My fascination with change is twofold. First, I believe that life is in continuous evolution and incessantly changing. And, second, I believe evolution leads to higher complexity, which requires a greater ability to handle change. One of the capabilities that can assist us with both of these notions is planning. 

See on www.rethinkingcomplexity.com

Looking at the difficulty of the challenges that confront us, it is easy to go into denial or to become frustrated or cynical. In our current research project on “Transformation of Capitalism” we pose the question: How can we create an economy that generates wellbeing for all?

See on www.presencing.com

The United Nations is now proposing the “Inclusive Wealth Indicator” as a challenge to the myopic focus on short-term profits and economic capital inherent in GDP. In its early findings, it found that natural capital declined 46% in Brazil and 31% in India during the last 17 years. This reduced the countries’ blazing GDP growth . . . → Read More: Forget GDP And Start Measuring Inclusive Wealth]]> See on Scoop.it – Transition Culture

We need an indicator that estimates the wealth of nations–natural, human, and manufactured.

The United Nations is now proposing the “Inclusive Wealth Indicator” as a challenge to the myopic focus on short-term profits and economic capital inherent in GDP. In its early findings, it found that natural capital declined 46% in Brazil and 31% in India during the last 17 years. This reduced the countries’ blazing GDP growth rates to a more modest “inclusive wealth” increase of 3% in Brazil and 9% in India. Much less to get excited about.

See on www.fastcoexist.com

Do you want to live more efficiently and reap the benefits of a closer community? Cooperative living is a great strategy for getting and staying out of debt while building community, resilience and security in a tenuous economy. But it requires a change in attitudes, and a return to more communal ways of living.

See on energybulletin.net

Leave it to the Dutch, who throw away only 3 percent of their municipal waste into landfills, to come up with a socially appealing innovation that does even more to reduce waste: the neighborhood Repair Cafe! As described in today’s NYT, volunteers with a talent for fixing things come together several times a month to repair anyone’s broken household items for free.

See on . . . → Read More: Amsterdam Tries to Change Culture With ‘Repair Cafes’]]> See on Scoop.it – Transition Culture

Leave it to the Dutch, who throw away only 3 percent of their municipal waste into landfills, to come up with a socially appealing innovation that does even more to reduce waste: the neighborhood Repair Cafe! As described in today’s NYT, volunteers with a talent for fixing things come together several times a month to repair anyone’s broken household items for free.

See on www.nytimes.com

This paper develops the case for a currency issued by a local authority and proposes a contract where a land levy is paid to council in exchange for local dollars to assist would-be purchasers to buy land. It addresses both land and money together. It argues for a currency that has a built-in incentive to circulate fast. It will supplement the existing interest-bearing monoculture of a national currency. . . . → Read More: A land backed currency issued by a Local Authority]]> See on Scoop.it – Transition Culture

This paper develops the case for a currency issued by a local authority and proposes a contract where a land levy is paid to council in exchange for local dollars to assist would-be purchasers to buy land. It addresses both land and money together. It argues for a currency that has a built-in incentive to circulate fast. It will supplement the existing interest-bearing monoculture of a national currency. It introduces a local Citizen’s Dividend. Local currencies need to shift up a gear. It describes the probable effects of such a marked change in the scale of complementary currencies, where they are issued in millions rather than hundreds of dollars. It argues that such a currency will stabilise the price of property, cause new prosperity, move business towards sustainability, stimulate new industry, create new jobs and move to a low carbon economy. The knock-on effects on the central government are discussed. It argues for a smooth gradual introduction of this dual currency system linked to land.

See on neweconomics.net.nz

Recently a new website AskShareGive was launched in New Zealand. AskShareGive is a not-for-profit website that allows people to share their time, skills, transport and old or unwanted goods. The website is the brain child of an Auckland business man who runs a software company. He felt inspired by the ideology of a gift economy – where goods and services flow through a community through sharing and without . . . → Read More: AskShareGive]]> See on Scoop.it – Transition Culture

Recently a new website AskShareGive was launched in New Zealand. AskShareGive is a not-for-profit website that allows people to share their time, skills, transport and old or unwanted goods. The website is the brain child of an Auckland business man who runs a software company. He felt inspired by the ideology of a gift economy – where goods and services flow through a community through sharing and without money changing hands. He felt that as a rule our homes are cluttered with an abundance of things and stuff and we have this trend of continuing to buy more rather than spread what we have amongst each other.

See on www.asksharegive.org.nz

Rob Hopkins’ leaky bucket animation on this TEDx presentation is a great resource for communities wanting to strengthen their local economy.

See on www.youtube.com

See on so-aware.tumblr.com

Accelerated by the financial crisis, Europe has seen a trend for small businesses looking to make more cashless exchanges. Nantes is becoming Europe’s first major city to experiment with a virtual currency that can be used both businesses and individuals.

See on worldcrunch.com