Global developments in finance and geopolitics are prompting a rethinking of the structure of banking and of the nature of money itself. Among other interesting news items:
- In Russia, vulnerability to Western sanctions has led to proposals for a banking system that is not only independent of the West but is based on different design principles.
- In Iceland, the booms and busts culminating in the banking crisis of 2008-09 have prompted lawmakers to consider a plan to remove the power to create money from private banks.
- In Ireland, Iceland and the UK, a recession-induced shortage of local credit has prompted proposals for a system of public interest banks on the model of the Sparkassen of Germany.
- In Ecuador, the central bank is responding to a shortage of US dollars (the official Ecuadorian currency) by issuing digital dollars through accounts to which everyone has access, effectively making it a bank of the people.
Filed under: Ellen Brown Articles/Commentary | Tagged: digital currency, Ecuador, Iceland, Russian central bank | 51 Comments »
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Public banking in Europe: Possibilities for Iceland
I’m currently in Switzerland, after presentations on public banking in Reykjavik, Iceland; London, UK; Manchester, UK; and Cardiff, Wales. Very interesting and productive trip!
A February 13th seminar on public banking was sponsored by the Dawn Party in Reykjavik. Below is a youtube video of my power point followed by one by Wolfram Morales of the German Sparkassen group. (English begins at 12’35”.)
Iceland is a beautiful country with charming people. They face daunting challenges but have been bold in standing up to the banks, and the spirit is there for a true revolution in banking.
Ellen
Filed under: Audio, Ellen Brown Articles/Commentary | Tagged: Dawn Party, Iceland, public banking, Sparkassen | 6 Comments »