The post Update: Supporting Afghan Women appeared first on Green Party Women.

🗓️ Monday 11 November 18.30

💚 Listen to women from Afghanistan

Registration link in GPW newsletter/Green Spaces

RaisingWomensVoices #AfghanWomen

The post WOMEN & girls: AFGHANIstan appeared first on Green Party Women.

📲 GPW are meeting from 11.15 near the Vauxhall end of Albert Embankment by the bus/tube and train stops here

🔍 Lost? DM us on Sunday via X (You need to follow us first)
👕 Wear something blue!
📲 Look out for GPW email or this website for meeting point

More info from marchforcleanwater.org

The post March for clean water appeared first on Green Party Women.

Click on the image to open 👇

The post GPEW Autumn Conference 2024: Manchester appeared first on Green Party Women.

📲 Vote to prioritise the motions that are important to YOU!

🤳 ALL members can vote – you don’t have to be registered for Conference attendance

🤔 What will you prioritise?

❓ #50s Women?

❓ #ZanesLaw?

❓ Safe spaces to enable proper debate?

Link to the ballot here for all GPEW members:

https://greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/conference/conference-2024-prioritisation-ballot/?

The post 📣 GPEW Conference Prioritisation Ballot appeared first on Green Party Women.

The post No Green Witchers event in August! appeared first on Green Party Women.

Organised by The Wildlife Trusts, National Marine Week actually spans two weeks. This year’s theme is ‘Sea’ the Connection. It runs from July 27 to August 11. It is deliberately timed to coincide with the school summer holidays to encourage individuals and families to explore the rich diversity of marine life and to help raise awareness about marine conservation.

The ecological importance of marine life

The UK’s marine environment is incredibly diverse, hosting an array of ecosystems ranging from rocky shores and sandy beaches to deep-sea habitats. These ecosystems contribute to:

• Nutrient cycling – the breaking down of organic material and recycling nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

• Carbon sequestration – absorbing about 25% of the CO2 emitted by human activities.

• Oxygen production – marine phytoplankton are responsible for producing roughly 50% of the Earth’s oxygen.

They also support a wide variety of species, including marine plants, plankton, countless invertebrates, fish, seals, dolphins, whales, and seabirds. These species, whether they are predators, prey, or decomposers, each play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. 

This biodiversity is crucial for the stability and resilience of marine ecosystems. The removal or decline of one species can have cascading effects throughout the marine environment.

Challenges facing our seas

Despite the beauty and importance of marine ecosystems, they are under threat from human activities. Plastic pollution is one of the most visible issues, with millions of tonnes of plastic waste entering the oceans each year. This pollution harms marine life, damages habitats, and can even enter the human food chain.

Overfishing is another critical problem, leading to the depletion of key species and the disruption of the marine food chain. Additionally, climate change is causing ocean temperatures to rise and increasing acidification, both of which have profound impacts on marine biodiversity.

Marine conservation

In the UK efforts to protect marine life include the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and sustainable fishing practices. The UK employs quota systems, gear restrictions, and seasonal closures to prevent overfishing and promote stock recovery. However, despite this UK fish stocks are still in a deeply troubling state.

Other efforts include pollution control measures, and public awareness campaigns. These initiatives aim to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure the health of marine ecosystems.

Get involved in National Marine Week 

Events and activities

There are a range of events during National Marine Week that you can get involved in. These include guided rock pooling sessions, organised beach cleans, educational talks, snorkelling adventures, and boat trips to name just a few. The Wildlife Trusts and other participating organisations provide resources and expertise, making these events accessible and informative for all ages.

Use the interactive Wildlife Trusts map to find an event near you. 

Contribute to science

One of the highlights of National Marine Week is the chance to participate in public science projects. These projects encourage individuals to contribute to real scientific research by recording sightings of marine animals, monitoring beach litter, and helping with habitat restoration efforts.

Take action

Everyone can play a part in protecting marine environments, and not just during National Marine Week, although it is the perfect time to start. 

Simple actions such as reducing plastic use, supporting sustainable seafood choices, and participating in local beach cleans can make a significant difference. Additionally, staying informed about marine issues and supporting policies that promote ocean conservation are crucial steps towards ensuring the health of UK seas.

Written by © Anne Baker

Photo Credit: © Anne Baker, kindly reproduced here with permissions for the 2024 GPW committee

The post National Marine Week  appeared first on Green Party Women.

The motion is reproduced below. Conference seemed to spend a lot of time on GPEW business this year which sadly prevented members discussing all the motions they wanted to hear about and vote on.

Motion E19: 50s Women CEDAWinLAW campaign: 

“For the Green Party as a whole and our four newly elected MPs to support and pressurise the new Labour Government to rectify this historical wrong as a moral imperative and finally get these women the justice they deserve.

Conference calls upon the Green Party of England and Wales and our Members of Parliament to:

• Write to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to commit to the ADR with CEDAWinLAW representatives forthwith, stating our Party and Parliamentary support for the “The50s Women CEDAWinLAW Campaign” and CEDAW GR40 recommendation
• Write to the Prime Minister for this purpose
• Forward an Early Day Motion for this purpose, as necessary”

Write to your MP

As part of our support for the #50sWomen CEDAWinLAW campaign we are calling on all of our members to write to their MPs asking them to join the Cross Party Alternative Dispute Resolution Group for 50sWomen.

A template for doing this is provided below in Word format, or you can copy and paste from the template below into your preferred software.

If you are yourself one of the 50sWomen, you may wish to also add additional information about your own experience of the State Pension Injustice you have suffered and any evidence.

If you are not sure who your MP or how to contact them by visit www.parliament.uk or you can use WriteToThem, an online service that makes it easy to write to the politicians who represent you – even if you don’t know who they are.

Write to your MP – 50sWomen Template

Dear [Insert MP’s NAME],

Re. Compensating 50sWomen affected by State Pension age changes

Congratulations on your recent victory at the election.

I’m contacting you as a [Insert CONSTITUENCY name ] Resident to ask if you will pledge your support for Settlement-Talks for ALL #50sWomen detrimentally financially affected by State Pension age issues.

I support 50sWomen and would like you to join the Cross Party Alternative Dispute Resolution Group started by Sir George Howarth (previously Knowsley Constituency MP).

Will you do this please to represent me as my MP?

Any Settlement based on the PHSO Ombudsman’s Report alone will NOT represent Justice as he did not investigate discrimination.

50sWomen’s enforceable rights have been breached and restitution must be made.

Just under 4 million 50sWomen born in the 1950s were affected when successive governments failed to notify them of State Pension age changes. Some 50sWomen have been forced to sell their homes and rely on foodbanks as a result, and currently one 50s woman is dying every 13 minutes, without ever receiving any compensation.

50sWomen have been impacted and affected by many different factors including:

• Gender PayGap
• Gender PensionGap
• Lack of Equity
• Lack of Equality
• Proven Indirect & Direct Discrimination

See: https://davidhencke.com/…/direct-discrimination-former…/ for breaches of UK and International Law.
50sWomen and I am watching and waiting for the Government and the Work and Pensions Secretary to act promptly to set up Settlement-Talks.

With one affected woman dying every 13 minutes, they simply cannot afford to wait any longer for justice. Would you please write to the new Secretary of State on my behalf and commit to raising this in the Commons?

I would be grateful if you could reply to me very soon and as a matter of greatest urgency. Yours sincerely,

[Please include your full name, full address and Postcode and a contact telephone number to show you are a constituent]

The post 50s Women CEDAWinLAW campaign appeared first on Green Party Women.

Plastic Free July is an initiative by the Plastic Free Foundation and is a worldwide movement, where millions of people join in to be part of the solution to plastic pollution.

Green Party Women #PlasticFreeJuly Top Eco Tips

Throughout the month we have been be sharing resources to support the campaign. We have also been highlighting alternatives to plastics on our social media (X and Facebook).

We have been sharing our own #PlasticFree top eco tips. Some of our members and supporters have been sharing theirs with us too. Below is a selection of those we have highlighted so far.

Do you have a tip of your own that you would like to share with us? If so, email us at info@greenpartywomen.org.uk  with subject title #PlasticFreeJuly, and we will share your tip too.

The post #PlasticFreeJuly 2024 appeared first on Green Party Women.

Butterflies play a crucial role in the UK ecosystem, contributing significantly to biodiversity, pollination, and serving as indicators of environmental health. Their importance extends across various ecological and economic dimensions:

Pollinators

Butterflies are essential pollinators. They transfer pollen as they feed on nectar, helping flowering plants including many crops and wildflowers, to reproduce. This also supports the growth of fruits, seeds, and the overall health of plants.

The food chain

Butterflies and their larvae (caterpillars) are an integral part of the food web. They serve as prey for various predators, including birds, bats and other insects. This role helps to maintain the balance of the ecosystem by supporting the survival and reproduction of these predators.

Biodiversity

The UK is home to around 59 species of butterflies, each occupying specific habitats and niches. These species add to the richness of the UK’s wildlife and provide aesthetic and educational value. The presence of a variety of butterflies can also support other wildlife, such as birds and small mammals, which feed on them or their larvae.

Indicators of Environmental Health

Butterflies are excellent bioindicators, meaning their presence, absence, or abundance can give scientists valuable insights into the health of the environment. Changes in butterfly populations can indicate shifts in climate, habitat quality, and the effects of pollution. This sensitivity makes butterflies useful in monitoring ecological changes and guiding conservation efforts.

The Big Butterfly Count

The Big Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping scientists assess the health of the environment. It has run annually since 2010.

Since the 1970s, butterfly and moth numbers in the UK have significantly declined, signalling broader environmental issues. Tracking their numbers helps scientists monitor the health of nature and informs conservation efforts

Join in

By joining in on the count we are contributing to science, a science that is essential for conserving our natural world and overall biodiversity.

Download your butterfly ID chart below and hop on over to the Butterfly Count website to register and submit your count: Together we can do this.

The post The Big Butterfly Count appeared first on Green Party Women.