Promoting the understanding of cooperatives for a better world
PRESS RELEASE
Venice, March 16 2012
First statements from keynote speakers on the economic importance of the cooperative model
In order to cope with the economic and social crisis, “in the future we will have to ask for help from the cooperative world. Not just in the social services, but also in the reorganization of labour, taking inspiration from this alternative model.” So said Romano Prodi, Italy’s former Prime Minister and the ex-president of the European Commission yesterday, opening the international conference “Promoting the understanding of cooperatives for a better world”, currently taking place in Venice (15-16 March). Prodi delved further into the state of the global economy and the imbalance in the distribution of employment, concluding regretfully that “the inclusivity of the cooperative system and its positive changes to the employment model run up against a lack of responses and courage from the political leadership.”
The need to change the dominant model was confirmed by Sir Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Cambridge. In his speech introducing the conference, he spoke about the economic and social costs of the prevailing economic system: “What allows big retailers and multinationals to have economies of scale is that we are not paying the real costs of the inputs, like resources and manpower. In the end our children and our grandchildren will have to pay.”
The sentiment behind the conference title, “Promoting the understanding of cooperatives for a better world”, is proving more important than ever, given the current shifts in global economic equilibriums dictated by the crisis.
To debate these highly topical issues, over 200 people have come to San Servolo Island in Venice to participate in the conference, including economics experts and cooperative representatives from 27 different countries. “This shows the importance of this event,” said Carlo Borzaga, the president of Euricse, one of the conference organizers along with the ICA (International Co-operative Alliance) and the Alliance of Italian Cooperatives. Along with Gianluca Salvatori, Euricse’s CEO, Borzaga introduced the conference, held to mark the fact that 2012 is the UN International Year of Cooperatives, and its renowned speakers. Their presentations will be used to prepare a series of research papers, said Borzaga, which would be made available to the public.
The international relevance of the conference was also emphasized by Len Wardle, president of Co-operatives UK, who said that in the international year of cooperation, the cooperative world’s efforts should be directed by the words of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility.” These words sum up the business model promoted by the International Alliance of Co-operatives, a model that can “build a better world”. Cooperatives contribute to improving the quality of life of half the world’s population, said Wardle, “increasing profits by satisfying the needs of their members and providing employment for 100 million citizens.”
Wardle continued with more figures, appropriate given the conference’s focus on economics: “The 300 biggest cooperatives in the world are worth 1.6 trillion dollars alone,” he said. “That’s a tricky number to write.” They have a certain weight, in other words, which will allow the cooperative world to launch itself into the future with a very specific demand: “Let’s ask if this year the cooperative world will be allowed to help build a sustainable world, break down the wall of poverty in rural zones and export the cooperative model to more new areas and emerging economies.”
After its inauguration yesterday morning, the conference will continue today, Friday 16 March. The complete programme and list of speakers can be found on the conference website (http://conference2012.euricse.d.gummyindustries.com), and live updates will be available on Twitter in English, Spanish and Italian via the hashtag #venice2012 and the account @confvenice2012. Videos will be uploaded to http://www.broadcaster.it/cooperazionetrentina.
For more information, interviews and materials: > [email protected]
Aleksandra Bobic – EURICSE – +39 0461 283782 – Mob. +39 346 8830052
Erika Gardumi – RIZOMA – +39 051 0563855 – Mob. +39 339 5084596