Dame Pauline Green new ICA President
Last Updated on Sunday, 29 November 2009 06:09 Written by Peter Eneström Monday, 23 November 2009 08:56
Swedish journalist Peter Eneström has been a communications officer for the International Health Co-operative Organisation since 1997. He writes about the International Co-operative Alliance General Assembly, 19-20 November 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Nearly 700 co-operators from around the world gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, to celebrate the ICA General Assembly on 19-20 November, 2009. The theme of the assembly was “Global Crisis – Co-operative Opportunity”.
Distinguished Professor Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation of Economic Trends, gave a keynote address on the role that co-operatives can play in addressing the global economic meltdown, energy security, and Climate Change. He invited the co-operative movement to be a key actor in shaping a new economic order - the Third Industrial Revolution - based on mutual economic benefit, environmental concern and a more ethical approach to economic and social development.
ICA issues
This was a particularly important General Assembly for the global co-operative movement. On a larger scale, strategies on how to meet the new challenges in view of the financial crisis, the threat of global warming and energy problems, and the call for a nuclear disarmament were discussed.
Five motions were approved by the assembly; “Co-operative Enterprise and the Economic Crisis”, “Towards a Sustainable Energy Economy”, “The Co-operative Agenda on Climate Change”, “Co-operatives and Peace”, and “Co-operatives and Nuclear Disarmament”. The motions can be read in extenso on the ICA web page www.ica.coop.org.
On a more organisational scale, a new Board was elected, with the main feature being that Dame Pauline Green of UK (pictured above) was unanimously elected President for the next four years.
“We need to take new steps to meet new challenges”, Pauline Green said in her inauguration speech. “Co-operatives have unprecedented possibilities, and raising our profile is perhaps one of our most important tasks over the coming years.”
On a more operative note she called for the ICA to enhance its role as a valid resource to the world’s co-operatives.
“We can exist only if we prove our worth to our members”, she said.
The General Assembly also took a further step in the restructuring of the ICA by adapting new ICA Rule Amendments, Bye-Law Amendments, and new rules for ICA Americas.
On the matter of the Sectoral Organisations, however, matters took a new turn. Following a meeting the same morning, he assembly was informed that the SO’s are now in the process of elaborating a new proposal for their structure, funding, and operations, and that this will presented to the ICA Board in the spring of 2010. There was consequently no vote on the matter.
“We’ll get stronger”
Trent Bartlett, CEO of Australian Capricorn Society Ltd, was one of the co-operators attending he general assembly.
“It has been an excellent General Assembly!” he said. “I think we are at a turning-point for the co-operative movement as such, and we have also started a new era with the restructured ICA.”
Trent sees big things to come.
“I’m certain Dame Pauline Green’s presidency will mark a substantial growth for the co-operative movement and that co-operatives will win wider recognition as valuable business partners world-wide”, he concluded.
Picture: Peter Eneström
