1. Social Trade Organisation:
New Money
presentation Forum Alternative, Transeurope Festival, Prague

2. Financial system is a failure
High (youth)unemployment
Unequal distribution of welfare
Unstable and unsustainable
Environmental problems

3. Social Trade Organisation (STRO)
The Social Trade Organization was founded in 1970
based in Utrecht, The Netherlands
Mission:
“to research, experiment and implement innovative
sustainable economic structures made to suit local
economies.”

4. STRO’s presence in the world4 4 4

5. Local circulation in poor areas:
problem
Money flows towards richer areas without supporting the local economy

6. Local circulation in poor areas: solution = own currency
> own currency forces local purchasing power to circulate longer within the region > afterwards can be exchanged for trade outside the region

7. Local Money: how does it work?
Thousands projects worldwide using an own, local currency
Can only be used within certain area: neighbourhood, city, region
No replacement of national currency, but complementary
Some local currencies: no exchange for national currency
Other local currencies: exchange for national currency or goods

8. Local Money: paper money or …..

9. Local Money: digital > Cyclos software
STRO's open source software for the administration and operation of Transaction Networks
For the users it functions like online banking software, allowing transfers between accounts through Web, cards and SMS
Introduces innovative algorithms that help to keep purchasing power circulating longer, faster and more times in the local market
Offers functions of social networks and online market place

10. Local Money: an example
consumers
supermarket
restaurant LM LM
computer-shop $
LM + bonus
loan
butcher
administration LM

11. Local Money: an example
consumers
supermarket
restaurant
accountant LM LM LM LM
transport LM
computer-shop $ LM
distribution LM
garage LM
butcher
administration
marketing companies LM
$ - fee
stock-farmer LM

12. Local Money: advantages
Local purchasing power circulates longer within the region: more local economic activity and more jobs
Cheaper loans to companies that participate in the network
Use of Cyclos means introduction of modern payment system

13. Local Money in practice: Puntotransacciones
El Salvador: 500 companies and consumers
Turnover 2011: 1.3 million dollar, doubling each year

14. Local Money in practice: Brixton Pound

15. Results
We have proven that privately emitted means of payment are technically viable, legally sound and commercially accepted
Our methods for emitting, backing and administrating different forms of means of payment are operational in hundreds of local networks
Our software for online transactions is being used in more than a hundred trade-networks (that we know of...)

16. Local Money in Europe Most European countries in economic crisis
High unemployment, e.g. youth unemployment is 50% in Spain
Conventional solution: budget cuts by governments

17. Campaign: Spend Local for More Jobs worldwide

18. Maybe also in Czech Republic: nakupuj lokálně??

19. More info on STRO STRO: www.socialtrade.org Cyclos: www.cyclos.org
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Twitter: SocialTradeOrg
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