31 July 2010

More about obstetric fistula:

Here is a little more information about obstetric fistula, if you were wondering:

Fistula is completely preventable, but still, at least 2 million women in Africa, Asia, and the Arab region are living with the condition, with 50,000-100,000 new cases developing each year.

This article on BBC News quotes two women who have suffered from obstetric fistula:

"Everyone deserted me - my husband deserted me, my friends deserted me. I know I will never have a husband, I will never have a boyfriend, I will never have a baby." -Fatama Kargbo.

"Life was really horrible for me... the odour of the urine is horrible... that is why even my husband wouldn't allow me to stay in his house." -Aminata Kanda

I learned about obstetric fistula years ago, and it has lingered in my mind since then. Beyond the unthinkable pain of losing a child, these women are then rejected by their families, friends, and society. They are seen as unclean. They are abandoned.

Such pain should not come from a pregnancy. It is preventable, and fistulas can be repaired through a simple surgery.

The Campaign to End Fistula lists the following strategies to address fistula:
  • Provide access to adequate medical care for all pregnant women and emergency obstetric care for all who develop complications.
  • Increase access to education and family planning services for women and men.
  • Postpone pregnancy for young girls until they are physically mature.
  • Improve girls' nutrition to prevent stunted growth (which can leave the mother's pelvis small in relation to the baby's head) and to minimize the risk of complications during childbirth.
  • Repair physical damage through medical intervention and emotional damage through counselling. 
This is what the Campaign to End Fistula is aspiring to do, and this is what the We Are Women Project is supporting. All proceeds from the We Are Women book (coming soon) will go to the Campaign to End Fistula. 90% of proceeds from the Poway End Fistula 5k will go to the Campaign (with 10% going to the completion of the We Are Women book). More events are being planned that will go along with these efforts.

Obstetric fistulas were once common throughout the world. Through improved maternal care, it is almost unheard of in Europe and North America, but is still common in developing countries. Please do what you can to educate yourself and others about this condition, and that is how it will end.

-Information found on http://endfistula.org

29 July 2010

"Make decisions based on truth and love, 
and ask for peace."
-Beth, my yoga instructor this morning,
who said exactly what I needed to hear.

26 July 2010

Poway End Fistula 5k Run/Walk

The date has been set!


When: Saturday, August 21, 7:30am
Where: Lake Poway (about 30 minutes north of downtown San Diego)
Why: To benefit the Campaign to End Fistula & the We Are Women Project.

Registration is only $10 for adults, $5 for youth under 13 years of age.
90% of the proceeds will go to the Campaign to End Fistula,
and 10% of proceeds will go to the We Are Women Project.

Please spread the word about this event, and come if you can!
Runners, walkers, and families are welcome!

Register on active.com
and search for the event page on facebook
(entitled "Poway End Fistula 5K- Benefitting the Campaign to End Fistula").

22 July 2010

Women in Art



I just got back from a vacation up the coast of California 
with my mom and brother.Our first stop was the Getty Villa in Malibu. 
I loved it, and I wanted to share 3 of my favorite pieces with you:

[Fertility Goddess, 
Chalcolithic, from Cyprus, 3000-2500 BC)


[Fragment of a Female Head, 
Greek, made in Taras, South Italy, 440-430 BC]


[Wall Fragment with Two Women,
Roman, AD 1-75]

17 July 2010

Meet the writers here.

12 July 2010

Book:


Coming soon!

Cover photos submitted by (counter-clockwise from upper right corner):
Christine Armbruster, Katy Ives, Mary Kennedy, Jennifer Craiker, Katy Ives,
Marie-Pier Breton, and Courtney Thompson. 

06 July 2010

No Longer Accepting Submissions!

Take note: The buttons have changed:


The book is coming together nicely, and should be available in a couple of months...!

05 July 2010

"I myself have no power. It's the people behind me who have the power. Real power comes only from the Creator. It's in His hands. But if you're asking about strength, not power, then I can say that the greatest strength is gentleness." 
-Leon Shenandoah, Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy 
(source: Wisdomkeepers).