Co-ops across the world
When the Rochdale Pioneers set up their co-op in Lancashire, England in 1844 they could never have imagined how their idea, developed to meet the needs of shoppers in their home town, would be adopted across the world.

But today there are millions of members of co-operatives. Whether it's providing wine in Portugal, handicrafts in Thailand, banking in France, housing in the UK, milk in Malta, fruit in Cyprus, farming in New Zealand or childcare in Sweden - co-ops are part and parcel of making societies and economies work, whilst empowering people and abiding by the values and principles originally outlined by the Pioneers.

Let's take a closer look at a couple of examples.

Think of the USA and what do you think of? The world's superpower? The ultimate consumer society?

Whatever it is that springs to mind, it may surprise you to know that the USA alone has over 47,000 co-ops, with 120 million members - that's 40% of the population. Its credit union movement has more than 76 million members, its electric co-ops cover more than 30 million people and new co-ops are popping up everywhere, not least in New York City where 1st Rochdale Co-operative is supplying everything from telecommunications to Internet access.

In Sweden, there are approximately 200,000 local societies with between 25 and 30 million members - that means the vast majority of the population are members of at least one co-op.

Co-operatives are providing products, goods and services, as well as employment to billions of people and more and more people are realising that co-operatives can help solve social and economic problems experienced by communities the world over.

The International Co-operative Alliance, based in Geneva, is the apex organisation of the international Co-operative Movement, uniting, representing and serving co-operatives world-wide.

To find out more about the international movement go to the ICA's web site - www.coop.org. You will also find the web site of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Co-operatives (COPAC) useful - www.copacgva.org.