Catalyzing worker co-ops & the solidarity economy
John Abrams' condenses Paul Gilding’s argument that there may be a big turn around on the climate change struggle. It begins with,
“There are signs that the climate movement could be on the verge of a remarkable and surprising victory [and perhaps] the fastest and most dramatic economic transformation in history. This would include the removal of the oil, coal and gas industries from the economy in just a few decades and their replacement with new industries.
The Working World, a solidarity funding organization, announced the opening the New Era Windows Cooperative, which completes the five year struggle to convert the Republic Windows and Doors factory into a worker-owned and worker-controlled business.
The Democracy Now interview with two worker-owners and The Working World president is here along with the transcript.
This is a mixed review of the book. It is critical of Gar's unwillingness or inability to realistically relate his proposals to the likely response of NeoLiberal elites. However, the reviewer grudgingly agrees that the co-operative initiative is a foundation for non-violent response and a defense against those elites, at a local level.
The Veggie Mobile Market is an old school bus that runs on used veggie oil and will work with local aggregators to support local growers while simultaneously being able to provide high quality food to low-income communities at affordable prices. The project will also use the bus as a platform for civic enagement and education.
"After almost a year in preparation, we are very excited to say that today, the New Era Windows Cooperative is opening its doors for business. The Working World has been an extremely proud partner since day one, providing financing and technical assistance to help bring the cooperative to fruition."
"To protect small and family farms from industrial factory farming, over a decade ago a handful of Pennsylvania townships stood up to some of the country’s largest agribusiness corporations. Recognizing that the state and federal government, rather than protecting them from factory farms, were in fact forcing them into communities, the townships took the unprecedented step of banning corporate farming within their borders."
Worcester's Solidarity and Green Economy conference brings together activists, organizers, educators, community leaders, non-profits and other individuals and organizations who are committed to forging more equitable and sustainable ways of organizing our economies and communities. The 3rd annual conference will last three days from August 23-25. This conference will focus on building capacity for cooperators and lay the groundwork for creating a broader solidarity economy throughout Southern New England.
Author Mira Luna asks: "why do we continue to give control over health care and our money away to companies that don't have our interests at heart in a matter that is literally life and death?" And she finds "alternative, community-based models [that] actually work".
World University offers an online platform for creating and taking free courses. Their section on cooperatives currently offers a two classes developed by MIT professors. The goal is to keep building their library of user-generated content through a simple-to-use inferface.
Truthout talks with Brian Van Slyke about The Toolbox for Education and Social Action (TESA) and their board game, Co-opoly: The Game of Co-operatives.
A Cuban Spring?
by ROGER BURBACH
"On 6-8 May, UNRISD held a major international conference on Potential and Limits of Social and Solidarity Economy, co-hosted with the ILO and in partnership with UN-NGLS, Hivos, the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation and the Ville de Genève. The conference was a great success in terms of both participation and outcomes."
Check out this summary of the outcomes, panels, and discussions.
