|
Co-ops have "invaluable presence" in global economy, Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has congratulated the co-operative movement for its contribution to the global common good.
At the International Co-operative Alliance's General Assembly in Cancun, Mexico, over 2,000 delegates saw the video message from the UN chief. read more
|
|
Obama campaigner on grassroots approach
What does a Barack Obama campaign strategist have to do with the International Year of Co-operatives? He can talk to co-operators about the importance of using social media to promote co-ops and the International Year.
That’s why the ICA invited Sam Graham-Felsen, who masterminded Obama’s social media efforts during the U.S. presidential campaign, to give the keynote speech at Thursday morning’s session of the Cancun conference.
read more
|
|
Green to Chair UN Advisory Group for IYC
Dame Pauline Green, ICA president, is to chair the United Nations Advisory Group for the International Year of Co-operatives (IYC).
The group will provide guidance, support and assistance to the Coordinating Committee in implementing the mandate and objectives of the IYC. read more
|
|
Mexican president says to take constructive action on co-ops
Mexico President Felipe Calderón has pledged his country's support to the co-operative business model and to celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives.
At the International Co-operative Alliance's Cancun General Assembly, the Mexican President said: "We share the values of co-operativism. Mutual help, fair employment, corporate social responsibility, sustainable human development, the participation of citizens and democracy." read more
|
|
Coop'Art comp launched to capture youth imagination
A global artistic competition designed to encourage youth to creatively express their views on co-operative principles was launched at the ICA General Assembly.
A camera, an instrument or voice is all entrants will need to be able to participate in the competition. read more
|
|
Global report to include economic and social data, Salvatori
The Global 300 report, which provides the only concrete, global overview of the big end of the co-operative sector, must be re-worked, according to European co-operative expert, Gianluca Salvatori. Salvatori, Euricse ceo, told a plenary session in Cancun that two steps are being taken by the research institute as it produces, for the first time, the re-framed report in 2012.“We must make clear, with rigorous methods and data, that the cooperative system doesn’t just work for small and old fashioned businesses, but it also works in big and innovative businesses,” Salvatori said. read more
|
|
...and campaigner gives stories.coop the nod of approval
The social media guru who co-engineered the campaign which saw Barack Obama elected has praised the stories.coop digital campaign in the lead up to the UN International Year of Cooperatives.
“I was excited to see Stories.coop – stories are essential,” Sam Graham-Felsen told delegates during his keynote speech at the International Co-operative Alliance’s General Assembly and conference. read more
|
|
Rochdale awards handed out in Cancun at General Assembly
A professor who is considered to be the father of the credit union movement in Mexico has received the Rochdale Award at the ICA's General Assembly in Cancun.
Professor Florencio Eguia Villasenor, the moral advisor to the Mexican co-operative movement received the award from ICA Director-General Charles Gould, who also gave the award to Jong-Koo Lee.
|
|
Rochdale is world capital of co-operatives
Rochdale has been declared as the world capital of co-operatives.
Delegates at the General Assembly overwhelmingly backed the motion to name Rochdale, the home to the Rochdale Pioneers, as the global centre of co-operation. read more
|
|
Two new ICA board members elected from Poland and Iran
General Assembly delegates voted in two new board members of the ICA on the closing day of proceedings.
Elected to the board were Albolhassan Khalili from Iran Oilseeds and Vegetable Oil Processing Co-operative (Farda) and Janusz Paszkowski, from the National Auditing Union of Workers Cooperatives (NAUWC) of Poland. read more
|
|
Delegates back peace-building institute
The support for a Co-operative Institute for the Promotion of Peace and Social Cohesion has been approved by the General Assembly.
It has been passed by ICA delegates to operate for a three year trial and will benefit from an advisory committee selected in consultation with the Director-General or designate. read more
|
|
Special Assembly in Manchester for ICA
An Extraordinary General Assembly is set to be convened by the International Co-operative Alliance next year.
Ahead of the expiration of a four year strategy that was formed at the General Assembly in Rome in 2008, the ICA is to build upon that strategy at the Manchester event in the UK. read more
|
|
Change to co-op principle referred back to ICA board
A motion to amend the Seventh Co-operative Principle has been referred back to the ICA board.
The revised Principle was set to encourage co-operatives to expand on the environmental aspect of their business.
Proposed by Ramon Imperial, ICA Americas President, he said: "We believe we need to adapt our principles for the challenges that face us. We are not trying to change the essence, but expand it. We would like to give it further scope so co-operatives can deal with the issues." read more
|
|
A new age in which co-operatives can find their mark, Heavyside
The International Year of Co-operatives heralds a new age where capital is not only invested to make a financial profit but to profit human lives through positive social outcomes, said Colin Heavyside, Australasian co-operative movement identity. . read more
|
Co-operators from around the world have united in their call to action to the global co-operative movement to embrace the UN International Year of Co-operatives 2012 as a turning point.
