March 8th: International Women's Day
Today and all days, let's celebrate women for who they are and what they do!
Women contribute to humanity and the Earth through inspiring, profound, and loving acts each and every day. Intelligent, compassionate, ambitious, beautiful, and full of hope women everywhere are leaders in their communities, homes, universities, places of worship, places of work, and governments.
As we celebrate their many accomplishments, let us remember that there remains a great deal of work to be done before we have achieved gender equity. Women in all countries of the world are still burdened with obstacles that infringe on their ability to make free choices, pursue an education, claim equal pay for equal work and, in many cases, live in security. It has yet to be recognized by many people that women have their own individual strengths, priorities, and needs. These strengths should be cultivated, priorities heeded, and needs addressed.
The Earth Charter Principles on Social and Economic Justice speak to these needs, especially number 11: "Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity."
I know that many of you are making efforts in your personal lives and through your work to promote gender equity. I encourage you to share with us some of these efforts by commenting on this blog entry.
For more information on activities being organized for International Women's Day visit:
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
Dominic Stucker
Earth Charter International
International Youth Coordinator
Sweden