Lewes Forum thread

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Lewes Pound

On 2 Aug 2008 at 1:08pm Dirk Campbell wrote:

Some information on the Lewes Pound and its relevance to current issues.
The launch of the Lewes Pound is at Market Lane Garage, North street on Tuesday September 9th, 7.30pm. Speakers will be Rob Hopkins founder of the Transition Town movement and Stewart Wallis Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation (and maybe Polly Toynbee of the Guardian). The speakers will explain how local currencies increase economic resilience in local communities. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions.
To address some of the points raised previously: the initiatives being started by Transition Town groups all over the world are not in any way cultural, they are a pragmatic and realistic response to the problems of global resource depletion including oil and food. These initiatives are being started now, so as to be up and running when resource depletion really starts to bite over the next few years.
Many people may feel that initiatives such as local currencies are unnecessary, but it is worth pointing out that key thinkers in economics around the world are advocating them. The basis of it all is mathematical: you cannot have infinite growth within a closed system. Economic growth depends on increased production, and as we have now reached the peak of possible growth in all areas, we have to reduce our demands on natural support systems in order not to crash. Localisation is the main solution to this problem, and that is why everything in the Transition Town model is about localisation.

On 2 Aug 2008 at 1:45pm The Webmaster wrote:

Thanks Dirk, that's the clearest explanation I've heard about what a transition town is about..
I must say I was a bit sceptical about the Lewes Pound before but it sounds interesting so I'll be there on the 9th to learn more.

On 3 Aug 2008 at 7:36am beatnick wrote:

the only pound we want is a car pound for yellows car

On 4 Aug 2008 at 8:11pm x wrote:

Claims that options for growth have ended is nonsense. For example GM foods have the potential to make a big difference of food output and renewable fuels are becoming viable alternatives to oil and gas. You might think we shouldn't develop further but to claim growth cannot continue when that's not the case is misleading. These misleading claims only strengthen the base of the fools who claimclimate change isn't happening. You have one idea of how to react to it but you're claim that your way is the only way is far from truthful