Community Exchange System: 'Currency' without money

CES 'currency' is created by its users so it can never be in short supply. So long as you can offer something of value you can have from the community skills and services of like value. Join the growing community who have discovered a new way of 'doing' money, a healthy currency that will create a healthy society.

The object of the SANE Community Exchange System (CES) is to facilitate trade without using our conventional national currencies, and build a sense of community at the same time.

By 'trade' we mean the normal economic activity of selling goods and providing services by 'producers', 'sellers' or 'providers', and the purchase of these by 'buyers', 'customers', 'clients', 'patients', 'consumers', etc.

The CES serves two basic functions:

• it is an online money and banking system
• it is a 'marketplace' where people sell goods and services

Although the CES is internet-based it also works for those who do not have computers. Each user gets an account number and a password, and this gives them access to their account on the CES web site. The site works like a true on-line banking service. Participants can view their current balances and obtain statements of account. They can also keep track of the trading position of others.

Goods and services are advertised on the web site through an 'Offerings List'. Participants look through this list, or do a search, and if they find anything they want they contact the seller who then provides the goods or service. Payment is effected through a Trading Slip which serves both as a means of payment and a receipt for the goods or service. The information on the Trading Slip is entered by the seller into a transacation form on the web site. This credits the account of the seller and debits that of the buyer. Accounts record these debits and credits, giving a balance after each transaction.

Those without computers can interface with the system through 'branches' where everything is done manually and information is available on paper.

For more information, please see www.community-exchange.org