Artifically Intelligent

I’ve neglected this site for a few years, but I am trying to get myself back into a community-minded way of thinking and acting as we enter 2023. With all the talk of AI and how it can be used, or misused, I decided to try it out just for fun. I went to a free AI writer site and I entered the following information:

I was asked for a title, so I typed in “History of the Antigonish Movement”

I was asked for several keywords, so I typed in “Coady Tompkins Cooperation Economic Development Co-op Credit Union Fishers Miners Poor Poverty Saving Money”

Then, with the click of a button, I was presented with the following. Let me know what you think – send me a message or leave a comment.

History of the Antigonish Movement

The Antigonish Movement has had a profound impact on community economic development professionals and is still relevant today. This blog will explore the history of the movement, its core principles, and its social impact.

Introduction

The Antigonish Movement was a grassroots initiative in Nova Scotia that aimed to reduce poverty and improve the lives of people living in rural areas. It began in the 1920s, when two priests from St. Francis Xavier University, Father Moses Coady and Father Jimmy Tompkins, began teaching and organizing to advance the cause of cooperatives, credit unions, and co-ops. This was an important moment in the history of community economic development professionals as it established a set of principles that would guide their work for generations to come.

The Antigonish Movement was based on the idea that people could work together to improve their economic conditions. This was a radical idea at the time, as it challenged traditional economic and social conventions. The movement was inspired by the cooperative movement, which had begun in Europe in the 19th century. Credit unions and other forms of cooperatives were established as a way to provide access to capital and credit for people who had limited access to traditional banking services.

History

The Antigonish Movement took root in Nova Scotia in the 1920s, when Father Tompkins and Father Coady began teaching classes on cooperatives and credit unions. They traveled throughout rural Nova Scotia, giving lectures and organizing seminars. Over time, the movement spread throughout Atlantic Canada and beyond.

The Movement gained momentum during the Great Depression, when farmers, miners, and fishermen were struggling to make ends meet. The Antigonish Movement provided them with an opportunity to take control of their economic destinies by forming cooperatives and credit unions. This was an important moment in Canadian history as it marked a shift from reliance on traditional banking services to self-reliance through cooperative efforts.

Core Principles of the Movement

The core principles of the Antigonish Movement are cooperation, credit unions, and co-ops. These three principles are closely related and have been essential to the success of the movement.

Cooperation is at the heart of the movement. It is based on the idea that people can work together to solve common problems and create mutual benefits. This means that members of a cooperative or credit union are jointly responsible for each other’s success.

Credit unions are another key principle of the Antigonish Movement. Credit unions are financial institutions that focus on providing access to capital and credit for people who do not have access to traditional banking services. Credit unions are owned by their members and operate democratically, meaning that all members have an equal say in how the credit union is managed.

The third principle of the Antigonish Movement is co-ops. Co-ops are businesses owned by their members that operate for mutual benefit. Co-ops are different from traditional businesses because they are not driven by profit but rather by meeting the needs of their members.

Social Impact

The Antigonish Movement had a profound impact on rural communities throughout Nova Scotia and beyond. For example, it provided farmers, miners, and fishermen with access to capital and credit that they would not have otherwise had access to. This allowed them to purchase land, start businesses, and invest in their communities. In addition, it allowed them to save money that they would otherwise have spent on interest payments to traditional banks.

The movement also empowered the poor by giving them a sense of ownership over their economic destinies. This was especially important during the Great Depression when people were struggling to make ends meet. The movement provided them with a way to come together to solve common problems and create mutual benefits for everyone involved.

Furthermore, the movement showed that social change is possible through collective action. It demonstrated that people can come together to improve their lives despite difficult economic conditions. This remains an important lesson for community economic development professionals today.

Conclusion

The Antigonish Movement has had a profound impact on community economic development professionals and is still relevant today. Its core principles of cooperation, credit unions, and co-ops have helped people rise up from poverty and empower themselves economically. The movement has shown that social change is possible through collective action and remains an important lesson for those who strive to make a difference in their communities today.

Asset Based Community Development – A Talk by Peter Kenyon

In this episode I want to take you into the world of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and I can’t think of any better way than offering Peter Kenyon’s talk at the ABCD Conference at the Coady International Institute in 2009. Peter Kenyon is a passionate advocate for ABCD and I watch this talk on YouTube several times a year as a boost. The podcast is fine in audio form, as Peter is a great public speaker, but if you want the visual aspects also the YouTube companion can be found by clicking here.

I acknowledge in the episode, but want to reiterate, the set of three clips featuring Peter Kenyon are from the coadyabcd YouTube page and I credit them for the material 100%. You can find these videos and many more by clicking here.

Cheers, and thanks for listening!

The Reports of my Death are Greatly Exaggerated

I’m alive, I swear! Yes, this is another reboot. I’m keeping on going. I’m trying, at least. It’s been a long year for everyone and the last thing you need is me talking your ear off but I just need to keep this thing going for my own sanity if nothing else. In milestone episode 30 I talk about what’s happened since March, some ideas I’m pushing forward with – and the big new thing to go along with the podcast: YES, not only can you LISTEN to me, you can WATCH me drive home and ramble on barely coherently! Check out the link on the home page for YOUTUBE CHANNEL and you can go to channel itself or watch embedded videos right here.

How many reboots is this?

Hi folks! Been a long time, I know. I am reminded of the cliché ‘you can’t fail as long as you never give up’ so technically even though I have not posted anything since March I’m still not giving up – and I’m going to give this another go. It’s been a long year with COVID and I also had a hernia which put me out of commission for a while and required surgery – but I’m back in business and ready to start focusing on some projects again!

This is just a short note to say hello and alert you to the next podcast episode coming out later today, along with a combined YOUTUBE video.

Hope you enjoy – and stay tuned for more to come as we close out 2020.

Restoration for Isolation

In Ep 29 I talk about a new project because of all the things on my list of things to do, not that many (basically none) are what you might call a hobby, and I need a hobby badly, especially if I’m going to be working from home for a little while, with no more driving back and forth that’s two whole extra hours a day I could potentially be useful. So that’s the plan – and there’ll be video proof to go along with it! Cheers,

 

Microfinance for Small Business

I recorded this back in early March and just finally posting now. I talk about an idea for the podcast major project and how it could lead into a microfinance program for small businesses in the area. Click on pic below for the link to Ingrid’s project below, which I talk about at the end of this ep. Check it out, and please donate!

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Bonus ep – Scrooge’s Lump of Coal?

In episode 27, a little bonus ep I recorded the same day as ep 26, I briefly talk a little about the differences between saving money by cutting things out of your life, versus making more money to afford more things in your life, in the context of I’m starting to ‘warm’ up to the idea of keeping the house colder at night for sleeping. Just some thoughts.

I’m happier with this new mic.

New or Used? Which is better?

Hooray, 25 episodes! That may be a minor milestone but personally I’m a little surprised with myself that I actually got to this point. As funny as it may sound, ironically I’ve been wanting to write more lately. I have’t been writing, but I want to. And this is the latest episode I’ve recorded, so I need to start recording more asap!

In this episode I talk about the pros and cons of buying new items versus buying used items, and some experiences I’ve had with that.

Cheers,

-dw

Magic Mic?

I’m happy that it’s January – I swear! Actually, now it’s February, and that makes me even happier! Why? Because we’re that much closer to August when I can bake in the sun and complain about the heat. I enjoy complaining about the heat much more than I do complaining about the cold.

I don’t remember what I talked about on this episode, but I do know the mic seemed to work a little better!