When Pablo Neruda visited the ancient Peruvian city of Machu Picchu, the ruins inspired an entire book of poetry. In The Heights of Machu Picchu Neruda called to the indigenous people who once lived there: Look at me from deep in the earth,/tiller of fields, weaver, quiet shepherd /Show me your blood and your furrow /And give […]
Ccaccaccollo Community Association of Artisans and Agricultural Producers
Since 2005, Planeterra has been working with the Ccaccaccollo community to develop a womens weaving cooperative based there in the community. Most G Adventures (adventure travel company) groups are able to visit this community as part of the Sacred Valley Tour and Day Tour. Here they meet the women and learn about all the stages […]
Transparent and sustainable: Cooperative Coffees
Coffee is the most important export of the tropical nations of the world, and the primary export of a number of developing countries. When Bill Harris walked through the door of a coffee farmers co-operative in the highlands Chiapas region of Mexico, he met Monika Firl who was working there. Later, following many conversations about […]
Rooibos Farmers Join Together to Fight Marginalization, Discrimination and Climate Change
The Suid Bokkeveld has a harsh climate, baking in the summer but with frequent winter frosts and droughts. Yet the gentle rains and acidic soils make it a favoured environment for Aspalathus linearis, commonly known as rooibos or red bush. The plant is used to make a herbal tea, long popular in Southern Africa and […]
Heiveld Co-operative
The Heiveld produces organic and fair-trade rooibos tea grown and processed in the traditional way with minimal use of machinery and harvested carefully by hand. The Rooibos is grown and processed in the traditional way with minimal use of machinery and is harvested carefully by hand. Our mission is to produce and market the finest […]
West Belconnen Health Cooperative Ltd
The West Belconnen Health Co-op is an affordable medical and health centre in the Australian Capital Territory that is owned by its patients. The Co-op has 4 sites with 10 bulk-billing doctors, a nurse practitioner, practice nurses and psychologists, as well as space for community organisations to offer programs and services. The Co-op was started […]
A certified alternative to blood gold
Much media attention has been drawn to the problem of blood diamonds, but what about blood gold? The gold mining industry is often highly exploitative and unregulated, plagued by issues like child labour and hellish working conditions and causing enormous environmental damage because of the mercury and cyanide used in the extraction process, not to […]
Co-operatives help Healthcare
A local chemist has a clear picture of a community’s health needs. In 2004, Brian Frith, the chemist in Charnwood, on Canberras northern fringe, compared notes with the organiser of the Neighbourhood Watch group, Roger Nicoll, and with Michael Pilbrow, the chair of his primary schools Parents and Citizens Committee. All three were concerned that […]
COOTRASERVICORD CTA: Successful Experiences
It used to be that a public company provided the critical service of maintaining water and sewage facilities for the people of Monteria, Columbia. However, when the company faced liquidation, several former employees recognized a crucial need in their community. They banded together to make sure the water and sewage network and systems did not […]
Homes for all in Ireland
In the 1960s and 70s in Ireland, growing numbers of young couples sought access to affordable home-ownership. Inspired by the success of the credit union movement, which took off in Ireland in the 1950s, young people began to look towards the co-operative model to help fulfill their housing needs. Small, self-help co-operatives began to be […]