Information AboutLets |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LOCAL EXCHANGE TRADING SYSTEMS | |
| community currencies | |
| pricing | |
| alternative economy | |
| diy culture | |
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LETS can help a wide cross-section of the community -- individuals, small businesses, local services and Voluntary Group s -- to save money and resources and extend their purchasing power. Other benefits include social contact, health care, tuition and training, support for local enterprise and new businesses, and a revitalised community. One goal of this approach is to stimulate the economies of economically depressed towns that have goods and services, but little official currency: the LETS scheme does not require outside sources of income as stimulus. THE BASICS OF LETS # Local people set up a club to trade between themselves, keeping their own record of accounts. # A directory of members' offers and requests--goods, services or items for hire, priced in local LETS units--is compiled and circulated. # Members use the directory to contact one another whenever they wish. They pay for any service or goods by writing a LETS cheque or credit note for an agreed amount of LETS units, or by exchanging printed LETS notes. # If applicable, the credit note is sent to the LETS book-keeper who adjusts both members' accounts accordingly. Unlike direct Barter , with LETS members can earn credits from any member and spend them with anyone else on the scheme. LETS IN THE WORLD France : A consortium of social economy financial institutions including Crédit Coopératif and the mutuals MACIF and MAI have joined with the Chèque Déjeuner co-operative to launch an alternative currency called the ''Sol'', which will be held on a smart card. The Sol will be piloted in the Ile de France, Britanny and Nord-Pas de Calais regions as part of an ''EQUAL'' development partnership in 2005-2006. Le site des Lets (SEL de France) SELidaire : {Link without Title} Japan : The Peanuts system in Chiba City. Approximately ten percent of all payments made at local stores are in the community currency (2002). -supported project. , Locks in Camden Town , Groats in Stirling , New Berries in Newbury, Berkshire , Piers in Southend-on-Sea , Hearts in Birmingham . The Ripple Monetary System has been proposed to connect the diverse LETS systems. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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