WECF News Flash October 2012

An overview of our latest activities

25.10.2012 |WECF

Dear Friends, members and partners of WECF,

Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) is a unique international network of over 150 women’s, environmental and health organisations implementing projects in 50 countries, implementing sustainable development alternatives locally, and promoting better policies globally. WECF voices the priorities of women for a healthy environment for all.

Do you believe that women's rights are the cornerstone of sustainable development and that it is high time that the right to a healthy environment for all, men and women became a reality? You can do your part! By becoming a Friend of WECF, you invest in a healthy environment for all, women, men and children, who want to work together for a fair, healthy and safer world for all.

Here's an overview of our latest activities:

1. Achieving Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation in the pan-European region

The first meeting of the ad-hoc Expert Group on Monitoring Progress in Achieving Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation in the pan-European Region took place on 27-28 September 2012 at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The work is a follow up of the publication of the document “No One Left Behind”, the mandate of the expert group is to develop and test a tool – a score card - that could be used by government and stakeholders to establish a baseline, track progress, and prompt discussions on further actions to be taken in order to achieve equitable access to water and sanitation. WECF was invited to contribute with its expertise. Read more...

2. 59th Congress of the German Society for Gyneacology and Obstetrics great opportunity for WECF to build EDC awareness

The Congress was a great opportunity for WECF to build EDC awareness as the mission of the DGGG is to provide up to date information to its 7000 members on issues concerning the area of gyneacology and obstetrics. Read more....

3. Sustainable House Insulation training of windows and roofs in Ukraine

"Up to 50 % of heating expenditures can be saved by repairing windows" The training given by WECF in cooperation with the French NGO Geres consisted of 2 consecutive days of theoretical lessons and 2 days of practical training (one day windows insulation, one day roof insulation). Window insulation was implemented in a school in Manevichi, a small rural community in western Ukraine.

The local Elementary school desperately needs to replace many broken and badly damaged windows before the country heads into the next winter where temperatures will plumet lower than -20 degrees. Insulated windows are needed to combat the severe temperatures experienced during the winter, and will stops draughts and massively reduce the school's heating costs. Read more...

4. Resignation of John Dalli, EU Commissionner for Health and Consumer Protection

Celebration is over: the European Union only had a few days to celebrate its recent Nobel Peace Prize. The resignation of John Dalli from its position of Commissioner in charge of Health and Consumer Protection provides a highly contrasting picture with the recent award. Read more....

5. Pesticides and harmful chemicals cause more than 900,000 deaths annually

In Africa consequences of the use of pesticides constitute third largest health cost after HIV/AIDS and malaria. The new UNEP Global Chemicals Outlook brings us devastating news on the death and sickness caused by imports of harmful chemicals and pesticides to developing countries, 964,000 people die and 20,986,153 people have damage from pesticides and chemicals, mostly in developing countries. Read more...

6. French Senate follows the road towards BPA-and EDCs-free products

On October 9th, French Senate approved a law banning Bisphenol A (BPA) from all food contact materials in 2015, and as from January 1st 2013 for those intended for 0 to 3 years old. Read more...

7. Can the German Energy turn around serve as Example for 'The Future We Want'?

WECF reports about the nuclear phase out and German energy turn around in conferences in Georgia and Kazakhstan. WECF was invited to present the challenges in Germany regarding nuclear phase out and energy turn around. Organized and invited by the “Greens Movement of Georgia” an international conference took place on September 25th in Tbilisi, Georgia about “Promotion of use of renewable energy sources and introduction of energy-efficient technologies in Georgia”. Read more...

8. Productive Sanitation in Kyrgyzstan – Workshop on the Use of Human Urine from Ecosan Toilets as Fertiliser in Agriculture

In the Issyk Kul region in Kyrgyzstan,more than 100 ecosan or urine diverting dry (UDD) toilets have been installed in the last couple of years. The technology is well accepted and new sanitation technologies are being appreciated, as toilets can be installed inside or adjacent to the house and do not smell. Read more...

WECF Publications

Endocrine disruptors: Threat to women’s health

WECF has launched a report in French called 'Menace sur la santé des femmes'. The report explains what hormone disruptors are and how these chemicals affect women’s reproductive systems - particularly at critical stages of development. It highlights key scientific research regarding contaminants linked to conditions including early puberty, infertility, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, breast cancer and others.

The launch of the report coincided with the decision of the international community to finally recognize the potential impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on health and the need to protect vulnerable groups. The report is based on the 2008 report Girl, Disrupted: Hormone Disruptors and Women’s Reproductive Health released by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment (the Fertility/ Reproductive Health working group). The US report was previously translated into German by WECF Germany

About WECF

Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) is an international network of over 130 women’s and environmental organisations in 40 countries, working in partnerships to demonstrate sustainable development alternatives at the local level and sharing lessons learned and promoting sustainable policies at global level. We have offices in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Our work concentrates on the women’s leadership and gender equality in sustainable development and environmental protection, focussing on thematic areas of chemicals safety, sustainable energy, safe food and rural development as and safe water and sustainable sanitation. WECF receives donations from foundations, private donors and institutional sponsors.

Get involved!
There are many ways to get involved in WECF's work. You can become a WECF member, a donor or a strategic partner. As an individual you can become a Friend of WECF or contribute in many other ways to our work and network.Becoming a Friend of WECF is a great way to support our work. Friends receive our newsletter, are updated on all our projects and workshops. Join us if you can, as member, partner or sponsor, to work with us on achieving our goal of a Healthy Environment for All.

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