Pray the Devil Back to Hell Blog

Happy Mother’s Day!

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:39:17 +0000

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Arise then…women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!

This Sunday, May 13th, is Mother’s Day, and motherhood will be celebrated worldwide.

The above words are the opening lines of the poem Mother’s Day Proclamation written by the abolitionist, social activist and poet Julia Ward Howe in 1870.

She wrote this declaration after seeing some of the worst effects of war from the American Civil War and then the Franco-Prussian war. She called on women to come together across national lines to find peaceful resolutions to conflicts.

What Howe wanted to call “Mother’s Day for Peace” was not formally recognized during her lifetime, but her work was a key influence to the first national Mother’s Day, declared in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson. Learn more about the history of Mother’s Day including how it is celebrated around the world by clicking here »

Pictured above is a still from the film showing Leymah Gbowee at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Monrovia at the Mother’s Day ceremony in 2007.

Principal photography for Pray the Devil Back to Hell began on Mother’s Day in Monrovia in May of 2007, which makes this very special day even more meaningful for us at Fork Films.

We wish you a happy and peaceful Mother’s Day!

Leymah Gbowee on Taylor conviction

“When the guilty verdict was handed down, I walked outside and saw a rainbow encircling the sun. Everyone in Monrovia could see it. It was a hot day, 80 or 90 degrees. I don’t remember seeing any raindrops fall. I thought, this is a sign.” - Leymah Gbowee, quote from April 30th Newseek articleIn a historic verdict on April 26, 2012, an international tribunal found former president of Liberia Charles Taylor guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes (committed in Sierra Leone), including murder, rape, slavery and use of child soldiers. Click here to read the judgment summary, transcript, and press release »

Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee has embraced the challenge of working to heal and rebuild a battered Liberia. Her comments on the verdict and the work she has ahead of her are in the April 30th Newsweek article as told to Abigail Pesta, “A Dictator, Vanquished. Read it here »

Women, War & Peace Updates

RECENT EVENTS: Awards and Festivals

Women, War & Peace was awarded two Overseas Press Club Awards this year. On April 25th the series won both the Edward R. Murrow Award for documentaries and the Robert Spiers Benjamin Award for the best reporting from Latin America for its segment on the guerrilla war in Colombia.

Pictured from left to right: Gini Reticker, Abigail E. Disney, Pamela Hogan and Nina Chaudry
On May 2nd the series was honored at the 5th Annual Television Academy Honors. Read the Variety write up about the awards ceremony and click here to watch the acceptance speech.

I Came To Testify screened at the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival in New York on May 5th. Producer Pamela Hogan attended the screening and took part in a Q&A following the film. The festival is an annual event, which features contemporary Bosnian Herzegovinian cinematography and films with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their theme.

COMING UP

Women, War & Peace will be bestowed with two Gracie Awards, one in the outstanding series categories and one in the outstanding producer category. The awards are presented by the Alliance for Women in Media at ceremonies in Hollywood on May 22-23, 2012.

Watch Women, War & Peace:

*Please note that streaming online is only available in the U.S.

Abigail E. Disney public appearances

Secretary Hillary Clinton holds up the NYWF Century Award with Abigail E. Disney
May 9, 2012 – Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North AmericaU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered the keynote address at the 25th annual 2012 Celebrating Women Breakfast on May 10, 2012 in New York City, sponsored by The New York Women’s Foundation.

Abigail E. Disney presented the Century Award to Secretary Clinton in what ABC News called a “glowing, yet humorous introduction of Clinton.” (Read the article here.) Secretary Clinton honored her late mother, saying “I was always struck at how despite a life that was much more difficult than anything I’ve ever experienced – abandonment and abuse and just really unfortunate kinds of early experiences – my mother had a resilience and a commitment to her family that she worked hard on every single day.”

Watch the introduction and speech or read the transcript by clicking here »

Abigail also recently addressed thousands of college graduates at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) with a commencement speech highlighting the need for a greater role for women in politics, especially with peace negotiations.

She cited Julia Ward Howe and a United Nations study. Read more about her speech on EMU.edu »

On May 20th, Abigail will deliver a speech entitled, “What’s Peace got to Do with Me?” at Mary Baldwin College.

RETURN

Catch RETURN, the incredible feature debut from director Liza Johnson, now available on demand!

Linda Cardellini delivers a tour de force performance, leading an all-star cast that also includes John Slattery and Michael Shannon.

RETURN is now available on:

A documentary about sexiness & the cyber age

SEXY BABY filmmakers, Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, have started the spring off with a bang! The film premiered to a sold out crowd at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. IndieWire said the film is “harrowing, graphic and poignant — essential viewing for everyone living in a post-Internet age.”

Sexy Baby continues on the festival circuit. To find out about upcoming screenings check out their website at SexyBabyMovie.com

THE IRAN JOB

THE IRAN JOB‘s filmmakers have been hard at work after running one of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns of all time.

They will have its world premiere at the LA Film Fest on June 15th in the Documentary Competition category. Read more about the festival here or visit their official website at TheIranJob.com.

A story about men who want to hit like girls

THIS IS HOW I ROLL, a film that poses questions about how conflicting ideas about gender influence our perceptions of sports, athletes, ownership and entitlement through the unique lens of men’s roller derby.

The film will premiere this month at the Seattle True Independent Film Festival. For more information about the project visit the website ThisIsHowIRollMovie.com

Women, War & Peace wins two Overseas Press Club Awards

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:56:52 +0000

“Then there is the monumental series by Thirteen / WNET called “Women, War & Peace” — which looked at the role of women in a half dozen conflicts around the world. The production won both the Edward R. Murrow Award for documentaries and the Robert Spiers Benjamin Award for the best reporting from Latin America for its segment on the guerrilla war in Colombia.”

To read the full article please visit the OPC Website here: www.opcofamerica.org

Saying goodbye to Adrienne Rich

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:23:05 +0000

From the New York Times:

“Adrienne Rich, a poet of towering reputation and towering rage, whose work — distinguished by an unswerving progressive vision and a dazzling, empathic ferocity — brought the oppression of women and lesbians to the forefront of poetic discourse and kept it there for nearly a half-century, died on Tuesday at her home in Santa Cruz, Calif. She was 82.”

The full article can be read here >>

TED Talk – Leymah Gbowee: Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:09:15 +0000

Leymah’s incredibly powerful TED Talk is now online!

Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee has two powerful stories to tell — of her own life’s transformation, and of the untapped potential of girls around the world. Can we transform the world by unlocking the greatness of girls?

Click the above image or visit the URL below to watch the presentation.

http://www.ted.com/talks/leymah_gbowee_unlock_the_intelligence_passion_greatness_of_girls.html

Happy International Women’s Day!

admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:52:06 +0000

This year on International Women’s Day we wanted to look back on the past few years, and the impact and reach of Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which humbles us and in turn inspires us again and again. Leymah Gbowee is now a Nobel laureate and a highly esteemed public figure, and we are so honored to be associated with her.

In 2009, Pray the Devil Back to Hell screened in Liberia for the first time. The screening was part of The International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security which took place in accordance with International Women’s Day.

The Liberian women featured in the film and hundreds more who participated in the Mass Action Campaign for Peace were honored. President Sirleaf also attended the event and offered concluding remarks. Read our archived newsletter about this historic event by clicking here.

A year later, Pray the Devil Back to Hell screened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the UN Headquarters, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The event was opened by the highly respected Navanethem (Navi) Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Also in attendance were Ambassador Betty E. King of the US Mission and the Ambassador of Norway, Bente Angell-Hansen. Read our archived newsletter about this here.

Pray the Devil continues to be screened around the globe year round, but every year there is a concentrated number of events around Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. This year, there are many screenings being held, such as ITVS’ online film festival featuring Women, War & Peace which Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a part of.

The film celebrates the creativity, resilience, grit, and integrity of the Liberian women’s peace movement and continues to touch audiences and inspire action on both a large and small scale.

This year nobel laureates Leymah Gbowee, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Tawakkol Karman joined U.S Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on stage to present opening remarks at The International Women of Courage Award Ceremony. The award is given annually by the United States Department of State to “women around the world who have shown leadership, courage, resourcefulness and willingness to sacrifice for others, especially for better promotion of women’s rights.” A video and transcript from the event can be seen here.

This week, director Gini Reticker received a song from a musician who had been inspired by the women in the film. He told us that “the incredible women in [the] film inspired a song that shakes its fist, rattles and rolls.”

We loved the song, and with Dave’s permission are so happy to share it with you today!

Angels of Peace

Credit info: Written by Dave Doobinin
Performed by: Dave Doobinin and Skywriter
recorded @ Waterfront Studio by Greg DeGesu
Can be found on: Upcoming release May 2012
davedoobininmusic.com

We salute everyone – female and male – who have supported this film, and to all who have contributed towards empowering women to work together to make this world a better place. You give us strength and we promise to continue working hard towards peacebuilding and to further women’s issues. Happy Women’s History Month!

Leymah Gbowee’s Nobel Lecture

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:24:35 +0000

Leymah Gbowee’s Nobel Lecture
Watch a video of her speech by clicking here

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, Distinguished Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Global Leaders, Women of Liberia, Women of Africa and Women of the world.

This is the day the Lord has made and I and my sisters globally will rejoice and be glad in it.

Today marks a very historic day as the Nobel Peace Prize is being awarded to me, Tawakul, and my own President and Mother, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in honor of all women globally.

I am humbled and honored to have been selected by members of the committee and I receive the Prize in the name of women who continue to work for peace, equality and justice across the World. A moment of silence for Prof Wangari Maathai, Ms. Dheka Abdi, Ma Wleti Freeman, Ma Asata Kandakai, Ma Fatu Bah, Rebecca Flomo, Ma Klunah Brown, the seven Ivorian Women who lost their lives during the post elections violence and women across the world who lost their lives whilst fighting for peace, social justice and equality.

Early 2003, seven of us women gathered in a makeshift office / conference room to discuss the Liberian civil war and the fast approaching war on the capital Monrovia. Armed with nothing but our conviction and $10 United States dollars, the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace Campaign was born.

Women had become the “toy of war” for over-drugged young militias. Sexual abuse and exploitation spared no woman; we were raped and abused regardless of our age, religious or social status. A common scene daily was a mother watching her young one being forcibly recruited or her daughter being taken away as the wife of another drug emboldened fighter.

We used our pains, broken bodies and scarred emotions to confront the injustices and terror of our nation. We were aware that the end of the war will only come through non–violence, as we had all seen that the use of violence was taking us and our beloved country deeper into the abyss of pains, death, and destruction.

The situation in Liberia in those war years indeed re-affirmed the profound statement of Nobel Laureate, the late Dr. Martin Luther King when he said, “Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem; it merely creates new and more complicated ones”.

The women’s Mass Action Campaign started in one community and spread to over 50 communities across Liberia.

We worked daily confronting warlords, meeting with dictators and refusing to be silenced in the face of AK 47 and RPGs. We walked when we had no transportation, we fasted when water was unaffordable, we held hands in the face of danger, we spoke truth to power when everyone else was being diplomatic, we stood under the rain and the sun with our children to tell the world the stories of the other side of the conflict. Our educational backgrounds, travel experiences, faiths, and social classes did not matter. We had a common agenda: Peace for Liberia Now.

We succeeded when no one thought we would, we were the conscience of the ones who had lost their consciences in their quest for power and political positions. We represented the soul of the nation. No one would have prepared my sisters and I for today — that our struggle would go down in the history of this world. Rather when confronting warlords we did so because we felt it was our moral duty to stand as mothers and gird our waist, to fight the demons of war in order to protect the lives of our children, their land, and their future.

There are many examples globally of such struggles by women. I believe that the prize this year not only recognizes our struggle in Liberia and Yemen. It is in recognition and honor of the struggles of grass roots women in Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, in Palestine and Israel, and in every troubled corner of the world.
So allow me to pay tribute to some of the giants in women’s continued struggle to be free and equal. This prize is a tribute to:

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), for their courage in the face of arrest and torture, for remaining the voice and face of the suffering people of Zimbabwe;

The Women of Congo, who have endured some of the worst acts of men’s inhumanity to women. The World is well aware that the you still endure the horrific sexual violence that is the nature of the endless and senseless war in DRC;

Women of Acholi Land in Uganda who in the face of the so-called Lord’s Resistance Army’s continued torture and rape remain advocates for peace and justice;

Women of Afghanistan and many other places on earth where in the 21st Century women can be raped and still go to jail or sometimes be subjected to honor killing — this prize is a tribute to your cry for justice, freedom, and equality.

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, women of the world:

This prize could not have come at a better time than this; a time when global and community conversations are about how local community members and unarmed civilians can help turn our upside-down World, right-side up. It has come at a time when unarmed citizens — men and women, boys and girls — are challenging dictatorships and ushering in democracy and the sovereignty of people;

Yes! It has come at a time when in many societies where women used to be the silent victims and objects of men’s powers, women are throwing down the walls of repressive traditions with the invincible power of non-violence. Women are using their broken bodies from hunger, poverty, desperation and destitution to stare down the barrel of the gun. This prize has come at a time when ordinary mothers are no longer begging for peace, but demanding peace, justice, equality and inclusion in political decision-making.

I must be quick to add that this prize is not just in recognition of the triumph of women. It is a triumph of humanity. To recognize and honor women, the other half of humanity, is to achieve universal wholeness and balance. Like the women I met in Congo DRC over a year ago who said “Rape and abuse is the result of larger problem, and that problem is the absence of women in the decision making space”. If women were part of decision-making in most societies, there would be less exclusive policies and laws that are blind to abuses women endure.

In conclusion let me again congratulate the Nobel Committee for awarding the Peace Prize to us three women. By this act you affirm that women’s rights are truly human rights and that any leader, nation or political group that excludes women from all forms of national and local engagement is setting themselves up for failure.

Let this recognition serve as a renewed compact between women and World leaders, that commitments made to women through various UN and other global institutions’ resolutions will be pursued with greater commitment and vigilance; Let this be a renewed compact that the integrity of a woman’s body and the sanctity of women’s lives will not be subsumed under male-invented traditions;

To women of Liberia and sisterhood across West Africa who continue to band together to respond to crisis in our sub region; to women in Asia, the Middle East and the World: As we celebrate our achievement through this recognition let us remind ourselves that victory is still afar. We must continue to unite in sisterhood to turn our tears into triumph, our despair into determination and our fear into fortitude. There is no time to rest until our world achieves wholeness and balance, where all men and women are considered equal and free.

And, finally, Liberian women: thank you for making our country proud. Thank you for sitting in the rain and under the sun. This is your prize. This is our prize. The world used to remember Liberia for child soldiers but they now remember our country for the white t-shirt women. Who would have ever thought that Liberian women would have been among faces of women’s global victory, but you did it. So thank you!
© THE NOBEL FOUNDATION 2011

Leymah’s Nobel Lecture is available in English, Norwegian and Arabic on the Nobelprize.org website.

Director Gini Reticker’s Nobel Week Travelogue

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:27:22 +0000

Pray the Devil Back to Hell director Gini Reticker attended The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize events in Oslo and kept a short travelogue of her experiences during the week. Below is a small inside look on a whirlwind of a week!

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011:
As soon as my sister Kathy and I got off the plane, dazed from a sleepless overnight flight, we were tickled to see billboards all over the airport with Leymah, Ellen and Tawakul’s faces. We took the train into the city, and arrived early enough to the hotel to do some of the best people watching ever. The hotel staff was hanging Nobel Peace Prize Banners in the lobby, diplomats were bringing in different groups, the press was lined up outside to greet the laureates.

Leymah arrived with her entire family — all sisters, brothers, dad, mom, her 6 kids, nieces, nephews, and her indefatigable partner. Wowza! We saw the entourage, but Leymah was whisked away so fast we didn’t even see her come in.

Kathy and I decided to take a walk over to the Nobel Peace Museum. As we walked in the door, we were greeted by story-high photos of Leymah Gbowee, Tawakul Karman and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf below a banner saying: SHEROS. Inside, there is one wall with a dynamic interactive photo and text description of each laureate throughout history. When Leymah’s came up, part of the display was the DVD cover of Pray the Devil Back to Hell. The gift shop sold onesies for babies with all the laureate’s names, our three ladies on top of the list.

While we were at the museum, Abby [Disney] arrived from Sri Lanka. Exhausted, we went to bed early. While Abby and I both were asleep, the Liberian ladies – including the other activists featured in Pray the Devil Back to Hell, Asatu, Vaiba, Sugars, and Etty — descended on the hotel. When the security guards asked them if Leymah had sent for them, they began singing and sang their way past the guards to her door, where I heard that they rabble roused and sang into the night.

Friday, Dec. 9, 2011:
Leymah is being treated like royalty and Abby and I are like her ladies in waiting . . .at breakfast this morning, which was a hotel buffet, if Leymah got up to go through the line, she would be followed by security and press. So Abby got her a plate of food. When she wanted something else, again one of us would go. Her daughters are her sergeant at arms, liaising between Leymah and the Nobel officials. If a name needs to be added to a list, they are the ones to talk to.

Fellow Nobel laureate, Tawakul Karman arrived at breakfast just as we were eating. Abby led Leymah over, they embraced heartily.

My daughter Mica and the rest of Abby’s family arrived in time to head over for the screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell. On our way in, we meet the American Ambassador to Norway, Barry White and his wife Eleanor who invited us out for lunch on Sunday. A hush of excitement fell over the audience of nearly 300 people followed by a standing ovation for Leymah as she entered the theater. The film was introduced by Leymah, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Store and Madame Bachelet!

It was fascinating to see the film there. For the first time, it seemed to me like the back story to what is happening now: the Nobel Prize and Leymah agreeing to lead the national reconciliation effort in Liberia. This is a whole new chapter.

The evening continued to be totally fascinating. Mica, Kathy and I were having dinner with the Hauser/Disney clan. We were joined by a member of the Peace Research Institute, who had hosted our afternoon screening, and the ex-US Abassador to the Netherlands who currently teaches law at Georgetown, and Sanam Anderlini — one of the authors of UN Resolution 1325. We were in the midst of a pretty interesting discussion about the meaning of the Peace Prize, whether Obama had lived up to his potential, whether the prize should be bestowed for life achievement or potential, etc. Leymah’s eldest son came and whispered to Abby that Leymah wanted us to send up some wine and come to her room. We got to her suite- — the Opera Suite which consists of three rooms, each one full of people. In the main room, which had two bejeweled, Maria Antoinette-like opera gowns encased in glass and mounted on the walls, Asatu and Vaiba and a bunch of other Liberian women were singing and dancing, as people lounged on all available seats. About 10 kids of various ages were in an adjoining room watching TV and going online. Leymah was stowed away in her room behind closed doors with a couple of key advisers preparing for her press conference. Kathy, Mica and I joined the dancing for awhile, then I joined Abby and Leymah and listened in as the press strategy was mapped out. At one point, a woman emerged from the closet, where I saw that about six others were hanging out, eating, talking. The champagne finally arrived, the dancing women demanded Leymah join them – refusing to take no for an answer. Finally she emerged, everyone toasted, and as the singing and dancing began anew, Leymah went back to work. It was after midnight when the crowds began to thin, the strategy session ended, and everyone headed to bed. I couldn’t sleep all night I was so excited.

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011:
It was incredible to be in the room at city hall where the ceremony took place. It held about 900 people. Abby and I were seated very close to the front, on a parallel to the King and Queen, and next to Asatu, who was dressed in white from head to toe. As I sat down she embraced me and said “Thank you, thank you, thank you guys. We would never have been here without you. Nobody would have known our story.”

Thorbjørn Jagland, The Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee led the ceremony. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf spoke first, and very well. Leymah was next and she was powerful. As she spoke, the silver afternoon light glistened through the windows behind her, silhouetting a majestic tree as huge sea gulls dove in an out of the frame. Leymah spoke of the ordeals the women had been through, spoke of women globally, and gave a call to action. But when she ended her remarks saying that “the world used to remember Liberia for child soldiers, but they now remember our country for the white t-shirt women,” I couldn’t hold back the tears.

Leymah Gbowee to accept Nobel Peace Prize this week in Oslo and Stockholm

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:09:13 +0000

The 2011 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”

The Nobel laureates will participate in an extensive program of events in Oslo and Stockholm this week, and will receive their Nobel Prizes during award ceremonies attended by royalty, dignitaries and celebrities from around the world on December 10th.

Photo: www.nobelprize.org

Watch the LIVE WEBCAST on December 10, 2011 on Nobelprize.org »
Oslo Award Ceremony @ 1:00 p.m. CET. | Stockholm Award Ceremony @ 4:30 p.m. CET.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell filmmakers and Women, War & Peace co-creators Abigail E. Disney and Gini Reticker will also be attending many of these Nobel events.

For more information about the Nobel Peace Prize, please click here »

Read about Leymah Gbowee and President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s newly launched peace initiative by clicking here »

Special Screening of Pray the Devil Back to Hell in Oslo Celebrating Leymah Gbowee
Hosted by PRIO (The Peace Research Institute Oslo)

Time: Friday, 09 Dec 2011, 15:00-17:00
Place: Vika Kino,
Ruseløkkvn. 14 (v. Konserthuset), Oslo, NORWAY

Admission is free of charge, however, registration is required on a first come, first serve basis. Please register by clicking here »

A conversation with Gini Reticker and Abigail E. Disney, director and producer of the film, moderated by Helga Hernes of PRIO will follow the screening of the film.

Leymah Gbowee is planning to make an appearance (tentative).

Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee is featured in two episodes of the PBS series Women, War & Peace: Pray the Devil Back to Hell and War Redefined.

Women, War & Peace aired on PBS in October and November of 2011. Viewers in the US can now watch the complete series online at www.womenwarandpeace.org. For those outside of the US, we are working to get the series on the air and online all around the world. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates!

Women, War & Peace is a co-production of Fork Films and THIRTEEN with executive producers Abigail Disney, Pamela Hogan and Gini Reticker.

More information:

Watch the the live webcast on December 10, 2011 and learn more about the Nobel Peace Prize events and awards at Nobelprize.org »

Follow Abigail E. Disney on Twitter @abigaildisney

Check out Mighty Be Our Powers, Leymah Gbowee’s memoir.

Visit the the official website for Pray the Devil Back to Hell »

Watch complete episodes of Women, War & Peace »

Please read and sign the Afghan Women’s Network Petition!

admin — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:39:51 +0000

Please click here to sign the petition!

The Afghan Women’s Network (AWN) is a corner stone of Afghanistan’s fledgling women’s movement, serving as a well-established network for the growing number of women’s organizations operating in the country.

We urge you to read and sign their petition to Hillary Clinton and the US Delegation to the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan!

The Petition

Petition to Hillary Clinton and the US Delegation to the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan: Support the demands of the Afghan Women’s Network

The US began the war in Afghanistan with lofty statements about ensuring women’s human rights. More recently, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed not to abandon Afghan women. Citizens of the US therefore have a special responsibility to make sure the end of the war does not leave Afghan women, gays, and religious minorities once more in the power of war criminals and armed religious fanatics. There can be no peace and stability in the region if more than half the population must live in a state of fear. Now that women have finally been included in the Afghan delegation to the Bonn conference December 5, we call upon the Obama Administration to ensure that women’s voices are heard; to support the demands of the Afghan Women’s Network for a demilitarized peace process shaped by civil society; and to guarantee the security of women activists.

Meredith Tax, US Director, Centre for Secular Space
Ariane Brunet, Cofounder, Urgent Action Fund
Anissa Helie, John Jay College, CUNY
Charlotte Bunch, Founding director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership
Frances Kissling, Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
Mahnaz Afkhami, President, Women’s Learning Partnership
Gita Sahgal, Director, Centre for Secular Space
Manizha Naderi, Director, Women for Afghan Women

Please click here, or on the links above, to sign the petition!

Watch Leymah Gbowee’s Interview on The Daily Show

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:59:50 +0000

Leymah Gbowee appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on November 14, 2011. In this unedited, extended interview, Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee discusses leading the women’s peace movement that ended Liberia’s second civil war.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c

Exclusive – Leymah Gbowee Extended Interview Pt. 1

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

The Daily Show on Facebook