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

system in our own bodies (see sidebar). Mutations in a nervous
system are relatively rare but rather important events in the
biological evolution of a species. Similarly, a change in the nature of
our money system has the potential to facilitate a fundamental shift
in our societies.
It is also important to understand that Sustainable Abundance is
not a state, but a process.
To participate in this process, we will need to:
· Understand the premises upon which our existing money system
is based;
· Become aware of the existence of other money systems that can
perform functions which conventional national currencies have
proved ill- equipped to fulfil;
· Based upon this understanding, make informed choices about
which currencies to use for what types of transactions - choices that
are compatible with the type of relationship, reciprocal or
competitive - that we want to establish with our counterpart in any
given exchange.
You will see that conventional national currencies and monetary
systems are programmed to produce competition and to remain
scarce. With a choice of currencies available, it will make sense to
continue using conventional currencies to do business, to purchase a
car or petrol, and to pay your telephone bill. However, you may want
to consider using a cooperation- inducing currency to interact with
your neighbors, take care of the elderly, or broaden the learning
horizons of your children. One can see these two types of currencies
as complementary to each other, to be used in parallel. It will even