The newsletter on women's issues, local and global,
published independently by Pauline Field

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This Month's Edition is Dedicated to Our Mothers - We All Have One!

NEWS
LEARN ABOUT GLOBAL PROBLEMS
Thanks to Ellen Snortland, Author, Performer, Feminist for letting me know about this:

Visit the website Potentia Media www.potentiamedia.com It is a website that suggests that by combining art, literature and technology we can be more aware of global problems. And from the website some interesting data: 

Women...
Do an estimated 67% of the world's work
Earn 10% of the world's income
Own less than 1% of the world's property

LOWEST GAS PRICES!
Thanks to Gerda Govine, Consultant and Launa Romoff, Artist for the following:

Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gas in your zip code   area.  It's updated every evening.
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx 

HOW FAR WILL YOU GO TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER?
Women on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus created the world's longest chain of bras, linking together nearly 115,000 of the garments covering 111 km (70 miles), organizers said.

The group of Dutch, British and Cypriot organizers took nearly nine hours to create the chain at the harbor in the resort of Paphos, following a year of painstaking planning.  Women from as far afield as Alaska, Brazil, Martinique and Iran contributed bras to the record attempt, aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer.

Organizers are also building up a database which will send out SMS text alerts to women in high-risk groups and schedule online screenings. They have collected 4,000 names so far.

Breast cancer kills about 400,000 women worldwide each year. Doctors say regular screening, particularly for women over 50, is vital for early detection crucial to survival rates.

UPDATE ON THE GRANNIES WHO PROTESTED IN NEW YORK
Thanks to Lana Haddad Lott, Staff to the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women for this:

A few months ago in the Equality Standard I wrote about grandmothers in New York who protested in New York, saying they should be allowed to register for service to go to Iraq rather than their grandchildren.  They were arrested and let go, but to their surprise, they were charged and had to appear in court.  Here's the story, excerpted from an article by Anemona Hartocollis, of what happened in court:

Members of the "Granny Peace Brigade" outside Manhattan Criminal Court.

Eighteen "grannies" who were swept up by the New York City police, handcuffed, loaded into police vans and jailed for four and a half hours were acquitted of charges that they blocked the entrance to the military recruitment center in Times Square when they tried to enlist.

After six days of a nonjury trial, the grandmothers and dozens of their supporters filled a courtroom in Manhattan Criminal Court to hear whether they would be found guilty of two counts of disorderly conduct for refusing to move, which could have put them in jail for 15 days. The women call their group the Granny Peace Brigade and said they wanted to join the armed forces and thus offer their lives for those of younger soldiers in Iraq.

The women - from 59 to 91, many gray-haired, some carrying canes, one legally blind, one with a walker - listened gravely and in obvious suspense as Judge Neil E. Ross delivered a carefully worded 15-minute speech in which he said his verdict was not a referendum on the Police Department, the defendants' antiwar message or, indeed, their very grandmotherhood.

But, he said, there was credible evidence that the grandmothers had left room for people to enter the recruitment center, and that therefore they had been wrongly arrested. He then pronounced them not guilty, concluding. "The defendants are all discharged."

The women, sitting in the jury box at the invitation of the judge, to make it easier for them to see and hear, let out a collective "Oh!" and burst into applause, rushing forward, as quickly as women their age could rush, to hug and kiss their lawyers.

Essentially, Judge Ross had found himself with grandmotherhood on trial in his courtroom. He seemed to acknowledge his dilemma when he said, in his decision, "This case is not a referendum on future actions at the location in question, on police tactics nor the age of the defendants or the content of their message."

When it was over, the grannies seemed ready to do it again. "The decision today says the First Amendment protects you to protest peacefully," Mr. Siegel said, addressing his clients outside the courthouse after the verdict. "So - go do it!"

And the grannies cheered.

MIGRATION - A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM FOR WOMEN
Women's Groups Differ Over Immigration Strategy
By Allison Stevens
Excerpted from Women's E-News

As preparations are under way for strikes, marches and other actions on Monday, May 1st regarding the plight of immigrnts - particularly those here illegally, it seemed appropriate to share some thoughts on this topic. at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the topic of migrants throughout the world is emerging as an issue that cannot be ignored, and particularly as the issues for the women are often different than for the migrant population in general. 

Some women come to the U.S. to work, and others to raise families in a country known for its economic strength. Most face different, and sometimes greater, financial and emotional challenges at home and in the workplace, advocates say.

An undocumented immigrant woman is more likely to find herself in an "exploitative work situation," said Joanne Lin, a staff attorney who focuses on immigrant women at Legal Momentum, a legal advocacy group with offices in New York and Washington, D.C. She is "not getting paid adequately, more likely to be sexually exploited or harassed, and not able to pursue redress."

Lawmakers have been considering immigration legislation that will directly affect these women, who are estimated to number 4 million by the Pew Hispanic Center in Washington, D.C.

Some women's rights activists say immigrant women would be better off if Congress skipped the subject and turned to the next item on their agenda.

The House of Representatives, meanwhile, passed a far more stringent immigration bill last December that did not include a guest worker program and would criminalize unlawful presence. It also would fund construction of a 700-mile security fence along the Mexican border and encourage arrests of people who violate immigration law.

"We are working because we need some people to represent us, the people that nobody can hear, nobody have time to hear," Depaz said.

Senate leaders have not given up on resolving their differences and passing a bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin another round of immigration hearings on Tuesday, and Chair Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he hopes to reach a procedural agreement with Senate leaders that will allow a vote on the issue on the Senate floor.

Differences among women's groups over the timing of the bill reflect a larger divide within the immigrant rights community over whether to seize the moment and push for a compromise or whether to just call the whole thing off and wait until a new Congress is elected to office.

"There's a tension in the movement about whether you go for what you can get or whether you say, 'You know what, not like this'," said Andrea Lee, co-director for development and administration at Mujeres Unidas y Activas, a Latina immigrant rights organization in San Francisco. "Those are questions that people who care about immigrant rights are still trying to answer."

But all agree that immigration is a woman's issue, even if it isn't always portrayed that way in dominant print and broadcast media.

"The stereotypical face of an immigrant is probably a young man probably sending money home" to relatives, said Ingrid Tischer, a spokesperson for ERA, a legal women's rights group in San Francisco. "The demographics are changing," she said.

Indeed, the 5.4 million undocumented male immigrants comprise less than half--or 49 percent--of all undocumented immigrants, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

There are another 4 million undocumented female immigrants, according to Pew. And there are about 1.8 million undocumented child immigrants of both genders, about 16 percent. In addition, there are another 3 million children who are U.S. citizens that are part of families headed by an unauthorized-migrant parent.

Less likely than their male counterparts to work outside the home, women often have less financial independence than men and are often saddled with raising children, some of whom are U.S. citizens because they were born here. Many live in poverty and lack full access to public and government support services that provide aid in the areas of health care, housing, child care, reproductive health and economic development programs.

This lack of equal access to services is especially problematic for immigrant women who suffer sexual harassment, assault and domestic violence.  Women also face difficult emotional terrain when migrating to foreign countries, said Yifat Susskind, a spokesperson for MADRE, an international women's rights organization in New York City.

Whether or not they work outside the home, women in most cultures--especially in Latin America, birthplace to a majority of immigrants in the United States--are responsible for food preparation, child care, health care, education and other aspects of life in their communities. They often lose those roles--and part of their identity--when they move to the United States, Susskind said.

"Women in a different way than men face a kind of unraveling of who they imagine themselves to be," Susskind said. "That kind of loss of identity can be just very, very destabilizing for people."

WRITERS' WORKOUT
OK, you have an inner writer locked in you. What are you doing to release her? Do you have a novelist in there? Do you have a murder mystery writer screaming to emerge? Do you have the next best selling non-fiction author trapped inside, with no apparent "how-to" get the book done in sight?

Perhaps you need to make a commitment to work out your "writerly" self. Maybe you need to put some money where your mouth is. Like physical fitness, writing fitness requires strength, time and discipline. Some people can work out on their own. Most of us need support, something like "Writers' Workout," the gym for writers.

3 Wednesday evenings per month with author and journalist, Ellen Snortland, in Altadena

Tuition is $100 per month for the first year; $75 per month thereafter. Writing wimps need not apply. It takes courage to write! (3 month minimum commitment.)
Contact: Ellen Snortland at: www.snortland.com

EVENTS

May 5 -7, 12 & 13
"Falling Through Haze" by Wendy Montero
Greenway's "Voices Unheard" presents a Fairfax High School  Multi-Media Production Created and performed by Fairfax High School Students. Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles (Fairfax Hi Campus)

Saturday, May 6, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 
Free Tea Tasting to Celebrate Mother's Day
Thanks to Linda Maxwell for telling us about this and for all the work she does with Bliss

Bliss Unlimited is hosting a free tea tasting to celebrate mother's day.  Bliss Unlimited is a teen business academy that teaches business and life skills with a goal of making the world a better place.  Bliss Unlimited is located in the Burbank Town Center on the lower level by Macy's

Sunday, May 7th
Big Sunday
A day of volunteering all across the southland.  If you have never been a part of this you have really missed out.  Starting April 6th you can go online and see the hundreds of opportunities to give back for the day and sign up for one or more of the events.  www.BigSunday.org   See you there!

Sunday, May 7, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Women at Work Spring Benefit
Western Justice Center - Marge Leighton, one of Women At Work's three founders in 1979 will be honored as the "First Lady" of the event. Three honorees will have a few minutes to speak about their longtime relationships with Women At Work.

These speakers and event honorees include:

For more information and reservations call 626-796-6870

Sunday, May 7, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Zonta Club of Pasadena Spring Benefit
Honoring the Pasadena Police Department's work
with victims of domestic violence. For location and further details, email to president@zontapasadena.org

Monday, May 8th  6:30 p.m.
Glendale Commission on the Status of Women
If you live in Glendale, show your support for this Commission that is working hard to be the voice of all women in Glendale.  Go to the meeting.  Shake the hands of the Commissioners and tell them "Thank You" for giving of their time and doing this for YOU.

City Hall, Council Chambers, 613 E Broadway.  Parking entrance on Wilson.  For more information call Lana Haddad Lott at 818-548-4844 

And please take the time to complete their online survey:

 This quick on-line survey takes only about 15 - 20 minutes (depending on how fast you type and click!) and the data collected will be included in the upcoming Strategic Plan of the Commission's evaluation portion.  The CSW seeks to continually improve and more specifically address our community's needs through its activities and wants to hear from you!

Please note:  your response is confidential, but not anonymous. 

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY:  http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/CSW_Community_Feedback_Survey2.asp

Thank you very much for your time !

Monday, May 8, 6:00 - 9:00
Building Your Business - More Than Just Sales
California Women Business Owners presents Pauline Field who will cover the topic of how to grow your business.

How do you measure the success of your business? By sales? Bottom line profitability? How you feel about it? What do you measure in your business? How do you measure intangibles? You can't get "there" if you don't know where "here" is and where "there" is. Come get answers to your questions and get a roadmap of how to give your business a boost. For more information and reservations email jessicafender@kw.com

Wednesday, May 10, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
An Evening in Tuscany
Thanks to Carolyn Young for letting us know about this:
Greater Glendale Council on Aging Foundation presents A taste of Italian Food at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale. A fundraiser mixer on behalf of Glendale's Older Adults. $30 in advance. RSVP to GGCOA, Carolyn Young, 3413 Pacific Avenue, Burbank CA 91505. For more information: 818-953-4445

Saturday, May 13, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
United Nations Association - Open House
The United Nations Association is having an open house for members and the community that will take place at our new office location. There will be wine and cheese and exhibits of our latest work and a preview of events to come.
The event is free at the Western Justice Center at 55 South Grand Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105.  For more information call Executive Director Sherry Simpson-Dean at 626 449-1795 or email her at sherry @unapasadena.org.

Saturday, May 13, 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. 
Apparel Sale 50-90% Off
Thanks to Ginny Hatfield for this:
To benefit the HOPE Fund of Toluca Lake United Methodist Church to help them get out of the red.  4301 Cahuenga Blvd, Toluca Lake. For more Info call: 818-985-1579

Sunday, May 14 th is Mother's Day
How will you honor your mother?

Monday, May 22, 2006 from 6-9 p.m.
Yvonne C. Benson, Roasted
Greater Pasadena Aid Fund and AIDS Service Center Celebrity Roast ~ An evening filled with laughter, jest, entertainment, Silent Auction, and great food. Twin Palms Restaurant, 101 W Green St, Pasadena. Country-Western Attire $75 donation to benefit the Greater Pasadena Area Foundation and AIDS Service Center

Tickets: Checks to GPAF: 3579 E. Foothill Blvd, PMB 541 . Pasadena, Ca. 91107 . (626) 795.7637

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Your best issue yet (and not just because my art show is mentioned!). I loved reading Ellen's essay, and to see a woman celebrated at the head always is great, too. Your new layout is clean and well designed. I will add Jamaica's Ms. Simpson to my celebrated women list on my mediabench website! - and, I will remember to send you my subscription payment (the whole $12 as I have been reading all year). Thank you for your wonderful effort with the Equality Standard! 
- Terry Bailey, Artist, Technology Guru, Musician

FINAL WORDS
Thanks to Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Award-winning Author for this quote from TIME:

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