<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=windows-1252"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000">
Both asset backing and mutual credit are viable approaches to
creating alternative exchange media. I wrote about all this in my
book, <i>Money: Understanding and Creating Alternatives to legal
Tender.</i> The devil is in the details.<br>
<br>
Tom<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Thomas H. Greco, Jr.
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:thg@mindspring.com">thg@mindspring.com</a>
Mobile phone: 520-820-05
Website: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.Reinventingmoney.com">http://www.Reinventingmoney.com</a>
Blogs: Beyond Money: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://beyondmoney.net">http://beyondmoney.net</a>
Tom's News and Views: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://tomazgreco.wordpress.com">http://tomazgreco.wordpress.com</a>
Photo gallery: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tomazhg">http://picasaweb.google.com/tomazhg</a>
Skype/Twitter name: tomazgreco
My latest book, "The End of Money and the Future of Civilization"
can be ordered from Chelsea Green Publishing, Amazon.com, or your local bookshop.
</pre>
<br>
On 04/18/2011 8:35 PM, Michel Bauwens wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:BANLkTikPufVJD-q_C6EoNBOr6oj_DOpJ4A@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">just in case thomas greco wants to comment on mutual
credit vs asset backing,<br>
<br>
Michel<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 3:57 AM, Matthew
Slater <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:matslats@gmail.com">matslats@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt
0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);
padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>Hi Michel, Franz, & Georg,</div>
<div>Greetings Andreas Laurent & Tim,</div>
<div>
<br>
</div>
Usually a barter currency is mutual credit, which means it
isn't backed by assets.
<div>A currency which is backed by assets is a commodity
currency. You can only issue as much money as you have have
assets.</div>
<div>Or some arbitrary multiple thereof!</div>
<div>So I would question the use of the expression 'barter
currency' here.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Matthew</div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://communityforge.net" target="_blank">communityforge.net</a>
<div>
<div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 18 April 2011 22:37,
Dante-Gabryell Monson <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:dante.monson@gmail.com"
target="_blank">dante.monson@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt
0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204,
204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Yes,
sounds like a nice set of initiates to me.</font>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Yet,
Small note regarding the barter currency they
propose, "co</font><span style="font-family:
Verdana;">vered/guaranteed by the jointly-owned
assets."</span>
<div>
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">I
remember discussing such approach in the past.</font></div>
<div>
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">In
my current understanding , such asset ( such
as shares ? ) guaranteed currency is perhaps
an approach taken to create an incentive to
invest in the local economy ?</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">May
be worth asking... I cc Tim Reeves.</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Yet
I feel that such approach to currency can be
risky as it can lead to the monopolization of
assets into the hands of a minority, hence
having the whole regional economy owned by a
small minority on the medium to long term ?</font></div>
<div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">As
far as I remember, although I have no
references to provide ( would need to ask
Bernard Lietaer ),</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">in
Belgium at least, I heard that unless one
has a special status such as a bank,</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">one
can not operate a currency with euro
equivalence exchangeable�for euros, unless
there is 100 percent euro backing in
reserves, such as is the case with the
german regio/freigeld currency called
"chiemgauer"�</font><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiemgauer"
target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiemgauer</a></div>
<div><span style="font-family:
arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">and/or the JAK
bank in Sweden�</span><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAK_members_bank"
target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JAK_members_bank</a></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">If
their barter currency is solely for their
internal local economy, with no possibility
for exchanging for euros ( purchasing
outside of their local economy ), I do not
understand why they would not have it in a
fiat mutual credit form, such as WIR, with
participants choosing the percentage of
their monetary transaction they wish to be
done in mutual credit ( such as WIR ) ?</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIR_Bank"
target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WIR_Bank</a></font></div>
<div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://wn.com/WIR_Bank"
target="_blank">http://wn.com/WIR_Bank</a></div>
<div><font face="Verdana"><br>
</font></div>
<div><font face="Verdana"><br>
</font><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Apr 18, 2011
at 9:14 PM, Michel Bauwens <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:michelsub2004@gmail.com"
target="_blank">michelsub2004@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;
border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);
padding-left: 1ex;">
HI Franz,<br>
<br>
any perspectives on this?<br>
<br>
Michel<br>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>On Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 1:59
AM, Dante-Gabryell Monson <span
dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:dante.monson@gmail.com"
target="_blank">dante.monson@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;
border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204,
204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<span style="font-family:
Verdana;"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://regional-economic-communities.info/"
target="_blank">http://regional-economic-communities.info/</a></span></div>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_quote">(
found�via open space list )</div>
<div class="gmail_quote"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">----------
Forwarded message
----------<br>
From: <b
class="gmail_sendername">Tim
Reeves</b> <span
dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tim.reeves@rewig.info" target="_blank">tim.reeves@rewig.info</a>></span><br>
Date: Sun, Apr 17, 2011 at
6:19 AM<br>
Subject: Regional Economic
Communities<br>
To: Tim Reeves <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tim.reeves@rewig.info"
target="_blank">tim.reeves@rewig.info</a>><br>
<br>
<br>
<div bgcolor="#ffffff"
text="#003333"> Dear
friends and
acquaintances,<br>
<br>
I just put together a <u>one-time</u>
mailing list of the
english speakers I know
(and some german
speakers with
international
connections). I'm
writing to let you know
about the concept of
Regional Economic
Communities, hoping that
you may be able to help
getting it known. <font
size="-1"><font
face="Verdana"><br>
<br>
The concept presents
a complete � and
radically new �
paradigm for
regional
communities, linking
together commercial,
sustainable and
social aspects. It
describes a means
for normal citizens
to become joint
owners of local,
sustainably-run
businesses. It then
introduces a barter
currency, the Grok,
which is independent
of national currency
and covered by the
jointly-owned
assets.<br>
<br>
While thus
apparently being a
primarily economic
paradigm, it's
essence and
motivation come from
a spiritual
perspective and in
practice great value
is put on the way we
interact with each
other, and to
integrating personal
growth and the
furthering of
interpersonal skills
into the daily
working life.<br>
<br>
The external forms
have been carefully
designed to be <i>practicable</i>.<br>
<br>
You can read all
about it here: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://regional-economic-communities.info/" target="_blank">http://regional-economic-communities.info/</a><br>
<br>
The first such
community is
currently starting
up in Munich - the
cooperative is
founded and
registered, and
moving ahead swiftly
towards getting the
actual business side
up and running. If
you would like to
help the concept
take root in the
english-speaking
world, here are some
things that would
help:<br>
</font></font>
<ul>
<li>Forward this email
to anyone you know
who might be
interested - people
active in regional
currencies,
ecological measures,
transition town, and
such.</li>
<li>Anyone who has the
possibility, please
set a link to the
concept website on
your website, so
that other
interested people
may find it.</li>
<li>Talk to friends
about it, subscribe
for the newsletter
(do so on the
website) <font
size="-1"><font
face="Verdana">�
and</font></font>
don't hesitate to
contact me with
questions.<br>
</li>
<li>Envision a better
future for all, and
practice wellwishing
for all the many
endeavours to
achieve that aim
which are now being
explored.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<font size="-1"><font
face="Verdana">The
quality of the time
in which we live
demonstrates an
exceptional
development of
consciousness. It
grows with every
individual who is
willing to tread the
paths of personal</font></font><font
size="-1"><font
face="Verdana">
growth</font></font><font
size="-1"><font
face="Verdana"> and
systemic evolution.
May it bestow us all
with more
cooperative and
appreciative lives �
paving the way to a
future which we can
truly look forward
to.<br>
</font></font><br>
<div> <span
style="font-size:
10pt; color:
rgb(185, 116, 74);
font-family: Segoe
UI,Frutiger
Next,DejaVu
Sans,Bitstream Vera
Sans,Lucida
Grande,Lucida
Mac,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular,sans-serif;"><b>With
thanks and warm
regards,</b><br>
<br>
<b style="font-size:
12pt;
letter-spacing:
1px;">Tim Reeves</b><br>
<br>
</span> <span
style="font-size:
9pt; color: rgb(152,
80, 35);
font-family: Segoe
UI,Frutiger
Next,DejaVu
Sans,Bitstream Vera
Sans,Lucida
Grande,Lucida
Mac,Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular,sans-serif;">Flurstra�e
10, D-85221 Dachau<br>
<br>
Tel. 08131 - 273
653�� Fax 08131 -
273 654<br>
<span
style="font-size:
6px;"><br>
</span> Email: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tim.reeves@rewig.info" target="_blank">tim.reeves@rewig.info</a><br>
<span
style="font-size:
6px;"><br>
</span> Skype:
timothy.reeves (mit
Webcam)<br>
<br>
<img
moz-do-not-send="true"
src=""
alt="ReeComm-Logo"
width="200"
height="92"><br>
<br>
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://regionale-wirtschaftsgemeinschaft.info/" target="_blank">regionale-wirtschaftsgemeinschaft.info</a>���
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://regional-economic-communities.info/" target="_blank">regional-economic-communities.info</a>���
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://rewig-muenchen.de/" target="_blank">rewig-muenchen.de</a><br>
</span><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
OSList mailing list<br>
To unsubscribe send an email
to <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org"
target="_blank">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>
To subscribe or manage your
subscription click below:<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org"
target="_blank">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org"
target="_blank">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><br>
<br>
</div>
<br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
_______________________________________________<br>
P2P Foundation - Mailing list<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.p2pfoundation.net"
target="_blank">http://www.p2pfoundation.net</a><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation"
target="_blank">https://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<font color="#888888"><br>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
P2P Foundation: <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://p2pfoundation.net"
target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.net</a>�
- <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://blog.p2pfoundation.net"
target="_blank">http://blog.p2pfoundation.net</a>
<br>
<br>
Connect: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://p2pfoundation.ning.com"
target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.ning.com</a>;
Discuss: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation"
target="_blank">http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation</a><br>
<br>
Updates: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://del.icio.us/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://del.icio.us/mbauwens</a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens</a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://twitter.com/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://twitter.com/mbauwens</a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
<br clear="all">
<br>
-- <br>
P2P Foundation: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://p2pfoundation.net" target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.net</a>�
- <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://blog.p2pfoundation.net"
target="_blank">http://blog.p2pfoundation.net</a> <br>
<br>
Connect: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://p2pfoundation.ning.com" target="_blank">http://p2pfoundation.ning.com</a>;
Discuss: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation"
target="_blank">http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation</a><br>
<br>
Updates: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://del.icio.us/mbauwens" target="_blank">http://del.icio.us/mbauwens</a>;
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens</a>; <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://twitter.com/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://twitter.com/mbauwens</a>; <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens"
target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>