Topic: Currency

Latest

[ Episode #92 // Decrypting Cryptocurrency ]

May 22 2016

Mini Episode

Digital communication technologies hold the possibility of re-orienting the way we exchange value and think about money. Do digital currencies like Bitcoin have the ability to change the global economic order? Can machine learning, automation, and cryptocurrencies unleash exponential innovations that unseat the financial institutions at the top of the monetary pyramid?

In Extraenvironmentalist #92 we first speak with Paul Vigna about his new book The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and the Blockchain Are Challenging the Global Economic Order to discuss how the Bitcoin currency and the blockchain distributed ledger system are laying the groundwork for alternatives to today's monetary system. Then, we talk about the potential influence of exponential technologies on education, learning and other areas of the economy with Jim Jubelirer.

// Books

The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and the Blockchain Are Challenging the Global Economic Order by Paul Vigna and Michael J. Casey

//Clips (in order of appearance)

Full Story: on Bitcoin
Bitcoin vs. Banks
This Money's so Safe, You'll Never Touch It

// Music (in order of appearance)

Postiljonen - Supreme (Niva Remix) via Soundcloud
Future Elevators - Modern World via The Planet of Sound
Rodriguez - Hate Street Dialogue (GingerAle Remix) via IndieShuffle

// Production Credits and Notes

Our editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

Episode #92 was supported by donations from the following generous listeners:

Kathryn in Washington
Erin in Vermont
Robert in Kansas
Lee in Arizona

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[ Episode #70 // Downloading Responsibility ]

Dec 10 2013

Mini Episode

An ongoing economic crash that feels like the onset of a deep freeze is far more exhausting than a rapid implosion. As bubbles are reflated and debts accumulate yet again, the system lurches towards its next financial accident. While the global operating system fails, can the exchange of critical goods and services detach from failing currencies? Does the international financial system retain any value if people no longer need it?

In Extraenvironmentalist #70 we catch up with Nicole Foss and Laurence Boomert on their tour across North America as they speak with communities about preparing for hard times. Nicole and Laurence highlight community initiatives that can help people meet basic needs, even as monetary institutions pursue desperation measures. Then, John Michael Greer joins us [88m] to answer a few listener questions and to highlight the lack of whole systems thinking in internet visionaries after Seth and Justin discuss the money illusion.

// Books

Local Dollars, Local Sense by Michael Shuman
Inquiries Into the Nature of Slow Money by Woody Tasch
The Money Illusion by Irving Fisher

// News and Other Items Discussed

Freicoin - the demurrage based cryptocurrency

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[Break] - 35m

Consum-oholic zombies fed big debt transfusion
Living Debt: Rising costs in UK force millions to borrow
Bartering to survive in Spain
I'm broke, let's barter - Greece's new alternative economy

[End]

Alan Watts

// Music (in Order of Appearance)

Dorothy Morrison - Rain (Bobby Busnach Make it Rain Remix)
Skeewiff - Man of Constant Sorrow
Ed Sheeran - I See Fire (Kygo Remix) via Earmilk
ZZ Ward - 365 Days (Jerry Folk Remix) via Jaqui
Fredico Aubele - Somewhere Else

// Production Credits

Our correspondent and editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

Kevin in CA for the Filter Bubble Wrap at the end

Episode art: Wall Street in 1929, one week before the Black Friday crash. People gather due to high volume of trading.

This show was supported by donations from our generous listeners:

Danny in New Orleans
Patrick in Oregon
Eric in DC

// Send us a BTC tip for #70

Even .0001 BTC goes a long way!

Donate Bitcoins

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[ Episode #55 // Degrowth ]

Jan 16 2013

Mini Episode

Decades of material growth have left us with a limited imagination for alternatives. Now that we've hit the point of diminishing returns for additional economic growth, can we decolonize our mind? In the developed world, is it possible to improve our quality of life while decreasing our standard of living? Could it be possible to degrow our economies in a way that creates a happier and healthier society while creating a true alternative for the undeveloped world?

In this epic length episode #55 of The Extraenvironmentalist we cover the Montreal Degrowth Conference from May 2013. We hear from a number of degrowth academics and activists about the ideas in the movement. Through more than twelve interviews we speak with Peter Brown, Michael M'Gonigle, Josh Farley, David Suzuki, Bill Rees, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Janice Harvey, Charles Hall, Gail Tverberg, Juliet Schor, Joan Martinez-Alier and Erik Assadourian. Then, we recap 2012 by hearing from Gregor MacDonald about the IEA's headline grabbing scenario for a United States that produces more oil than Saudi Arabia and Jeremy Grantham's recent eyebrow raising report on resource scarcity. We close out with a preview of our 2013 interviews.

// Index

Peter Brown on degrowth - 6m
Michael M'Gonigle on education - 17m
Josh Farley on money and alternatives to GDP  - 26m
David Suzuki on localism - 43m
Bill Rees on denial - 53m
Mary Evelyn Tucker on a new narrative - 1h06m
Janice Harvey on culture change  - 1h12m
Charlie Hall on energy return - 1h27m
Gail Tverberg on peak oil  - 1h43m
Juliet Schor on working less  - 1h5om
Joan Martinez-Alier on ecological economics - 2h6m
Erik Assadourian on degrowth - 2h15m
Gregor Macdonald on the IEA, claims about US oil production and Jeremy Grantham - 2h38m

You can find the individual degrowth interviews on our video page at http://vimeo.com/extraenvironmentalist

// Music (in order of appearance)

Tor - Glass and Stonevia Earmilk
Electric Guest - Awake (Dennis Rivera Remix) via Soundisstyle
Marvin Gaye vs. Pryda - Too Busy Thinking About Leja via Soundcloud
Marvin Gaye - Anger (Jeremy Sole edit) via Soundcloud
American Authors - Believer via Youtube
Adele - Skyfall (Dorsh Remix) via Indieshuffle
Plastic Plates - Things I didn't Know I loved (Bufi Remix) via Et Musique Pour Tous
Young-Wonder - To You via The Music Ninja
Emancipator - Minor Cause via Earmilk

 

Special thanks to Nathan at Southern Energy and Resilience for transcribing this episode!

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[ Episode #45 // Opening Money ]

Jul 11 2012

Mini Episode

By failing to question our money system, we've accepted an understanding of finance and fiat that's showing its flaws greater than ever. This globalized currency system draws money out of localities and into the hands of corrupt financial institutions. Can we start recapturing these flows of money to build resilient communities? If the Federal Reserve can print money, why can't we?

In Extraenvironmentalist #45 we speak to Michael Linton, developer of LETS and the Community Way currency system about how to open up our money to emphasize positive aspects of human nature . Michael describes how local currencies can help to overcome the feeling of scarcity imposed by a centralized national currency. We ask Michael if our federal dollars should be replaced or if we should be looking to compliment them through local money. Then, we speak with Jordan Bober who is launching the Seedstock in Vancouver, BC based on Michael's Community Way model.


// Music (in order of appearance)
Chick Bullock - Are You Making Any Money?  via Youtube
 Gold Diggers of 1933 - We're in the Money via Youtube
 Matt and Kim - Let's Go via Consequence of Sound
The Beatles x Carlos Santana x Griz x Gramatik – Don’t Let Me Change (Ego Mashup) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
[Break]
FT - Libor scandal rocks banking
Max Keiser - How Tom Cruise Stole Libor
Michael Hudson - Summit MMT in Italy

[End]
Michael Hudson - Summit MMT in Italy

// Production Credits
Production Assistance  | Kevin at the Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

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[ Episode #29 // Creating Wealth ]

Nov 22 2011

Mini Episode

Occupy Wall Street has directed our attention to the extreme concentration of wealth resulting from decades of policy designed to trickle down prosperity. Through using a single type of bank debt currency, we allocate our labor and resources to benefit a global elite instead of our communities. Can we engage our local leaders and municipal governments to break this currency monoculture? Can global examples of currency ecology provide a map for improving educational experiences, enhancing the arts and building resilience to the fragility of central bank finance mechanisms?

In Extraenvironmentalist #29 we speak with Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer about Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies, their recent book on how to implement complimentary currency systems while creating intentional cities with money ecosystems. We cover examples of complimentary currencies in Brazil (saber), the United States (time banking), Switzerland (WIR), Belgium, Lithuania and Uruguay (C3) to demonstrate how alternative forms of money can help to enhance our education, business and sense of community. Could the WIR be the reason for Switzerland's stability? Are there ways to retool education funding that could help us realize our dreams?

Note: Justin's poor understanding of French led to him mis-speaking Bernard's last name, it should be said Liet-ya instead of Liet-air


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
John Lee Hooker - (Money) That's What I Want
The J's - The Sound of Money via WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Sharon Jones - Money via This is Real Music
The Drums - Money (Chad Valley Remix) via Niteversions
Mr. Little Jeans - The Suburbs (Cry Wolf Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
Debt Diets and Riots: Euro Lose Lose via RT
Greeks Abandon Cash Resort to Bartering via RT
Annie Leonard - Story of Broke
Enslaved to banks US students drawn to join Occupy
Chris Hedges Speaking at OWS

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[ Episode #19 // Crash Course ]

Jul 27 2011

Mini Episode

The debt crisis engulfing American political discourse is just the realization of a financial and economic reality that has been playing out for several years resulting from decades of economic policy. Now that the unsustainable nature of our national economy can no longer be ignored how will ordinary people in the United States handle such an awakening? Does this divergence from consumption, saving for retirement and planning to buy a house present a unique chance for our generation to have a new definition of what constitutes a meaningful life? Even if the US avoids default in the next few months, are we just postponing a larger crisis down the road?

In Extraenvironmentalist #19 we speak with Chris Martenson about The Crash Course, his video series that introduces the economic, energy and environmental challenges of the near future. Chris has also just released The Crash Course as a book that comprehensively details the core issues facing our planet and modern industrial economies. We talk with Chris about his transition from medical researcher and corporate executive into sustainability advocate and economic journalist. Our discussion covers his predictions for the currently unfolding debt crisis in Washington, DC that threatens to bring America to default and the ability for our generation to take advantage of the numerous opportunities we'll be presented with in the tumultuous times ahead. All while Seth enjoys a delicious garden fresh tomato.

 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Gramatik - Moar Jive via The Music Ninja
John Denver - Country Roads (Pretty Lights Remix) via Sunset in the Rear View
Note: we think it's so nice we used it twice; as it's also in #18
Widowspeak - Wicked Game (Chris Isaak Cover) via IndieShuffle

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[ Episode #13 // Debt-Dollar Discipline ]

Apr 8 2011

Mini Episode

Does our currency drive participation in a disciplinary system that conditions a consumer society? Surplus goods created by industrial production require an acceptable set of behaviors, reinforced by a financial establishment of rewards and punishments. Though the people reliant on disciplinary institutions are used to playing by the rules, what happens when the game changes suddenly?

In Extraenvironmentalist #13 we speak with Ashvin Pandurangi, writer for The Automatic Earth on his series of articles that describe the Debt-Dollar Discipline, the global system of currencies backed by the U.S. Dollar that define the choice sets available to us. We ask about how finance, currency, education and our institutions create a rigid disciplinary guideline. Ash, Seth and Justin ponder the question of whether a global system that slowly empties its gas tank can handle a rapid disintegration and a population in developed nations accustomed to discipline.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Mr. Thomas Bevan for his magical performance in singing about the Titanic.

BEFORE APRIL 14th: Vote for Justin's video in the OECD's 50th Anniversary Challenge to redefine economic progress

 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Daughter - Run via The Music Ninja
 Malvina Reynolds - Little Boxes via Dangerous Minds #18
Lanu - Beautiful Trash (feat. Megan Washington) via SoundCloud
Anomie Bell - How Can I Be Sure via IndieShuffle

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