Annette Loudon of Sydney LETS (Local Energy Trading System) tells us LETS organisations have trading systems all around Australia, a lot of them allow intertrading, and most systems have an accommodation offer or two. So if Grey Nomads – or anyone else with a little time to spare – have some skills to offer they could meet some interesting people by doing some trading.
http://www.lets.org.au/ has links to other LETS orgs around oz.
Sydney LETS is an alternative trading network made up of individuals who trade goods and services using a community currency called ‘Operas’ instead of federal dollars.
Barter is a simple one-to-one exchange – I cook for you in return for you digging my garden.
LETS is different – I cook for John; John digs Mary’s garden; Mary cuts Joe’s hair; Joe fixes Lenny’s car; Lenny sells me vegetables and so on around the system…
Each of these trades is paid for in operas and recorded in a central ‘bank’.
Trade is no longer limited by the availability of cash. LETS is a ‘parallel economy’ supporting local communities and empowering individuals.
The Sydney LETS Office is located in The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan S, Waterloo.
If you have a broadband connections you can listen to the mp3 of an interview on Triple J.
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/daily/hack_wed_2008_05_21.mp3
Thanks for this Annette, I’ll follow up with Pastor Liz Howland when she returns.