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Now we have a new First Minister, who’s pledged to reform the Welsh economy over the next few years, perhaps it’s time to think about how we remunerate people in Wales, and in particular those at the top of the tree, some of which receive eyewatering salaries. We have to accept this is a big task, but we could start with the values driven businesses, employee ownerships, co-ops and mutuals, and not-for-profits, and follow on with those supplying government and the public sector.

There are a number of reasons for the rush by executives to the top of the salary tree, some of which are quite complex, but whatever the motivation, it is creating an unhealthy society. My personal view is that one of the main drivers is a search for recognition. Whereas in the past individuals became recognised for their status in the community rather than in cash, and for their philanthropy such as Carnegie building libraries, or business people supporting the local football team, now people seek recognition through obvious wealth. Continue reading →

In schools, colleges and lycées throughout France, from March 26th to 31st, Social and Solidarity Economy at School Week raises awareness of collective entrepreneurship among more than 4,000 students.

Formerly “Cooperation Week at School”, the “SSE Week at School” is now back in schools, meeting students for a second edition. The aim of this operation is to promote the social and solidarity economy and raise awareness among young people of collective entrepreneurship.

Supported by the Office central de la coopération à l’école (OCCE), Coop FR and ESPER (l’Economie sociale partenaire de l’école de la République), the action takes place everywhere in France, from 26 to 31 March.
More than 170 initiatives are registered on the dedicated website www.semaineessecole.coop. Once registered, the shares are valued thanks to the hashtag #SESSE2018 on Twitter accompanied by a photo and a comment. Find all the actions that bring SSE to life at the School on the interactive map. Continue reading →

I’m currently in France, so getting a slightly different view of the world through my local paper (Ouest France – France’s largest circulation newspaper, published by the Humanist Philosophical Society!) and the France 24 (France’s equivalent of the BBC World Service TV with the wonderful Mark Owen)

The big railway story in the UK is of course rising fares exceeding wage rises for the umpteenth year running, together with the chaos of privatisation, and over half of trains now either late or cancelled. For added spice there’s the hybrid diesel/electric trains from London to Swansea and Bristol because we were too mean to electrify all the line. These have the worst of both worlds as the electric train has to drag along tonnes of diesel engine, thus reducing speed, economy and acceleration. That’s if they didn’t break down all the time.

The big story in France, though, is the launch of the new TGV line from Paris Montparnasse to Brittany, which will shorten journey times to under 3 hours to Brest, 2 hours to Nantes, and under 1.5 hours to Rennes. There are 41 trains each day, compared to 18/day to Cardiff and Swansea.  https://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/tgv/western-france#/

From Paris to Nantes, prices start at £32 each way for a 239 miles journey with a guaranteed seat. Compare that to Cardiff to London with a (pre-booked only) fare of £45.80 off peak single for 150 miles (also in 2 hours) with a strong possibility of standing all the way. The on-peak walk on fare is £117.50 each way!

Oh, did I forget to mention, French Railways, SNCF, are state owned and always have been.

My fellow Bathonion and vegetarian, Sir Isaac Pitman (1813–97), the inventor of Pitman shorthand and founder of the Pitman Press in Bath, and his younger brother Henry Pitman (1826–1909), both advocates of spelling reform, argued that the hypen in co-operator was really important to distinguish us from barrel makers. I’ve always agreed with them on that.

Our American cousins, in their desire to simplify spelling, dropped the hyphen centuries ago, but not everyone in the world always agreed with them. So when 2012, the International Year of Co-operators (IYC) came along, a small contest developed. As the IYC was a United Nations project (although it came from an ICA initiative) and they’re based in New York, it developed a logo sans hyphen. The logo was tightly controlled by a legal agreement on its use, which you had to sign before you could download the image files, and which stipulated how exactly it had to be used. The Canadians, however, had different ideas.

Continue reading →