Essential Reading/Training Before the Event
This reading needs to be done before the event to ensure that everyone has the same level of knowledge of how the monetary system works.
1. Watch Ben Dyson’s full (52 min) talk from the October conference about the problem with the monetary system.
-IMPORTANT: Take notes of any questions that you have with regards to this. Also note anything that didn’t make sense to you or seemed to be unclear. Email these questions and comments to speakertraining@positivemoney.
2. Watch Ben Dyson’s full (37 min) explanation of our reform proposals online. As before, please note questions that arise and send to speakertraining@positivemoney.
3. Buy and read Where Does Money Come From?. This is the only truly accurate explanation of how the UK banking system works. You are not expected to memorise all the details (even economists and bankers have found it a heavy read!) but it will give you a far more accurate understanding of the system than the textbooks and other videos on the internet, so is essential reading to avoid perpetuating some of the monetary reform ‘myths’. It will also give you more confidence in answering some of the more technical questions. [Expected Time: 10 HOURS]
4. Watch Mike Black’s 30min video explanation of how money is created when banks make loans, and destroyed when loans are repaid. Although this is quite technical, it’s also very clearly explained. Get a coffee/tea, pause it and make sure you understand each point before proceeding to the next and it will all fall into place (hopefully!) Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 [Expected Time: 1 HOUR]
5. Read the plain English guide to our reform proposals on the website [Expected Time: 2 HOURS] Note any questions that come up and email them to speakertraining@positivemoney.
Further Essential Reading (Before or After Training Day)
This reading is important to do before you speak on behalf of Positive Money, but can be done after the training day if you are unable to fit it in before.
1. Creating New Money by James Robertson – FREE Download. This brilliant and lucid book, written in 2000, makes a very clear explanation of the problems with allowing banks to create money, and gives the basis for Positive Money’s proposed solutions.
2. Our submission to the Banking Commission, their response [page 98 only], and our response to their response.
3. The Bank of England Creation of Currency Bill. This proposal for legislation explains how the necessary reforms could be implemented in the UK. It can be a little tricky to follow as it’s in legalese, but can help you understand some of the finer technicalities of our proposals.
Optional Reading/Training (Advisable but not essential):
1. Watch the other videos from our October conference, especially Toby Lloyds and Josh Ryan-Collins (for knowledge) – the links to these two talks will appear here in short time; Steve Baker for a slightly different perspective, and Michael Meacher.
2. Grip of Death, by Michael Rowbotham – optional if you’ve read all the others (you can order it here, and you can read the first chapter online). Start by reading chapters 1,2,3 and 7 as a priority. Bear in mind this was written in 1997, without the internet as a useful research tool, so certain elements are out of date or not entirely accurate, but it’s an extremely good book nonetheless.
3. TED talks – watch some TED talks (on any particular subject) and see what is particularly effective about the way ideas are presented. Bear most of these speakers are extremely well practised so don’t compare your first talk to them, but note what makes their talks interesting.
4. If you are not an experienced speaker, you may also consider to join a Toastmaster club (it’s a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations); here you can check if there is one in you area.