Home & Country Newsletters (Stoney Creek, ON), Fall 1983, page 8

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9. Equality of Women That ACWW member societies emphasize the equality of women within the home, place of employment, local community and national government. l0. Human Rights That ACWW and its member societies work in all possible ways for the implementation of the terms of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Janet Hiepleh UN advisor urges ACWW to review past programs “Look at your past programs; were they implemented?", challeng- ed Mrs. Eleanor Roberts, ACWW Advisor at the UN, New York, dute trig the United Nations Session, “You and the United Nations in To- day‘s World", for the whole conâ€" ference. in I974, our first resolution was “that no one would go to bed hungry". so we have not achieved all our goals. More can be achieved with less by Nonfiovernmental Organiza- tions (NGO‘s) like ACWW, Though the press does not suggest this ratio, only 15 per cent of the UN resources go to political affairs, while 35 per cent goes to economic and social af- fairs. Mrs. Roberts felt the simple and appropriate technology for rural women can best he dcveiopcd by other rural women, Mrs. Peggy Antrobus, Women's Development Unit, University of the West Indies, added that she admires ACWW for its vision, energy and diversity of programs. and visualizes the group as a veritable UN without pnlitlL's. She suggested that those at lllt.‘ conference complaining about the university residences with insuffi- cient hot water, non-operative phones and inconvenient shuttle- buses can begin to relate to those in Third World countries where lack of water. poor communication and in- adequate transportation are a way of life. She considers it necessary to build opportunities for Third World ii women to define their own pro- grams, realizing that development 15 not merely increasing industrializa- tion. it is women as mothers, as nurâ€" turers of body and mind of future generations of men and women, who plant the seeds that encourage or con- clone the growth of competitiveness, aggression and violence. Peggy reminded us that in the interests of peace we need a new intrepretation of economic and social equality that eliminates notions of the rich and powerful helping the poor and powerless. During the UN session for members and delegates not attending workshops. the theme was “Many Voices, One World", and discussions centred on communications. One suggestion was to establish pairs of Wis from different parts of the world who share a common bond and who could exchange tapes or pic- tures. For sources of program inforâ€" mation contact local people who have worked for the UN or in other coun- tries, or contact the UN Information Centre. Our aim should be to do one more thing than was really needed. in encouraging the use of technology like slides, tapes or combinations of both. and video cassette recorders we were reminded that we absorb more when we see it and hear it simultaneously. Helen Coults WI member Mrs. Ivan Clare sub. mitted the following poem, written by Mrs. Peggy Antrobus, to share with Home and Country readers_ We’ve come a long way baby! But, the best is yet to come. We are still the poorest of the pry”;- The most powerless of the V powerless, The least understood of those without a voice, The most excluded from the benefits of our toil. But we have strengths, Sisters, And a unique knowledge of what is real; The pain and beauty of reproduction, 0f nurturing the next generatior An essential share in the work (i, creation! And we can use these strengths, A na‘ insights, And unique experience of the lit force. To end the wars, To change the world, To build our societies into peat't Where people can find purpose and peace. But first, we must believe That we are rich in our experien. of We Powerful in our person/mod, A nd hold the keys To the relationships and system Which keep the best at bay. The ACWH’ delegates were welcomed to Canada on Ihefirs! morning Ofllk 17m triennial conference in Vancouver with a western style breakfast. The pancakes were stacked high and the coffee perked away as 1,600 women en- joyed the delicious meal.

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