for today...International Women's Day! we don't hear much in the media about IWD and unless we stumble across it on the web, it doesn't receive a lot of attention. i thought i'd share a few things that came to mind when I thought about honouring women today...
...the Global Peace Initiative of Women has organized a world summit called Making Way For the Feminine, which is taking place this week in Jaipur, India. interestingly, the event in Jaipur overlaps with both International Women's Day, and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. imagine the convergence of deep spirituality with these great secular initiatives bringing the women of the world together.
...Patti Digh at 37 days is devoting the month of March (Women's History Month) to writing essay's about women who inspire her.
...In The Time of The Butterflies, written by Julia Alvarez, is a great read and has also been made into a movie with Selma Hyak. it's about the Mirabel sisters (whose code name was the Mariposa's or butterflies) who were key figures in the underground movement to overthrow the dictator of The Dominican Republic, Rafael Truijillo.
...Karen Armstrong is one of the three recent winners of the prestigious TED awards. Karen, a former nun, has written more than 20 books around the ideas of what Islam, Judaism and Christianity have in common (yes, you read that right, in common, not differences) and about their effect on world events. she was one of three people asked to address the UN on the first session ever devoted to religion in that body.
along with prize money, each TED winner is granted a wish...a wish to change the world, and the world is asked to help TED grant her wish. Karen's wish is:
I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect.”
you can follow the progress of her wish here.
...while you're on the TED site, (which is, by the way, a wonderful source of talks by interesting, innovative, funny, talented and thoughtful people), listen to author Isabelle Allende's talk about leading a passionate life.
with women and events like these for inspiration, we're able to combine and reinforce the energy of mutuality and peace for the good of humanity. who or what inspires you to be a force for positive change in the world?
I'm so glad you posted about this. I'm just now going through the blogs I read regularly collecting items about IWD and, er, this is the only one so far!
Thanks for the links as well, which I'm going to explore in a minute. And Karen Armstrong is one of my favourite writers - talk about a woman who has made a difference.
Posted by: Tess | 03/09/2008 at 03:58 AM
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Isabelle Allende is one of my favorite authors, I am going to check out this site...and I loved Julia Alvarez and In the Time of the Butterflies.
Great inspiration here Kate!
Georgia O'Keefe was a huge inspiration to me.
Posted by: stephanie | 03/09/2008 at 06:20 PM
Kate I love your frames :) I too posted about IWD and I enjoyed reading this inspiring Blog post.
Posted by: Helen | 03/09/2008 at 06:33 PM
Julia Alvarez wrote an autobiography too I think - I saw it the other day and meant to add it to my list.
You really are very inspiring, I agree!
Changed blog addresses, new one is attached to my name.
Posted by: Julie | 03/11/2008 at 03:17 AM
IWD? Where is my head!!?? Thank you for this post Kate. Now I've got a lot more reading to do.
Posted by: martie | 03/11/2008 at 05:37 AM
What a wonderful selection!
Thanks for the positive share...
More things to read..~snort~ when i have time? LOL
Posted by: Sorrow | 03/11/2008 at 07:23 AM