Motion for the NEU
Conference recognises that there are many global environmental issues that threaten our future and in turn are likely to generate huge swathes of environmental refugees from all over the world.
With 1 tonne of plastic being dumped in the ocean every minute, it is a big contributing factor to the amount of waste being generated every day. As a result about 80% of tap water is contaminated by microplastic and therefore is major polluter and poses great risks to environmental and public health due to its structure and inability to fully break down.
Conference believes the importance of education in reducing single use plastic waste and the need to promote a sustainable zero plastic waste future. With plastic consumption growing each year there is a moral responsibility to set an example of being a ‘responsible’ and sustainable union.
Conference calls the executive to:
· request that all venues offer plastic biodegradable alternatives for future events, thereby supporting high expectations for treating the environment and society fairly
-Encourage members during meetings to use re-usable or biodegrable alternatives to single use plastics as much as possible
· look into ways of becoming a ‘environmentally responsible’ union, meaning that our duties extend globally toward people, the environment and society, setting an example to future generations
· Commit to educating our members on their personal choices through ‘responsible’ choices as a union
(Plastic statistic tap water)
SPEECH IDEAS
Considering just 5-7% of the two million tonnes of plastic waste created each year in the UK is recycled, I move that we reduce the plastic we use where possible, to move the NUT to supporting a more sustainable future for future generations. This can be done through action, by asking venues to supply non-wasteful means of acquiring water, and where possible, reducing plastic bottles and cups.
As we know there are many environmental issues the world faces, which threatens our future and the future of our children across the globe, which in turn is likely to generate huge swathes of environmental refugees from all over the world. Here is something we can help reduce. There are millions of tonnes of plastic in the oceans and we, as union, need to be setting an example of how to conduct business, as far as possible, in a more sustainable way. Reducing our support of plastic is one step. Plastic will and does end up in us, leaching its way into water supplies as well as moving its way up the food chain, as plastic never fully decomposes, just breaking down into smaller parts.
Considering by 2050 – or maybe earlier, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish with 1 tonne of plastic being dumped in the ocean every minute, we have a duty to set an example as a teaching union that supports our children’s future. New plastics will consume 20% of all oil production in the next 20 years – aiding global warming. 40% end up in landfill – while releasing potentially toxic chemicals into water ( while only 5%-7% are recycled – is it really that hard for our convenience ways to change slightly? Considering we fight for education, shall we not start by supporting the need to change our ways as a society through setting an example. We are teachers after all.
Plastic production has increased twentyfold since 1964. We don’t really need it.
Can we encourage, as a union, to use re-usable non plastic bottles? To ask venues whether they can provide non-plastic cups for us to drink out of? It’s not much, I think we can.