Why is the world SLOW to recognize the importance and value of women???

This past week, the UN held meetings to compose the major document for the June Rio+20 Conference (or World Wide Earth Summit Meeting) taking place in Brazil.  In previous UN documents, women have wondered if they were part of earth's population.  At last, in the draft for Rio+20 women are to "play a meaningful role at all levels". "We call for the removing barriers that have prevented women from being full participants in the economy and unlocking their potential ... '

Many months ago, in addressing the issue of women, this YouTube video was presented. It's message needs to be shared again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=WIvmE4_KMNw

This YouTube video continues with the same message, with a more poignant view of reality for a young girl.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8xgF0JtVg&feature=relmfu

 

A Simple Solution to the Energy Crisis For Women

Look for the multiple results of the effort.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/jan/19/women-energy-access-un-poverty/print

Are We Ready For 2012?

An assessment of the outlook for the global economy warns that the "seeds of dystopia" (DYSTOPIA - an imaginary place or total misery and wretchedness) have been sown. 

You might want to skip this blog, if you feel they do not know what they are talking about. 

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/01/11-0

The Corporate Farm Will Not Feed a Growing Population; the small farm

The Green Economy is an important issue for June Rio+20 Conference. The well-managed small farm, with government support, can reduce poverty, provide food security and employment and aid in the reduction of green house gases.  For the past twenty years, agriculture has been neglected and the consequences of this neglect is evident in many developing countries.

http://www.farmingfirst.org/green-economy/

The Challenges Facing Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

Ban stresses ‘people power’ and partnerships at the start of second term as UN chief.

 

3 January 2012 

Ban Ki-moon has begun his second term as Secretary-General of the United Nations by pledging to harness “the strong power of partnerships” to respond to the planet’s biggest challenges: climate change, combating poverty and empowering women and girls. “Together, nothing is impossible,” he said, adding that “if we strengthen these partnerships among governments, business communities, civil organizations and philanthropists, then I think all these powerful partnerships can bring us towards the right direction.” 

We have to connect the dots among climate change, [the] food crisis, water scarcity, energy shortages and women’s empowerment and global health issues. These are all interconnected issues.

 

Mr. Ban reiterated his priorities for the second term, spelling out the five generational opportunities he sees for the UN: promoting sustainable development; preventing natural and man-made crises and disasters; making the world safer and more secure; helping countries and peoples in transition; and encouraging gender empowerment.  

 

Mr. Ban, said “people power” and deepening globalization represented the biggest development since he first took office in 2007. 

“We have seen so many people – marginalized people, oppressed people – who have been yearning for democracy, their dignity and human rights. We have [a] heavy responsibility to help them in [their] transition to democracy. 

The Secretary-General cited his meeting with a boy during a visit last year to the South Pacific island country of Kiribati – where the land is threatened by rising sea waters – as an example of the enormous faith and expectations which the peoples of the world invest in the UN.

“He appealed to me to ‘Please help us address this climate change. Our homes and our way of life may be swept away overnight’,” Mr. Ban recalled, saying it is one of the reasons why climate change must remain at the top of the global agenda.

(For the full address by the Secretary-General, see UN Press)