It used to be the way of the world before we believed in gold, or metal coins, and paper money. With the economy on shaky ground is this a glimpse into a new sustainable economic solution to global warming and related problems?

Recycling used to also be very much a part of our way of life. I remember living in New Zealand and was amaze at how they would fix and fix and fix stuff and keep it going seemingly forever.

Modern economic survival has contaminated that and basically made it too expensive for people to fix and reuse items. Parts for simple faults cost more than replacing the item. No wonder the world can often feel like one big rubbish dump, rather than the wondrous, beautiful living planet that it IS.

Living on the tight budget I do I always try and take care of what I have, no matter what it is. With my clothing, my newest item is more than a year old and my oldest I got when my children were in their teens (they are both now in their 3o's) I usually buy second hand very rarely new.

Gold silver and other currency are a form of barter so we never really stopped using it, but bartering and exchanges of goods and services will make a large return as the current economic climate will continue until an economic collapse of each country and will continue long after.
If you able to repair and make your own goods you will have a deffinate advantage.