Welfare Warriors

Spring 2008

MW Voice FEATURE

Letters to the  Editor

War

Mothers news from around the world

Victories

  Spring 2008

MOTHERS NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Moms Organize Walking Busing 

In both Wales and Canada, moms have created systems to cooperatively walk children to school. This is a substitute for busing children. The walking-busing protects people and the Earth from the massive pollution from busses. And it provides children with much needed exercise.

In Medicine Hat Alberta Canada moms took action after the Canadian Cancer Society linked 30-35% of cancers to unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. The idea is to have parents head a pied piper row of students, picking up newcomers along the route as a ‘walking school bus’.

Mexico City Has Women-Only Buses 

Women-only buses now run along three busy routes in Mexico City. Women were asking for this service because of sexual harassment, groping and leering. Men are complaining that they have to wait longer for a bus, but women are thrilled.

Women-only buses or subways have been running for years in India, Brazil and Japan.

UK May Fund Child Care for Children at Home too 

In the UK funding of 3rd party childcare is provided by governmen. Now The Policy Exchange has suggested a change in policy. The report recommends funding be provided for all mothers. Then moms could choose whether to use 3rd party daycare, grandma care or other family –based arrangements. 

Maria Miller, of the Conservative party, says support for the first 3 years of life is a ‘neglected area of policy.’ Not enough choice is yet given to women. The research cited a study by the Women’s Unit at the Cabinet Office. It found that if money were no object, only 5% of mothers would have paid income fulltime when the children were young. 75% of moms prefer part-time paid work. 20% would prefer to have some years of no paid work to be with the children.

 Current government policy, the study claims, has ignored these cited preferences. 

Mocha Moms—A Support Group for Black Moms 

The Detroit Chapter of Mocha Moms is looking for new members. Mocha Moms, Inc. was founded because mothers of color have not always had the opportunity to devote a significant amount of time caring for their own families.

Families of color are making great sacrifices to provide their children with the best care available—mother care. They are doing so with little support from society. And sometimes their own family members fail to approval or understanding them.

            Mocha Moms meet twice a month for mothers’ support meetings. They organize monthly “Moms Night Out.” they perform several community service projects each year. Other activities include book clubs, couples night out, family activities and exercise club.

            Membership is open to all moms. They encourage the spirit of “Sisterhood.” They celebrate the trials and triumphs of “Motherhood.” And they embrace transformations into “Womanhood.” Contact michiganmochas@yahoo.com or go to www.mochamoms.org.         

India’s Pink Posse Hunts Down Bad Guys 

            If you’re a man in the Banda district of India who beats your wife or demands more dowry, you’d better watch out. A posse of vigilante women in pink saris may come after you. And it’s going to be ugly..

            The Gulabi (Pink) Gang consists of over 500 women. They use sticks and cricket bats to “teach erring men a lesson.”  In one instance they chased a woman’s abusive, alcoholic husband into a sugarcane field. Then they thrashed him. Last year, they stormed a police station after cops refused to register the case of a low-caste man because of his social standing.

            The women have become folk heroes. They’ve won public support for a series of militant and effective actions. Their most daring exploit was to hijack trucks laden with food meant for the poor. Corrupt officials were going to sell it for profit at the market..

            When the Gulabi Gang learned that their electricity had been disconnected by corrupt officials to extract bribes, they mobilized. 400 furious women first surrounded then charged into the electricity office. They snatched the office key and roughed up the staff. Then they herded them outside. They locked the door and ran away. They vowed to return the key when they had electricity. Within an hour, the electricity was restored.

            The women have stopped child marriages. They have forced police officers to register cases of domestic violence by slapping them. They got a road built by dragging the official responsible from his desk onto the dust track in question.

Sampat Pal Devi created the Gulabi Gang two years ago. She was married off at age 9 and had her first child at 13. It took her over ten years to get the foot soldiers for the gang. She traveled from village to village singing protest songs and amassing hundreds of female fans.

Sampat says, “Nobody comes to our help in these parts. The officials and police are corrupt and anti-poor. So sometimes we have to take the law into our own hands. At other times, we prefer to shame the wrongdoers. But we’re not a gang in the usual sense of the term. We’re a gang for justice.”

Ghana’s Queen Moms Hold Court on Abortion 

A Ghanaian queen mother calls for a durbar. That is a gathering involving drumming dancing and speeches. Most of the community turns out.

These days traditional female leaders are using durbars to send a message about safe abortions.

            Once a month Nana Yaa Daani and 20 other queen mothers conduct public-health sessions in towns and villages. Topics include the risks of teen pregnancy and safe sex practices. Lately Daani has been discussing abortion and the conditions of its legality.

            Since 1985 Ghana has the most liberal abortion law in Africa. It allows abortion in all cases of rape and incest. If a pregnancy will cause physical or mental stress on the woman, she can request an abortion. Abortion is performed by a government-recognized medical practitioner. She can also have an abortion if there’s a strong risk the child will suffer from physical anomaly or disease.

            In 2007, an international women’s reproductive rights group and the Ghanaian government surveyed the staff of 90 health care facilities. They wanted to find out how able and willing they are to provide safe abortions. Nearly 48% of the health care workers weren’t sure when the law permits an abortion. Half said they were hesitant to offer abortions because of their religious beliefs.

            In 2005 the World Health Organization recorded 3,800 deaths in Ghana. 20-30% of those deaths were from botched abortions. Over 105,000 women are treated in hospitals and clinics each year for incomplete abortions.

            The support of queen mothers goes a long way in getting young people talking about safe sex, abstinence and safe abortions. In Ghanian society queen mothers are widely revered Nana Yaa Daani says, “As a queen mother I’m seen as a leader of the community. So what I say carries weight. I’m a leader, they’ll listen to me.”

Italy Launches Anti-Anorexia Campaign 

The Italian Ministries of Health and Sports are launching a $1.5 million campaign to combat rising rates of anorexia and other eating disorders. The campaign targets schools and the media and includes training for coaches and dance instructors. It provides guidelines on discouraging unhealthy thin ideals..

            Eating disorders effect about 2-3 million Italians. Almost 65% of girls between the ages of 10 and 16 would like to be thinner

South African Woman Invents Anti-Rape Condom 

Sonette Ehlers has invented the “rapex” an anti-rape condom worn like a tampon. The “rapex” hooks onto a rapist’s penis and must be surgically removed. This will alert hospital staff and police. It also protects a woman from pregnancy and getting AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. South Africa has more people with HIV/AIDS than any other country. One in nine of its 45 million people is infected.

            Ehlers said women have tried “rapex” for comfort. It has been tested on a plastic male model but not on a live man. Production is planned to start next year..

Sources: WHO CARES, Lesbian Connection , Rain and Thunder, The Michigan Citizen