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Articles by Dave Darby

Dave Darby founded Lowimpact.org in 2001, spent 3 years on the board of the Ecological Land Co-op and is a founder member of NonCorporate.org and the Open Credit Network.

Articles by

Dave Darby

Keeping small businesses alive during the coronavirus economic crisis

Keeping small businesses alive during the coronavirus / economic crisis

of Lowimpact.org |
| 10

The coronavirus crisis is causing an economic crash that will only get worse. Research has indicated that a shortage of money will mean that up to a million UK small businesses may close in the coming months. To prevent the devastation of small businesses, and therefore our communities, there needs to be an alternative means …

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We need each other to help keep local economies trading amid the coronavirus crisis

Building the new economy: how to keep local economies trading in the economic slump caused by the coronavirus

of Lowimpact.org |
| 3

This is the last of six articles this week about how we can keep local economies afloat during the coming economic slump. There is already a scarcity of money, as the coronavirus crisis forces businesses to lay off workers, and sole traders to give up. But it will get much worse. How can we keep …

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Can we vote our way to a better society?

Disillusioned with the parliamentary route to a better society? Here’s an alternative.

of Lowimpact.org |
| 8

Before the election in December, I had a ‘lively debate’ with a friend – an old-school Labour supporter and Corbynite – who was trying to convince me that the only way that we can have an effective social safety net is by voting in a genuinely redistributive party, taxing the rich properly and spreading wealth …

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Greta Thunberg

Is Greta Thunberg right, and if so, what do we do about it?

of Lowimpact.org |
| 14

I identify with Greta Thunberg. I’m also aspergic, and I understand why she’s so motivated. I talked with several people over the Christmas period who don’t like her, for various reasons – her voice; her team fly even though she doesn’t; her parents are manipulating her; she’s too angry; she once used a plastic bottle, …

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The money system

What I’ve discovered about the money system and how the world is run, since working with the Open Credit Network

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

In the summer of 2018 I went along to Open2018 to see Matthew Slater talk about how we might shake up the money system with a global Credit Commons. After his presentation, Matthew and I met with Oliver Sylvester-Bradley of the Open Co-op, who organised the event, and decided to build a mutual credit network …

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Questions about the election

26 questions from a 10-year-old to his parents about the election

of Lowimpact.org |
| 6

At a dinner party on Saturday evening, I had a discussion about a) the efficacy of elections for bringing about meaningful change, and b) the desirability of the quest for perpetual economic growth (I didn’t feel positively about either of those things). Our hosts’ 10-year-old son was listening carefully, after which he expressed his intention …

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The tragedy of the commons

New topic – ‘commoning’ – and why ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ is wrong

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

At university, back in the 80s, we were taught about ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ – an essay by Garrett Hardin, about how common resources are always abused, because humans are basically selfish. It seemed plausible at the time, but has since been shown to be false.

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Extinction Rebellion

We’re on the Extinction Rebellion main stage in central London on Thursday afternoon

of Lowimpact.org |
| 3

I’m excited to report that we’ve been given an hour on the main stage at Extinction Rebellion in the Mall on Thursday afternoon from 2pm. When I say ‘we’, it will be me and Oliver Sylvester-Bradley of the Open Co-op – we’ll speak for 10 minutes each, then take questions for 40 minutes. We’ll be …

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Open Credit Network public event

Come to our public event on the Open Credit Network, July 18th, London

of Lowimpact.org |
| 3

As you know if you follow this blog, Lowimpact.org and the Open Co-op have partnered up to build a mutual credit network for the UK, the Open Credit Network (OCN), and that we have people on board who are working to develop the ‘credit commons’ – a way of linking together mutual credit schemes anywhere …

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2019 CTRLshift gathering

Reflections on the CTRLshift gathering – an emergency summit for change

of Lowimpact.org |
| 0

The stated aim of the annual CTRLshift gathering (that took place in Stoke-on-Trent recently) is to bring key people together to talk about practical steps to help shift power away from central government and multinational corporations, to communities and individuals. Well, you had me at ‘decentralisation’, so I went along.

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