This sub-committee is chaired by Jan Penn (Neston Evening WI).  We meet six times a year to discuss up to date environment, home and international matters which affect us all as well as the campaigns which we are working on.

"Visit South America" was our International Day on 23rd June. 

After a tasty lunch influenced by South American flavours including beef, quinoa and bean salads, potatoes and fresh tropical fruit members settled back to listen to Rose Latham talking about her life living and working across South America.

This special event held on Tuesday 4^th May at Nursteed is part of the Women Reaching Women campaign and is part-funded by the Department for International Development.

The NFWI is working with Oxfam GB and the Everyone Foundation on a three year development, gender and climate change educational campaign. Women Reaching Women aims to broaden awareness of these issues amongst WI members and the community.   We support the efforts of women all over the world to achieve recognition of their rights and encourage everyone to join together to tackle climate change internationally.

There were several stands on view with information on Send a Cow, ACWW, Water Aid and goods for sale from Fair Trade.

The first speaker was Fiona Remnant from Oxfam who spoke on the “Millennium Development Goals”.  She was followed by Susan Jonas, a member of the Public Affairs Committee who talked about “Shared Interest”. Robin Walker then informed us of the Transition Town Movement. Bridget Poulson explained the local charity “Send a Cow” which, amongst other things, helps thousands of families grow enough food to eat. Our final speaker was Pat Spry from Water Aid, a charity which needed little introduction but which aims to provide Water and Sanitation for all, her talk was aided by visual items which were both amusing and clever.

Members had a fascinating – and poignant – day when they visited the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory to see where and how those buttonholes we all wear in November are made.

Public Affairs organised three separate coach trips to the factory in Richmond in March. In our picture Kington St Michael WI members Jenny Hayne and Louise Williams meet factory workers Tommy and Barry, who like all the employees at the factory are disabled ex-servicemen or family members of disabled service personnel.

COOL or Country of Origin Labelling was the resolution passed at this year’s AGM in Cardiff with only a very few WIs voting against it. The WI is calling for Mandatory COOL for all fresh meat products. Processed meat and fish products should have mandatory country of origin for the meat and fish ingredient as well as the finished product to enable consumers to identify the country of origin of all key ingredients.

Knowing where a food is produced can give some idea of whether it was in season, how it may have been grown and its food miles. Increasing numbers of shoppers are deciding they want to support British farmers through their food choices however they need to have accurate country of origin labelling in order to do this. The UK cannot introduce country of origin labelling without cooperation from other European States and different views are held across Europe.

Mums Matter

Today approximately 1000 mothers will die needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth around the world. The WI and Oxfam believe it’s a global scandal and world leaders have failed to tackle the problem. This is one of the Millennium Development Goals but in many countries there has been virtually no progress.

Farmgate Milk Prices

The NFWI is once again taking this cause up as the milk situation is still very serious with prices to the farm in many cases below that of 1995.

WoodWatch and the WI

Did you know that the UK is one of the least wooded places in Europe with only 12% compared to an average of 44% in other parts. The Woodland Trust has recorded at least 800 ancient trees in Northern Europe as under threat from development in the last 10 years. Find out what you can do by contacting The Woodland Trust on www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or tel: 01476 581111

More information on all the above campaigns is available on the NFWI website : www.thewi.org.org.uk or by telephone from the NFWI Public Affairs Department – 0207 371 9300 ext 234