Welcome to the Blue Mountains Community Exchange website
There used to be a LETS system in the mountains which enabled people to exchange in ways other than using normal money. it wound down in 2001 in part due the enormous administrative load.
This new system is run online and has the advantage that it more or less runs itself.
For those who endeavour to live sustainably, this exchange system enables you to access goods and services using a complementary currency called EMUS.
You can now manage your own account, add your own offerings and wants and perform a whole range of actions related to your account. You may also see what is available from other exchanges and trade with CES members all over the world.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS A NEW MEMBER ON THE BLUE MOUNTAINTAINS COMMUNITY EXCHANGE SYSYTEM.
WHAT IS A RCOMMUNITY EXCHANGE?
A community exchange system is
simply an agreement within a
community to use and accept a local
currency as means of payment.
They are not intended to replace national currencies, but are meant to perform functions that current national currencies neglect - job creation, local sustainability and ensuring that wealth stays within a community.
Barter is a straight one-for-one trade: I’ll cook you dinner if you dig my garden. Local Currencies are more flexible as it makes it possible to trade items and services between many people.
NEXT TRADING DAY on SUNDAY 1st May from 12.pm at Katoomba Community Gardens as part of National Permaculture day Come and bring things to trade New members can join on the spot and trade straight away
"MONEY IS MERELY A SYMBOL ACCEPTED TO BE VALUABLE THROUGHOUT THE SOCIETY THAT USES IT. WHY SHOULD WE EVER BE SHORT OF SYMBOLS TO KEEP ACCOUNT
OF HOW WE SERVE ONE ANOTHER?"
Michael Linton – founder of LETS
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Each user gets an account number and a password, which gives them access to their account on the CES web site. The site works like a true on-line banking service. Participants can view their current balances and obtain statements of account. They can also keep track of the trading position of others.
Goods and services are advertised on the web site through an 'Offerings List'. Participants look through this list, or do a search, and if they find anything they want they contact the seller who then provides the goods or service. Payment is entered by the seller into a transacation form on the web site. This credits the account of the seller and debits that of the buyer.
Those without computers can interface with the system through 'branches' where everything is done manually and information is available on paper.