Info, news & debate

System change

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

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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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Wall Street epicentre of the global money system

The global money system: not the kind of ‘normality’ we should return to after the coronavirus crisis is over

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This is the fifth in a series of articles about how mutual credit can help us get through the economic problems caused by the corona virus. The main points to get across are: There’s going to be a shortage of money. Mutual credit is a moneyless trading system. That’s it! Mutual credit can help local

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Does there really have to be a global cashflow problem?

“Flat Earth” Money, and why there doesn’t have to be a global cashflow problem

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This is the fourth in a series of articles about how mutual credit can help us get through the economic problems caused by the corona virus. The main points to get across are: There’s going to be a shortage of money. Mutual credit is a moneyless trading system. That’s it! Mutual credit can help local

Read more about “Flat Earth” Money, and why there doesn’t have to be a global cashflow problem

Exchange medium coronavirus crisis

The exchange medium for the coronavirus crisis: crypto or mutual credit?

This is the third in a series of articles about how mutual credit can help us get through the economic problems caused by the corona virus. The main points to get across are: There’s going to be a shortage of money. Mutual credit is a moneyless trading system. That’s it! Mutual credit can help local

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Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK

Covid-19 Mutual Aid Groups should look to Mutual Credit for economic resilience

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This is the second in a series of articles this week about how mutual credit can help us get through the economic problems caused by the corona virus. The main points to get across are: There’s going to be a shortage of money. Mutual credit is a moneyless trading system. That’s it! Mutual credit can

Read more about Covid-19 Mutual Aid Groups should look to Mutual Credit for economic resilience

Mutual credit and the COVID-19 economic crisis

Mutual credit is a solution to the COVID-19 economic crisis

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This is the first in a series of articles over the next week or so about how mutual credit can help us get through the economic problems caused by the corona virus. The main points to get across are: There’s going to be a shortage of money. Mutual credit is a moneyless trading system. That’s

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Together we can build a new economy

Coming together to build a new economy: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 2

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In part 1 I described why a resilient economy needs be to separate from the failing capitalist juggernaut and that we need to start by finding new economic partners from without the Market.

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Perception dollar by Matthew Slater of XR and the Credit Commons Collective

Starting from scratch: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 1

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Donald Trump recently derided Greta Thunberg and everyone pleading with government to heed environmental science as ‘doomsayers’. The more imminent peak oil or environmental collapse appear, the more intransigent our political system seems to be. Whatever the reasons for this, responsible citizens can only accomplish so much while the political and economic winds are blowing

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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.

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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?

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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

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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

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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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Open Credit Network Alpha launch

Become one of the first movers in a new, collaborative economy: Open Credit Network Alpha launch

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Lowimpact.org are working with Open.coop to build a new, co-operative, moneyless, mutual credit trading system for the UK, with a view to joining many similar schemes around the world to create a new global trading system, that requires neither banks nor interest. The point of this article is to invite you, if you own or

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The tragedy of the commons

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

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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

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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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