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Learning Outcomes

1.9 and 2.5

Learning Intentions

I will learn about consumer responsibilities

I will reflect on the impact of my shopping.

I will learn about the impact businesses have on the environment through the production of clothes.

How might you use this stimulus material in class?

This video provides a great introduction to Fast Fashion - defining the problem and outlining the role of social and financial organisations in the industry.

Support resources: the question quadrant provides open and closed questions to support student discussion.

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Debate stimulus - this house would go vegetarian. 

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Debate stimulus - this house would go vegetarian. 

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LO: 1.9 & 1.10

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Becoming a vegetarian is an environmentally friendly thing to do. Modern farming is one of the main sources of pollution in our rivers. Beef farming is one of the main causes of deforestation, and as long as people continue to buy fast food in their billions, there will be a financial incentive to continue cutting down trees to make room for cattle. Because of our desire to eat fish, our rivers and seas are being emptied of fish and many species are facing extinction. Energy resources are used up much more greedily by meat farming than my farming cereals, pulses etc. Eating meat and fish not only causes cruelty to animals, it causes serious harm to the environment and to biodiversity. For example consider Meat production related pollution and deforestation

At Toronto's 1992 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Agriculture Canada displayed two contrasting statistics: "it takes four football fields of land (about 1.6 hectares) to feed each Canadian" and "one apple tree produces enough fruit to make 320 pies." Think about it - a couple of apple trees and a few rows of wheat on a mere fraction of a hectare could produce enough food for one person![1]

The 2006 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report concluded that worldwide livestock farming generates 18% of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions - by comparison, all the world's cars, trains, planes and boats account for a combined 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. [2]

As a result of the above point producing meat damages the environment. The demand for meat drives deforestation. Daniel Cesar Avelino of Brazil's Federal Public Prosecution Office says "We know that the single biggest driver of deforestation in the Amazon is cattle." This clearing of tropical rainforests such as the Amazon for agriculture is estimated to produce 17% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.[3] Not only this but the production of meat takes a lot more energy than it ultimately gives us chicken meat production consumes energy in a 4:1 ratio to protein output; beef cattle production requires an energy input to protein output ratio of 54:1.

The same is true with water use due to the same phenomenon of meat being inefficient to produce in terms of the amount of grain needed to produce the same weight of meat, production requires a lot of water. Water is another scarce resource that we will soon not have enough of in various areas of the globe. Grain-fed beef production takes 100,000 liters of water for every kilogram of food. Raising broiler chickens takes 3,500 liters of water to make a kilogram of meat. In comparison, soybean production uses 2,000 liters for kilogram of food produced; rice, 1,912; wheat, 900; and potatoes, 500 liters.[4] This is while there are areas of the globe that have severe water shortages. With farming using up to 70 times more water than is used for domestic purposes: cooking and washing. A third of the population of the world is already suffering from a shortage of water.[5] Groundwater levels are falling all over the world and rivers are beginning to dry up. Already some of the biggest rivers such as China's Yellow river do not reach the sea.[6]

With a rising population becoming vegetarian is the only responsible way to eat.

[1] Stephen Leckie, 'How Meat-centred Eating Patterns Affect Food Security and the Environment', International development research center

[2] Bryan Walsh, Meat: Making Global Warming Worse, Time magazine, 10 September 2008.

[3] David Adam, Supermarket suppliers 'helping to destroy Amazon rainforest', The Guardian, 21st June 2009.

[4] Roger Segelken, U.S. could feed 800 million people with grain that livestock eat, Cornell Science News, 7th August 1997.

[5] Fiona Harvey, Water scarcity affects one in three, FT.com, 21st August 2003

[6] Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, Yellow river 'drying up', BBC News, 29th July 2004

COUNTERPOINT

You don't have to be vegetarian to be green. Many special environments have been created by livestock farming - for example chalk down land in England and mountain pastures in many countries. Ending livestock farming would see these areas go back to woodland with a loss of many unique plants and animals. Growing crops can also be very bad for the planet, with fertilisers and pesticides polluting rivers, lakes and seas. Most tropical forests are now cut down for timber, or to allow oil palm trees to be grown in plantations, not to create space for meat production.

British farmer and former editor Simon Farrell also states: "Many vegans and vegetarians rely on one source from the U.N. calculation that livestock generates 18% of global carbon emissions, but this figure contains basic mistakes. It attributes all deforestation from ranching to cattle, rather than logging or development. It also muddles up one-off emissions from deforestation with on-going pollution."

He also refutes the statement of meat production inefficiency: "Scientists have calculated that globally the ratio between the amounts of useful plant food used to produce meat is about 5 to 1. If you feed animals only food that humans can eat - which is, indeed, largely the case in the Western world - that may be true. But animals also eat food we can't eat, such as grass. So the real conversion figure is 1.4 to 1."[1] At the same time eating a vegetarian diet may be no more environmentally friendly than a meat based diet if it is not sustainably sourced or uses perishable fruit and vegetables that are flown in from around the world. Eating locally sourced food can has as big an impact as being vegetarian.[2]

[1] Tara Kelly, Simon Fairlie: How Eating Meat Can Save the World, 12 October 2010

[2] Lucy Siegle, 'It is time to become a vegetarian?' The Observer, 18th May 2008

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Becoming a vegetarian is an environmentally friendly thing to do. Modern farming is one of the main sources of pollution in our rivers. Beef farming is one of the main causes of deforestation, and as long as people continue to buy fast food in their billions, there will be a financial incentive to continue cutting down trees to make room for cattle.

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Debate/discussion - This house would buy locally produced food 

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Debate/discussion - This house would buy locally produced food 

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LO 1.9 & 1.10

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Business Link, 'An overview of the UK economy', http://www.ukwelcomes.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1083990553&site=2000&type=RESOURCES, accessed 29 September 2011

Chambers A., 'Not so fair trade', guardian.co.uk, 12 December 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/dec/12/fair-trade-fairtrade-kitkat-farmers, accessed 7 September 2011

CUESA, 'Food Quality', the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, 23 September 2004, http://www.cuesa.org/article/food-quality, accessed 29 September 2011

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, 'The balance of funding between direct payments and payments for environmental public goods', parliament.uk, 15 April 2011, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmenvfru/671/67111.htm, accessed 29 September 2011

Harvey, Fiona, 'Europe's farmland birds in decline', The Guardian, 24 August 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/24/europe-farmland-birds-on-decline, accessed 29 September 2011

Hawkes S., 'Tesco cashes in on taste for local food and drink', The Times, 26 August 2009, http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/retailing/article4608139.ece, accessed 6 September 2011

Irving S., 'How fair trade can help tackle poverty and bring peace to conflict zones', guardian.co.uk, 19 February 2010 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/feb/22/fair-trade-conflict-poverty, accessed 5 September 2011

Linster, Greg, 'Protect the Environment: Eat Global!', Coffee Theory, 12 April 2011, http://coffeetheory.com/2011/04/12/protect-the-environment-eat-global/, accessed 7 September 2011

Lusk J. and Norwood, B., 'The Locavore's Dilemma: Why Pineapple Shouldn't Be Grown in North Dakota', published 3 January 2011, http://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2011/LuskNorwoodlocavore.html, accessed 8 September 2011

Martinez, Steve, 'Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues', Economic Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture, May 2010, http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR97/ERR97_ReportSummary.pdf, accessed 29 September 2011

McKie R., 'How the myth of food miles hurts the planet', guardian.co.uk, 23 March 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/23/food.ethicalliving, accessed 7 September 2011

Meikle, James, 'Farmland bird numbers in England fall to record low', guardian.co.uk, 29 July 2010, http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/farmland-birds-record-low, accessed 29 September 2011

Poulter, Sean, 'Why frozen vegtables are fresher than fresh', MailOnline, 5 March 2010, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1255606/Why-frozen-vegetables-fresher-fresh.html, accessed 29 September 2011

Renton A., 'British farmers forced to pay the cost of supermarket price wars', guardian.co.uk, 2 July /2011 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jul/02/british-farmers-supermarket-price-wars, accessed 7 September 2011

Schmit J., '"Locally grown" food sounds great, but what does it mean?', 31 October 2008, http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-10-27-local-grown-farms-produce_N.htm, accessed 6 September 2011

Schwartz J., 'Buying Local: How It Boosts the Economy', TimeBusiness, 11 June 2009 http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903632,00.html, accessed 7 September 2011

ScienceDaily.com, 'Want To Reduce Your Food-Related Carbon Footprint? What You Eat Is More Important Than Where It Came From', 22 April 2008, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421161338.htm, accessed 7 September 2011

Sustainable table, 'Why buy local?', January 2009, http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/whybuylocal/#fn5, accessed 7 September 2011

Tozzi J., 'To Beat Recession, Indies launch Buy-Local Push', Bloomberg Businessweek, 27 February 2009 http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/feb2009/sb20090226_752622_page_2.htm, accessed 7 September 2011

Taylor D., 'NGO tries to "Rediscover" Traditional African Food', Voice of America, 9 June 2011 http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/pan/NGO-tries-to-Rediscover-Traditional-African-Food--123540109.html, accessed 5 September 2011

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, 'Local products too expensive: Consumers', 23 August 2011 http://www.zbc.co.zw/news-categories/business/11327-local-prouducts-too-expensive-consumers.html, accessed 7 September 2011

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This House would buy locally produced food

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Business Link, 'An overview of the UK economy', http://www.ukwelcomes.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1083990553&site=2000&type=RESOURCES, accessed 29 September 2011 Chambers A., 'Not so fair trade', guardian.co.uk, 12 December 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/dec/12/fair-trade-fairtrade-kitkat-farmers, accessed 7 September 2011 CUESA, 'Food Quality', the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, 23 September 2004, http://www.cuesa.org/article/food-quality, accessed 29 September 2011 Environment, Food and

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Learning Outcomes

1.2, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, 2.5, 2.6, 3.2

Learning Intentions

Students will learn about what makes a brand sustainable, and also what makes a brand unsustainable.

Students will learn about factors that affect consumer choice

Students will learn about how sustainability can be advertised

How might you use this stimulus material in class?

This article describes how 'greenwashing' takes place, which is when brands try to convince consumers that they are 'planet friendly' but in reality have made little to no changes to be sustainable. I believe students may be interested in this as most of them will be aware of the celebrity culture surrounding the Kardashians, and will make the topic more realistic for them

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Learning Outcomes

1.9
2.4

Learning Intentions

I will learn about consumer responsibilities.

I will learn about the importance of transparency in the supply chain.

I will learn about employee rights and employer responsibilities.

I will learn about the ethical issues associated with fast fashion.

How you might use this stimulus material in class

Students should have an initial discussion in groups on how many of them have a mobile phone, how many of their parents have cars, how many of them have been on a plane etc. Follow this up with what do they think all of these items are made of and where do the raw materials come from. Could also ask them some questions in groups about how old they were when they started their first summer job and what it involved and how much they got paid.

The video should be watched using a worksheet that asks the students specific questions that can be answered by watching the video but also questions about how it makes them feel and what they think should or can be done about the issue.

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Children Labor For Pennies Mining Mica In Madagascar | TODAY

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learning outcomes
1.9 & 2.4

Learning intentions
I will learn about social and ethical responsibility of consumer
I will learn about the negative impacts of choices consumers and businesses make
I will explore social responsibilities of businesses and how a business can promote sustainability

Support resources
Question quadrant to distinguish between rights and responsibilities
Engage students with changes business are making - primark website

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We use a range of manmade and natural fibres, but cotton is the main natural fibre used to make our products.

We don't buy any raw materials directly - including cotton - as our suppliers and their approved factories are responsible for sourcing materials. But we care deeply about where the materials used to make our products come from.

This issue is so important for us that we've committed to making all our clothing using recycled fibres or more sustainably sourced materials by 2030.

Spotlight on cotton

From pyjamas to t-shirts, baby grows, jeans, towels and bedding, cotton is a key natural fibre we rely on to make our products. That's why we're committed to bringing more sustainably sourced cotton to customers at affordable prices.

So what do we mean by sustainable cotton? For us it's cotton sourced through our Sustainable Cotton Programme and grown using more natural and regenerative farming methods, including reducing water, pesticide and chemical fertiliser use and training farmers in these methods. But that's not all - we want the cotton we use to improve the livelihoods of the farmers who grow it by increasing the income earned from cotton production.

We're stretching ourselves - setting ourselves the goal of ensuring all the cotton used in our supply chain is organic, recycled or sourced from our Sustainable Cotton Programme, without passing the cost onto our customers.

Our Sustainable Cotton Programme

Cotton is often grown by farmers on small farms in rural communities in countries including India and Pakistan. These farmers have little knowledge of environmentally friendly farming methods and there is low or no access to support or formal training. That's why we teamed up with agricultural experts CottonConnect and the Self-Employed Women's Association in 2013 to create the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme.

The programme launched with 1,251 female farmers in Gujarat, India. Since then we've seen transformative results. The quality of cotton has improved and on average, farmers who have completed the three-year training programme have increased their profits by over 200%. Many of the farmers have used their increased profits to invest in equipment for their farms, educate their children, or improve their housing and lifestyle.

The programme has now expanded into other countries, including Pakistan, where we're working with CottonConnect and a local partner.

Overall we have now committed to train 275,000 farmers by the end of 2023, equipping them with the knowledge and means to grow cotton using more sustainable farming methods.

In 2017 we started to use the cotton from the programme in one of our most popular ranges - women's pyjamas - at no extra cost to our customers. Since then we've been increasing its use year on year, as we work towards our long-term ambition of ensuring that all the cotton used in our supply chain is organic, recycled or sourced from our Sustainable Cotton Programme. We now have ranges including nightwear, denim, t-shirts and homeware, all made from cotton grown by farmers in our programme.

Kanchanben is a 40-year-old female farmer who was trained through the Sustainable Cotton Programme in India. She grows cotton on six acres of her land. Through the programme, Kanchanben has halved the amount of chemical fertiliser she uses and increased her cotton yield. As a result, she has made more money, which she has since invested in her children's education.

Forensic science and the supply chain

The cotton supply chain is notoriously complex. When we started the Sustainable Cotton Programme in 2013 ensuring traceability from farm to store was one of our ambitions. We work with CottonConnect to trace cotton from the participating farmers all the way through our supply chain. We are able to segregate the cotton through the supply chain and track it using Cotton Connect's proprietary system, TraceBale. Given the complexity surrounding traceability, we wanted to go the extra mile to ensure that when we say a product is made using sustainable cotton, grown by farmers in our programme, it really is, which is why we also partnered with Oritain.

Oritain uses forensic science to identify the original source of the cotton and validate the information on the TraceBale system. We were one of the first high street retailers to partner with Oritain and the only one to use this technology at such scale.

To identify the source of the cotton, Oritain uses the same forensic science that's been used in criminal investigations for more than 40 years, to test what exists naturally in a product. Cotton naturally absorbs different levels of chemical elements specific to the local climate and geological conditions it's grown in. Oritain tests the differences in these elements and uses the data to create a unique 'Origin Fingerprint' that can't be replicated.

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Sustainable Cotton Programme | Primark Cares (Ireland)

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We use a range of manmade and natural fibres, but cotton is the main natural fibre used to make our products. We don't buy any raw materials directly - including cotton - as our suppliers and their approved factories are responsible for sourcing materials.

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Developing and Sustaining farming communities in Ethiopia 

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Developing and Sustaining farming communities in Ethiopia 

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E.y explain how economic growth can impact positively and negatively on society and the environment and justify the promotion of sustainable development

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They say write what you know about. But why not go one step further. Why not teach what you know about? At Keogh's we know a thing or two about growing potatoes. From when it's the right time to sow, to the perfect weather and when to harvest. There is a science behind it and we have perfected it. We have been doing it for centuries and we will continue producing Ireland's finest potatoes for centuries to come. For 200 years we have been driven to produce at the highest standards while having the environment front of mind.

We embarked on a journey to teach our methods and reduce our carbon footprint on the environment. This journey then saw us begin to share our knowledge. Develop skills, make connections and start new friendships.

Our friendship with Vita the 'Irish Based International Development Agency' brought us to the highlands of Southern Ethiopia where they have established potato cultivation in the region. 'Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, but teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime'. Makes sense. So, why not with the 'humble' potato?

So, we began to share our knowledge on how to grow a healthy, delicious spud! We were there to lend a hand. Not just give a handout. And that's what we did, and what we continue to do. We are assisting in providing homes in Southern Ethiopia with custom built fuel saving stoves, which cut down on the amount of fuel burnt. We are also installing wells for fresh, clean water. All these elements helped in cultivating the land and provided a better base to grow potatoes, as well as helping the environment.

Knowledge is power. The farmers of Southern Ethiopia have gained the knowledge and have the power to farm and produce their own potatoes. We are also providing them with the know-how and the tools to grow, harvest and most importantly, store their crop, especially when needed for the hunger months each year. These skills have helped them strive and become sustainable. Our continued work and contributions to Southern Ethiopia have also had a positive effect on all of us here at Keogh's.

Not only are we helping and nurturing the potential of these farmers, we have been reducing our carbon footprint on the environment and we are proud to say, we are now a carbon neutral business. This is something we are very proud of. We are very humbled by this, and our help and know-how won't stop. We are in this for the long run.

We shared, and we continue to share our knowledge with farmers in Southern Ethiopia to help them create, sustain and grow their own. Grow their own potatoes and in turn, grow their own business. They have and will continue to develop their skills to farm potatoes. And who knows, in the future begin to produce and sell their own crisps. Like we said, this is an ongoing story, where generations to come will benefit from a cleaner environment, both at home and abroad.

We are Keogh's. We are spreading sustainability and now, we are powered by knowledge.

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They say write what you know about. But why not go one step further. Why not teach what you know about? At Keogh's we know a thing or two about growing potatoes. From when it's the right time to sow, to the perfect weather and when to harvest.

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Highlights from the Energy in Ireland report

Overview

National energy use makes up 57% of Ireland's total greenhouse gas emissions.

The public health measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching impacts on all aspects of society during 2020, including on our energy use and resulting CO2 emissions.

Total energy consumption fell by 8.7%.

Practically all reductions in energy consumption were localised to the transport sector because of reduced mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oil use decreased by 16.5% - the largest annual reduction observed to date - largely due to reduced transport energy use.

Energy-related CO2 emissions

Energy related CO2 emissions, including international aviation fell by 11.4%. (4.3 million tonnes of CO2)

Almost half of the observed CO2 reductions are due to the drop in international aviation, with a 78% reduction in passenger numbers and a 65% reduction in flight numbers.

Energy related CO2 emissions excluding international aviation decreased by 6.3% (2.1 million tonnes). This is less than the amount that will need to be achieved on average every year from 2021 to 2030 to meet our long-term decarbonisation goals.

The reduction in oil-product use lowered CO2 emissions by 3.5 million tonnes, with most of these savings being made in the transport sector

Renewable Energy Targets

Ireland did not meet its 2020 overall renewable energy target. The overall share of renewable energy was 13.5%, compared to the target of 16%.

Ireland succeeded against its EU 2020 renewable energy target for transport (10.2% vs. 10%), and just missed its renewable energy target for electricity (39.1% vs. 40%).[1]

Ireland achieved just half its 2020 renewable energy target for heating and cooling (6.3% vs. 12%).

Energy from renewable sources grew by 8.9% in 2020.

Transport

There were significant restrictions on personal mobility during 2020 which had direct effects on transport energy use, especially on international aviation and private cars.

Total transport energy use was down by over a quarter (-26%).

The single largest sectoral reduction in oil-product use was the two-thirds drop in jet kerosene use for international aviation (64.3%).

Consumption of road diesel and petrol were down 13.6% and 25.9%, respectively.

Electricity

Peat use fell by a third, mainly due to a halving of peat for electricity generation.

42% of all electricity generated in 2020 came from renewable sources.

86% of all renewable electricity came from wind, with the remaining 14% evenly split across hydroelectricity and bioenergy sources.

Ireland had a total installed wind capacity of 4.3 GW at the end of 2020 - an increase of 180 MW on 2019.

There has been a strong reduction in the CO2 intensity of electricity generation, especially after 2016, with intensity falling below 300 gCO2/kWh for the first time in 2020. It is now less than half of its 2005 value.

Heat

Energy related CO2 emissions from heating increased by 2.6% or 0.4 million tonnes, due mostly to an increase in residential oil use.

CO2 emissions from residential heating increased by 9.1% or 0.6 million tonnes and the sector was responsible for 53% of CO2 emissions from heating.

[1] The normalisation calculation as prescribed in Annex II of the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) applies to electricity generated from hydropower and wind power and is designed to even out the effects of weather variation.

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SEAI publishes Energy in Ireland report 2021

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Overview National energy use makes up 57% of Ireland's total greenhouse gas emissions. The public health measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching impacts on all aspects of society during 2020, including on our energy use and resulting CO2 emissions. Total energy consumption fell by 8.7%.

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Infographic as hook activity for students

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Learning Outcomes:
1.7 Distinguish between and appreciate their rights and responsibilities as consumers
1.9 Debate the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from their consumption of goods and services and evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development through consumer behaviour
1.10 Discuss and evaluate how globalisation and developments in technology impact on consumer choice and behaviour
2.4 Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities of employer and employee from a legal, social, environmental and ethical perspective

Possible Activities:
Ask students to analyse their own food production/ wastage (perhaps over a week)

Research (using resources) possible reasons for food wastage both in the household and in businesses such as websites etc.

Research the effects of food wastage on different aspects of society i.e. the environment, the economy etc.

Suggest possible solutions/ measures to reduce wastage

Resources:
https://stopfoodwaste.ie/
https://www.mywaste.ie/what-to-do-with-my-food-waste/
https://www.bordbia.ie/industry/news/food-alerts/frightening-facts-on-food-waste/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/fight-climate-change-by-preventing-food-waste#:~:text=When%20we%20waste%20food%2C%20we,more%20potent%20than%20carbon%20dioxide.

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Learning Outcome 3.7

Use 2023 race calendar plus a map of the world to plot the different flights companies must take to appear at each track. Now rearrange the calendar to reduce the amount of flights that race teams must take.

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Learning Outcomes:
1.7 Distinguish between and appreciate their rights and responsibilities as consumers
1.9 Debate the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from their consumption of goods and services and evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development through consumer behaviour
1.10 Discuss and evaluate how globalisation and developments in technology impact on consumer choice and behaviour
2.4 Distinguish between the rights and responsibilities of employer and employee from a legal, social, environmental and ethical perspective

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Trends, tips, recipes and best practices against food waste: the place to learn about food waste and how to fight it!

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Learning Outcomes
1.3
2.4

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The Oireachtas Gender Equality Committee will today discuss pay and workplace conditions with representatives from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

The meeting will focus on the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on the gender pay gap, the minimum wage and the right to collective bargaining.

"We look forward to discussing recommendations relating to pay and workplace conditions particularly as we emerge from the pandemic and workplaces try to implement hybrid, flexible and remote working schemes," said Committee Cathaoirleach Ivana Bacik.

In its report, the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality recommended that the State should set targets in legislation to reduce the hourly gender pay gap from 14% to 9% by 2025 and to 4% by 2030, with a view to eliminating it by 2035.

The report also recommended that the Gender Pay Gap Information Bill should be enacted and implemented without delay and the new law should include penalties for non-compliance and an obligation for annual reporting.

In his opening statement, ICTU's David Joyce is expected to tell the Committee that Congress is pleased that gender pay gap audits are currently under way in workplaces of greater than 250 employees and that ICTU will next week publish a guide for trade union workplace representatives participating in the process.

The first pay gap reports are due to be published in December.

"Trade unions will be knocking on employers' doors from December seeking discussions and agreement as to how any gaps identified will be addressed in a timely and effective manner," Mr Joyce is expected to tell the Committee.

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Oireachtas committee to discuss gender pay gap

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The Oireachtas Gender Equality Committee will today discuss pay and workplace conditions with representatives from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The meeting will focus on the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on the gender pay gap, the minimum wage and the right to collective bargaining.

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Learning Outcomes
1.1 and 2.5
Learning Intentions
I will reflect on the impact this initiative will have on equality

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L.O. 1.9 Debate the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from their consumption of goods
and services and evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development
through consumer behaviour

L.O. 3.1 Explain how scarcity of economic resources results in individuals having to make
choices; predict possible consequences of these choices

Learning intentions-
Identify the impact consumer choice has on the environment
importance of sustainability
decision making
opportunity cost

Introduce food miles
discussion around food eaten where they come from- the impact of same.
Highlight local food producers- local markets on thursdays/saturday.
Packaging and biodegradable.
business that promote sutainability- make up and reusable packaging/recycling.

survey class and create a poster showing where the foods they eat have travelled from

Link to social enterprise- food cloud.

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Fairtrade is based on a partnership between some of the most disadvantaged farmers and workers in the developing world and the people who buy their products

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LO: 1.9 & 1.10
Students can work in pairs or small groups. Each group should be given a few images from the booklet attached relating to food waste. Ask students to discuss the images & fill in the stair steps graphic organiser, ask them to discuss how food waste can be minimised from different perspectives (e.g. farmer, commercial food producers, supermarkets, schools, individual consumers etc.)
Identify step-by-step strategies for reducing waste.
Identify the environmental impact of such food waste, how each of the groups above contribute to food waste, social impacts of food waste.

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Vico Irish Natural Deodorant; a natural deodorant 

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Learning Outcomes
1.9 and 2.5

Learning Intentions
I will learn about the responsibilities I have as a consumer.
I will learn about how my daily/habits choices effect the environment.
I will learn about the social responsibilities of businesses through the production of consumer goods.

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Natural Deodorant
That works

Natural Deodorant with a difference

Cruelty Free & Vegan

Sustainable

Irish Made

No Nasty Chemicals

Love the scent and love the fact that I'm buying from a local Irish business

Sarah Mallen

I'm loving this new Vico Deodrant. It works brilliantly and it's natural!! Exactly what we need in this world.

Jo D

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Vico Irish Natural Deodorant; a natural deodorant that works!

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We're Vico, a new sustainable natural deodorant small business based out of Ireland. Our deodorant is free from nasty chemicals like aluminium and paraben. Our deodorant is also sustainable, our packaging is biodegradable and the deodorant is made in Ireland. Vico is a natural deodorant actually works!

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Learning Outcomes:
3.9, 3.10, 3.11

Learning Intentions:
I will learn about economic indicators and how they impact on individuals and the economy.

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Sinn Féin launch €1.1 billion Alternative Budget for Health 2023 ‘Funding Fairer Healthcare’ – David Cullinane TD

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16 September, 2022 - by David Cullinane TD

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Learning Outcomes:
1.9
2.4

Learning Intentions
I will learn about employer responsibilities and employee rights
I will consider the impact of my purchases
I will learn about consumer responsibilities

How you might use this stimulus material in class:
Students to discuss labels they purchase as introduction. List 3 responsibilities of an employer, 3 rights of an employee and 3 responsibilities of a consumer.
Read article and have questions prepared for follow up

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The fast fashion brand Boohoo is selling clothes made by Pakistani factory workers who say they face appalling conditions and earn as little as 29p an hour, an investigation by the Guardian has found.

In interviews in the industrial city of Faisalabad, workers at two factories claimed they were paid 10,000PKR (£47) a month, well below the legal monthly minimum wage for unskilled labour of 17,500PKR, while making clothes to be sold by Boohoo.

Documentary, video and photographic evidence also appears to support claims of potential safety issues, including motorbikes being parked indoors next to flammable materials. In the rush to produce clothes for the western market, insiders claimed workers would sometimes do 24-hour shifts.

One of more than a dozen workers interviewed said: "I know we are exploited and paid less than the legal minimum, but we can't do anything ... if I leave the job another person will be ready to replace me."

After the Guardian approached Boohoo about the findings, the company suspended a supplier, JD Fashion Ltd, and a factory, AH Fashion, from its supply chain while it investigated the claims.

Another factory, Madina Gloves, denied workers' claims that it had recently been making clothes for Boohoo. AH Fashion, which is closed for construction work, acknowledged it had fulfilled an order for the brand as recently as October.

Boohoo said a third-party audit at AH Fasion on 2 November had found the factory working with no problems. It later said its own auditors had paid a separate visit in response to the allegations and said the factory was a "building site". The auditors said they were told by the owner it had been closed throughout November for significant construction - a claim disputed by workers who said they were there more recently.

The Guardian was able to buy a £30 tracksuit on Boohoo's website this month that appeared to match fabrics and identifying labels seen in video footage filmed at AH Fashion. A week after Boohoo was alerted to allegations that the item was made by workers paid less than the minimum wage, it remained on sale.

A JD label on the tracksuit bought by the Guardian. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The Guardian

The news comes months after Boohoo, one of Britain's best-known fast fashion brands, faced the damaging fallout from the discovery of poor conditions in factories in Leicester. Since then its share price has started to recover, and in September investors saw a 51% year-on-year surge in profits.

While the firm's code of conduct for suppliers sets out a list of minimum standards that must be met by manufacturers of its clothes anywhere in the world, workers in two factories based in the Samanabad area of Faisalabad allege that:

While some are paid the legal minimum wage, others say they earn far less and receive no receipt or payslip to record their income.

At Madina Gloves, which manufactures a range of clothes, workers are often ordered to work unreasonably long shifts without full overtime pay, stretching to 24 hours straight before major deadlines.

Accommodation provided by Madina Gloves is squalid and one worker said they went without running water there for days at a time.

Video footage seen by the Guardian appeared to show:

Potential fire risks at AH Fashion, including piles of fabric stacked up in walkways and near a boiler, and one clip showing motorbikes parked inside next to cardboard boxes. A visitor told the Guardian they saw similar issues at the factory three weeks ago.

AH Fashion workers at their stations with construction under way and scaffolding balanced on piles of bricks.

The factories, which each employ more than 100 people, denied any wrongdoing and said workers were paid in accordance with local laws. Madina Gloves said claims of low pay and mistreatment of workers were "totally wrong", while AH Fashion said workers were always paid and treated fairly.

A toilet provided by Madina Gloves.

JD Fashion, a Preston-based intermediary that has supplied Boohoo with items produced at AH Fashion, said its last order there was in October and there was no Boohoo order currently in place, while AH and Madina denied they were currently supplying Boohoo. JD Fashion has no connection to the retailer JD Sports.

Boohoo said it "will not tolerate any instance of mistreatment or underpayment of garment workers". It said it was unaware of its clothes being made at Madina Gloves, and that AH Fashion was not on its approved supplier list for JD for an order delivered to the UK on 11 December.

The £30 colour-block tracksuit bought by the Guardian from that consignment matched a design visible in one of the videos recorded at AH Fashion - and featured a distinctive "JD" label similar to one seen being sewn into an item in another clip.

Other videos and pictures taken at the two factories also appear to corroborate workers' claims that they have been making clothes for Boohoo recently, with the brand's labels and logos visible.

Auditing professionals, who asked to remain anonymous because of their position in the industry, watched the videos showing piled-up fabrics, motorbikes indoors and poles on bricks at AH Fashion, and said they considered the footage raised questions over fire risks and general safety.

One auditor who viewed the videos said they presented potential issues but not conclusive evidence of the level of risk. Another called them a possible "recipe for disaster", and added: "If I [was asked] to do an audit, I would refuse and ask [the] brand to pull goods out of the factory immediately ... I would run out of the factory if I saw this." AH said construction work and a lack of space were responsible.

Quick Guide
Company responses to Boohoo allegations in full

Company responses to Boohoo allegations in full
Boohoo: "In July, in light of concerns raised about the group's UK supply chain, the group commissioned an independent review of its UK supply chain. This review highlighted issues with unauthorised subcontracting in our supply chain and the group took immediate action by deploying additional third party auditing resource both in the UK and overseas to map and audit our supply chain, with the intention of publishing our UK supplier list by March 2021 and global supplier list by September 2021.

Following the very concerning claims made by the Guardian we immediately began an investigation. The early results of this investigation show that JD Fashion had not declared AH Fashion as a sub-contractor and that they were therefore not authorised or approved to be part of our supply chain. We have immediately suspended any dealings with JD Fashion whilst we investigate this further.

As part of our international compliance programme, independent compliance and auditing specialists, Bureau Veritas are on the ground in Faisalabad and we have instructed them to immediately investigate these claims and complete unannounced audits on both factories.

As we have previously stated, we will not tolerate any instance of mistreatment or underpayment of garment workers in our supply chain. Any supplier who does not treat their workers with the respect they deserve has no place in the Boohoo supply chain."

Boohoo also indicated it was unaware of its clothing being manufactured at Madina Gloves.

JD Fashion: In response to allegations that the company has been sourcing clothes from AH Fashion, which paid less than minimum wage, the managing director, Akhter Warraich, said in a phone interview that workers were "being paid as per the labour laws of the local country, Pakistan". In a later email he said that "currently there is no order" with AH Fashion because of a lack of demand and building work being done on the premises, with the last order having been placed in October.

Warraich added that JD representatives "visit the factory once a week" to check garment quality and to "interact with employees if there is any problem to resolve with management and for general safety".

He said the company relied on audits by the ethical trade membership organisation Sedex being conducted under Boohoo guidelines and that, like other factories, AH Fashion had been subject to that process. He concluded: "After this Leicester compliance issue, Boohoo has appointed Bureau Veritas CPS as third party for social audit and we have advised all suppliers to get audited."

AH Fashion: Responding on behalf of the company, Akbar Ali said: "All workers are paid according to the local labour laws [which mandate 17,500 PKR per month] and no one is on/below 10,000 PKR per month." He said some workers were on contract and "paid on the basis of daily output", and that these workers had agreed to a rate paid per garment completed.

Ali said video footage which experts said appeared to raise questions about fire safety risks, including piles of fabric heaped in walkways, reflected a "shortage of space" and that materials were usually kept out of the way. An expansion was under way to increase available space, he added. In response to a video appearing to show motorbikes parked inside, he said workers parked outside the factory.

Ali said he currently had a "lack of orders" from Boohoo and was working for other brands. He also reiterated that workers were treated fairly.

Madina Gloves: The chief executive, Saleem Shahzad, said it was "totally wrong" that anybody was paid less than the minimum wage of 17,500PKR per month and insisted all workers got a minimum of 18,000PKR. He said claims that workers were denied outstanding pay when they left the factory, and claims workers had been harassed, were "totally wrong". He also said it was not true that workers were living in squalid factory-owned accommodation, saying he provided no such accommodation.

He claimed not to have worked with boohooMAN for six months and had "no order" from Boohoo recently. Finally, he denied that women and men shared bathrooms, and noted: "I [always] try to improve our factory and employees' facilities".

Thank you for your feedback.

In July, Boohoo's stock market value fell by £1.5bn in two days over allegations that its Leicester suppliers forced workers to continue in cramped conditions during the first Covid lockdown and paid below minimum wage. The company accepted the recommendations of a report from Allison Levitt QC, which described its attitude to the plight of workers in the city as "inexcusable".

Speaking to MPs last week, its billionaire co-founder Mahmud Kamani acknowledged that Boohoo's model of continuous expansion came with risks, saying: "In a business like ours that's fast-growing globally, there will be things that are breaking, and all the time we are fixing them and making them better." He also warned he could take more business overseas, saying: "For us to move out of Leicester, it's very easy for us to take all our production offshore."

Mahmud Kamani at a fashion collection launch in Hollywood in 2018. Photograph: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Boohoo

Boohoo pointed to what it said was "immediate action" to remedy the issues found in Leicester and suggested it would take a similar approach in Faisalabad. "As part of our international compliance programme, AH Fashion received a SMETA [Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit]audit in November 2020, where no issues of this nature were found, so these allegations are extremely concerning," it said.

"Independent compliance and auditing specialists Bureau Veritas are on the ground in Faisalabad and we have instructed them to immediately investigate these claims ... Any supplier who does not treat their workers with the respect they deserve has no place in the Boohoo supply chain."

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Boohoo selling clothes made by Pakistani workers 'who earned 29p an hour'

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Guardian investigation finds claims of safety issues, with workers saying they sometimes work 24-hour shifts

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Learning outcomes:
2.4
2.3

Learning intentions:
I will learn about the rights of workers.
I will learn about the different rights workers have depending on the status of their job.

Use of video:
I would use the video to assist in explaining the rights of workers and link in the types of employment with this.

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Learning outcomes:

1.9 Debate the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from their consumption of goods and services and evaluate how they can contribute to sustainable development through consumer behaviour

Learning intentions:

Students will be able to identify actions that businesses can take to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and transporting goods

Students will understand that by choosing to buy from a particular company that they can contribute to a reduction in environmental damage

Watch:

Gym+Coffee X Bleckmann

Debate:

Who’s responsibility is it that business reduce their environmental impact? Consumers? Shareholders? Managers? Government? NGO’s / International organisations?