in Rochdale England on 31 toad Lane there is a lamp it is a lamp that
there is a lamp it is a lamp that
there is a lamp it is a lamp that represents the start of a revolution you
represents the start of a revolution you
represents the start of a revolution you see in 1853 a group of labourers
see in 1853 a group of labourers
see in 1853 a group of labourers Weaver’s shoemakers cabinet joiners they
Weaver’s shoemakers cabinet joiners they
Weaver’s shoemakers cabinet joiners they got together to solve a problem in
got together to solve a problem in
got together to solve a problem in England at that time the society was
England at that time the society was
England at that time the society was heavily separated into a small minority
heavily separated into a small minority
heavily separated into a small minority of the very very wealthy who controlled
of the very very wealthy who controlled
of the very very wealthy who controlled virtually everything they owned the land
virtually everything they owned the land
virtually everything they owned the land they owned the factories they owned the
they owned the factories they owned the
they owned the factories they owned the businesses and because only landowners
businesses and because only landowners
businesses and because only landowners could vote they owned the government too
could vote they owned the government too
could vote they owned the government too and then you had everybody else which
and then you had everybody else which
and then you had everybody else which basically they lived in poverty matters
basically they lived in poverty matters
basically they lived in poverty matters worse the poor wages that they received
worse the poor wages that they received
worse the poor wages that they received oftentimes included company chits which
oftentimes included company chits which
oftentimes included company chits which were vouchers that were only able to be
were vouchers that were only able to be
were vouchers that were only able to be used at the company owned stores and now
used at the company owned stores and now
used at the company owned stores and now products in these stores were
products in these stores were
products in these stores were deliberately inflated prices and often
deliberately inflated prices and often
deliberately inflated prices and often poor quality so the very act of buying
poor quality so the very act of buying
poor quality so the very act of buying the necessities for your family meant
the necessities for your family meant
the necessities for your family meant that you were returning the money back
that you were returning the money back
that you were returning the money back to the factory owners and it was a
to the factory owners and it was a
to the factory owners and it was a vicious cycle and it appeared that there
vicious cycle and it appeared that there
vicious cycle and it appeared that there was no chance for solving it but this of
was no chance for solving it but this of
was no chance for solving it but this of 28 men had come together and they had a
28 men had come together and they had a
28 men had come together and they had a vision for a more equitable society and
vision for a more equitable society and
vision for a more equitable society and they were going to do it themselves they
they were going to do it themselves they
they were going to do it themselves they came together and they decided to pool
came together and they decided to pool
came together and they decided to pool their resources and for over a year they
their resources and for over a year they
their resources and for over a year they scrimped and saved what they could and
scrimped and saved what they could and
scrimped and saved what they could and they were determined to open their own
they were determined to open their own
they were determined to open their own store so on December 21st 1844 they
store so on December 21st 1844 they
store so on December 21st 1844 they pulled the boards off the windows of
pulled the boards off the windows of
pulled the boards off the windows of their storefront they lit the lantern in
their storefront they lit the lantern in
their storefront they lit the lantern in the front window and they basically
the front window and they basically
the front window and they basically announced the world we are open for
announced the world we are open for
announced the world we are open for business
business
business at thirty-one totaling it was not a
at thirty-one totaling it was not a
at thirty-one totaling it was not a particularly impressive showing that
particularly impressive showing that
particularly impressive showing that night
night
night they only had four items in their
they only had four items in their
they only had four items in their inventory it was a collection of butter
inventory it was a collection of butter
inventory it was a collection of butter sugar flour and oatmeal as all there was
sugar flour and oatmeal as all there was
sugar flour and oatmeal as all there was but they had done it they were open and
but they had done it they were open and
but they had done it they were open and they survived that night and the next
they survived that night and the next
they survived that night and the next night and the night after that and they
night and the night after that and they
night and the night after that and they grew and eventually they were able to
grew and eventually they were able to
grew and eventually they were able to hire a shopkeeper and they paid him a
hire a shopkeeper and they paid him a
hire a shopkeeper and they paid him a fair wage and farmers brought them
fair wage and farmers brought them
fair wage and farmers brought them produce and received fair pay for it and
produce and received fair pay for it and
produce and received fair pay for it and women came and they lent their money
women came and they lent their money
women came and they lent their money management skills because they’d been
management skills because they’d been
management skills because they’d been managed households on virtually no money
managed households on virtually no money
managed households on virtually no money their entire lives this was easy and
their entire lives this was easy and
their entire lives this was easy and they brought their fierce determination
they brought their fierce determination
they brought their fierce determination because for the first in their lives
because for the first in their lives
because for the first in their lives they had a vote in something that they
they had a vote in something that they
they had a vote in something that they owned this was unheard of
owned this was unheard of
owned this was unheard of and by doing what they did these people
and by doing what they did these people
and by doing what they did these people shaped a new future for their families
shaped a new future for their families
shaped a new future for their families and their communities the Rosedale new
and their communities the Rosedale new
and their communities the Rosedale new pioneers were born and the co-operative
pioneers were born and the co-operative
pioneers were born and the co-operative movement was born now to be clear this
movement was born now to be clear this
movement was born now to be clear this was not the first time that people had
was not the first time that people had
was not the first time that people had come together for something like this
come together for something like this
come together for something like this had actually been cooperatives that had
had actually been cooperatives that had
had actually been cooperatives that had begun and failed many times but the
begun and failed many times but the
begun and failed many times but the Rosedale folks were determined to
Rosedale folks were determined to
Rosedale folks were determined to succeed where others had not and they
succeed where others had not and they
succeed where others had not and they set out a series of operating principles
set out a series of operating principles
set out a series of operating principles and these principles were going to guide
and these principles were going to guide
and these principles were going to guide their decisions and they dealt with
their decisions and they dealt with
their decisions and they dealt with things like democracy autonomy honesty
things like democracy autonomy honesty
things like democracy autonomy honesty equality and they became the foundation
equality and they became the foundation
equality and they became the foundation for the modern cooperative movement and
for the modern cooperative movement and
for the modern cooperative movement and they are the basis for every cooperative
they are the basis for every cooperative
they are the basis for every cooperative operating today the powerful cooperative
operating today the powerful cooperative
operating today the powerful cooperative story is one that presents members not
story is one that presents members not
story is one that presents members not as passive consumers but as active
as passive consumers but as active
as passive consumers but as active citizens improving a community that’s
citizens improving a community that’s
citizens improving a community that’s what the Rochdale pioneers really were
what the Rochdale pioneers really were
what the Rochdale pioneers really were they were active citizens working for
they were active citizens working for
they were active citizens working for improvement what are we going to be
improvement what are we going to be
improvement what are we going to be now I would like to tell you that I
now I would like to tell you that I
now I would like to tell you that I heard that story and it like lit this
heard that story and it like lit this
heard that story and it like lit this passion and I you know join the
passion and I you know join the
passion and I you know join the co-operative movement and you know but
co-operative movement and you know but
co-operative movement and you know but that’s not actually the case I didn’t
that’s not actually the case I didn’t
that’s not actually the case I didn’t hear the story for quite a while after
hear the story for quite a while after
hear the story for quite a while after that my journey is a little less
that my journey is a little less
that my journey is a little less dramatic a little less altruistic
dramatic a little less altruistic
dramatic a little less altruistic actually I had a need that was not being
actually I had a need that was not being
actually I had a need that was not being met
met
met it was the age-old story of what’s in it
it was the age-old story of what’s in it
it was the age-old story of what’s in it for me you see in 2006 I had a
for me you see in 2006 I had a
for me you see in 2006 I had a six-month-old baby and I had a brand-new
six-month-old baby and I had a brand-new
six-month-old baby and I had a brand-new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and I
diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and I
diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and I was looking at this baby and what I had
was looking at this baby and what I had
was looking at this baby and what I had thought was my vision for the future
thought was my vision for the future
thought was my vision for the future suddenly had no idea what is the future
suddenly had no idea what is the future
suddenly had no idea what is the future hope was I going to be in a tear in his
hope was I going to be in a tear in his
hope was I going to be in a tear in his vision was I going to be there at all I
vision was I going to be there at all I
vision was I going to be there at all I had no idea so I did what you do your
had no idea so I did what you do your
had no idea so I did what you do your research and there’s not there’s a lot
research and there’s not there’s a lot
research and there’s not there’s a lot of unknowns about MS actually but one
of unknowns about MS actually but one
of unknowns about MS actually but one thing that was sort of a recurring theme
thing that was sort of a recurring theme
thing that was sort of a recurring theme was food the power of food to heal or to
was food the power of food to heal or to
was food the power of food to heal or to hinder needing more whole food fewer
hinder needing more whole food fewer
hinder needing more whole food fewer chemicals okay this is something I can
chemicals okay this is something I can
chemicals okay this is something I can do I can do this for myself and that was
do I can do this for myself and that was
do I can do this for myself and that was empowering I didn’t have to be passive
empowering I didn’t have to be passive
empowering I didn’t have to be passive with this disease but my food mattered
with this disease but my food mattered
with this disease but my food mattered so I started shopping at our local
so I started shopping at our local
so I started shopping at our local farmers market and I got to know our
farmers market and I got to know our
farmers market and I got to know our local farmers and these people are crazy
local farmers and these people are crazy
local farmers and these people are crazy passionate about the food they’re
passionate about the food they’re
passionate about the food they’re growing they’re choosing heirloom
growing they’re choosing heirloom
growing they’re choosing heirloom varieties because they taste better and
varieties because they taste better and
varieties because they taste better and they’re amending and composting to make
they’re amending and composting to make
they’re amending and composting to make this perfect soil to grow these
this perfect soil to grow these
this perfect soil to grow these nutrient-dense foods
nutrient-dense foods
nutrient-dense foods this was living and breathing something
this was living and breathing something
this was living and breathing something that I honestly had only considered when
that I honestly had only considered when
that I honestly had only considered when I’d said well well I don’t know what’s
I’d said well well I don’t know what’s
I’d said well well I don’t know what’s on sale and what am I in the mood for
on sale and what am I in the mood for
on sale and what am I in the mood for for supper tonight so so this was
for supper tonight so so this was
for supper tonight so so this was entirely new
then sometimes there is no farmers
then sometimes there is no farmers market going on sometimes it’s winter so
market going on sometimes it’s winter so
market going on sometimes it’s winter so what do you do well you you go to a
what do you do well you you go to a
what do you do well you you go to a grocery store right and now though armed
grocery store right and now though armed
grocery store right and now though armed with this this knowledge that I had
with this this knowledge that I had
with this this knowledge that I had about food shopping in a regular grocery
about food shopping in a regular grocery
about food shopping in a regular grocery store was actually kind of tough it’s
store was actually kind of tough it’s
store was actually kind of tough it’s kind of kind of depressing or
kind of kind of depressing or
kind of kind of depressing or frustrating because there’s a lot of
frustrating because there’s a lot of
frustrating because there’s a lot of marketing and messaging around our food
marketing and messaging around our food
marketing and messaging around our food but there’s not a lot of truth and
but there’s not a lot of truth and
but there’s not a lot of truth and transparency but I mean that’s what we
transparency but I mean that’s what we
transparency but I mean that’s what we got right nothing to do well in 2011 I
got right nothing to do well in 2011 I
got right nothing to do well in 2011 I got a call from a friend of mine and
got a call from a friend of mine and
got a call from a friend of mine and this friend had actually been running
this friend had actually been running
this friend had actually been running the local farmers market for the past
the local farmers market for the past
the local farmers market for the past like 13 or so years a long time and she
like 13 or so years a long time and she
like 13 or so years a long time and she had repeating stories of where’s the
had repeating stories of where’s the
had repeating stories of where’s the farmers market she had repeating stories
farmers market she had repeating stories
farmers market she had repeating stories of new farmers showing up to the market
of new farmers showing up to the market
of new farmers showing up to the market and they’re fresh faced and they’re
and they’re fresh faced and they’re
and they’re fresh faced and they’re eager and they’re and they’re selling
eager and they’re and they’re selling
eager and they’re and they’re selling their stuff and they do that for the
their stuff and they do that for the
their stuff and they do that for the first year and sometimes they’d be there
first year and sometimes they’d be there
first year and sometimes they’d be there for the next year and then they’d be
for the next year and then they’d be
for the next year and then they’d be gone they couldn’t survive they couldn’t
gone they couldn’t survive they couldn’t
gone they couldn’t survive they couldn’t make their mortgage and pay their bills
make their mortgage and pay their bills
make their mortgage and pay their bills and pay their health insurance while
and pay their health insurance while
and pay their health insurance while growing our food so when she called that
growing our food so when she called that
growing our food so when she called that day she said I have an idea and she
day she said I have an idea and she
day she said I have an idea and she pulled four of us into the room at the
pulled four of us into the room at the
pulled four of us into the room at the Public Library and she said I think our
Public Library and she said I think our
Public Library and she said I think our community and our farmers need a food
community and our farmers need a food
community and our farmers need a food co-op what do you think about starting
co-op what do you think about starting
co-op what do you think about starting one to which I replied what the heck is
one to which I replied what the heck is
one to which I replied what the heck is a food co-op I had no idea
a food co-op I had no idea
a food co-op I had no idea fast forward five years of blood sweat
fast forward five years of blood sweat
fast forward five years of blood sweat tears and waiting neck-deep through the
tears and waiting neck-deep through the
tears and waiting neck-deep through the co-operative movement and my
co-operative movement and my
co-operative movement and my breakthrough moment happened when I
breakthrough moment happened when I
breakthrough moment happened when I realized that we were not starting a
realized that we were not starting a
realized that we were not starting a grocery store what we were doing was
grocery store what we were doing was
grocery store what we were doing was actually an engine for social justice
actually an engine for social justice
actually an engine for social justice consider this what residents of
consider this what residents of
consider this what residents of communities truly owned the economic
communities truly owned the economic
communities truly owned the economic base and infrastructure of
base and infrastructure of
base and infrastructure of their communities what if what if the
their communities what if what if the
their communities what if what if the economy isn’t something that just
economy isn’t something that just
economy isn’t something that just happens to us what if the economy isn’t
happens to us what if the economy isn’t
happens to us what if the economy isn’t purely driven by for-profit corporations
purely driven by for-profit corporations
purely driven by for-profit corporations or Wall Street or our legislators we
or Wall Street or our legislators we
or Wall Street or our legislators we don’t actually have to imagine because
don’t actually have to imagine because
don’t actually have to imagine because there are communities who are already
there are communities who are already
there are communities who are already building cooperative economies and for
building cooperative economies and for
building cooperative economies and for the people involved it really is
the people involved it really is
the people involved it really is revolutionary Springfield Massachusetts
revolutionary Springfield Massachusetts
revolutionary Springfield Massachusetts there’s a third largest city in the
there’s a third largest city in the
there’s a third largest city in the state it is home to multiple colleges
state it is home to multiple colleges
state it is home to multiple colleges universities and hospitals these anchor
universities and hospitals these anchor
universities and hospitals these anchor institutions on average spend one and a
institutions on average spend one and a
institutions on average spend one and a half billion dollars every year just
half billion dollars every year just
half billion dollars every year just buying the goods and services they need
buying the goods and services they need
buying the goods and services they need and less than 10 percent of that is from
and less than 10 percent of that is from
and less than 10 percent of that is from local businesses so the wellspring
local businesses so the wellspring
local businesses so the wellspring cooperative has started putting together
cooperative has started putting together
cooperative has started putting together a network of cooperatives and it is
a network of cooperatives and it is
a network of cooperatives and it is providing good jobs to the people in
providing good jobs to the people in
providing good jobs to the people in their community and it is providing
their community and it is providing
their community and it is providing vital services to these institutions and
vital services to these institutions and
vital services to these institutions and the residents so they’ve got this
the residents so they’ve got this
the residents so they’ve got this network and for instance you’ve got a
network and for instance you’ve got a
network and for instance you’ve got a window restoration business its
window restoration business its
window restoration business its women-owned and it’s allowing these
women-owned and it’s allowing these
women-owned and it’s allowing these women to have good jobs with flexible
women to have good jobs with flexible
women to have good jobs with flexible time schedules so they can care for
time schedules so they can care for
time schedules so they can care for their family kids manage schooling there
their family kids manage schooling there
their family kids manage schooling there is a furniture upholstery business which
is a furniture upholstery business which
is a furniture upholstery business which actually largely employs ex-inmates from
actually largely employs ex-inmates from
actually largely employs ex-inmates from the nearby prison who have gone through
the nearby prison who have gone through
the nearby prison who have gone through their multi-year apprenticeship program
their multi-year apprenticeship program
their multi-year apprenticeship program and now they’ve got this gateway back
and now they’ve got this gateway back
and now they’ve got this gateway back into society with not only a good job
into society with not only a good job
into society with not only a good job but something that they own within a
but something that they own within a
but something that they own within a community but they’re going to care a
community but they’re going to care a
community but they’re going to care a lot more about because they’re invested
lot more about because they’re invested
lot more about because they’re invested and most recently they just raised over
and most recently they just raised over
and most recently they just raised over a million dollars and broke ground on a
a million dollars and broke ground on a
a million dollars and broke ground on a commercial green house that is going to
commercial green house that is going to
commercial green house that is going to supply lettuce and greens and herbs to
supply lettuce and greens and herbs to
supply lettuce and greens and herbs to the community schools hospitals
the community schools hospitals
the community schools hospitals restaurants and
restaurants and
restaurants and yes the residents and it’s a network of
yes the residents and it’s a network of
yes the residents and it’s a network of these businesses working together that
these businesses working together that
these businesses working together that is keeping that economy and vital and
is keeping that economy and vital and
is keeping that economy and vital and just like in Rochdale word spreads 50
just like in Rochdale word spreads 50
just like in Rochdale word spreads 50 miles down the road in Worchester
miles down the road in Worchester
miles down the road in Worchester Massachusetts there are building about a
Massachusetts there are building about a
Massachusetts there are building about a dozen cooperatives and a network to
dozen cooperatives and a network to
dozen cooperatives and a network to provide good jobs and value training to
provide good jobs and value training to
provide good jobs and value training to their local residents they are fitting
their local residents they are fitting
their local residents they are fitting resident skills with the needs of the
resident skills with the needs of the
resident skills with the needs of the community they’ve brought other
community they’ve brought other
community they’ve brought other businesses such as a land keeping
businesses such as a land keeping
businesses such as a land keeping company honey pure bin’ farming a soil
company honey pure bin’ farming a soil
company honey pure bin’ farming a soil remediation company and with all of this
remediation company and with all of this
remediation company and with all of this increased activism within the community
increased activism within the community
increased activism within the community new social endeavors have picked up and
new social endeavors have picked up and
new social endeavors have picked up and these movement organizations they also
these movement organizations they also
these movement organizations they also need support services so they have come
need support services so they have come
need support services so they have come up with cooperative solutions such as
up with cooperative solutions such as
up with cooperative solutions such as translation services videography
translation services videography
translation services videography bookkeeping see how this is rolling one
bookkeeping see how this is rolling one
bookkeeping see how this is rolling one more example Jackson Mississippi the
more example Jackson Mississippi the
more example Jackson Mississippi the population there 48% struggle with
population there 48% struggle with
population there 48% struggle with poverty Jackson cooperative Jackson
poverty Jackson cooperative Jackson
poverty Jackson cooperative Jackson started just in April of 2017 they
started just in April of 2017 they
started just in April of 2017 they haven’t even been around a year yet but
haven’t even been around a year yet but
haven’t even been around a year yet but they are dedicated to bringing
they are dedicated to bringing
they are dedicated to bringing worker-owned cooperative as a solution
worker-owned cooperative as a solution
worker-owned cooperative as a solution to the marginalized residents of their
to the marginalized residents of their
to the marginalized residents of their community to help build community wealth
community to help build community wealth
community to help build community wealth and ownership within within that
and ownership within within that
and ownership within within that community so they’ve already just in the
community so they’ve already just in the
community so they’ve already just in the course of a year they have an urban
course of a year they have an urban
course of a year they have an urban farming collective called freedom farms
farming collective called freedom farms
farming collective called freedom farms they have a cafe with an outside
they have a cafe with an outside
they have a cafe with an outside catering arm they’ve built a community
catering arm they’ve built a community
catering arm they’ve built a community center they’ve got a business incubator
center they’ve got a business incubator
center they’ve got a business incubator and even a fabrication Center for small
and even a fabrication Center for small
and even a fabrication Center for small business manufacturing this is changing
business manufacturing this is changing
business manufacturing this is changing the entire landscape of this community
the entire landscape of this community
the entire landscape of this community that until now had felt largely
that until now had felt largely
that until now had felt largely forgotten by legislators by the
forgotten by legislators by the
forgotten by legislators by the government and by the West their
government and by the West their
government and by the West their community
community
community they’ve taken up power and when you see
they’ve taken up power and when you see
they’ve taken up power and when you see they
they
they like this where people support the
like this where people support the
like this where people support the cooperative’s
cooperative’s
cooperative’s and the cooperatives are supporting the
and the cooperatives are supporting the
and the cooperatives are supporting the people and supporting the community and
people and supporting the community and
people and supporting the community and you see how this networking of economy
you see how this networking of economy
you see how this networking of economy just keeps growing and building it has a
just keeps growing and building it has a
just keeps growing and building it has a measurable effect on poverty rates on
measurable effect on poverty rates on
measurable effect on poverty rates on quality of life and on social engagement
quality of life and on social engagement
quality of life and on social engagement cooperatives exist in every sector of
cooperatives exist in every sector of
cooperatives exist in every sector of our economy in every stand nearly every
our economy in every stand nearly every
our economy in every stand nearly every country in the world over 1 billion
country in the world over 1 billion
country in the world over 1 billion people worldwide are members of a
people worldwide are members of a
people worldwide are members of a cooperative in the United States alone
cooperative in the United States alone
cooperative in the United States alone there are an estimated thirty thousand
there are an estimated thirty thousand
there are an estimated thirty thousand cooperatives right now at this minute
cooperatives right now at this minute
cooperatives right now at this minute there are over a hundred food co-ops in
there are over a hundred food co-ops in
there are over a hundred food co-ops in some stage of organizing and that adds
some stage of organizing and that adds
some stage of organizing and that adds to the two hundred plus food
to the two hundred plus food
to the two hundred plus food cooperatives that are already up and
cooperatives that are already up and
cooperatives that are already up and running right here in this community we
running right here in this community we
running right here in this community we have a food co-op that has been open for
have a food co-op that has been open for
have a food co-op that has been open for less than a year but they have already
less than a year but they have already
less than a year but they have already contributed close to eleven thousand
contributed close to eleven thousand
contributed close to eleven thousand dollars back to local charities and they
dollars back to local charities and they
dollars back to local charities and they are supporting 67 local farmers right
are supporting 67 local farmers right
are supporting 67 local farmers right now with more being added every day this
now with more being added every day this
now with more being added every day this is just the tip of the iceberg these
is just the tip of the iceberg these
is just the tip of the iceberg these examples of what the co-operative
examples of what the co-operative
examples of what the co-operative movement can do from an economic
movement can do from an economic
movement can do from an economic standpoint remember that each one of
standpoint remember that each one of
standpoint remember that each one of those examples is owned by the residents
those examples is owned by the residents
those examples is owned by the residents of that community it was developed to
of that community it was developed to
of that community it was developed to fit a community need the structure for
fit a community need the structure for
fit a community need the structure for change exists with all of those
change exists with all of those
change exists with all of those cooperatives around the world the
cooperatives around the world the
cooperatives around the world the opportunity is there we just have to
opportunity is there we just have to
opportunity is there we just have to change our mindset about how we
change our mindset about how we
change our mindset about how we contribute to it we as consumers have to
contribute to it we as consumers have to
contribute to it we as consumers have to stop being passive about how we consume
stop being passive about how we consume
stop being passive about how we consume because the money we spend is actually
because the money we spend is actually
because the money we spend is actually us voting every single day and if you
us voting every single day and if you
us voting every single day and if you value democracy and social justice then
value democracy and social justice then
value democracy and social justice then by all means shop those values because
by all means shop those values because
by all means shop those values because the foundation of a cooperative
the foundation of a cooperative
the foundation of a cooperative is social and economic justice but it’s
is social and economic justice but it’s
is social and economic justice but it’s also food security it’s racial equality
also food security it’s racial equality
also food security it’s racial equality it is so many things to so many people
it is so many things to so many people
it is so many things to so many people but the one thing that a cooperative is
but the one thing that a cooperative is
but the one thing that a cooperative is not it is not a spectator sport it takes
not it is not a spectator sport it takes
not it is not a spectator sport it takes all of us and I know that sometimes
all of us and I know that sometimes
all of us and I know that sometimes change is inconvenient it is
change is inconvenient it is
change is inconvenient it is inconvenient to change our habits but
inconvenient to change our habits but
inconvenient to change our habits but sometimes we have to do it’s hard in
sometimes we have to do it’s hard in
sometimes we have to do it’s hard in order to do what is right and as I see
order to do what is right and as I see
order to do what is right and as I see it there are three particular mindsets
it there are three particular mindsets
it there are three particular mindsets that we need to change for ourselves
that we need to change for ourselves
that we need to change for ourselves first is that the dominant economy is
first is that the dominant economy is
first is that the dominant economy is the only economy cooperatives can exist
the only economy cooperatives can exist
the only economy cooperatives can exist as a parallel economy with the
as a parallel economy with the
as a parallel economy with the for-profit world cooperatives can
for-profit world cooperatives can
for-profit world cooperatives can provide economic stability to a
provide economic stability to a
provide economic stability to a community while protecting jobs from or
community while protecting jobs from or
community while protecting jobs from or outsourcing and corporate downsizing the
outsourcing and corporate downsizing the
outsourcing and corporate downsizing the second is that your money is voting
second is that your money is voting
second is that your money is voting power shop your values we have to start
power shop your values we have to start
power shop your values we have to start being willing to pay a fair wage for the
being willing to pay a fair wage for the
being willing to pay a fair wage for the things that we consume the for-profit
things that we consume the for-profit
things that we consume the for-profit model pretty much determines that if
model pretty much determines that if
model pretty much determines that if they’re going to sell us cheap goods and
they’re going to sell us cheap goods and
they’re going to sell us cheap goods and they are still going to keep
they are still going to keep
they are still going to keep shareholders happy by making a profit
shareholders happy by making a profit
shareholders happy by making a profit then someone somewhere along that
then someone somewhere along that
then someone somewhere along that production line is being exploited we
production line is being exploited we
production line is being exploited we have to seriously consider our consuming
have to seriously consider our consuming
have to seriously consider our consuming habits and understand the true value of
habits and understand the true value of
habits and understand the true value of what we’re buying the co-operative model
what we’re buying the co-operative model
what we’re buying the co-operative model expands the landscape for what we know
expands the landscape for what we know
expands the landscape for what we know is possible it gives us the opportunity
is possible it gives us the opportunity
is possible it gives us the opportunity to create valuable social change it is
to create valuable social change it is
to create valuable social change it is not enough to uncover injustice and
not enough to uncover injustice and
not enough to uncover injustice and protest it we the people
protest it we the people
protest it we the people have to take control democratically of
have to take control democratically of
have to take control democratically of our own resources because when we do we
our own resources because when we do we
our own resources because when we do we can support people and the planet the
can support people and the planet the
can support people and the planet the lantern that was lit at thirty-one toad
lantern that was lit at thirty-one toad
lantern that was lit at thirty-one toad Lane was happened over a hundred and
Lane was happened over a hundred and
Lane was happened over a hundred and seventy years ago but the co-operative
seventy years ago but the co-operative
seventy years ago but the co-operative values that it stands for are still
values that it stands for are still
values that it stands for are still alive and well today the Rosedale new
alive and well today the Rosedale new
alive and well today the Rosedale new pioneers proved that we have the power
pioneers proved that we have the power
pioneers proved that we have the power to make crude change happen but it has
to make crude change happen but it has
to make crude change happen but it has to start with us thank you
to start with us thank you
to start with us thank you [Applause]
”
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