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UnMoney Local Community Alternative Currency Conference in Seattle, April



This sounds way cool!

This seminal event will bring together a broad range of cutting edge social-entrepreneurs, system changers, economists, philanthropists, academics and business people, to build collaboration regarding the true role and nature of money, its place in the grand scheme of things and how we can transform the system to build a more just, sustainable, and creative world.

On the face of it money is a tool for measuring value. It is nearly ubiquitous throughout the entire world, in influencing the way people relate and work with one another. But money seems to be failing us on a number of fronts. The things most vital for the sustenance of life aren’t measured by money because they simply have no quantifiable money value, and so they get left out. How do we turn this around? How do we optimize our “value measuring” systems to be accountable to the real wealth that is created and to the well being of all instead of making real wealth and real relationships beholden to the measure.

[via Amy Kirschner]







9 Reader Responses

  1. skip wiley Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

    That event sounds really cool! I have not been around these parts for a few months, so am not sure if this has already been discussed…

    …but I recently came across Foamee, a mash-up built off of the social network Twitter that keeps track of people owing other people a beer (or coffee). I had only been vaguely familiar with alternative currencies, but this got me thinking of these things in a digital context.

    I’m not sure if there is actual alternative currency involved in this exact example, but the idea of keeping track of “who owes who” in a local, friend-based digital medium seems equally important, in a way. Esepcially with the “average” cell phone being increasingly able to do this internet/GPS stuff… I’m hoping that some cool & useful things can be done with these new tools. Otherwise, what is the point.

  2. alistair Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    well, there is some guilt implied in who owes who……..what…….when.

    unless the deal is completed immediately there becomes issues over time.

    money is a phenomenally powerful binding agent in our society that has conscripted us all into enslavement to the feudal lords.

    thier agents ride the highways with a show of force that does everything but make sure we go to work on time and get to the mall after supper.

    speaking of commerce i would like to think i could survive without money using my new website www.mensacademy.com but i don`t think it would be possible.

    thank goodness or the godess for paypal.

  3. Big Elk Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    speaking of commerce i would like to think i could survive without money using my new website www.mensacademy.com but i don`t think it would be possible.

    How are you going to teach anyone anything with an attitude like that? You’re destined to failure and noone will follow that kind of weak leadership.

  4. Big Elk Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    …but I recently came across Foamee, a mash-up built off of the social network Twitter that keeps track of people owing other people a beer (or coffee).

    I understand what you’re getting at, but I actually think this is kind of petty. If you’re really good friends, you don’t actually “owe” someone back for a beer. You just know to buy next time, or even better, you just naturally want to buy things for your friends. We don’t need technology for that.

  5. skip wiley Says:
    February 27th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Big Elk, I agree with that totally… there are many potential issues. Transferring could be tricky (”the beer was for you, not that guy!”), as could be the implication of owage where it was not made clear (”you expect me to owe you a beer for that? it was a favor!”). Perhaps the real “wealth” at focus with a tool like that is the social interaction/gesture, etc.

  6. Julia Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 1:46 am

    Imho men prefer to owe men and women objects like beer or coffee. Women prefer to owe other women favors that have to do with showing an appropriate emotion when needed by the other woman when she is being observed which necessitates a longer term relationship in order to be repaid. (See, I have a friend/back up/strength. Better than money in the bank. :P )And, women prefer to owe men nothing but will repay most debts with the appearance of submission and flattery. Most men are satisfied with this arrangement and occasionally get coffee or beer too.

  7. Julia Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 1:49 am

    Hey, while we’re waiting for the monetary system of planet Earth to change could somebody throw some of that filthy lucre in the tip jar? It’s been stuck at $412.77 for a long time and it’s getting annoying. How about a gift certificate for some beer or coffee since we’re on the subject?

  8. Big Elk Says:
    February 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am

    Perhaps the real “wealth” at focus with a tool like that is the social interaction/gesture, etc.

    Yes! The actual money is irrelevant and meaningless at best.

    Thanks Julia! Render unto Caesar - interpret that however you want. (And your comment above is amazingly concise)

  9. alistair Says:
    February 29th, 2008 at 7:36 am

    i will break down and charge admission to my seminars. i have no real way to input chickens, goats, eggs, or services for barter anyway. curse the feudal overlords.

    i will have to take some satisfaction in the accumilation of credit in my bank account and the attendant sway that holds over the wishes of others.



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