Lilith Attack

Back to Lilith Attack

2011-02-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

I was shocked to see it's been a year since my last post. I have made some career changes to a more positive environment with wonderful, supportive, funny women but along with that change came a return to a work environment not-so conducive to blogging. Also, on a personal note, although rarely (if ever) discussed, my diagnosed "unexplained infertility" came to an end after 4 difficulat years when I sought out Chinese Medicine. After just over three months of Herbs, I was pregnant and a baby is on the way in March! I hope to resurrect Lilith Attack posts and get back on the blog while on my year-long maternity leave! I have missed Lilith Attack and missed the community, but have come out of a place of spiralling discouragement with bright, dry eyes and a whole lotta love and hope and wonder. Peace and Love to my kindred feminist spirits.

Remembering Marsha Ellen Meidow

2010-01-08T07:28:00.000-08:00

I am sad to post that Marsha Ellen Meidow, 34, of Calgary has died. This is the email I received from her family this morning:

It is with great sorrow we must inform you Marsha Ellen Meidow has slipped away and begun another journey. Her spirit shall continue to dance, our memories of her will make us smile and her light will shine within each of us.

Join us in celebrating the Life of the Legendary Marsha Ellen Meidow.
We know that Marsha has touched the lives of so many. Everyone is welcome to attend this event. Please know that she passed peacefully without pain, surrounded by her family and love ones.

This event will begin at 4:00PM on Sunday, January 10th at The Republik - 219 17th Avenue SW (The new location for the Republik). There will be testimonials, readings, dancers, songwriters and bands. The line up of artists will be posted soon.
It will be Potluck. Comfort food of all kinds is welcome. Be it vegan, alberta beef or organic, we would greatly appreciate any and all contributions to feed the masses. Plates, napkins and cutlery will be provided.
There will be a Guest Book - Please be sure to write a special message to Tank and Marsha's family in the Guest Book provided. Share your memories and loving thoughts.
There will be a Photo Album - Please print off and bring in any/all photos you may have of Marsha as we would like Tank and the Family to take home a Photo Album compiled by Marsha's friends. Scrapbook supplies will be provided, feel free to bring your own.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!! We are seeking Silent Auction Items. In order to offset the funeral expenses we would greatly appreciate any/all contributions of artwork or any suitable creative works. (Please bring an easel or small display table to display your work. Some easles may be provided). If you wish to contribute please contact Charity (ASAP) at 403-613-1383.

Our love and support goes out to Marsha's family and to Tank Standing Buffalo.
I am sorry to have to send you this message, and you will attend Sunday.

xo Marsha's family and friends.

May Marsha: beautiful ardent feminist, activist and passionate woman rest in peace.

WIND IT UP!

2009-12-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

Damn right, it's better than your's! Eco-Friendly wind up vibrator!
Check out the Earth Angel...

Hero Squad

2009-12-18T10:53:00.000-08:00

Attention! Smell your Dildoes! Kim and Amy Sedgwick are campaigning against bisphenol A's insertion in sex toys in Canada. If you won't drink out of the ol' Nalgene bottle because of the toxins and health risks associated with Bisphenol A, do you really want to stick one up your beautiful, soft and absorptive cunt for a nice long vaginal massage? OPI and other nail polish companies have removed phthalates from their darling polishes because we hollered! If our bone nails are enough to absorb nasty chemicals, we MUST avoid getting boned by sex toy manufacturers that continue penetrating their products with toxins - because, simply enough, they can get away with it - because sex toys are a "novelty item." There are alternatives to cheap plastic toys and it's worth spending a little extra coin to have safe sex! In Calgary, you can find them at the lovely boutique, "A Little More Interesting" off the busy intersection of 17th Avenue & 14th Street SW.

SOL_TIONS: ALL THAT'S MISSING IS U!

2009-09-14T07:57:00.000-07:00

HACC kicks off its annual campaign with the launch of Homeless Awareness Week the third week in September. The week is filled with events designed to educate Calgarians about the realities surrounding homelessness in our city organized by HACC, other non-profit groups, government agencies and community members.

2009-09-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Event Notice

2009-09-09T10:53:00.001-07:00

What the Douche?

2009-08-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Compliments of a friend's email forward, here is a horrifying product from the 50s-60s, "Vagasan", a powder (what!?) douching product (via Madame Talbot) with these lovely ingredients:

Carbolic Acid 1/8 of 1% in mixed usable solution (Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, is a toxic, white crystalline solid with a sweet tarry odor, commonly referred to as a "hospital smell". During the 1880s Diphtheria was treated by Phenol Douches.)

Boric Acid A boric acid douche used to be the most commonly recommended means of addressing vaginal yeast.

Alum (think of pickeling alum)

Methyl Salicylate is a wintergreen-scented chemical found in many over-the-counter products, including muscle ache creams.

and Oil of Peppermint

Oh my godde. Acid and Pickling do not create word associations for vagina!! More on douching.

Tough Guise

2009-08-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

Check out this film review of "Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity" by Tatiana Tomljanovic of Calgary's Alliance to End Violence.

Not quite Two Years

2009-07-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hey I remember this guy... he didn't complete ANY therapy and didn't rehabilitate after serving four years in prison for "terroriz[ing] women in 2003 by breaking into their Forest Lawn homes and attacking them. While under 24-hour house arrest for two previous sex attacks, he raped a 17-year-old girl at knifepoint in the middle of the night when she was home alone."

Sex offender arrested for peeping.

Catalogue of the Catalogued

2009-07-14T11:39:00.001-07:00

This is a great site featuring books found in existing libraries that shouldn't be. Upon first finding this site via metafilter, this is my favourite book so far: Moving through Pregnancy. Be sure to click the vacuum photo and view the description of Judith's tedious workout (but great posture!)!

There's also this book and this book and this book and this book and so many more!

Bank of Glass Ceiling er America

2009-06-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

Attorney at Law reports:

Bank of America, which acquired the former Merrill Lynch and Co. last year, discriminated against female brokers by offering them lower retention benefits than their male colleagues and steering wealthier investors to brokers who were men, according to a newly filed lawsuit.

The suit was filed today on behalf of Jaime Goodman, a Merrill broker since 1992 who joined Bank of America when the bank acquired Merrill on January 1, 2009. Goodman claims her new bosses demonstrated gender bias against her and other female employees.

She is seeking class-action status for her suit, which if granted would allow other women who claim they were similarly harmed by Bank of America’s allegedly discriminatory practices to join in the litigation.

Info Source: Calgary Herald

Viva Vintage Monologues

2009-06-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

A Theatre Project for those who experience life over 60:

A staged reading of monologues, scense and stories that speak to the experience of sexuality after 60. Funny, fun, heartbreaking and real!

On tour through Calgary's libraries this summer!

Brought to you by Seniors a GOGO

Treated Equal Stuff

2009-06-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm aghast. And I'm also not, in that Doug Elniski was elected by conservative voters and supported by Stelmach. From the Calgary Herald:

A Tory MLA is under fire for online comments in which he advises girls to smile to attract men, scolds them for seeking equality and alerts his Twitter followers to a bikini car wash where "girls look cold." . . . In an entry that began with reflections on junior high school graduations, Elniski posted this advice to girls: "Men are attracted to smiles, so smile and don't give me that 'treated equal' stuff, if you want equal it comes in little packages at Starbucks."

He also wrote: "There is nothing a man wants less than a woman scowling because he thinks he is going to get sh--for something and has no idea what."
On the same day, Elniski posted the following Twitter comment: "bikini car wash 82 129 ave girls look cold (...)"

Yuck. This guy also twittered at the Edmonton Pride Parade some remarkable homophobia. Check out Tiny Perfect Blog's report on his remarks.
His website and biography note some quirky trivia: he's the tallest MLA in the legislature! WOW! What a claim! He's a great big tower of misogyny.

World of Teen Modeling

2009-06-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

Sena Cech is one of a handful of models who has decided to talk publicly about the seedy, unglamorous and, on occasion, abusive side to her profession for a new documentary, Picture Me. The woman behind the film is Sara Ziff, a catwalk model turned documentary maker.

Introspection

2009-04-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

The first time I saw a Heidi Taillefer painting was in Montreal. The Yves Laroche Gallery had her work in its front show room and I couldn't take my eyes off it. Her detail, design and mechanical subject took my breath away. Ms. Taillefer muses in her blog:

Maybe art is soul, and to say it has no purpose in the world would be like saying the physical body has no purpose if the spirit exists. Art seems to carry us along the drama of life, providing meaning to our existence as it acts as the channel through which the soul can pass into this dimension, a dimension we can perceive and understand. We live in the physical world, a world of imperfect modes of expression, communication, or representation, such as language, medium, context or technique...and this challenges and engages us in a way that actually makes things more interesting, if not also frustrating.

I have a crush.

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

2009-04-15T11:54:00.000-07:00

"Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, whose critical writings on the ambiguities of sexual identity in fiction helped create the discipline known as queer studies, died on Sunday in Manhattan. She was 58."

Epilepsy is Dancing

2009-04-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to MS for the introduction to Antony & the Johnsons. This video is just a beautiful celebration. From the website:

Antony asked his friends the Wachowski Brothers to work with him on a video for his new single "Epilepsy is Dancing". They in turn invited painters Tino Rodriguez and Virgo Paraiso to create costumes and a mystical environment and choreographer Sean Dorsey and his dancers to bring the dream sequence to life. Antony's artistic partner Johanna Constantine stars as herself in the role of "Deer Monster". The video was lit and shot by the up-and-coming directors of photography, Chris Blasingame and Banker White, and produced by Jim Jerome. The production team collectively named themselves AFAS. Please enjoy the fruits of their San Francisco art party.

Golly, Thanks!

2009-04-15T11:42:00.000-07:00

Gosh! Lilith Attack was nominated for The Candian F-Word Blog Awards, Best Feminist Blog - Oh! Canada! English!
Thank you!!!

What Women?

2009-04-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

Two ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspapers have altered a photo of Israel's new cabinet, removing two female ministers. Via BBC News

"Bush is a Worm!" Calgary Protest Photos

2009-03-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's protest against Bush speaking in Calgary as brought to us by our very own Calgary Chamber of Commerce was a creative success. To raise our voices in collective activism is empowering and initates necessary dialogue. The papers were reporting 200-300 people in attendance but I would estimate much closer to 500 or more. Suited attendees were heckled and shivered in the cold while lined up along the block listening to our sneering and chanting. The media's reporting of the protest as violent (here and here) is not representative of my experience. There were drums and noisemakers, performance artists, children, peaceful shouting and a lot of typical Calgarian politeness. I was pleased to take my lunch hour attending and proud to raise my voice with Calgary's community against Bush's visit. See more photos from the media here and here.

A Male of a Tale

2009-03-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

I just got back from a business meeting with 8 men, all over 40, all of them potential clients in my largely male-dominiated career industry in Calgary's business sector. Of the 8 men, 5 of them - that's over half - 63% - behaved in an inappropriate manner at some time over the 2 hour tour and lunch:

1. Upon meeting and shaking his hand, one man who I have corresponded with through email once or twice said, "Oh! You look a lot different from your emails! Taller…" Um, no photos in email signatures, sir. Weak.
2. Upon entering a site and requiring safety vests (only 4 to go around): "Hey, if you need to feel safe you can clutch onto me, I have no problem with that!"
3. "No, please, ladies first, Miss," and then gently squeezing my arm.
4. Upon arriving at the lunch table, one attempted to pull my chair out for me (chivalry is dead on business). I sat a chair over.
5. One man getting up for dessert, walking behind my chair, placing his hand on me and squeezing my shoulder, "Come on, don't you want dessert?" Ick. Remove your apendage.

These men seemed to feed off each other's flirting and compete for more and more contact and attention. I noted the behaviour of #1 to my male colleague in the car and he simply laughed lightly and said, "yeah, what does that mean?" I'll tell you what you what it means, you little shitbird, it means that women are not respected and we are objectified. They're not touching you, are they? I am a professional. So many words spoken to me were discomforting, gross, and unprofessional. Maintaining my poise, I kept my remarks to myself and will save them, perhaps, for a function when I have some wine in my throat to spell out how it's going to be next we go for a tour!

As much as I know it is unacceptable for them to speak to me like this, I still feel conflicted for not standing up myself. I find it difficult to find a balance between my professionalism and my intolerance of unprofessionalism. In the moment they make me feel reduced and even embarrassed. For making this feminist feel reduced, I get mad. Really mad. At the end of the day, I'm pissed off. When I look at today closely and reflect on the real results for me, they don't take my power, they are giving it to me by showing their pathetic weakness. I am in control and I am determined to contribute to clearing the way for other women in this industry to advance and have an exciting career in this particular path. Taking anger and making myself stronger and more determined will be useful.

Potentially powerful but professional and firm responses:
1. "You look the same." [Wry smile.]
2. "I have a problem with that." [ouch!]
3. "I insist. I am the host. Really." [and don't touch me.]
4. No need, to change this one, I think I did well. [I got it, thanks.]
5. My "no thank you" was enough, here. Although I wish I had casually reached for my fork and jabbed quickly in that moment of contact.

Why the touchy feely? What made these men feel that they had to handle me with their grubby little fingers or make totally stupid comments like "you can clutch onto me"? They were so goddamn intimidated by a woman that they were like giddy flappy-tongued frat boys who just can't get laid.

Tomorrow night I have an event which will involve alcohol, hockey, and over 25 men. One female client will be attending. I'm brushing off my feminist toolkit of verbal self defense at the tip of my tongue. I will be smart and witty, firm and intolerant. Professional but fun.

Hand me a fork and watch your hands, boys.

Dark Matter & Ceiling Shatter

2009-03-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

New Scientiest writer Anil Ananthaswamy interviews the first woman to head a particle physics experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland. Fabiola Gianotti, also an artist and musician, says:

CERN is such a rich environment: there are people from all over the world, young students work with established scientists and Nobel prizewinners. So geographical origin, age and gender make no difference here. I don't feel there is anything special about a woman leading a big scientific project. On the other hand, I hope that as a woman scientist who has achieved a level of visibility in a big experiment like ATLAS, I can be an encouragement to young women who are thinking of a scientific career.

Indeed, Ms. Gianotti is an inspiration to women in science, particularly physics, and as previously noted in "Written Word for Nerd", Natalie Angier reports that 26 percent of full professors in the life sciences are women, but in physics, 6 percent. She continues:

For many female physicists, the mystery of women’s slow progress through their ranks is nearly as baffling as the research mysteries they confront in the lab. Of course, only 6 percent of physics professors are female; only 4 to 6 percent of the matter in the universe is visible. “Sound familiar?” Evalyn Gates, the assistant director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics at the University of Chicago, said wryly.

You can read the entire interview here!

IWD - CALGARY EVENT NOTICE!

2009-03-02T08:36:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, March 8, come out for a fundraiser to celebrate International Women's Day and support the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association and Women in Need Society.

Yoga:
Sanguine Yoga
105,2763 Sunridge Way
10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.

Celebration:
Ladies First After Party
Skybar
101 - 8 Avenue S.W.
7:00 p.m.

Event Notice

2009-02-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

A Mother from Gaza: Surviving Under Siege
Laila El-Haddad

March-03-2009
At the University of CalgaryRm Cragie Hall 119
6:30pm Tickets are $10 available at the door.
Advance tickets available(in person) at Macewan Hall Food Court Feb 25, 26, 27 and March 2 from 11am to 2pm.

This event will sell out please arrive early to ensure seating

"Laila El-Haddad: is a freelance Palestinian journalist, media activist,and mother from Gaza. She writes mainly for the Guardian and Aljazeera.She has also appeared on CNN, the BBC, NPR, CBC, and Democracy Now amongothers. Laila has been published in Le Monde Diplmatique, the NewStatesmen, the International Herald Tribune and the Washington Post amongothers. From 2003-2006, Laila was the Gaza correspondent for the theEnglish Aljazeera website. In 2007, she directed two Gaza-baseddocumentaries for Al-Jazeera International (Tunnel Trade and A RafahPlayground) with Tourist With A Typewriter production company. Heraward-winning blog "Raising Yousuf and Noor: diary of a Palestinian motherexplores the complex relationships between the personal and political asshe raises kids and negotiates displacement and occupation. She iscurrently based in the United States."

-Via www.pcsscalgary.org

Memorial March - Valentine's Day

2009-02-11T06:43:00.001-08:00

Excellent!! Sigh

2009-01-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

Obama lifts ban on abortion funds.

Funding Increased for Hiway of Tears

2009-01-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

"An investigative police team probing the murders or disappearances of 18 young women in northern B.C. has increased it budget to $3.6 million this year, up from $2.1 million spent in previous years, police announced Thursday."

Assault

2009-01-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning an 18 year old woman was attacked and sexually assaulted in Northeast Calgary. Police warn us:

Calgarians are advised to exercise caution when out alone, to
stay in busy, well-lit areas and to avoid dark, deserted
places.

If you are suspicious of someone, trust your instincts.
Scream or use a personal emergency alarm to attract
attention.

It’s also advised Calgarians wait for transit or public
transportation with other people in a well-lit area.

But the Herald also suggests that Staff Sgt.Curtis Olson of the Calgary Police Service's sex crimes unit says "the harrowing incident should serve as a reminder for women to be extra cautious when they are alone."

Extra cautious when we're alone. I agree, and feeling safe just gets worse when we're not surrounded by leering strangers. But I sense a little bit of blaming the victim going on here. It's between the lines but it's there. How about waging a war on violence commited by men like this? How about railing against society's blind eye tolerance of this shit? Like releasing high-risk men from prison when they have refused to be rehabilitated? Like how my company didn't want to contribute to "fear" by posting the City Police's sketch of the man who raped a woman next to our building last year (and still hasn't been caught)?

I hope this young woman is able to find strength, healing, sweet dreams and renewal. My heart breaks apart for her.

Written Word for Nerd

2009-01-23T10:10:00.000-08:00

Natalie Angier writes an important article on the new USA Administration's potential impact on women in science, In ‘Geek Chic’ and Obama, New Hope for Lifting Women in Science. An excerpt:

Surveying outcomes for 160,000 Ph.D. recipients across the United States, the researchers determined that 70 percent of male tenured professors were married with children, compared with only 44 percent of their tenured female colleagues. Twelve years or more after receiving their doctorates, tenured women were more than twice as likely as tenured men to be single and significantly more likely to be divorced. And lest all of this look like “personal choice,” when the researchers asked 8,700 faculty members in the University of California system about family and work issues, nearly 40 percent of the women agreed with the statement, “I had fewer children than I wanted,” compared with less than 20 percent of the men. The take-home message, Dr. Mason said in a telephone interview, is, “Men can have it all, but women can’t.”

Check out the work the Rosalind Franklin Society is doing for women in science.

Just Because

2009-01-19T13:18:00.001-08:00

Breathtaking.

Event Notice

2009-01-19T11:05:00.001-08:00

Calgary's Alliance to End Violence is hosting a workshop on Friday, January 23:

Violence Knows No Boundaries

The Alliance to End Violence is pleased to invite you to the launch of “Violence Knows No Boundaries” a manual on diverse cultural perspectives, legal resources and safety information on domestic violence for service providers.

We will be offering a full-day workshop on the manual with presenters: Naaz Bhatia with Tran-sitions Counselling and Michelle Papero with Calgary Legal Guidance.

The entire manual will not be covered. Registrants are asked to rank the following topics from one to five (most interested to least interested) upon registration so that we can best accommodate your professional needs. Please e-mail Barb Hill with your ranked topics.

-What women can do legally to protect themselves
-How family law intersects with domestic violence remedies
-Domestic violence and immigration issues
-Moving on from domestic violence, e.g. separation, divorce
-How the criminal justice process works

Free printed copies of the guide along with removable safety plans in nine languages will be available at the workshop.

All professional development opportunities and events are for professionals, teachers and students in the family and sexual violence sector only unless stated otherwise.

Rest in Peace Sandra Casey

2009-01-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

My thoughts are with Sandra Casey's wife and friends this morning. Casey was killed on the weekend crossing the street on 10th Avenue in Calgary.

The driver of the vehicle didn't stop.

I find the music of Sigur Ros to be both devastatingly beautiful but ultimately comforting. May Deb Boniface, Sandra's wife, find healing. My utmost sympathies.

Shave the Date! Free from Bush!

2008-12-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

We're pleased here in Canada that Bush is making his exit in January. Join our American sisters in this celebration! Mominatrix has initiated "Shave the Date: No Bush Left Behind".

Calgary Assault

2008-12-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Michelle Butterfield reports a tragic and bizarre story in the Calgary Herald this morning (see also the government press release). Shortly before midnight last Friday, a woman was attacked by Daryl Pichler and beaten unconscious. This is a sad and bizarre story. Two men took the woman and Pichler to their home and it wasn't until two hours later that EMS was called. This woman is in critical condition. From the police report it is foggy what happened on Friday night but why would a woman woman suffering life-threatening injuries be talken to her home with the man that inflicted them? It seems they share a home together but if home is where the heart is this woman's is broken and Pichler should find prison comfortable.

Update: Looking back into prior press releases, it is claimed that the men who drove the couple to their resience were "unaware of the incident"; but that just doesn't make sense:

The woman suffered extensive head injuries during the altercation, which rendered her unconscious; unable to speak or walk away from the area. At least two vehicles pulled over to assist the woman following the assault. Unaware of the incident, the two men inside one of the vehicles, possibly a beige-coloured Toyota Corolla or NissanAltima, drove the couple to their nearby home in Deer Run.

If she was unconscious, unable to speak or walk, how were these good samitans, then, unaware of the incident? I don't get it.

Diatribe

2008-12-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Brilliant diatribe from Photoshop Disasters via Feminist Philosophers this morning:

In a breathless deconstruction of the trite family self-portrait, USA PhotoHouse deftly excises the phallocentric father figure, leaving a single hand to signify - with profound semiotic irony - the hidden hand of capitalism. The camera is bereft of any screen or viewfinder in a de facto refutation of the omnipresent panopticon of male gaze, while the child points aimlessly out of the savaged image in a cathartic denunciation of the testosterone-poisoned concept of understanding directions. Marvellous.

A fine wordsmith.

ZP3 Jubilee

2008-12-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

New Scientist reports that a new form of contraceptive (see also this story from 2007) for women may someday be available which does not interfere with hormones. For young women in their teens who chose to take a hormonal form of contraceptive, this is extremely exciting news in that menstrual cycles could maintain their natural way and females reproductive health could develop uninhibited by synthetic estrogen and progestin interfering with ovulation and the endocrine system, not to mention cases of decreased libido.

ZP3, the receptor in the zona pellucida and a protein in the coating of eggs which facilitates sperms' ability to bind and burrow, might be disrupted by a hormone-free drug which would bind to ZP3 and prevent conception.

This is HUGE so long as an abundance of research is done to confirm any and all negative side effects or issues with this that may be harmul to women's immediate and long term reproductive health.

Honk to End Violence

2008-12-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

This morning approximately 120 Calgary Girl Guides lined Memorial Drive to mark Canada's National Day of Action and Remembrance on Violence Against Women. It was wonderfully inspiring to see children holding a "Honk to End Vioence" banner and whooping with excitement when vehicles responded with their horns. It is so important to have young girls learn about protesting and experience the power of raising our voices against somethig we feel strongly about. It is necessary to build confidence in our thoughts and convictions through dialogue and positive reaction. Kudos to the organizers of this event and to the little sparks, brownies and guides who gave a positive message to the community this morning.

Fit Throwing

2008-12-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

Steven Harper wanted to shut down Parliament just because he does not agree with it. Some say this is unprecedented.

In fact, Harper is following parliamentary tradition.

Click here to visit Rabble and find out who else has been hissy...

Silence is Violence

2008-12-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

Graceful, candid, intelligent and insightful, Sarah Ghabrial reflects on the death of Aqsa Parvez on the eve of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Some excerpts:

Genuine compassion or inquisitiveness regarding Aqsa's story dissipated all too quickly in the ensuing frenzy over the Canadian 'minority question.' The day after Aqsa's story broke, CityNews brandished a headline describing the "tradition and terror" behind the tragedy. A National Post columnist seeking to explain "the meaning of Aqsa Parvez" was quick to describe her death as an "honour killing" and elaborated on the "loathsome and barbaric" nature of the culture from which, according to this versions of the narrative, she was desperate to escape.

There is no doubt that Aqsa was desperate to escape - from her abusive home and tyrannical father. But as a young woman of colour, living at dangerous intersections of race and gender, belonging and exclusion, her options for escape were sadly limited. Women like Aqsa matter little in the grand scheme of things - until their deaths provide convenient grounds on which to mount xenophobic vitriol against Canada's dark Others.

...

In Canada, there exists a strange paradox: a tendency to view women of colour and 'immigrant' women - especially Muslim women - as particularly weak and vulnerable, due to the supposedly more intrinsic patriarchy of 'their' cultures; and a concurrent, stubborn unwillingness in our legal, emergency response and, most importantly, education systems to put forward solutions that reach out to women in these positions, rather than further marginalize them.

...

When certain persons must be imprisoned without trial, when certain countries must be invaded, when certain communities must be ostracized, even the vilest patriarchs are all too happy to invoke 'feminism' - or their weak understanding of it. Conservative leaders seem to have few qualms about vilifying feminism as the source of all things anti-family and awful, and then raising a feminist flag to front an amorphous 'war on terror.' It would be almost funny if not for the perplexing ways in which so many feminists - inevitably white feminists - willingly participate in such posturing. The sound heard from mainstream feminist camps in the wake of Aqsa's murder was a combination of racist muttering and bewildering silence.

Link Against Violence - Event Notice!

2008-12-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

Saturday, December 6 marks Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Girl Guide groups across Canada are forming a link to show strength and solidarity. In Calgary, come out and join the human link of Girl Guides on Memorial Drive.
See Press Release

When:
Saturday, December 6
Time: 9:00 AM
Where:
2188 Brownsea Drive NW (Girl Guide Club House; the link will be over the Pedestrian Bridge!)

You Know You are A Dreamer

2008-12-04T12:47:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Dreaming of world peace? Dreaming of finding that perfect gift? Dreaming of peace in women's lives? There's still time to order your 2008 "Dreams for Women" calendar from British Columbia's Antigone Magazine before Christmas.

Visit Antigone Magazine today to order your beautiful calendars for your special someones!

Oh.

2008-11-29T23:08:00.001-08:00

Via Boing Boing. Boob Job piggy bank for little girls' (?) rooms. Or why not just lay back on some greasy lipstick and think about how to get a better body. yeah, this looks really comfortable:

Slap the GAP

2008-11-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

The University of Calgary earned some social justice points yesterday after the anti-choice pro-life campus group set up its hideous posters [LINK and LINK]. I don't understand the University's change of heart, though, because the Genocide Awareness Project (GAP) has set up its booth in the past with the U of C's permission, citing free speech (the same group which drove a foetus van around Calgary). It makes me wonder why an internal group is threatened with legal action but an external organization is given the green light. I dug back into the Calgary Feminist Meetup Group's message board from 2006 when the GAP set up at the U of C and one user wrote the University requesting an explanation for why such a hateful message would be supported by student council and I will reiterate her reported response from External Relations:

Every year pro-life approaches us on their project and every year we have to struggle with a determined group of students firmly wishing to see it happen and an equally determined group who want to keep it away. It should be noted that the “GAP” agenda is to cause controversy and confrontation in order to generate the widest possible dispersal of their message. We at the Students' Union haves struggled with this group not over their message but rather in the sensational, aggressive, and ultimately hurtful way they choose to propagate it. Understanding this we have to try and balance the needs of the student body to conduct their daily business in a safe and comfortable environment with the obligation to honor the principle (and law) of the freedom of _expression. This year our compromise with the pro-life club was that they would be able to display their material on the South Lawn if they agreed to a) have the display encircled by a snow fence, b) place warning signs in front of their display warning students of the offending images ahead, and c) have the billboards facing inwards so that students would have to walk into the display willingly rather then be passively exposed to it. We thought this was a reasonable compromise the pro-life club however refused our terms over condition c) and threatened a legal challenge. We discontinued communication and redirected them to the university.

I think the universities position on this issue can best be summed up in this excerpt from Vice-President Roman Cooney's message to another concerned and angered student on this issue:

"...I, too, find this exhibit extremely offensive and let me assure you that the University does not, in any way, sanction this event. Our dilemma is that the law is quite clear. Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms we could not compel the group to reorient their signs so that people on campus would have a choice as to whether or not to participate. We made numerous requests to have the signs face inward, or be located in another spot, and these were rejected by the group and its legal counsel.
For the same reasons we are not in a position to tell the group what it can, and cannot, display. The alterative was a lengthy and costly court fight that has already been lost on other campuses. Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in particular those sections regarding freedom of _expression, Campus Pro-Life has the legal right to display these images, regardless of their impact on the community. In law, error falls on the side of the greatest latitude for freedom of _expression. Therefore, the choice for the University was not whether to endorse or reject this display, but whether to reject or uphold the principle of freedom of _expression. If you believe in the Charter, you must believe in the principles it upholds, even when those principles are being abused, as I believe they are in this case.

In fact, I agree with many of your points. But the University cannot ignore the law and more importantly the principles behind it.

I would urge you to contact the organizers through Drew Brown at enable_consulting@hotmail.com and share your views. I think it is important that others on campus express their concerns about the confrontational manner in which this group makes its argument.

Your points are well taken, but they need to be raised with the organizers, who are ultimately responsible for this display.

Sincerely,

Roman Cooney
Vice-President, External Relations"

I hope this helps in your understanding of the issue and some of the work and thought that has gone into this before allowing pro-life display on campus.

Sincerely,

Bryan west
President of the 63rd Student Legislative Council

I dot support the GOP's booth set up nor the campus pro-life's sick signs. But why the double standard? Upon further investigating, it seems that American-based GAP has a powerful legal team that sues any organization standing in its way and the University of BC's relationship with them goes way back... U of C just doesn't seem to want to dig its heals in against the powerful GAP and risk a lawsuit. Perhaps the U of C could use UBC-Okanagan as a shiny example of bravery in this campus pro-life organization's behaviour:

VICTORIA (CUP) — A ruling out of the B.C. Supreme Court has supported one student union’s decision to revoke a campus pro-life group’s club status.

Legal cases instigated by a pro-life student group is expected to have cost the student union at UBC–Okanagan about $45,000 as they successfully defended their right to not support the club.

Though the student union does not have a pro-choice mandate, they have not supported Students For Life since 2006, after the group refused to grant the student union’s request that they not poster campaign material from the Genocide Awareness Project, which included graphic images of aborted foetuses.

All in all, I'm pleased the University took a stand against the pro-lifers' violent "comparable" abortion posters (a Rwandan child killed by a machete, to name one) and support the committed pro-choice students and staff's actions against the foetus fetishists' desperate attempts at argumentum ad populum that really just piss people off.

Daft Taft

2008-11-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

This morning CBC radio confirmed the passed motion in the Edmonton legislature that Rodeo is well on its way to being Alberta's official sport. My animal complaints aside, it irritates me that white male-dominated rodeo is officially the sport of this fine and balanced province. Women's participation is limited to barrel racing, flag bearing and, oh yeah, being pretty. Miss rodeo, anyone? Ah, rodeo beauty pageants. Cowboy inspiration.

Sexist Stereotype Saturation

2008-11-17T11:30:00.001-08:00

I was just browsing through a real estate magazine and noticed that every article in the 47 pages features a male real estate professional's opinion/commentary and his face-profile "business" photograph. Reading through each article, I came to the article, "Calgarians shop 'till they drop - $22.8 billion into cash registers".
I couldn't even the article because I was so distracted and insulted by the banner design inserted (certainly not a profile photo of a female business woman quoted in the article):

Of ten images of full-bodied skinny white women, three are wearing mini skirts, all but two are wearing stilettos, most are in skin-tight tops or pants, and one is even wearing a school girl skirt complete with bikini top and thigh-high visible stockings. And they all just look so HAPPY! Because that's what women love to do best is shop! Neat!

What's all the Feminist Fuss?

2008-11-14T07:46:00.000-08:00

"I'm not a feminist, but..."
"I wouldn't say I'm a feminist, but..."
"...but I'm not a feminist."
"I'm a humanist, not a feminist. Feminism is dead."

Really. I've heard these disclaimers over and over again. The look of discomfort and defence in friends' eyes when I respond, "I am, absolutely I call myself a feminist and proud of it." This week the 2008 Global Gender Gap Report was released by the World Economic Forum. Reuters reports that:

Averaging 130 national scores, the report found that girls and women have reached near-parity with their male peers in educational attainment, health and survival, in both rich and poor countries.

Indeed, the most common argument against the necessity of feminism. To the contrary, though, Laura MacInnis continues:

But economically, in terms of workforce participation and earning opportunities, and politically, in terms of empowerment, the gap between the sexes remains large.

In 2007's report, Canada was ranked at #18, ahead of the United States by 13 points. In 2008 the United States was ahead of Canada by 4 points and Canada fell to #31. Canada scored #30 in estimated earned income. Average for female was (USD) $25,448.00; male $40,000.00. The most inequality for Canada was Political Empowerment. The female to male ratio of women in partliament as 21:79; Women in ministerial positions was 16:84 and Years with female head of state was 0:50 (0.1 - Kim Campbell for all of five months). To view the complete report for Canada, click here.

Women and men are NOT equal in Canada. Political empowerment has a long way to go towards equality and that seeps into the women's psychologies. It seeps into mine. Wage inequality affects my well-being and sense of respect every day I sit down in my office. Sure, Canadian women have equal educational attainment, health, and survival but there is much work to be done. I embrace feminism for this reason. There's enough voices claiming it's over. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "be the change you want to see."

Bush Concern

2008-11-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

While all eyes are on the American election tomorrow, and news will cover the results, don't forget to keep an eye on what Mr. W. Bush is up to. He's still in power and with his loss of it there's some scary stuff he's going to try. Here's some of it:
Bush Rushes Harmful Environmental Laws

Who Thought This Day Would Come?

2008-10-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Alberta delivers good news for midwives, expectant mothers

Starting April 1, 2009, midwifery will be added to the maternity services covered by the public health system in Alberta, the province said on Thursday. The average cost of using a midwife is about $3,500

Of course this is wonderful news but there's a big big problem:

But midwives in Alberta are scarce because they must complete a two-year licensing period and run a private practice. According to the Alberta Association of Midwives, there were 29 registered midwives in the province in 2006.

For 4,589 babies, 29 midwives are going to very busy.

Dream for Women

2008-10-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

Antigone Magazine's Dreams for Women postcard art project is launching it's 2009 Dreams for Women calendar featuring postcards submitted by men and women around the world! The calendar seeks to help raise money for The Antigone Foundation and for other women's organizations around the world. As part of this launch, we have created a video in which men and women share their dreams for women equality.

The Project:

Featured in Ms. Magazine, in the International Women’s Museum, and on Feministing.com, the postcard art project has attracted worldwide attention and interest, garnering media attention and submissions from as far away as Japan, Germany, Brazil, France, Portugal, Romania and Los Angeles. The Dreams for Women art project asks women and men of all ages to depict their hopes and dreams for women (examples include “I dream of a world with more female leaders” and “I dream of a world where no woman is seen and not heard”) by painting, drawing, writing, sketching or decoupaging them onto a postcard.

Inspired by the popular mail-art project PostSecret.com, a postcard art project that encourages people to send in their secrets, Dreams for Women strives to be a feminist PostSecret. Instead of asking what your secrets are, the project wants to know what your dreams for women are. The Antigone Foundation began receiving submissions in January 2008 and has received hundreds of submissions so far. Their YouTube videos, which showcase the project, have also received thousands of hits.

The project, which is coordinated by a small group of dedicated young women ranging in ages from 20-24, is committed to envisioning progress for women around the world. According to founder Amanda Reaume, dreaming is essential to change: “the postcards we have received and continue to receive keep expanding our vision of the future, and keep adding more voices to the conversation of what that future will look like for women.”

The project was started out of a desire to encourage women and men to envision a better future for women and to help fund work towards that future. Dreams for Women has thus launched a fundraising calendar. The calendar, featuring 12 postcard submissions from around the world, will be sold for $20 and is available via Antigone Magazine’s blog www.antigonemagazine.wordpress.com.
Indeed, the project hopes to raise money to officially launch the Antigone Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that will encourage young women to get involved in leadership, politics and activism. The organization will continue the work started by Antigone Magazine, a publication about women, politics, leadership and activism that started at UBC and has since expanded to a national subscription base, as well as, to the University of Toronto.

But the organization also hopes to help raise money for other women's organizations around the world. They will be selling the calendars in bulk at a discounted price so that other women's groups can use it for fundraising. Groups who buy any amount over 10 copies for fundraising purposes will pay only $10 per calendar. They will then be able to resell the calendar for $20 and raise money for their organizations. For more information please e-mail antigonemagazine@hotmail.com or check out their website here:

http://antigonemagazine.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/its-here-the-dreams-for-women-2009-calendar-is-here/

Quit the Click

2008-10-10T10:37:00.001-07:00

The Globe and Mail has officially announced it is endorsing Harper. This is the link to the story: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081009.weelection2008/BNStory/politics/
BUT I'm not going to hyperlink as I'm done giving money to the right wing rag by clicking all over its website and sending money to the advertisers. I'll watch the stocks from The Star or CBC and try to be limited in posting links of Globe stories and articles that Lilith Attack responds to.

The media MUST to be non-partisan and it's sick that one of our leading national papers has declared itself to be pro-conservative. It's obvious that the Globe supports conservative policies as it is with its biased articles and slanted editorials. Responsible news reporting should never have a partisan edge. I consider my own political position in the industry I work in and have heard the senior partner give a verbal high five to "our Mr. Bush" (those Dixie Chicks - oh how they bullied our neighbour's supreme leader); and received an email from said senior partner urging all staff to contact our MLAs to oppose the Royalty Rate hike last fall - being in opposition to the senior partner(s)' politics makes me feel somewhat at risk and marginalized. Of course my political views have never been challenged by he who pays my salary nor was I questioned on my voting tendencies in my interview; but I can't help but feel under a Tory thumb at my desk should and when the revolution commence. Do I really have the freedom to express my opinions at the kitchen water cooler when Mr. C is reading the Globe and Mail at the table behind me? Do staff writers really have the freedom to write and report responsibly with a Harper endorsement? "Leave your anti-corporation sentiments at the door, Ms. Smith," this building is blue. I am in the middle of quarterly and annual reporting and I need to speculate on the economy. Because I am representing a right wing partner, my presented speculations shall be skewed from my personal speculations. In that sense my own reporting may not be responsible but I am merely passing on words to the desk of a CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation that is delighted with tax cuts from Harper's team and sees no doom and gloom; no social disparity and ignores the glaring dissonance of the Prime Minister's tongue.

Chalk Talk

2008-10-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm diggin' JL's recent campaign ads:

Jennifer Wells notes:

Stylistically, the trio of "Chalk Talk" ads released this week by the New Democratic Party are a huge departure from the rum-ta-tum-tum drumming beat of the party's early creative. This is a first outing for Zig, in that the ad agency - rooted in Toronto and with a growing presence in Chicago - hasn't taken on political campaign work before. The strategy thus far has been to go negative out of the gate, build the Jack Layton brand, and now more softly attempt to convince Canadians that the NDP is a safe place to invest. About the time the writ was dropped, I was tipped to the news that Zig, after an energetic pitch, had been chosen. The party loved Zig's fresh perspective. The NDP's Brian Topp called it "arresting and different." We wanted, he said, to be seen as the "NEW democrats." (Via Adhocracy)

To Serve and Protect

2008-10-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

"They said I could be arrested for making false complaints."

Murder suicide in Drumheller this weekend has left me feeling sick and infuriated. So much pain for the mother of this little boy.

How they're done wrong

2008-09-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

Robin Summerfield reviews Jean Kilbourne's new book in the Calgary Herald, So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. I've ranted before (here, too) about sexualizing childhood (it's not new) and agree that as parents there is much to be done to ensure children are able to play with toys that don't "eroticize shopping early on". Consume, consume consume. A commenter to the article asserts:

It's the parents that buy into this, a preschooler does not walk into a store and slap down her credit card. I am raising two daughters without resorting to buying them these stupid dolls, and they are very aware of the sexualization issue, we discuss it frankly. They know how badly skewed advertising is and how retouched the photos in magazines are, and they choose to believe beauty is as beauty does.

It's true, it is indeed parents who influence, educate, and provide entertainment to kids (It's not just girls that are impacted by sexy little girl dolls. Boys are given the message that girls are sex objects and need these issues address as much as girls do). Sheltering kids is not the only way to deal with the issue. But for families where parents do not provide this guidance, are sexed-up 12 year old big headed sleeze balls something children should be able to resist on their own? Are they safe to be on television in homes where programs aren't monitored? What about censoring by networks? If parents don't say no and change the channel, who is held accountable? Scholastic has pulled Bratz doll ["those ubiquitous half-naked, big-eyed, pouty-lipped plastic dolls, a tarty Barbie replacement for seven- to 10-year-olds weaned on a star-studded TV diet laden with celebutantes like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears."] books from the discount catalogue. I disagree with the pejorative headline tag word, "BANNED". Scholastic acted in response to angered parents. The books aren't BANNED in the schools, they're just not offered at discounted prices. Cudos to Scholastic. Action works. Revolution revises.

Goodbye Marion Dewar

2008-09-16T08:56:00.000-07:00

Dewar: A true city activist

"Today we have lost one of our heroes," said former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent. "Marion Dewar was a champion of what was just and right."

Often reformers become negative and embittered in their fight for social justice, Mr. Broadbent said, but that was not the case for Marion Dewar.

"She was a happy warrior. She had an ongoing desire to do good, to do the public good," said Mr. Broadbent. "She was a joyful soul."

"This is a very sad day for our city. She was one of the strongest mayors this city has had," said Councillor Diane Deans.

"I'm really in shock. This is a real loss," said Councillor Peggy Feltmate. "Our community has really lost a great asset, a woman who was a conscience for the community."

Equal Voice, Equal Choice?

2008-09-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

This article was forwarded to me yesterday by Equal Voice, and it's a good read. An excerpt:

So it shouldn't be a shocker that even though women make up more than half the population, we hold only 20 per cent of seats in the House.

Of the 20 major-party candidates in the five Ottawa ridings, only four are women, and not one is a Conservative. Three -- an NDP candidate and two Greens -- hardly stand a chance. That leaves Collenette fighting a tight race in Ottawa Centre with NDP incumbent Paul Dewar and well-known Tory businessman Brian McGarry.

Consider this: Canada has no female premiers, no female major-city mayors. We have fewer women in parliament than most countries in Europe, not to mention Mauritania, Uganda, Rwanda, Afghanistan and Iraq.

These are statistics that Equal Voice is trying to change. A non-partisan, non-profit organization made up of women and men, Equal Voice is launching a cheeky ad campaign, urging voters to support female candidates and, perhaps more important, to consider factors other than how they look.

I've been to some Equal Voice events and appreciate their good work. I understand the importance of being non-partisan, but I don't agree with the rational to vote for a woman just because she's a woman. I wouldn't vote for a woman who wouldn't represent the interests I value. I would vote for the party that has a representative that I feel could be competent and speak on behalf of the community's best social values and justice. But the fact remains that there aren't enough women representing the parties for all the reasons outlined in the Citizen's article. I recently did a little investigating the candidate I would normally vote for, representing the NDP party, which I support. This person has no educational background in politics, isn't an outspoken advocate hasn't blogged or made public comments with reaction to the campaign, current issues and events, or voter apathy. This is the first election where I'm completely disgusted with the representative; as the campaign manager replied, "s/he's good at ----" (insert any unrelated hobby). Good at -hobby-? That's all they could say about this candidate when the credentials were questioned? Unbelievable. There must be a more appropriate individual who could be the party representative. I'm stuck, now, because I'm not confident how to vote. The NDP party would receive $1.75 from me if I did vote for the incompetent. On the other hand, I don't want to waste my vote if my riding is actually a close competition between the Cs and the Ls. My liberal rep is a woman but I need to make damn sure she's pro-choice, anti war, anti-privatization, pro-arts, etc; I won't simply cast a Venus symbol ballot without understanding her platform (and I've been having a hard time finding this out). Calgary's conservative saturation seems to be quieting all candidates that aren't Tory! Why do they not have more to say!? Why are the candidates becoming as apathetic as the voters!!??

In Herstory

2008-09-15T07:06:00.000-07:00

"This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state."

Alaska Women Reject Palin Rally - Mudflats

Via What Really Happened

Event Announcement

2008-09-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Felection - Fixing the Date

2008-09-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Democracy Watch outlines some of the reasons why Harper's Election call is bad for democracy:

. . . delaying the election until at least spring 2009 would give time to pass key bills, as well as complete various investigations and court cases, on key good government issues, as follows:

-a proposed law that bans loans to election candidates (except by banks and other financial institutions) is still under review by the Senate, and until it passes the loans loophole will allow anyone to buy off a candidate in violation of the spirit of donation limits that came into effect a few years ago;
-the investigation and court case concerning limits on spending on advertising by local candidates is not completed, and holding an election when limits are not clearly defined will likely lead to abuse in election spending;
-a court case filed by Democracy Watch has not been completed, and as a result it is unclear exactly what lobbyists can do to help candidates and parties during elections;
-another court case filed by Democracy Watch has not been completed, and as a result it is unclear whether Prime Minister Harper and his Cabinet violated the federal Conflict of Interest Act by making decisions concerning the Mulroney-Schreiber affair;
-the federal Ethics Commissioner has still not ruled on whether Finance Minister Jim Flaherty violated the Conflict of Interest Act when he handed out a contract to a friend, and;
-last but certainly not least, there are 90 loopholes in the federal government’s accountability and decision-making system that need to be closed, including loopholes that allow party leaders to lie to voters when making election promises, that allow secret donations to nomination race candidates, and that allow party leaders to dictate who will be the candidate in any riding.

Via Rabble.

'Lympics Shlympics

2008-08-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to say I didn't watch the opening ceremonies. I didn't watch diving, swimming, running, jumping; I didn't watch the closing ceremonies or follow the number of medals Canada won. It wasn't so much a boycotting issue (although I recall that in 1980 61 countries boycotted Russia's Olympics over its invasion of Afghanistan), and it wasn't only because I don't have a television connected to cable or the complimentary 4 channels Calgary offers. I don't give a flying fuck about the olympics. The papers were filled with gleaming and teary faces. Bush got drunk and stumbled about Beijing while Georgia and Russia faught for control of South Ossetia. I have always felt that the Olympics eclipse the news that actually impacts the world. ANYWAY, with all the attention on China's political history and past and current strategies, the world shakes fingers at a nation with dirty hands. But as Yves Engler rants in Rabble News, as Canadians let's take a look in the mirror at our own dirty faces:

So many words written or spoken about human rights violations, lip-synching, suppression of Tibet, taped fireworks, Communist dictatorship, evil Chinese nationalism and yet what about context? Or what about how Canada might seem to them?

Has any media discussed Canada’s decades-long support of British imperialism in China? Opium War anyone? Dividing the country up among European powers?

How about Canadian business, missionary and diplomatic support for Japan’s brutal invasion of China in the 1930s? What about the weapons and $60 million Ottawa sent to aid Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang fighting Mao’s forces after World War II? Certainly one of the outraged Canadian columnists could have found room to mention Ottawa’s refusal to recognize the Chinese Communist government for 21 years?

For many years this refusal to recognize the new government was justified by citing Chinese "aggression" in the Korean War that left four million dead. During that war Canada sent 27,000 troops halfway across the world, partly in response to China’s revolution the previous year. China, on the other hand, only intervened after 500,000 hostile troops approached its border with northern Korea.

From historical amnesia concerning Canada-China relations through Tibet and Sudan the media’s double standard is glaring.

Does anyone believe that prior to Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics we will see a media barrage about the British Columbia land stolen from First Nations? Interviews on all the TV networks with spiritual leaders of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh? Does it take a graduate degree in history to see the parallels between the actions of the Chinese government in Tibet and the European settlement of Canada?

Or, how about comparing Canada’s role in the Congo to China’s role in Sudan?

Ultiimately, it's our own personal responsibility to know what's happening in the world and take whatever action we feel necessary. But whether or not we watch the Olympics or even, in 2010 & 2012, attend the Olympics in Vancouver and London, the chess games of military powers go on and in my opinion that very Chess Game is the ultimate and most important, world-impacting game of all.

Excerpts

2008-08-26T07:07:00.001-07:00

First Person: Excerpts from the Beat Within
Personal essays from prostitutes, gang members, and other incarcerated teenagers.

Via Mother Jones

Prepare for Heart Wrenching.

Jekyl & Heidi

2008-08-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

I found this book review on Boing Boing this morning and am intrigued:

Screenwriter/producer Lauren McLaughlin's YA novel debut, Cycler is just out, and just in time -- this is a book that the kids in your life really need to read, a gender-bending piece of speculative fiction aimed at young people that manages to say novel, useful, and challenging things about gender and sexuality without ever descending into squicky fluid-exchange or soapy romance.
Jill McTeague has a secret: every 28 days, at the start of her menstrual cycle, she...changes. Painful, graphically, her body transforms into an adolescent male form, and her mind is remade as Jack McTeague, an angry, horny teenaged boy who stays locked in Jill's room for four days until she comes back to reclaim her body and mind. Her stepfordwife mom is mortified by this, and bent on ensuring that none of their neighbors in their affluent Massachusetts suburb discover their family's dark secret, and her absentee father (moved into the basement years ago to practice meditation and yoga) is no help either.

Jill does everything she can to pretend that her four-day absences just don't happen, while Jack seethes and rages against his captivity, in chapters that alternate between both points of view. Both characters are flawed and likable, smart but dumb about emotional stuff in exactly the way I was when I was a teenager. McLaughlin does an admirable job of nailing the voice of Jack -- I know that hormone-addled, enraged teenaged boy. I was that boy.

McLaughlin's screenwriting background carries through well, too: the plot is faultless, building from the weird premise (and the concomitant weirdness) to a series of ever-more-desperate scenarios that have you rooting for Jack and Jill even as you facepalm yourself and peer between your fingers at the wreck they're making of their lives.

This is a book about sex and love, and it's got a lot of it -- but not steamy between-the-sheets stuff (though there's some of that). Instead, McLaughlin's sex and love happens between the ears, in the realm of the mind and its contradictory and embarrassing and fickle passions. Through it all, there's always something redeeming happening, some sense that these people might, somehow, muddle through.

I've got a few years before my newborn daughter needs to start thinking about these things, but this is one I'm putting on the shelf for when she does.

Dialogue about menstruation is lacking for young people and this book sounds like it hits a lot of the emotional issues of being an adolescent on the menstrual metaphorical nail!

Happy Anniversary!

2008-08-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Lilith Attack has turned One this month!Thanks to all my readers, visitors and those who take the time to comment and connect!

In solidarity,
Lilith Attack

Endorsing Anne Lagacé Dowson

2008-08-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is the first I've read about Anne Lagacé Dowson (bio), but BoingBoing writer Cory Doctorow extols her virtues and offers his support. One to watch!

On Feminism

2008-08-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Published in the Calgary Herald and last week by Canwest in the Edmonton Journal, writer Misty Harris takes a look at the problem facing young women who are identifying with feminism: the stripper pole or social activism?

Bombarded by a dizzying array of ideas and images, individuals believe girl power is synonymous with short skirts as much as advanced education. They are demonstrating their independence through community involvement and at the stripper pole. And even as young females are equalling male achievements in math and science competitions, they're matching them shot for shot in bars -- studies show more college women are "drinking like men" and getting drunk more today than in the last 20 years.

It's all evidence of how young women are seeking to make their way in a culture of conflicting messages, experts say.

"They don't realize it's a lot more complicated."

HORRAY!!!

2008-08-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

Buh Bye, ugly american death sucker!

Krispy Kreme exits Calgary

and here.

Janes in Love

2008-08-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

Via Boing Boing this morning:

Janes in Love: graphic novel is a call-to-art for young people

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes are an arts collective made up of high-school girls all named Jane, who stage daring, commando-style public art projects in the dead of night, transforming their tight-ass suburb into an outdoor art gallery. They're not just in it for the hell of it, either: their little suburb was the site of a terrorist scare and bombing that has everyone on edge and baying for authority.

The Janes won't take this lying down. They refuse to be terrorized, and continue making their art, even though it gets them in trouble with the authorities and their parents, and nearly drives them apart.

But the Janes aren't just serious art-guerrillas; they're also teenaged girls, and the art-shenanigans aren't doing much for their love-lives, or their friendships.

I've recently been reading woman-centred graphic novels/comic books and this is one I definitely want to check out!!!

Fatfobia

2008-08-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

A news report, "Fit and Fat: It's Possible" by Reuters actually questions the West's linking of fat and health. I know a lot of slender women who have been on some very dangerous diets or eat poorly or drink nothing but powder drinks and are very far from healthy. Skinny is not necessarily healthy. (a) does not equal (b). Remember this!!!

Move Me

2008-07-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Video with Gudrun Gut by two young girls, Zarah & Paula.

Rev this

2008-07-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

www.cuil.com

Google has a competitor launching a search engine today. Ms. Anna Patterson's "Cuil" will be my trial search engine going forward... I am always pleased to support successful women's achievements!

The Times Online reports:

Speaking before the launch of Cuil, which is pronounced 'cool', Ms Patterson said that one of the main reasons rival search engines such as Microsoft Windows Live and Yahoo! had struggled was because they weren't able to index as many
pages as Google.
Cuil had solved that problem by compiling an index three times as large as Google's - searching for results across 120 billion web pages compared with Google's index of 40 billion pages, she said. Google does not reveal how large its index is, but in a statement today said that it welcomed competition, which "stimulates innovation and provides users with more choice."

A reprimand to reporter Jonathan Richards, though, for the following:

"You can't be an alternative search engine and smaller," Mr Patterson was quoted as saying.

Excuse me Mr. Richards, but you can call her Ms. Patterson, dumb ass.

Woman.

Flag Fetishism

2008-07-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Reuters Reports (in the "Oddly Enough" section - isn't this just so quirky!?) that a model in Peru could face up to 4 years in prison for posing naked in a photograph on a horse, the Peru flag draped over the horse's back as a saddle. Although Leysi Suarez claims that is indeed a patriotic action, and aside from the debate over the sacredness of a flag, there is absolutely no mention of the liability of the magazine DFarandula, which published the photos, its editors or the photographer!

Can't Touch This

2008-06-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

It's refreshing to see an article in the media exposing the digital new world of the fashion industry.
When standing in line at the supermarket I tend to remind myself that the faces and bodies on the glossies are not real, and that they are fictional chararcters based on men and women with lines, blemishes, split ends, and scars. Tracy Nesdoly uncovers the real coverup staring at us from the magazine racks and references Khoa Vu's opinion on the matter:

"As beautiful as models are, nothing is perfect. Sure, we're responsible for creating the illusion of perfection, tweaking or creating an angle in a face or removing a few bumps or blemishes and no, whatever the fashion shot, no one ever really looks like that," says Khoa Vu, a Toronto-based retoucher. "The need for this is set by common everyday consumers who would rather buy something advertised with a beautiful model than someone ordinary. There's no way to escape it. Too much money would be lost."

I beg to differ, as many would. Indeed, Chatelaine recently opted for less "egg" in response to reader demand. I always prefer to see 'real' images of models; however I do appreciate art and I appreciate graphic skill of manipulating images, but how do we respond and how should we respond to this art if it is having a negative impact on the way we are able to self identify?

Accidental Ovulation

2008-06-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

Human Ovulation has been captured on video by accident.

Don't Buy It

2008-06-12T08:38:00.000-07:00

Sexism Sells, But We're Not Buying It.

Web Fetus

2008-05-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Of course I'm not surprised reading this article that 2 male Harvard alumni students (Remember Zuckerman?) have created a fetus fetish online extravaganza called Totspot.com. Facebook for the fetus. It was bad enough that I saw pictures of a bloody bath birth from an old high school acquaintance back in the day when I was on Facebook for three weeks. But now the emby can even be profiled and spoken for before the dip in the tub. Expect an inundation of fetus fetishizers and prolife advertisement banners.

the Doctor is in

2008-05-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Henry Morgentaler Receives Canadian Labour’s Highest Award

Teen Moms

2008-05-23T06:56:00.000-07:00

Statistics Canada reports today that teenage moms and socioeconomic doom may not be a causal relationship. With the findings of these statistics, May Luong reports in her article, "Life after Teenage Motherhood":

[A]ccording to more recent research, the link between teenage childbearing and a poor socioeconomic outcome may not be causal—the probability of being a teenage mother and the probability of being disadvantaged later on may be due to having a disadvantaged family background from the start. That is, women from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to end up disadvantaged even if they delay childbearing. And while teenage childbearing continues to be a significant indicator of lower socioeconomic outcomes, the effect is smaller than originally believed.

She goes on to conclude that education is perhaps the largest determining factor is socioeconomic success of teen mothers and adult mothers alike:

Teenage childbearing has been shown to have negative and long-term effects on women’s socioeconomic outcomes. Overall, teenage mothers in Canada had a lower probability than adult mothers of completing high school and postsecondary education, even after controlling for family background and other characteristics. Teenage childbearing and education are significantly related to a woman’s labour market participation. In terms of labour force participation, the results suggest education matters more than family background—women with similar education had similar likelihoods of being in full-year full-time employment. Only women who were teenage mothers with a postsecondary education were more likely to be working full year full time during the reference year than women who were adult mothers with similar education. And although the mean wages for teenage mothers were lower than for women who were adult mothers, teenage mothers and adult mothers with similar education were almost equally likely to be living in low income. Furthermore, family background was no longer statistically significant for these mothers when it came to the likelihood of living in low income. Similar results were found for the probability of living in low income. These results suggest that education may help counter the negative effects of teenage childbearing. However, other unobserved characteristics such as family support, social network and a variety of other resources, psychological traits, and other factors may also have an influence on outcomes.

In summary, the results from this study suggest that teenage childbearing is related to lower educational achievements, which may in turn lead to longer-term effects on labour force participation and rates of living in low income. However, teenage mothers and adult mothers with similar levels of education also had similar labour market participations and rates of living in low income—suggesting that education is more important in determining labour force participation and income in the long run.

Morning After Laughter

2008-05-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

The ladies can rest-easy in Canada should a morning-after pill be desired:

The Canadian National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities ruled last week that emergency contraception will be available over-the-counter in Canada. <Feminist Daily News>

Credit Crunching Women

2008-05-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Although there's change in the wind here in isolated boomtown Calgary, and despite the oil exec's smacking their lips with $130 oil, we must remember how bad it's getting south of the border. This story out of California illustrates that even the middle class are being credit crunched. There are parking lots set up for homeless people to sleep in their cars and go to work the next day:

There are 12 parking lots across Santa Barbara that have been set up to accommodate the growing middle-class homelessness. These lots are believed to be part of the first program of its kind in the United States, according to organizers.

The lots open at 7 p.m. and close at 7 a.m. and are run by New Beginnings Counseling Center, a homeless outreach organization.

It is illegal for people in California to sleep in their cars on streets. New Beginnings worked with the city to allow the parking lots as a safe place for the homeless to sleep in their vehicles without being harassed by people on the streets or ticketed by police.

Harvey stays at the city's only parking lot for women. "This is very safe, and that's why I feel very comfortable," she said.

The tip of the iceberg is terrible - but from beneath it devours.

Waging on

2008-05-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

Maddening tidbit in Calgary's news today: man randomly stabs a woman at a bus stop.

Rating Shmating

2008-05-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Boing Boing directed me this afternoon to the following "Marital Rating Scale" from the 1930s for wives. By husbands, that is.
The Monitor on Psychology describes:

The test was designed to give couples feedback on their marriages. Either husbands or wives could take the test, which rated wives in a variety of areas. For instance, if your wife "uses slang or profanity," she would get a score of five demerits. On the other hand, if she "reacts with pleasure and delight to marital congress," she would receive 10 merits. The test taker would add up the total number of merits and demerits to receive a raw score, which would categorize the wife on a scale from "very poor" to "very superior."

How do I rate? A big bad NEGATIVE 30. I better start dressing for breakfast!

Being Absent

2008-05-08T11:36:00.001-07:00

I know, it's been weeks since any bloggy goodness has been going on at Lilith Attack. I have a whole list of excuses but mostly that I haven't had much chance to slack at work and dig around in the news over lunch! Been working long days at the office and was consumed with taxes the last month so now that those are out of the way hopefully I can get some time in for the blogosphere! I saw Sarah Slean a few nights ago for the 7th or 8th time; she's so lovely and brilliant. Here is a video of her performing Duncan (not from this concert), my favourite song of her's still, and a stunning anti-war melody.

Whatever happened to Duncan?
He was a good boy they say
The girls all wanted him to dance with
The boys to play to play

When the policeman came knocking
She didn't know what to say
Except his shoes and socks were all gone
It seems he ran away

Oh you fool you fool!
Don't give in to fate
If this is all we've got to fight for
Rage my darling, rage!
Duncan good for you!
Sad but on your way
Well the army never turned his crank
But love sure made him brave

A sweeter infatuation
Oh you'd be hard pressed to find
He loved so deeply and madly
He nearly lost his mind

And oh behold the mayor's daughter
She was a treat for the eye
Why this the only thing to live for
Just made you want to die!

Oh you fool you fool!
Don't give in to fate
If this is all we've got to fight for
Rage my darling, rage!
Duncan good for you!
Sad but on your way
Well the army never turned his crank
But love sure made him brave

This is holy war!
We must fight and fight again
And go a thousand times for the sake of love
But never once in vain

Protecting the Unprotected

2008-04-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Current today on CBC is going to be worth listening to. The murderer of the children in Merritt, BC, had violated a peace bond and yet the Merritt police were not informed of this when he was released from custody for threatening her daughter's school principal just days earlier. Check it out on your online media source or watch for the Podcast:

Two tragic stories of domestic violence have dominated the headlines this week: a woman in Toronto who has been jailed in order to get her to testify in her boyfriend's assault trial and the on-going hunt for a man from Merritt, British Columbia who is alleged to have killed his three children. We're taking a step back and looking at the most common way that courts deal with domestic violence, and asking if restraining orders help keep women safe or make them more vulnerable.

Horror Feminae

2008-04-08T09:35:00.001-07:00

No need for feminism. Fuck that. A reminder to those stubborn 'why can't we all just get along and call it humanism?' hippies:

Women are discriminated against in almost every country around the world, a UN-commissioned report says.

It says that this is despite the fact that 185 UN member states pledged to outlaw laws favouring men by 2005.

It adds that 70% of the world's poor are women and they own just 1% of the world's titled land.

The report, which was prepared for UN Human Right Commissioner Louise Arbour, says rape within marriage has still not been made a crime in 53 nations.

A tip of the hat to Feminist Allies for the BBC link and full article.

Fetus Find

2008-04-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

This morning's online Calgary Herald:

City crews at the Bonnybrook waste treatment facility made the disturbing discovery of a fetus. . . Police said the method of disposal is a concern, but medically at this stage of development, a fetus is considered a "product of conception" and not a matter for the medical examiner to investigate or issue a death certificate.

"Life and creation arguments do not form the basis of this investigation, rather, it is firmly rooted in the probability that this may have been the result of a spontaneous medical condition, a 'hidden' pregnancy situation, or a premeditated and or forced act upon an individual; the last of these three situations cannot be overlooked or end without police involvement and determination if a criminal act was committed," said Berti.

I feel for the woman who went through this miscarriage, be it a 'hidden' pregnancy or any of the possibilities described. Whether or not she wanted to have a child, she may have felt that our medical system could not be reliable, trusted, or affordable. In a case of potential violence I hope for her that she finds safety and protection. I appreciate the annunciation that this is not about "life and creation" but about the health of the woman who aborted outside of a hospital or abortion clinic, whatever the case may or should have been. Even with abortion servcies in Calgary, there can still be instances of limited access due to social pressures or knowing where and how to access those services. This is an interesting story and I will certainly be following up on the community's reaction to it.

Down wid' CPC's

2008-04-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Senator Robert Menendez introduced a bill in the Senate yesterday that would regulate the misleading advertising practices of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs).

Read the article here.
I should say. I had a woman in my office campaigning a few years ago for a "Crisis Pregnancy Centre". At the time I wasn't familiar with it so before committing to give any money I asked straight up, "Does it give abortion referrals?" Room went silent and she said, "No." And I said, "Well you won't get any of my money then." Since then I've learned more about CPC's sneaky rhetorical tactics and make sure I mention them whenever the topic arises. There's many people who aren't aware that CPC's are anti choice.

This House is Clean

2008-04-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

It's 1982 and Steven Spielburg's Poltergeist is terrifying audiences and leaving a lasting impression of the fuzzy late-night T.V. screen in our nightmares when we wake up on the couch to the static sound of a snowy screen and a little girl's voice, "They're He-re..." A new study that will be published in the scientific journal, Neuroquantology, claims that Speilburg was on to something with Carol Anne being the vessel for creepy, paranormal activity. I can safely say I do not understand quantum physics (contrary to What the Bleep Do We Know and Deepak Chopra's claims to simplistic explanations), but still I consider this study to be bunk and sexist by this small paragraph:

"Poltergeist disturbances often occur in the neighbourhood of a pubescent child or a young woman," the authors note in their paper.

I can't wait to read about how adolescent girls and young women are the source of things that go bump in the night and all things creepy.
(Via Boing Boing)

Friday Delight

2008-03-28T13:48:00.001-07:00

I say it again: I [Heart] Robots! My partner surprised me yesterday with a random robot pressy (Robot Lilliput) at work which brought me to this vintage song: Mechanical Man.
Great Friday Afternoon Musical Entertainment!! Mechanical Man? Meet me in my bedroom...

Women Protest

2008-03-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

Women are banding in protest of government crackdown on women's vendor businesses:

Women stage protest in N Korea

Seoul - Thousands of North Korean women staged a rare street protest early this month against a government crackdown on illegal market vendors, an aid group said on Wednesday, amid worsening food shortages.

The protest was reported on March 4 in Chongjin, a port city in the north eastern province of North Hamgyong, said the South Korean group Good Friends, which works in North Korea.

Plus, Fuss, and Fashion

2008-03-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Today's Calgary Herald has an article by Joanne Sasvari, "Plus Minus Clothing." She takes a look at the fashion industry and the way it's missing a target audience: plus size women. Praising current retailers catering to sizes over 12, she notes that "plus-size fashions now account for one in five purchases in Canada's $10.8-billion ladies apparel market, a 20 per cent increase since 2003" and laments that there are so few retailers in our market that cushion the frustration so many women feel when trying to buy fashionable clothes that are made with satisfying material:

A bigger reason for dissatisfaction is that even among those labels that do offer plus sizes, the clothes are often not very nice, even though they can be significantly more expensive. Often they are not cut in a way that's flattering to a larger body. They're not available in as many colours or styles, or carefully tailored. And they're made with cheaper fabrics, as if a woman loses her love of silk and cashmere when she hits a size 14.

The end of the article lists some retailers that do carry plus size clothing. Seems to me that seven shops in Calgary, the others online stores, is a reflection of the intensity of the fat-hating culture surrounding us. Consider the number of women's clothing retailers for size 0-12 and anyone can understand that saturation is frustrating. Breaking down the negative stigma and pejorative rhetoric of plus-size women is an ongoing struggle in our culture of the glorification of emaciation. Calgary's Anarchist Bookfair on April 25-27 is hosting a number of workshops, one of them addressing fat-phobia in our culture, negative language, and shutting down the epidemic of plus size women hating. As always, dialogue sheds light on the darkness, so a tip of my hat to Joanne Sasvari for her article and her fat positive message in our City today.

Smitten

2008-03-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

This little kitten was born with "I [Heart] [Dot]" on its little sweet side. The Mommy's name is Dottie and so this is just too cute not to share! Via Boing Boing.

Gender Bender

2008-03-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Thinking about going on a vodka bender and you're a lady!? Well you're in luck in Russia! Now there's Vodka for women!! As headlined, "Russian ladies who lunch are finally given their very own vodka". Some are celebrating the marketing ploy, for MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN ("It's not just for businesswomen") but as reported in the Independent, one doctor has said:

"Women drinking vodka is not only unhealthy, it's ugly and un-ladylike," said one doctor. "They should stick to more appropriate drinks for women, like champagne or white wine."

Well it's a good thing, then, that champagne and white wine comes in sexy soft-colored bottles! But there's some stiff competition when Damskaya has fluttery butterflies to boast and toast!

At Your Cervix

2008-03-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here's a documentary to watch for:
At Your Cervix: a film dedicated to making pelvic exams respectful and pain-free

The documentary At Your Cervix explores the connection between the way medical and nursing students are taught pelvic exams and the reality that most women experience them as painful and disempowering.

At Your Cervix breaks the silence around the unethical methods used by medical and nursing schools to teach students how to perform pelvic exams; the most egregious being on unconsenting, anaesthetized women. At the same time, the film highlights the Gynecological Teaching Associate (GTA) Program in New York City. Fuelled by the spirit of women’s health activism, the GTA program began over 30 years ago and it has been shown to be the most effective way to teach exams and is also the most ethical and empowering to women

Check out the website for bios and more details!

Appropriate Blood

2008-03-24T10:58:00.001-07:00

Easter Mass turns Bloody:

Six Iraq war protesters disrupted an Easter Mass on Sunday, shouting and squirting fake blood on themselves and parishioners in a packed auditorium.

Three men and three women startled the crowd during Cardinal Francis George's homily, yelling "Even the Pope calls for peace" as they were removed from the Mass by security guards and ushers.

Via Rawstory

Need I mention that Christianity is based on a whole lot of blood? Funny that there'd be outrage for the sake of the children being scared by gore. Eventually they'll be drinkin' the stuff.

Order of Canada

2008-03-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

From the National Abortion Federation:

TAKE ACTION: Support Dr. Morgentaler

The Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour, was established to recognize outstanding lifetime achievement and service. Please sign this petition to the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada, which has repeatedly overlooked Dr. Morgentaler for this distinguished award.

Take Action Now!

About Dr. Morgentaler:
Dr. Morgentaler, a survivor of the Holocaust, has made a positive lasting impact on the lives and health of Canadian women for more than 40 years as a physician and advocate. He came forward publicly in 1967 and testified that women should have access to safe and legal abortion care at a time when abortion was illegal and countless women were sacrificing their lives and health to end an unplanned pregnancy. For his beliefs and actions to ensure safe abortion care, he was imprisoned. In 1988, Dr. Morgentaler won a significant victory for Canadian women in the Supreme Court of Canada in R v. Morgentaler, the ruling that decriminalized abortion in Canada. This landmark decision, that changed the legal landscape in Canada, was named one of the most important and influential Charter cases of the last 25 years.

Dr. Morgentaler’s determination and tireless efforts on behalf of women have never ceased. Now in his eighties, he continues to provide leadership in current struggles to ensure that women have access to funded abortion care.

He has received several awards in his lifetime, but Canada’s highest award has never been bestowed upon him. This is a significant omission.

Christian Gene

2008-03-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to GrrlScientist for the Monday morning, post-Easter laugh!

While Christians celebrated Easter and wrestled with their inner demons, our friends got together for some wrestling fun of our own.

I have been busy planning Luchador Parties and playing much music lately; trying to find some time for bloggy goodness. Thanks always for visiting, readers! I will try to get back into the swing of things as the days go by!

Failing to Mention

2008-03-08T21:41:00.001-08:00

The Calgary Sun (surprise surprise) failed to mention a little detail about Keegan Spearchief's release yesterday. This is a man who was charged with multiple sexual assaults and break and enter. The vagueness of the sun is eclipsed by the Herald's report as follows:

National Parole Board documents obtained by the Herald show Spearchief did not complete the intensive therapy recommended by the judge, nor did he seek out any
programs.

Fuelled by heavy drinking and rape fantasies, Spearchief randomly terrorized women in 2003 by breaking into their Forest Lawn homes and attacking them. While under 24-hour house arrest for two previous sex attacks, he raped a 17-year-old girl at knifepoint in the middle of the night when she was home alone.

Although he was 17 at the time of the attacks, Spearchief was the first youth in Canada sentenced as an adult under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Judge Sandy Park gave him four years, deemed a longer sentence that would accommodate Spearchief's rehabilitation. But during his time behind bars, Spearchief, who stands six foot five, did not complete any therapy, including an intensive eight-month program geared toward sex offenders that was recommended by the judge, parole board documents show.

"Given you have not addressed your criminogenic factors, the board concludes you remain at risk to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person," the parole board wrote.

Serving a sentence doesn't mean a godde damn thing if there isn't rehabilitation to re-integrate that person into society as a responsible citizen!! Unbelievable and yet so very much not. The shame.

IWD

2008-03-08T21:32:00.001-08:00

Happy International Women's Day!! Blogging hiatus lately; so much music so much music so much music... But for the good refreshment of the soul! Talk soon...

Mathakane Metsing

2008-03-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

Mathakane Metsing is a health campaign hero in the kingdom of Lesotho. After being raped she found out she was pregnant and with HIV.

Today she's an Aids counsellor and campainger with a smile on her face: her child is HIV negative. Read more about Mathakane's story in the Independent.

Down the Drain

2008-02-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

"It was draining," said Toby Blaine Dixon after being acquitted following a 3 day trial in the sexual assault of a minor. Here we have a case where a 14 year old girl was sexually assaulted while she was intoxicated and due to lack of witnesses and perhaps her demographic, her assaulter walks away 'tired'. Although the judge was pretty sure Dixon was guilty, and that the girls is credible, she is unreliable. Not only that, but:

She had a tear, bruising and abrasions to her vagina, injuries that suggested -- though not conclusively -- that she had been sexually assaulted, according to a doctor's testimony.

How can tearing, bruising, and abrasions to a vagina not be conclusive of sexual assault? Well what a fucking relief for Toby - it must have been so HARD! You know, good thing his penis wasn't torn, cut and bruised or he might have been really fatigued by the trial.

Lilith Attack

Back to Lilith Attack

Remembering Marsha Ellen Meidow

WIND IT UP!

Hero Squad

SOL_TIONS: ALL THAT'S MISSING IS U!

Event Notice

What the Douche?

Tough Guise

Not quite Two Years

Catalogue of the Catalogued

Bank of Glass Ceiling er America

Viva Vintage Monologues

Treated Equal Stuff

World of Teen Modeling

Introspection

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick

Epilepsy is Dancing

Golly, Thanks!

What Women?

"Bush is a Worm!" Calgary Protest Photos

A Male of a Tale

Dark Matter & Ceiling Shatter

IWD - CALGARY EVENT NOTICE!

Event Notice

Memorial March - Valentine's Day

Excellent!! ** Sigh **

Funding Increased for Hiway of Tears

Assault

Written Word for Nerd

Just Because

Event Notice

Rest in Peace Sandra Casey

Shave the Date! Free from Bush!

Calgary Assault

Diatribe

ZP3 Jubilee

Honk to End Violence

Fit Throwing

Silence is Violence

Link Against Violence - Event Notice!

You Know You are A Dreamer

Oh.

Slap the GAP

Daft Taft

Sexist Stereotype Saturation

What's all the Feminist Fuss?

Bush Concern

Who Thought This Day Would Come?

Dream for Women

Quit the Click

Chalk Talk

To Serve and Protect

How they're done wrong

Goodbye Marion Dewar

Equal Voice, Equal Choice?

In Herstory

Event Announcement

Felection - Fixing the Date

'Lympics Shlympics

Excerpts

Jekyl & Heidi

Happy Anniversary!

Endorsing Anne Lagacé Dowson

On Feminism

HORRAY!!!

Janes in Love

Fatfobia

Move Me

Rev this

Flag Fetishism

Can't Touch This

Accidental Ovulation

Don't Buy It

Web Fetus

the Doctor is in

Teen Moms

Morning After Laughter

Credit Crunching Women

Waging on

Excellent!! Sigh