South East news
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Members from all over the South East region turned out to join over 2,100 members and customers of The Co-operative from around the rest of the UK to b
e part of the UK’s largest ever climate protest march, The Wave, in London on Saturday 5th December.
There was a carnival atmosphere as the protestors gathered in Grosvenor Square before setting off to encircle Parliament to do a massive Mexican wave. At the appointed time the front of the march had reached Westminster Bridge but marchers tailed back around Parliament and back over Lambeth Bridge, down Whitehall to Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly. Those at the back of the procession were more than a mile from those standing in front of Big Ben.
The protestors dressed in blue and were carrying various placards in order to let London know that they expect world leaders to make meaningful progress at the crucial United Nations Climate Change Summit being held in Copenhagen in early December.
Staff from the South East Membership Team played a full and active role in the day, with South East Regional Secretary, Owen Jell and Co-operative & Membership Officer, Alex Baker holding the Co-operative’s 5 metre wide banner at the front of the march. Alex said: ‘Whilst we knew that members from other regions were coming on the Co-operative’s coaches and trains, before the day it was less clear as to how many members from the South East would be attending. So on Saturday it was great to see South East members coming out in their hundreds from around the region and adding their voice in order to send a strong message to Copenhagen.’
Initial police estimates put the crowd at 20,000 but they later agreed that more than double that number had taken part.
Chris Shearlock, Sustainable Development Manager, said: 'The Wave was a great event and everyone seemed to enjoy it, whilst at the same time sending a serious message to our politicians. It was very satisfying to see The Co-operative so well represented at what must have been the largest-ever climate change protest in the UK.'
You may have read in September’s Observer Food Monthly that The Co-operative has another Fairtrade first with the listing of Equal Exchange Fairtrade certified Palestinian olive oil in selected stores. An accomplishment achieved by tireless campaigning of co-operative membership groups.
Working in partnership with fellow co-operative Zaytoun CIC in the UK gives access for Palestinian farmers to over 300 stores nationwide and, if successful, promises them a significant new income.
The farmers who produce the oil are justifiably proud of its quality and thrilled that the whole of the UK can now try a product direct from their ancient olive groves, which proudly displays the words "Product of Palestine".
The Co-operative has worked very closely with Equal Exchange and partners in Palestine to deliver a product that offers maximum value to the farmers who hand pick, cold press and bottle the oil at source. The success or otherwise of this product could shape the future for further market access for Palestinian producers and products such as dates, almonds and cous cous could all be possibilities for the UK market if olive oil proves a success.
Equal Exchange is a worker’s co-operative based in Edinburgh and a 100% Fairtrade organisation, which exists to "Create Sustainable Producer Organisations". Your continued support will help further this work to bring marginalised small farmers to world markets and help secure livelihoods for families and communities worldwide.
The Co-operative lists a 500ml Fairtrade Oil @ £5.99 To find a list of Co-operative stores now stocking the oil call the Co-operative customer relations line on 0800 068 6727 and quote product number 230898 or log on to the http://www.equalexchange.co.uk/ for more information on Equal Exchange and their products. For more information on Zaytoun CIC and its range of Palestinian products please visit www.zaytoun.org
Many consider the Copenhagen Climate Change Talks as the last opportunity for the world to take decisive action to prevent dangerous climate change. But why are the Copen
hagen talks so important? What can be achieved by countries coming together to co-operate in order to tackle Climate Change? And why is it so important that individuals in the UK make a stand by joining in with the Wave on 5th December in London and marching for a climate deal that is safe and fair?
These were amongst the important questions which were posed as part of The Wave Debate, which tool place on Tuesday 24 November at Westminster Central Hall in London. The debate brought together the opinions of the experts behind the Wave March, including Ashok SInha, Director, Stop Climate Chaos and Martin Kirk, Head of Campaigns, Oxfam GB, along with the Co-operative’s Sustainable Development Manager, Chris Shearlock. Chaired by The Co-operative’s Director & Chair of the National Values & Principles Committee, Marilynne Burbage, the panel answered a wide variety of questions from the audience, which included their views on everything from how much Government should dictate how we live our lives to the Co-operative’s record on tackling Climate Change and how businesses can play their part.
In the build up to the festive season, The Co-operative Membership Team brought together members of our BAME Network in order for us to wish them Eid Mubarak, Happy Diwali and a Merry Christmas and to celebrate our achievements in 2009.
The event took place at the Royal Festival Hall, London, where members were updated on the work of the BAME Network, an update on plans for 2010, a Fairtrade wine and juice reception and a guided tour of the Koestler's Trust, Art by Offenders exhibition.
The Co-operative has recently supported the Koestler Trust charity, which is the UK's best-known prison art charity and has been helping to transform the lives of ex offenders, detainees and secure patients for 47 years.
Children from 5 schools in Kent and a whole crowd attending World Food Day at the Margate Winter Gardens joined 173 million citizens in more than 120 countries to 'Stand Up Against Poverty 2009'.
The act of standing up against poverty for two minutes is to bring attention to the need for governments to act to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. This is the fourth time people attending the Wold Food Day have joined in and this year schools around Kent were encouraged by the Co-operative to join in too by rewarding them with Fairtrade bananas. 1054 were added to the amazing total by the Co-operative and the activity has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history.
Thanet World Food Day 2009
The annual celebration of support for poor producers in developing countries as well as local producers and traders took place at the Margate Winter Gardens. The day included global citizenship workshops for local school children as well as a whole host of local crafts stands and delicious, wholesome and Fairtrade foods which were of interest to all ages.
New this year was a lively performance form the Charles Dickens School Rock-n-Roll band who got everyone dancing. There was also thought provoking entertainment from the Pif-Paf Bee Theatre.This is a vibrant, diverse event and one the Co-operative Membership is proud to support.
Thames Festival
Tasty treats on the Thames…local children (from left) Louise, Rhiannan and Noah, tuck into some Fairtrade chocolate from The Co-operative at the Thames Festival at the weekend.
Staff from across The Co-operative Group in the South East Region joined the Region’s Membership Team in London to celebrate the Group’s fifth year of support for the Mayor of London’s Thames Festival.
This year saw greater involvement in the festival by The Co-operative’s businesses than ever before, with Bernie Spain Gardens, at the foot of the Oxo Tower, playing host to the full range of The Co-operative’s family of businesses. In a specially branded marquee, staff from Food, Travel, Pharmacy, Funerals and Bank branches in the region were on hand to provide advice and information to the public.
The Co-operative Fairtrade trailer made a welcome return to the Gardens, selling a wide range of Fairtrade goodies. Many also took up the offer of free health screenings – including blood pressure and body mass index testing – by The Co-operative Pharmacy, while others were enticed by The Co-operative Travel and Bank’s free prize draw to win a trip on the Orient Express.
"We’re incredibly proud to support the Thames Festival," said Owen Jell, Regional Secretary for the Co-operative Group’s South East Region. "This year’s Festival was the best yet for The Co-operative – and the extent to which the event has been embraced by all of our businesses is fantastic. The scale of the festival means that it’s an unrivalled opportunity to promote both our values and our brand – both of which we did very successfully at the weekend."
Watch Your Waste
With the Co-operatives series of ‘Watch your Waste’ events now well underway, the South East membership team are delighted with the success of all five events across the region – Ealing, Carshalton, Chatham, Reading and Hove.
The events, which were well attended, received great press coverage and excellent support from our Food Retail staff, WRAP representatives and other local organisations.
Our community chefs, Jill Weatherburn and James Carr, delivered excellent cookery demonstrations which were informative, entertaining and full of delicious recipes based on using leftovers!
We hope our members have come away from these events with some useful tips and ideas which can be shared amongst family and friends and which will help spread the word - ‘Watch your Waste’!
For further information on events or activities near you, please contact your Regional Office below:-
The Co-operative Group
South East Region
Membership Department
1st Floor,
Persimmon House,
Anchor Boulevard,
Crossways,
Dartford
DA2 6QH
Telephone: 0800 015 1147
Email: membership.southeast@co-operative.coop