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International Women’s Day promotes world peace and freedom
International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900’s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
On March 8 in Vancouver, International Women’s Day will be highlighted with the honouring of Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Daw Aung Sawn Sue Chee), one of the world’s most renown freedom fighters and advocates of nonviolence, having served as the figurehead for Burma’s struggle for democracy since 1988.
The celebration will also include the book launch of the Burmese Women’s Union Report, Caught between two Hells.
The Report is based on 149 in-depth interviews conducted with migrant women and girl workers in Chaing Mai, Mae Sot, Ranong (Thailand) and Rulli (China), and highlights the atrocious day-to-day working conditions and human right abuses encountered by the female labourers.
“The Report is a ‘voice’ for these women. We will be holding presentations by the author of the Report in addition to first-hand experiences given by a presenter from Immigrant Services Society, and story readings centered around this report,” says a member from the Vancouver-based Action Committee for Free Burma.
If you are unfamiliar with Burma, now known as Myanmar, you might have heard about the ‘Saffron Revolution’ that captured the world’s attention in Sept 2007. Burma is still ruled by the brutal military regime, and has been for the last 46 years.
The group added that, “As we look at the world today, there is so much atrocity and human right abuses taking place in Iran, Darfur, The Philippines, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China just to name a few countries.
“But, if we just took action, one footstep at a time, one conscience at a time, setting aside egos and boundaries, I believe we will make a change.
In Burmese, we send a heartfelt ‘Kyay-zu-tin-bar-dae’ (meaning many thanks), and peace and goodwill to all,” the group said.
Women’s Day celebration will take place on Sat March 8 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Peter Kaye Room, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch. RSVP to: [email protected].
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