Forwarded from Lyn Lane and Betty McLellan:
Lyn Lane is Australian representative on the International Liaison
Committee for the World March of Women and, in the final rallies, Betty
McLellan along with Coralie Maclean carried the banner on behalf of other
Australian women: "Australian Women Fighting Poverty".
========================
Forwarded from Lyn Lane:
To all in Australia
Today was the culmination of 4 amazing days. This report will be brief as
this e-mail service is a challenge to say the least.
20, 000 marched in Washington
30,000 in New York
90 countries represented
The meetings at both the World Bank & the IMF went overtime. Everyone very
courteous, but outcome predictable. i.e. "lobby your countries".
UN meeting much the same - but the presentations by the women clearly lifted
the tenor. Kofi Annan in Egypt, so we were welcomed by his deputy.
At today's meeting we looked at the way ahead. There is a clear wish that
the networks mobilised around the March continue - resources permitting.
Please I will write more from home - middle of next week.
Warm regards
Lyn
======================
Forwarded from Betty McLellan and Coralie Maclean:
Dear World Marchers,
What an absolutely wonderful time we've had! First, in Washington DC on a
beautiful sunny day (15 Oct.), we joined 20,000 women (some even estimated
25,000) marching and chanting, marching and chanting till we thought we'd
drop with exhaustion. But the air of determination and the solidarity of
purpose was totally exhilarating.
Then, in New York yesterday (17 Oct.), the scene was breathtaking. We were
60,000 women - of all ages and from all corners of the globe. What a
spectacle of colour and beauty and solidarity and strength! After a 2 and a
half hour rally led by U.S. radical feminist Robin Morgan speaking in
English and a powerful French Canadian woman speaking in French and in
Spanish, we marched off from the Square in front of the United Nations
building, down 2nd Avenue from 47th Street to 14th Street (about 2 miles) to
Union Square.
As we marched, there were women as far as the eye could see. Lots of
chanting, lots of noise, drumming, whistles, etc. The most popular chant,
the one we repeated over and over was "so-so-so-solidarity".
After a 2 hour march, there were more speeches and entertainment in Union
Square. The whole event went from 11 am till 6 pm.
Our Australian banner drew lots of attention and positive comments and the
four of us (Margaret Bearlin, Lyn Lane, Coralie and I) were made to
feel very welcome indeed.
Lyn has been kept very busy as our official delegate and will be reporting
to the list on her experiences at the UN meetings. We have all felt very
fortunate to be part of such a powerful, worldwide push for women's rights!
All the best...
Betty
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