Editorial

By Fernand Vincent

This new issue of IRED FORUM has been published late and we ask you to please accept our apologies. The main reason is because of changes that have occurred at the IRED.ORG secretariat in Geneva.

INAISE

INAISE, International Association of Investors in the Social Economy (http://www.inaise.org) is a global network of socially and environmentally oriented financial institutions.

APRES

Association pour la PRomotion de l'Economie sociale et Solidaire.

HAMULI KABARHUZA, ancien Secrétaire Général du Réseau Congolais des ONG

Notre ami Baudouin HAMULI KABARHUZA, ancien Secrétaire Général du Réseau Congolais des ONG, nous écrit et nous apprend qu'il coordonne, pour la RD du Congo, le Comité préparatoire national de la Conférence internationale pour la Paix, la sécurité, le développement et la démocratie dans la Région des Grands Lacs. Le Premier Sommet des Chefs d'Etat de la sous-région est prévu pour Novembre 2004. Bonne chance Hamuli; on est avec toi.

And ATA goes to war against Aids

Grâce à l'appui de Diffam Allemagne, l'Atelier Théâtr'Actions "ATA" anime depuis le mardi 12 octobre 2004 une Campagne de sensibilisation sur le VIH/SIDA dans 10 centres scolaires de la région de Mayumbe dans le Bas-Congo.

A stone in the pond!

Par le Frère Hubert
Compte tenu du sujet qui inspire ces lignes, le jargon français autait pu me fournir un titre plus explicite : « CENT BRIQUES DANS LA RIZIERE » se serait mieux présenté pour relater l’évènement et épiloguer sur le prix national des 100 millions acoordés à la lauréate du concours Rizicole Malgache dont les médias nous ont parlé.

Grain de Sel N°28: Support to peasant organizations under review

Ten years of support to peasant organizations …

N°5 of « Peasant Dynamics » - Sept. 2004

“Peasant economic organizations in Bolivia: a strategy for the small producer » has been published. Do peasant economic organizations regrouping multiple rural families with a common economic objective represent a solution for peasant agriculture in Bolivia? This issue of Peasant Dynamics invites you to discover the origins, characteristics and importance of this sector in Bolivia.

Solidary Tourism

Tourism is the second largest economic sector for Southern countries after oil (1). It is an important development engine but it is also the source of social and environmental disturbances for the countries.

International Forum: Solidary Tourism and Sustainable Development

Site du forum sur cette thématique qui s'est tenu en septembre 2003 dans la région PACA (Provence Alpes-Cote d’Azur). Les problématiques sont présentées de manière synthétique.

Solidary Tourism: a gift for Africa?

Après avoir encouragé le développement des industries touristiques, de nombreuses agences de voyage découvrent que le touriste peut nuire aussi au développement social et économique d'un pays. Peut-être faudrait-il pratiquer cette activité autrement ?

Debt Service Relief for Niger, Ethiopia and Senegal

Niger’s debt: Japan cancels 19.000.000 Euro On Wednesday, the Japanese government cancelled a debt belonging to Niger of approximately FCFA 12.5 billion (Euro 19 million), as reported on Thursday by Agence France Presse from a Japanese diplomatic source. The official ceremony to sign the cancellation note took place Wednesday in Niamey.

Strengthen the social and solidary economy

By Fernand Vincent, Président d'IRED.ORG.

The economical system we endure is anything but solidary apart from a few cases of marginal and alternative behavior. This system globalizes the financial interests of a favored few to the detriment of hundreds of millions of people who are hence marginalized and live in a state of material poverty. Some people have said NO to this type of neo-liberal economy and have engaged themselves in cooperative alternatives, small businesses, mutual companies and associations. Foundations have been created which place men (and of course women) at the center of the economic and social challenges.

The Third Sector

By presenting social economy as a third sector between the private and public sectors, Jacques Defourny avoids lengthy debates around terminology when enumerating the traps and drifts of defining the social economy. Social economy is a third sector next to the private sector which has a monetary objective and the public sector. All over the world we realize that many social and economic realities no longer have their place within the private or public sectors. In the USA they are referred to as non-profit organisations, in the UK as the voluntary sector and in Latin countries as the social economy.

What projects exist for a solidary economy ?

Laurent Fraisse nous invite à découvrir les projets politiques sous-jacents à l'économie solidaire. Bien que souvent mis au second plan face au grand public, ces projets politiques n'en formes pas moins une bases de l'économie solidaire.

Article originellement publié par Cultures en mouvement.

Turn the page of capitalism? Alternatives are flourishing

The social and solidary economy represents a significant part of our economy. Based on ethical principles it challenges the rules of capitalism and promotes a vision of solidarity. Is it a good basis for tomorrow’s society?

Another economy is possible

Can the French Business Confederation (Medef-Mouvement des Entreprises de France) resist the social and solidary economy? What if human-based business was stronger than capital enterprise? Associations, cooperatives and mutual insurance companies have beneficial statutes and the current economic context enables their growth.

Free market economy and solidary economy

By Mr. Philippe De Woot, Professor at the University of Louvain la Neuve

One can sense the systemic and general evolution of the free market economy. The solidary economy carries a number of merits for the future, one of which is sustainable development. It is possible to highlight actual links between a liberal economic system and the solidary economy’s vision of the world.