THE FUTURE OF MONEY Bernard A. Lietaer - library.uniteddiversity ...

doing the repairs it needs, he eats organic food, drives around on his
motorcycle, and acquired a new kitten. Everything is paid in Grain de
Sel. He in turn trades his skills as an accountant and handyman,
which are used by Chantal, 35, who in exchange, lodges a group of
children during weekends and summer holidays in her big house.
Marcel, 65, claims that 'he finally has been able to implement some
dreams which never came to fruition under the normal money
system'. In addition to the one-to-one deals typically found in LETS
systems, every fortnight in Ariege there is a new tradition: a very
special big party in the marketplace of Poix. People come to trade not
only their cheeses, fruit and cakes, as in the normal market days, but
also hours of plumbing, hair cuts, sailing or English lessons. Only
Grain de Sel accepted!
Many people from all around the area come just 'because it is more
fun this way'.
Two and a half years later, Claude Freysonnet has imitators in
France. A lot of imitators. There are now over 200 Sel networks in
France. Some have decided to call their unit of account 'la Truffe’or 'Le
Coquillage’ (the truffle, the seashell).
In addition, there are some 350 centres specialising exclusively in
trading knowledge and information (Riseaux dEchange Savoir). That
concept has been around in neighbouring countries as well. A typical
example is what happens in La Maison de l'Amitil ('the house of
friendship') in the sleepy town of Beauraing, Belgium. Their little
brochure has the title 'I teach you, you teach me, we learn together'.
Bernardette exchanges lessons in accounting for a special jam recipe,
Jean exchanges information about how to keep chickens for the way
to bake traditional breads, Dominique and Sophie receive cooking
lessons from Marie who is interested in learning Dutch. 'It's a way to
have relations which go beyond the simple "good morning". It's a
great way to make friends. I have noticed that - once I understood the