Deconstructing Dinner
"Deconstructing Dinner" is a hit radio show by Jon Steinman at Kootenay Co-op Radio (CJLY) in Nelson, B.C. "Most discussion of food by media focuses on health and diet, a very individualistic connection to food," explains Steinman. "Deconstructing Dinner looks at the well-being of all people involved in the process of growing and preparing and enjoying food." This week's offering, for example, examines the debate over genetically modified foods (GMOs).

Canadian financial firms offer investors role in global microfinance lending
Kamil Ramazanov is looking for a loan. The Azerbaijani butcher wants to buy two calves and is looking for US$950. He's offering to repay the money monthly over the next 12 months. His profile on Kiva.org says he's 49, lives in the town of Khachmaz with his wife and three children and owns a butcher shop.

Social Entrepreneurship Summit Participants Unite in Next Steps for The Sector
Over 250 participants attended the Canadian Social Entrepreneurship Summit, an interactive gathering of non-profit, academic and social thought leaders from the social entrepreneurship sector in Canada.

We've Broken Faith with the Poor
There's not much we can really do about Iran, George W. Bush or the sabre rattling of North Korea but surely that doesn't absolve us from the obligation our poet placed upon our shoulders. Perfection is always the enemy of improvement and so it is here. For we should look at our own society and see the people with whom, in John McCrae's words, we've broken faith. Why is anyone impoverished in a country as rich as we are?

Social Economy is the Way of the Future
The international social economy is growing in importance, according to delegates at a recent local conference. The social economy operates outside of business and government. It includes charities, non-governmental organizations, and co-operatives. The first International Research Conference on the Social Economy brought more than 300 students, professors, researchers and practitioners to Victoria's Empress Hotel from Oct. 22 to 25.

The social economy at work
A UVic assistant professor is playing a bit part in changing the world's economic forces through garbage. Of course, Jutta Gutberlet objects to the word "garbage" used in the context of her work. She's co-ordinator of a $1-million project in Brazil aimed at improving networks among 400 people who informally pick up waste, separate it, and then resell it.

BCSER Provides Feedback on Government Procurement

Today representatives of the BC Social Economy Roundtable participated in a dialogue session organized by the Ministry of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) through their Office of Small and Medium Enterprises – Pacific Region.

Textbooks economical with words about co-ops
Jack Quarter, Daniel Schugurensky, Erica McCollum And Laurie Mook
A recent study conducted through the Social Economy Centre at the University of Toronto raises questions about the narrow focus of business and economics textbooks in Ontario’s high schools. The research by professor Daniel Schugurensky and MA student Erica McCollum of OISE/University of Toronto, examined the contents of 22 business textbooks containing 11,375 pages currently used in Ontario high schools.

THE TROUBLE WITH TILMA
Gordon Campbell is probably scratching his head. The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) he signed with Ralph Klein in April 2006 was supposed to be a hit. It didn’t matter that neither premier consulted with their electorates or even their respective legislatures before inking the deal, which drastically changes the economic landscape in British Columbia and Alberta by significantly reducing the scope of democratic governance and significantly increasing the power of corporations.