ICA-Americas Newsletter Issue Nº 11 // December 2011 AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR CREATION OF A NETWORK OF ROCHDALE DECLARED WORLD WORKER COOPERATIVES IN THE UTILITIES COOPERATIVES CAPITAL OF COOPERATIVES REGION The creation of a network within the The motion to designate Rochdale, UK, as On November 15 the constituent As‐ ICA was the main conclusion reached by the World Capital of Cooperatives was sembly of CICOPA‐Americas was held leading cooperative delegates from adopted by the ICA General Assembly in and its Rules were approved. Europe and the Americas in Cancun GA. Cancun, Mexico. (page 10) (page 11) (page 8) Inside ICA launched 2012 UN IYC p. 3 ICA General Assembly 2011 Mexican President said a strong co‐operative economy is vital for Mexico MEXICAN PRESIDENT SAID p. 5 A STRONG CO-OPERATIVE Communication experts discussed cooperative challenges and opportunities ECONOMY IS VITAL FOR p. 6 MEXICO Important decisions at the General Assembly (page 5) p. 8 Mexico makes the most of being the venue of the most important event of the cooperative movement p. 9 ICA LAUNCHED 2012 An important step forward for worker cooperatives in the region p. 10 UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR Cooperative leaders boost the creation of a Network of Utilities OF COOPERATIVES Cooperatives p. 11 Cooperatives have a privileged position to promote gender equity in enterprises p.12 ICA launched Coop ‘art contest for young co‐operators p.14 ICA supports the establishment of institute on co‐ops and peace p.15 Rochdale awards handed out in Cancun at General Assembly p.15 ICA-Americas Newsletter is an e-publication of the International Co-operative Alliance for the Americas COOPERATIVES HAVE A PRIVILEGED POSITION TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY IN ENTERPRISES (page 12) COMMUNICATION EXPERTS [email protected] DISCUSSED COOPERATIVE Phone: + (506) 2296 0981 Fax: + (506) 2231 5842 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES PO BOX: 6648 -1000 (page 6) San José, Costa Rica { The Editor’s Pen } Biggest ever attendance at ICA General Assembly It is impossible to start writing this special edition of our ICA‐Americas Newsletter without congratulating and thanking the global cooperative movement and coop‐ eratives in our region in particular, for the enthusiasm and commitment with which they are rising up to the challenge of working from their cooperatives in the construction of a better world. Firstly, we would like to highlight the hospitality of the Mexican people during the Manuel Mariño celebration of all the activities related to the ICA General Assembly, held from 14 ICA Americas to 18 November in Cancun, Mexico, which marked the launch of the 2012 Inter‐ Regional Director national Year of Cooperatives. In the 116 years of history of the ICA, its General Assembly had never achieved such high attendance of participants from all over the world: more than 2000 cooperative representatives from 78 countries on five continents! Also, it is important to point out that over 1,400 of those people represented cooperatives of the Americas. In addition, the event offered online streaming; and as a result, it probably had a virtual participation of thousands of people from all over the world. One of the most important moments of the event was the launch of the 2012 “ In the 116 years International Year of Cooperatives. World leaders at the ceremony agreed on the of history of the great opportunity of such designation to show that cooperatives are a solution ICA, its General for many of the economic and social problems we are facing today. Assembly had The academic level of the General Assembly was excellent, with international ex‐ never achieved perts who remarked the importance of communication and the need to increase the visibility of the movement. such high attendance of In this special edition we share with you some of the highlights of the event. You can read all the information related to the International Year of Cooperatives, participants the speech of the ICA President, Dame Pauline Green and of the Secretary‐ from all over the General of the United Nations, Ban Ki‐moon, who sent his message by video. world ... Last but not least, we offer an exclusive interview with a delegation from the World Bank on gender equity in the Latin American context and its link with co‐ ” operatives; and a brief summary of the most remarkable aspects that took place within the framework of this successful 2011 General Assembly. 2 ICA-Americas Newsletter // Issue Nº 11 // December 2011 ICA LAUNCHED 2012 UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES The largest ever gathering event of the co‐operative movement came together in Mexico to launch 2012 as the United Nations International Year of Co‐operatives. At a time when national economies ing banking, credit, insurance, are faced with high unemployment housing, health, retail and agricul‐ “ Co-operatives and financial instability, the Inter‐ ture. are a unique national Co‐operative Alliance (ICA) The International Year designation launched the UN International Year provides an opportunity for co‐ and invaluable focused on a unique way of doing operatives globally to come to‐ presence in business ‐ co‐operative enterprise. gether and to raise awareness of their way of doing business. The today’s world. The official launch of the 2012 In‐ ternational Year of Co‐operatives theme for both the conference and They help to by the ICA aims to promote a self‐ for the International Year is ― Co‐ reduce poverty help and development model that operative Enterprises Build a Better is also a serious business model. To World. and generate commemorate the event, more Since the United Nations declared jobs. than 2000 delegates from over 80 2012 as the International Year of Co countries gathered in Cancun for ‐operatives, the ICA has stated that ” the official ICA launch and to con‐ the global movement has been Ban Ki-moon sider how to create the conditions given a ‘once‐in‐a‐generation’ op‐ UN Secretary General that ignite the growth of co‐ portunity to take a massive step operative enterprises throughout forward, and lead the growth of the the decade. Delegates come from co‐operative movement in all parts all sectors of the economy, includ‐ of the globe. ICA-Americas Newsletter // Issue Nº 11 // December 2011 3 President Dame Pauline Green who officially launched the Inter‐ national Year at the opening cere‐ mony of the General Assembly said: “To do this, we need to mas‐ sively increase the knowledge and visibility of the size and sustain‐ ability of our business model, and of its reach into virtually every community across the world. Our General Assembly in Cancun af‐ fords us the opportunity to raise our global profile by using IYC 2012 to create common global messages and a common global presence, to influence key decision makers worldwide to support our movement that is producing solu‐ credit unions, a type of co‐ reduce poverty and generate tions to the economic and sustain‐ operative, because they trust jobs,” he continued. ability problems of today’s world.” them.” said International Co‐ In his message, Moon emphasised Co‐operatives are successful val‐ operative Alliance Director‐ the role that co‐operatives play in ues‐based businesses that are General Charles Gould. “The de‐ strengthening communities so‐ owned and democratically con‐ mand for this type of banking indi‐ cially and economically. He recog‐ trolled by their members—the cates that consumers want busi‐ nised that co‐operatives are value‐ people who use the co‐op‘s ser‐ nesses that put their needs first.” based businesses and are rooted vices or buy its goods. Ban Ki‐moon called co‐operatives in their communities because they are owned by their members. a “unique and invaluable pres‐ Co-operatives have ence in today’s world” In closing, Moon called upon ICA President Dame Pauline Green, “ UN Secretary General congratu‐ been resilient dur- the audience and the co‐operative lated the ICA and co‐operative ing this economic community to “create better busi‐ community on sustainable busi‐ nesses and a better world” crisis, building a ness model that reduces poverty through co‐operative enterprise. better world for and generates jobs. “I thank Secretary General Moon their members, and In a video message played to an for his message on behalf of the the International audience of over two thousand global co‐operative movement,” Year of Coopera- delegates attending the ICA Gen‐ said Dame Pauline Green as she eral Assembly in Cancun, Mexico, tives offers us all an launched the International Year on United Nations Secretary General behalf of the International Co‐ opportunity to take Ban Ki‐moon congratulated the operative Alliance at the General this message to the ICA and its members for their con‐ Assembly. “As he noted, co‐ tributions to the global common people of the world. operatives have been resilient dur‐ good. Moon’s message came a ing this economic crisis, building a little over two weeks after the better world for their members, Dame Pauline Green ” United Nations launch of Interna‐ and the International Year of Co‐ ICA President tional Year of Co‐operatives, tak‐ operatives offers us all an oppor‐ ing place in the year 2012. tunity to take this message to the “Consumers have lost trust in the “Co‐operatives are a unique and people of the world. It’s our op‐ traditional banking system and are invaluable presence in today’s portunity to tell this positive, pow‐ joining co‐operative banks and world,” said Moon. “They help to erful story.” 4 ICA-Americas Newsletter // Issue Nº 11 // December 2011 MEXICAN PRESIDENT SAID A STRONG CO‐OPERATIVE ECONOMY IS VITAL FOR MEXICO Mexican President pledged his told the global audience that as we will hold, but also with actions, support to the co‐operative move‐ President he had the privilege of positive actions and constructive ment and told the General Assem‐ visiting many co‐operative enter‐ actions.’ prises in Mexico on different scales bly that Mexico will actively par‐ ICA President Dame Pauline Green and in different sectors where he ticipate in the International Year.