SciPodEM - East Midlands Science Podcasts

Penny Poyser Speech

In her speech to the LeicestHERDay at the Walker Stadium, Leicester, on 7 March 2008, Penney Poyzer advocated that women should be more militant about the environment.

Download it here: Penney Poyzer Speech 7 March 2008

Among other things she said:

For the past few years women have been passive about climate change.
Women make all the major consumer decisions in our homes. They have immense effect on the waste, the chemicals used in the home. Basically we manage the show.

She referred to the Women’s Climate Change Manifesto. This is a Women’s Institute initiative. Details and the manifesto itself can be found at http://www.nfwi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=226

We want more women to be involved in high level decisions when it comes to shaping our environment. Where are we?

She referred to the Stockholm Environment Institute which is at:
http://www.sei.se/index.php

The simple truth is we need to learn to live with less stuff. You can do it and save money and increase the quality not just of your life and those you live with but those across the globe.

She mentioned Transition Leicester
The Transition Towns web site is
www.transitiontowns.org/

She said that this winter bee-keepers have reported between 70% - 80% of their bee colonoies have died. They expect a usual wastage of 10%. For one article on the problem see
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7240456.stm

Also see the British Beekeepers Association web site at www.britishbee.org.uk

She proposed that those present should pledge to be the new Suffragettes, to empower every woman to take on the mantle of Green Guardian in the spirit of Alice Hawkins. See the book about her on http://www.leicestherday.org.uk/

She urged women to vote for the planet.

During subsequent speeches, Maureen Forrest suggested the name Suffragens, and Patricia Hewitt MP suggested Suffragreens. This name has now been registered. See the web site www.suffragreens.org.uk for more.