Thursday, February 14, 2013

1 Billion Rising







One billion women and those who love them are invited to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to violence. ONE BILLION RISING will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. 


Show the world our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders.


What does ONE BILLION look like? 


On February 14, 2013, it will look like a REVOLUTION.



  • A global strike
  • An invitation to dance
  • A call to men and women to refuse to participate in the status quo until rape and rape culture ends
  • An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
  • A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
  • A new time and a new way of being
  
--> Watch a rising on LiveStream
--> Check out the Media Toolkit
--> FAQ's about ONE BILLION RISING
--> Start/Join/Add event to Global Map

  





Buffalo, New York:

Join this sacred and empowering event on Elmwood with Buffalo's finest in front of Globe Market at 5pm today, February 14, 2013. 

DIRECTIONS

Document your event by photo, video, social media. 


Twitter: use hashtag -->  #1BillionRising
V-Day on Twitter --> HERE

For more information --> 1 Billion Rising, Buffalo, NY


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Also check out: 

by Lalita Raman


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How will YOU Rise? 




 

© ONE BILLION RISING Information Copyright 1 Billion Rising. All rights reserved. 2013

Video produced by Eve Ensler and V-Day, directed by Tony Stroebel, written and produced by Tena Clark with music by Tena Clark and Tim Heintz, and featuring dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen.
 



Friday, February 1, 2013

"Missing our American Reality" by MC Vendetta


"We're trying to live the American Dream, while we are missing our American Reality." 
- MC Vendetta



In response to the question, "How did Americans get so stupid?" - MC answered: 


"Americans became so stupid because we continuously cut funding for public schools and teacher salaries while upping standardized testing which doesn't effectively teach kids ANYTHING, evaluating teachers on their teaching abilities with the scores that absent students, disabled students and students who don't speak the language get on the tests, cut funding for family planning and sexual education so more and more people who are not prepared or educated enough to have and raise children properly are having and raising children improperly, and then simultaneously distancing people from their food supplies so that people have no idea what they are eating or where it comes from.
 
When you don't even bother to think about your food it makes it easier to sit on your couch instead of getting out and interacting with society...which is the main reason that it is so easy for "the government" to control us. 
 
They have used targeted advertising to convince us that we need to move away from black people and immigrants and "those who aren't real Americans" to a gigantic house in the suburbs with a chemically treated perfect lawn (never mind that those chemicals are leeching into our water supply, poisoning us and giving us, our kids and even our fucking dogs cancer and birth defects), where you have to have a perfect body and an expensive car in order to consider what you're living to be a "successful" life....convincing anyone who can't afford any of those things that they are unworthy, unattractive, unsuccessful and therefore...a loser...
 
So people get depressed, they eat shitty food and sit on their couches and dream of things they don't even really need while totally missing the things that they already DO have...like heat and hot water. Ungrateful or even just completely unaware of all the blessings they have of simply being alive on this amazingly beautiful and miraculous planet called Earth. 
 
We've simultaneously bred ourselves to become spoiled and ignorant and impatient all at the same time and it's getting more and more evident every single day."
 
"We're trying to live the American Dream, while we are missing our American Reality." 
- MC Vendetta
 

 
 

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Initiative to Aid Andrea Johnson with Melissa Lussier





On Friday, December 28, an apartment complex in Minneapolis completely burned to the ground. The Star Tribune reported the story -> here.

Melissa Lussier, singer, songwriter and artist of Buffalo, NY alerted me to her initiative in regards to helping Andrea Johnson, one of the residents of the complex who lost everything.





Melissa is sending a care package to Andrea. Melissa states: "Andrea has been given many essential items such as furniture and kitchen supplies, but my idea is to send her a care basket with all those personal touches that make a house a home. I was thinking paintings, jewelry, soaps and bubble bath and other items that pamper, and if they're hand-made, all the better!" 

The Facebook Fundraiser Page is --> here

Please contact Melissa if you are able to donate any item to the package she wishes to send to Andrea and also, for more information at her --> Facebook Profile.






© Photos Star Tribune 



Sunday, January 27, 2013

Join the Global Vigil for Peace for Pakistan and India



This event, initiated by an Aman ki Asha supporter in New Delhi, invites Indians and Pakistanis and those who want peace between the two countries, to come together in their respective cities. The purpose of the vigils is to urge the governments to continue the dialogue, and not give in to the war hype being created by some sections of sections of society. 

Aman ki Asha means  "Hope for Peace" 


Below are my photos from Buffalo, NY 













Peace.
                                                                         


Monday, January 21, 2013

Don't Compare Obama with MLK



First published: 





Some people will be tempted to compare Martin Luther King, Jr. with President Obama.

Don’t. 

Obama is no Martin Luther King, Jr. 

He is a politician, a liberal with moderate leanings. Like all politicians, he operates within a world of limited possibilities. His mission is to make the USA a better place, while serving the interest of the rich and powerful.

Martin Luther King, Jr., on the flip side, was a radical democrat. 

He gave his life trying to build a better world, a “good society” anchored by racial equity, participatory democracy and social, environmental and economic justice. 

King was concerned about group advancement—not just individual achievement. 

As a politician, Obama’s rise to the top of his profession, and becoming president of the United States, is a wonderful story of individual achievement. It is a story that also reflects the growing liberalization of the United States. 

But individual success stories do not CHANGE the realities of Black Americans. 

King understood this. So, he was never got sidetracked by one’s individual accomplishments. He was happy for them. But his big interest was the radical transformation of American society, so that all USA residents, especially blacks and Latinos, could live a good life. 

King did not stop there. His dream was not just an American dream. His dream was a worldwide dream. MLK said “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” 

Most importantly, He understood that the “freedom fight” was a fight for the “larger freedom.” 

By “larger freedom,” I mean the battle for real heath care, good, affordable housing, great schools and neighborhoods, no prison pipelines, and places where everybody can realize their full human potential and can optimize their life outcomes.

And not just here, but everywhere, regardless of the political system under which they live. A world where societies are judge by “how well the children are doing,” and not by “how open are the economic markets.”


King knew that the “smaller freedoms” — the right to vote, eat at any lunch counter, say what you want, and live anywhere– was just “one, small step” toward the “larger freedom.”

This is NOT Obama’s dream. I’m sorry, but it is true. 

Obama is not a freedom fighter. He is a politician, who runs the country in the interest of the elites, while trying to do some good on the side and on the sly.

I’m just saying, celebrate Obama for who he is and don’t try to make him something else.

Peace

Monday, January 14, 2013

Kenmore East High School Students Honor Courage of Malala Yousufzai



WBFO/WNED  

Western New York




Some Kenmore East High School students completed a portrait of a 14-year-old Pakistan teen seriously wounded by the Taliban for standing up for freedom.



Malala Yousufzai was shot on her school bus this past fall. The Taliban targeted her for being outspoken for rights to educate girls.  WBFO's Eileen Buckley talked to Kenmore East students about their project inspired by Malala's commitment as a freedom fighter.

It's mid-morning inside Kenmore East High School in Tonawanda where students chatted freely as they changed classes.  But on a second floor hallway wall of the school there is a reminder, or perhaps a symbol, of their freedom as American teens.

"I can't believe that she actually had the courage to do that.  And I would really hope that I could, maybe one day, have the opportunity to stand up for what I believe in in such a way," said Theodora Laucau, a freshman art student.  She was one of the 75 students who helped paint the portrait.

Laucau said it was the art teacher, Matthew SaGurney, who encouraged the students to select an inspirational person to portray.




We had to chose someone who was really influential, and Mr. SaGurney introduced this girl -- Malala --  who is someone definitely someone who has made a huge impact on the world this year.  And we all agreed that she was someone who was really making a difference and we thought she should be recognized," said Laucau.

"It was  a really powerful project," said art teacher  Matthew SaGurney.

Each school year he encourages his students to select a power person to create a 9-foot by 9-foot painted portrait. Last year they selected Martin Luther King, Jr.   

"It gives us an opportunity to teach kids about people standing up for what they believe in, and truthfully, we were struggling to find one for this year, and then it was an obvious choice once we thought of her the same age as students and her being in a situation completely different from their own," said SaGurney.

"Well she is our age and it is just unbelievable that she stood up for people our age, but it is in a different country," said Emma Knab, freshman art student.  Knab painted one of the sections closes to Malala's face.

This project has turned into a powerful teaching tool.

"We take for granted the things that we get here, but she didn't get things over there.  We are so protected over here -- like our schools and everything.  I feel very grateful," said Knab.

WBFO News asked Knab what she learned from the art project.

"I learned to not take for granted what I have now.  Like there are people all around the world that have what I don't have," said Knab.

Another freshman art student -- who wanted to be identified only as Noah - painted a few of the squares of the portrait.

"I thought it was really brave of her to go out and just fight for the cause and talk about everything she had to do.  I mean she definitely paid the price for it, but she's still fighting for it," noted Noah.    

Malala has undergone extensive recovery since the October shooting by the Taliban.  She was recently released from a hospital in England, but will return, at some point, for more surgery.

For the Kenmore East art students -- the portrait has sparked conversation at school about this young woman's courageous journey.

"A lot of kids liked the painting.  A lot of kids thought it was very cool  that we did all of this and painted the quotes," said Noah.

"People don't know about other places.  A lot of people here just think about their life.  They don't think about the people over in every country that struggle everyday like she did," said Knab.





 "I really think that kids don't know. They don't know what's going on they just kind of live in this bubble of our culture, and they really don't get to see how other things are and by doing this, we are kind of like popping the bubble and bringing awareness of what's actually going on in the world," said Laucau.



"It's nice to know you can make a difference," said SaGurney.

SaGurney is very proud of his students.

"My kids, this year, are incredibly compassionate, and they are all years, but for some reason, this group has really driven the project.  They are really great kids. I feel privileged," said SaGurney.

Students plan to send the images of the portrait with individual letters and create a YouTube video to Malala to extend their well-wishes and relate how they were affected by her this young Pakistani's woman's powerful story.

"She took a way bigger path then I think anyone here could have.  She's got way more guts then a lot of people," said Noah.








story/photos/audio © Eileen Buckley 2013 


Friday, January 11, 2013

LIVE With Guantanamo Bay : 11 Years Later


First published on CNN 
WGRZ NBC





"On January 11, 2002, the first of nearly 800 prisoners was sent to the US military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay. Images of these men shackled, wearing orange boiler suits, goggled and masked shocked the world. Eleven years on, 166 prisoners remain in captivity - all without due process. Join us remembering their stories and continuing the quest for justice against the worlds most notorious prison system."  


On January 10, 2013, Cage Prisoners interviewed six former Guantanamo detainees: Bisher Al-Rawi, Shafiq Rasul, Ruhal Ahmed, Asif Iqbal, Tarek Dergoul, and Omar Deghayes.






Guantanamo Bay [GTMO, Gitmo] detention camp is an interrogation prison set up by the US at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. In 2002, the Bush Administration detained people that the US government determined were connected to allies of Afghanistan and Iraq.


There are three camps: Delta, Iguana, and X-Ray [now closed.]


- Bush Administration decided that the first 20 abducted men were not entitled to protection under the Geneva Conventions.


-2008, 3 children aged 3 to 5 were returned to Afghanistan.


- 2009, President Obama signed an order to halt the Guantanamo military commission for 120 days and to close Gitmo in one year.


- 2010, Col. Wilkerson, former aide to Colin Powell, stated in an affidavit that George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld, knew most of the men first sent to GTMO were innocent, yet left there for political reasons.


- 2011, Obama signs the Defense Authorization Bill putting restrictions on prisoner transfers, ceasing the closing of GTMO.


- 2012, 167 detainees remain at Guantanamo.


- Since 2002, 8 men died in the camp and 600 have been released.


- There have been 6 suicides and since 2002, 41 suicide attempts.


- It is now 2013.










Sunday, December 30, 2012

Looking Out To See Within : 2013


First published:

The News Tribe
Harlem World NYC 
WGRZ NBC 
News Trust Baltimore
CNN 
Help Others.Org



There are simple ways to bring positive into our world, a world strife with negativity. Such things do not cost you money and barely any time. You can accomplish any of these actions face to face, using technology, in your community and most importantly, with your family, your children and yourself.  



Compassion

"A sympathetic consciousness of others' distress
 together with a desire to alleviate it."




Every human being experiences distress.  Some in extreme states, others, a lesser extent. Distress can range from a change in daily routine to an immense, irreplaceable loss. Regardless of the state of distress, every human being is created with the tools to alleviate distress. When helping another individual, one's own stress diminishes. Joy is produced from choosing to give. When we choose to give, we practice compassion.


Acknowledgement

"Recognition of the existence or truth of something. An expression of appreciation. A thing done or given in gratitude." 


When asked for help, if able to contribute, then do so.  Help can range from listening intently to another then acknowledging that you are there and you understand.  If you are unable to help according to what is asked of you, explain why. Offer alternatives that suit the situation. No one enjoys being ignored. 


A simple response indicates to another that you care.
  • Thank you 
  • Please
  • Be well
  • Take care
  • I understand
  • I am here
  • You are not alone 

Action:  

"Something done or performed. An act that one consciously wills. Habitual or usual acts. Energetic activity."  




If you are able to take action, then do so. Think of every single person that took time to listen, respond, do a kind deed for you, send you a card, made a phone call or simply said, "Thanks."  Ask yourself:  Do you take some sort of positive action daily? If not, why?



Kindness

"The state or quality of being kind. A kind act and behavior. A friendly feeling, liking."  



When did we, the human race, start vehemently attacking and hating one another for being human? Sure, history teaches us that dissent among humans has always occurred, yet today, I view a complete lack of morals, ethics and manners. How do we stop this cycle of negativity? Actions of every single individual is the responsibility and choice of that individual. Placing blame on anyone but yourself for your own actions is simply a form of denial. Think of how you are able to be kind. Right now, to you reading, I thank you for doing so. That is a form of kindness. It took 3 seconds to type that. I mean it too.



Solidarity

"A union or fellowship arising from common interests or responsibilities. A community of feelings and purpose."  





Why is it that we, people, show solidarity only during holidays and tragedy? Why don't we come together as people more often to support one another in the face of adversity? One need not fully agree with one's choice of politics, faith, or lifestyle. Solidarity is taking responsibility for your fellow human being, as well as yourself,  in a quest to better a situation. Every single one of us has seen the face of darkness. Every single one of us has seen the face of light. How nice it is to have at least one hand reach out in support.


As we leave 2012 behind, along with a dramatic decrease of people in all societies caring for the well being of another, attempt looking outward in order to see within. All of us together, regardless of what our governments are doing, regardless of what our faith demands or does not demand, regardless of the way you were brought up, instructed to think or not think, regardless of any external factors that have molded you, this adult reading this right now; practice compassion : the sympathetic consciousness of others' distress with a desire to alleviate it.


We are not perfect. We are not supposed to be. Why then are we trying to be? 


Peace. 

Sue



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Definitions cited:  Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com 
All photos are linked to original source. 



For Anonymous




Written by Nilanjana Roy 



That girl, the one without the name. The one just like us. The one whose battered body stood for all the anonymous women in this country whose rapes and deaths are a footnote in the left-hand column of the newspaper.

Sometimes, when we talk about the history of women in India, we speak in shorthand. The Mathura rape case. The Vishaka guidelines. The Bhanwari Devi case, the Suryanelli affair, the Soni Sori allegations, the business at Kunan Pushpora. Each of these, the names of women and places, mapping a geography of pain; unspeakable damage inflicted on women’s bodies, on the map of India, where you can, if you want, create a constantly updating map of violence against women.

For some, amnesia becomes a way of self-defence: there is only so much darkness you can swallow. They turn away from all the places that have become shorthand for violence beyond measure, preferring not to know about Kashmir or the outrages in Chattisgarh, choosing to forget the Bombay New Year assault, trying not to remember the deaths of a Pallavi Purkayastha, a Thangjam Manorama, Surekha and Priyanka Bhotmange, the mass rapes that marked the riots in Gujarat. 

Even for those who stay in touch, it isn’t possible for your empathy to keep abreast with the scale of male violence against women in India: who can follow all of the one-paragraph, three-line cases? The three-year-old raped before she can speak, the teenager assaulted by an uncle, the 65-year-old raped as closure to a property dispute, the slum householder raped and violently assaulted on her way to the bathroom. After a while, even memory hardens.

And then you reach a tipping point, and there’s that girl. For some reason, and I don’t really know why, she got through to us. Our words shrivelled in the face of what she’d been subjected to by the six men travelling on that bus, who spent an hour torturing and raping her, savagely beating up her male friend. Horrific, brutal, savage—these tired words point to a loss of language, and none of them express how deeply we identified with her.

She had not asked to become a symbol or a martyr, or a cause; she had intended to lead a normal life, practicing medicine, watching movies, going out with friends. She had not asked to be brave, to be the girl who was so courageous, the woman whose injuries symbolised the violence so many women across the country know so intimately. She had asked for one thing, after she was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital: “I want to live,” she had said to her mother.

We may have not noticed the reports that came in from Calcutta in February, of a woman abandoned on Howrah Bridge, so badly injured after a rape that involved, once again, the use of iron rods, that the police thought she had been run over by a car. 

We may have skimmed the story of the  16-year-old Dalit girl in Dabra, assaulted for three hours by eight men, who spoke up after her father committed suicide from the shame he had been made to feel by the village. Or some may have done something concrete about these things, changed laws, worked on gender violence, keeping their feelings out of it, trying to be objective. But there is always one that gets through the armour that we build around ourselves. 

In 1972, the first year in which the NCRB recorded rape cases, there were 2,487 rapes reported across India. One of them involved a teenager called Mathura, raped by policemen; we remember her, we remember the history and the laws she changed. (She would be 56 now.)

Some cases stop being cases. Sometimes, an atrocity bites so deep that we have no armour against it, and that was what happened with the 23-year-old physiotherapy student, the one who left a cinema hall and boarded the wrong bus, whose intestines were so badly damaged that the injuries listed on the FIR report made hardened doctors, and then the capital city, cry for her pain.

She died early this morning, in a Singapore hospital where she and her family had been dispatched by the government for what the papers called political, not compassionate, reasons.

The grief hit harder than I’d expected. And I had two thoughts, as across Delhi, I heard some of the finest and toughest men I know break down in their grief, as some of the calmest and strongest women I know called and SMSed to say that she—one of us, this girl who had once had a future and a life of her own to lead—was gone, that it was over.

The first was: enough. Let there be an end to this epidemic of violence, this culture where if we can’t kill off our girls before they are born, we ensure that they live these lives of constant fear. Like many women in India, I rely on a layer of privilege, a network of friends, paranoid security measures and a huge dose of amnesia just to get around the city, just to travel in this country. So many more women have neither the privilege, nor the luxury of amnesia, and this week, perhaps we all stood up to say, “Enough”, no matter how incoherently or angrily we said it.

The second was even simpler. I did not know the name of the girl in the bus, through these last few days. She had a name of her own–it was not Amanat, Damini or Nirbhaya, names the media gratuitously gave her, as though after the rape, she had been issued a new identity. I don’t need to know her name now, especially if her family doesn’t want to share their lives and their grief with us. I think of all the other anonymous women whose stories don’t make it to the front pages, when I think of this woman; I think of the courage that is forced on them, the way their lives are warped in a different direction from the one they had meant to take. 

Don’t tell me her name; I don’t need to know it, to cry for her.



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