Book Reviews: Julia Cooke, Come Fly The World, The Jet-Age Story of the Women of Pan Am, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021.
Women’s History Month
Women’s March 4 Women Rally Canberra 15 March
Thousands of people, predominantly women, but with plenty of men, children and dogs also in attendance, rallied at Parliament House, Canberra. The sun was shining, but my feeling is that the thousands would have been there in the rain. After all, Canberrans came out in droves, despite the snow, to Peoples Walks For Reconciliation in 2000. The anger about inequality is an important driver of rallying Canberrans, and today that anger, despair, demand for change, refusal to be fobbed off with meetings behind closed doors with people who consider themselves too important to appear where it would be normal to do so became a huge, peaceful rally for women.
I mention the dogs, not only because they make a cheerful presence, but because one well informed fluffy became most indignant when the Coalition and its lack of concern was noted. The barking created amusement in the corner where it made its views known. But, this was short lived while noted. Some canines, it seems, have a better sense of responsibility than some parliamentarians alas.
Welcome to Country, and acknowledgement of the Ngunnawal People, were an important part of the activities. And, joy, Helen Reddy’s I Am Woman was sung. Lisa Wilkinson’s speech was accompanied by the appearance of Brittany Higgins who was greeted uproariously. As was her speech: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-15/brittany-higgins-speech-womens-march-parliament-house-canberra/13248908?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_content=mail&utm_campaign=abc_news_web
Of course, there were times that speakers could not be heard particularly well, perhaps some might have spoken a little too long, maybe the whole event could have been shorter? Who really cares? The thousands there knew that they were in the presence of people who want to change the way in which victims of rape and sexual abuse are treated; want to change working conditions so that no-one can be sexually exploited; want justice, real justice, to be served. They knew that they want to do everything that the speakers encouraged us to think about; they knew the gist of the speeches, even if a word or two was lost; they listened because the women who spoke deserved to be heard. If some left before the end, they went with more knowledge, more enthusiasm for change and, more optimism that, as the most distinctive sign I saw said:
Covid 19 Vaccinations are starting in Canberra, but we shall still be social distancing, hand sanitising in shops and restaurants, checking in with the Check in CBR app, and wearing masks when appropriate (we have no community transmission, so they are not mandatory).
Democrats Abroad posts include the following recognition of Women’s History Month
Deb Haaland has been confirmed as Secretary of the Interior. Haaland is one of the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress and is now the first ever native American cabinet member! Deb Haaland is expected to reverse many of the negative environmental regulations put in place by her predecessor, including reinstating wildlife conservation rules, expanding the use of wind and solar power on public lands and waters, and implementing policies to fight climate change.
Robin's Room 