The Big IdeaPresented to the CWCF Conference, Presented to the CWCF Conference,

November 2005November 2005

By Hazel CorcoranBy Hazel Corcoran

And Greg O’NeillAnd Greg O’Neill

Two of the “Big Idea Collaborators”Two of the “Big Idea Collaborators”

TBI BackgrounderTBI Backgrounder

September 11September 11thth

– The Co-operative reactionThe Co-operative reaction BCICS ConferenceBCICS Conference

– The collaboratorsThe collaborators The Collaboratory ApproachThe Collaboratory Approach The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

– But first….But first….

The Problem Statement:The Problem Statement:

Liberal Capitalist Economics - Liberal Capitalist Economics - The Monster that’s eating theThe Monster that’s eating theworldworld Growing Economic Disparity; Chronic Poverty and Growing Economic Disparity; Chronic Poverty and

UnderdevelopmentUnderdevelopment Environmental DegradationEnvironmental Degradation Erosion of Social Safety NetErosion of Social Safety Net Political ParalysisPolitical Paralysis

The Wave of ResistanceThe Wave of Resistance

G8 DemonstrationsG8 Demonstrations The Growing body of creative The Growing body of creative

oppositionopposition– BooksBooks– DocumentariesDocumentaries– Music – Live Aid, etc.Music – Live Aid, etc.

Being against or being forBeing against or being for

Co-operatives - A third wayCo-operatives - A third way

– An alternative to both Liberal Capitalism and An alternative to both Liberal Capitalism and State Administration State Administration

– Local, small-scale, democratic organizationsLocal, small-scale, democratic organizations– Linked to regional, national and international Linked to regional, national and international

networksnetworks– Not well known or understoodNot well known or understood

A Role For Government?A Role For Government?

Does Government want to tackle this Does Government want to tackle this monster?monster?

Can Government defeat the monster?Can Government defeat the monster? What can government do?What can government do?

– Create an environment in which the Co-Create an environment in which the Co-operative alternative can flourish and operative alternative can flourish and challenge the monster (Little Dot Co-op)challenge the monster (Little Dot Co-op)

The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

This is one little stepThis is one little step– ““The longest journey begins….”The longest journey begins….”

Our Vision is:  the creation of a Co-operativeOur Vision is:  the creation of a Co-operative

Commonwealth in which each person’sCommonwealth in which each person’s

needs are met, and each person’s gifts are needs are met, and each person’s gifts are

Shared within a framework of democraticShared within a framework of democratic

co-operative enterprise.co-operative enterprise.

The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

A Federal Non-Profit CorporationA Federal Non-Profit Corporation Three MembersThree Members

– Hazel CorcoranHazel Corcoran– Mark GoldblattMark Goldblatt– Greg O’NeillGreg O’Neill

The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

Our ObjectsOur Objects organize and facilitate literary, musical and other

educational, festivals, pageants and other cultural events that showcase cultural products promoting Cooperative ideals;

provide financial support by whatever means to those involved in the creation of cultural products that promote the Co-operative ideal; and

engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the laws of the Canada which is necessary to give effect to the objects here specified.

Why????

The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

Plan APlan A Creation of a CDCreation of a CD Transfer of copyright to the BIRFTransfer of copyright to the BIRF Promote and Sell the CDPromote and Sell the CD

And then…And then…

The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

The Co-opaloozaThe Co-opalooza

A Co-operative eventA Co-operative event

Passionate speakersPassionate speakers

Entertaining musiciansEntertaining musicians

Co-operative Trade ShowCo-operative Trade Show

Co-op Activist Training TentCo-op Activist Training Tent

The Big Idea Rainbow FoundationThe Big Idea Rainbow Foundation

It’s Been Done BeforeIt’s Been Done Before Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement Anti-war MovementAnti-war Movement Quebec Independence MovementQuebec Independence Movement Anti-Apartheid MovementAnti-Apartheid Movement Equal Rights for Women MovementEqual Rights for Women Movement

The Bigger IdeaThe Bigger Idea

To develop an innovative co-op To develop an innovative co-op entity that engages co-ops, co-opentity that engages co-ops, co-opdevelopers, co-op activists anddevelopers, co-op activists andother individuals andother individuals andorganizations who share the co-oporganizations who share the co-opvision.vision.

Over To Hazel….Over To Hazel….

Why I am Doing ThisWhy I am Doing This

Greening Established Co-opsGreening Established Co-ops

The VanCity ExampleThe VanCity Example Revitalizing the Spirit of the FoundersRevitalizing the Spirit of the Founders Serving the Whole CommunityServing the Whole Community Living the PrinciplesLiving the Principles

– The fundamentalist Co-op GospelThe fundamentalist Co-op Gospel The Calgary ConspiracyThe Calgary Conspiracy

Popularizing the Movement: Popularizing the Movement: through Popular Culture through Popular Culture

Music (e.g., Music (e.g., Sea of Trouble,Sea of Trouble, the Big Ideathe Big Idea song) song) Web sites: emmett.ca/bigidea; ecodema.org, Web sites: emmett.ca/bigidea; ecodema.org,

worldproutassembly.orgworldproutassembly.org Art work (see next three slides for examples)Art work (see next three slides for examples) Films: e.g., The TakeFilms: e.g., The Take SpokespeopleSpokespeople Books Books Workshops & Study circlesWorkshops & Study circles OrganizersOrganizers

“Co-operation seeks to plant the flag of peace, fraternity and solidarity in every country on the globe.”1913, Grace Beauzeville

Quotes - Toward an Economy Quotes - Toward an Economy based on Hope, on Lovebased on Hope, on Love

“We have another story to tell – and that story is a hopeful, radical, and inspiring one, where people work together, as the Regina manifesto proclaimed, in the service of ‘supplying of human needs and not the making of profits.’” (Avi Lewis, May, 2005)

Ché GueveraChé Guevera

“At the risk of seeming ridiculous, the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.”