[p2p-research] The failure of micro-credit?

[Samuel Rose]

On Tue, Aug 25, 2009 at 4:32 AM, Michel Bauwens<michelsub2004 at gmail.com> wrote:
> would your system be similar with the revolving savinds and loan pools
> already massively practiced in many countries of the south?
>
> Michel
>


I suppose so, except that I would personally try and disclude the
"loans" part. It would instead be "pool and invest".

In my opinion, the nature of money itself also needs to change. What
money is valued against should change to something that is constant
(like energy), and represented in natural systems.

The other issue is that I think projects to finance localities should
start out with talking to people, providing a plurality of
options/scenarios/etc, a that locals may not be aware of, and
ultimately asking them what they want and need, and providing that.

Some people may be convinced that they want and need loans, and have a
really good reason for that. They should be able to have
self-sustaining system where they are able support one another on
local scales, whether it be by way of loans, investment, barter, gift
giving, or any other means. People should be able to choose and
execute the activities that work for them. They don't need someone
like me telling them that they don't need loans, if loans are exactly
what they believe they need. The best that I can do is make them aware
of other potential options. The question should be "what kind of local
infrastructure do you need to meet basic food, energy, shelter,
physiological and psychological survival needs?" Micro finance (small
and well used amounts of money and resources) is actually already able
to meet those needs right now today by creating the infrastructure
people are asking for.  It could be done via loans, investment, or
donation based systems (sometimes you may donate as an investment to
help change conditions, or to help build commons based systems), or
via donated time.



-- 
Sam Rose
Social Synergy
Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
skype: samuelrose
email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
http://socialsynergyweb.com
http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
http://socialmediaclassroom.com
http://localfoodsystems.org
http://notanemployee.net
http://communitywiki.org

"The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human
ambition." - Carl Sagan