‘Be Bold For Change’ – PNG’s women writers are already there
29 January 2017
KEITH JACKSON
THE theme for International Women’s Day to be celebrated on Wednesday 8 March is for women to #BeBoldForChange – and, through contributions to the anthology, My Walk to Equality, nearly 50 Papua New Guinean women writers proved they already had taken this idea to heart.
And as the Oil Search Foundation, Allen’s Legal, Paga Hill Development Company, the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and other PNG organisations rally to the cause of this highly praised book, it’s clear that the call is understood and is gaining momentum.
My Walk to Equality will be launched in Port Moresby on International Women’s Day (IWD) and in Brisbane eight days later. The Moresby launch – by invitation only – will feature Dame Carol Kidu and Tanya Zeriga-Alone, two fighters for women’s rights in PNG. Rashmii Amoah Bell will be the star attraction in Brisbane. I will be at both events.
IWD global organisers see International Women's Day as a vehicle for change to help forge a better, more gender inclusive world.
And change is urgently needed. The World Economic Forum predicts that at the present rate the gender gap won't close until 2186 - 170 years. “This is too long to wait,” say IWD organisers in what strikes me as classic understatement.
Last year, organisations and individuals around the world supported the #PledgeForParity campaign which committed to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenge bias, advocate gender-balanced leadership, value women and men's contributions equally and create inclusive cultures.
“But what if the world truly stepped up to take bold action?” the global organisers ask now.
“Will you #BeBoldForChange on International Women's Day 2017 and beyond by taking ground-breaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women?
“Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.”
This was precisely Rashmii Amoah Bell’s intent and message as she initiated a unique project to get PNG women to write about gender issues in a positive and constructive way and to have the book ready for International Women’s Day 2017.
It has happened and it is a great achievement, recognised and supported by all those organisations in PNG which do not breathe “gender equality” as a cliché but which show they will enact it.
You can support the women of PNG in their boldness for change by buying a copy – or more – of My Walk to Equality.
You still need to buy it from Amazon Books here as it is not available for sale in PNG. Time for some of those big retailers to step up and be bold and stock it in their outlets.
Have started reading the book.
It has a great variety of stories, essays and poems. Some I have read before on PNG Attitude, and some are by PNG's great women writers of today. But there are many new writers.
The topics are so varied and personal. Many of the stories and poems are very moving. One I read yesterday was by a lady who is not highly educated and not gifted at written English, but her story was very sincere and very moving, and it has been included. Broken English can bring tears as quickly as perfect English. I realize that it is the message that counts.
This says a lot about the Editor. She must be a caring sensitive person.
Today I hope to post a copy to Prof Shirley Randell who is very involved with the world movements to improve the lot of women throughout the world.
But we are having a heat wave here in Sydney with temperatures in the 40s every week ... we are hotter than Darwin, hotter than Alice Springs..it saps the energy!
Posted by: Barbara Short | 31 January 2017 at 08:09 AM
Waiting anxiously for my copy to arrive . Superb work!
Posted by: Dominica Are | 30 January 2017 at 01:00 PM
Thank you for purchasing, Lucy. It's wonderful to hear you've sent some copies to PNG as well.
We're hoping retailers in PNG will purchase and stock the books for customers. There's been quite a a number of enquiries (especially across social media) about purchasing options.
In-shop would be of big help to Papua new Guineans without debit/credit cards, private and secure internet access or prefer to use cash.
If you know the direct email for appropriate contact at a suitable retailer, pleas let me know via [email protected]. Thank you.
Posted by: Rashmii Bell | 30 January 2017 at 05:29 AM
I just ordered five copies - three to PNG and two to me in Australia. Thank you for contributing ladies along with Rashmii and Pukpuk Publications.
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Thanks for your purchase, Lucy. The book is well worth it. I hope other readers will do the same. Readers can order the books from Amazon at this website https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1542429242/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Posted by: Lucy Timmer | 29 January 2017 at 03:27 PM