About Graham Barnes

Graham Barnes is a Director of Feasta and co-organiser of the Feasta Currency Group. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and worked at a senior level in IT and online marketing in a previous life. His past projects have included the design and delivery of currencies to be sponsored by a local authority; by a social entrepreneur to complement and enhance a well established sustainability methodology; and by a 'local-aware' restaurant chain. His focus is  on the systemic dysfunction of mainstream money and finance, the inequity it accelerates and promising developments for its democratisation and detox  #fairgreenmoney

Graham Barnes has written 52 articles so far, you can find them below.

In Praise of Non-Debt-Based Money

by Graham Barnes. The debt we accumulate as individuals, companies and governments is instrumental in depleting the planet and deepening the rich-poor divide. This 'value-led' critique is powerful and compelling to those wishing to listen, but it is not enough, of itself, to procure any meaningful systemic/ structural change in the monetary regime. We need to communicate widely about the side-effects of debt-based money, and to help people to imagine non-debt based alternatives.

The Parallel Punt

Feasta has been exploring the potential for parallel currencies for some time, largely through the Liquidity Network project which is aimed at boosting local economies at a time when euros are scarce. Now a related idea is gaining traction at a national level in the form of a Parallel Punt. This surprisingly conservative option was discussed at Feasta's Autumn Conference held in Dublin on 22nd/ 23rd September. In this preview Graham Barnes set the scene for what could be a gamechanging development.

Economics Unmasked : Review

Philip B. Smith & Manfred Max-Neef's Economics Unmasked leans more towards conspiracy than cock-up as it compellingly spells out the disastrous effects of the 'free' market on individuals, communities and the planet.