If it’s broke…FIX IT!

The incredible work of WaterAid  was recognized in a NYTimes opinion piece yesterday, part of the rad NYTimes Fixes series, which explores creative solutions to the world’s social problems. Yay, solutions!

According to research cited in the article, there are pumps and wells in many poor communities around the world, including India and Africa, but the pumps have fallen into disrepair and the local communities are not equipped with the technical know-how and resources to fix them. 

Photo credit/caption: WaterAid/Marco Betti Shanti Devi and Ram Sakhi fixing a handpump in the Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, India. 

In comes WaterAid! They developed a comprehensive plan whereby they train local community members to be pump and well mechanics.  In addition, WaterAid sets up and secures the infrastructure between communities and the state, who pays for the repairs, so that once WaterAid leaves, the repair process will be self-sustaining. 

WaterAid’s efforts are also opening up new career paths for women from the lowest caste in Indian society. The training centers have 27 women working to be mechanics! 

While the system surely isn’t without its problems, its great to see groups and communities working to fix what they already have instead of just building more pumps, which is needed, but only part of the solution. 

Women Walk for Rights, Justice, Equality & Peace!

As the sunshine peaked through the fog and “I’m Walkin’ on Sunshine” rang out, hundreds of Bay Area women, men and children took to the Golden Gate Bridge to march in support of women’s justice on the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. The march was part of a “Join Me on the Bridge,” an event organized by Women for Women and included 450 events in over 70 countries! The San Francisco event was sponsored by Google.

The festivities began with moving speeches by prominent Bay Area residents including Megan Smith (Google and Google.org), Judith Registre (Women for Women), Mayor Juan Quan (Mayor of Oakland), Yvonne Cagle (Astronaut) and Jennifer Seibel Newsom.  Issues included economic justice, food security, women’s equality, gender justice and workplace rights (such as wage disparities and maternity leave for men). 

Helicopters carrying news crews sliced through the thick Bay air as we began to march from Crissy Field across the Golden Gate Bridge and into Marin County. There was a celebratory energy in the air as marchers discussed what they thought were key issues facing women in the U.S. and internationally. 

Code Pink, a women-initiated grassroots peace and justice organization, was on the scene with their always colorful and creative signs and clothing. We caught up with Janet Weil from Code Pink as we made our way across the bridge.  “Today is particularly moving because of the focus on women in Afghanistan,” Weil said. Weil told me Code Pink organizes a march across the bridge every 2nd Sunday at noon.  Also, they will be organizing a demonstration on March 20th in support of Bradley Manning, who is being detained in relation to the WikiLeaks publication of U.S. war logs and diplomatic cables. Visit Code Pink’s Hands off WikiLeaks page to get more info on the issues and how to get involved.

Sharon Miller, a recent San Francisco State University grad and Code Pink intern, accompanied Weil. Miller’s master’s thesis argued that politicians and public figures used the problematic concept of “saving women” to justify the U.S.-led bombing and invasion of Afghanistan.  Miller said, “If you want to save someone you don’t bomb them.”  The idea that the women of Afghanistan needed to be “saved” by U.S. military intervention, destructively misappropriated the concept of feminism, Miller said.

According to Miller, in many cases political leaders and the media used feminist statements about the plight of women in Afghanistan out of context to support the invasion.  In reality, those who made the statements did not support the war.

Another marcher, Mary Jane Marcus, brought a bright orange Balinese umbrella and wore a patch on her vest reading, “WOMEN OF LIBYA WE ARE WITH YOU.” 

When asked why she came out today, Marcus replied, “I came out to support women locally and around the world.  I am standing up against violence.  We want the women of Libya to know we see what is happening there and we are with them.”

Other marchers carried signs celebrating the peaceful Egyptian revolution. However, later reports surfaced about how Egyptian women were attacked, beaten and sexual harassed in Tahrir Square as they celebrated International Women’s Day.  While the Egyptian people toppled a violent dictator, discriminatory and sexist sentiment still pulse through parts of the population. The fight for women’s rights, democracy and justice is as important as ever.  And not just in Egypt, but in every city and country in the world.

The African drum-thumping sounds of Global Women Intact and Sia Amma filled the air as marchers returned to Crissy Field for the post-march show.  Global Women Intact and Sia Amma, a Liberian born actor, musician, comedian, activist and artist, raise awareness and fight against genital cutting. While genital cutting or genital mutilation occurs throughout the world, it is most heavily practiced in Africa, according to the Global Women Intact website.  

According to their website, Global Women Intact, “nurtures arts of the african diaspora, and uses performance and presentations-including dance, music, theater, comedy and education-to raise awareness of the beauty and complexity of african cultures, and their impact on health and well-being. In particular, [they are] devoted to raising awareness about female genital cutting..and provide alternative arts-based and culturally appropriate rites of initiation that honor the intact healthy bodies of girls and women.” For more information on Global Women Intact- their work, successes, issues and art- visit their website. 

Next to take the stage was the Ballet Afsaneh and in breathtakingly beautiful costumes they performed the Attan, the national dance of Afghanistan.  The Ballet Afsanef is a performance troupe that incorporate dance, music and poetry of the Silk Road.  Children in the crowd starting using the bandannas they received for International Women’s Day  to mimic the way the Ballet Afsaneh dancers were moving with their scarves.  Truly a beautiful sight!

“Join me on the Bridge” was a great success! We appreciate all the amazing people that came out!

What did you do for International Women’s Day? Click submit at the top of this page to share!