Category Archives: Happenings / Events

2011 Prochoice Gathering

From the facebook event page:

Action for Abortion Rights Wellington warmly invites all those interested in fighting for reproductive rights to a national gathering of pro-choice organisers and activists to change. It will take place in Wellington, weekend of March 12-13, 9 a.m – 5 p.m. This is an opportunity for individuals and groups to share resources and ideas and to plan for future.

This gathering is for those who want to be part of planning and organising a campaign to change New Zealand abortion laws and improve women in New Zealand’s access to abortion and reproductive health in other ways.

The weekend will involve a series of facilitated workshops/discussions and some guest speakers. We are still setting the programme and you’re welcome to contribute. We recognise that pro-choice groups and individuals differ in priorities and strategy. Our hope is that a rich variety of perspectives will be presented and respected at this event.

The event is open to pro-choice people of all ages and political standpoints. We regret the need to ask all registrants to respect that this is a pro-choice event and is only open to those who believe that pregnant individuals are the right people to make decisions about their pregnancies.

About us: Action for Abortion Rights is a group at Victoria University of Wellington. We think that the outcome of a pregnancy should be determined by the person who carries it. Our goals include legalised abortion, vastly improved abortion access including access to/ awareness of medical abortion, and the destigmatisation of abortion.

Hoping to see you there. Please contact us at actionforabortionrights@gmail.com if you have any questions.

La Socialista

Take Back the Night Auckland Saturday November 1

I thought you would be interested in this upcoming event.  I have participated in many Take Back the Nights in Australia and Canada and am looking forward to this one – what a great event!

Anita.

 

Tena koutou, 

 

We’re writing to let you know about Take Back the Night, which will be held this year in Auckland on Saturday, November 1st.  There will be a rally (with food and speakers) at Aotea Square in Auckland City at 7pm, followed by a march to Basque Park. 

 

Take Back the Night is a long-running international event that asserts women’s right to feel safe at night and to live in a world without rape and violence. It is an event that raises awareness of and bears witness to the violent crimes perpetrated against women, children, transgendered, and intersexed persons everywhere. It is also an empowering opportunity for women to recognise their shared experiences and unite in the struggle for a world without violence.

From the street to the home, in many spaces women, transgendered and intersexed persons are harassed and subject to many different forms of abuse. These include rape and physical violence, the pressure to conform to men’s expectations, and in some cases, murder – on average a woman in Aotearoa is killed by her (ex-)partner every six weeks.  
By marching, we are powerfully standing together to let the world know that abuse against women, children, transgender, and intersex people is unacceptable, and that all should be allowed to live their lives without fear.
 

 

All women, children, transgendered, takaatapui, fafafine, and intersexed persons are invited to join us in ‘Taking Back the Night’. We ask men to support Take Back the Night by respecting our need to organise independently against violence and to use this time to ask how they can best fight rape and violence. 
To present a strong message it would be fantastic if we could get a big number of marchers. Please pass this email on to interested persons, tell your friends, whanau, colleagues and neighbours, and print out the attached poster. We look forward to seeing you at Aotea Square on November 1st. 
Please email us if you require any further information. 

 

Standing united,
Auckland Take Back the Night Working Group.

 

Human Rights Commission Event, 3 December 2007

HRC Flyer

One week away, on Monday 3 December – in the middle of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence which run from 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to 10 December, Human Rights Day – a special early evening “Speakers’ Forum” will be hosted by Human Rights Commission.

Dr Neville Robertson and Assoc. Professor Ruth Busch, Waikato University will discuss:
“Living at the Cutting Edge: Women’s experiences of protection orders”

The Human Rights Commission invite you to join them on
Monday the 3rd of December, 5.45pm
at the Human Rights Commission,
Level 10, Tower Centre, 45 Queen St Auckland

Please RSVP to Eileen Burton, eileenb@hrc.co.nz or 09 306 2655. Light refreshments will be provided.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, this research project on women’s experiences of protection orders exposes many of the barriers Maori, Pakeha, Pasifika and other women face in protecting themselves and their children from domestic violence. The research pays particular attention to police and judicial responses to domestic violence but also examines the role of social services, family and whanau, immigration authorities, and ethnic and religious communities.

This seminar, in which Neville and Ruth will be highlighting some of the key findings, is aimed at providing Auckland members of the Human Rights Network and any interested people from their own extensive networks, with the opportunity to discuss the findings and ask questions.

Flyer is attached: please circulate widely.

Tania

An evening with Louise Nicholas

AN EVENING WITH LOUISE NICHOLAS

Celebrate Louise’s courage, her newly published book LOUISE NICHOLAS: MY
STORY,
and the changes she is bringing about in NZ society.
Louise will be speaking on
TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER 8pm
Dorothy Winstone Theatre, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, Howe St, off K’ Rd
Tickets $20 waged, $15.00 unwaged from THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP, 105 Ponsonby
Rd.
Visa & Mastercard bookings accepted by phone (09)3764399, email
books@womensbookshop.co.nz
or website www.womensbookshop.co.nz
A donation from ticket sales will be made to Rape Crisis and to the Auckland
Sexual Abuse Help Foundation

Love Your Body Day, Aotea Square, October 17

The Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN) brings you Love Your Body Day (October 17th)

In the current climate there are very few opportunities to celebrate and appreciate our bodies as they are and to acknowledge the beauty and natural diversity of all body shapes and sizes. Research demonstrates that body satisfaction is a key determinant in healthy self esteem and self worth. Combined with positive body image, body satisfaction helps to protect against the development of eating difficulties.

Celebrating LYBD on October 17th 2007 is a positive, engaging and proactive way to raise awareness of these issues and to promote body satisfaction for all regardless of size and shape.

Help EDEN to create debate and awareness, promote body satisfaction and raise funds for our services for eating difficulties by buying and wearing a Love Your Body Day tshirt. Together we can make a stand against stereotypical images of beauty, celebrate body diversity and extend services for those needing support.

Buy a tshirt now http://www.productville.co.nz/shop/index.php?cPath=97_148

Join us in Aotea Square on Love Your Body Day (Oct 17th) to contribute to our ‘real beauty’ mural. Bring your creativity and make your mark. Wear your LYBD tee to be in to win a spot prize. To find out more about this celebration event visit www.eden.org.nz regularly for updates.

Why Make Your Dreams Weight?

Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN)
www.eden.org.nz
1 Garnet Road, Westmere
PO Box 78 005
Auckland 1245
New Zealand
Ph: +64 9 3789039 Fax: +64 9 3789393

Celebrate Love Your Body Day and buy a gorgeous LYBD tshirt. Go to www.eden.org.nz to find out more.

Angela A. Thomas' blog

Angela Thomas, aka Anya Ixchel, is a lecturer in English Education from the University of Sydney. Have a look at her blog (now added to our blogroll) which has some really interesting posts on feminism and digital cultures / virtual worlds. She will also be presenting a seminar in Second Life entitled ‘No More Business Suits Please’. The blurb sounds fascinating:

Second Life offers a unique opportunity to refashion one’s self and to play with fictional identities. Yet many of us who work inside Second Life feel trapped in our offline identity roles and conform to traditional discourses of femininity, masculinity, appearance, beauty and fashion. Professionals wear business suits, educators cry out for more modest clothing, and artists wear funky coloured skins. In some contexts, people who resist these discourses are discriminated against. This session explores how we might be able to leverage one of the greatest affordances of Second Life—the avatar—for personal, community and professional agendas.

posted by Charlie