Co-op News November 2022
The November edition of Co-op News: connecting, challenging and championing the global co-operative movement. This issue covers a busy conference season, including coverage of the Co-op Party conference and a report from Rose Marley of Co-operatives UK at the Labour and Conservative conferences. We also look at the Confederation of Co-operative Housing conference, the Ways Forward event in Manchester, the US Co-op Impact conference, the Global Innovation Summit and the Mondiacult UNESCO event which looked at co-ops, the SDGs and cultural preservation. Plus the latest news from the sector and a look at Scotmid Co-op's innovative staff development programme, and a visit to the Mondragon Corporation in the Basque Country, Spain.
The November edition of Co-op News: connecting, challenging and championing the global co-operative movement. This issue covers a busy conference season, including coverage of the Co-op Party conference and a report from Rose Marley of Co-operatives UK at the Labour and Conservative conferences. We also look at the Confederation of Co-operative Housing conference, the Ways Forward event in Manchester, the US Co-op Impact conference, the Global Innovation Summit and the Mondiacult UNESCO event which looked at co-ops, the SDGs and cultural preservation. Plus the latest news from the sector and a look at Scotmid Co-op's innovative staff development programme, and a visit to the Mondragon Corporation in the Basque Country, Spain.
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<strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> gatherings look for <strong>op</strong>tions<br />
as a global crisis deepens<br />
CONNECTING, CHAMPIONING AND<br />
CHALLENGING THE GLOBAL CO-OP<br />
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It's been conference season for the co-<strong>op</strong> movement, keeping us busy this<br />
month at <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> <strong>News</strong> and ensuring that this edition is packed with event<br />
reports. There's a common thread that runs through these gatherings:<br />
response to crisis. With the world looking set to miss its 1.SC climate target<br />
by some distance, no end in sight to the war in Ukraine and the economic<br />
chaos it has unleashed, and living costs running out of control, there was<br />
much to focus minds. Even at the Labour and <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> Party conferences,<br />
where speakers managed to have some fun at the expense of the doomed<br />
Liz Truss premiership, the main focus was on the challenges to be faced if<br />
the next election goes their way (p33-37).<br />
The co-<strong>op</strong> movement has long trumpeted its ability to deal with challenges<br />
around equality, sustainability and climate, if only it is given the chance,<br />
and various sector events expanded on this theme. In the US, NCBA<br />
CLUSA's Impact conference looked at local and international devel<strong>op</strong>ment<br />
(p30-32); in Manchester, Ways Forward argued for a more radical stance -<br />
although some argued that there are areas, such as utilities provision,<br />
where the state is better suited than co-<strong>op</strong>s to lead the way (p38-39).<br />
Mondiacult, a Unesco side conference, explored how co-<strong>op</strong>s can mobilise<br />
the creative sector to protect local identities from neoliberal forces<br />
(p26-27); the Global Innovation Summit looked at how co-<strong>op</strong>s can<br />
respond to climate change (p28-29) and, taking things right down to the<br />
specifics of one sector in one country, the UK <strong>Co</strong>nfederation of <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong><br />
Housing (CCH) conference asked how the UN's sustainable devel<strong>op</strong>ment<br />
goals can be embedded into our homes (p40-41).<br />
CCH CEO Blase Lambert also stressed the importance of inter co-<strong>op</strong> learning.<br />
Clearly there is a lot of knowledge and experience co-<strong>op</strong>s can share. With<br />
that in mind, the <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong> <strong>Co</strong>uncils Innovation Network headed to the Basque<br />
<strong>Co</strong>untry (Spain) to visit the Mondragon <strong>Co</strong>rporation, a federation of worker<br />
co-<strong>op</strong>s which has formed the cornerstone of a resilient and innovative local<br />
economy. <strong>Co</strong>uncil representatives were keen to find examples to replicate<br />
at home - and learned that Mondragon was born from a regional crisis<br />
every bit as daunting as those facing the world today (p42-43).<br />
There's also a look at Scotmid <strong>Co</strong>-<strong>op</strong>'s colleague growth programme (p46-<br />
47), news of much-needed co-<strong>op</strong> legislation in progress in the UK (p12),<br />
and, to round things off on a lighter note, our Christmas gift guide (p44-45).<br />
MILES HADFIELD - DIGITAL EDITOR<br />
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NOVEMBER <strong>2022</strong> I 3