Remember the Conservative Co-op

"Remember when the conservatives announced that they were launching their own co-operative movement a few years back and everyone said "what??!",

Well, they're now incorporating it as a co-op, so what's to stop us all becomming members, exercising our democratic member control to call a general meeting, agree to dissolve it and distribute the assets amongst the wider, non-partisan co-op movement? -- tip of the hat to Adrian Ashton for this one

Full article http://bit.ly/cd38XW

Fairtrade Fortnight 2010

The Co-operative has kept to its fairtrade ethos whilst others have clearly dropped off the bandwagon in the "boom years". The message this year is "The Big Swop". More details here.

Star Inn

One of the interests shown by the members present at the AGM was a trip to the co-operative pub in Higher Broughton, Salford. On 15th October 2009 The Star Inn on Back Hope Street was bought by its regulars. The UK's first urban co-operatively owned pub with 62 shareholders.
http://www.staronthecliff.co.uk/index.html

Dirty Oil Movie

Dirty Oil dramatically explores the battle between industry, government, local communities and environmentalists over the development of the oil sands of Alberta, Canada. The Co-operative is offering free tickets for the film to its members for showings on Monday 15 March, 1815h at 3 cinemas - Ambleside Fellinis, Liverpool Picturehouse, and Manchester Odeon.

https://www.co-operativememberevents.coop/dirty_oil_event/our_events.aspx

Mostly Peterloo & Some AGM

A small muster of hardy co-operators turned out for the AGM. Most of the meeting was given over to Chris Mills, the Ethical Policy Manager of the Co-operative Group. We heard about several diverse campaigning iniatives of the Co-operative. Tar sands, sustainable fisheries, the Plan B for the honey bee, and democracy for Burma. Then the talk switched to an update on the campaign to have a worthy memorial to the victims and events at Peterloo. Even though that happpened way back in 1819 it still evokes emotions and an anger that it has been airbrushed from history.

The last twenty minutes had the re-election of the officers and delegates, actually no elections and everyone agreed to carry on for another year. The forthcoming General Election was the big event for 2010, and there are no plans for meetings and events until that has taken place.