I don't have much to say today that other people haven't articulated better so instead I'm just going to say kudos to the following people:
• Steven Spielberg for formally withdrawing from an advisory position with the Beijing Olympics as a protest of China's policy on the crisis in Darfur.
• Juno Star Ellen Page for countering the hype that feminism is now either a bad word or unnecessary. In an interview with The Washington Post she says: “I call myself a feminist when people ask me if I am, and of course I am 'cause it's about equality, so I hope everyone is. You know you're working in a patriarchal society when the word feminist has a weird connotation.”
• Tad Mack from Finding Wonderland: The WritingYA Weblog for soundly criticizing HarperCollins new MacKenzie Blue series aimed at 8-12 year-old girls. The series, not penned by an actual writer but by the chief executive of their marketing group will be filled with brand references whose companies will be offered a chance to sponsor the books. HarperCollins seem undisturbed by the ethical issues here and have commented, “If you look at Web sites, general media or television, corporate sponsorship or some sort of advertising is totally embedded in the world that tweens live in. It gives us another opportunity for authenticity.” Authenticity? Damn, people are using that crazy 1984 dictionary again! Let's check out the actual definition, shall we?
au·then·tic·i·ty–nounThe quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy, or genuine.• Bill Clinton for his kickass response to anti-choice hecklers at a campaign event in Ohio (you can read the transcript here):
• Adaora A. for her Keep The Peace in Schools blog which highlights various schools bullying incidents, some of which have resulted in the tragic deaths of young people.
• The Miss G__ Project for Equity in Education, a grassroots young feminist organization in Ontario who have their eye on the dire amount of sexual harassment going on in Ontario secondary schools. The sexual bullying aimed at girls is so widespread that it's almost become normalized. Miss G's current objective is to get a Women's & Gender Studies Course into the Ontario high school curriculum to combat these problems. They advise you how to take action here.
• The Miss G__ Project for Equity in Education, a grassroots young feminist organization in Ontario who have their eye on the dire amount of sexual harassment going on in Ontario secondary schools. The sexual bullying aimed at girls is so widespread that it's almost become normalized. Miss G's current objective is to get a Women's & Gender Studies Course into the Ontario high school curriculum to combat these problems. They advise you how to take action here.
