Every year the United Nations (UN) allocates an entire calendar year to focus on particular topics or themes. Many countries actively participate in promoting these years.
The United Nations (UN) has
declared 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) and the
International Year of Sustainable Energy for All.
Aim of the year
The International Year of
Cooperatives aims to raise awareness of how cooperative enterprises can:
reduce poverty
generate employment
foster social integration
IYC focuses on boosting the
growth and establishment of cooperatives worldwide. It also encourages people
to recognize the role of cooperatives in helping to achieve various goals such
as reducing poverty, boosting education and healthcare, and sustaining the
environment. Various activities are planned, including conferences, photo
exhibitions, and website launches specifically to promote the year.
Background
Cooperative enterprises are owned
by the members that they serve, so decisions made are not just for profit but
also for the interest of members and their communities. The UN recognizes that
cooperatives, in their
various forms, help boost
economic and social development, as well as contribute to reducing poverty.
Symbols
The logo for the International
Year of Cooperatives is based on the slogan for the year, which is
"Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World". The logo shows
figures of people working together to lift and support a cube. The cube
represents the various projects, goals and aspirations on which cooperative
enterprises are built, and the achievements that can be made.
The International Year of
Sustainable Energy for All aims to get people to recognize that access to
affordable modern energy services is essential for sustainable development. It
focuses on raising awareness about the importance of increasing access to
energy, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
This UN event promotes action
on energy issues at all levels worldwide. Various activities and events are
planned to demonstrate how increased access to clean, safe, affordable energy
services can improve the lives of people around the world.
Background
Access to sustainable energy
is needed to strengthen economies, protect ecosystems and achieve equity. More
than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, and 1 billion
more only have intermittent access. Some 2.5 billion people rely on traditional
biomass for cooking and heating.
The UN has developed a
Sustainable Energy for All initiative to attract global attention to the
importance of energy for development and poverty reduction.
Article Courtesy of: http://www.timeanddate.com
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