There will never be enough words.
On International Women’s Day, I honor the bravery, courage and compassion embodied by women all over the world working for a better TODAY; the women who have helped shape me as a person and who have taught me what it means to be a human and to love and to live life for others; the women who have walked through doors of Freedom House in search of safety from persecution endured for standing up for human rights. Sending love and light and positive energy to women all around the world who are making ends meet and making changes. Today is for YOU. Thank you.
"I write because I know the time of rape and male domination can and will come to an end and the energy of hoarding and pillaging and hurting will be transformed into sharing and including and feeling the heart inside each heart."
Eve Ensler, “I Write From the Sky Between Mexico CIty and Guatemala City” (11.21.12)
Michigan Woman Lawmakers Silenced By GOP After Abortion Debate 'Temper Tantrum'
“decorum”? “temper tantrum”? BULLS*!T.
especially after watching the included video, it’s apparent that this is blatant inequality.
and i’m disgusted.
When women lead the world
Would the world be more peaceful if women were in charge? A new book by Steven Pinker says that the answer is “yes”.
very interesting article—and one i could not agree with more.
Statement by the UN Secretary-General on the Creation of UN Women
”[…]
UN Women is a recognition of a simple truth: Equality for women and girls is not only a basic human right, it is a social and economic imperative. Where women are educated and empowered, economies are more productive and strong. Where women are fully represented, societies are more peaceful and stable.
[…]”
this is wonderful news. absolutely wonderful
the United Nations posted this story, then about 15 minutes later, passed the resolution creating the UN Women entity!
In a historic move, the General Assembly is set to unanimously vote today to create a single United Nations body tasked with accelerating progress in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The new UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women – or UN Women – will merge four of the world body’s agencies and offices: the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, and the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW).
The “historic” action taken by the Assembly today “will do more than simply consolidate United Nations offices,” Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro told reporters in New York today. “It will consolidate United Nations strengths.”
Despite major achievements over the years, she said, the world body has come up against serious hurdles, including inadequate funding and fragmentation.
Ms. Migiro said UN Women, to be headed by an Under-Secretary-General, “will give women and girls the strong, unified voice they deserve on the world stage,” calling today a “positive and exciting moment for all the UN family.”
The new body will have two main roles: to support inter-governmental bodies formulate policies, and to assist Member States implement these standards and forge partnerships with civil society.
UN Women will also hold the world accountable for its own gender equality commitments, the Deputy Secretary-General said.
check out the website: UN Women
a love affair.
yoko ono.
what a woman.
some people don’t like her, hate her, and/or ask why i love her. well…
first and foremost, i love john lennon and she made him happy.
secondly, all that she has done since john’s death, and her dedication to carrying on john’s messgage of peace.
some of her projects/highlights include:
- the onochord (i ii iii).
- wish trees, which i’ve made a tradition at my campus every spring.
- imagine peace tower, which was one of john’s dreams.
- the continuance of the “WAR IS OVER (IF YOU WANT IT)” campaign every holiday season, and which i also do on my campus before the end of the fall semester.
- her website, imaginepeace.com, which exudes peace and love.
- her music—it’s eccentric, but it’s profound and i love it. (“Between My Head And The Sky” is her latest, and it’s remarkable.)
- her art, which is truly remarkable and original.
- her sheer brilliance and ability to inspire with ease.
- her life.
there is so much more to mention (i.e. her support of the lgbt community and amnesty international and aung san suu kyi), but i’d be here for days if i went any further.
i truly love yoko ono. i urge you to please look into 1-3 of the above list. i assure you that it will open your eyes to what kind of person she truly is.
yoko lives for peace and radiates love.
she is such an incredible inspiration to me.
i ii iii, yoko.
intensity.
today at vive, you could feel the intensity.
it was all respectful, but, again, very intense.
we talked about peace, religion and women’s rights.
then we began discussing the Bible, and drawing from it’s infinite wisdom.
one begins to talk about how women should be obedient and subservient to men, especially in marriages.
i immediately objected. i said i respect your opinion and belief, and ability to live by God’s word, but i disagree.
no woman should have to be obedient to another man. no one should be obedient to anyone.
women deserve to be treated fairly, as an equal, with respect.
i honestly do not care what the Bible says with regards to that issue. i’m sorry.
i form my beliefs on the basic principles of the Bible, such as love and compassion, as well as how i was raised, what i know about the world, the morals i have, and take human rights into consideration.
while i respect the word of God, and those who are able to live by it, i can’t do it.
i personally feel that it’s out-of-date and that people take it too literally.
to me, the Bible should serve as a guide as to how to live, not a model as to how to live (if that makes any sense).
again, i’m not knocking anyone who’s religious and believes it/follows it, i just can’t bring myself to—especially when it says women should be obedient to men.
it’s absurd.
any who…our two hour session ended well. they thanked me for coming, again, as well as stressed the need for the conversations to happen all over the world, where people can come together and peacefully and respectfully discuss such issues.
okay. i’m done. sorry if i ranted or offended anyone. [if i did, i apologize.] i just wanted to share my experience with others.
does anyone have any thoughts on this issue?
What do YOU know about hunger in [y]our world?!
Some “highlights”:
- 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat - more than the populations of USA, Canada and the European Union
- 907 million people in developing countries alone are hungry
- More than 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women
- Every six seconds a child dies because of hunger and related causes
- 10.9 million children under five die in developing countries each year. Malnutrition and hunger-related diseases cause 60 percent of the deaths
educate yourself. take action.
source: http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats
“The Girl Effect”
i’ve posted this many times before, but it’s worth posting again…and again…and again.
please reblog and help pass it on.
Human Rights Commissioners ask how the U.S. can end Violence Against Women.
“The U.S. should be the leader on human rights around the world; it’s what we do in this country.”
…
Up to 70% of women in certain countries are subjected to violence in their lifetime. As Congressman Poe pointed out, “70% is a staggering statistic… the U.S. cannot turn a blind eye to other countries.”
Half The Sky LIVE
can’t wait to see this next Thursday!!!…
“NCM Fathom and CARE, with the support of Delta Air Lines and Meredith Corporation, are partnering on a one night event inspired by stories from the New York Times bestseller “Half the Sky” by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Celebrate International Women’s Day and be inspired to help women and girls everywhere turn oppression into opportunity. Featuring musical performances, celebrity commentary and the world premiere of “Woineshet,” a short film by Academy Award® winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone. Also with appearances from, India.Arie, Maria Bello, Diane Birch, Michael Franti, Dr. Helene Gayle, Angelique Kidjo, Nicholas Kristof, Marisa Tomei, Sarah, Duchess of York and others. Experience Half the Sky on March 4, 2010 at 7:30 pm (local time) in select movie theatres across the country and Spread the word about this inspirational event in your community.”
this video is about 2.5 minutes. watch it. get informed. act. empower women and girls.
change the world.
