CAMPAIGNS AND RESOLUTIONS

With nearly 230,000 informed and active members nationally, the WI is widely recognised as being a powerful force for positive change.

LOCAL CAMPAIGNS

In 2008 The following resolution has been put forward for discussion and voting on at our Federation Annual Meeting in March:

"This meeting recommends to Her Majesty's Government that all citizens of the United Kingdom should be entered on the NHS Organ Donor Register, unless they specifically opt out, with safeguards to allow objections from religious groups and relatives who are strongly opposed."

What is the problem that the Resolution is designed to address?

There is a desperate shortage of organs available for donation and a plea has gone out for more people to become organ donors as the waiting lists for transplants reach an all-time high.  Transplants are now so successful that many more people can be considered for treatment.  Lives can be transformed and patients can be freed from regular, debilitating and painful treatment.

The UK has one of the lowest organ donation rates in developed countries.  Sir Liam Donaldson (Chief Medical Officer to the Government) has called for everyone in the UK to be entered onto the Organ Donor Register unless they specifically opt out. 

What could WI members do to address this issue?

The Norfolk Federation of WIs has nearly 6,000 members who are mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, and this is a powerful force.  We could make such a difference by discussing the Gift of Life with younger members of our families and friends, and urging them to sign up as well.

OFFERING AN ORGAN 24 HOURS AFTER IT IS NEEDED IS TOO LATE.

MOST OF US HAVE TWO KIDNEYS, TWO CORNEAS, A LIVER THAT CAN BE USED FOR MORE THAN ONE RECIPIENT, A HEART, AND LUNGS.

Although more people are signing up, the NHS Organ Donor Register needs to treble its signatories to meet demand for organs.  The gap is widening.  Spain introduced a similar law and more than doubled its donations.

This will be discussed at the Federation Annual Meeting in March 2008.  All Institutes are asked to discuss this resolution at a meeting prior to FAM and brief their delegate on how she should vote.

Written questions and comments should be submitted prior to FAM when they will be addressed.

In 2006 Norfolk WI members voted on and supported a resolution encouraging the use of reflective jackets by pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders etc.  We have reflective jackets for sale at Federation Office and Federation events across the County and to date have sold about 1800.

NATIONALLY, concerned members have been listened to ...

In 2007 members voted on and supported by a majority of over 90% a resolution on

Community Hospitals

This resolution urges HM Government to stop the closure of Community Hospitals, which provide essential services to local people.

The Resolutions we discussed in individual Institutes and overwhelmingly endorsed at our National AGM in 2006 were ...

Renewable Energy

This meeting urges all levels of government to put in place legislation and policy requiring the use of renewable energy technologies in all new buildings, re-building and renovation.

Sport for a healthy population

This meeting urges HM Government to:

• recognize that participation in sport is an essential factor in the creation of a healthy population;
• ensure the re-establishment of competitive (mainstream) sport in the curricula of all schools; and
• take such steps as are necessary to reverse the decline in the availability of sporting facilities for all citizens, particularly in light of the 2012 Olympics being awarded to the city of London.

In 2005 members were urged to do all in their power to raise public awareness of the unfair difference between the retail prices of milk and the price paid to the farmer.  We were also asked to reduce waste and conserve resources in our own homes and communities, and to lobby manufacturers and retailers to reduce waste in the packaging and transportation of public and consumer goods …

Action by WI members contributed significantly to the Government's decision to delay its decision on lifting the moratorium on the commercial growing of GM crops in the UK until well into 2004 ...

The House of Commons Trade & Industry Select Committee called NFWI to give oral evidence at its inquiry into the impact of Direct Payment on Post Offices and their customers in May 2003, and Ministers were interrogated by the Committee regarding the issues that the NFWI raised ...