In praise of WI

The National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) is the largest voluntary organisation for women in the UK with 211,000 members - tonight I was invited to talk to the Randwick branch in the village hall on the topic of Council business and the Ruscombe brook - some 20 members were there on a glorious summers (??) evening.

Photo: WI leaving village hall

I only had an hour to talk so I raced through a hundred and one topics giving an overview of life on the District Council through my eyes - from anger at the loss of Cashes Green Vicarage to frustration that new developments still don't have renewable energy on them, to the Environment Strategy showing democracy at it's best to 20 mph zones, the Maternity Hospital latest, sanitary ware in the brook and much much more.

The WI has always had a radical edge - infact their website says: "The WI is as relevant today as it was when it was launched in 1915. And it's just as radical."

Many can remember when the WI hit the headlines when they slow clapped Blair back in 2000 when he delivered a speech - but not so many know all the other issues they are involved with - last year for example they attempted to get supermarkets to reduce the absurd, unnecessary and planet-damaging packaging - many WI members returned excess packaging to the supermarkets.

Infact at this evenings meeting there was a motion that past to call on the Government to protect Community Hospitals and a petition about farmgate milk prices - a shocking 17 dairy farmers a week have gone out of business each week over the last year - better than the 40 a week before but still grossly unacceptable - that's 900 million litres of milk lost over next 2 years. The supermarkets are moving to pay a better price but still wholly inadequate - I've been involved a fair bit locally on this issue and written lots to local press - see for example here and here re demo at Tesco - supermarket power is unacceptable and urgently needs tackling.

Coincidently I was invited today to join WI and WEN at Portcullis House in London for the launch of their Climate Change Manifesto on 15th May. I sadly can't make it but it is another example of how the WI takes on issues and pushes them forward - climate change unsurprisingly got a fair few mentions in my talk.

I did also get to mention some of the other WI campaigns that I've had a little to do with - 'Clear the Street Clutter' - ie get rid of unnecessary road signage and street furniture got a mention in the Better Streets for Stroud District report and my article in Resurgence. Other campaigns include chemicals and health, junk food advertising and the great Sustainable Communities Bill.

Certainly the WI appears to be facing a challenge at the moment as in many branches it's membership grows older - see article here - but in reality I can't see why it should not appeal more to all women - certainly the issues they are addressing are issues for all - we need more WI groups who are prepared to stand up and campaign for a better world.

Anyway it's late and I'm tired - the WI tea and cake was very welcomed afterwards - bed now!