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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.

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/ 7 April 2004

Still green about environmental policy

Most parties have not given much prominence to environmental issues, focusing instead on jobs and crime. Yet we are already seeing the first frightening heralds of climate change, caused by excessive greenhouse-gas emissions. This could mean crop failure and famine in Southern Africa in the near future. Are any of our politicians paying attention?