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MW Voice FEATURE Letters to the Editor War Editor's Tidbits Mothers news from around the world Mama's Health News Did You Know? Corporate War on the People Youth/ Disabled/ Gay news Resistance in the War OTHER WINTER 2008 ARTICLES
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Mothers
News From Around the World
Moms File International Complaint Against U.S. On May 11, 2007, ten mothers and
one victimized child (now an adult) filed a complaint against the US
with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. They were joined
by leading national and state organizations The
petition states that US courts frequently award child custody to
abusers and child molesters. And that the US courts have thus failed
to protect the life, liberties, security and other human rights of
abused mothers and their children. Dianne Post, an
international attorney authored the petition. She said, “For more
than 30 years US judges have given custody or unsupervised
visitation of children to abusers and molesters. Their actions put
the children directly at risk. These horrendous human rights
violations have been brought to the attention of family court
systems, state and federal governments to no avail. We turn
now to international courts to protect the rights and safety of US
children.” The complaint details
several cases with documented medical evidence of child sexual
abuse. In every case the father who was accused of abuse was
given full custody of the children. Several of the mothers were
jailed because of their persistent efforts to protect their
children. Several were ordered not to speak of the abuse and not to
report abuse to authorities. Every
mother was denied contact with her child for some time. None of the
mothers had ever harmed their children. For more info, contact
Irene Weiser at
~ Rain and Thunder
You and Me, MumWomen’s Aid of Northern Ireland has been supporting women and their children for 30 years. They staff a refuge and a 24 Hour Domestic Violence Helpline. And they have peer support groups for children of moms using Women’s Aid services. Women’s Aid is shaped and led by women and their children. Discussions about the support needed before and after escape led to the creation of You and Me, Mum. You and Me, Mum acknowledges the strengths and coping skills of women and their children. It also helps moms understand how male violence can affect them as mothers and its effect of their children. It explores strategies for keeping moms and children safe. ~ Women’s News
Japanese Mom Starts Grassroots Movement to Change Sexist Law Japanese mom Masae Ito and her second husband tried to register their new baby. But they discovered that the child legally belonged to her former spouse! An 1898 law makes women wait six months after a divorce to remarry. Infants born within 10 months of divorce can not be listed in their biological fathers’ family register. Masae decided not to sue, but to lobby politicians. She was finally allowed to register her child under a new family register. But the law remained intact. So she started a grassroots movement to change it. Her group is facing strong opposition, but believes they will win. Conservative politicians claim that abolishing the law will “encourage divorce and increase the number of ‘illegitimate’ children.” Currently the mom’s former husband must go to court and testify the child is not his. But many male violence victims are fearful to communicate with former husbands. As a result 3,500 children are unregistered annually. They can not apply for national benefits or get a passport. ~ Ms. Progressive Moms Unschool Their Children Moms homeschool their children for many reasons. But progressive moms “unschool” their kids to instill open-mindedness and social consciousness along with academics. Queer, feminist homeschooling is on the rise. Parents see it as an escape from the sexism, homophobia, racism, and transphobia of public schools. Unschooling parents act as facilitators. They guide their kid’s explorations. The kids choose what they’ll study. Nina Packebush, single mom of three, homeschools her son because he is dyslexic and has ADHD. His school didn’t provide him enough personal attention. Then she noticed that women, men of color and LGBT people were nearly nonexistent in standard history books. She decided to homeschool her daughter because of the school’s biased curriculum. She provides books like Freedom’s Children for her kids. Beyond that, she follows where her kids’ interests lead. Learning opportunities pop up at any time. When Packebush’s daughter become interested in zine-making, it became her curriculum. “It’s important to trust your kids, even if they choose something that hits you right in the guts.” At 18, her son asked what she’d do to stop him become a porn star. “I won’t see your movies.” Eventually, Jason lost interest in the porn star dream. Sarah Schira hosts TheDenimJumper.com, a website for “sassy secular homeschoolers. She says that kids simply hanging out is one of the best routes to consciousness building. “They hear our reactions to the radio news, the political discussions it raises. We talk a lot about societal institutions, about the almost invisible factors that shape events and free choice. I now recognize that I don’t want the kind of life offered by our culture. I don’t want things. I don’t want status. I want interdependence, harmony, new solutions to old problems.”
~
bitch
Moms Fight Toxic Toy MakersSafety advocates—mostly mothers—have been fighting for almost a decade against the male-dominated toy and baby products industries. ($22 billion toy industry and $7 billion baby products). These products injure 250,000 children each year. Leading the fight is lawyer and mother of two, Rachel Weintraub. She is senior counsel for Consumer Federation of America (1-202-387-6121). Weintraub has spent years pushing manufacturers and government regulators to improve the safety of toys and baby equipment. When millions of toys were recalled last summer, the safety advocates organized quickly.Consumer Federation of America finally has the government’s attention. Newly proposed legislation would decrease the amount of lead permitted in toys. It would raise the fine--from $1.8 million to $100 million--for concealing a product hazard. The new law passed in the House. It is expected to pass in the Senate this year. Graco, Cosco, Fisher-Price, Safety 1st and Hasbro have all paid fines. They were found to have carefully concealed the truth when their products caused injuries or deaths. Manufacturers of hazardous toys either trivialize the hazard or blame the mother. Groups tried to ban a chemical used in plastic toys that has been linked to breast and testicular cancer. Industry lawyer Rick Locker said it was safe. Toddler Kenny Sweet died in 2005 from swallowing magnets that came loose from a Magnetix construction set. Locker said “It’s a shame. Kenny’s death could have been avoided, perhaps, if there was adequate supervision.” Nancy Cowles of Kids in Danger ( 1-312-595-0649) said, “According to Locker and other industry guys, there’s just an army of incompetent mothers out there, refusing to supervise their kids.” Toy manufacturers also hide the sweatshop labor in China. Labor-rights groups charge Hasbro and Mattel of underpaying child workers and exposing them to deadly toxins. ~ Ms. European Countries Combat Sex Trafficking In just five years Sweden has reduced the number of prostituted women by two thirds and the number of johns by 80%. Their new law punishes customers rather than prostituted women. It has succeeded because it targets those who pay for sex. And it does not criminalize women who are victims of such transactions. Instead of sending women to jail, they are offered training options for other work. Last fall Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and three Baltic republics reversed their plans to legalize prostitution. Finland made it illegal to purchase sex from trafficked women. Norway will soon impose a ban on buying sex. The government of Amsterdam has proposed closing over a quarter of its storefront brothels. The lobby to outlaw prostitution has been led by a coalition of feminist groups and the Swedish government. The Swedish model is being promoted. ~ Ms. Women Take Leadership in Latin AmericaIn October, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner became the first elected woman president in Argentina. Also known as CFK or Queen Cristina, she is the mother of two, a former senator and a former first lady. Her husband, former president Nestor Kirchner, plans to run again in four years. And after that Cristina will again run. Argentina permits a former president to run again after waiting four years. CFK received much of her support from the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. These are mothers who organized for 30 years in the name of their children who were“disappeared” during the 1970s “dirty war.” Their president, Hebe de Bonafini said, “It’s the first time we have supported a presidential candidate. She is a professional, but she is also a sensitive woman who really cares for the people. That’s what we need.” So far CFK has not decriminalized abortion or established equal rights and maternity pay. CFK is part of a Latin American trend of women’s leadership. Chile’s president is Michelle Bachelet, a single mom. Jamaica’s Prime Minister is Portia Simpson-Miller. Peru’s Lourdes Flores came within 1% of beating current President Alan Garcia. In 1991 Argentina became the first country in Latin America to institute a gender quota law. The law requires every third name on all party ballots to be a woman’s. In 2001, the Argentine senate enacted a similar law. 12 neighboring nations then passed similar laws. Latin America is more successful than the US in achieving gender equality. In 2006 women made up only 15% of US congressional seats. Women were 39% of legislatures in Argentina and Costa Rica. In 2005 the percentage of women in the Honduras legislature rose from 5.5% to 23%. In Ecuador women rose form 15% to 24% in 2006. ~ Ms.
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Winter
2008