Please give me any information you have on Local Exchange Trading Systems (also called LETS or LETSystems)?

Question

I need information regarding its environmental effects as well. How is it eco-friendly?

Answer 1

LETS, or other community currencies, are eco-friendly if used as part of a whole system, eg pemaculture design.

It enables the supply & demand cycle to be closed not open ended as in most global trading.

eg finite resources used to make something shipped around the world just end up in landfill. The main product is $$ for the global commodity and currency traders.

If locally sourced using LETS only what is needed is produced, it can be repaired or re-used by someone else, or adapted as need changes, and ultimatly can be returned to the producer to recycle providing raw material for a replacement, and there is no loss of currency from the local community to the global finacial market.

Answer 2

Letslink UK is an umbrella organization for local Exchange Trading Schemes (Lets). Lets promotes the exchange of goods and services so individuals, groups and businesses can function in the community without money.

http://www.letslinkuk.org/

See also the New Civilisation Network Alternative Money System

http://www.newciv.org/ncn/moneyteam.html

Lets promote local community. Exchanging goods and services locally retains the 'benefits' within that community. So less money is spent outside, for example on imported goods made in sweat shops. Less goods and services are bought. Less pollution, less airmiles, less manufacturing, disposal etc.

Effort can be exchanged directly for other products or services so it is a socially more just system. For example one hour's cleaning in exchange for one hour's babysitting.

http://www.gmlets.u-net.com/faq.html#env...