African women sweep the boards for Peace

[Spectabilis]

A great acknowledgement for three women for their work on non-violent struggle.



Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected female president. Since her inauguration in 2006, she has contributed to securing peace in Liberia, to promoting economic and social development, and to strengthening the position of women.

Leymah Gbowee mobilized and organized women across ethnic and religious dividing lines to bring an end to the long war in Liberia, and to ensure women’s participation in elections. She has since worked to enhance the influence of women in West Africa during and after war.

In the most trying circumstances, both before and during the “Arab spring”, Tawakkul Karman has played a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen.

It is the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s hope that the prize to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman will help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realise the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent.



http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2011/press.html#

[fluffybiscuits]

It is also a great decision as it brings their causes to international attention something which a lot of people wouild have ignored . Sirleaf has done great work in Liberia especially for womens rights and I had not heard of the other two before they were awared . Fair play to all :)

[Sam Lord]

The Nobel Peace prize is so tarnished, debased and discredited that any self respecting person would simply refuse it.

I actually thought you had to be a mass murderer to win it ...

[TotalMayhem]

I actually thought you had to be a mass murderer to win it ...

Huge disappointment for Sarko and Cameron after their heroic struggle to protect the Libyans...

[Griska]

The Nobel Peace prize is so tarnished, debased and discredited that any self respecting person would simply refuse it.

I actually thought you had to be a mass murderer to win it ...

Yes.
That's certainly how it seemed to be heading.

[C. Flower]

Yes, there were some thanks given by Egyptian women activists this evening that they did not get it.

:)

I don't get the gender-themed approach to peace. What is that about ?

[Spectabilis]

Yes, there were some thanks given by Egyptian women activists this evening that they did not get it.

:)

I don't get the gender-themed approach to peace. What is that about ?

You dont? I am amazed given your wide reading and honourable involvement in the politics of North Africa. In fact I am astonished.

I am also dumbfounded by the reaction on here to people honoured for achieving revoolutionary change through non-violent means. A less cynical view might be that the Nobel committee has decided to rescue this award from the warmongers and the hatemerchants through this decision. But fine go ahead, and ridicule three fine African women, about whom most of you seem to know nothing.

[Sam Lord]

But fine go ahead, and ridicule three fine African women, about whom most of you seem to know nothing.

Speaking for myself, I did not comment on the women about whom I know nothing as you say. I have no problem, however, commenting on the Nobel committee and what their "peace" prize has come to stand for. It is fair comment imo.

[C. Flower]

You dont? I am amazed given your wide reading and honourable involvement in the politics of North Africa. In fact I am astonished.

I am also dumbfounded by the reaction on here to people honoured for achieving revoolutionary change through non-violent means. A less cynical view might be that the Nobel committee has decided to rescue this award from the warmongers and the hatemerchants through this decision. But fine go ahead, and ridicule three fine African women, about whom most of you seem to know nothing.

The award is what I feel jaundiced about, not the women, who I have not ridiculed in any way. I feel it's important that women fight their corner, as women, but I don't feel that gender is an issue that wars are being fought over, or that being a woman is a key to bringing about peace. So I question the motives of the Committee, particularly given its track record. I fear it is a cute move to refurbish the dimmed prestige of the award and that the reputation of the recipients is being used to benefit the award, rather than the other way around.

Also, in times of social crisis, there is a track record of establishments using feminism to distract from the core issue, which at the moment, for most people, is economic survival, and having any kind of a secure future.

I'm very much in favour of men and women taking a stand together to oppose warmongering and exploitation, which go hand in hand and to first and foremost to use peaceful, mass organisation to do it. I'm also in favour of self-defence, when peaceful mass movements come under attack.

[Apjp]

Speaking for myself, I did not comment on the women about whom I know nothing as you say. I have no problem, however, commenting on the Nobel committee and what their "peace" prize has come to stand for. It is fair comment imo.

Good argument. Obama getting that award was the lowest of the lows. The guy is Goldman Sachs Medvedev and Yeltsin rolled into 1.

[Spectabilis]

Fair comment indeed. The Obama award made us all question the Nobel Committee, not to mention earlier recipients.

But at least let us evaluate this year's decision in terms of the struggles in Africa and in particular the work of women, whose history in peace movements goes back to the 19th century ( and possibly before). Let's not allow cynicism to prevent us from evaluating this particular award to these particular recipients for their particular achievements.

And for heaven's sakes let's not allow some overweening ideology from letting us see that ther is a gender dimension to struggle and peace. In wanting to see that some movements are genuinely mass movements, across class and age and caste and even ideology, some would like to obliterate the gender dimension. It is there. It matters. It makes a difference.

[C. Flower]

Fair comment indeed. The Obama award made us all question the Nobel Committee, not to mention earlier recipients.

But at least let us evaluate this year's decision in terms of the struggles in Africa and in particular the work of women, whose history in peace movements goes back to the 19th century ( and possibly before). Let's not allow cynicism to prevent us from evaluating this particular award to these particular recipients for their particular achievements.

And for heaven's sakes let's not allow some overweening ideology from letting us see that ther is a gender dimension to struggle and peace. In wanting to see that some movements are genuinely mass movements, across class and age and caste and even ideology, some would like to obliterate the gender dimension. It is there. It matters. It makes a difference.

One thing I've observed over history and at first hand is that when the going gets tough, women are accepted into the front line with men, no bother and relations become exceptionally equal. Once the battle is over, and peace comes, women are pushed back. It happened here in Ireland and it happened to some extent in Egypt.

[Spectabilis]

Also, in times of social crisis, there is a track record of establishments using feminism to distract from the core issue,


There is also a record of establishments defining 'core issues' in such a way as to exclude women.
Suffrage and nationalism are just two about which we in Ireland we have more than enough documentation. When was feminism part of the establishments you refer to? You might as well argue that the working class have been used by establishments to distract from core issues of social justice.

[C. Flower]

There is also a record of establishments defining 'core issues' in such a way as to exclude women.
Suffrage and nationalism are just two about which we in Ireland we have more than enough documentation. When was feminism part of the establishments you refer to? You might as well argue that the working class have been used by establishments to distract from core issues of social justice.

Feminism was to some extent used by the establishment in the 60s and 70s, as was race, to distract from the movement for profound revolutionary change. Reforms could be absorbed by the system, to a limited extent, without any permanent alteration of social relations.

Economic survival is the core issue for the millions of women who lack the basics of adequate diet, housing, health and education for themselves and their children.

[Griska]

Feminism was to some extent used by the establishment in the 60s and 70s, as was race, to distract from the movement for profound revolutionary change. Reforms could be absorbed by the system, to a limited extent, without any permanent alteration of social relations.

Economic survival is the core issue for the millions of women who lack the basics of adequate diet, housing, health and education for themselves and their children.

Indeed. And lower pay, less opportunities and a patriarchal society contributes to women finding this issue harder to address.

[C. Flower]

Indeed. And lower pay, less opportunities and a patriarchal society contributes to women finding this issue harder to address.

And why women often take the lead in land movements, tenants organisation, community organisation.