Co-operative model could be the answer to economic woes
Beyond the ethics, co-operatives have weathered the recession well, created large number of employment and business opportunities. Why are they so successful, when many others in the market place have failed? The answer is simple. No need for a PhD from a fancy university! All they do, they do it for the common good: “Instead of being owned by shareholders, who extract a slice of the profits, all these co-operatives hand over any gains they make to their customers and staff.”
It is time the market fundamentalists, free trade zealots, and private enterprise to take note and follow the good example.
The United Nations has designated 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives“From Argentina to Zambia, the 1.4 million co-operatives across the globe will be celebrating and showing how they build a better world, working in farming to football, healthcare to housing.
"Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility"- Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General
For supporters of co-operatives, the International Year is a unique opportunity to come together as a global movement to promote how co-operative enterprises build a better world.” …
“Before the credit crunch, co-ops were easily dismissed as worthy but irrelevant. But the crisis, and the failure of many developed economies to generate a sustainable recovery, have raised public interest in alternative ways of doing business. In total, co-operatives worldwide now have a billion members.”…
"We know that co-operative banks, and credit unions, have not collapsed; they are not in receipt of taxpayer bailouts. Our arguments have begun to find traction with global decision-makers on the back of the sustainability and resilience of our financial model over the past five years."
Read more:
2012- International Year of Co-operatives
Co-operative model could be the answer to economic woes
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/04/co-operative-model-enjoys-a-renaissance/print