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I got an e-mail notice about Money and Intentional Economics: Developing an Integral Vision, A Symposium with Bernard Lietaer, at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, July 7-9. This led me to an interview with him, which was a real eye-opener. Lietaer was co-designer of the Euro and of the process whereby it got implemented, and has worked with currency trading and electronic payment systems on a major scale.

One key insight: money is not value neutral. Introduction of  competitive programmed currencies has destroyed societies.  Making use of complementary currencies, such as time dollars, which can act in addition to the existing currency, can transform the planet:

I believe that by a small change in the money system, we can unleash huge improvements in our social system. It's the highest leverage point for change in our society, and surprisingly few people are looking at it. If you start a new complementary currency system, it can become self-perpetuating and facilitate additional transactions forever.

Private currencies are coming back - think air miles, and how credit cards and virtual currencies are starting to blend. The Balinese already participate in a dual-currency system, and benefit from how complementary currencies strengthen social bonds. Some key quotes:

Complementary currencies simply enable additional matches between unmet needs and unused resources.

The point is: if money is an agreement within the community to use something as a medium of exchange, we can create new agreements, can't we?

For more, check out the Access Foundation, an "Alliance of Complementary Currencies Enabling Sustainable Societies".