Women's Views on News |
| Friends of the earth and women’s equality Posted: 07 Dec 2015 04:06 AM PST
Jenny Hawley, editor of Friends of the Earth's new book, Why Women Will Save the Planet, says the book shows that women's equality and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. And in researching the book, Hawley said, she was struck by the huge impact that women have had as pioneers of the environment movement. Eight women whose contributions are often unrecognised, underestimated or opposed are highlighted here. Eight extraordinary women who have stood up against discrimination, corporate interests and violent repression for a better, cleaner environment. Bina Agarwal (1951 – present): "I believe we want a world that is pro-poor, pro-development, and pro-environment." Indian economist, a leading thinker and advocate of women's roles in land management and conservation since the 1980s, she has influenced governments, international agencies and others worldwide. In 2004-5, Agarwal led a successful campaign in India to secure equal rights for Hindu men and women to own and inherit property, including land, in the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act. Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939 – present): "It is simple, really. Human health and the health of ecosystems are inseparable." Brundtland was the first female Prime Minister of Norway and chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development, whose 1987 Brundtland Report led to international action on sustainable development, including Agenda 21. Brundtland was one of the main targets of the massacre on Utøya island in 2011, but had left the island shortly before Anders Behring Breivik arrived. Daryl Hannah (1960 – present) "The younger generation is doing things that are so ingenious. And for them it's not a matter of a political belief or an environmental stance. It's really just common sense." American actor and environmental activist, she has used her media fame to draw attention to campaigns such as the protests against the TransCanada Keystone XL oil pipeline between Canada and the Gulf coast. Hannah narrated the 2012 film ‘Arise‘, about women and the environment worldwide. Erin Brockovich (1960 – present): "When women get together, they're a pretty tough force to push back." American activist made famous by a 2000 film about her work on the legal case against Pacific Gas and Electric Company for water contamination. She continues to bring legal cases for environmental pollution and public health. Brockovich has recently focused on cases related to women's reproductive and pharmaceutical care. Petra Kelly (1947 – 1992): "If there is a future, it will be Green." Co-founder of the German Green Party and leading international activist for peace and non-violence, ecology, feminism and human rights, Petra Kelly spent her teenage years in the USA where she was inspired by the civil rights movement. Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011): "It's the little things citizens do. That's what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees." Kenyan activist and politician, renowned for using community based tree planting to reduce poverty and conserve the environment, and for being the founder of the Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement has now planted more than 51 million trees across Kenya. When Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, she was the first African woman and the first environmentalist to do so. Rachel Carson (1907 – 1964): "Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." American scientist and conservationist whose 1962 book Silent Spring on artificial pesticides is credited with sparking the environment movement. Her powerful style of writing attracted widespread media attention, inspiring people to take action across the world. Before writing Silent Spring Carson worked as a marine biologist and wrote bestselling books, articles and radio scripts about marine life. Octavia Hill (1838 – 1912) "The need of quiet, the need of air, the need of exercise, the sight of sky and of things growing seem human needs, common to all." English social reformer who co-founded the National Trust and saved iconic London green spaces such as Brockwell Park to improve the health and wellbeing of the poor, Hill was the first to use the term ‘Green Belt’ for London. ‘Why Women Will Save the Planet’ was published by Zed Books in November. It is made up of a collection of articles and interviews, from some of the leading lights of the environmental and feminist movements, which demonstrate that achieving gender equality is vital if we are to protect the environment upon which we all depend. It is a rallying call to environmental campaigning groups and other environmentalists who have, on the whole, neglected women’s empowerment in their work. Friends of the Earth (FoE) hope that the book will encourage the environmental movement and women’s movement to join in fighting the twin evils of women’s oppression and environmental degradation, because social justice and environmental sustainability are two sides of the same coin. |
| Scottish gender gap report out Posted: 07 Dec 2015 03:43 AM PST
Close the Gap, a group which works in Scotland on women’s participation in the labour market, recently completed its second assessment of public authorities' compliance with the gender and employment requirements of the public sector equality duty. This new assessment has revealed a regression in public authorities’ compliance with the public sector equality duty. By 30 April 2015 listed public authorities were required to publish an updated mainstreaming report; updated gender-disaggregated employee data; a report on progress to meet equality outcomes; and an updated gender pay gap figure. Close the Gap looked at the same sample of public authorities that were included in its assessment of 2013 reporting, which included organisations from local government, higher and further education sector, the NHS, and non-departmental public bodies. And found that among the sample of public bodies assessed, compliance with the duty has largely regressed, with the majority of public authorities assessed as having lower scores than in 2013. Just under a third achieved an improved score. Key themes from the report include: incomplete, inconsistent, and insufficiently detailed gender-disaggregated data; significant under-reporting on pregnancy and maternity; more than half of the public authorities assessed had no outcomes on gender on employment; a significant lack of evidence on progress to meet equality outcomes; and inadequate gender pay gap reporting including miscalculations, poor or no analysis of the causes, and failure to set actions to address the pay gap. The full report is available here. The regression of public authorities' performance is particularly concerning as Close the Gap's assessment work of 2013 reporting, and research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, revealed that performance in 2013 was already poor. It is clear that there are significant challenges for public authorities in complying with the public sector equality duty. These include a lack of knowledge and understanding of gender equality, inadequate systems to gather and analyse employee data, and organisational cultures which result in a lack of prioritisation of equalities work. The persistent failure to meet the duty, and take action to make progress with gender equality means that women workers in the sector, and this is a sector where they comprise the majority of the workforce, will continue to face gendered barriers to equal participation at work. The findings of this assessment will inform the development of future Close the Gap work to support public authorities in complying with the duty. In the New Year, Close the Gap will be developing refreshed guidance for public authorities on gender and employment, equal pay, and occupational segregation to update the guidance published in 2012. Close the Gap is a partnership project that works to encourage and enable action to address the gender pay gap – working with employers and employees providing information, guidance and support. The project's partners include the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Equality and Human Rights Commission, and Scottish Trades Union Congress. |
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