Category Archives: Feminism

Activists march in Beirut against domestic violence | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR

activists marking International Women’s Day held a march in Beirut Saturday and called for the adoption of a draft law to protect women from domestic violence.

More than 2,000 men and women took part in the demonstration organized by the anti-gender-based violence group KAFA, marching from Beirut’s Mathaf area to the Justice Palace.

via Activists march in Beirut against domestic violence | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR.

Middle east – Video: Egypt expels female activists on way to Gaza Strip – France 24

Egypt on Friday deported dozens of female pro-Palestinian activists who had hoped to travel across the border to the Gaza Strip to celebrate International Women’s Day there.

The women, numbering around 100 in total and mostly from the Europe and the US, had flown to Cairo with the intention of entering the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah border crossing.

However, they were unable to make it any further than Cairo International Airport after Egypt denied them entry to the county. After staging a sit-in at the airport, the activists were sent back to their home countries by the Egyptian authoritities

via Middle east – Video: Egypt expels female activists on way to Gaza Strip – France 24.

The Senate thinks they’ve done enough to stop military rape

What makes this particularly frustrating is that the bill received more votes for it (55) than against it (45). But it fell five votes shy of the 60 votes needed to override a fillibuster. And so, on March 6, 2014, the a bill that would have dared to challenge the status quo and actually advocate for survivors of sexual assault, was shut down by a procedural vote that stopped it from even moving to the senate floor.

via The Senate thinks they’ve done enough to stop military rape.

Senate votes down reform but – U.S. Army sex assault prosecutor suspended for ‘groping’ | News , International | THE DAILY STAR

The US Army’s top prosecutor overseeing sexual assault cases has been suspended over allegations he groped a female lawyer working for him and tried to kiss her, officers said Thursday.

The suspension of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Morse marks the latest embarrassing setback for the US military as it battles a sexual assault crisis that has sparked calls for a radical overhaul of its judicial system.

The allegations were first reported by the Stars and Stripes newspaper and confirmed to AFP by military officers who spoke on condition of anonymity.

No charges have been filed against Morse, who supervises the army’s special victim prosecutors that handle sexual assault, domestic abuse and crimes against children cases.

The female army lawyer has alleged Morse groped her and attempted to kiss her against her will.

The alleged incident took place in 2011 in a hotel room at a sexual assault legal conference in Alexandria, Virginia, officials said, before Morse was named to his current job.

via U.S. Army sex assault prosecutor suspended for ‘groping’ | News , International | THE DAILY STAR.

CENSORED NEWS: Rage in the Desert: Tantoo Cardinal on Finding Voice

“Rage” is not a word that most filmmakers and film festivals are comfortable with. Tantoo Cardinal was not afraid to use the word “rage” tonight. The Agua Caliente Native American Film Festival was not afraid to present a feature film tonight that centered on rage.

via CENSORED NEWS: Rage in the Desert: Tantoo Cardinal on Finding Voice.

Oscar winner to speak at Miami University | www.journal-news.com

Academy Award winning actress Geena Davis will present the keynote address at Miami University’s inaugural Women in Leadership Symposium at 5 p.m. April 3 in the Pavilion of the new Armstrong Student Center.

The symposium has a theme of “Making our Mark” and is intended to inspire and empower women to leave their mark on the world through leadership and giving back, according to a news release from the university.

Davis’ lecture is free and open to the general public, but advance ticket reservations are required. Tickets will be available through Miami’s box office in early March.

via Oscar winner to speak at Miami University | www.journal-news.com.

America Is Ready to Elect Its Fourth-Most-Popular Recent First Lady as President – The Wire

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Two new polls tossed onto the already putrefying pile of 2016 surveys offer good news for Hillary Clinton. A majority of Americans want her to run in 2016 and most people don’t see her gender or husband as disqualifying. Hell, nearly a fifth of people under the age of 30 think Clinton’s not even 50 years old. Good news all around.

via America Is Ready to Elect Its Fourth-Most-Popular Recent First Lady as President – The Wire.

FDA makes generic versions of emergency contraception available over the counter

Good news: The slow–and often infuriating–expansion of access to emergency contraception took another step forward last week when the FDA announced that generic versions of EC can now be sold over the counter to folks of all ages.

Until now, a sweetheart deal had given the pharmaceutical company that makes the brand name version, Plan B, exclusive rights to sell their product without age restrictions, while generic versions were available only to those over 17 and remained behind the pharmacy counter. Now that all products can be side-by-side on the shelf, the generic versions, which typically cost less, will hopefully drive down the price overall.

Of course, this is EC we’re talking about, so obviously some confusion must remain. For now, while young women should be able to purchase them no problem, generic versions must include a label saying they are intended for “women 17 years of age or older.” Given that the complicated battle to get EC over the counter has left the public–including, most unfortunately, many pharmacists themselves–confused about the rules, this labeling probably won’t help.

via FDA makes generic versions of emergency contraception available over the counter.

H5N1: Maryn McKenna on the Post-Antibiotic Age

Maryn McKenna on the Post-Antibiotic Age

I just heard the CBC interview with Maryn McKenna on the Post-Antibiotic Age. From the Sunday Edition’s web page:

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs like MRSA, C. difficile and CRE lurk in hospital rooms and kill patients who have undergone medical procedures that would have otherwise saved or improved their lives.

In fact, a lot of medical and public health experts now fear that we’re on the cusp of an unsettling new age…the Post-Antibiotic Age.

Maryn McKenna is an award-winning science journalist who specializes in public health issues.  She’s a columnist for The Scientific American, and her books include Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA, as well as an upcoming book about the connection between antibiotics and agriculture. She’s also the author of a new article called “Imagining the Post-Antibiotics Future” for the online magazine, Medium.com.

Click through to listen to the interview. McKenna should have her own radio program; she has a wonderful radio voice, and has a lot to say in it.

via H5N1: Maryn McKenna on the Post-Antibiotic Age.