National Environment Bank

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The National Environment Bank (NEB) (2000 -) is an artwork that functions like a bank (formally known as an Accredited Deposit-taking Institution) but does not take deposits. The NEB trades only in riverbank notes, designed and printed by John Reid, for Australian currency on a dollar for dollar basis. Funds raised are donated to community river catchment environmental projects.

2007 NEB Founding Manifesto ‘The prevailing political leadership in many countries and the greed of investors in big business, both of which threaten any prospect of ameliorating the environmental crises confronting life on Earth, were motivations for establishing the NEB. National governments have an appalling record of neglect for research funding of energy alternatives. By distorting the term 'sustainable development', big business - particularly in mining exploration - is attempting to subvert the role of national parks around the world (as places for the conservation of biodiversity) by tempting governments to amend park charters to allow for the exploitation for fossil fuels and mineral resources. Every banknote exchange is a registration of dissent against government failure to support substantial research and development in alternative energy, and is a positive contribution to community environmental initiatives’. JR 2007