Action Briefing Dec 2002 - Jan 2003
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Women's Enironmental Network Starting Up in Birmingham

Educating and empowering and informing women and men who care about the environment
Campaigning on environment and health issues from a female perspective

WEN has a network of local groups and contacts around the UK. Local WEN groups, networks and members are vital to our campaigning. They can develop campaigns, start new ones, take action on local issues and spread WEN ideas and ways of working.

Examples of local group action:
* Getting hundreds of women involved in mapping breast cancer incidence and sources of environmental pollution
* Persuading local authorities and health services to provide public information about real nappies and support Real Nappy Week
* Starting up local organic food growing groups
* Organising hundreds of protest actions against over-packaged goods
* Running stalls and ensuring a WEN presence at all sorts of fairs and festivals.

Local groups share WEN’s aims but are autonomous. They determine their own activities, using the skills and abilities of their members, and are legally and financially separate from national WEN. The national office provides support and information to the groups and staff are happy to speak to groups or public meetings.

Contact for Birmingham group: Ruth Hunt, 0121 429 8285; ruth@twoface68.freeserve.co.uk