Dear Ladies,
Meeting notes on Resolutions choice to be made, with briefing notes synopsis, for consideration of the 8 shortlisted potential resolutions.
WI Meeting Notes on Resolutions Choice for 2016
Resolutions and mandates
A member led democratic process
“The WI is an entirely member led organisation, and the resolutions process ensures that every WI member has the opportunity to set the direction of NFWI campaigns and policy, from the grassroots up.
Every year WI members have the chance to put forward issues as ‘resolutions’ that they want to see the national body campaign on.
Resolutions go through a year-long debating and consultation process. Member’s shortlist resolutions for debate in Federations and WIs, before making a final selection of resolutions to take forward for discussion at the Annual Meeting in the summer. If passed, these then become mandates and form the basis of campaigning and awareness raising activities in the years ahead.
– See more at: https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/resolutions-and-mandates#sthash.APuxxfgz.dpuf”
We are now at the Shortlisted potential Resolutions stage for Individual Members to CHOOSE THE ONE RESOLUTION THEY MOST SUPPORT, putting an X against their CHOICE, before handing their voting slip in for onward posting to the OFWI by 1st Feb. 2016
Each member has a chair placed voting slip – please fill in fold in three, then hand to Chris Shafe, our Treasurer, or place in the blue basket, for vote details etc. to be passed to OFWI.
Briefing Notes on all 8 potential resolution choices are in WI Life Magazine issue Nov./Dec. 2015 which you may have been able to read to inform your choice.
BRIEFING NOTES SYNOPSIS
1 – BAN THE MICROBEAD – these are tiny plastic particles put into packaging
“Microbeads are plastic microspheres widely used in cosmetics as exfoliating agents and personal care products such as toothpaste etc. “
“Microbeads from exfoliating personal care products and toothpaste are washed down the drain, pass unfiltered through the sewage treatment plants and make their way into rivers and canals, resulting in plastic particle water pollution. They enter the food chain and into our food. They harm aquatic and human life through pollution of oceans and rivers.”
2 – British Fruit – “The UK is only 12% self-sufficient in fruit production. Fruit is also the second most wasted type of food – 1.1m tonnes wasted in 2012 – causing huge economic, environmental & health costs. We import 88% of our fruit which is bad for British growers and consumers in terms of taste and nutritional value. We are losing touch with indigenous fruit.
3 – FREE SANITARY PROTECTION FOR HOMELESS WOMEN – Homeless conditions bring many problems. “For women struggling to pull together enough money for food or shelter, sanitary products can become unaffordable.”
4 – PREVENTION OF SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH IN YOUNG ADULTS IN THE UK – “Young sudden cardiac death is one of the biggest killers of people aged 35 and under in the UK. There is no national strategy to detect or treat the causes. Campaigners argue that many of these deaths can be prevented with screening (which approach is in question). In July 2015 the NATIONAL SCREENING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT A UNIVERSAL SCREENING PROGRAMME SHOULD NOT BE INTRODUCED.”
5 – FIRST AID TO SAVE LIVES – “There is no requirement to teach first aid in UK schools or workplaces. Evidence from other countries where this teaching is carried out shows that “up to twice as many people survive cardiac arrest” because of training. WI members can train to be community first responders. “but only 7% of UK people would be confident that they could perform emergency first aid.
6 – MIND OR BODY – EQUAL FUNDING FOR CARE – “There is an inequality in care funding with spending on Mental Health not matching demand for help. With calls for more health care, should funding be more evenly split between mental and physical care.”
7 – AVOID FOOD WASTE, ADDRESS FOOD POVERTY – Excess food could be more evenly shared out via our homes and supermarkets, BUT much food is still wasted unnecessarily. “WI member have always been interested in this subject. NFWI has no current mandate to address food poverty. This resolution would finally give us a mandate to do serious policy work on this issue.”
8 – APPROPRIATE CARE IN HOSPITALS FOR PEOPLE WTH DEMENTIA – “Dementia is a global health crisis affecting more people than cancer, heart disease or stroke. People occupy more than 25% of our hospital beds but being hospital admitted can be extremely damaging to their health, with Carers often not allowed to stay outside visiting hours. Sufferers can be distressed by unfamiliar surroundings; being without their families or carers or specialist support can actually worsen their health. Hospital admittance for an acute – but unrelated – illness means some sufferers never return to their homes.”
Margaret Halstead