One Billion Rising!!

There is a staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women will have been raped, beaten, assaulted, and/or abused in her lifetime. In a world that's roughly 7 billion people in the world, half of which are women, that number amounts to one billion women worldwide....

How does a person feel that's acceptable?!?

How does a person not want to change that?!?

I can't imagine not wanting to do something about it, which is why I'm a member of my local V-Day organization and taking part in the worldwide campaign known as ONE BILLION RISING on February 14, 2013!

As an aspiring community psychologist, I'm taught to think of myself as change agent in the world, and that by participating in grassroots events that tend to catch on (like Eve Ensler's V-Day campaign), I can essentially help change the world. That's what OBR is all about. We are dancing to show the world that women are not meant to be afraid and that we are rising above the limitations put on us.

This movement isn't just about women, though... There are men rising, too! In fact, his Holiness, the Dalai Lama is rising! And so are world leaders. That's pretty epic. At last count 196 countries out of the approximately 250 recognized countries in the world have a rising event going on.... That's more than half! Talk about a global movement for social change!!

If you feel as strongly as I do about this topic,  I suggest you go to the ONE BILLION RISING website, and find your nearest OBR event. If there isn't one, still do your part! "Dance! Strike! Rise!" is the rally cry for this event.

Rising means taking time on February 14 (yes, I know it's Valentine's Day, that's the point) and standing wherever you are for a minute of silence and reverence for those who have passed as a result of rape, abuse, and assault.

Striking means that you make some kind of public stance in your community, whether it's a flash mob, or marching while holding signs and making noise (that's what we're doing) to bring awareness to the cause.

And then there is the dancing. Alot of the theme of OBR is based around dancing and how it is a revolution for women all over the world, which brings to mind one of my favorite movie quotes -
"A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having," ~ V for Vendetta

And it is the truth. Dancing is a significant part of community, of expression, and of joy and pain. It encompasses emotions that are expressed through body movement and music and makes them a part of visual art.....

So... if you're not doing anything this year for Valentine's Day, or if you are really wanting to show your significant other how much you value him/her and his/her gender as well as social justice and gender equity, take part in the V-Day One Billion Rising campaign. It will be powerful, it will be cathartic.... It will change the world!

PS - If you are in northern Massachusetts/southern New Hampshire and wish to join us for our event check out our EVENT INFO page.