Tuesday, 1 April 2008

That is why we are still in nineteenth century

The US elections this time more than ever focus our attention as they refer us to a wellknown ancient "querelle".
In XIXth century, the condition of women was claimed as for the slaves, women were a political issue whom vastness and importance affects all the nation, becoming a fondamental issue for the entire US society as the slaves issue as well, this was for Mary Wollstonecraft, for Jhon Stuart Mill as for William Thompson.
Nowadays we are at the same point, we assist to an electoral match where there is a man who is a symbol of social redemption for those slaves mentioned in the past and who had progress and a woman symbol of other significances and fights.
The true is that we will attend to an epochal changing in the same way but as the black people issues were noted, disclosed and supported, from women themselves, more clearly from the beginning, the issue of women was dealt on a secondary level and overshadowed by the first one. As racism is still alive is already present a common, shared condemns of this phenomenon, otherwise the anti-feminism is still more hidden, sly and got more detrimental cultural features which concerns more people because if is true that many will be the moral beneficiaries seeing at the White House an ancestor of those slaves came without rights or dignity recognized, it is already true that a woman presence would gratified twice that person as well because black women are usually double affected, a time because they are black, twice because they are women.
If is it true that slaves came without rights or dignity, woman (also the white one) had suffered for centuries before that exclusion from human race which precluded her dignity, rationality and for consequence equal rights but not only civil, political or legal rights but human rights as well.
One started with a fight for civil acknowledgement of one part and then from this it has developped a new, different asserting also for the other part, they divided but only for meeting again two centuries after struggling for a power which will be a symbol of a compleate redemption. That is why after two centuries we are still in nineteenth century where from the slaves problem born the feminism mouvement for civil women rights and which are nowadays contending an important position for the redemption of both. Again after two centuries we are still in front of the two issues which see in their more important symbol of representation not an end but a further unknown propulsive beginning.

Friday, 7 March 2008

Not only Mimosa



For the women's day is coming out on cinemas a documentary by Alina Marazzi about the italian 60's and 70's feminist mouvement..

In Italy each day we hear about violence, frustration of women, every day one can find such a thing on newspapers or in tv. The violence against women is really spread out in Italy and becoming worrying day by day, in 2005 a murder every 4 happens at home, 70% of murdered are women. This movie is about our history because everyday life recalls us how difficult is to be a woman, as the director says: "In Italy, also on the street, one can't forget, even for a while, that you are a woman before be a person". In this documentary one can see the fight of that period for issues even nowadays on the italian agenda, we can see how the italian feminist mouvement has succeeded for all us but also how much is again to do.
"We want roses too" title due to the american workers of the XX century who stroke for bread but also for roses meaning a better quality of lifestyle for women and as the director says: "Maybe feminism has no urgency nowadays but there is again a lots of things to do, it happened a change in social costumes that we assume...maybe the necessary, the bread, is acquired but women fought also for a world in which there would be space for the poetry of roses and this is a current battle more than ever."


Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Tina Lagostena Bassi the lawyer of women

On 4th March is dead, after a long illness, Augusta (Tina) Lagostena Bassi, a great woman of law who had always fought for italian women's rights; she was born in Milan on 2th March 1926.
She started her career as a professor of penal Law at the University of Genoa, then moved to the University of Parma.
From 1973 to 1975 she worked for Reformation Bureau of the Italian Justice Minister and represented Italy at Praga's 1983 World Peace Meeting.
She started to defend women from stalking and sexual violence and first in Italy during her work has used cruel words, during processes, to describe violence trying to shocking the italian society from the late 70's which always was reticent to women violence, to breaking silence among this stuff.
She took the defence of the survivor Donatella Colasanti, from the Massacre of Circeo (1975) where three guys invited two adolescents girls, known only same days before in a pub, to a party in ones of thier house at Circeo, near Rome. But no party was there, the two girls were tortured, violented and massacred for one day and one night. One of the slavedriver during the fact came back to Rome for not miss his family lunch, then came back to Circeo to continue the massacre: the two girls were druged, beaten and then, belived dead, putted in the three boys' car who went to Rome in a pub to drink something, but only one girl survived and from the luggage of the car could complain and so some citizens could call the police.

During the process, that shocked Italy for his violence due not only to misogen but also to social racism, the two girls in fact were from a media social class instead of the three boys who were from an aristocratic social class, Tina Lagostena could be able to defend the survivor girl Donatella saying she represented all women and Justice would be necesary not for revenge but for Justice itself.
She broke the cliché of women who cause the violence and that one which represent good girls staying at house, so bad girls are those who just want fun and friendship, for the first time she used the word "rape" in an italian Court.
At the end of the process she could reach to have a sentence of condemnation which transform italian value refered to women, thanks to her and her new woman style of making lawyer in a men's place as a Court.

With other women, engaged for women's rights, based, on 1988, the Pink Phone (Telefono Rosa) an association which gives free services to women in difficulty as legal support or psychological services or medical visits, this association remains the most important association in Italy for violented women also nowadays.

She has been the President of the National Gender Opportunities Commission of the Consiglio dei Ministri (the institution which coordinates the italian government) and member of the UE Gender Commission.

She was the italian Chief of the delegation at the Pechino's UN Conference for women's rights, on 1994.

She wrote also the important italian law for the sexual violence against women of the 1996 which for the first time established the civil principle that sexual abuse is a crime against a person and no more against public moral as first 1996 again in Italy was.

In 2003 she was one of the promoter for the change of the italian constitutional article number 51 which now establishes the equality for men and women in society with equal opportunities for both sex in public and private market.

From her book named "The lawyer of women" , on 1997, the public italian television made a tv-movie with the same title and starring by the most important italian actress.


In this video we see Tina during a process, of the '70s, defending a girl named Fiorella raped by four men, she knew, and who were told guilty by the Italian law even if in a derisory way!.

Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Today is the day that can change the world...

100 Reasons to support Hillary:

Reason #1 to support Hillary:In Arkansas she was instrumental in straightening out their school system - taking it from one of the worst systems to a role model used by other troubled schools on how to improve public education.
Reason #2 to support Hillary:In 2006, she led the fight to kill the anti-gay Republican constitutional amendment that for the first time would have added laws to the Constitution that would INCREASE discrimination.
Reason #3 to support Hillary:After being pummeled by the public for trying to pass Universal Health care while she was First Lady, she dusted herself off and in 1997, led a federal effort that provided insurance support for children whose parents were unable to provide them with health coverage.
Reason #4 to Support Hillary:She was able to secure a raise in research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma at the National Institutes of Health.
Reason #5 to Support Hillary:She initiated the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
Reason #6 to Support Hillary:She's authored a great deal of legislation during her years on the Armed Services Committee that has passed regarding increased and improved benefits for our returning Iraq veterans.
Reason #7 to Support Hillary:She was one of the key Senators who fought to give our military badly needed raises and increase in benefits. For being such flag wavers, it was the Republicans and Bush who resisted these attempts to show our military how much we value and appreciate them.
Reason #8 to Support Hillary:Since 1974 she has been fighting for a woman's right to choose.
Reason #9 to Support Hillary:She is fighting to lift the ban on stem cell research to cure devastating diseases.
Reason #10 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Reason #11 to Support Hillary:Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.(Dec 2003)
Reason #12 to Support Hillary:Vows to protect next generation by paying off national debt.
Reason #13 to Support Hillary:Fought in Congress to "Help people facing foreclosure; don't just bail-out banks." (Aug 2007)
Reason #14 to Support Hillary:In 1962 she met MLK Jr. preaching a sermon in Chicago and learned from him the importance of equal rights for all.
Reason #15 for Supporting Hillary:In 1965 she brought black classmates to her until-then all-white church.
Reason #16 to Support Hillary:Since 1995 has criticized China's human rights abuses.
Reason #17 to Support Hillary:IN 1988 Instituted gender diversity Report Card within the American Bar Association, which sets standards for lawyers in the U.S.
Reason #18 to Support Hillary:In 1972 worked as a lawyer suing white-only schools, working with Marian Wright Edelman on enforcing school desegregation in the South.
Reason #19 to Support Hillary:In October, 2000 she said it's not enough for America just to apologize for slavery and move on; we need to concentrate on civil rights now.
Reason #20 to Support Hillary:Has been pushing for a "Privacy Bill of Rights" for all Americans since 2000.
Reason #21 to support Hillary:Will end don't ask, don't tell in the military, "Gay soldiers need to shoot straight, not be straight." November 2003.
Reason #22 to Support Hillary:Supports civil unions, with full equality of federal benefits.
Reason #23 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on adding violent crimes based on victim's sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes.
Reason #24 to support Hillary:Rated 96% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.
Reason #25 to support Hillary:Freedom of Speech: Voted NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration.
Reason #26 to Support Hillary: [A.K.A "Whoopi Goldberg's reason to support Hillary"]Voted YES on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
Reason #27 to Support Hillary:Voted more funding and stricter sentencing for prosecution of hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
Reason #28 to Support Hillary:Voted to Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)
Reason #29 to Support Hillary:Although she was in college during the height of the drug culture in the late 1960s, she was devoted to work on civil rights instead of partying and taking drugs.
Reason #30 to Support Hillary:She is fighting for Universal pre-kindergarten.
Reason #31 to Support Hillary:Wants to establish an education "Bill of Rights" - Establish right to education from pre-school thru college.
Reason #32 to Support Hillary:Since 1998 has fought publicly to keep art and music programs in public schools. "Arts education is needed in our schools."
Reason #33 to Support Hillary:'Government should pay off all student loans for teachers who go to urban schools." March, 2000
Reason #34 to Support Hillary:Wants a complete re-write, a Total change in No Child Left Behind. (August, 2007)
Reason #35 to Support Hillary:Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.
Reason #36 to Support HillaryVoted YES on spending $448B on education & debt reduction instead of Bush's tax cut for the rich. (Apr 2001)
Reason #37 to Support Hillary:Wants to "Remove energy dependence on countries who would harm us." (Jun 2006)
Reason #38 to Support Hillary:Wants to build a "$50B strategic energy research fund from taxing oil companies." (Oct 2006)
Reason #39 to Support Hillary:Wants to Invest in alternative energy; jobs that won't be outsourced.
Reason #40 to Support Hillary:Called on U.S. to Ratify Kyoto; and fund more mass transit. (Sep 2000)
Reason #41 to Support Hillary:Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Reason #42 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Reason #43 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
Reason #44 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)Reason #45 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
Reason #46 to Support Hillary: (listen up Louisiana!)Voted YES on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
Reason #47 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
Reason #48 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
Reason #49 to Support Hillary:Rated 89% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes.
Reason #50 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Reason #51 to Support Hillary:Called on Bush to "Put someone in charge of Katrina recovery who actually cares." (Aug 2007)
Reason #52 to Support Hillary:Her Support for green-collar job training
Reason #53 to Support Hillary:Introduced bill to Better track kids' products for exposures to toxic materials coming from China.
Reason #54 to support Hillary:Calls for the government to treat kids as "child citizens" not "minors" under the law. (Since Dec 1999)
Reason #55 to Support Hillary:Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition
Reason #56 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on enlarging NATO to include poor Eastern Europe nations. (May 2002
Reason #57 to Support Hillary:"Smartest strategic choice is peace." (Nov 1999)
Reason #58 to Support Hillary:Calling for a NATO-enforced no-fly zone to end Darfur genocide. (June, 2007)
Reason #59 to Support Hillary:IN the 1970s worked to pass Constitutional Amendment to allow young people aged 18, 19, 20 to vote.
Reason #60 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on allowing lobbyist gifts to Congress.
Reason #61 to Support Hillary:Pledges to support $50B for AIDS relief in US and world
Reason #62 to Support Hillary:Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.
Reason #63 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
Reason #64 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Reason #65 to Support Hillary:Says, "Torture cannot be American policy, period." (Sep 2007)Reason #66 to Support Hillary:She would never say anything as creepy and cult-like as "We are the ones we have been waiting for."
Reason #67 to Support Hillary:Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Reason # 68 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
Reason #69 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
Reason #70 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
Reason #71 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
Reason #72 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship. (May 2006)
Reason #73 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. (Jun 2007)Reason #74 to Support Hillary:Voted: No salary increase for Congress until minimum wage increased.
Reason #75 to Support Hillary:Would accept minimum wage as president. (Jul 2007)
Reason #76 to Support Hillary:Rated 85% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record.
Reason #77 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
Reason #78 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25.
Reason #79 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing
Reason #80 to Support Hillary:Admits she made mistake in believing in WMDs in Iraq after being mislead by the Bush Administration.
Reason #81 to Support Hillary:Reaches out to conservatives but voting record is progressive.
Reason #82 to Support Hillary:"Karl Rove is obsessed with me because I take Republicans on & beat them." (Aug 2007)
Reason #83 to Support Hillary:Served as a Staff attorney on Watergate/Nixon impeachment investigation.
Reason #84 to Support Hillary:1976: Organized Indiana for Carter-Mondale campaign. She knows what it is like to work on a democrat campaign in RED STATES!
Reason #85 to Support Hillary:Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.
Reason #86 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Reason #87 to Support Hillary:Voted NO on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice.
Reason #88 to Support Hillary:Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.
Reason #89 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition.
Reason #90 to Support Hillary:At Wellesley in 1968, steered college anti-war movement.
Reason #91 to Support Hillary:Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women.
Reason #92 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
Reason # 93 to Support Hillary:1980s: Led her church to found the largest daycare in Arkansas.
Reason #94 to Support Hillary:1978: chaired Legal Services Corp. in President Carter's Administration - allowing Poor Families access to legal aid
Reason #95 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report to get us out of Iraq in a fast, safe manner.
Reason #96 to Support Hillary:Voted YES on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders eliminated by the Bush Administration.
Reason #97 to Support Hillary:Worked with Evan Bayh, Al Gore, Bill Clinton and others in the 1980s to rejuvenate the Democratic Party from within.
Reason #98 to Support Hillary:In 1969, she entered law school as "vehicle for social change."
Reason #99 to Support Hillary:Calls to Increase spending for libraries.
Reason #100 to Support Hillary:In October, 2006 - called for "Phased redeployment out of Iraq, beginning immediately."