Senators Feingold and Kohl Support
U.N. Resolution Recognizing Cooperatives
 MADISON, Wis. (January 19, 2010)—U.S. Senators Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) and Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) were among those urging the United Nations (U.N.) to pass a resolution declaring 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. In an Oct. 1, 2009, letter to United States Ambassador Susan Rice, Senators Feingold and Kohl noted that “The positive experiences that American farmers have with cooperatives can help us provide guidance for emerging agriculture economies across the world.”
The resolution, passed by the U.N. on Dec. 18, 2009, recognizes that the cooperative business model is a major factor of economic and social development, promoting the fullest possible participation in the economic and social development of people in both the developed and developing world, and stressing that cooperatives contribute to the eradication of poverty. The resolution also encourages all governments to create a more supportive environment for cooperative development. It is the first time the international body has made such a declaration.
Cooperative Network President and CEO Bill Oemichen thanked Senators Feingold and Kohl for their help in lobbying for the resolution. “We appreciate the Senators’ efforts in helping pass this resolution which comes at a time of great challenges for the world’s economy,” Oemichen said. “The cooperative model has an excellent track record of helping people because the primary goal is providing goods and services rather than maximizing profits. This resolution will help promote a better understanding of the cooperative movement throughout the world.” |
