One of the ideas that keeps getting bounced around among advocates for promoting sustainable economies based on independent locally owned businesses is creating a local currency. Even BusinessWeek is getting into the act this week with a look at the Berkshares program, a creation of the E.F. Schumacher Society. The Society’s executive director tells BW, “One of the important roles that a community currency plays is as an educational tool that reminds people about their local businesses, local economy, and develops a sense of pride in the region and those businesses.”