Around the world more than a billion people are involved in co-operatives – as members, customers, employees or worker/owners. Co-ops employ 100 million people worldwide – considerably more than multinational corporations – but they do it in a way that is sustainable, ethical, and democratic. This month's New Internationalist magazine celebrates the UN Year of co-operatives.

In this podcast, New Internationalist co-editor Wayne Ellwood discusses why co-ops present such a compelling alternative to the crisis in growth and the global economic slump. He lists some beautiful examples of how co-ops are making the world a better place, empowering people to take control of their own affairs, and keeping profits in the community. He also gives an insiders' view of the workings of one co-operative that most of our listeners will be familiar with – New Internationalist itself!