HJ: Well, this is interesting and significant. While it may only be happening on a small scale here, if successful, I could see this spreading like wildfire across communities around the world. This could be powerful in undermining the global finance and banking interests who currently have a stranglehold on the world economy. – Truth
Bristol businesses queuing up to join local currency scheme
As Britain loses faith in its banks and feels shockwaves from the euro crisis, one city is trying to keep local wealth in local pockets with the launch of its own currency.
6:03AM BST 16 Aug 2012
The Bristol pound – usable only with member businesses in the city in southwest England – is to launch in September, and organisers are deluged with local firms wanting to sign up.
“The perception of banking and money is that it’s a very ruthless system: people are out for what they can get,” co-founder Ciaran Mundy told AFP.
“This is about saying yes to something new. It’s tapping into a different set of values about money.”
The scheme has “captured people’s imaginations”, he added, in a recession-hit year when British banks have been beset by scandals and ministers talked openly of a possible euro collapse.
Hundreds of businesses have joined, from the acclaimed Arnolfini arts centre to the Chandos deli chain, and the launch had to be postponed from May to September 19 because of the level of interest.
Security professional Richard Wright signed up his company Wright Guard as soon as he heard about the Bristol pound, hoping it would help him fight back against encroaching security giants.
“I’m Bristol born and bred, and I always want to support local businesses,” he told AFP. “I’ll want to keep the Bristol pound flowing.”
Read the rest of the article here: The Telegraph
