this post originally appeared in Stir Magazine illustration by Daksheeta Pattni In 2002 I described United Diversity as “a member owned and stakeholder governed network of mutual advantage.” In truth, it was aspirational. At the time, the flexible off-the-shelf legal structures and open source tools needed to make such a network a reality simply didn’t exist. Now they do. Co-ops that combine best practices from the international co-operative movement with best practices from the open source … [Read more...]
TOGETHER. How cooperatives show resilience to the crisis
This great new documentary, featuring Mondragon and other co-operative inspirations shows how it is not just financial co-operatives who are more resilient to crisis, but all co-ops. The examples are from around Europe, but the same is true in the UK. The UK co-operative economy is performing significantly better than the UK economy as a whole with things like Community-owned Village Shops proving to have much higher survival rates than others. … [Read more...]
97% Owned – documentary about money and economics
Back in May 2003 we started a wiki to 'discuss monetary reform and democracy', and I just posted Positive Money's Banking 101 video course, probably the best introduction to how money and banking actually works. For a long time Money as Debt was best and only documentary film about these issues. Later, the Zeitgeist films (despite their many failings) thankfully managed to get the word out to many more people. Most recently we've had Money and Life cover this topic, and before that The Money … [Read more...]
Banking 101 – How money and banking actually works
This great little collection of videos is the clearest and most authoritative introduction to exactly how the monetary and banking system in the UK actually works. It is based on the excellent book 'Where Does Money Come From?' published by the Positive Money campaign and the new economics foundation … [Read more...]
Homes and Hands – Community Land Trusts in Action
We'll never have a peaceful, just and sustainable world (or, as Charles Eisenstein says 'the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible') whilst the land that sustains us all is owned and controlled by a tiny minority of the population. We need to transcend private land ownership. But what is the alternative? Community Land Trusts are a good option and Homes and Hands is a great video that illustrates the different ways that community land trusts operate in the U.S. Produced by Women's … [Read more...]
The Mondragon Co-operative Corporation
The Mondragón Corporation is an inspiration. The largest cooperative in the world, they are a federated network of over 250 co-operative businesses who together are the seventh biggest group in Spain. They employ over 80,000 people, have their own banks, universities, research laboratories and social security systems. They have proven to be incredibly resilient to the on going economic crisis. Unemployment in the Basque region where they are based is less than half than the rest of Spain … [Read more...]
Money and Life – a new documentary about money
Have you seen Money and Life yet? It is a great new film all about money that is well worth watching. I'm pleased to say that I helped fund the production of the film by contributing to their crowdfunding campaign. It is not too late to support the film yourself. You can donate, buy the DVD, and find out how to host a screening etc over at the website. Please do so and help Katie Teague, the independent film maker who made the film, to recoup the signifcant costs incurred during the making … [Read more...]
Time to replicate WIR Bank?
The WIR Bank in Switzerland has been successfully running for over 60 years. It was started in the 1930s in response to the great economic crises of the time. Studies have shown that it's turnover is extremely counter-cyclical, adding to the resilience and stability of the Swiss Economy. They are a great long-term example of how financial co-operatives prove to be more resilient in times of crisis. Almost 20% of all Swiss Businesses are members and they have an annual turnover of nearly £3 … [Read more...]
Financial co-operatives: A safe bet in a crisis
The Co-opreative News has reported news about a study by the International Labour Organization called Resilience in a downturn: The power of financial cooperatives. You can download find the report on the Co-operatives shelf of of online library or read it now below. Resilience in a Downturn - The Power of Financial Cooperatives … [Read more...]
How Cooperatives and Community Enterprise Will Get Us Out of this Gigantic Mess
I've posted this excellent talk by Janelle Orsi from the brilliant Sustainable Economies Law Center a few times over on our facebook page. The whole presentation is well worth watching, but I particularly like it when she says: What is the entity structure that is most going to ensure that our communities are protected? and what is going to most ensure that the wealth in society becomes distributed more equitably? I keep coming back to the answer of: Co-operatives. Co-operatives, Co-operatives, … [Read more...]
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