Money that makes a change: Community currencies, North and South

Some communities are coming up with an abundance of creative alternatives to conventional money, in the form of local money systems and complementary currencies, based on trust, time, and the wealth of energy and skills in communities. This is a form of 'money' that makes a change, and that offers new opportunities for sustainable development, North and South. This article explores a diverse range of these new money schemes. It considers how their contexts and purposes differ, examines the gender implications of these innovative projects, and draws lessons for the evolution of community currencies worldwide