SECRETARY CLINTON TO LAUNCH WOMEN’S WORLD CUP INITIATIVE

andlt; pandgt; Pretty Smart! On Monday June 6, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will launch the Women’s World Cup Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports. The event, which will be streamed live on www.state.gov. will take place 9:30 am ET at the Department of State with members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and youth soccer players from around the world. This initiative is a joint effort by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues. The partnership hopes to harness the power of sports and international exchanges as a means to empower women and girls worldwide. The announcement is part of the build-up to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will take place ths summer in Germany, and the kick-off to the 40th anniversary year of Title IX — the U.S. law to provide equal oppor wtunity for men and women in academics and athletics. In her address, Secretary of State Clinton will h [Read More]

published June 7, 2011 at 6:00pm CDT

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HONORS JOAN BAEZ FOR A LIFETIME OF HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY

Amnesty International turns 50 this year, and closely linked to Amnesty’s legacy of championing human rights is that of folk legend Joan Baez. Baez was an active supporter of Amnesty from the start, stuffing envelopes at their first home office in San Francisco– not coincidentally, where this year’s Annual General Meeting is being held. This Friday, as part of their anniversary AGM, Joan Baez will be honored for a lifetime of human rights solidarity and advocacy. Her receiving the award also marks an exciting beginning, as it will establish the Amnesty International Joan Baez Award for Outstanding, Inspirational Service in the Global Fight for Human Rights. The award will be given to artists – working in music, film, fine arts or other media – who similarly contribute to the advancement of human rights. Baez will be presented with the first award in recognition of her historic, ground-breaking and courageous human rights work with Amnesty International and beyond, and the [Read More]

published March 15, 2011 at 2:04pm CDT

AL QAEDA'S LATEST JIHADIST WOMEN'S EMAGAZINE

Tips on how to meet a terrorist husband? Ideas for keeping your skin beautiful underneath a niqab? Poetry about the Holy War? Enter the bizarre world of Al Qaeda's newest Cosmo-like magazine for women. Al Shamikah--The Majestic, features stories on pleasing your husband and working on household duties alongside calls to violent terrorism and praise for the wives of suicide bombers. While Al Shamikah is written in classical Arabic, the contents appear aimed at a worldwide audience. Fast Company takes a closer look at this new ezine, which is admittedly a propaganda tool. Close Reading [Read More]

published March 15, 2011 at 12:16pm CDT

GIRL UP PEP RALLY

More than 400 girls and and#40;and some boysand#41; from all over LA joined gathered at the Marlborough School in Hancock Park a few weeks ago to support the United Nations Girl Up campaign and learn about the lives of girls in Malawi, Liberia, Guatemala, and Ethiopia. No matter where they live in the world, girls are bright, talented, and full of dreams. But too many girls growing up in developing countries aren't able to fulfill those dreams because their chances to go to school, stay healthy, and live free from violence are out of reach. The Girl Up is a campaign for girls, by girls. Her Majesty Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan joined the Girl Up pep rally providing truly inspirational remarks highlighting the difficulties girls around the world face. Queen Rania praised the energy and compassion of American girls to draw attention to the adversity their counterparts face and she empowered all the attendees to bring about global change. Queen Rania is seriously the coolest! A [Read More]

published November 24, 2010 at 6:34pm CST

TAKE YOUR DAUGHTERS TO THE POLLS!

On this election day, we thought this video – produced by the White House Project – was appropriate. If you’re a mom, consider taking your daughters to the polls. And daughters, ask your parents or older siblings if you can be their +1 in the voting booth. More information about The White House Project. [Read More]

published November 2, 2010 at 6:35pm CDT

HER BELIEFS HURT WOMEN

Christine O'Donnell: Believes Creationism should be taught in schools and given equal time to Evolution. Believes a woman does not have the right to choose and should submit to her husband. That's right, she's advocation for a 1950's social model which oppressed women greatly. CNN debate with opponent Chris Coons - Transcript: BLITZER: Let's give you a chance to respond to some of the things she said because in a television appearance back in 1998 on Bill Maher's show you said evolution is a myth. Do you believe evolution is a myth? O'DONNELL: I believe that the local -- I was talking about what a local school taught and that should be taught -- that should be decided on the local community. But please let me respond to what he just said. BLITZER: We'll let you respond but answer the question. Do you believe evolution is a myth? O'DONNELL: Local schools should make that decision. I made that remark based on -- BLITZER: What do you believe? O'DONNELL: What I belie [Read More]

published October 15, 2010 at 11:58am CDT

PETA GRAPHICALLY PROPAGATES VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Originally found on Buzzfeed Everyone knows PETA hates women, using them as pawns to get money and pretend they care about treating "animals" ethically. Women aren't worthy of the same respect and ethical treatment however, and that is why they have no problem using a bloodied, splattered, woman in costume on the floor of a random Lowes store.  LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email  [Read More]

published August 15, 2010 at 5:28pm CDT

WOMEN IN PRISON- HEALTHCARE AND CHILDBIRTH

Pop culture observers have seen the semi-popular movie Changeling featuring world mega-star Angelina Jolie and directed by world mega-icon Clint Eastwood. The plot of the film chronicles the true life story of a woman who’s son was kidnapped and replaced by a random boy in order to make the corrupt police department look as if they had indeed found the woman's son. The movie ends with a triumphant court case, during which Jolie’s character convinces the city that the boy placed in her home was not indeed her son. Tragically, the whereabouts of that woman’s son are still unknown. The reason mention this is that during the course of the movie, Jolie’s character becomes so adamant that the boy in her home is not indeed her rescued son, she is committed to prison for psychosis and assaulting a police officer; she is later placed into a  psych ward, where she was subjected to an immeasurable amount of cruelty. The conversations her character had with several other inmates becam [Read More]

published August 12, 2010 at 7:15pm CDT

SLATE ASKS IF ELENA KAGAN WILL WEAR TRADITIONAL FEMALE GARB AS SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

And I am left wondering: why does it matter ? The absurd debate over the sexuality of then nominee- now Judge- Elena Kagan has been raging since President Obama first announced her as his nomination to fill Justice Stevens' seat. From the right, many asked whether she was a lesbian, because you know, she likes cigars, isn't married and played softball. From the left, the defense was immediate: NOT ALL LESBIANS LIKE CIGARS AND SOFTBALL YOU SEXIST PIGS!!!! Or something like that. During her confirmation hearings, the Senate members presiding asked a number of intrusive and unnecessary questions that had nothing to do with her judicial competence , and everything to do with her sexuality . Apparently, the public deserves to know whether a lesbien and#40;gaspand#41; would be the next supreme court justice. The American public not only doesn't care, it doesn't need to know, because her sexuality is no one's business but her own. Kagan was , clearly, confirmed; she is, clearly, a wo [Read More]

published August 10, 2010 at 11:27am CDT

RETURN TO AFGHANISTAN: WHAT’S NEXT FOR AFGHAN WOMEN?

Guest Post by Evin Maria Phoenix. Please check out all of her work at La Azote Negra . Afghan School Girls, Creative Commons Not that we ever left. Indeed, the United States has been entrenched in the brutal landscape of Afghanistan for nearly a decade, becoming America’s longest war. We’ve also poured somewhere between a conservative estimate of $32 Billion and#40;not including Iraqand#41; and a staggering $3 Trillion and#40;including Iraqand#41; into our military campaigns and infrastructural projects, sometimes going completely down the drain as an “outrageous waste of taxpayer money.” One would think we have a lot to show for it. Also, one would certainly hope that we’re safer as a nation. While back-and-forth debate endlessly circulates amongst us all, one issue almost always goes without address. In fact, it was used as partial justification for the invasion: the plight of women. In fact, before the Wikileaks non-crisis, it seemed like everyone forgot all about Afgh [Read More]

published August 1, 2010 at 3:58pm CDT