“Peace and social well-being are not only relevant to co-operatives but co-operatives are relevant to the peacemaking process in communities and societies throughout the world.” This was part of the message delivered in the closing address of Dr. Yehudah Paz at the Co-operatives and the Pursuit of Peace Conference.

Participants came together for three days (June 18 to 20, 2006), in Victoria, to review the historical record of how co-operatives have addressed conflict and to reflect on current practices of co-operatives operating in areas deeply divided by political, economic, and social injustices. The conference, hosted by BCICS, was attended by 38 participants representing over 14 different countries. Participants came from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Japan, India, Kenya, Israel, Colombia, the UK, Finland, Germany, Italy, the US and Canada.

Through presentations and working groups, participants shared their knowledge and insights on the contributing factors to certain conflicts and discussed the particular challenges co-operatives must address in these areas. Participants also reflected on how the co-ops and regional co-operative movements were responding to those concerns and contributing to peacemaking and sustainability. Different types of conflict situations were explored, such as conflict related to gender oppression; conflict that arises from economic oppressions, conditions of poverty and related social injustices; situations of armed confrontation and political strife; and conflict following wide-scale natural disasters such as the 2004 tsunami.

Examples of specific case studies focused on rebuilding of the co-operative movement in Sri Lanka and Indonesia (the Aceh area in particular which also touched on the Post-MOU conditions); an agricultural co-operative whose members are both Israeli and Palestinian and their efforts to sow seeds of peace; the role of informal co-operatives in peacemaking in Ethiopia; co-operatives, armed conflict and sustainable development in Colombia; and women’s micro-finance co-operatives in Nepal.

In the dialogue that unfolded over the three days, many insights were offered on ways co-operatives are responding to conflict, contributing to democratic processes and rebuilding within the societies in which they operate. It was also noted that more can be done to tap the under-developed potential of co-ops and how they can contribute to building peace.
In the closing session, a number of recommendations came forward from the conference working groups. These recommendations included encouraging the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) to take initiative in promoting the role of co-operatives in addressing conflict and contributing to peace; to consider developing a protocol for co-operatives in ways they might address conflicts; to be more involved in peace education; to develop training programs on mediation as it relates to co-operatives in areas of conflict and to encourage this discussion to go forward to the ICA and regional ICA Boards for development of specific polices.

Specific outcomes from the conference will include two publications on co-operatives and peace (one of which will be a collection of essays based on presentations from the conference), a video (drawing on conference presentations and discussion), a website and web-based resources, and other educational materials. (The conference papers have now been posted to the website. Other related material will continue to be added.)
Visit: www.peace.coop. Or send your comments and questions to: peaceco@uvic.ca.

Adam Harrison, Anthill Contributor