Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Euro, Meet Urstromtaler

			July 23, 2008 Log in / Register
			Text Size

Washington’s Overrated ‘Old Hands’
By Joe Conason

No Easy Out for Obama
By Bill Boyarsky

Refighting the Vietnam War
By Ellen Goodman

The Starbucks Economy
By Marie Cocco

The Maverick Behind the Mustache

New McCain Gaffes on Iraq

NBA Ballers Responding to Strong Euro

Der Spiegel or ‘Der Lying’?

World Bank Finds Itself Wanting

China to Allow ‘Protest Lite’

‘Daily Show’ and Colbert on ‘Obama Quest’

McCain Ad Blames Obama for Gas Prices

‘Baruch Obama’

Bush Tours America to Survey Damage Caused by His Disastrous Presidency

Outcry on Savage’s Savage Comment About Autism

William Pfaff on General Motors
By William Pfaff

Back to the Drawing Board for Disney’s First Black Princess

Ventura Staying Out of Minnesota Senate Race

President Jonah, Meet Oliver Cromwell!

Dig led by Gore Vidal

Inside the Data Mine

Dig led by Onnesha Roychoudhuri

Euro, Meet Urstromtaler

bbc.co.uk

Regional currencies like the Urstromtaler have been springing up around Germany. Advocates hope that the alternate currencies will help to stimulate sagging local economies, support small businesses and encourage a sense of community.

BBC:
Like any other city in Germany, the normal currency here is the euro. But bizarrely, they also have another currency in circulation: the Urstromtaler.

Before you doubt its existence, it is not “Monopoly” money - it is very real. At a jewellery shop in the city centre, Gerfried Kliems explained how people use the regional currency.

Read more