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International Activities
As stated in our principles, JWCU is committed to promote solidarity and
integration of the international community.
The following is a brief summary of our international activities. |
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Our membership to International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) was approved
at ICA Tokyo General Assembly in 1992. Since then, JWCU has been its active
member and sent delegates to every ICA general assembly at global and regional
levels.
JWCU has also been an active player at International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers' Co-operatives (CICOPA), the sectoral organization of ICA. |
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We are grateful for the support from a number of international organizations.
Their encouraging messages, valuable information on legislation and other
critical issues regardingr worker cooperatives as well as international
collaboration have been the great forces for us to move forward.
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JWCU also realizes the importance of collaboration with organizations in
various countries.
Our activities in internaitonal exchanges include:
 Welcoming global friends: JWCU has welcomed guests from South Korea, China, Malaysia, USA, UK and
many other countries, exchanging our experiences and ideas on various issues,
including: worker cooperatives, social economy, youth support, active lifestyle
in old age, long-term care and disaster reconstruction.
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Visiting global friends: Our delegates have visited various countries, including Italy, Spain,
Sweden, UK, South Korea and USA, to learn about and exchange our experiences
as worker cooperatives as well as to discuss a wide range of issues, such
as agriculture, environment and long-term care. We truly appreciate their
warm hospitality.
Information exchange: Thanks to the fellow cooperators across the globe and information technology,
JWCU can also communicate with them electronically, not only to learn about
what is going on in other countries (particularly on legislation and innovative
practice) but also to disseminate information on our activities (e.g. reconstruction
after the earthquake, legislative movement, success stories, unique initiatives).
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JWCU has also organized international meetings and symposia on legislation
(1999 & 2006), senior citizens (1999) and decent work (2004). At our
biennial National Gathering of Cooperation in 2012, which brought the total
of nearly 3,000 people together in 2 days, we also invited distinguished
international guests to discuss the significant roles of cooperatives from
the international perspective.
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JWCU is committed to support fellow cooperators around the world, particularly
in time of crisis.
Our fundraising efforts for emergency relief and reconstruction assistance
include: Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), earthquake in Java (2006), Haiti
(2010) and Turkey (2011); and floods in Thailand (2011) and Philippines
(2012).
JWCU would also like to thank all the people and organizations throughout
the world who have sent us kind messages and donations in the wake of Great
East Japan Earthquake (March 11, 2011). They have given us the light of
hope in the darkness, and we are where we are thanks to them.
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The United Nations has declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives
(IYC), highlighting the contribution of
cooperatives to socio-economic development. With the theme of "Cooperative
Enterprises Build a Better World," IYC sought to increase awareness
about cooperatives, to promote growth of cooperatives and to establish
appropriate policies to support cooperatives.
JWCU also took this opportunity to celebrate IYC and to promote cooperatives
through a wide range of activities, including:
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Joining Japan National Planning Committee for IYC 2012;
Enhancing advocacy efforts for Law on Associated Workers' Co-operatives;
and
Organizing promotional events such as JWCU IYC Launch "Asking for
an Immediate Approval of the Law on Associated Workers' Cooperatives"
(January 26, 2012) and the 15th National Gathering of Cooperation 2012
"Creating Communities to Revitalize Humanity" (November 17-18,
2012).
While 2012 was one of the greatest years for the cooperative movement,
it was just a starting point for the cooperative development in a real
sense. In Japan, a new national cooperative alliance, Cooperatives Japan,
was formed by 24 national cooperative organizations in May 2013, replacing
the Japan National Planning Committee for IYC 2012, to commemorate the
spirits of the IYC and to continue pursuing the goals set by the National
Planning Committee for IYC 2012: to increase awareness about cooperatives
and to promote growth of cooperatives. JWCU is an active member of Cooperatives
Japan and engaged in various activities such as organizing workshops and
creating Cooperatives Japan's web site content. |
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