Women Against Poverty Collective: Housing Takeover Day

More coverage of the women's housing takeover!

Labels: housing, poverty, women's housing takeover

Link

posted by Jenn @ 1:31 AM 14 comments

Demanding Shelter

A women and trans-folk only housing squat in Toronto attracted about 300 participants on Sunday, and a large number of police. Despite a strong anti-violence message, protesters were forcibly evicted from the squatted house at 4 Howard Street (Bloor and Sherbourne Sts.) after occupying the site for several hours.

Labels: housing, poverty, women squat

Link

posted by Jenn @ 12:55 AM 0 comments

Afghan journalist killed for giving voice to women

The murder of two female journalists in Afghanistan in the space of a week has brought home the risks that newswomen face in a country where women are not expected to ask questions.

Zakia Zaki, 35, was shot seven times as she slept in her bed with her young son late Tuesday. A respected journalist and human-rights activist in the province of Parwan just north of the capital, she headed the U.S.-funded Peace Radio. She was also the principal of a local school and ran for parliament in 2005.

This is so frightening. I don't support the current Canadian presence in Afghanistan - in its military role - but I do acknowledge that things in that country are scary. The treatment of women there is particularly scary.

Labels: afghanistan women

Link

posted by Jenn @ 12:51 AM 0 comments

A Fat Rant.

My friend Jill posted this video on her Facebook. It's called A Fat Rant.



It was made by a woman named Joy Nash and is around eight minutes long. There are also many video responses to her "rant." I haven't watched them all, but this one Re: A Fat Rant is my favourite.



One of the things Joy talks about in her video is shopping. How hard it is to find something larger than 14. I am a size 14, and I still have a hard time finding anything.

The best part about her rant is that she talks about not being ashamed of fatness, and not allowing it to be a definition. Like those who reclaim words, like "queer" or "cunt," this follows with the reclamation. Joy offers that we shouldn't hide our weight, but state it like we'd state a hair colour.

An amazing video.

And, to join in, I weigh 184 and my hair is brown.

Labels: A Fat Rant

Link

posted by Jenn @ 11:16 PM 4 comments

Look where we are now!

BlogTO asked me to do a small interview. Here it is! Was a pleasure to do.

Labels: BlogTO

Link

posted by Jenn @ 11:40 PM 9 comments

The period debate

According to reports out of the U.S., the FDA is about to approve a drug that will allow women to greatly reduce or shorten all together their menstrual bleeding.

"Women are proactive about their bodies much more so, as they should be," Knatz says. "They're saying, ' . . . I don't want my period. How can I stop that from happening?' "

Still, many women view menstruation as a natural part of life and are reluctant to shut it down artificially, at least to a prolonged degree. Some experts warn that little is known about any health risks from suppressing periods for a lengthy time. Experts interviewed say these medications would not hamper getting pregnant once women stop taking them.

The Arizona Republic

I personally find these types of medications questionable. Is there a good reason to have a period? What does it do for the body? Is it useful?

Science has yet to give us a good answer on this one (draw your own conclusions why) so why would we suppress periods without knowing what benefit we draw from them?

Labels: menstruation

posted by Jenn @ 11:22 PM 2 comments

Mourners hold candlelight procession in Toronto to honour June Callwood

Hundreds people walked through the streets of downtown Toronto on Tuesday evening in a candlelight procession to honour the memory of journalist and social activist June Callwood.

Callwood, a well known social activist and journalist, passed away early Saturday at the age of 82 after a long battle with cancer.

Known as a tireless campaigner for social justice issues, Callwood will be remembered as a procession moves through the city between Jessie's Centre for Teenagers and Casey House, facilities she helped to establish.

Jessie's Centre provides support to pregnant teens and Casey House is a hospice for people with AIDS and HIV.
CTV

TVO will be repeating an interview with Callwood:

June Callwood on Paula Todd Person 2 Person
Friday April 20, 2007 at 10 pm
Repeated Saturday April 21 at 6 pm and Sunday April 22 at 3 am

And in remembrance of another great woman:

A Memorial Service for Doris Anderson will be held on
May 12 at 2:00pm, Convocation Hall, University of Toronto
FAFIA

Labels: Doris Anderson, June Callwood

Link

posted by Jenn @ 11:25 PM 0 comments