Walton Pantland
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/ 17 December 2004

A wealth of Talents

Norman Reynolds recently argued in the <i>M&G</i> that alternative, community-based currencies keep wealth in communities ("Ora points the way"). But there is a better example of a localised economy — Cape Town’s Talent Exchange. Operating for almost two years, the exchange is essentially a bartering system. But people do not exchange goods directly. Instead, they trade in an invented currency called "Talents".

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/ 9 November 2004

Flower could lose power

Buchu tea for your babalaas? Sorry, Baba, it’s a controlled substance, I can’t sell it to you. You want lavender oil to help you relax? Do you have a prescription, Ma’am?
That scenario sounds ludicrous, but amendments to the Medicines Control Act, due to be implemented in the next few months, could spell the end of the R2-billion alternative-health industry.