News & Events: 2008
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National Gathering of Co-operation 2008 Brought Hundreds Together to Create a New Society through Associated Work
(November 25, 2008) |
The National Gathering of Co-operation was held in Niigata City on November
22nd and 23rd.
The first day was the plenary session, bringing 800 people together. Following
Mr. Masaaki Ohe's keynote speech "Local power through foods, agriculture
and community development," 2 panel discussions ( "Creating work
with hope" and "Regenerating communities and bonds for harmonious
coexistence") were held.
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The second day, bringing 900 participants, consisted of 14 sessions on
various issues, including environment, child care, community development,
aged society, job creation for people with disabilities and fighting poverty.
In all the sessions, participants had active discussions and shared their
experiences, feeling hopes for the future.
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Reunion with Bigay Buhay Multipurpose Cooperative (Philippines) Chair in
Tokyo
(October 21, 2008) |
Our long-time partner, Mr. Richard Arceno, the chair of Bigay Buhay Multipurpose
Cooperative (BBMC) and the national coordinator of The Philippine Council of Cheshire Homes for the Disabled (PhilCOCHED) visited Japan and had a reunion with JWCU members.
We exchanged our experiences in the last few years and learned from each
other, particularly the efforts in promoting inclusion and independence
of persons with disabilities in the society.
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We have all agreed that persons with disabilities should be able to become
more active players in the co-operative movement and that our partnership
can be further strengthened for the future.
JWCU would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Arceno for the precious time and
wishes the best for their efforts!
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National Gathering of Co-operation 2008 to be Held in November
(September 8, 2008) |
The 13th National Gathering of Co-operation will be held in Niigata City on November 22nd and 23rd.
The Gathering is organized by various co-operatives, including JWCU, and
NGOs with supports from municipalities.
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The main theme of this year's Gathering is "Creating the Hopeful
Future of Community and Work through Co-operation and Solidarity."
While anxieties about the future (e.g., poverty and inflation) are spread
throughout Japan, we are also beginning to see the movement of "New
Public,"in which citizens are actively involved in developing services
that benefit their communities.
This Gathering will be the place to exchange these experiences, to learn
from each other and to take further steps to make this movement even stronger.
For more information on the Gathering, please see http://kyodo-net.roukyou.gr.jp/2008/index.htm (sorry, Japanese only).
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JWCU Hosted a Delegation from Co-operative College of Malaysia
(July 30, 2008) |
JWCU hosted 2 guests from Co-operative College of Malaysia from July 15th
to 29th.
Their visit was packed with activities, including the orientation when
we exchanged experiences in each country, site visits to our various businesses
(e.g., care and community centers, building and park maintenance, etc.)
in Tokyo and Kansai as well as the wrap-up/farewell party.
JWCU wishes the best for the further development of co-operative movement, particularly the launch of worker cooperatives, in Malaysia and our stronger partnership!
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79th May Day Rally: No More Poverty, No More Inequality
(May 1, 2008) |
More than 40,000 people, including 17 JWCU members, attended the 79th May Day rally in Tokyo.
This year's May Day themes were: "Stop poverty and inequality,"
"Stop constitutional changes," and "Toward citizen-centered
policies."
Since the structural reform for smaller government and deregulation, workers
have been treated with less and less respect. Dozens of presenters at the
rally called for a decent work and appropriate support for workers.
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National Meeting for Law on Associated Workers' Cooperatives:
Over 1,200 Participants Were Grateful for ICA President's Message
(April 26,2008) |
As the final step to pass the legislation on associated workers' cooperatives, JWCU held a national meeting on April 26th in Yokohama.
More than 1,200 people from all over the country; including over 30 politicians
at municipal, prefectural, and national levels; have joined together at
the meeting, reaffirming the importance of this legislation and discussing
the future direction.
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Mr. Ivano Barberini, ICA President, has kindly sent his encouraging message
for this meeting, and everyone was grateful and honored to hear his message.
We have also received over 60 messages, including Diet members, governors,
and mayors, to show their supports for this important legislation.
The meeting was filled with lively discussion and valuable information,
including the relay talk by 12 people in various fields; panel discussion
by representatives from public, NPO and worker co-op sectors; and speeches
by politicians at local and national levels.
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Say "No" to the New Health Insurance for the Elderly!
JWCU Members Joined the Sit-in Protest
(April 23, 2008) |
A new health insurance system that covers people aged 75 and over began
on April 1, 2008. This system has been criticized for a number of reasons,
including more financial burdens on a number of older adults and insufficient
information given to beneficiaries.
On April 22nd and 23rd, 2008 ,hundreds of older adults and members of civic
groups joined the sit-in against the system in front of National Diet Building.
More than 30 JWCU members also joined the sit-in on April 23rd.
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Participants took turn and made speeches, such as "I want them to
understand what it's like to have both health and long-term care insurance
premiums taken automatically from my limited pension." Diet members
from opposition parties also came and cheered for the protest.
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Non-Partisan, All-Party Parliamentary Group Is Founded
To Promote Associated Workers' Cooperative Legislation
(February 20, 2008) |
An opening ceremony for the non-partisan, all-party parliamentary group
was held on February 20, 2008, in Tokyo.
This group is formed to promote the associated workers' cooperative legislation.
The group has more than 70 members, and the number keeps growing.
At the ceremony, the group chairperson Mr. Chikara Sakaguchi (former Minister
of Health, Labor, and Welfare) stated, |
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"I was asked about associated work when I was a minister. I though
it's a wonderful idea and we should promote it in Japan. There are many
people who are already involved in associated work, but there is no law
to rationalize and support them. We hope to have the legislation approved
in this parliamentary session."
This is a milestone for our legislative efforts.
This parliamentary session will end on June 15th, and we hope to bring
the good news by then! |
