ICA-Americas Newsletter Issue Nº 12 // February 2012

Transcription

1 ICA-Americas Newsletter Issue Nº 12 // February 2012 BUILDING A STRONGER NETWORK OF COOPERATIVES In 2011 fifteen new organizations from the Americas were incorporated to the ICA as a result of a membership campaign to face the IYC. (page 5) IYC WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE On January 12th co operatives around the world joined together to launch the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives. (page 4) GENDER EQUALITY WITHIN COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISES In 2011 ICA Americas put several ideas into practice which confirm its commitment in the fields of gender equality and women empowerment. (page 11) Inside The Editor s Pen p days to make our voice heard p. 3 IYC was officially launched in different countries and cities worldwide p. 4 Building a stronger network of co ops p. 5 II Cooperative Summit of the Americas p. 6 ICA will fund a cooperative housing project in Haiti in 2012 p. 8 Impact of ILO Recommendation TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ILO RECOMMENDATION ON THE PROMOTION OF COOPERATIVES (page 10) 2012 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES 10th anniversary of the 2002 ILO Recommendation No. 193 on the promotion of cooperatives p. 10 Gender Equality within cooperative enterprises p.11 Strategy to boost the Cooperative Model among the youth p.12 How much do you know about the Coop art competition? p.13 ICA-Americas Newsletter is an e-publication of the International Co-operative Alliance for the Americas communications@aciamericas.coop Phone: + (506) Fax: + (506) PO BOX: San José, Costa Rica 366 DAYS TO MAKE OUR VOICE HEARD PANAMA WILL HOST THE II COOPERATIVE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS (page 6) ICA WILL FUND A COOPERATIVE HOUSING PROJECT IN HAITI IN 2012 (page 8)

2 { The Editor s Pen } Manuel Mariño ICA Americas Regional Director Our big moment has come. The International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) has already started and there are a number of challenges ahead we will have to face with commitment and conviction. It s time to show the world that cooperative enterprises build a better world! We welcome all the new ICA member organizations that have joined the cooperative movement to make the most of this year. In this issue we present a summary of some of the most important activities carried out by ICA Americas Regional Office in For the first time in history, Mexico hosted the ICA General Assembly. At the most important cooperative event worldwide, the International Cooperative Alliance officially launched 2012 IYC. To commemorate the event, more than 2000 participants (1600 from the Americas) from over eighty countries, gathered in Cancun for the official ICA launch. They discussed how to create the conditions that ignite the growth of co operative enterprises throughout the decade. In the framework of the ICA General Assembly the constituent Assembly of CICOPA Americas was held and its Rules were approved. Thus, this sectoral regional organization, which has as one of its objectives to "support the development of initiatives that foster the creation of worker cooperatives in the Americas, was finally constituted. During 2011, ICA Americas worked on two important areas: gender and youth. Both the Regional Youth Committee (RYC) and the Regional Committee for Gender Equity (CREG) developed strategies on their fields of expertise. At the same time, particular attention was placed on the environment. Initiatives taken by the Regional Office in 2011 are featured in this issue, as well as some ideas that will be launched soon. The global cooperative movement proved its international solidarity once again after the natural disasters in Haiti two years ago. In 2012, ICA will fund a cooperative housing project to help a group of families that were deeply affected by the earthquake. We also share in this issue of the ICA Americas Newsletter, a brief analysis of the impacts of the implementation of ILO Recommendation 193, after 10 years of its approval. The Declaration of the International Year of Cooperatives and the ILO Recommendation 193, are important tools which give international recognition to the cooperative movement. Both are designed to boost our unique economic and social model. However, we have to remember that they are only tools. We have the power in our hands to make a good use of them. Let s celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives worldwide and show the world our potential to build a better and more human way of living! 2

3 2012 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES 366 DAYS TO MAKE OUR VOICE HEARD Some people fear, based on an interpretation of the Maya calendar, that in 2012 this world will come to an end. Others believe that this year, human beings may go through a deep process of transformation that will mark the beginning of a new era. Whether these assumptions are true or not, it is a coincidence that 2012 has been declared the International Year of Cooperative (IYC): a year in which cooperatives will tell the world that this model can help build a better world could be a turning point regarding how people organize and manage a collective enterprise. Thus, the distinction granted by the United Nations is, at the same time, a big responsibility. In 2011, many activities were planned and important decisions were made so as to get ready for the IYC. Besides, the United Nations called its members to establish National Committes for the preparation, celebration and follow up of the activities carried out in each country. Various countries in the Americas set up their National Committees in 2011: Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, Uruguay, Canada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad y Tobago. There were also some expressions of support to cooperatives and the IYC by some presidents in the region: Felipe Calderón (Mexico) and Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal (Panama). Moreover, the Labour Ministers of the Mercosur (Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay) committed to promoting the cooperative model in this part of the world and Mexico and Ecuador approved important cooperative laws. However, there other examples of a lack of understanding of the true nature of cooperatives at governmental level, regardless of the political sector of the ruling party. In some cases, cooperatives are equaled to small enterprises. When this happens, governments fail to notice that cooperatives can come in any size and that these enterprises are genuine economic alternatives. We have the power in our hands. Cooperators will have to make the most of every single day of 2012 to 3

4 spread a very simple message: Cooperatives build a better world. During the launch of the IYC in New York, ICA President Dame Pauline Green stated: Together co operatives will work to make this International Year a powerful restatement of the co operative ideal, and it is our aim, that on 31st December 2012 we will be able to pivot from a successful International Year of Co operatives to a decade of co operative growth. Can we imagine that a turn to cooperation in 2012 is the radical change the prophecies predicted? IYC WAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND CITIES WORLDWIDE On January 12th co operatives around the world joined together to launch the International Year of Cooperatives. The website, the Global News Hub for co operatives, brought together live webcasts along with a stream of photographs and articles from the various country launches. Ecuador started the celebrations at local time (12.45 GMT) from the Sheraton Hotel in Quito. The event featured ministers of state and was organised by the Ecuadorian Committee for the Promotion of International Year of Cooperatives. In Mexico the Cooperativa La Cruz Azul S.C.L. in Oaxaca, celebrated the beginning of the International Year highlighting the importance of cooperatives to social and economic development. In Portugal, the Development Centre for Co operatives CASES, hosted the official launch of the International Year at 5.00pm (GMT/local time). The opening speech was given by Pedro Mota Soares, the Minister for Solidarity and Social Security. He was joined by Eduardo Graça, President of CASES; Manuel dos Santos Gomes, President of CONFAGRI; and Jerónimo Teixeira, President of CONFECOOP. In Canada (5.30 pm GMT), a national launch organised by the Canadian Co operative Association and the Conseil Canadien de la Coopération et de la Mutualité took place in Ottawa, together with more than 12 other simultaneous regional events across the country. All locations were linked by a live webcast. The webcast included remarks by Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co operators (live from Calgary) and Monique Leroux, president and CEO of Desjardins (live from Lévis, Quebec) as well as the premiere of a cooperative musical work by the Montreal group Samajam, who performed live in Ottawa. Co operatives Europe coordinated launches across continental Europe in Belgium, France, Italy and Bulgaria and there were also celebrations in Australia, South Korea and Argentina. ICA PRESIDENT AT UNITED KINGDOM LAUNCH In the United Kingdom, Cooperatives UK hosted a live broadcast with national newspaper the Guardian. Mr Confino, Executive Editor of The Guardian, said cooperatives have to come out of their shell to show their power and to make change. He also said there is a "public perception that co ops are old fashioned". He added: "It is not always about looking for the next big thing, but going back in the journey to see which lessons we lost." Also on the panel was Pauline Green, President, International Cooperative Alliance, who explained that co operatives "stretch from a four or five person co operative in a small african village to retain the wealth within that community through to a large business of scale". Charles Leadbeater, economist and innovation thinker, on the panel said: "We have been taught over a long period of time that we are selfish. This is reinforced by years of neoliberal economics that selfishness actuates the economy, and that's wrong. This will be proven to be wrong. "There is a growing number of pieces of intellectual work that points to our co operative nature; that we are born co operative. We are more capable of forms of cooperation that are vastly more complex than any other species." These worldwide launches showed the importance of cooperation and the geographical diversity of the cooperative movement. 4

5 ICA Americas keeps growing BUILDING A STRONGER NETWORK OF CO OPS At the beginning of 2011 ICA Americas Regional Office embarked on a membership campaign to face the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives with a bigger and stronger network of cooperatives. Following the motto Be part of the global network of co ops! fourteen new organizations were incorporated to the ICA and one asked to be upgraded to the full member category. Having approved these memberships, two new countries in which there were not ICA members before are now part of the organization: Venezuela and Jamaica. Nowadays ICA Americas has a total of eighty five direct member organizations (confederations, federations and cooperatives) in twenty two countries. Besides, there are five organizations from Colombia, El Salvador, Panama, Puerto Rico and Peru, that are completing their affiliation process. According to the preliminary information gathered by ICA Americas, the total number of direct and indirect member organizations adds up to more than cooperatives, exceeding 232 millions of individual members. These cooperative enterprises generate more than jobs. ICA Americas welcomes the fifteen new ICA members in the Americas NEW MEMBERS ORGANIZATION Cooperativa Sefired R.L. CONACOOP CONALCOOP National Co operative Grocers Association (NCGA) TIP Friendly Society COOPROENF Central Nacional UNIMED CENECOOP (changed to full membership ) Cooperativa El Buen Samaritano FECOOPSE COUNTRY Venezuela Costa Rica Panama United States Jamaica Dominican Republic Brazil Costa Rica Bolivia Costa Rica MORE INFORMATION If you need any further information and have any questions regarding becoming a member of ICA, please contact Karla Schlager at member@aciamericas.coop or visit: to becomean ICA member. INACOOP SICREDI Pionera RS CONCOBOL Confederación Nacional de Cooperativas de Trabajo (CNCT) Caja Cooperativa CREDICOOP Uruguay Brazil Bolivia Argentina Colombia 5

6 II COOPERATIVE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS Panama will host the II Cooperative Summit of the Americas Cooperatives: sustainable development with social equity. It will be held from 28th May to 1st June, The participation of more than a thousand cooperators is expected. This is a very important event for the country as cooperatives have become a key factor for social and economic development. Besides, co ops contribute to the eradication of poverty. Ricardo Martinelli President of the Republic of Panama The II Cooperative Summit aims to deeply analyze the theme Sustainable development with social equity through a process of previous analysis in which every person interested in the topic will have a chance to participate. ICA Americas intention is to create a new space for deep discussions so as to reach agreements to be included in a Final Declaration of member organizations. This document is intended to promote changes to have an impact on cooperative organizations and to contribute to an improvement in the quality of life of their members and the whole community. At this Summit, cooperation will be analyzed from different angles, and thus, it will favour a discussion and exchange of ideas among: cooperative leaders, representatives of technical teams and members cooperative organizations in the region. The II Summit will focus on the analysis and discussion of four thematic areas. During the II Cooperative Summit there will also be various academic activities (Forums, Meetings) with a specific methodology. During the Summit, the 10th ICA Americas Regional Assembly will be held as well as the Assemblies of Sectoral Regional Organizations and Thematic Committees. PROGRAMME GENERAL OBJECTIVE To strengthen convergence processes, unity and cooperative articulation, so as to reach a Final Declaration with agreements and resolutions of the cooperative movement about sustainable development with social equity. It will also propose concrete actions. 6

7 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1. Analyze and define the current situation and challenges of the cooperative sector regarding cooperative identity and cooperative business management; development and social equity paradigms; social and environmental responsibility; as well as public policies and advocacy. 2. Develop effective mechanisms of coordination, communication and interchange among cooperatives at regional and international levels, as an alternative to contribute to sustainable development with social equity. 3. Reach a political agreement and a compromise among cooperative organizations to promote shared actions towards sustainable development with social equity in the Americas. THEMATIC AREAS AND SUBTHEMES 1. Cooperative identity and business management 1.1 Cooperative identity as a distinctive factor regarding traditional capital enterprises Cooperative brand as added value to cooperative business management Internationalization of cooperatives while maintaining their identity. 1.4 Corporate business management in cooperative enterprises 2. Development paradigms and social equity 2.1. Current development paradigms and global crises 2.2. New paradigm: Development with social equity 2.3. Role of cooperatives within the new development paradigm 3. Social and environmental responsibility 3.1. Environmental responsibility making the cooperative difference 3.2. Cooperative social responsibility and cooperative social audit 3.3. Environmental eco efficiency as an added value to cooperative business management Environmental and social ethics in cooperatives 4. Advocacy and public policies 4.1 Relationship of cooperatives with the State and cooperative autonomy 4.2 Cooperatives and public policies 4.3 Cooperative participation in social dialogue to influence public policies. MORE INFORMATION cumbre2012 Contact: Marianella Ramirez acidesarrollo@aciamericas.coop 7

8 Reconstruction after 2010 earthquake ICA WILL FUND A COOPERATIVE HOUSING PROJECT IN HAITI IN 2012 This project will be implemented throughout 2012 and will focus on the housing needs of 25 families from the communities displaced by the earthquake in Haiti in It was born out of the combined efforts of Haitians and international organizations. The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) will fund the project entitled: Construction of housing cooperatives through mutual aid in Lascahobas, as a contribution to the process of reconstruction of Haiti. The local counterparts of this initiative are the Housing Cooperative and Solidarity Mutual COLONSO and the Groupe d'appui aux Rapatries et Refugies (GARR), whereas the international partners are the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC), and the Uruguayan Federation of Housing Cooperatives by Mutual Aid (FUCVAM). This initiative is intended to address comprehensively the situation of a group of 25 families displaced as a result of the earthquake. It also aims to strengthen their organizational skills and bring them back to their communities. This pilot project seeks to restore the traditional values of mutual aid and self management. The local people who are going to form the housing co op are facing several difficulties today. They are mainly women and children in poverty that are currently occupying a private plot of land that must be vacated soon. However, they are willing to work together to rebuild their lives in Lascahobas. To this end, the local Council has granted the cooperative two acres of land. WHY MUTUAL AID? The housing co op model to be implemented in Lascahobas was inspired in the experience of the Uruguayan Federation of Mutual 8

9 Aid Housing Cooperatives (FUCVAM). This model has successfully been applied in Uruguay for the last forty years. The Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC) has also supported the replication of this model in other countries: Paraguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (with FUCVAM s technical support). This model has proved to be efficient and sustainable. Housing cooperatives by mutual aid show how, through self management and democratic decisions, people can create better urban environments and more integrated communities. The control and management of the projects by the beneficiaries themselves, allows a very significant level of efficiency, without the need of buying services commonly used by profit oriented enterprises. This is possible because users can make their own choices. BACKGROUND The global cooperative community began donating funds to support Haitian cooperatives immediately after the devastating 2010 earthquake. Almost $600,000 was donated to the ICA's appeal. With these resources, another project is also being developed in Haiti, supporting a Federation of Agriculture Cooperatives in the northern part of the country. Manuel Mariño, ICA Americas Regional Director, stated: The support provided by cooperatives around the world was very significant. It shows once again the solidarity of the cooperative movement in times of hardship. Cooperatives from a large number of countries contributed to the appeal; however, cooperatives in the Americas could have contributed more. ICA Americas Regional Director travelled on a mission to Haiti from August 21st to 28th, 2011 along with representatives from the Swedish Cooperative Centre, FUCVAM and the Solidarity Committee Mexico Haiti. Following that visit, Mariño expressed: The needs in Haiti are countless, so all help is welcome. Haiti s history has been marked not only by natural disasters, but by political and economic conflict. All these factors have left the country particularly vulnerable. If you want to contribute to the reconstruction of the communities in the country, you can still do it through the ICA bank account. 9

10 IMPACT OF ILO RECOMMENDATION TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2002 ILO RECOMMENDATION No. 193 ON THE PROMOTION OF COOPERATIVES Almost ten years after the adoption of ILO Recommendation 193, there has been some progress. However, R193 has not been effectively internalized and applied in the American countries. ICA Americas Regional Director said last December at the First Intergovernmental Conference that took place in Montevideo that: Neither the cooperative movement nor the Trade Unions or governments embraced the R193, and little has been done for its effective implementation. The First Intergovernmental Conference Towards the internalization of ILO Recommendation 193 Promotion of Cooperatives is one of the few activities that were carried out with the participation of governmental authorities. This event was very important since it gathered governmental authorities form the MERCOSUR region (Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay), representatives from international organizations, as well as regional and international cooperative leaders. Another recent sign of support to the cooperative movement was the Joint Declararion of the Presidents of MERCOSUR in which they recognize the importance of ILO R193 and they committed to its implementation. It is also important to highlight that the Labour Ministers of the MERCOSUR also committed to promoting the cooperative model in this part of the world. The ILO R193 was formally adopted during the International Labour Conference in It was the first time in a while that an international organization officially created a strategy regarding co ops. The International Co operative Alliance considered it an invaluable tool for the promotion of cooperatives. Since it approval, ICA Americas has worked with cooperatives and in a few cases with governments, in order to obtain concrete results from its effective implementation. ICA AMERICAS ACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES As soon as R193 was adopted, ICA Americas worked hard to disseminate the text in the Americas. Furthermore, the document was printed and widely distributed. ICA Americas also designed and implemented an advocacy strategy for the cooperative movement in the region concerning the R193. At the same time: Awareness raising workshops and conferences about ILO R193 were held in Haiti, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru and Paraguay. Awareness raising workshops for the elaboration of strategic advocacy plans were implemented across the region, including the USA. The Framework Law for the Cooperatives in Latin America was developed. RESULTS FOR THE COOPERATIVE SECTOR Concrete results were achieved regarding public policies. Examples can be found in countries such as Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico and Ecuador, where important cooperative laws were approved. STILL A LOT OF WORK AHEAD LILO Recommendation 193 specifically calls on governments to provide supportive policy and legal frameworks appropriate for the particular ownership structures and social values of cooperative businesses. Before the financial crisis, this could have seemed a fairly marginal area of activity. Today, however, the value of cooperatives can be more readily appreciated. Capital centered enterprises must not be the yardstick by which all enterprise types are compared and assessed, Hagen Henrÿ, former chief of the ILO's Cooperative Branch, says is a very special year for the cooperative movement. The UN Declaration of the International Year of Cooperatives represents a chance for cooperatives to reassert their position in the global economy. It is also the time to ask governments to effectively apply the ILO R To do so, ICA Americas has already implemented a set of activities to strengthen and boost the ILO R. 193, as a tool to achieve the development of adequate public policies. National cooperative movements will be supported by ICA Americas and experiences related to the implementation of the Recommendation will be systematized. 10

11 STRATEGIC PLANNING GENDER EQUALITY WITHIN COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISES ICA Americas strongly believes that investing in gender equality and women empowerment is vital for social, political and economic development. Thus, in 2011 the organization put several ideas into practice which confirm its strong commitment in this field. The Regional Committee for Gender Equality (CREG) presented in Santo Domingo, the Strategy to boost the cooperative model among women. This material was crucial for the work done throughout the year. Firstly, this strategy emphasizes the importance of building, strengthening and supporting women capacities to improve their abilities with a solidary focus. Secondly, it highlights the need for schemes that involve cooperation between individuals as a means to improve personal, familiar and local development. Lastly, it aims at developing women political leadership within cooperative organizations. As part of the activities of the CREG Board Meeting in Medellin, Colombia, a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) was carried out. This tool enabled to elaborate a medium and long term strategy, taking into account the present situation of the movement. One of the main threats identified, was the lack of sensitization in terms of gender equality among those in decision making positions. This includes both men and women who are in a position within the organizations, where strategies and actions should be planned and implemented. At the same time, it is seen as an opportunity the existence of international tools in the field of human rights for women, which foster and support actions regarding gender equality and equity. It goes without saying, that investing in gender equality has a multiplier effect on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth. However, there is still a long way ahead. It is vital to continue addressing the situation of young women and girls, as well as their effective participation within the cooperative movement. COOPERATORS IN THE AMERICAS LEADING THE GENDER COMMIT TEE CREG representatives participated in the activities organized by the ICA Gender Equality Committee during the ICA Assembly. They took part in the Committee Meeting and in the Meeting entitled: Gender Equality within cooperative enterprises build a better world. Another highlight of the Assembly was the election of authorities. María Eugenia Pérez Zea, president of the Board of Coomeva, Colombia, was elected president of the ICA Gender Equality Board for a period of four years. The new leader will manage the activities of the Committee in the pursuit of a balanced approach towards gender equality. It will have to work on the eradication of the discrimination against women in cooperatives. Ms. Pérez is also the President of the ICA Americas CREG. 11

12 STRATEGY TO BOOST THE COOPERATIVE MODEL AMONG THE YOUTH ICA Americas launched a Youth Strategy which is the result of more than a decade of hard work in the American region. The Regional Youth Committee devised an ambitious strategy, where cooperators will find guidelines on how to promote entrepreneurship among the youth and increase their participation in cooperatives. The Strategy to boost the Cooperative Model among the youth was supported by the Swedish Cooperative Centre (SCC). The SCC believes that bringing young people into cooperatives is vital. Cooperatives in the Americas have now a new challenge ahead: to be able to disseminate this strategy throughout the continent and to put it into practice. This issue has a prominent place at the ICA Americas website where the strategy can be downloaded. Both, cooperatives and cooperative integration organizations will be in charge of the implementation of this strategy in their countries. Cooperatives, for instance, may create a communications strategy to promote the benefits of cooperation among youth. Besides, they can arrange events aimed at the new generations so as to engage them in cooperative management. Education, training and financing are also regarded as essential in the development of this strategy BALANCE In 2011, the Regional Youth Committee promoted various initiatives which strengthened its role among young cooperators. It enabled youngsters to actively participate in decision making processes within their organizations. There were workshops, seminars and meetings in Dominican Republic, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Argentina, El Salvador and Costa Rica. The Regional Committee also organized Virtual Meetings via Videoconference in which participants were able to share their work, ideas, projects and interests. The two most important themes which were analyzed in most of these events were: the Youth Strategy and the International Year of Cooperatives. An important achievement of 2011 was the development of internships. A formal framework for these activities was agreed, including the requirements for an internship (in terms of both organization and participation). Some internships have already taken place in Mexico and Dominican Republic. 12

13 YOUTH IN 2012 Young cooperators have risen to the challenge of making the role of youth more visible. They will propose their ideas to cooperative integration organizations at national, regional, continental and global levels, so that in 2012 the movement takes the youth into account. One of these initiatives is the Coop Art. The competition was conceived by José Antonio Chavez, the youth representative on the ICA Board. It was launched at the ICA General Assembly in Cancun, Mexico, in November At the launch, Chavez said: Young people throughout the world share many of the values of the cooperative movement, and they live by these on a daily basis. If cooperatives are able to deliver their messages in a way young people understand, using the communication tools that they use, it will be possible to get them more active and involved. Coop Art is an opportunity for young people to be inspired to get more involved in the co operative movement. Entrants in the global competition can submit their work through the ICA s new website Anyone can enter provided they are aged between 16 and 35. The competition has three categories for submissions photography, video and music. The deadline for submissions is May, What are the requirements to take part in it? The requirements are: being between 16 and 35 years old and to have a love for co ops! What are the three categories? The categories are: photography, video and music. The idea is to create a song, video or photograph which promotes the cooperative principles in an attractive way. What s the deadline? May, 2012 How do you submit your work? Through the website HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE COOP ART COMPETITION? How many winners will be chosen in each category? 3 winners will be chosen in each category. What is the prize? 1st prize in each category: 3000 dollars and a trip to the International Cooperative Forum, United Kingdom, in November nd prize in each category: 2000 dollars 3rd prize in each category: a tablet PC 13

14 SHORT ica NEWS Haiti receives funds from ICA appeal. The catastrophic earthquake which hit Haiti on January 12 two year ago left 316,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and about one million people homeless. In response to the disaster, the ICA launched an appeal to its members. About $US600,000 was raised. On January 6, ICA Director General Charles Gould presented a check to the NCBA in Washington, for half of the funds. The ICA and the NCBA have entered into an agreement to fund a program which will provide post disaster business support to the Federation of Cocoa Co operatives in Northern Haiti (FECCANO). The program is one of two funded by ICA to support the long term recovery of co operatives in Haiti. The second is being organized by ICA Americas and is a co operative housing project. This project will run throughout 2012 and will focus on the housing needs of 25 families from communities displaced by the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 (see page 8). Majority of exhibition space taken for ICA Expo. The opportunity to take a stand in the ICA Expo 2012, which is one of the closing events of the UN International Year of Co operatives, is rapidly closing. The global trade fair for co operatives is more than 80 per cent filled with nations and co operatives from around the globe. ICA Expo president Luiz Branco attributed the strong bookings in Cancun to general renewed interest in cooperatives, the UN International Year and the attractiveness of the venue in Manchester. ICA YouTube channel goes live. The channel has been set up on YouTube and hosts not only speeches given by prominent individuals in the co operative movement, but also campaign videos and interviews with cooperative leaders. The channel carries a video with a series of testimonials from co operative identities about the benefits of the UN International Year of Co operatives. Video segments from the Cancun general assembly which was held in November can be watched on the channel, as can many videos which relate to the UN International Year of Co operatives. You can view the ICA's YouTube channel here: user/icacooperative. Cooperatives Europe launched the European agenda of co operative enterprises in Europe for 2012: Cooperatives for Europe: Moving forward together. The political agenda builds on the Europe 2020 strategy by bringing forward co operative solutions. It stresses a more co operative way of doing business, which is modern, collective, responsible and sustainable. The aim of this agenda is to provide a platform for a dialogue with policymakers, in order to bring about concrete solutions for today s key economic, social and environmental challenges. The document can be downloaded at: The International Co operative Alliance continues growing globally. Nowadays ICA has 267 member organizations (229 full members and 38 associate members) from 96 countries representing approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. All of your suggestions and proposals regarding the newsletter s contents are very important for us, since our primary goal is to provide a publication enriched by your opinions. Please send your comments to: communications@aciamericas.coop An e-publication of International Cooperative Alliance for the Americas (ICA Americas) ICA is an independent, non-governmental association which unites, represents and serves co-operatives worldwide Editor: Manuel Mariño // Realization team: Natalia Acerenza, Virginia Pérez Auza and Jorge Cabrera (jcse) ICA Americas // Contents can be reproduced without authorization on condition that the source is indicated 14