PRESS RELEASE from WOMEN IN MEDIA

Women in Media & Entertainment: “The Vision to Strike for women‘s independent voice reclaiming military spending, for caring, feeding, healing, learning. We must reclaim our land and our planet and stop the theft (via privatization) of water, seeds and genes.” They will do “the great Hop, Step ‘n Lep through the Town on our flying broomsticks, with Rhythms from the Heart/h, and fusion of music from different countries to celebrate”.

Join in two women’s events:

Bridget’s day, 01 Feb 2002
International Women’s day, 08 March 2002,
Third Global Women’s strike

Invest in caring not killing!

Bridget’s day
Women’s visit to Aras An Uachtarain
We will make a presentation to Mary McAleese, as president of Ireland, representative of all the people , especially the women of Ireland. The presentation will consist of-

A brideog: symbol of women as the first carers, not only of humans but of the life of the planet
A sword: recalling the sword which Bridget took from her father to be sold for the benefit of the poor, she was the first unilateral disarmer
A cloak: representing Bridget’s protection of all those in need, her healing and educational centres.

On 8^th March 2000 David Norris put a motion forward in the senate to make Bridget’s day a public paid holiday in recognition of women’s unpaid work and its contribution to the wealth and health of our society. This was supported in principle by all the political parties.

For more info email margaretta@eircom.net or phone 091-565430

International Women’s Day Third Global women’s strike
We will hold a 10 hour vigil (11am-9pm) outside St. Nicholas’s Church, Market Place, Galway, which we believe to be a particularly appropriate place because it is the ancient religious and social centre of Galway, associated with the old market where women traditionally have gathered together. We envisage the event as a general gathering of women sharing our creative expression, poetry, music etc, as well as paying respect to the dead who are buried in the churchyard, and remembering the great contribution to Irish society of our fore-mother’s caring work through so many generations. To endorse, support and help the strike, contactWIME/GWS at 10, St. Bridget’s place lower, Galway. Phone 091-565430 or email margaretta@eircom.net.

Why Strike?
WOMEN & GIRLS DO 2/3 or THE WORLDS WORK FOR
5% OF THE INCOME. MOST OF THIS WORK IS
UNWAGED.

Third Women's Global Strike 2002
Ireland

Friday 8th March 02, International Women's Day

Some demands: Add Yours!

Full Pension! education/ training rights for carers and for women who work in the home full-time; full Education I Training Access for Women Pensioners.
Medical Cards for all Women and Children.
Breastfeeding allowance.
End isolation caused by poor public transport.
Hold a referendum to safeguard Ireland's neutrality.
End military use of Ireland's airports and airspace.
End Ireland's involvement in the arms trade.

Turn the minefields of Welfare into meadows of Social Harmony:-

Dependent Child Allowance should be increased to correspond with other Social Welfare Benefits.
Rent ReliefCeiling (£25: f31.74) should be increased in relation to actual house rents/ mortgages and also in relation to Social Welfare increases.
Increase credit on Social Welfare Allowance for earnings that lone parents can earn before deductions are made from entitlements.
Abolish discretionary powers of Community Welfare Officers.
Abolish dispersal programme for asylum -seekers. Abolish Supplementary Welfare Direct Provision. Allowance for asylum - seekers and replace with frill Economic/ Social I Educational Rights.
No more deportations of asylum - seekers.

MARK THE DAY OF GLOBAL STRIKE WITH SOME ACT OR STATEMENT, NO MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL!