Robert Owen’s 250th Legacy Celebration

What lessons can we learn for the 21st Century?

Organised by Llafur and Co-ops & Mutuals Wales

 2021 marks Robert Owen’s 250^th birthday. This anniversary celebrates his ‘bankful of ideas’ about alternative ways of organising society from pre-school play to the co-operative movement. As opposed to competition, his central purpose was to support democracy, self-government and co-operative advance through ‘voluntary association’, with education seen as the primary driver of social change.

Owen’s work led to co-operatives, mutuals, trade unions, building and friendly societies. These developments have had global reach as recognised in the 2012 UN International Year of Co-operatives.

In support of achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and co-operative principles: Co-ops & Mutuals Wales https://www.cooperatives-wales.coop invites you to this virtual events to be held on on Saturday 3^rd July 2021 – International Co-operators Day https://globaldimension.org.uk/events/international-day-of-co-operatives/2021-07-03/

There are limited slots for this event, so we urge you to register soon for both events. You will then be sent a link for each several days beforehand. We eagerly await your participation. For any inquiries please contact: (01633 266781) or david@cooperatives-wales.coop.

With special thanks to the West Midlands Co-operatives Member Education Group; Central England Co-operative Membership & Community Councils; and the Co-op Group for their generous financial support; and the Co-operative Press for technical assistance and all who have given their time and expertise in this collaboration.

Programme

9.30‘Does Robert Owen’s legacy still resonate in the 21st century?’ 

• Lecture by Prof Chris Williams, University College, Cork, co-author of ‘Robert Owen and his Legacy’ followed by Q & A
• Chair: Mick Antoniw, Labour/Co-op, Pontypridd

10.30 Robert Owen Museum 3D Tour

10.35 Three short presentations followed by panel Q&A and audience participation ,chaired by: Jeremy Miles, Labour/Co-op MS, Neath :

Robert Owen & the history of the Co-op Movement in Wales:

• Liz McIvor, Co-operative Heritage Trust Manager, Rochdale Pioneers Museum and The National Co-operative Archive;
• Sian Williams, Head of Special Collections and Librarian, South Wales Miners’ Library, Swansea University

Inspiring co-operative stories of collective action:

•   Sara Vicari, Aroundtheworld.coop, (Rome)