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“Talente” Currencies in Vorarlberg, Austria

Founded in 1996 as a timebank for the whole of the westernmost austrian province/state of Vorarlberg, the Talente System (www.talentiert.at) is now one of the most successful and innovative grass-root currency systems in operation.

allmenda_sitelogo(Update 2014: The efforts are now carried forward by the social enterprise Allmenda: http://allmenda.com)

Always rooted in practice rather then theory, all developments had been orientated on the needs of the predominantly rural population. It took its original inspiration from the LETS systems of the 1980s and 90s but extended their concepts with the aim of serving a whole state and not just one local community and strongly incorporating businesses and other stakeholders.

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“WEaseling”, a post-heroic varmint

This short explanation was requested manifold by those who heard me use this hairy little  neologisms of mine: “WEaseling”*.

The term proved helpful in pointing to a phenomenon in groups and group-processes, that quickly creates a feeling of joint direction but, on the flip side, leads to disappointment and disengagement afterwards.

Especially in groups that gather for a couple of days around a topic that is important to all participants, there often emerges the urge to refer to that present group as something substantial and coherent, which seems to suit the individual needs. This seems ever more virulent when people come together to talk about such broad and far-reaching topics like money, currency and the economy. Continue reading ““WEaseling”, a post-heroic varmint”

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CCMag: Big Picture Interview: Stephanie Rearick

This interview appeared in the Community Currency Magazine (archive link), April 2012

  Steph

While Madison, Wisconsin had been more in the news for their public struggle against right wing legislators last year, Dane County TimeBank has been constantly setting benchmarks for successful currency-led community developments. We talked to its founder, director and senior activist Stephanie Rearick.

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CCMag-Interview: Henk van Arkel

Parts of this interview appeared in the Community Currency Magazine (archive link), April 2012


What are the questions you would most want to explore with fellow movers and shakers in the complementary currency movement?

My question is: How to get the currency thinking into the mainstream? But more then talking, I prefer to create examples and hope that other will do the same. That is what its all about. And on the long run, sustainability comes from the diversity of 1000 people trying, even if only one of them succeeds. That will be the success of everybody.

What recent developments in the field do you find most exciting? Continue reading “CCMag-Interview: Henk van Arkel”

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CCMag, Big Picture Interview: John Rogers

This interview appeared in the Community Currency Magazine (archive link), April 2012
John
John Rogers has been working on the forefront of the CC movement for nineteen years, fourteen as a LETS coordinator, Time Bank Developer and researcher in Wales and since 2007 as a trainer, consultant and author based in Germany. There, we asked John about the history and future of the movement.

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