Tribute to Ireland

Today is March 17, 2013. 

In the US, we celebrate this day as St Patrick's Day

It is a day that I have been apart of and celebrated for 40 some ott years. 

I am not Irish nor do I know of any Irish ancestors. 

I like to wear green and indulge in some basic Irish foods on this day.

I just finished reading this book.

Mary Robinson was the first woman to become Irish President.
Mary served in the United Nations as the High Commissioner for Human Rights
She has established the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice

I really recommend reading this book if you like history, if you are a human rights activist.

Here are some very special and noteworthy quotes from the book.

*Note: I have taken these quotes and statements from
her book, there might be some small discrepancies.

We constitute a human family;
Instead of allowing diversity of race and culture to become
 a limiting factor of human exchange and development,
we must refocus our understanding, discern in such diversity the potential
 for mutual enrichment, realizing that it is the interchange between
great traditions of human spirituality that offers the
best prospects for the best human spirit itself. (human family)
~
The power of human rights is the idea that all people
 are born equal in dignity and rights.
But it's an idea that doesn't have an enormous army behind it.
Its an idea whose effectiveness depends on people
themselves believing in it, taking it up, and being willing to defend it.
-Dorothy Q. Thomas
~
 Realizing Rights
Everyone should realise that he or she has birthrights of human rights-
(Countries that have signed up for (Click to the blue link to read that declaration.
 The  Universal Declaration on Human Rights) 
-should realise those rights by implementing and Respecting them.

Women's Rights

If women are empowered to earn an income, or benefit from 
a minimum protective financial safety net (if not in a position to earn..)
children will not go hungry.

Women need not have power over men; but to themselves.

Women Activist + Feminist =STRONG
(affirmative connotation)


People whom Suffer

They are begging us, you see, in their wordless way,
To do something, to speak on their behalf,
Or at least not close the door again.-Derek Mahon
They need our action, not our tears, our practical
downright, problem solving help. Not our wordless horror.

Our prayers, our pleas.... to listen-to bear witness.

Climate Change

Mary asked African villagers; " isn't  this just a bad patch of weather?"
The villagers answered; " This is different,...this is outside of our experience ".
(What is outside of our experience? estimated two hundred years ..
some ott yrs of words being passed down from one generation to another generation. )
Impacting the Horn of Africa
2011: 1.3 billion people out of the worlds population of 7.0 billion
 have no access to electricity, they rely on kerosene & candles, wood, 
coal, animal dung for cooking and heating.

I really feel that I can do more as a citizen of the world.
Here are some of Mary Robinson's suggestions:

Click on any of the below websites to learn more

1 Million Women-Global Alliance for Waste pickers

WIEGO-
Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing

Women's Learning Partnership

ICRW-International Center  for Research on Women

*Let me know if you participate in any organizations that helps women.

Thanks for reading and thank you Mary Robinson
 for your passion to help others.

Melanie