IYC 2012 and Victoria's Co-operatives

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 July 2011 23:21 Written by David Griffiths Wednesday, 05 January 2011 20:51

The International Year of Co-operatives 2012 is an opportunity for Victoria's co-operatives to strengthen co-operation between co-operatives and promote the co-operative option.

On the 18 December 2009 the United Nations declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives.



vThis article explores how different kinds of co-operatives in Victoria could contribute to IYC 2012. The Social Business Australia web site has created a calendar for co-operatives to submit activities for IYC 2012. Social Business Australia is providing the Secretariat for an Australian IYC 2012 Steering Committee which has began planning an Australia wide response

.Radio co-operatives could promote IYC 2012 and develop feature programs for syndication for community radio stations throughout Australia e.g. the Mallee Community and Educational Broadcasting Co-operative Limited and the Progressive Broadcasting Service Co-operative Limited.

Co-operative bookshops could organise displays of books on co-operation and organise visits to Australia of co-operative writers e.g. the Melbourne Co-operative Bookshop Group Ltd and the New International Bookshop Co-operative.

Arts co-operatives could organise exhibitions which focus on co-operation e.g. the Mansfield Performing Arts Centre Co-operative Limited.

Farmer co-operatives could work together to promote co-operative ownership as a guarantee for Australian ownership and production. e.g. Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd, the Southern Quality Produce Co-operative Limited and the Peagrowers Co-operative Ltd.

Housing co-operatives could promote the co-operative option as an alternative to public and private housing e.g. Common Equity Housing Limited and the SouthEast Housing Co-operative Ltd.

Theatre co-operatives could stage and commission plays on the theme of co-operation e.g. the Unicorn Theatre Co-operative Ltd and the Swan Hill Theatre Group Co-operative Limited.

Publication co-operatives could publish articles on the co-operative option e.g,. the Hopetoun Courier Co-operative Ltd and the Mountain Monthly Co-operative Ltd.

School co-operatives could demonstrate how the co-operative model is a working example of self-governing schools which is being discussed by COAG e.g. the Learning Co-operative Primary School and the Melbourne Community School Co-operative Ltd.

Community settlement co-operatives could promote co-operative living alternatives e.g. the Commonground Co-operative Ltd, the Moora Moora Co-operative Ltd and the Ruach Co-operative Ltd.

These are examples of how co-operatives in Victoria could work together to advance and promote the co-operative option. IYC 2012 is a unique opportunity for co-operatives - for the co-operative difference and the co-operative advantage. It is an opportunity for co-operatives to examine the meaning of co-operative values and principles, how these are reflected in their co-operative practice and the scope for and importance of strengthening their application.