National preparations for 2010

During our International Action in 2010, we will once more demonstrate our strength as collectively organised women with diverse experiences, political cultures and ethnic backgrounds, but with a common identity and goal: the desire to overthrow the current, unjust world order that provokes violence and poverty, and to construct the world we want based on peace, justice, equality, freedom and solidarity.
As we have explained in past newsletters (October 2009 http://www.marchemondiale.org/bulletin_liaison/2009/200903/en and July 2009 http://www.marchemondiale.org/bulletin_liaison/2009/200902/en/), we will be launching our 3rd International Action, while also celebrating the 100th year anniversary of the declaration of International Women’s Day, on the 8th March 2010. Several countries are preparing themselves for mobilisations during the 8th – 18th March period, in this way bringing women’s demands to the attention of the press, civil society and authorities. They include Brazil (as described in July); Kenya (as described in October); Mali, where sisters are preparing marches in the 5 Bamako district communes and 8 regional capitals from the 9th – 15th March (preceded by discussion workshops and the creation of instruments), culminating in a demonstration on the 18th in one of the Northern regions in conflict; Pakistan, where rural and urban women will travel 200km from Hyderabad to Karachi in decorated buses and tractors, passing from one village to the next organising popular education and cultural activities; and Sri Lanka (described in October).

National and local demonstrations and / or other activities are also being planned on, or close to, the 8th March to launch our International Action in the following countries around the world: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, the Basque Country, Belgium, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Canada, Chile, England, El Salvador, France, Galicia, Greece, Guatemala, India, Italia, Japan, Kurdish Territory, Macedonia, México, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Quebec (sisters from Quebec will also be marching from the 12th – 17th October, as described in the July newsletter), South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Turkey, Western Sahara.

These demonstrations and activities will take many diverse and creative forms: marches, rallies, symbolic acts, conferences, debates, the launching of campaigns, the distribution of written materials, cultural presentations (music, dance, films, etc), press conferences and releases, workshops, forums, direct actions, vigils, the use of visual symbols (flags, bracelets, posters, marionettes, bandanas, etc), meetings with authorities, theatre, batucadas (drumming groups), frontier meetings, and the presentation of demands.

And we know of yet other countries in which we believe WMW sisters are preparing mobilisations and / or other activities for the launch of our 3rd International Action, including Cuba, the Central African Republic, Denmark, Haiti, Lesotho and Martinique. Those NCBs or Participating Groups who have not yet shared their planned activities for 2010, please send them to us urgently.