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Introduction
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*Where we've come from*
The Campaign for Interest-Free Money was launched
on 28th January 1998, by a group of people,
mostly from London UK, who wanted to get this
debate rolling. It is a highly non-hierarchical,
non-ageist, non-party political, inter-cultural,
inter-faith, ecumenical and very, very all-inclusive
activity. It's designed as a journey being shared
by people who are investigating the age-old
question of charging interest on lent money:
usury, riba and various other names - some unprintable!!
- have been given to this activity!
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*Where we are now*
In the course of a year's worth of e-mails, letters
and weekly open meetings are aware that this question
is deeply uncomfortable for some people and so we
see that the Campaign (note: *the* Campaign and not
*our* Campaign!!) needs to stick sensitively with
this question: asking all to examine it in the spirit
of love and respect.Thus, in the course of the Campaign's
first year, we have met many people who are quite
clear that charging interest on lent money is the
scam of scams, the sin of sins, the evil of evils.To
that extent, then, we detect that, at this point on
the Campaign's journey that it is right to have a
space clearly marked for all to enter in that spirit
of love and respect that we have highlighted above.
At present, we are unaware of any other space that
starts from the questioning of the rightness of interest
charging on lent money, and, for that reason alone
we continue joyfully into the Campaign's second year
- inviting all to join the debate.
*Where we are going*
John Lennon said that: "Life is something
that happens to you while you are planning to do something
different!" This year: * we are starting monthly
evening meetings in the Debtors' Prison in Clink Street
* we will carry on networking with Campaigns both
local and world-wide * we'll keep having weekly meetings
on Wednesdays 11am-1pm at the Global Table * we'll
keep on sending out materials (both collected and
sent to us) * and we'll keep on being led forward
by the enthusiasm and love of all, for all. We also
aim to use this web site to offer links to related
Campaigns and their activities and we'll aim to set
up a news/bulletin board - so that all can find a
welcoming space on the journey. All in that spirit
of all-inclusiveness, love and respect for all, to
all and from all.
*And finally*
Since the Campaign was launched, we have become
amazed at the range of subjects that are influenced
by the the rightness (or otherwise!) of charging interest
on lent money. We, quite routinely, get to consider
matters of personal philosophy, spirituality, care
of the planet, our relationship with other species,
violence, health issues, the food we eat, town planning,
public services, theology, art and science, the future
and the past, and on and on!Interest and lent money
seems to touch every single aspect of the planet's
life! Please do keep alongside these debates: the
future has been along time coming!
John Courtneidge
After General Meeting:
26 February 1999
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