Recent Activities in Cheshire Public Affairs

Public Affairs is a very major part of the aims and objectives of the WI movement. It is about taking action to influence decisions and events which affect the quality of life for all. It is the area of interest among WI members which includes campaigns, resolutions and raising awareness of issues that affect the quality of our lives.

Mersey Tunnel visits

Three separate groups visited the Mersey Tunnel to enjoy the two hour tour. Once high visibility jackets and hard hats had been donned the group watched a short film about the history behind the decision to build the tunnel and showing the opening in 1935. The control room was the next stop where traffic flow, air quality and tunnel systems are monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The first of many stairs were then descended to witness one of the giant ventilation fans in action and to see the ventilation shafts. More steps!! this time to see the tunnel road surface and yet more steps to visit the emergency escape refuges. By this time we were 145 feet below ground level and under the Pier Head. The ascent to ground level was by lift or stairs for the really fit. The group then learnt about the architecture of the building before making their way home following a most informative and enjoyable visit.

Galleries of photographs

'Hype or Hope'

A very successful PAL meeting held at Antrobus Village Hall heard from Chris Goldring of the MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science, University of Liverpool that using cells obtained from adult skin cells using gene technology for research would solve some of the ethical issues involved in using embryonic stem cells. He foretold a very promising future for individualised treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes. He recommended the following websites for additional information:

Neil French gave an enlightening account of the work being done at the Centre. He reminded us it was the 15th Century Renaissance polymath Paracelsus who said that there is no such thing as a poison - it's a matter of the amount of a substance taken. So water itself is poisonous if taken over a period of time in quantities greater than may be eliminated by the body. He explained that since all drugs have unwanted effects and all individuals react differently, the Centre is working to find out why some people have more severe reactions than others in order to establish more individualised treatments and achieve a better outcome for patients whilst also reducing costly problems occurring in late stage development or even when a drug is already on the market.

Cheshire Resolutions 2011

A big 'thank you' to all the WIs, who sent in suggestions for the next Cheshire Resolution to be debated at the Annual Council Meeting in March 2011. Your response was encouraging and the topics were both varied and interesting. The chosen resolution, forwarded by Capenhurst & Ledsham WI, concerns the increasing practice of releasing airborne 'Chinese Lanterns' and the hazards they pose to humans, animals and the environment. Full details of this resolution have already been sent out to all Cheshire WIs, so that this topic can be discussed by members, in good time, before the ACM in early March. Thank you again for your continued interest and involvement. As always, your efforts are much appreciated!

Sybil Graham [ CFWI Resolutions Adviser ]

Mums Matter'

In late June, Sybil Graham was invited by NFWI to represent Cheshire Federation at the launch of 'Mums Matter' in the Mall, London. 'Mums Matter' is a new petition campaign on maternal health, based on the desperate need to attain Millennium Development Goal no. 5.

This petition calls upon Government to keep its promise to reduce maternal deaths by providing adequate funding for midwifery and health training in countries where it is most needed.

Over the next 9 months, the NFWI and Oxfam will be gathering signatures and raising awareness of maternal health issues. One of the key barriers to maternal health is the lack of say that women have over their own health care! Women's rights should surely be at the very heart of all maternal health initiatives.

Sybil was asked to represent the 3 year project 'Women reaching Women' and to deliver a speech to journalists and officials from the Department for International Development on how Cheshire WI members have responded to the challenge of the 8 Millennium Goals. She was able to explain that ordinary women can play a key role in proving how women really matter in the developing world. Details of the campaign are printed in the July/August edition of 'WI Life' and more information can be found online at www.theWI.org.uk/mumsmatter.

Summer PAL meeting June 10th

The Magic and Wonder of Maths and Numbers
Over 80 members gathered at Antrobus Village Hall to hear Andy Todd, Lead teacher in maths at Woolston Community High School, Warrington. From the moment he began we were enthralled. He started by explaining how the symbols used in the language of Maths are equivalent to the letters of the alphabet used in the language of English. It’s a matter of knowing and understanding how to use them; like learning to spell. He demystified Pythagorus’ theorem by showing us pictures of how it works. Several of us had "light bulb moments2” at this point when some of the mysteries of maths became clear for the first time. Just to have the intricacies of maths brought to our attention, even if we didn’t understand it all, showed us the wonder of maths. It was an evening to remember.

A NEW WI MANDATE

At the National Federation’s 95th AGM on Wednesday 2nd June 2010, WI delegates passed the resolution calling for the mandatory, clear labelling of food with its true country of origin. The voting was as follows ; 6,273 votes for and only 55 against! 99.4% were in favour of clearer labelling! Over 4,000 WI members present heard the expert speaker from the NFU speak on behalf of the WI’s chosen resolution. The NFWI will now be campaigning in Westminster and in Europe for improved country of origin labelling on all meat, poultry and fish products. We, too, in Cheshire can certainly get involved! More details will follow, as to how we can follow up the new mandate!

Overseas links are important to the WI