How co-operatives provide an ethical alternative to business across the world in many different sectors from small shops to global organisations.

This first eBook looks at how co-operatives contribute to the world through food production. Co-operative Enterprises Build A Better World Through Food

International Co-operative Day 2012

The International Day of Co-operatives is celebrated annually on the first Saturday of July.


Message of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) - 90th ICA International Co-operative Day - 18th UN International Day of Co-operatives - 7th July 2012 - English

Message de l’Alliance Coopérative Internationale (ACI) 90ème Journée internationale des coopératives de l’ACI - 18ème Journée internationale des coopératives des NU - 7 juillet 2012 - Français

Mensaje de la Alianza Cooperativa Internacional (ACI) - 90° Día Internacional del Cooperativismo de la ACI - 18° Día Internacional del Cooperativismo de las Naciones Unidas - 7 de julio de 2012 - Español 

第90回ICA国際協同組合デー及び - 第18回国連国際協同組合デーに向けたICAメッセージ - 2012年7月7日 - 日本語




The aim of the day is to increase awareness of co-operatives and promote the movement's successes and ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality, and world peace.

ICA first celebrated the International Day in 1923. The International Day is now run in partnership with the UN and the UN asks all member governments to participate in the celebrations each year.
The International Day has a different theme each year. Themes in recent years have included ‘Youth, the future of co-operative enterprise’ in 2011 and ‘Co-operative enterprise empowers women’ in 2010. Co-operatives around the world celebrate the Day in many different ways, seeking to gain press and publicity at a local and national level.

The ICA wants to make the International Day in 2012 something that we will all remember – one in which one billion co-operators can get involved in order to raise public awareness about the co-operative business model. The theme for the International Day 2012 is the same as the International Year of Co-operatives: "Co-operative enterprises build a better world".

UN International Day of Co-operatives, 7 July 2012 "Cooperative enterprises build a better world" - "Les coopératives, des entreprises pour un monde meilleur" - "Las empresas cooperativas ayudan a construir un mundo mejor".

This year's theme links to the observance of the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. It seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world, and to recognize the actions of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals.

How to celebrate the International Day?

Co-operatives around the world celebrate the Day in many different ways. Below are examples of some of the activities organised by co-operatives around the world:
• The messages of the ICA and United Nations are translated into local languages and widely disseminated to co-operators, media, and government officials at all levels.
• Co-operatives use the media to create awareness on their movements and contributions.
• Co-operative Fairs, exhibits, contests, and campaigns are held.
• Meetings with government officials, United Nations agencies and other partner organisations are held.
• Co-operatives partner with community agencies to champion economic, environmental, social and health challenges.
• Cultural events are sponsored - theatre, concerts, etc.
Whatever you are doing, we have various ways you can promote your activity

Your life would not exist without Water.

Here is Water. You have met before. In fact, you come across Water in everything you do. Your life would not exist without Water. But Water is not infinite and we are draining our supplies. We need to rethink the way we are using Water. Every drop counts.

It's Our time to Shine

Welcome to International Year of Co-operatives 2012!

It is Our Time to Shine!



The United Nations has designated 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives in recognition of the important contribution of co-operatives worldwide to social and economic development. Join us in 2012 to celebrate our achievements and increase public awareness of our socially responsible business model. 2012, it's Our Time to Shine!

Watch the videos and learn more about IYC 2012.



Visit www.australia2012.coop

Video developed by Webgirl Consulting (www.webgirlconsulting.com.au)

IYC 2012 : Make your voice heard. "Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World."

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC). The designation serves to highlight the contribution cooperatives have had in reducing poverty, creating jobs and promoting social integration. The theme for the International Year of Cooperatives 2012 is "Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World."

Make your voice heard.

World Water Day 2012

"Water is Life"

World Water Day - March 22

Cooperatives News

What are the main Challenges for the Cooperative movement today?

Interview with Charles Gould, Director General, ICA

IYC 2012

*UN Secretary-General's Message for 2011 IDC--2011-07-06 13:39:02 *"Youth, the future of co-operative enterprise"-ICA--2011-06-09 08:57:47 *The logo of 2012 - International Year of Cooperatives--2011-05-11 14:16:58 *"Youth, the future of cooperative enterprise"--2011-05-03 09:38:09 *Resolution adopted by the General Assembly--2011-04-15 09:07:16 *Goals of the International Year of Cooperatives--2011-04-15 09:04:08 *“Co-operative Enterprise Empowers Women”--2010-06-18 10:32:26 *ILO hails UN proclamation of 2012 as International Year of Cooperatives--2010-01-05 11:07:39 *United Nations Declares 2012 International Year of Cooperatives--2010-01-05 11:05:39 *UN proclaims 2012 International Year of Co-operatives--2009-12-28 09:27:56 *Ministry of Agriculture: Three Criteria for Model Farmers’ Specialized Cooperatives--2009-11-03 13:38:54 *Consumer Price of Vegetable Goes Down by 20% Through the Direct Purchase of Supermarkets in Xi An--2009-11-03 13:30:38 *Land Deposit-loaning Cooperative in Village--2009-11-03 13:27:08 *Hai Nan: Only Organized Farmers Have Their Own Voice to Market--2009-11-03 13:24:42 *Dairy Cooperative of Fu Meng County Becomes the “Mother Home” of Dairy Farmers--2009-11-03 13:22:12 *Vice-prime Minister Hui Liangyu: Devote Great Efforts to Farmers’ Specialized Cooperatives--2009-10-10 14:30:30 *Foreign Banks Explore the Rural Finance in China--2009-10-10 14:29:43 *Strengthen the Cooperatives’ Function in Protection of Quality and Security of Raw Milk--2009-10-10 14:28:40 *Person of the Year of CHINA CO-OPERATIVE ECONOMY 2008--2009-10-10 14:26:57 *From Cooperative to Co-op Federation--2009-10-10 14:26:10
*Foreign Financed TV Banks Do Hide-and-seek Trick with Domestic Farmers--2009-10-10 14:25:17 *Chinese Sichuan pepper and Carrefour--2009-10-10 14:23:57 *Shaan Xi Province Issued A Document to Support the Development of Specialized Farmers Cooperatives--2009-10-10 14:22:41 *Driving global recovery through co-operatives--2009-04-02 10:23:34 *Promoting agriculture in times of hardship--2009-02-18 13:12:42 *China endeavors to set up modern rural financial system--2009-02-18 13:12:03 *CPC pledges to improve social welfare of rural residents--2009-02-18 13:10:55 *President Hu addressed three top concerns in field tour--2009-02-18 12:26:38 *Chinese dairies seek to restore consumers' faith after scandal--2009-02-18 12:24:27 *Farmers urged to join co-ops--2009-02-18 12:23:38 *Fiji co-operative (FCUL) became a new member of ICA--2008-10-04 08:26:56 *Chinese President Hu Jintao visits a cooperative in Henan Province--2008-09-26 17:49:23 *Confronting Climate Change through Co-operative Enterprise--2008-08-26 14:50:56
The Co-operatives in 2012 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC)       The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC), highlighting the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development, in particular recognizing their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. Main Goals of the Year: * Increase public awareness about cooperatives and their contributions to socio-economic development and the achievement of MDGs  * Promote the formation and growth of cooperatives * Encourage Governments to establish policies, laws and regulation conducive to the formation, growth and stability of cooperatives