Socio-Economic Activity In Luxembourg
We were privileged to be invited to attend a wonderful evening in Beckerich, Luxembourg on Tuesday 28 July 2015 which, together with CELL(Centre Ecological Learning Luxembourg), and Transition West, hosted the second overnight stop for the cycling team from AlterTour (www.altertour.net).
They ride thousands of kilometers to meet and learn,everywhere on their way, about alternatives to climate change. The aim is to be another “Tour de France” but without drugs or competition and in the spirit of helping each other, all in good humour and by simply being friends,bearers and active promoters of good alternatives.
The first stop was at Home St. Christophe, Beggan around a wood fire, with film screenings, discussions and exchanges on alternatives and different possibilities. This occasion was hosted by Transition Minett and Greenpeace, Luxembourg on Monday evening where AlterTour were joined by a another group from Alternatiba (www.alternatiba.eu) in advance of the ‘Sommet Climatique in Paris’ at the end of 2015. AlterTour is currently based in Clermont Ferrand and modt participants are from France but there are participants from Spain, Switzerland, Austria etc.
On Tuesday evening the group were joined by Camille Gira, ex-mayor of Beckerich and current Secretary of State for the Environment. He spoke about how they had reinvigorated the rather run-down villages in the commune by joining together local people and businesses and by creating the local currency, the ‘Beki’, for exchange of local services in preference to far off or foreign resources. They have their own printed notes and which are accepted locally by some 75 or more companies, associations etc., and are even exchangeable at the B.C.E.E., rather like the town of Totnes in Devon, U.K., which is another Transition town.
One can see how, even in Luxembourg, there are areas that might benefit from Crowd Funding or Microfinance projects helping to renovate villages and local economies.
After the short speech we were treated to a shared meal with mulled wine and drinks followed by dancing to African music in a relaxed and enriching style.
Further Information at: www.greenpeace.lu / www.transition-minett.lu / www.cell.lu / www.transitionwest.lu / www.beki.lu http://www.transitiontowntotnes.org/
MFTSE Affairs S.A. finance-eco-money.lu https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFTSE-Affairs-SA/924701087590315 http://www.chronicle.lu/categorieslivingthings/item/12571-alternative-tour-de-france-comes-to-luxembourg-virtues-extolled-of-local-beki-currency
