Activism
- Demand equality for girls worldwide
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Protecting the rights of girls promotes the health and economic growth of their communities and nations. Plan USA works to open doors for girls in developing countries — but we can't do it alone. We need world leaders to take notice and take action. We need concerned and compassionate activists like you to push President Obama to end discrimination against girls.
There are three specific, realistic steps that President Obama can take today:
1. Require birth registration, which will protect girls from early marriage and child labor, and enable them to vote and get jobs;
2. Ensure that girls benefit as much as boys from aid money given to developing countries; and
3. Help create a procedure that would enable girls and boys to voice complaints against their governments.
Visit the Plan USA website for more information or to sign the petition.
- SISTA intervention program
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Think hiv won’t happen to you? SISTA*,we need to talk!
*Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS
HIV infection for black women is 15 times higher than white women.
The YWCA Lake County and the Lake County Health Department are proud to launch their new SISTA intervention program designed to reduce the spread of HIV and STDs to African American
women by promoting healthy behaviors in a safe, intimate environment.
For more information view the flier, call Shaunta McGee at 847-662-4247 ext. 127, or visit www.ywcalakecounty.org.
- McHenry County Citizens for Choice
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MCCC
Box 16
Woodstock, IL 60098
phone: 815-338-8030
Fax: 815-338-7847
Website: www.mcccprochoice.org
- March for Women's Lives Zine
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The March for Women's Lives was the largest march of
its kind in American history. So, why did the media
downplay, misrepresent, or downright ignore it? It's
becoming increasingly obvious that we have to tell our
own stories; the media is not going to do it for us. I
have collected march stories and photographs submitted
by people who wanted to share their experiences.
Using these stories and photos, I have created a
"zine" (homemade magazine) consisting of 38 (half)
pages. The zine also comes with a CD-ROM with dozens
of march photos, and a computer copy of the zine (so
that you can make and distribute your own). I'm not
trying to make any money off of this. The zine itself
cost only $2 postage paid (which is less than the cost
of making the zine). [You may copy and distribute the
zine yourself in any manner that you wish.] I really
want to get the word out about this amazing
experience. If you were not able to go, you can get
this zine to see awesome photos and read people's
march stories. If you did go, get the zine to
commemorate the march for yourself and spread the
word!!
If you're interested, e-mail me at marchzine@yahoo.com
and I'll let you know how to get ahold of a copy!
- Stop Family Violence
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Every year millions of people are abused in this country. Stop Family Violence is a leading national organization working to bring survivor voices - and the voices of their allies - to bear on the social and political agendas affecting their lives. Visit their website for more information about how to get involved, http://stopfamilyviolence.org.
- WELFARE/MARRIAGE PROMOTION
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Good news! A motion to approve marriage promotion as part of welfare
reform came up again and was defeated. Last week, Congress voted to
provide a “clean” six month extension to current welfare funding.
Thanks to all who took action on this! In many respects this is a good
outcome, since the welfare reform bills that have been getting kicked
around for the past 2 years would have harmed low-income women and
children. But states are strapped under current welfare allotments –
there is not nearly enough money for child-care, which means that
mothers are faced with the untenable decision of keeping their job or
keeping their children safe . Welfare reform will come up for
discussion next year when there’s a new Congress in place. We’ll
keep you posted.
Meanwhile – you might be interested in this article in from the San
Francisco Chronicle. Just because marriage promotion has been defeated
in welfare legislation doesn’t mean the administration hasn’t found
other ways to funnel money to these programs. Read this article to see
how your tax dollars are being given to marriage promotion programs run
by followers of the Unification Church, headed by the Reverend Sun
Myung Moon (“moonies”)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/10/03/MOON.TMP
- Feminist Majority Foundation's innovative Choices Campus Leadership Program
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The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) is seeking graduating seniors and recent college graduates to be part of the team organizing the Feminist Majority Foundation's innovative Choices Campus Leadership Program.
As a member of the Campus Team, Campus Organizers are trained in FMF's DC office and travel throughout the country working with student activists and feminist faculty to launch and expand Feminist Majority Leadership Alliances and conduct a pro-choice campaign called Choices. Campus Organizers alternate spending time in the field (approximately 10 weeks per academic year) and in the office for two academic years.
Campus Organizers have the opportunity to:
·Serve as lead organizers on a grassroots level
·Gain first-hand experience with a national feminist organization
·Train the next generation of feminist leaders
·Shape national, pro-choice, feminist youth campaigns
Qualifications and Applications:
Successful candidates will have a knowledge of and commitment to feminist and pro-choice issues, past activist and/or leadership experience on campus, a solid academic background, and the ability to communicate well with others.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
The Feminist Majority Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being a multicultural organization. People of color and diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply, send or email resume, writing sample, three academic/professional references, and cover letter detailing leadership experience and interest in feminist issues and pro-choice organizing to:
Contact:
Campus Program Director
Phone:
1-866-444-FMLA
E-Mail:
campusteam@feminist.org
Website:
http://www.feministcampus.org
http://www.feminist.org/911/jobs/jobdescription.asp?jobID=4046
- Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all women.
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Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you are receiving this it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go and vote on this issue...and send it on to others you know who will do the same.
There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home hours after surgery against the wishes of their doctor; still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
Lifetime Television has put! this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.
PLEASE!!!!Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below and help women living with breast cancer get the care they need and deserve!! There is no cost or monetary pledge involved. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.
http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html
- Outrageous White House Appointment
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President Bush has announced his plan to select Dr. W. David Hager to head up the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. The committee has not met for more than two years, during which time its charter lapsed. As a result, the Bush Administration is tasked with filling all eleven positions with new members. This position does not require Congressional approval.
The FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee makes crucial decisions on matters relating to drugs used in the practice of obstetrics, gynecology and related specialties, including hormone therapy, contraception, treatment for infertility, and medical alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization and pregnancy termination.
Dr. Hager's views of reproductive health care are far outside the mainstream for reproductive technology. Dr. Hager is a practicing OB/GYN who describes himself as "pro-life" and refuses to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women. Hager is the author of "As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now." The book blends biblical accounts of Christ
healing women with case studies from Hager's practice.
In the book Dr. Hager wrote with his wife, entitled "Stress and the Woman's Body," he suggests that women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome should seek help from reading the bible and praying. As an editor and contributing author of "The Reproduction Revolution: A Christian Appraisal of Sexuality Reproductive Technologies and the Family," Dr. Hager appears to have endorsed the medically inaccurate assertion that the common birth control pill is an abortifacient.
Hager's mission is religiously motivated. He has an ardent interest in revoking approval for mifepristone (formerly known as RU-486) as a safe and early form of medical abortion. Hagar recently assisted the Christian Medical Association in a "citizen's petition" which calls upon the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone in the name of women's health.
Hager's desire to overturn mifepristone's approval on religious grounds rather than scientific merit would halt the development of mifepristone as a treatment for numerous medical conditions disproportionately affecting women, including breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine fibroid tumors, psychotic depression, bipolar depression and Cushing's syndrome.
Women rely on the FDA to ensure their access to safe and effective drugs for reproductive health care including products that prevent pregnancy. For some women, such as those with certain types of diabetes and those undergoing treatment for cancer, pregnancy can be a life-threatening condition. We are concerned that Dr. Hager's strong religious beliefs may
color his assessment of technologies that are necessary to protect women's lives or to preserve and promote women's health.
Hager's track record of using religious beliefs to guide his medical decision-making makes him a dangerous and inappropriate candidate to serve as chair of this committee. Critical drug public policy and research must not be held hostage by antiabortion politics. Members of this important panel should be appointed on the basis of science and medicine, rather than politics and religion. American women deserve no less.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. SEND THIS TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO IS CONCERNED ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
2. OPPOSE THE PLACEMENT OF THIS MAN BY CONTACTING THE WHITE HOUSE AND TELL THEM HE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ON ANY LEVEL.
Please email President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov and say "I oppose the appointment of Dr. W. David Hager to the FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee. Mixing religion and medicine is unacceptable in a policy-making position. Using the FDA to promote a political agenda is inappropriate and seriously threatens women's health."
- Lake County Democratic Women
- The Lake County Democratic Women are organizing a grassroots committee to recruit, educate, lead, mentor and support women who aspire to seek an elected or appointed office. For more information on how to join the LCDW please see the attached flyer (Adobe Acrobat Required).
- The Reconstruction of Iraq
- Read the MoveOn bulletin featuring a grassroots interview with U.S. Senator Byrd about the current state of America and what you can do to help make a change. The bulletin also lists many details about Iraq as well as websites you can visit for more information. To learn more see the attached bulletin.
- Women United Against War Petition
- They say women can change the World. Here is a Chance!
A nationwide effort to unite women against war has started an online petition. The petition takes the form of a letter addressed to President Bush and the U.S. Congress. If you are against the war, please visit the petition website and sign your name.
Please note: There is an email petition circulating the internet that claims to be related to Women United Against War. It begins with the statement "Today 25 congresswomen in the US House of Representative walked out...". This email is a hoax, and should not be passed on. For more information please visit Snopes.com.
- International A.N.S.W.E.R.
- Visit the International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)'s website at http://www.internationalanswer.org for lots of great ways to be more active.
- Other Activist Websites of Interest
- Brest Cancer Support:
- www.thebreastcancersite.com; click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). Corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily
visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.
- New Pink & White M&M's
The maker of M&M candies has teamed up with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation to raise funds through the sale of their new pink and white M&M
candies. For each 8-ounce bag of the special candies sold, the makers of M&M
(Masterfoods) will donate 50 cents to the foundation.
- The US Postal Service recently released its new "Fund the Cure" stamp for
breast cancer research. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda,
Maryland. Stamp costs 40 cents. The additional 3 cents will go to breast cancer
research. If all stamps are sold, $35,000,000 will be raised.
- Mailing Lists and Groups
Anyone who is interested in being a member of the e-mail groups below can simply e-mail the address.
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