2008 Call out for ECORATES
EYFA has been using this alternative 'currency' model called Ecorates in different projects for several years now. What a small amount is for a person coming from one country can be too much for the person coming from another country. Every year EYFA makes a table that can be used as a tool to calculate a price that is more fair for the both of them. This table is onwards used by many other grassroots groups/organizations. BUT we need your help with this.
Most of you have already heard, read about or used the Ecorates System. If not, here's a short explanation:
The Eco is an alternative 'currency' based on the actual cost of living in each country. The aim of the Ecorates System is to enable organizations that share the concern of economic inequalities between countries to use a fair exchange rate when they charge people for participation in gatherings, seminars, magazine subscriptions, etc.
With this project we are trying to create an alternative framework for economic relations that breaks with the profit guided and socially exclusive dynamics dictated by institutions. Differences in price levels, currency exchange rates, and purchasing power that might financially discourage or even stop people from some countries from
participating in international events.
For these reasons, the Ecorates System is an initiative that, with the help of grassroots organizations, aims to create an inclusive and participatory system. Since we know that there might be a gap between the wealth of a country and its peoples well-being, we do research to have our own rates rather than using official institutional ones. Check out http://www.eyfa.org/ecorates for more info and examples of projects and gatherings that have used Ecorates.
By filling out the Ecorates questionnaire for your country, you can make the Ecorates System more accurate and fair. Please fill in the online form (http://informal.benn.org/?db=63) to help us gather fresh data for the project. We need as many questionnaires filled up as possible to make this year's Ecorates completely up to date. The form is also attached to this e-mail so you can print it and take it with you when you go to a market, then you can easily fill in the data to the on-line form when you return home.
Please, spread this message widely and ask people around you to fill up the form as well. If you think it would be helpful to have this call out or the questionnaire translated in your own language then please help us out by doing this (send it back to us) and forward it on.
Any comments on how to improve the form or the Ecorates System are always welcome. Also, we are always looking for Regional Coordinators for the Ecorates project (involving spreading info and getting as many people as possible to fill out the questionnaire), so if you're interested and would like to volunteer please contact ecorates@eyfa.org
Thank you!
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