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WEL eUpdate #86 21 February 2012
In this update…...Gillard’s leadership, women’s representation on the big screen and we remember Dorothy Simons.
Welcome to the WEL eUpdate
The eUpdate comes every week with the latest feminist news, events and actions.
We’ll keep you up-to-date on what we’re doing but we’d also love to hear what YOU are doing.
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Please feel free to email your ideas, comments, feedback or events coming up through to lmclean@welnsw.org.au.
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ALERT: WEL has now changed its email address to wel@welnsw.org.au – welnsw@comcen.net.au is no longer functional.
1. WEL update
The first WEL Informed for 2012 is out now. You can download your edition from the site here.
WEL is deep into planning for its 40th Anniversary celebrations this year. We’ll have details for all the state events soon. See more details below.
Read the obituary of amazing feminist and WEL member Dorothy Simons, recently published in the Sydney Morning Herald here.
2. What’s in the news
The NSW opposition has called on Premier Barry O’Farrell to apologise for likening a female politician to a whining puppy in question time today.
Leslie Cannold writes about women’s reaction on twitter to Chris Brown’s appearance at the Grammy Awards. All were variations on a theme: domestic violence
Medical products manufacturer CSL has spent $5m on an on-site childcare centre so it can keep mothers in its workforce.
Feminism this week
The second round of gender indicators is now available on the ABS website.
Not content with the vote, gender-equality legislation and the right to drive (despite their propensity to emotional flights and their lack of spatial awareness), they will now be allowed to fight alongside our boys in the Australian military writes Jacqueline Maley.
Candice Chung writes why anger works for Rudd but not for women.
Cheryl Kernot on politics, the media and female leadership.
Feminism around the globe
A bill requiring a woman to get an ultrasound before having an abortion is poised to pass Virginia’s legislature this week, placing it on track to be signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Hundreds of Lebanese gathered in downtown Beirut on Saturday to protest the country’s lack of legislation against domestic violence.
A growing list of U.N. Security Council Resolutions acknowledges the importance of gender in processes for peace.
2. You-tube clip of the week
Check in with the Bechdel Test for Women in Movies and see if there’s been any substantial improvement in women’s representations on the big screen.
4. Books, theatre, art, movies
Senegalese rapper Fatou Mandiang Diatta defied her country’s traditional expectations for women in order to succeed in Senegal’s male-dominated hip-hop scene.
Africa Women’s Development Fund Partners with NNEKA to Promote Women’s Rights Through the Arts
5. Events and Campaigns
The Stella Prize will be an annual literary prize for Australian women’s writing – it is named after Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin – and is partly modelled on the very successful UK Orange Prize. The Stella Prize will reward the best book by a woman writer each year, regardless of genre (so fiction, non-fiction, young adult, poetry etc. will all be eligible). Founders of the prize are currently seeking much-needed donations. Would you be willing to make a donation to The Stella Prize? If so, please let us know either by writing to me (mmdux@bigpond.net.au) or to The Stella Prize (thestellaprize@gmail.com), and we will supply our banking details.
Come along to the Building an Evidence Base to End Homelessness Conference – using effective models, research & evaluation for robust policy & outcomes. It is on the 29th & 30th May 2012, Citigate Central Sydney.
IWD 2012 – Re- generation! Make our future feminist! Last year was 100th Anniversary, so let’s look forward this year! Meet some fabulous young women and hear their views. Celebrate IWD in Sydney at First Fleet Park, Circular Quay at 12 noon for a community picnic, live music and world-changing chatter.
International Women’s Day celebrations are coming up fast. Details of all International Women’s Day Breakfast’s can be found here.
Mamapalooza is coming to Sydney! Artists will be celebrating/critiquing motherhood from 7th to 13th May at the TAP Gallery, Palmer Street, Darlinghurst. The organisers are calling for expressions of interest for: an art prize, a variety night, mama clown workshop and there may be a one-day symposium. For more info contact info@tapgallery.org.au click here
Pamela Denoon Lecture: Sex, Women and the 21st Century in Papua New Guinea will be delivered by Carol Kidu on International Women’s Day, Thursday 8 March, 8 pm at the Manning Clarke Lecture Hall 2, ANU. For bookings contact: pameladenoonlecture@hotmail.com or call 0457 206 887.
A notice of calls for submission to an Independent Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia has been put out. For more information or to put in a submission go to: http://www.mckeonreview.org.au/
Women’s Electoral Lobby started in Melbourne on 27th February, 1972….. Come to celebrate this event with drinks and nibbles on Saturday, 25th February 2012 at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Atrium Room, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne,from 3pm to 5pm.vRSVP please to Barbara Cameron, 03 95893135 or email barbara.cameron@bigpond.com
The International Alliance of Women, to whom WEL National is affiliated, is bringing the International Board meeting to Melbourne from 7th to the 14th October 2012 in Melbourne. The Women’s Electoral Lobby, the League of Women Voters of Victoria and the Union of Australian Women, Vic are the hostesses and plans are already well underway. Anyone who wants more information contact Pat Richardson, IAW membership Secretary, and NSW WEL member iaw.membership@womenalliance.org or on 02 65686239.
