Spending some time in Dubai

Dubai has become something of a symbol of decadence and unsustainable practices in recent times. I was therefore interested and somewhat heartened to read this story about the first time bank being set up in Dubai.

For the uninitiated, Time banks are a form of complementary currency in which the users create a form of mutual currency based, not surprisingly on time. Members can earn the currency doing community focused activities and then 'spend' it receiving services for others. They can be effective in particular as a tool to build social or community capital.

'New Economic' ideas reaching the land of the man-made islands and indoor ski centre. Maybe there is hope yet...