The Peace Revolution: Healing the Pandemic of Violence Against Women

THE PEACE REVOLUTION



On April 14, 2011, in the Little 5 Points Community Center in Atlanta, GA, I joined Imani Evans, the beautiful intelligence behind the powerful organization, Women Healing Women, Inc., and a host of other amazing women, who convened together to stand up for peace and its explosive power to heal the pandemic of violence against women in our society.

A panel of diverse, articulate women faced an audience of primarily women, waiting quietly for the program to begin. The panelists presented information on violence from their perspectives and the perspective of their organization. Afterwards, they answered questions from the audience, presented solutions and spoke of accountability.









Mary Anne of Zami NOBLA was the panel's moderator. The panelists were Loretta Ross of SisterSong, Inc., Lauren Zink of Hollaback Atlanta, Joan Baptist of WRFG, Tracee McDaniel of Juxtaposed Center for Transformation and Amita Rao of RAKSHA. Each woman shed light on the various ways violence against women can present itself, charging the audience with their conviction and passion to embrace the ways they can offer their healing in the world.









Elder Jones gave a passionate voice to the role of men in the eradication of violence against women. Women Healing Women founder Imani Evans spoke with fire and eloquence about violence against women in her own experience, reminding all present to become more aware of the "pain" of the less fortunate in our daily lives. Dante led a raffle and the meeting became a warm communion of like-minded souls.








GET THE FACTS..........


Globally, at least one in three women and girls is beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime. (UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2/28/00)

4 million women and girls are trafficked annually.

An estimated one million children, mostly girls, enter the sex trade each year. (UNICEF)

So-called "honor killings" take the lives of thousands of young women every year, mainly in North Africa, Western Asia and parts of South Asia. (UNFPA)

More than 90 million African women and girls are victims of female circumcision or other forms of genital mutilation. (Heise: 1994)

In Zimbabwe, domestic violence accounts for more than 60% of murder cases that go through the high court in Harare. (ZWRCN)

In eastern and southern Africa, 17 to 22% of girls aged 15 to 19 are HIV-positive, compared to 3 to 7% of boys of similar age. This pattern---seen in many other regions of the world---is evidence that girls are being infected with HIV by a much older cohort of men. (UNICEF/UNAIDS 2007)

Statistics Taken From WWW.FEMINIST.COM


Living a Golden Life by Being PRESENT
TheGoldenGoddess
May 4, 2011

Status Musings

It's been nearly a month now, and still I can hardly believe it. My beloved friend, Miss New York by way of Venezuela, and other darling sistafriends have been aware of their STATUS for as far back as I can remember, while I hopscotched through the garden without a clue as to mine. So...

I'm finally a conscientious, card-carrying member of the population, who has taken the plunge to surface with a Negative HIV Status. All praises to the Divine...not to say I was or am promiscuous; I'm not. Celibate is more like it. But the fact is HIV can hide in the body for many years, while you're dancing through life totally unaware of its presence. Got a tiny yellow slip of card stock memorializing my test date as of 8/27/2010. The results manifested at 11:55 AM. Yes, indeed, I even have a test number. I'm legitimate right down to my test giver's initials.

And goodness was M.M. hilarious! If you're going to subject yourself to the pressure of knowing test results with the power to leave you trembling in your seat, praying you can go on after obtaining a life-or-death diagnosis, certainly you deserve a present, articulate, intelligent and worldly HIV Prevention Team Member like M.M. I belly-laughed from the time I entered the Saint Joseph's Mercy Care Services, Inc. partitioned conference room where the test was administered, off a narrow carpeted hall, to the time I rose to depart, a Cheshire Cat grin plastered across my face. M.M.'s fellow employees worked quietly, stoically, in cubicle-like offices across the hall. One commented that we'd been laughing and having entirely too much fun for the nature of our test, when M.M. closed the conference door and walked me to the front, glassed-in lobby.

The brotha's comic timing was flawless, like his coffee-bean complexion and genuine smile. I cracked up at his diatribe on irresponsible lovers who should be thoroughly examined before the exchange of body fluids. He joked me about how beaus and ladies come a dime a dozen, using the Marta Transit system to make his point, saying they come every fifteen minutes, so be willing to toss them back into the fray and wait for the next one if they don't work out. I practically toppled out of my chair, howling.

I'd fully expected to suffer a needle prick but was charmed to find myself swabbing my mouth to gather the culture needed to secure the 30-minute test results. Yes, I'm returning in November to continue laughing and get the follow-up results to make perfectly certain my slate is clean. Call me Fearless.

And one day perhaps you can call yourself the same, if you haven't taken the cannonball plunge. You owe it to yourself and your significant other(s) and loved ones who'd love to see you around in great health for as long as possible.

Paz, amor y bendiciones a todos~~~
La Diosa de Oro