Dame Pauline says we must keep up the momentum of IYC
Dame Pauline Green, President of the ICA, gave an impassioned speech at the Opening Ceremony of Co-operatives United in Manchester, telling delegates to act as the voice of...
By Emily Barker and Alan Peart
Dame Pauline Green, President of the ICA.
Dame Pauline Green, President of the ICA, gave an impassioned speech at the Opening Ceremony of Co-operatives United in Manchester, telling delegates to act as the voice of the one billion members of co-operators from across the world.
As the International Year of Co-operatives comes to a close, Dame Pauline said that there had been a tremendous momentum that has built up over the year, and "we must not allow that momentum to be lost."
She said: "This UN IYC has been a fabulous year, as I visited the movement across the world, I can't help being struck by the impact. The impact of the logo and slogan, Co-operatives build a better world. It adds to out values, it adds publicly who we are. Never before in its history has the Co-operative Movement globally come together around a single logo and slogan, we have never been as cohesive as we are now."
She has met many co-operators from all over the world and said: "I have felt a huge increase in confidence as they begin to sense the strength of a billion people around them."
However she warned, this year, also came at a time of economic struggle and recession for many countries across the world, yet despite coming out stronger than traditional banks, no co-operatives are on the World Bank board or the B20, the business arm of the G20.
"That simply will not do, we represent 1 billion people and I am told that when I make this case, it's idealistic. I have to share that 1 billion people can't be wrong, they are not starry-eyed idealists, they are realists;" she explained.
During her speech she asked: "Are we going to just shake hands and say what a great year? Are we going to retain are momentum? The ICA is determined to capture this moment, I am delighted to launch the ICA Blueprint for a Co-operative Decade!"
The Blueprint will be discussed at the Extraordinary General Assembly today.
She also said she was proud to launch the World Co-operative Monitor, the new ranking system for the world's largest co-operatives, and explained that the top 300 co-ops have a combined value of just under $2 trillion.
In the Special General Assembly in Rome 2008, they voted to find more funding streams than just the members of the ICA. This year to do this they have had 3 expos, with this being the biggest and "best".
They have also acquired the Domains.coop from Midcounties Co-operative.
Dame Pauline also added her thanks to Co-operatives UK, and the Co-operative Group.
British co-operative movement
Co-operatives United
Consumer cooperative
Midcounties Co-operative
Pauline Green
The Co-operative brand
The Co-operative Group
alanpeart
Emily Barker
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