The Time is Now! International Women's Month 2022

We are gathering for IWD 2022, fought for by ancestresses some time ago. How do we move this forward? How do we universally create the change that we know is essential for the survival of this planet, and in particular the survival of women and girls who continue to live under the laws of men who insist on being in control of every government from international to local community. Male leaders who are taught from birth that they are superior and that they have a right to hold these laws in place.

How do we move forward to undo this entanglement of big business and government, exchanging money for government politicians to maintain the status quo, as our beloved planet struggles to survive the rampant destruction of our trees, the rape of our earth, the poisoning of our water, and so closely connected, the ongoing and escalating violence toward and suppression of gentle people, especially women and girls. 

How do we move forward to make known the truth of the uprisings of people who dare to call out that there have been and still are peaceful societies in which women were and are leaders? Of societies in which women have been and are still honoured, in which our planet has been and is being taken care of in the way that everyone and every thing deserves. 

How do we bring forward the information that this is not some utopian dream, that there have been and are times and places throughout history that are peaceful. That there is also a herstory, stories of women's leadership, suppressed so that those currently in power can continue to dominate, cause destruction of forests and waters, and with this, the continuing violent sexualization and sexual imprisonment of women and girls.

We women have been speaking out about this and demanding change for centuries, keeping the heroines of the past known, because they were hidden from us as if they have never existed. We know that these ancestresses  were there, we know what they did, we know that there were peaceful eras. 

As March 2022 arrives we are faced with yet another vicious war. No safety for the women who continue to be beaten, work in servitude, women with no money, on the street, so often with children. Another generation of girls is being attacked right in front of us. Our governments globally allowing this violence everywhere. Broken promises for generations. So very recently every woman and girl in Afghanistan was forced back indoors with barely a whisper from any of the world governments.

What we have never had before on this Earth is that we are able to be in contact and connection with each other and working together, deeply grateful for each other.

Many of us who have been working on this a long time are still in touch with each other. We are mourning the loss of sisters who inspired us in the beginning. We are mourning women activists we are losing as more and more wars are started, while violence against women and girls increases, while boys continue to be taught that they are expected and entitled to take control.

We see all too clearly the ongoing tricks and manipulations, deliberately denouncing women who speak out, we women who link arms with each other walking unapologetically together. Being punished for walking behind the banner of freedom for women is not new to us. We are women who step outside the narrow and constraining rules of how a woman is told to behave. We will not tame our voices as we witness this same vile treatment of women and girls generation after generation. This violence toward anyone who steps outside what is considered to be acceptable speech and behaviour. For all who break the rules of this patriarchy, for all who have been silenced, we continue to document the betrayals, shine a light on centuries of false promises and refuse to be silent. 

We will never stop. Even as generations of women who have spoken out are gone, we carry their knowledge forward, weaving it into the courageous words and actions of women today as we protect and pass on this information and this determination from one generation to the next. It is the leadership of women that is missing in this world. It is the leadership of women that is needed. It is the history of leadership of women that needs to be known for its peacefulness. Now, for the first time on this planet we are all connecting with each other, speaking out against false promises made through generations. We are here to create peace. 

The future of this planet and the future of all those breaking through barriers, living to create positive change depends on us stepping forward boldly together. It depends on us believing in the importance of what women have to say. The future of this planet and the future of humanity depends on the leadership of women. Through World Pulse we are finding each other and working together. 

Now is the time, until not one woman is beaten or cast aside, not one more girl raped. Yes, we are furious. But we have learned know how to transform our fury into action and celebration that now we have each other. We celebrate IWD for this moment each year, the chance to meet and honour each other. Thank you, World Pulse for this gift you have given us.