when the roof caved in

So I wanted to find a news report that wasn’t a downer… I don’t want my hundreds of readers to think I am depressing (wait- I don’t have hundreds of readers, shoot, moment to deal with my self-esteem, okay… we are good to go).

Unfortunately finding upbeat news can be a little hard… but don’t worry I am up for the challenge… lets look at the possibilities… not the fact that 30 republicans voted against the anti-rape bill introduced by Al Franken to the Senate, wtf, and certainly not the fact that 70,000 women die from unsafe abortions worldwide due to anti-choice restrictions, read about it here.

Got distracted… back to the positive!

October 15th was International Day of Rural Women! This day falls on the eve of World Food Day as way to recognize the role rural and indigenous women play in food production. According to Joni Seeger’s book, The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World, “women make up about 40 percent of the agriculture labor force worldwide- about 67 percent in developing countries.” In Sub-Saharan Africa women produce 80 percent of the food!

So while land ownership and household decision-making issues complicate these statistics, I think we should simply enjoy the fact that the UN devoted a day to celebrating rural women around the world!

Over and out.

a beginning

I first created this blog in March, I never bothered to write anything in it. I have been wondering what incident, be in a personal one or a political one, would motive me to write.

Yesterday two separate articles came to my attention…

1)Rwandan genocide suspect arrested

2) Women fall prey in Guinean political suppression

The 1994 Rwandan genocide resulted in the systematic elimination of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Between April and July of that year 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed as part of an orchestrated mass genocide. The rape of Tutsi women was a systematic tactic of war. Prior to the “official” beginning of the genocide Rwandan radio stations broadcasted reports outlining the demonic nature of Tutsi women. By setting this stage Hutus in the Rwandan Armed Forces were able to blur the lines between sexual violence and an ethnic cleansing. The Hutu disseminated propaganda that accused Tutsi women of using their sexual power to seduce Hutu men, the Hutu claimed that this seduction allowed Tutsi women to undermine and dominate Hutu men. The Human Rights Watch reports that, “rape served to shatter these images by humiliating, degrading, and ultimately destroying the Tutsi women.” (HRW 18) Rapists would often verbally degrade Tutsi women as they sexually assaulted them. Today women are 70% of the Rwandan population, however they are struggling with rebuilding themselves and a nation. Using rape as a tactic of war created a culture of brokeness. There is a lot published on this… please read more!!

And its happening again!! In Guinea… a week ago!! Using rape and sexual violence as a tactic of war and militarization intentionally shatters concepts of community and safety. Haunting women, and their families, with images of horror. The quotes in the article speak volumes, attesting to the lifelong effects this violence has on women.

The Rwandan and Guinean examples revel how systematic war can be. Although we often think of war as chaotic, war has proven to be the opposite; instead it is calculated and strategic. More importantly, by listening to the stories of these women, we can better understand that individuals perpetuate militarization. People not weapons kill other people, men rape women, and ideologies do not.

Wow, this is a depressing first entry. Lets see… breaking the silence around these issues is important. Activism helps break the silence. A silence that militarization depends on and a silence that permeates all levels of process.