Strike 2001 will again focus on women's and girls' enormous contribution to every society and every economy. As we all know, women make the world go round, looking after its entire population; but 2/3 of this work is unwaged and unvalued. This lack of economic and social recognition is a fundamental sexist injustice, devaluing women and everything women do, which keeps most of us poor. Poverty is the first violence and lies at the root of other violence against us – most of us don't have the money to escape with our children from violent relationships. We are denied the resources we need for our safety and protection.

And though a few women are now in highly paid managerial positions, the gap between women's wages and men's is 25%-50% – and growing. To address this we have launched an international pay equity petition demanding that the US government stop enabling multinationals to underpay women all over the world.

As we said last year, we are not striking for a few more women to 'make it'. We know better than to pin our hopes on women who urge us to support them, with the promise that when they rise in the economic and political hierarchy our needs will be addressed. Just as people everywhere are accusing governments of not representing us against corporate greed and even of lining their pockets, we are accusing most women in positions of power of behaving just like men with power.

The demands of the Strike have been updated so they more fully represent us as grassroots women and girls from many sectors world-wide – different races, nationalities, ages, incomes, occupations, dis/abilities, sexual preferences . . . not only in towns and cities but in villages, where most of us live. The Strike demands aim to be a framework to help you express the needs specific to your situation. By speaking to the needs of women globally, they unite everyone taking part in the Strike, and bring international power to each local action. Therefore we hope that whatever you highlight or add, you will list ALL the demands.

The leaflet for Strike 2000 was produced in 25 languages* -- a fantastic achievement made possible by help from all over the world. We urgently need translations of the new leaflet. Please contact the London address if you can help.

It is especially hard to spread information in rural areas. But if women in villages and provincial towns send in their news, then women in cities (even in other countries) can circulate them via e-mail or fax. In this way those of us in towns and cities can help those of us in villages who have little or no resources or access to the media.

Please don't forget to send us email addresses wherever possible as this is now the cheapest way to communicate.

Power to the sisters to STOP THE WORLD & CHANGE IT!

Selma James

* Arabic, Basque, Bengali, Brazilian Portuguese, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, French, Gaelic, Gallego, German, Greek, Gujerati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swedish, Tigrignan, Turkish, Urdu