Even Ensler’s V-DAY is Taking Action !!!

UPDATE: 142 Countries and RISING! In February we launched ONE BILLION RISING and in just a little over three months the campaign has spread to 142 countries around the world. Women and men from Mali to Afghanistan, Rwanda to Taiwan have pledged to STRIKE, DANCE and RISE on February 14th, 2013. We’ve seen tens of thousands of new activists come on board. We’ve seen V-Day benefit events in the UK and Australia, Italy and South Africa, and in over 50 other countries end with audiences standing together to show the world our collective strength. The numbers are unprecedented, and the numbers are growing. Women and men are committed and excited, as one V-Day Portsmouth activist told us: “Many audience members who came laughed with me, cried with me, shared their stories with me, and in doing so promised to continue the fight…if we can reach women on a local level, then we can reach them on a global level. Soon enough the women touched by this production will join the One Billion Rising that will work toward ending domestic and sexual violence in the future.” Among the many groups and individuals joining this effort are V-Day beneficiary organizations and a team of regional coordinators – who have just signed up to lead the way in their regions. Here’s what some had to say: “Love this idea and please count our program as a partner in this innovative and beautiful effort to end violence against women and girls across the globe.” – Collaborative Response to Violence Project Safe Place, Chico, CA “Please do list us on your website. Thank you so much for all the great work you do, it is very heartening to know we’re not trying to do this alone.” – Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Coventry, UK “Desde Guatemala, envío un saludo y comparto la emoción por esta oportunidad para difundir el Activismo Mundial que nos permita ponernos de Pie y Erradicar la Violencia en Contra de Mujeres y Niñas.” – Guatemala Regional Coordinator Marsha Pamela Lopez “I am happy to meet you all and be part of this wonderous gathering of people and energy. I look forward to passing through that window and changing the world with all of you.” – South Africa Regional Coordinator Gillian Schutte We hope you are as inspired as we are by the scope this campaign is taking. One billion is large number and we need all of you. If you haven’t signed up yet, if you haven’t spread this message, please take a moment to do so now here > Now is the moment that we must gather, harness our collective energy, and escalate towards this celebration. SIGN UP > SHARE the campaign with your network > VAWA TAKE ACTION: U.S. Activists Thank Your Representatives & Tell Congress to Send A Strong VAWA to the President The United States House of Representatives bill 4970, or the “Adams Bill” is an unacceptable version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that imposes new reporting restrictions on immigrant survivors of violence as well as Native American women, communities of color, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender survivors. Although the bill passed in the Senate 68-31, it narrowly lost in the House 222-205. Now is the time to urge Congress to send the President a strong, bipartisan VAWA reauthorization bill that protects ALL survivors. In the coming weeks the House and Senate will reconcile the bill in the conference process where we can all push to ensure that the vote will more closely reflect S. 1925, the version of VAWA that the Senate passed which includes funding for services to previously underserved populations. To do this it’s important to thank those who stood for and with survivors of violence, and express disappointment in those who did not. TAKE ACTION: Contact your Senators and Representatives by phone, email or visit in-person at the DC or District Office. For contact info, as well as sample letters and phone scripts check out the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women VAWA page at http://4vawa.org/