Co-op movement arrives in Manchester for global conference

Article published: Tuesday, October 30th 2012

Members of co-operatives from around the world are arriving in Manchester for a global conference celebrating the mutualist movement – over 150 years after the first co-op was founded by the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844.

The conference is the culminating event of the International Year of Co-operatives

The Co-operatives United Festival is expected to attract hundreds of delegates, with umbrella federation the International Co-operative Alliance hoping to use the event to showcase plans to increase the clout of the diverse sector over the next decade.

Manchester-based groups such as Chorlton’s Unicorn Grocery and the fan owned football club FC United will be present, alongside larger enterprises such as the Co-operative Group and the French credit union federation Desjardins.

Organisers are keen to stress the growing number of worker and consumer-owned enterprises across both rich and poor countries, with delegates hearing about co-operatives in Iran, Russia, Indonesia, Palestine, Brazil and China.

The event lasts from Wednesday 31 October to Friday 2 November and is based at Manchester Central Convention Complex. Access to the main events are restricted to delegates.

More: News

Comments

No comments found

The comments are closed.

Culture

Halloween creatures invade Manchester early: chance to win two tickets to the Illuminaughty Halloween party!

A heavy mist suddenly falls on a darkened Manchester hiding from sight unspeakably hideous creatures. Drums can be heard in the distance lulling you into a hypnotic trance, the work of witches and daemons no doubt. Or perhaps Voodoo ring masters, descending onto the city streets armed with psychedelic beats banged out by their armies of musical Goblins possessed with the desire for mischief and fun. It must be that time of year again; it can only be the Illuminaughty Halloween party.

Science Slam: a synergy of science and poetry transcends expectations

Poetry and science are two things generally not associated with each other, in fact if you joined the two in a word association test you would be one step closer to a chemical cosh and your very own padded cell. However the audience attending the Science Slam at the packed out Nexus Art Cafe Thursday night will never again doubt the validity of the two pursuits being combined; though I can’t rule out they may end up bouncing of the walls of a padded cell at some time in the future.

Review: Greater Manchester Fringe Festival – A Dream Play

We were outside Nexus Art Café in the Northern Quarter, queuing, when a car raced up, the driver shoved a woman to the pavement and the performance began. This was the introduction to the character Aggie in A Dream Play by the Déjà Vu Ensemble, daughter of the gods, who has come to our world to learn what it means to be human.