Home & Country (Spring 2005)

              Home and Country Spring 2005

I n t e r n a t i o n a l Affairs
Irene Moir

Agriculture
Alice Lowis

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ur world's weather is certainly in a mess, rain and more rain in British Columbia, snow storms one after the other in the East, there is not time to clean up one before they have another storm to contend with. But even with this we are so much better off than the countries that the tsunami hit. We all hope that the relief goods and funds show how much we care. I was reading a magazine the other day and came upon information about the ACWW. The article stated that the ACWW is the world's largest international organization of rural women and was founded in 1933. Its members have done a great deal to help raise the standards of rural women and their families particularly those in developing countries together they have organized educational projects and skills training, worked hard on literacy programs , tackled health issues and helped them set up income-generating projects. We know that by working with other groups we can make a difference., remember some of the projects we have helped with, water wells for Kenya , Squares for Zambia , Iodine project, and of course our last one the Largot project. There were many more, how many do you remember? How much does your branch know about the ACWW ? Maybe you could have a program with a short quiz, or have several members bring information they have researched to the meeting. Remember we are a part of this great group of women. One thing is clear, we are still "all hoping the same hopes" and "dreaming the same dreams" and together we are making a difference. The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbour.wi

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E d u c a t i o n & Culture
Blanche Cunningham

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hank you ladies for all your interesting and informative reports. Many of you are already thinking of Alberta's Centennial Celebrations, compiling histories and planning events. Every child born in 2005 will be eligible for a centennial gift of $500 from the provincial Government in the form of a grant to open a Registered Education Savings Plan. The recipients will also receive $100 at age 8, 11, and14, if they are attending school in Alberta at that time. The parent must register the birth of their baby, obtain a social insurance number for the child, and open a RESP. This should be an incentive to start planning a child's post secondary education. The AWI Provincial Quilt is finished and will be presented to the government on Founder 's Day February 19, 2005. The remaining quilts are being finished. I believe about 40% are completed already. Thanks to all who were part of the project. Congratulations to those branches providing awards and scholarships to their local schools. Special thanks to those sponsoring speech arts and music at music festivals and sponsoring Girls' Club drama. Education is important to all of us. Keep learning and enjoying life in Alberta.wi

ll aspects o f Agriculture a r e on our minds b u t non more so that BSE. When our hope gets up we seem to get another blow, it is hoped other markets will open up soon so our farmers and ranchers can survive. Wendy Holmes in the Western Producer talks about "winter, a good time to take stock". A little cartoon with the caption "I sold my canola and made $10,000 more than I expected, but I sold my cattle and made $9,999 less than I expected .... could be a good year after all!!!" This tells the ongoing optimism of the farmer with tongue in cheek! M a r y MacArthur tells of a young farmer 's organization that will provide support for those young people just starting out. The Canadian Young F a r m e r s Federation will receive $228,500 of federal money to be used to help establish young farmers groups in all provinces. Farm help is urgently needed but the farmer cannot compete for workers. The money just is not there to pay the wages men can get in the oilfields. Farm gate retailing will be more prevalent in the future. Value added income gives them a better income without having to cope with varying markets. Checking the genetically modified foods issue, it just does not go away. A letter to the editor in the Western Producer talks about saving seed. For some years farmers and citizens have been f r e e l y selecting and growing their grains. Now the Director of the Canadian Seed Trade Association is quoted as saying "I don't think farmers ought to have a legal right to save seed!" The report of the Seed Sector Advisory Committee was done with $600,000 from the Department of Agriculture. What about farmers in developing countries that buy modified seed and then the next year have to buy it again? Is this the way to help these countries so say nothing of ourselves? Continue to study and investigate these things our future depends on what transpires.wi

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