News of Japanese cooperatives is beginning to trickle out, with early indications of severe impacts to the consumer, agricultural and fisheries sectors. Here are a few places to look for updates:
The International Cooperative Alliance has created a specific page for updates from this disaster.
The Japanese Consumers' Co-operative Union posted an update on Sunday; most seriously, the Miyagi co-op in Sendai reported only 13 of 48 stores providing services at that time. JCCU has also created a disaster relief task force to coordinate fundraising and distribute supplies. Co-operative News has already posted a summary of impacts to consumer co-ops.
Here in the U.S., no credit unions reported damage or disruption, but support is being offered through waiving of wire transfer fees and at least one credit union has established its own relief fund.
And as reported yesterday, the Cooperative Development Foundation is now directing its Co-op Emergency Fund to cooperative-based recovery once the immediate crisis has passed.
