Money Books

After our last Open Coin meeting George Walker took us into his office to continue chatting.

He is a fascinating chap, check out his CV (.pdf).

In the first OpenCoin meeting he said (in a strong Scottish accent):

“I think there is going to be a global currency. I call it the Global. This will either be a top-down currency from the IMF and World Bank, like existing SDRs (Special Drawing Rights), or a bottom-up, grassroots initiative, like what you are doing, which is much more exciting”

He went on to say:

“either you guys are going to be billionaires, or its fines and jail”.

And:

“I can defend you in court, I’ve not been to court for a while now, and then I can write a book about it”

Anyway, in his capacity as Professor in International Financial Law George teaches a popular course in Banking Law. He gives his students an introductory reading list which includes titles by authors such as Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn and Naomi Klein. I spotted some of these titles on his bookshelf in his office and so asked for him to send me his list of books (.pdf), which he kindly did. :)

Considering it is an introductory reading list for a course in Banking Law there are a surprising and refreshing amount of relatively radical titles in the list. I was surprised however that none of my favourite money books were included.

So George, how about adding some (or all!) of these titles to your list?


Money

Thomas Greco. Chelsea Green Pub Co 2001, Paperback, 320 pages, £10.12

You can download a pdf extract of this book here. See also author’s Beyond Money blog, his personal blog and website.


The Future of Money

B.A. Lietaer. Century 2002, Paperback, 384 pages, £10.99

Read an interview with Bernard Lietaer in YES! Magazine’s Summer ‘97 edition all about creating your own money. Also check out some key points from the book


The Little Money Book (Alastair Sawday’s Fragile Earth)

David Boyle. Alastair Sawday Publishing 2003, Paperback, 192 pages, £6.99

A great little book with links to lots of further reading and info.


The Money Changers

David Boyle (Editor). Earthscan Publications Ltd 2002, Hardcover, 240 pages, £20.00

Another great book from David Boyle, associate at the new economics foundation


The Grip of Death

Michael Rowbotham. Jon Carpenter 1998, Paperback, 336 pages, £18.00

Grip of Death is the literal translation of Mortgage. Read the first chapter here


The Ecology of Money

Richard Douthwaite. Green Books 2000, Paperback, 78 pages, £5.00

Read this book online here


Healthy Money Healthy Planet

Deirdre Kent. Craig Potton Publishing 2005, Paperback, 320 pages, £21.95

Read a draft copy and critique of the book here and check out the author’s blog


The Politics of Money

Frances Hutchinson. Pluto Press 2002, Paperback, 256 pages, £18.99

A academic look at money from a marxist/ feminist perspective. Very well written.


A History of Money

Glyn Davies. University of Wales Press 2002, Paperback, 750 pages, £19.99

Check out Glyn’s excellent website on the same topic.

The Lost Science of Money

Stephen A. Zarlenga. American Monetary Institute Charitable Trust 2002, Hardcover, 736 pages, £35.00

See the American Monetary Institute’s website for more details

See also:



See also:

Convergence 13: Transition Strategies

This looks set to be an amazing event…

Cultivate Update

cultivate your self | community | world

Friday 22nd Feb 2008

Convergence 13: Transition Strategies

Post Carbon Cities, Transition Towns and Eco-Villages 

3rd to the 7th of April 2008 | Festival Pass: €120 until March 10th (€150 thereafter)

Bookings 01 674 5773 or Online

Attention climate activists, community workers, environmentalists, academics, change agents and cultural creatives, if you are at the leading edge of sustainability, or want to be, then this festival is not to be missed. There are only 100 tickets available for this timely event.  Book now!

Convergence brings together people and ideas to explore how communities can build resilience in a future of energy and climate uncertainty.


Featuring:

  • The Community Powerdown Symposium, two days of workshops and discussion
  • Lecture by Daniel Lerch, author of Post Carbon Cities
  • Film and talk with Megan Quinn Bachman, Community Solutions, Ohio, the co-writer and co-director of The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
  • Fantastic networking opportunities  

Full Schedule 

The Rethinking Lecture : Rethinking the City for an Uncertain Future

Thursday 3rd April | 19.30 – 21.30 | €18
Daniel Lerch is the author of Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty, the first major municipal guidebook on peak oil and global warming. He is a program manager with Post Carbon Institute, and has worked on urban planning issues for over ten years in the public, private and non-profit sectors

Vital Viewing : The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (2006)
Friday 4th April  | 18.00 – 19.30 | €5 (included in lecture price)
This documentary film explores the economic collapse and eventual recovery of Cuba following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Following the dramatic steps taken by both the Cuban government and citizens, its major themes include urban agriculture, energy independence and sustainability. The film was directed by Faith Morgan, and co produced by our main speaker, Megan Quinn

The Transition Lecture : Plan C: Community Strategies for Oil Depletion and Climate Change
Friday 4th April | 20.00 – 22.00 | €18
Megan Quinn Bachman, Community Solution, Ohio, USA
Introduced by Ben Brangwyn, Transition Network, Totnes, UK  

The Convergence Symposium : Skilling Up For Powerdown 

Saturday 5th April | 9.30 – 17.00 and Sunday 6th April | 11.00-17.00 | €120 (Includes a light lunch on both days) (full details)

Talks, workshops and World Café discussions on how we communicate and accelerate community responses to oil depletion and climate change

With John Gormley, Davie Philip, Daniel Lerch, Megan Quinn, Ben Brangwyn, Jonathan Dawson, Anne B Ryan, Graham Strouts, Professor Peadar Kirby, Paul Allen, Tim Helwig Larson, Seamus Hoyne, Adam de Eyto, Magnus Wolfe Murray, Bruce Darrell, Dave Yaffey, Graham Strouts, Pat Fleming, Chris Chapman, Oisín Coghlan and David Korowicz

An Introduction to the Irish Transition Network
Saturday 5th April | 18.30 – 20.00 | €Free
Special networking meeting for communities involved or interested in Transition initiatives in Ireland

The Powerdown Lounge

Saturday 5th April | 19.30- 00.00 | €Free in

The basement bar in Crush at the bottom of S. Great Georges St. will be the venue for this year’s Lounge.  Enjoy local brews from the Porterhouse, chilled out music and visuals and relax with festival participants.

Convergence Events at the Village (Cloughjordan, North Tipperary) – Monday April 7th

Rural Transitions Open Space: “How will our towns and villages reduce carbon emissions and build resilience in an era of climate and energy uncertainty?”

14.00 – 17.00
Organised in association with the Cloughjordan Development Association and the Cloughjordan Business Network


Vital Viewing
: The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

18.00 – 19.30
See above

Public Presentation: Cloughjordan, a Village in Transition

20.00 – 22.00
Local, national and international speakers on how Cloughjordan can prosper in an era of climate and energy uncertainty.
Organised by the Cultivate Centre with Sustainable Projects Ireland, the Cloughjordan Development Association, the Cloughjordan Business Network and SERVE
 

Biographies 


Megan Quinn
is from the Community Solutions, a non-profit
organization in the US focusing on achieving sustainability by reducing
energy consumption in the household sectors of food, transportation,
and housing. Megan co-wrote and co-produced her organisation’s
award-winning documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil (2006).



Daniel Lerch
is the author of ‘Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty’,
the first major municipal guidebook on peak oil and global warming.
Daniel is a program manager with Post Carbon Institute, and has worked
on urban planning issues for over ten years in the public, private and
non-profit sectors.



See also:

A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash

This is one of the best peak oil movies. A must see documentary.



See also: