Potluck for Peace and Equality

For more years than we can remember (might be 15 or maybe 20 years), Fredericton Voice of Women for Peace has organized or participated in activities marking International Women’s Day (IWD). This past March 8 VOW joined with the NB Advisory Council on the Status of Women (NBACSW) to sponsor our favourite IWD activity—a traditional potluck supper. It is always interesting and heartening to see the large number and diversity of the women who attend — this year attendance was the highest ever, with at least 150 women crowded into a downtown church hall. Most brought along a dish to share, others helped with set-up and clean-up.

Several speakers emphasized the theme Acting Locally and Globally for Peace and Equality. Elizabeth Weir, seasoned New Brunswick politician and leader of the provincial New Democratic Party, spoke on her involvement with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Linda Christiansen-Ruffman, representative of the Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) discussed the organization’s work to further gender equality in Canada through domestic implementation of international human rights agreements. The NBACSW presented an overview of the 2004 Report Card on the Status of Women in New Brunswick — this is available on their website, www.acswcccf.nb.ca. To round out the evening, Fredericton’s own Raging Grannies raised the roof with their peace-oriented renditions of popular tunes.

There was no charge to attend the potluck, however, a collection was taken for Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (W4WA). We recently received thanks and an appeal from the women of the Afghan Centre in Kabul who are in need of school and training supplies.

Canadian members of W4WA network are travelling to Afghanistan this summer
and will ensure supplies reach their destination. The Centre runs vocational training, health and literacy classes for over 700 women in four locations in Kabul. They need notebooks, pencils, posters, world maps, continental maps, Afghanistan maps, and, for the child care center, colouring and picture books.

If other VOW groups or individuals would like to help with this:
E-mail w4wafghan@praxis.ca Subject: School Supplies for Afghan Centre.

To give money, see www.w4wafghan.ca Making A Donation, or

Send cheque to:

W4W Afghan
P.O. Box 32014 Bankview
Calgary, AB T2T 5X6
(403) 244-5625

For tax receipts for donations over $25.00, cheques should be made out to Rights and Democracy with ‘Education Project’ on memo line.

Submitted by Beth Paynter
Fredericton Voice of Women for Peace

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