John Woodcock writes for Co-op Youth!

I am very proud to be an official Labour & Co-operative candidate - the first ever in Barrow & Furness - because co-op values have always been my values and it is important for me to put them at the heart of my offer to people here. At a time when there is a general distrust in politics and uncertainty over our economy, we can show we are on people’s side by supporting co-operative solutions that are making a real difference on the ground.

The fact is that co-operative and mutual solutions can and do make a real difference to people in constituencies like mine. They are the practical solutions run by Barrow & Furness people, which are changing people’s lives. For example, the Walney Island Credit Union offers an alternative to the loan sharks offering 300% loans on the street, whilst Baywind produces co-operative energy used by the community and The Co-operative Food stores across Furness offer those who use them their share of the profits twice a year.

I am always amazed at the breadth of the co-operative and mutual sector and it is clear from the Co-operative Party’s General Election manifesto that there is huge scope for more co-operative and mutual ideas to become reality so we can move on from the financial collapse to a better, more stable future. These ideas are genuine solutions offering an alternative way of working and if am lucky enough to get elected to Parliament I will do all I can to make these ideas reality as part of Labour’s vision for the future.

John Woodcock

Labour & Co-op PPC for Barrow & Furness

Join Co-op Youth North West on our campaign day with John in his Barrow constituency on Sunday 24th January - e-mail coopyouthnw@googlemail.com or see http://tiny.cc/barrow for more info!

Share this article:


Share

50,000 go on The Wave...

More than 50,000 people marched on Saturday on the 'The Wave' march. Labour activists were out in force, with Ed Miliband also marching and listening to people's views. You can have a look at some photos on the Facebook page for Ed's Pledge.

Share this article:

Share

Co-operative Schools on BBC News!

Have a read of this story on the BBC News website on Co-operative Schools...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8391006.stm

A network has been created to connect the growing number of co-operative school trusts in England. There are now 26 co-operative schools running in 15 trusts - with a further 120 schools in the pipeline.

The first co-operative school was opened near Stockport last year and the Children's Secretary Ed Balls wants 200 by the end of next year. "Co-operative school trusts put power in the hands of those who know best what is needed," said Mr Balls.

The network will provide support for head teachers and governors entering co-operative school trusts and allow existing trusts to share best practice. Mr Balls, who is a Labour and Co-operative MP, describes the push for more co-operative trusts as "a major new initiative in mainstream education in this country".

Share this article:

Share

Talk by Tessa Jowell on co-operative public services

• What: "The mutual moment: How progressives can capture the ownership agenda" Talk by Progress
• When: 18.00-19.00 15 December
• Where: Grand Committee Room, House of Commons, Westminster

In this speech, Tessa Jowell will lay out why mutualism offers the opportunity to forge a new relationship between citizen and state and redefine the notion of public ownership. She will suggest how mutuals, co-ops and social enterprises might play a much greater role in reformed public services, and the rights local communities and public sector workers should have in that process. The Minister for the Cabinet Office will contrast this progressive approach, strongly rooted in Labour's past, with the Conservatives' 'easyGovernment' view of the state.

To register for a place please email mark@progressives.org.uk

Progress in association with the Co-operative Party.

Share this article:

Share

URGENT - Email these MPs to get a Financial Inclusion Bill tabled!

HELP CHANGE THE WAY BANKS DO BUSINESS

Today we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to help buid a financial system that works for us all, an economy which puts people before profit.

Given the unprecedented support that our financial institutions have received in the last year, it is vital that they recognise their responsibility to us all – whose taxes, jobs and livelihoods have been put at risk by their failure. All of us should have equal access to routine financial services and credit within their means. Banks should no longer merely be able to cherry pick the most profitable customers, but ensure that their operations serve every part of the community equally.

This is why the Co-operative Party is today launching its campaign for a Financial Inclusion Bill. Based on the successful Community Reinvestment Act in the USA, it would ensure that all financial institutions must engage with, design services for, and invest in people from all geographical areas and income levels.

Parliament held a ballot this morning to select which MPs will be permitted to introduce a piece of legislation which has a chance of becoming law. Because of the upcoming election, only the top five have a realistic chance of changing the law. It is therefore crucial that we can persuade one of them to adopt the Financial Inclusion Bill.

Back in September, our Policy Officer Robbie Erbmann set out for LabourList the reasons for the Financial Inclusion Bill. Read his article here.

The five MPs, including email addresses, who came top of the ballot are:

• Brian Iddon (Labour, Bolton South East): iddonb@parliament.uk
• David Chaytor (Labour, Bury North): chaytord@parliament.uk
• Andrew Gwynne (Labour, Denton and Reddish): gwynnea@parliament.uk
• Albert Owen (Labour, Ynys Môn): owena@parliament.uk
• Julie Morgan (Labour, Cardiff North): morganj@parliament.uk

Please can you take a few minutes of your time today to email at least one of these MPs (preferably all five) and ask them to please adopt the Financial Inclusion Bill. I have included a sample letter for you to personalise and adapt below:

This is our last good chance to create a new law to rebalance our financial system before the general election. It is therefore CRUCIAL that we get as many people as possible to write to MPs today. It will make a real difference.

Kind Regards,

Michael Stephenson
General Secretary

DRAFT LETTER TO THE FIVE MPS

Dear NAME OF MP,

Congratulations on your success in the 2009-2010 Private Members Bills’ ballot. I am writing to ask you to please adopt the Financial Inclusion Bill.

Given the unprecedented support that our financial institutions have received in the last year, it is vital that they recognise the obligation of their responsibility to society – whose taxes, jobs and livelihoods have been put at risk by their failure. The purpose of a Financial Inclusion Bill is to create a new settlement between providers of financial services and the people of the UK and ensure that all people should have equal access to routine financial services and credit within their means.

I am not one of your constituents but understand what a rare opportunity you have been granted via the ballot. I think there is a considerable lack of confidence in our current banking system and believe that this Bill, if successful, could help to ensure that we have a financial system that works in all of our interests.

The idea has the backing of the Co-operative Party and a number of campaigning organisations, which will give it considerable weight when being debated in Parliament and I believe it is realistic to believe that it has a good chance of success. I think that your sponsorship of this Bill would be in the interests of all citizens in this country and I would therefore be very grateful if you would please adopt this Bill.

Yours sincerely,

ENDS

Share this article:

Share

Co-operative Group Climate Change Debate TOMORROW!

'The Wave: Co-operation in Copenhagen?'
Date: Tuesday 24th November
Time: 7pm
Place: Donald English Room, Westminster Central Hall,Storey's Gate, London. SW1H 9NH.

We know you really care about the environment. So make your voice heard on 5th December at The Wave. This family-friendly march through London is one of our last chances to convince the Government to tale the lead in combating climate change.

Before then, we're giving you the opportunity to explore the key climate change issues at ‘The Wave: Co-operation in Copenhagen?' – a special event being held in London.

Here, a panel of experts – including our own Sustainable Development Manager Chris Shearlock and Oxfam UK's Head of Campaigns Martin Kirk, along with Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos – will discuss everything from the need for cross-country co-operation in tackling climate change, why the Copenhagen talks are the last chance to take decisive action and your crucial role in The Wave.

To reserve your place, call 0800 015 1147. Refreshments will be provided.

Share this article:

Share

The Wave - Join us on the 05 December

Together with The Co-operative Group and SERA - Labour Environment Campaign, we want you to come along to The Wave - a procession through the streets of London on climate change.

Join us and other Labour folk marching on The Wave, to show our support for Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband's work to get an ambitious, effective and just deal at Copenhagen.

On Saturday 5 December 2009, ahead of the crucial UN climate summit in Copenhagen, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life will flow through the streets of London to demonstrate their support for a safe climate future for all. Part of a global series of public actions, The Wave will call on world leaders to take urgent action to secure a fair international deal to stop global warming exceeding the danger threshold of 2 degrees C.

We believe that Labour should be proud of its record on Climate Change and therefore it is really important that we stand proud and make our voices heard by marching together.

If you are looking to travel to the event subsidised travel from around the country is being provided for members of The Co-operative and Oxfam Supporters. To find out more go to www.co-operative.coop/thewave.

Alternatively Transport Group Stagecoach is supporting The Wave by offering reduced price coach travel to both London and Glasgow on its popular megabus.com. The special offer means it will cost you just £2 each way plus a 50p booking fee! Book online at www.megabus.com/uk or by calling 0900 160 0900.

At the start of the march, we'll be meeting in Grovesnor Square. Look out for Labour Party / Unison / Co-operative Party banners, or call me (David) on 07749 702352.

Coming to the march? Let us know by commenting below!

Share this article:





Share

Why open source software is important to the co-operative movement

Our manifesto recognises the importance of the community-based development of software that the open source software movement champions.

When you get a piece of software, why is it that more often than not, you lack access to its source code? Whilst this might not seem important to the overwhelming majority of users, more technical users would find themselves with the flexibility needed to adapt software to their needs. As users, not just employee developers, can contribute changes to open source software, it is often cheaper than their closed-source alternatives.

Most people will probably use open source software every day without realising it. I am typing this blog post in Firefox, an open source browser which has just reached its fifth birthday. Firefox is hugely popular because its open source, co-operative approach allows its users to shape its development. Even if you are not a Firefox user, you will probably access websites that are powered by the open source Apache server software.

Some of the most promising pieces of open source software are still very much in obscurity. The general public has not heard of Linux operating systems or OpenOffice.org. The private, public and third sectors are unwilling to adopt such software, because their staff have been trained in the Microsoft alternative. The schooling system, however, only trains people in Microsoft products, because that is what employers use. This is circular logic, and is an obstacle that must be defeated in order to further open source software.

The situation might become different in countries where IT is not already a daily part of life. Developing countries often use Linux in their education systems, because it saves them having to buy a Windows licence for every machine. It also often demands less resources than Windows, allowing cheaper hardware to be bought. Perhaps businesses in those countries will then use Linux too, because that is what their labour force know how to use.

Co-operation goes hand in hand with open source software. Co-operators believe in self-help, open source software allows users to fix their own problems. Co-operators believe in education, and open source projects often involve this and go to lengths to educate users about the software and open source movement. Open source software often builds on other open source software, an example of 'Co-operation among Co-operatives'. Perhaps the most important thing that the movements have in common is a concern for the community; open source software's aim is often to aid education, to help others and to help communities technologically progress.

Share this article:

Share

the feeling's mutual

The credit crunch that has paralysed our economy was caused by greedy banks gambling with our money and making massive profits through high risk deals. When those bets failed they took us all down with them.

But mutual financial organisations like building socieites and credit unions have weathered the economic crisis better than the high street banks. Because they are owned and controlled by their customers they have taken fewer risks and put the interests of ordinary people first.

That is why the Co-operative Party is running a major national campaign for those banks that failed us, like Northern Rock, to become mutuals again.

We want a stable financial system with a strong mutual sector.
We want to see an end to greedy bankers gambling with your money.
We want to reverse the damage the Conservatives did to our building socieities when they encouraged them to de-mutualise, and
We want an economy that puts people before profit.

If you agree, be part of our campaign:
1. Sign up on our website
2. Join our Facebook group


.

the people's rail

Sick of delays? Sick of nobody to complain to?

Join the campaign to give passengers a say in how our railways are run. Support the Co-operative Party in making Network Rail the People's Rail.

The People's Rail Charter:

• We support the People’s Rail campaign to give the British public real power over its rail network.
• Long- suffering rail users deserve better than a network run for the convenience of managers, with no-one taking responsibility when things go wrong.
• We call on Network Rail to change the way it’s run, in order to give real control to passengers and the public.

To support our campaign for a better, more accountable rail network, you can
1. Sign the People’s Rail charter
2. Spread the word
3. Email the Office of Rail Regulation

Find out more at www.peoplesrail.org.uk