Waubonsee Community College

Pig tusks and paper money, by Lilliana Gibbs Production in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

eng

videorecording

For College; Adult audiences

Pig tusks and paper money

electronic resource

747798933

by Lilliana Gibbs Production in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

50

There are two currencies in Papua New Guinea. The modern cash economy and a traditional economy based around shell money, banana leaf bundles and pig tusks. But there exists no legitimate system of exchange between the two. Henry Tokabak dreams of creating a bank where people can exchange their shell money for cash. He feels that the global economy takes a heavy toll on indigenous people. "Shell money gets exchanged within the community, but paper money just goes away." In the traditional economy, indigenous people live quite well without money. They build their houses, farm their land and barter for any extra items. They need cash only for bus fare, school fees and taxes. However, by standards set by the global economy they are cash poor. Henry's dream is frustrated by the regulation of the banking business. Even the word "bank" cannot be used to describe his operation. Further hindering his crusade is his pending court case for misappropriating public funds to establish an informal bank. Yet Henry has the support of many in his community. Sarah, a successful storekeeper on the Trobriand Islands, deals with both currencies and agrees on the need for such an institution. A provocative film for both anthropology and economics classes

general