each day five point one trillion u.s. dollars are being traded around the
dollars are being traded around the
dollars are being traded around the world but right now this number has two
world but right now this number has two
world but right now this number has two functions only first it shows us all
functions only first it shows us all
functions only first it shows us all what a powerful economic tool many years
what a powerful economic tool many years
what a powerful economic tool many years and second it’s basically just here to
and second it’s basically just here to
and second it’s basically just here to catch your attention for this number
catch your attention for this number
catch your attention for this number does not do justice to or money can and
does not do justice to or money can and
does not do justice to or money can and should be for you and for me money is
should be for you and for me money is
should be for you and for me money is much more than just statistics which
much more than just statistics which
much more than just statistics which hide the individuals behind it money
hide the individuals behind it money
hide the individuals behind it money actually has the ability to communicate
actually has the ability to communicate
actually has the ability to communicate our identity and to increase our impact
our identity and to increase our impact
our identity and to increase our impact and our surroundings but for that to be
and our surroundings but for that to be
and our surroundings but for that to be possible we should broaden our
possible we should broaden our
possible we should broaden our perspective on money a bit we should not
perspective on money a bit we should not
perspective on money a bit we should not only think of it in terms of larger or
only think of it in terms of larger or
only think of it in terms of larger or in case with my bank account maybe
in case with my bank account maybe
in case with my bank account maybe smaller numbers but also we should think
smaller numbers but also we should think
smaller numbers but also we should think about money in terms of a limestone more
about money in terms of a limestone more
about money in terms of a limestone more specifically speaking we should look at
specifically speaking we should look at
specifically speaking we should look at the chances a local currency bears for
the chances a local currency bears for
the chances a local currency bears for us local currencies can only be spent
us local currencies can only be spent
us local currencies can only be spent and circulate within a specific
and circulate within a specific
and circulate within a specific geographic area or a specific predefined
geographic area or a specific predefined
geographic area or a specific predefined network they are often strategically
network they are often strategically
network they are often strategically employed to support the local economy
employed to support the local economy
employed to support the local economy but it’s not just about that local
but it’s not just about that local
but it’s not just about that local currencies are people powered and I
currencies are people powered and I
currencies are people powered and I think it’s high time for each of us to
think it’s high time for each of us to
think it’s high time for each of us to see a role as active contributors to the
see a role as active contributors to the
see a role as active contributors to the communities we live in again and for me
communities we live in again and for me
communities we live in again and for me it really was a limestone which made me
it really was a limestone which made me
it really was a limestone which made me aware of that chance and that triggered
aware of that chance and that triggered
aware of that chance and that triggered an important change of perspective
an important change of perspective
an important change of perspective because it involves quite a special way
because it involves quite a special way
because it involves quite a special way of thinking about money that I will love
of thinking about money that I will love
of thinking about money that I will love to share with you today the limestone is
to share with you today the limestone is
to share with you today the limestone is called a redstone and they can be found
called a redstone and they can be found
called a redstone and they can be found in Micronesia on a group of islands
in Micronesia on a group of islands
in Micronesia on a group of islands called yup
called yup
called yup the material itself only occurs in an
the material itself only occurs in an
the material itself only occurs in an island 250 miles away from up so it
island 250 miles away from up so it
island 250 miles away from up so it became very valuable today apiece people
became very valuable today apiece people
became very valuable today apiece people they used to sail to the other Island
they used to sail to the other Island
they used to sail to the other Island shape the limestone into what the one
shape the limestone into what the one
shape the limestone into what the one and the picture looks like and then sail
and the picture looks like and then sail
and the picture looks like and then sail it back to you where it’s used as dear
it back to you where it’s used as dear
it back to you where it’s used as dear local currency so thieves and the
local currency so thieves and the
local currency so thieves and the cheaters might have a really tough time
cheaters might have a really tough time
cheaters might have a really tough time on yup since it’s absolutely impossible
on yup since it’s absolutely impossible
on yup since it’s absolutely impossible to counterfeit that stone and also as
to counterfeit that stone and also as
to counterfeit that stone and also as you might have guessed by now quite
you might have guessed by now quite
you might have guessed by now quite laborious to transport it so since they
laborious to transport it so since they
laborious to transport it so since they cannot easily take that stone with them
cannot easily take that stone with them
cannot easily take that stone with them in their pockets whether your piece
in their pockets whether your piece
in their pockets whether your piece people do is they simply agree on who
people do is they simply agree on who
people do is they simply agree on who owns the stone even if the stone gets
owns the stone even if the stone gets
owns the stone even if the stone gets lost on its way to yup which can happen
lost on its way to yup which can happen
lost on its way to yup which can happen and sinks to the ground of the deep sea
and sinks to the ground of the deep sea
and sinks to the ground of the deep sea it can still be used as money simply by
it can still be used as money simply by
it can still be used as money simply by agreement on ownership this is an
agreement on ownership this is an
agreement on ownership this is an extraordinary example of mutual trust
extraordinary example of mutual trust
extraordinary example of mutual trust within a community money in those terms
within a community money in those terms
within a community money in those terms is a powerful reminder of what
is a powerful reminder of what
is a powerful reminder of what inherently human the use of money is
inherently human the use of money is
inherently human the use of money is when we spend their money every day we
when we spend their money every day we
when we spend their money every day we tend to forget that at the heart of this
tend to forget that at the heart of this
tend to forget that at the heart of this is simply a collectivity of people that
is simply a collectivity of people that
is simply a collectivity of people that trusts and believes in it money always
trusts and believes in it money always
trusts and believes in it money always comes with a community and the local
comes with a community and the local
comes with a community and the local currency can make that visible to us of
currency can make that visible to us of
currency can make that visible to us of course a local currency does not
course a local currency does not
course a local currency does not absolutely need to come with the shape
absolutely need to come with the shape
absolutely need to come with the shape of a lime stone by now there are over
of a lime stone by now there are over
of a lime stone by now there are over 300 registered local currencies all over
300 registered local currencies all over
300 registered local currencies all over the world along with them is the net
the world along with them is the net
the world along with them is the net bond the local currency of my hometown
bond the local currency of my hometown
bond the local currency of my hometown Basel which can be spent within a
Basel which can be spent within a
Basel which can be spent within a network of local social and ecological
network of local social and ecological
network of local social and ecological sustainable businesses now imagine you
sustainable businesses now imagine you
sustainable businesses now imagine you designed your own currency because you
designed your own currency because you
designed your own currency because you can really but how would you make other
can really but how would you make other
can really but how would you make other people want to use your local currency
people want to use your local currency
people want to use your local currency when there already is a national one
when there already is a national one
when there already is a national one that we all sort of trust
that we all sort of trust
that we all sort of trust well what about having a bill with David
well what about having a bill with David
well what about having a bill with David Bowie on it as how’s the Brixton pound I
Bowie on it as how’s the Brixton pound I
Bowie on it as how’s the Brixton pound I have a colleague who went to Brixton
have a colleague who went to Brixton
have a colleague who went to Brixton gistic
gistic
gistic bable so money can be a placeholder for
bable so money can be a placeholder for
bable so money can be a placeholder for an identity you want to communicate that
an identity you want to communicate that
an identity you want to communicate that leads me to the most important point of
leads me to the most important point of
leads me to the most important point of local currencies and that is the
local currencies and that is the
local currencies and that is the collective identity the community
collective identity the community
collective identity the community building we want and need to trigger
building we want and need to trigger
building we want and need to trigger with a local currency because here’s the
with a local currency because here’s the
with a local currency because here’s the thing if we do not change your habits of
thing if we do not change your habits of
thing if we do not change your habits of using your money we might slowly but
using your money we might slowly but
using your money we might slowly but surely lose that sense of community I
surely lose that sense of community I
surely lose that sense of community I think great unique local businesses in
think great unique local businesses in
think great unique local businesses in my hometown close down in terms of price
my hometown close down in terms of price
my hometown close down in terms of price structure and location it’s really hard
structure and location it’s really hard
structure and location it’s really hard for them to keep up with chain stores
for them to keep up with chain stores
for them to keep up with chain stores and discounters that’s nothing new we
and discounters that’s nothing new we
and discounters that’s nothing new we know that right yet those local stores
know that right yet those local stores
know that right yet those local stores are the ones that give her community a
are the ones that give her community a
are the ones that give her community a unique personality they do a lot to keep
unique personality they do a lot to keep
unique personality they do a lot to keep up trust and humanity a while ago I went
up trust and humanity a while ago I went
up trust and humanity a while ago I went into your local store and an elderly
into your local store and an elderly
into your local store and an elderly lady did not have enough money with her
lady did not have enough money with her
lady did not have enough money with her the Cassiar instead of letting her off
the Cassiar instead of letting her off
the Cassiar instead of letting her off with only half the product you needed
with only half the product you needed
with only half the product you needed said oh you know what you just pay next
said oh you know what you just pay next
said oh you know what you just pay next time you come and then she went on
time you come and then she went on
time you come and then she went on chatting with her about her
chatting with her about her
chatting with her about her grandchildren so the strength of a local
grandchildren so the strength of a local
grandchildren so the strength of a local network lies in the diversity of the
network lies in the diversity of the
network lies in the diversity of the people contributing to it and trusting
people contributing to it and trusting
people contributing to it and trusting each other it’s the exact opposite of
each other it’s the exact opposite of
each other it’s the exact opposite of the facelessness were all increasingly
the facelessness were all increasingly
the facelessness were all increasingly confronted with in a globalized and
confronted with in a globalized and
confronted with in a globalized and assimilated world so with the local
assimilated world so with the local
assimilated world so with the local currency we want to make diversity be
currency we want to make diversity be
currency we want to make diversity be resilient against globalization for
resilient against globalization for
resilient against globalization for globalization complex and obscure
globalization complex and obscure
globalization complex and obscure mechanisms make it easy to forget that
mechanisms make it easy to forget that
mechanisms make it easy to forget that our individual actions actually matter
our individual actions actually matter
our individual actions actually matter and I know it’s hard to make your voice
and I know it’s hard to make your voice
and I know it’s hard to make your voice heard so what if we can make spending
heard so what if we can make spending
heard so what if we can make spending our money be a powerful message well
our money be a powerful message well
our money be a powerful message well things already start with a type of
things already start with a type of
things already start with a type of money you have on you it does make a
money you have on you it does make a
money you have on you it does make a difference whether you have coins a
difference whether you have coins a
difference whether you have coins a credit card or a local currency in your
credit card or a local currency in your
credit card or a local currency in your pockets or in case of the limestone
pockets or in case of the limestone
pockets or in case of the limestone maybe in your garden studies
maybe in your garden studies
maybe in your garden studies that your willingness to pay increases
that your willingness to pay increases
that your willingness to pay increases with the use of a credit card probably
with the use of a credit card probably
with the use of a credit card probably because he can’t see how your money
because he can’t see how your money
because he can’t see how your money physically leaves you so money is a tool
physically leaves you so money is a tool
physically leaves you so money is a tool that influences the way you act when
that influences the way you act when
that influences the way you act when actually you should be the one to
actually you should be the one to
actually you should be the one to influence how your money acts but when
influence how your money acts but when
influence how your money acts but when you purchase with a credit card or even
you purchase with a credit card or even
you purchase with a credit card or even with a national currency you have
with a national currency you have
with a national currency you have absolutely no control over where your
absolutely no control over where your
absolutely no control over where your money goes and what is done with it
money goes and what is done with it
money goes and what is done with it you’re basically feeding assist me do
you’re basically feeding assist me do
you’re basically feeding assist me do not have a say in your feeding a system
not have a say in your feeding a system
not have a say in your feeding a system that eats up our resources and erodes
that eats up our resources and erodes
that eats up our resources and erodes culture you’re feeding a system that
culture you’re feeding a system that
culture you’re feeding a system that divides a world into a handful of times
divides a world into a handful of times
divides a world into a handful of times very questionable people in power and a
very questionable people in power and a
very questionable people in power and a tremendous amount of passive Watchers
tremendous amount of passive Watchers
tremendous amount of passive Watchers and that is something we can change with
and that is something we can change with
and that is something we can change with a local currency because it is getting
a local currency because it is getting
a local currency because it is getting to control back into our hands back into
to control back into our hands back into
to control back into our hands back into our communities so ideally in practice
our communities so ideally in practice
our communities so ideally in practice spending a local currency might look
spending a local currency might look
spending a local currency might look like this you go spend your local
like this you go spend your local
like this you go spend your local currency at a local cafe the cafe owner
currency at a local cafe the cafe owner
currency at a local cafe the cafe owner buys his milk at a local farm the farmer
buys his milk at a local farm the farmer
buys his milk at a local farm the farmer in return pays his employees salary
in return pays his employees salary
in return pays his employees salary maybe partly in the local currency and
maybe partly in the local currency and
maybe partly in the local currency and the employees again use it to buy food
the employees again use it to buy food
the employees again use it to buy food at a local grocery store this is a very
at a local grocery store this is a very
at a local grocery store this is a very simplified version of what is called a
simplified version of what is called a
simplified version of what is called a local multiplier effect it refers to how
local multiplier effect it refers to how
local multiplier effect it refers to how many times your money is being
many times your money is being
many times your money is being recirculated into the local economy the
recirculated into the local economy the
recirculated into the local economy the more often it’s recirculated the
more often it’s recirculated the
more often it’s recirculated the stronger your positive impact on it but
stronger your positive impact on it but
stronger your positive impact on it but what I like about this example in
what I like about this example in
what I like about this example in particular is not only that we support
particular is not only that we support
particular is not only that we support the local economy because it’s really
the local economy because it’s really
the local economy because it’s really not just about that what I like about
not just about that what I like about
not just about that what I like about this is that we give each and every
this is that we give each and every
this is that we give each and every individual that is part of the network
individual that is part of the network
individual that is part of the network and later push to find local solutions
and later push to find local solutions
and later push to find local solutions to act on each to rely on each other’s
to act on each to rely on each other’s
to act on each to rely on each other’s resources as much as possible to act
resources as much as possible to act
resources as much as possible to act sustainably and most importantly we have
sustainably and most importantly we have
sustainably and most importantly we have those people interact with each other
those people interact with each other
those people interact with each other and in its essence money is a tool made
and in its essence money is a tool made
and in its essence money is a tool made for manifold interactions with other
for manifold interactions with other
for manifold interactions with other human beings
human beings
human beings so after all spending money can be your
so after all spending money can be your
so after all spending money can be your message so what do you want it to be
message so what do you want it to be
message so what do you want it to be thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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