Robert Van de Weyer argues that humanity faces a trio of chronic crises – economic, ecological, and in the provision of welfare services – whose causes are various connected forms of usury.

Following the religious teaching of Christianity and Islam, which have traditionally condemned usury as the fundamental source of social injustice, he defines usury as the unequal allocation of risk. He offers practical proposals as to how usury may be reduced or eliminated, showing that the solution to each crisis depends on solving the others.

This is a very significant essay, and I am delighted at its publication. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

. . . shows how the crises facing humanity – economic depression and the threat to our survival as a result of our neglect of the environment – are interconnected. It deals with the crises together, and brings back into focus what the founders of all the world’s faiths taught us. The Rt Hon. Tony Benn

This book is challenging, radical, necessary and a moral imperative. Its proposals for ending usury will facilitate a root and branch reform of our money system which is perpetuating poverty, inequality, exploitation and the destruction of the natural world. Satish Kumar, Editor of Resurgence, and Director of Schumacher College

As a Muslim it is my pleasure to support a work that addresses the issue of usury. The issue will only be resolved by force of argument, or by force of circumstances when people have nothing left to eat. Tarek El Diwany, author of The Problem with Interest, and consultant on Islamic investment

The insights of this book are so important that they deserve wide attention. Professor Philip Booth, Cass Business School and Institute of Economic Affairs