great new currency book

[mira luna]

hi all,

i am reviewing a new book on local currencies by peter north who has written really good case studies on these projects. it's called "local money: how to make it happen in your community".  you can order here  http://transitionculture.org/shop/local-money-how-to-make-it-happen-in-your-community/ from europe or wait until sept to buy from amazon in US http://www.amazon.com/Local-Money-Make-Happen-Community/dp/1900322528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276281353&sr=1-1. it looks really comprehensive, well done and useful so far, but i am just digging in.

the chapter on the german chiemgauer/regiogeld is particularly exciting to me for its significant success at implementing a widely used local currency at a regional level, which has been my preference in light of the possibility of creating complete loops of circulation in a self-sufficient regional economy. of course, that's germany, and they may be a more appropriate context given their local economies are a bit more intact. they have now starting using 35% of transactions through a plastic card system. some people claim to live mostly off the currency. they claim it is creating import substitution, in particular people growing more local apples to fulfill local supply chains through use of chiemgauer.

thanks,
mira