Co-operatives around the world are gearing up for the 2016 International Day of Co-operatives (known as Coopsday or #coopsday on social media) on 2 July – and the logo for the global event has just been launched.
Themed ‘Co-operatives: The power to act for a sustainable future’, Coopsday 2016 will be dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals, which focus on wiping out poverty, fighting inequality and injustice and tackling climate change.
According to the International Co-operative Alliance, “co-operatives are key partners” for achieving the agenda for Sustainable Development: “We foster democracy, social inclusion and operate with concern for the environment; via our own principles, we are sustainable and inclusive businesses; we foster job security, decent working conditions and promote community investment. The Sustainable Development Goals are important, world-changing objectives that will require co-operation among governments, international organisations and world leaders.”
The Alliance also believes Coopsday is an opportunity to communicate the value of co-operatives’ unique approach to sustainable economic, social and environmental development. It is encouraging all co-operatives to get involved, through making colleagues, customers and communities aware of the day, directing people to www.coopsday.coop or hosting a Goals-event at their co-operative.
“This year’s Coopsday will make co-ops more visible.” says the Alliance. “We will take the day beyond its celebration on 2 July.”
On the day itself, the Alliance will launch an online platform where co-operatives will be able to register their contributions to the goals, creating a centralised record of co-ops’ contribution to the goals.
-ICA