See also:

• Cutting your carbon emissions at home (69KB, opens in a new window

• Cutting your carnon emissions at the office (52KB, opens in a new window

International Women's Day - 3 Mar 07

Genesis Centre, Somerset College of Arts & Technology, Taunton

Registration and coffee on arrival at the Genesis Centre, giving me time to look at the environmental building I would be spending the day in. Lots of different materials have been used to create it, earth, cob, straw etc. Every part of the building seemed to give off an atmosphere of light and space, a great venue - well done the Regional Women's Committee for searching it out.

The Keynote speech was given by Jean Leston, Women's Environmental Network, 'Climate Change is a Gender Issue'. Jane spoke about Climate Change generally but she highlighted the fact that women have a huge role to play in cutting carbon emissions. As a general rule, women are the ones doing the shopping and running homes:

1. Choosing to buy local food, we can cut air-miles, look for less packaging on goods and refuse to use plastic carrier bags.
   
   
2. Switching to green energy suppliers and choosing energy efficient white goods etc., we can cut fuel consumption (and our bills)
   
   
3. Recycling, we will be educating our families and reducing waste.
   Jane gave all delegates something to think about as we went to our morning workshop, (Domestic Abuse, Women's Environmental Network, NHS or Fair Trade). I stayed with the Women's Environmental Network and Jane gave more ideas of ways to cut our carbon footprint. (See links in right-hand panel).

The lunch was buffet style and delicious, giving people plenty of opportunity to reacquaint themselves with old friends and colleagues and make new contacts or look at the stalls provided by Fair Trade, Black Members, Women in UNISON, White Rabbit Jewellery and Women's Stand.

Back into the conference room and a discussion on the Regional Women's Committee election processes and invitations to self nominate to join the committee (up to 16 members serve on this committee). We will be hearing shortly about the nominations.

The afternoon workshops were Creative Card Making, Tai Chi, Belly-dancing and Introduction to Reiki. I chose the Creative Card Making and started my Christmas Cards for 2007! The technique we used was quilling, very relaxing and enjoyable.

A quick drink before we were back to the conference room for a round up of the day. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and there had been some additional nominations for Regional Women's Committee during the day - a great result.

A date for your diary: 10 Mar 07 at Bristol, Black Members are holding an open session in the afternoon, after their Annual General Meeting.

Ann Hydes
e-mail:
☎ Tel. 01237 475242