cooperatives-wales.coop

Francis Jones explores the life and work of Welsh businessman and social reformer Robert Owen: why do we know so little about a man whose work is revered across the world?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000z4vj

The radio programme is on this evening, 31^st August 2021 at 18.30 hrs, and will be available on the BBC Sounds app for the next month so there’s plenty of time to take advantage of its presence online for a while yet.

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The Video of Mark Drakeford & Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupils is now available on our YouTube channel

• • • Huw Irranca-Davies gave an excellent “90 second statement” in the last Senedd https://www.huwirranca-davies.wales/?wix-vod-comp-id=comp-jtff6odi&wix-vod-video id=7711ea0cb58747988b2b613b9a079bf9

• • • The Executive Editor, Co-operative Press Wales interviewed the First Minister on March 20  (See the June edition of Co-op News)

• • • In March 2021 Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil’s interviewed the First Minister on a ‘What would Robert Owen be doing now? theme. This was excellent and fun.

• • • We arranged for the Co-op Group to provide a colourful floral tribute to be displayed at Robert Owen’s statue which is now at the Robert Owen Museum.

• • • On May 12^, a large birthday cake was provided to excited Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil’s with the Mayor of Newtown, Museum; the Co-op Group and C&MW’s representatives attending.

• • • Owen’s 14^thMay 2021, 250^th Anniversary Celebration more than exceeded our expectations with 64 online participants. Contributors included: the Mayor of Newtown; Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil’s; Akira Kurimoto, former Secretary General, Robert Owen Association (Japan); Cilla Ross, Co-op College Principal; Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor, Co-op Press; Sara Vicari, (Aroundtheworld.coop, Rome); Gillian Lonergan, former National Co-operative Archive Librarian; Michael Brown, Director for Open Newtown; Dan McCullum, Awel Aman Tawe; Rory Ridley-Duff, Chair, UK Society for Co-operative Studies; Ceri Cunningham & Selwyn Williams, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog; a Robert Owen Museum 3 D Tour; five breakout sessions on the ‘What would Robert Owen be doing now?’ Big thanks to the UK Co-op Party for funding our Zoom arrangements and other UK co-operative partner organisations who provided financial support. C&MW are now editing the raw video tape.

• • • Chris Hall and David Smith supported a Newtown Labour Party event with speaker ideas on a “Best Employment Practices / Robert Owen’s Legacy’ theme with Mick Antoniw SM; with Sara Vicari https://aroundtheworld.coop introducing a video on female worker empowerment.

• • • A further event with Llafur takes place on International Co-operators Day, 3^rd July 2021, 30-11.35, with Jeremy Miles, MS and Mick Antoniw https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-co-operators-day-owens-legacy-and-co-operative-learning-registration-151288222145 

• • • ‘Does Robert Owen’s legacy still resonate in the 21st century?’ – Prof Chris Williams,University College, Cork

• • • ‘Robert Owen & the history of the Co-op Movement in Wales’ – Dr Liz McIvor, Co-operative Heritage Trust Manager & Sian Williams, Head of Special Collections & Librarian, South Wales Miners’ Library, Swansea University

• • • Co-operative Learning & Methodologies in Schools with Dr Sara Vicari Aroundtheworld.coop

Join our joint event with Llafur: 3rd July 2021 at 9.30am with a 30 minute lecture by Prof Chris Williams on ‘Does Robert Owen’s Legacy still resonate in the 21st century?’ Followed by Q&A. Chair: Mick Antoniw MS 

10.35 am: (a) Focus upon the History of the Co-operative Movement in Wales and (b) How we build upon Owen’s 250th anniversary in reaching out to new audiences

Contributors:  Liz McIvor, Co-operative Heritage Trust Manager; Sian Williams, South Wales Miners’ Library, Swansea University and Sara Vicari  from aroundtheworld.coop (Rome) telling co-op stories of collective action.

Chair: Jeremy Miles, MS

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-co-operators-day-owens-legacy-and-co-operative-learning-registration-151288222145

What are your ideas?

Arising from Robert Owen’s birthday celebration, ideas are being developed as to how the Movement contributes to his Legacy in 2022? We aim to continue this conversation on:

Saturday, 3^rd July 2021, 09.30-11.35

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-co-operators-day-owens-legacy-and-co-operative-learning-registration-151288222145   

Meanwhile:

• Do you think this is a good idea? Yes/No
• What ideas / suggestions do you have for such an event(s)? If so, please state:
• Would you be willing to participate in such an event? Yes/No
• Could you contribute in any way? Please state:
• Should the event be limited to Wales? Yes/No
• Do you have any thoughts for involving schools/colleges in such future events?

Contact: david@cooperatives-wales.coop

Seventy participants celebrated Owen’s birthday with a programme from Newtown to Japan and back again, making this a memorable celebration. Activity included:

Welcome by Cllr. David Selby, Mayor of Newtown, joining us, with floral tribute from the Co-operative Group

Greetings: Akira Kurimoto, former Secretary General, Robert Owen Association (Japan) Organising committee, ICA Global Congress, Seoul, December 2021

• What would Robert Owen be doing today?’ School children interview the First Minister of Wales
• ‘What Owenite ideals descended to the modern Co-operative Movement?’

Cilla Ross, Researcher/Activist,

Sara Vicari, Aroundtheworld.coop, (Rome),

Gillian Lonergan, former National Co-operative Archive Librarian

Facilitator: Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor, Co-op Press

• ‘How do we keep Owen’s ideals burning brightly?’

Sara Vicari, Aroundtheworld.coop (Rome),

Michael Brown, Director for Open Newtown,

Dan McCullum, Awel Aman Tawe,

Rory Ridley-Duff, Chair, UK Society for Co-operative Studies,

Ceri Cunningham & Selwyn Williams , Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog

We are very pleased to acknowledge financial support received from several UK Co-operative Societies and other Co-op Member Education organisations. Thanks are due to all those who have contributed to making Owen’s Birthday celebrations possible. Special thanks  are due to Rebecca Harvey, at the Co-op Press, who at our suggestion interviewed the Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS; and recorded Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupils interviewing our First Minister in March 2021. A short publication is being prepared to capture presentations and participant views with an edited video of event highlights.