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l Omen take action in their environment Page “WP he Federated Women’s Institutes of tario (FWIO) is an organization of er 19,000 members throughout the wince, whose focus is centred on the vironment. [n 1991, the Recycling Council of i tario granted their coveted award to y FWIO as exemplifying "the or- nization which has done the most to r uence public action with regard to are management and recycling." The Women’s Institute, however, nsiders environmental responsibility include much more than reducing, sing and recycling. After hours of oughtful discussion, "Women and ! eir Environment" was chosen as the . me and focal point for the ‘903. "But what," they asked, "does en- onment mean to us, as women?" nsensus, when reached, envisioned ee areas of concern for what sur- unds them and is most important in it lives ofwomen: First, â€" the personal environment â€" e development ofa woman's potential to become what she is capable of be- coming. It includes the fine-tuning of her senses, the honing of her intellect, the wholesome nutrition and fitness of her own body, a healthy mind open to new ideas, and the setting aside of time to know and experience the inner spirit that makes up her own personality. Second, once she has "her own house in order," a woman can more capably be involved with her second environment â€" her family and the community. The Women's Institute was built on two premises â€" Personal Development and Community Action. This program al- lowed women to meet, share ideas and learn, together, from speakers and from each other. Through their actions, women have "made a difference" in communities across Ontario. Canada, and the World. As we witness a shrinking planet, this organization offers a sense of comâ€" munity, a sense of belonging ! whether the neighbourhood is down the village street, on the next rural concession, or in our global village. But always, the centre of the second environment is the enhancement of the family and the strengthening of the family unit. Third â€" global ecology. Believing that nourishing her family is her most important role, today’s woman is con- cerned that her children and her grandchildren can breathe pure air, ex- perience clear sunsets, smell wild- flowers in the meadows and splash in sparkling,unpollutedstreams andlakes. Sheis also concerned that an abundance of clean, safe food from the fields and gardens of Ontario may continue to fill our tables, build strong bodies, and ful- fill our needs. Her commitment to global ecology and its careful preserva- tion, therefore, is herthird environment. The three environments of women 7 personal development, family and community, and global ecology v offer a challenging opportunity to make a difference. With almost a hundred years of experience, the Women's In- stitutes of Ontario commit themselves to the future. "Women and the Environment â€" It‘s In Our Hands." Peggy Knapp President, F W10 nviro-Tips: An update on the diaper debate Today, disposable diapers are still voured for convenience, but it is sigâ€" llcant that consumers are actively airing a choice. Those parents who oose reusable cloth diapers are aking a statement against the anufacture, use and "disposability" of ngle~use diapers. And some hospitals d daycare centres are making the itch back to cloth. Some advertisers argue that cloth and sposable diapers are equally harsh on -I environment. Disposable manufac- tets are happy to find (and fund) udies shoWing that production and use i cloth diapers produce more sewage « treatment, use more energy and ater, and generate more air emissions an the production of disposables. Bl“, it can be argued, the use of cloth aPers at least keeps sewage in its 0P” place, as well as reducing manufacturing waste. Diaper services are the most efficient way to launder cloth diapers since the pollution they create per capita lessens as more people use the service. However, parents who wash cloth diapers at home are saving at least $1000 over the cost of dis- posables, and they can choose to use soaps that are safe for the environment. Advertisements also imply that dis- posables can be composted into "food for the earth." The truth is that dis- posable manufacturers are spending a lot of money trying to compost diapers. Composting and recycling of diapers is being tested in two cities only, but it 15 considered too expensive for widespread implementation and would requireconsumerco-operation and han- dling ofdirty diapers. ' The consensus is that biodegradable diapers are not 3 Suitable alternative. They are made of photoâ€"degradable plastics that when buried permit neither a fast rate of nor complete decomposi~ tion to take place, And they still allow human waste to enter landfill sites. Al- though the race is on to produce a bac- teria-based plastic that will fully degrade, natural resources are still depleted in their manufacture. Really, can the convenience of or arguments for disposable, single-use diapers be worth it? When considering that each cloth diaper is used 50 to 200 times, the comparison becomes laughâ€" able. This information was synthesized from an article by Helene Manner that appeared in the September I 991 Canadian Journal ofHea/tlt andNntritr'an. H & COctober. November, Decembcr199l ll