On the 17th of this month the Brixton pound was born, after a moderately short gestation. So what on earth, you may be wondering, is this all about?
£1 Olive Morris Brixton Black Women's group founder
By Ursula Gregory
It’s not, as somebody asked me, the new area being created in front of the Ritzy [and we’ll come to the Ritzy later…]. Transition towns are starting to get into the public consciousness, starting with Totnes, Lewes, Stroud and now, the very first urban, let alone inner-city community to start on the long road to sustainability by introducing its own currency. You could hardly get more of a typical inner city community than Brixton.
[NB. For info on what Transition Towns mean, follow the links as there’s far too much to include here.]
£5 - James Lovelock, Scientist, originator of Gaia theory
So, what happened on Thursday evening was, to a packed Lambeth Town Hall – renamed for the night as Brixton Town Hall – the local community currency – the Brixton Pound (the successor to the Brixton Brick) was unveiled. We had an amazing, inspiring intro from Derrick Anderson the Lambeth CEO who is fully behind the whole project, followed by an extraordinarily interesting and informative talk from David Boyle from NEF, one of its key supporters.
Rob Hopkins, the founder of Transition Towns and a permaculture expert, was next. We were asked to think back to stories like The Magic Carpet, and the Seven League Boots and then to imagine the stories (?fairytales) that may be handed down to our childrens’ childrens’ children. And even the cynics out there must surely realise that we are now at a time of change, ever accelerating, in what can or should or must be done.
C L R James – Historian, political theorist and cricket writer
Having missed the earlier meeting at which Transition Town Brixton was formally inaugurated – and an enormous cake was baked – he was exceptionally chuffed to be able to be here and to eat some of the Brixton Pound Cake!
The intention of minting a community currency (and many have been created in the past: some wood currencies, the Ithaca dollar printed on angora rabbit fur – the latter were pretty resistant to forgery!) is to support the local economy by keeping money circulating within it. Fairly obviously, the currency is for use within Brixton. It enables the local traders to have more liquidity and to rely less on credit, to keep the local economy buoyant. It is flexible and tradeable. You can buy it at face value, use it to shop, receive it in change when using £Sterling, give it as spending money to your godchildren, and if you get fed up with it (highly unlikely) you can hand it back for ‘real’ money. All at no charge to you.
Vincent Van Gogh - Artist
The producers have thought about the obvious pitfalls. Forgery? They are quite beautifully laser-printed on watermarked paper. And it’s such small beer, who would go to the trouble of forging it? Another problem that was an unexpected issue in Totnes was the hording of them as souvenirs. To this end, you can buy special Souvenir Packs. After two years, if the notes have not been spent or traded in, they expire. The second issue will be in September 2011.
The currency sports notables who have lived in Brixton at some time:
B£1 – Olive Morris – lived here 1961 – 1975
B£5 – James Lovelock – lived here 1925 – 1933
B£10 – C L R James – lived here 1985 – 1989
B£20 – Vincent Van Gogh – lived here 1873 – 1874
If you want to buy some B£s go to the website, which shows the ‘cashpoints’. The easiest will probably be at Morleys; as it’s family owned and beholden to none, it is one of the project’s backers and supporters.
As for where you can spend your lovely new money (and don’t let anyone taunt you that it’s ‘monopoly money’ – it isn’t and would just show their ignorance) also go to the website. Many small businesses are there, and shops, delis, salons.
There is a noticeable gap where the Ritzy should be – why, I wonder has the Ritzy not yet signed up? Could be because it’s now part of a chain. Shame on them. If you don’t fancy the trek into Brixton, then Olley’s, Sesami and Pullens – all in Herne Hill – are signed up. And Olley’s is also a ‘cashpoint’.
Happy spending!
Also by Ursula Gregory Climate Camp 2009 – a Visitor’s View
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