues, though present, are somewhat in the background. To me it looks like environmental issues like peak oil and climate change are fast grabbing the centre stage of our concerns.<br /><br />Those new issues will require changes to our behaviours which go far beyond what was inflicted on New Zealanders in the 1980s and 90s. If we want to go beyond the rearranging of the deck-chairs of the Titanic, a comprehensive shift of thinking is necessary. There are many who write up post-peak oil scenarios. The Natural Step has developed a science based tool for sustainable development. Yet hardly anyone notices the need to also change such fundamental economic mechanisms like the money system.<br /><br />And, sadly, those who are already using a complementary money system that could actually be part of a package of solutions to deal with peak-oil and climate change, are not aware of the jewel right in their hands. This is mostly because our way of thinking still makes us blind for the values we need to espouse in order to successfully confront those new challenges.<br /><br />LETS doesn't work for people who want to become rich. This is simply because 'rich' and 'poor' are irrelevant concepts when it gets to LETS trading. It is a question of 'inclusion'. Either one is included in the community or one is excluded. We need to drop some of our cherished judgements. We need to stop fearing those who might 'take too much' and not return enough. In LETS we are not moving pieces of a commodity around (as in the conventional money system), on the contrary - we are nurturing relationships. Because, at the end of the day, its only the relationships that really matter.<br /><br />I feel that we might be best off looking for members who are in tune with those different kinds of values I've just listed above. For those people LETS will work. At the same time, we need to undertake an effort and explain and familiarise those who work for environmental conservation and sustainability. We need to convince them that conserving nature only works if we use economic tools that are in tune with and mimic nature itself. LETS certainly does that.<br /><br />To me, LETS is not just an alternative, or a hobby. LETS is potentially a tool that, if understood correctly, and developed properly, will definitely be able to supplant the conventional money system. Every successful exchange takes us a step closer. This leads to another strongly needed change of mind: understand that 'Small is beautiful' and 'think big' are not contradictions, but actually a much needed complement for success!<br /><br />Well, we are looking for a new generation of leaders to step forward. I hope they have a vision and the maturity of insight to see and undertake what is necessary!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-6386533386825696342007-06-22T05:25:00.000+10:002007-06-22T05:32:39.651+10:00On debt and currencyThe New Zealand Reserve Bank made some headline recently, when the Governor said that we are not saving enough and there is too much debt. Two days later we read that the same Reserve Bank was gambling money on the international currency markets to influence the exchange rate of the NZ dollar. I felt compelled to write a letter to The Press, but it wasn't published.<br /><br />Here is a much more polished version of what I wanted to say, by Peter Luiten. His letter was published in the Auckland <a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/">Herald</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Your correspondents John Elliott and Peter Kelly point out with some passion that New Zealanders are at the mercy of overseas investment bankers.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">At the heart of our financial woes is that we continue, against all sense, to let private interests create our money as debt: we mortgage ourselves deep to obtain it and ever deeper to pay for it. Our economy is not fuelled on debt - it is founded on debt. We are not in danger of becoming a serfdom - we are a serfdom already.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />It doesn’t have to be this way. Interest is a completely unnecessary burden. There is nothing to prevent us creating our own money, and there is no reason why it should cost us to use it.</span><br /><br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />It is true that our Government is doing nothing about it. But any local body can make a start. Councils exist solely to promote the wellbeing of their communities and therefore have a mandate to prevent precious resources going to waste.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Local promotions make little sense when profits vanish offshore. Any community keen to stop its wealth draining into distant coffers has it within its power to create its own interest-free means of exchange.</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-31126873014446696512007-04-03T20:39:00.000+10:002007-04-03T20:40:50.486+10:00The ParadoxToday we have bigger houses and smaller families;<br />more conveniences, but less time;<br /><br />we have more degrees, but less common sense;<br />more knowledge, but less judgment;<br /><br />We have more experts, and also more problems;<br />more medicine, but less wellness.<br /><br />We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get to angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too often, and pray too seldom.<br /><br />We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.<br />We talk too much, love too little and lie too often.<br /><br />We‘ve learned how to make a living, but not a life;<br />we’ve added years to life, not life to years.<br /><br />We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;<br />wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.<br /><br />We spend more, but have less;<br />we buy more, but enjoy it less<br /><br />We've been all the way to the moon and back,<br />but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour<br /><br />We've conquered outer space, but not inner space.<br />We've split the atom, but not our prejudice;<br /><br />we write more, but learn less;<br />plan more, but accomplish less<br /><br />We've learned to rush, but not to wait;<br />we have higher incomes, but lower morals.<br /><br />We are long on quantity, but short on quality<br /><br />These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion;<br />tall men and short character;<br />steep profits and shallow relationships.<br /><br />More leisure and less fun;<br />more kinds of food, and less nutrition;<br />two incomes, and more divorce;<br />fancier houses, and broken homesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35419033.post-2261538310165043372007-04-01T09:33:00.000+10:002008-12-10T23:44:39.064+11:00Section 59 – or what about non-violent parenting?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFybgBiwPMwTfPHI0HkPzzBV60OV_TsfAvl8reZhCZe-EWC7njotioGrvrln254CWYZBd0LbnWPw3x-tPsUTV2pGdRpk5I80FXrDg-cKkm6QbaQDgJgZS06i7nv78WbL6c7Fn/s1600-h/pingu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFybgBiwPMwTfPHI0HkPzzBV60OV_TsfAvl8reZhCZe-EWC7njotioGrvrln254CWYZBd0LbnWPw3x-tPsUTV2pGdRpk5I80FXrDg-cKkm6QbaQDgJgZS06i7nv78WbL6c7Fn/s400/pingu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5048236775974496434" border="0" /></a>(Will the popular childrens series Pingu be banned in New Zealand?)<br /></div><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;">Currently there is an interesting public discussion making waves in New Zealand. It is about the proposed repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act, brought before parliament by <a href="http://www.greens.org.nz/searchdocs/pr10679.html">Green Party </a>MP Sue Bradford. The purpose of <a href="http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/b/2/4/b24fba96f2224b1985bc254efac71c63.htm">this Bill</a> is to stop force, and associated violence being inflicted on children in the context of correction and discipline.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;">The discussion has been noisy, even strident and unpleasant. Is this just a popular political side-show, or how deep does this issue really go? If we can believe the opponents of the bill, then a police state is being born here, and personal freedom of parents to discipline their misbehaving children is severely restricted or even being taken away. An essential part of the Kiwi way of life and culture is about being legislated away and lost – or so most god-fearing Christians like make us believe. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;">In our constant endeavour to create a civilised and evolved society where do we draw the line? Should it be legal to hit your children, but not your wife and animals? In the Koran, the holy book of Islam, the line is drawn in <a href="http://www.globalquran.com/?srh=4srh=4&sh=&srh=4srh=4&sh=&&page=2">Surah IV, Verse 34</a>, which states that if the woman doesn't obey the man, they should be beaten (though the situation is not always as clearcut). Now, we all 'know' that Islam is the enemy of our culture – they mistreat women and sanction their beatings. We in New Zealand, would never do that - yet it should be our god-given right to beat our children?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;">This society is still steeped in institutional violence. How otherwise would one explain the uproar at a bill that basically wants to make non-violent parenting the norm? Our violence is not just against children and a variety of other people, it is also against nature and the environment. We've abused and mistreated the planet to an extent that we are now facing global climate change. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;">We may have experienced incredible technological advances over the last century. We have also learned a lot about how to educate children, and we know that hitting them is counterproductive if anything. However, we also need to match those advances with moral and ethical evolution as well. The opposition to this bill just shows that we have much more difficulty to mature ethically and morally than we have adopting new technological gadgets. And it shows that we still have long way to go until a non-violent society becomes the norm. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; font-family: georgia;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0