WOMEN IN BLACK on International Womne's Day 2010
W O M E N I N B L A C K
on International Womne's Day 2010
Over 300 women from 36 districts including the capital city Dhaka and from different organizations joined together on Mirpur Road, opposite to Narigrantha Prabartana (NGP) for the event of Women in Black. In black clothes, a symbol of protest, women reminded of the continued injustice, discrimination and violence that are going on not only to women but to all people in different countries and different situations.
Women's day 2010
What to celebrate on Women’s Day?
German Socialist leader Clara Zetkin has become a household name in the global women's movement because of her declaration of a "Day" for women called "The International Women's Day" (IWD). At the Second International Conference of Socialist Women in 1910 held in Copenhagen, Denmark, Clara’s declaration of the International Women's Day was indeed international in both spirit and character because her internationalism was akin to worker’s global concern in general. Honoring the movement for women's rights and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women was a working class issue. It is still remained
Begum Rokeya Day 2009
Patriarchal global capitalist system is responsible for Climate change Women must Resist
Women's movement in Bangladesh links itself with the history of women's struggle not in any abstract flowery conception of 'woman' or 'woman' as eternal victims in the hands of men lacking any capacity to resist. Women must be seen in her concree struggle in different historical situation transforming the conditions of life. This is what Begum Rokeya taught us. The legacies of Rokeya is strong in Bangladesh. It is therefore easy for the women's movement in Bangladesh to clearly address contemporary politics such as 'climate change'. Climate change affects the life and livelihood not only of the peoples of Bangladesh but the whole world and manifest the crisis of the capitalist patriarchy. It is time that we give up urban elite notion of 'women'
Climate Change and Population: Old game of blaming the poor and women!!
The 2009 edition of The State of World Population has been released just before the 15th Session of United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark during 7 - 18 December, 2009. It shows that climate change is more than an issue of energy efficiency or industrial carbon emissions; it is also an issue of population dynamics, poverty and gender equity. In Bangladesh, the UNFPA Representative, Mr. Arthur Erken launched the report at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital city Dhaka. It may be noted that the focus of UNFPA report of 2009 is women, population and climate change.
To link between population, climate change and women is a bit tricky in the context of developing countries, because according to our experiences since Earth Summit of 1992 that every time the wealthy nations of the world are reminded of their contribution to the degradation of environment, they tend to point fingers to the poorer countries and talk about population. Since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, Egypt, women are linked more towards the solution of the problem of poverty, environmental degradation, climate chan
Initially organized as a Study Circle, UBINIG, was formed in 1984 by activists coming from different background of social, cultural and political movements of Bangladesh.
UBINIG is the abbreviation of its Bengali name Unnayan Bikalper Nitinirdharoni Gobeshona (Policy Research for Development Alternative). It is a policy and action research organization. Among other activities, UBINIG is well known for its contribution to biodiversity-based ecological agriculture (Nayakrishi Andolon) and the art of handicrafts and handlooms production (Prbartana).
We are against all forms predatory and hierarchical relations and interventions that destroy conditions of life and its joyous manifestations. We are against caste, class, patriarchy and all forms of coercion, oppression and hierarchy of control, manipulation and surveillance by a few against us all.
Present activities of UBINIG are directed against the ‘globalisation” of the relations of plunder and profit and at debunking the claim of universal truth that destroys the value of local, concrete and the indigenous experience and lifestyles.
(The image shows one of the last glimpses of Fakir Loban Shah, before his passing away on 13 Kartik 1416 (28 October 2009, Wednesday) with Karim Shah during the Pohela Kartik event of Nabapran Andolon, 16 October 2009.)
Visit AKHRABARI of Nabapran Andolon, opposite to Fakir Lalon Shah's shrine in Cheuria, Kushtia, a great place to visit. Meet some of the stalwarts of the Lalon's school. Connect with the music from the real practitioners of the Bengal's philosophical movement generically known as 'Nadia Porimondol'. The movement was initiated by 'tin pagol' (Adaitacharya, Chaitanya and Nittanondo), three 'crazy' Fakirs during Sultan Alauddin Hussain Shah's period (1493 - 1519). Learn why the ethico-political aspiration of Bengal's bhokti movement, expressed in uncompromising struggle against caste, class and patriarchy, is fundamental to mobilise the 'subalterns' and the 'outcasts' against imperialism, xenophobia, war and violence. Most importantly, learn why reaffirming the lifestyles that preach love, care and responsibility to others is the politics of the day. Contact: 8802-8111465, 8124533 & 8116420.
Visit Narigrantha Prabartana, the only Feminist Book Store and Women Resource Center in Bangladesh. Join your sisters on Mondays of the week and participate in women's causes and struggles. Call 880-2-9118428.
