Interview of Walter Velasquez Nuñez, GIES Cusco - R

GIES Cusco - Rural Business Advice Services

Humberto Ortiz Roca, enero 2004

En otros idiomas: English - Español

At the institutional level, this is work already underway, rather than an initiative

I. What is the main goal of your economic activity?

 

 

to improve socio-economic conditions for producers in our area.

 

 

II. Are you engaged in a DIFFERENT economy? How does it differ from the dominant economy?

 

 

Even though we are immersed in a conventional and consumer economy - and, that is an undeniable fact -, we have started a process of awareness whose main goal is the approach to a solidarity-based economy.

 

 

III. What does ABUNDANCE mean to you? Is material abundance an aim or the means to achieve something else? What is that something else?

 

 

I think abundance means having more than what is needed to survive, although this does not guarantee true happiness. Certainly, our goal is to improve the quality and quantity of life.

 

 

IV. What VALUES do you and your fellow workers put into practice in your daily life and in your work? Is it possible, in your opinion, for these values to become the predominant values of society as a whole? How can they be mainstreamed?

 

 

Punctuality, honesty, respect for the others and perseverance in work are the values which we put into practice in our own lives and seek to implant in the people of our area. we should be an example to others if we want them to adopt these values as well as others in their everyday lives. Unfortunately, there are other values which hardly prevail in our modern society and which our modern society hardly accepts. One of them is solidarity. We have our children, a new generation who can get the country through this crisis, and this will certainly depend exclusively on us.

 

 

V. What innovations have you developed in terms of organization, management and appropriation of the fruits of labor?

 

 

The fruit of our labor is naturally the making of better people, with qualities and skills which make them stand out at work. For instance, in the case of our producers, we give them the opportunity of participating in exchange programs (trips, apprenticeships). In this way, they are able to meet other people with their same characteristics, something that would be very difficult for them to do on their own.

 

 

VI. Do you think working in solidarity networks or in solidarity production chains is important? What are these in your opinion?

 

 

at present, In such a highly consumer society as ours, I think it is absolutely important to achieve higher levels of solidarity. What’s more, I would say it is extremely urgent. I believe that at the level of population segments, zoning should be done based on types of work and everyday tasks.

 

 

VII. Does your activity influence the life of the community? How and in which spheres?

 

 

Absolutely. Our activities have a significant influence on our users’ lives. The fact of having better opportunities allows them to achieve a higher level of social development.

 

 

VIII What is work in your experience? What’s its value and meaning in life?

 

 

It is our everyday labor, in all the spheres of our lives, starting from our own families. Its value? What would life be without work? In my opinion, work is a way of life.

 

 

IX. What role do WOMEN play in a cooperation and solidarity-oriented economic initiative?

 

 

The role of women is more than important. my personal view is that even in the family itself there are sometimes initiatives which are difficult for men to achieve from the very moment they are conceived. I think women take up a leading role from the family itself, almost the most important role.

 

 

X. How can public policies and the State contribute to the advancement of a Socio-Economy of Solidarity?

 

 

I think the outcome of our work is very important to get the State to “seize” this initiative. Our relationships should contribute to the achievement of these goals in different areas, i.e. sociETY, politicS, economY, etc.

 

 

XI. Do you believe the globalization of cooperation and solidarity is possible? How can it become a reality?

 

 

Of course it is. I believe that networks can help establish this process and they can also help people become aware of it. The awareness raising process is very important and it should begin at schools.

Fuentes :

Vision workshop of the WSSE

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