What we do: Solidarity Economy

What is the economy and what or who is it for? The original meaning of the word refers to "household management". A well-managed economy could administer our planetary “household” to meet the needs of all within the boundaries of our planet. Instead, the current economy hoards meaningless wealth in the hands of a few, while denying access to basic needs for the majority and devastating the ecological foundations of life on our planet.

The problem lies in a set-up that prioritizes endless profit maximization over meeting human needs and ecological viability. Fortunately, there are already businesses and initiatives that are creating a different system here and now: a solidarity economy based on meeting human needs, democratic decision-making, sharing wealth in local communities and ecological sustainability. The new wave of cooperatives in our country is developing renewable energy, connecting organic farmers with consumers, and providing affordable housing, among other things.

Our aim is to contribute to ensuring that these examples of good practice do not remain isolated oases of cooperation, but also create solidarity and value circulation among themselves. We want to develop not just individual initiatives, but a whole resilient ecosystem of the solidarity economy. For us, the solidarity economy is thus not an "add-on" to the system that prevails today to help cushion its worst effects, but a programme for the overall reorganization of the economy to ensure that everyone is involved in decision-making, creating and sharing the value together. We see workers and consumers of today's economic system not as enemies, but as allies whose strength is the key to successful positive change. We are therefore building alliances with their organizations – such as trade unions and the tenants' movement – to engage them in a common effort to transform the economy.

In this way, we are working with existing businesses, initiatives and other organizations in the solidarity economy to create the economy of the future today:

We spread good practice: we bring the best examples of solidarity economy initiatives from around the world and from the countries of Central and Eastern Europe close to us in the Czech Republic.
We network existing businesses and initiatives: we facilitate cooperation and develop mutually beneficial relationships.
We revive the proven tradition of Czech cooperatives for a new era: we help establish new cooperatives and support them in democratic self-management.
We connect cooperatives with allies: we mediate the benefits of co-operatives to organizations such as tenants' or workers' unions and build alliances between the co-operative movement and other social organizations.

Climate Justice

Global heating caused by two centuries of economic growth based on ever-increasing consumption of fossil energy causes escalating disruptions to our climate which endanger both human welfare and the long-term habitability of our planet. We are in the middle of a climate crisis - manifesting itself also in the current European droughts - which weighs heaviest on socially disadvantaged groups of people and thus deepens the already gross social inequalities. This is true both within the Czech republic, and throughout the world, where the changing climate has the worst impact on the poor countries of the Global South.

Housing

The share of tenants in the housing market is constantly growing, and in large cities in the Czech Republic they currently account for up to a third of the population. Their protection, however, is minimal. Rental prices are rising much faster than salaries and lease contracts are usually concluded for only one year, sometimes even less. People in rented accommodation are therefore living in constant insecurity and their housing costs are increasing.

Democratization of energy

There are approximately one million people living in energy poverty in the Czech Republic and we are one of them. The energy crisis is causing major energy companies, including fossil fuel companies, to make record profits, while consumers face ever-increasing energy costs. Decarbonising the energy sector and fundamentally transforming the energy market are essential to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. However, if we remain passive consumers, we will continue to be exposed to market fluctuations and uncertainties.

Education

Our educational projects open up debate about the causes of social and environmental problems and develop the skills needed to solve them. We organise ourselves according to the principles of self-management and organise training courses in which we introduce self-management and help to apply it in practice. We use non-formal education methods and learn from each other.

Solidarity Economy

What is the economy and what or who is it for? The original meaning of the word refers to "household management". A well-managed economy could administer our planetary “household” to meet the needs of all within the boundaries of our planet. Instead, the current economy hoards meaningless wealth in the hands of a few, while denying access to basic needs for the majority and devastating the ecological foundations of life on our planet.

Financing the climate collapse

In the world of financial institutions, the fossil fuel industry still enjoys great support. If we are to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis, we need financial institutions to stop supporting coal-fired power stations and to refuse to participate in the planned development of gas infrastructure, waste incineration, unsustainable biomass management and other unethical activities of fossil fuel companies.