Philippines International Women's Day Statement

a message from our sisters in the Philippines on International Womenʻs Day 2012....



Philippines International Women's Day Statement:

Unity Statement, March 8, 2012

Filipino Women March against US Military Expansion in the Philippines and the Pacific

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2012, we, Filipino women declare in strongest terms possible, our opposition not only to increased presence but to U.S. military presence per se on Philippine soil.

The United States is increasing its military presence in Asia-Pacific, in particular in the Philippines, and the Philippine government is showing no qualms in allowing this to happen.

A news account recently reported of the United States’ plan to increase its military aid to “boost” Philippine defense; the promised aid will amount to US$144 million, reflecting an increase of more than US$20 million on the previous amount. In another earlier news article, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas was quoted as saying his government had spent US$50 million for the upgrading of Philippine military facilities.

The Washington Post in January 2012 also reported that Philippine officials were in the United States to conduct initial talks with representatives of the Obama government “about expanding the American military presence in the island nation…” More high-level and intense discussions will take place this March.

The same Washington Post piece quoted a senior Philippine official as saying “We can point to other countries: Australia, Japan and Singapore. We’re not the only one doing this, and for good reason. We all want to see a peaceful and stable region. Nobody wants to have to face China or confront China.” The US has “about 600 Special Operations troops in the Philippines, where they advise local forces in their fight with rebels sympathetic to al-Qaeda,” the report also confirmed.

But really disturbing news was on the use of U.S. drone in the January bombing in Parang, Jolo, which came out in Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online. “A United States-supported airstrike that destroyed with causalities an Abu Sayyaf hideout on the remote island of Jolo in the southern Philippines represented the first known use of the unmanned aerial assault craft in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) counter-insurgency operations against terrorism-linked rebel groups,” said the article.

We recognize the continuing insecurity in the Asia-Pacific due to the contending claims of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines and China over the Spratly Islands. But time and again it has been the call of people’s movements and civil society groups throughout the region that this territorial conflict must be resolved by multilateral dialogue among the countries involved and not with the intervention or through the posturing of a military power like the US.

We don’t deny the reality of terrorism that continues to unfold in many parts of the world, even as many of these have been a result of and have been further intensified precisely by U.S. policies, but the Philippines should not be drawn into this US-led war on terror. The Philippine government should instead stand side-by-side with other nations and peoples who call for multi-polar ways of looking at and resolving these conflicts. Without being isolationist and immune to geopolitical realities, the Philippine government must not at all costs surrender our sovereignty.

Why a stand against militarization? Militarization is not only about the presence of warm uniformed bodies, as it spills over other aspects of women’s lives. It exists and persists because of force that turns into violence—which is not anymore just about fighting the enemies using destructive weapons, but about militarization itself as a weapon that creates and supports a culture of violence; the same force underpinning rape, assault on women’s bodies and minds, trafficking and prostitution, domestic abuse, discrimination against those with differing gender orientation.

This is not at all different from another form of violence that also oppresses and ravages Filipino women—economic marginalization resulting from the neo-liberal policy orientation of government.

Neo-liberalization has meant for Filipino women labor contractualization or flexibilization, which hasn’t only further decreased employment opportunities, but has also caused many women to labor in oppressive situations, mainly characterized by depressed wages and insecure working conditions.

Privatization and deregulation, even of basic services and resources considered national patrimony, are also cornerstones of a neo-liberal economy. And it’s not only women in the labor sector and urban areas who are continuously assaulted by these economic policies, which have also opened the agriculture sector to big business, private investments, easing out small and medium-scale landholders and producers. Until now, women in the agriculture sector have remained invisible and their contributions un-quantified in official statistics; yet the more privatization occurs, the more they lose whatever access to lands and land resources they have been able to fight for inch by inch. With privatization and foreign investments becoming the order of the day, the completion of the land and distribution aspect of the agrarian reform program is becoming more and more a distant reality, even as it has been made clear that the current government is no longer prioritizing agrarian reform.

On another level, the persistent intervention of religious fundamentalism in the realm of public policy-making results in depriving women of vital health services, which could cause them their life.

The P-Noy government cannot claim to be on the “straight path” as long as it continues to ignore the economic, social and sexual violence committed against women, while it upholds the primacy of neo-liberalization and militarism. The alignment of the P-Noy regime with the US, as shown by its support for increasing US troop presence in the Philippines, is of deep concern to us and we will continue to struggle against it.

To the powers that be, we say NO to U.S. military expansion in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific! NO to the Philippine government’s support for this expansionism! On March 8, 2012, and beyond, listen to the sounds of our feet marching, to our voices singing protest, to our poetry, stories, testimonies and speeches shouting out our opposition, and watch us transform this opposition into more actions of resistance!

Signatories:

Akbayan–Youth • Amnesty International • Alliance of Progressive Labor • Asian Circle 1325 • Bagong Kamalayan • BATIS • Batis-AWARE • Buklod • Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino – Kababaihan • CATW-AP • Center for Migrants’ Advocacy • Center for Overseas Workers • Development Action for Women Network • Focus on the Global South • Free Burma Coalition • Freedom from Debt Coalition • Initiatives for International Dialogue • Kababaihan-Pilipinas • KAISA-KA • KAMP • LRC-KSK/FOE-Phils. • MATINIK • Medical Action Group • Partido Lakas ng Masa • Partido ng Manggagawa • PAHRA • PEACE • PKKK • Piglas Kababaihan • PREDA • SARILAYA • Transform Asia • WEDPRO • WomanHealth Phils. • Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau • Welga ng Kababaihan • Women’s Crisis Center • YSAGE • World March of Women – Pilipinas

International Women's Network Against Militarism 8th Gathering: "Forging Nets for Demilitarization and Genuine Security”

DECLARATION

International Women's Network Against Militarism

8th Gathering: "Forging Nets for Demilitarization and Genuine Security”

February 19-25, 2012 – Puerto Rico

The 8th Gathering of the International Women's Network Against Militarism, that occurred on February 19-25, 2012, united 26 women representing 8 countries gathered in Puerto Rico.  Delegates from the Philippines, Guahan (Guam), Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, Hawaii, and the United States joined their counterparts in Puerto Rico to evaluate the growing military threat and develop strategies to counter the impact of militarism, military contamination, imperialism and systems of oppression and exploitation based on gender, race, class, nationality and sexual orientation.

First, we express our dissatisfaction and anger at the situation faced by our colleague from the Philippines, Corazón Valdez Fabros, who was denied entry into the U.S. despite the fact that she was issued a valid visa beforehand. No adequate explanation has been given to justify this violation of her freedom of movement.

Ms. Fabros is an internationally known and highly respected advocate, researcher, and expert on conflict resolution, democratization process, human rights and security. She is a regular speaker at international conferences and meetings, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, on peace building, nuclear disarmament, and environmental clean-up of former U.S. bases in the Philippines.

Although Ms. Fabros was issued a multiple entry visa last October, Delta Airlines was instructed by the Immigration and Border Protection to not let her board the flight leaving Manila en route to Puerto Rico on February 17, 2012. We are grateful that a U.S. representative of Puerto Rican descent, Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), is investigating and requesting an explanation.

As a result of the discussion at our meeting we declare the following:

• The United States must demilitarize the Asia-Pacific region, clean up military environmental contamination, and compensate affected communities. Further, we advocate the creation of economies of peace rather than perpetual preparation for war.
• We, delegates of the 8th Gathering of the International Women's Network Against Militarism, have visited communities in Puerto Rico and are incensed at what we have learned about the commercial auction of land at the former Roosevelt Roads Navy Base and the exclusion of the people of Ceiba from future use and control of this land. We learned about the lack of cleanup and the ecologically hazardous detonation of unexploded ordnance used by the U.S. Navy on land and water on and surrounding the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. We condemn the recent federal court ruling in Boston that dismissed the lives and health claims of 7,000 Viequenses injured by the Navy presence. Furthermore, we denounce the precarious situation that Viequenses confront. The negligence of the government has caused a maritime crisis that severely affects their health and quality of life.
• We oppose the repression and incarceration of people who fight for genuine peace and human rights.  By unanimous resolution, we call on President Barak Obama to order the immediate release of Oscar López Rivera who has been unjustly imprisoned for almost 31 years. The U.S. Parole Commission recently denied his application for parole and ordered that he serve an additional 15 years in prison. By that time, he will be 83 years old and will have been incarcerated for 45 years for politically motivated offenses where no one was hurt. We condemn the inequity in his treatment, compared to his co-defendants. He is now the only one of the 1980's pro-independence prisoners still in prison.
• Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has asserted that the U.S. military plans to remain in the Asia Pacific region as the primary center of its strategic positioning. We denounce the building of any new bases or military installations in the region.  This includes the proposed Navy base at Jeju Island in South Korea that will house U.S. Aegis destroyers built at Bath Ironworks in Bangor (Maine), and will serve as a key component of the U.S. military's ballistic missile defense system. We call for the immediate closure of Futenma Marine Air Corps Station (Okinawa) and adamantly oppose the plan to replace this base with a new heliport facility at Henoko. We denounce the U.S.-Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement and the deployment of U.S. forces to the Philippines, which violates the terms of the Philippines constitution. We are against the plans to move 4,700 Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to Guahan. We object to the construction of a “Ballistic Missile Defense System,” berthing docks for nuclear aircraft carriers at Apra Harbor, and “firing range complex” on ancient Chamorro lands.  In Hawai‘i, we oppose the expansion of military bases and activites. In particular, we oppose the use of Stryker Brigade tanks at Schofield Barracks (Lihue, Oʻahu) and the proposed basing of 48 aircraft including the Osprey at Kaneohe Marine Corps Airstation (Mokapu, Oʻahu), that will bring in 1,000 Marines and 1,000 of their dependents.   We also oppose proposed training of these aircraft at Bellows Airforce Station (Waimanalo, Oʻahu), Kalaupapa (Molokaʻi) and Pōhakuloa (Hawai‘i island).  In all these locations, overwhelming numbers of local residents have used all available democratic means to dispute this military expansion that would destroy native cultural sites  and cause contamination, overpopulation, over consumption of the islands' limited resources. 
• Military training has a devastating impact on the environment and people's health, leading to serious illness and early death. Failure to clean up the hazardous toxics caused by military operations is an environmental justice issue and reflects the racist belief that some people are more valuable than others. It also shows deep disrespect for the earth.

Therefore, we, the participants of the 8th Meeting of the International Women's Network Against Militarism demand the cleanup of closed and current military bases and land used for military purposes in all our countries. This land must be returned to local community control. We demand full compensation to victims of military contamination, including Guahan downwinders of atomic testing in the Pacific, residents of Vieques and other communities of Puerto Rico, communities in the Philippines around former Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base. We also demand that the United States take full responsibility for the negative social impacts caused by the U.S. military presence in the region, in particular gender-based/sexual violence by US military personnel. Sexual crimes by US military personnel have occurred for many decades in the host communities, and they are often go unpunished. For example, Amerasian children born in the Philippines and abandoned by U.S. military fathers lack the support, care, and human rights that all children deserve.

We recognize that the current economic recession created by capitalism has created rising poverty, massive joblessness, and a lack of decent and affordable education and healthcare in the United States and its possessions and territories. We denounce the use of economic resources to further military activity.  We denounce the disproportional recruitment of poor young people and young people of color to sustain senseless wars that only protect the interest of the wealthy.  Instead, we call for an economy of peace, an economy that will support our communities in sustainable ways, with an emphasis on providing for basic human needs, health and wellness, solidarity, and respect for the land and all peoples.

February 25, 2012

San Juan, Puerto Rico

"Jam Docu Gangjeong" Hawaii Premiere

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For Immediate Release

February 23, 2012

Contact: Renie Wong

Hawai'i Peace and Justice

(808) 988-6266

hawaiipeaceandjustice.org

“Jam Docu Gangjeong” Film Shorts: A Jeju Island Village Struggles with the Imposition of a South Korean/U.S. Naval Base 
  

Documentary Film Shorts “Jam Docu Gangjeong” premiering for the first time in Hawai‘i will be shown at The ARTS at Marks Garage on March 17, 2012 6:30-8 PM in a free screening co-sponsored by Hawai'i Peace and Justice in collaboration with Hawai‘i Women in Filmmaking and DMZ Hawai'i / Aloha 'Aina. Light refreshment will be offered.

Banned from theater showings for 40 days by the Korean Film Commission, Jam Docu Gangjeong just recently received approval (January 31st) for showing in South Korea. Although Jeju was named an “Island of Peace” in 2005 by the South Korean government and listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, the Korean government has pushed ahead with plans to build a huge naval base in Gangjeong Village for the use of both the South Korean military, as well as US naval warships and destroyers. 

 

The island is home to a unique dialect and culture off the tip of South Korea, but also presents a microcosm for the tragic legacies of the Korean War. Residents of Gangjeong Village have put up peaceful resistance to the base construction, but faced brutal suppression by the police and mainland military, and been heavily fined for the "obstruction of governmental affairs." For the villagers, the naval base threatens to disrupt not only the reef ecosystem, and the way of life by elderly haenyo (women divers), but to destroy the social fabric of the village, recalling the scars of the Korean War and Jeju’s treatment during that period. While the ostensible justification for the base is the North Korean threat, the implications for a shifting geopolitical balance in the region is that the US would gain access to a base in proximity to China. 

 

For Docu Jam Gangjeong, eight independent filmmakers in South Korea responded to the situation by making short films about the people’s struggle over the course of 100 days. The filmmakers present an array of stories from their time living among the villagers and capturing the beauty of the threatened coastline.

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International Women's Day 2012

Save the date!

Macrch 8, 2012

Join us on International Women's Day (March 8th) for a special rally at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki where we will be featuring a special "fashion show." Please see the attached flier for more details!

To learn more about how Hyatt Hurts, you can visit www.HyattHurts.org

Check out the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/HyattHurts

IWNAM 2012 Hawaiʻi Report Back video

this year, we decided to use the medium of video to report back to the network. i created a video using interviews with local activists and images that represent the conditions that Hawaiʻi has been facing for several decades.

mahalo nui loa to interviewees:
Kat Brady
Kalamaokaʻaina Niheu
Seiji Yamada
Joe Estores
Leandra Wai
Fred Dodge

photo credits:
Amber McClure
Terri Kekoʻolani
Melisa Casumbal
Grace Caligtan
Calvin C. Rilveria
Kyle Kajihiro
Summer Mullins
Darlene Rodrigues
Leticia Flores
Ikaika Hussey
Google.com

music credits:
"The Beast" by the Fugees
"The Land" by Kalalea Kauhane ft. Paula Fuga
"King, Queen & Standing Army" by Liko Martin
"Visualize (Whirled Peas)" by AmenRaw and ZenChambers

special mahalo nui loa to our support organizations:
Hawaiʻi Peace & Justice
Mana Maoli
Pua Mohala i ka Pō

English Transcription/Spanish Translation of video by Leticia Flores:

English

Español

International Women’s Network Against Militarism 8th Meeting, Puerto Rico Hawai’i Report: DMZ 808 NOW 2012 Describe Militarism in Hawaii Pervasive, invasive, wrong, violent, not friendly, not of Hawai’i (Kat Brady, Justice Advocate, Hawai’i) Militarism, what it has done for us is its forcibly removed us, historically from a lot of our lands. It has removed us from healthy lifestyles, healthy living. Its caused massive depression, global dependence upon this world where we’re forced to choose between being completely depressed and disenfranchised or selling ourselves out for money and tourism. Or agreeing to go and kill other people, other indigenous folks throughout the world. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu, Kauka and Kalo Farmer, Waiahole, Hawai’i) Living in Central Oʻahu, I would say that the military presence there is a daily thing. Helicopters are flying overhead, thereʻs stryker vehicles plowing the roads. At night you can hear the munitions from the ranges near by. I think its ironic that we donʻt even recognize it anymore or pay attention to it. (Seiji Yamada, MD, Hawai¢i) Right now, under our noses there’s a massive build up that is happening on this island. Massive. (Uncle Joe, retired Army colonel, Hawai¢i) One personal observation i have of the military is the loss of housing here. The military is subsidized, so their rent is subsidized, and we don’t get that benefit. The housing market has shrunk because of the influx of the military, which has increased, we’ve had the biggest build up since WWII. With the transformation of the army and the stryker brigade coming here. (Kat Brady, Justice Advocate, Hawai’i) 1996 was when they finalized the evictions of Makua. My ohana, my personal ohana, me, my kids and my husband was here. I was here longer, he was in and out, but my children and i spent a lot of time here. It was the most scariest time of my life. I went through so much enforcement, they came overdosed with man power, legal power, army weapon power. Its scary, it looked like the military was involved in that, although they couldn’t show face, but they said they were housing. I started to get “what is going on?” I leave the place and the infantry is coming down and they all stop and they turn the guns on me. I was in the car and i was a basket case and this happened several times, so when we finally got in with the negotiations for suing for a lawsuit and the lawsuit was about getting information on this valley, i was on it. (Leandra Wai, Mākua, Hawai’i) 2010 AFSC Hawai’i: No Room at the Inn… (Houseless Nativity Display) Why is demilitarization important? We have too much war and not enough peace. We need to do more diplomacy, make more friends. We need to be less dominant. The U.S. has to slow down, we’re too much of an empire. When people speak about defending the United States, they don’t mean the integrital United States, Hawai’i or Alaska. They mean the farflung empire with 700 or so bases.  (Dr. Fred Dodge, Nanakuli, Hawai’i) Around the military bases, there are huge and tremendous amounts of strip clubs, prostitution industry, human trafficking that are affecting our young women. I would definitely say its an intelligent estimation the amount of STDs, the amount of unwanted pregnancies, the amount of abuse that around that community that has risen up around the industry of the military is huge. There hasn’t been any studies that adequately show what the effects of the STDs, unwanted pregnancies among our young women around these bases globally. We need to have that research, but nobody wants to fund them because they’d be going up against the military. Those are real things that we are struggling with on a daily basis. (Kalamaokaʻaina Niheu) I would like to see our people working in jobs that are more positive for our community. (Kat Brady) The military is… monstrous, gigantic, terrifying, but most importantly replaceable, defeatable and imaginable to rise up against. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu) SINCE THE LAST IWNAM MEETING… MALAMA KA’ENA PASSIONISTAS! UNDRESSING GLOBALIZATION & MILITARISM

Red Internacional de Mujeres Contra Militarismo 8th sesión Reporte de Hawaii: DMZ 808 Ahora 2012 Describe el Militarismo en Hawai’i Omnipresente, invasivo, incorrecto, violento, antipático, no de Hawai’i (Kat Brady, Promotora de Justicia, Hawai’i) Lo que el militarismo ha hecho por nosotros ha sido arrebatarnos de muchas de nuestras tierras. Nos ha arrebatado nuestros estilos de vida saludables. Ha causado depresión en las masas, dependencia global a este mundo en el que estamos forzados a escoger entre estar totalmente deprimidos y privados de nuestro derecho o vendernos por dinero y turismo. O aceptar ir a matar gente y otros nativos alrededor del mundo. Yo diría que la presencia militar se encuentra presente a diario cuando se vive en el área central de la isla de O’ahu. Helicópteros en el cielo y Strykers en las carreteras. En las noches puedes escuchar las municiones desde los campos de tiro que se encuentran cerca. Pienso en cuan irónico es que no lo reconozcamos y que tan siquiera le prestemos atención. (Seji Yamada, MD, Hawai’i) Ahora mismo, debajo de  nuestras propias narizes, hay una acumulación masiva ocurriendo en esta isla. Masiva. (Uncle Joe, Coronel retirado del Army, Hawai’i) Una observación que tengo sobre la milicia es acerca de la pérdida de vivienda. La milicia es subsidiada, así que su renta es subvencionado, y nosotros no tenemos ese beneficio. El mercado de vivienda ha disminuido por el flujo militar, que ha aumentado, hemos tenido la acumulación más grande desde WWII. Con la transformación del ejército y la brigada de Strykers que ha vendido. (Kat Brady, Promotora de Justicia, Hawai’i) Fué en 1996 cuando finalizaron las evicciones de Makua. Mi familia, mi familia cercana, mis niños y mi marido estaban aquí. Yo estuve aquí por más tiempo, el iba y venía, pero mis hijos y yo pasamos muchísimo tiempo aquí. Fue el tiempo más aterrorizante de mi vida. Pase por tanto, vinieron con una sobredosis de poder de macho, poder legar, armas de poder. Espantoso, pareciera como si la milicia estuviera involucrada en ello, auque no podian mostar la cara. Comenze a pensar “que esta pasando?”. Dejo el lugar y la infantería viene y comienza a apuntar armas hacia mí. Estaba en el vehículo  y me estaba volviendo loca y esto ocurrió en varias ocaciones.y cuando finalmente llegamos a las negociaciones para demander, yo fui parte de ello. (Leandra Wai, Mākua, Hawai’i) 2010 AFSC Hawai’i: No Room at the Inn… (Houseless Nativity Display) Por qué la desmilitarización es importante? Tenemos demasiada guerra y no suficiente paz. Necesitamos ser más diplomaticos, hacer mas amigos. Necesitamos ser menos dominante. Estados Unidos necesita calmarse, somos demasiado imperialista. Cuando la gente habla sobre defender a los Estados Unidos, no se refieren a Estados Unidos, Hawai’i y Alaska. Se refieren al extenso imperio de unas 700 bases o más. (Dr. Fred Dodge, Nanakuli, Hawai’i) Alrededor de las bases militares puedes encontrar tremendas cantidades de cabarets, prostitución, y tráfico de humanos que están afectando a nuestras jovenes. Puedo decir que es inteligente decir que la cantidad de enfermedades de transmisión sexual, la cantidad de embarazos no deseados, la cantidad de violencia doméstica alrededor de esas comunidades que se han levantado de esas industrias cerca de la milicia, es inmenso. No se han formulado ningunos estudios que demuestren adecuadamente los efectos de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual, y embarazos no deseados en nuestras jovenes globalmente. Necesitamos investigar, pero nadie quiere dar fondos para estos porque van en contra del militarismo. Estas son las cosas con la que lidiamos a diario. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu) Quisiera ver a nuestra gente trabajando en empleos que fuesen mas positivos para nuestra comunidad. (Kat Brady) El militarismo es… Monstroso, gigantesco, espantoso, pero más importante reemplazable, lo podemos vencer y levantarnos ante él. (Kalamaoka’aina Niheu) DESDE LA ULTIMA REUNION IWNAM… MALAMA KA’ENA PASSIONISTAS! DESNUDANDO LA GLOBALIZACION Y EL MILITARISMO

No gasoducto!

On February 19, 2012, a Sunday, we got very little rest. After getting to Dominga's farm around 2am, we were still excited to wake up at 6:30 to leave for a rally in San Juan, Puerto Rico. That morning we had the most delicious breakfast of organic eggs, fruits, and fresh baked bread. We needed the energy!

The protest was attended by thousands of people against the building of a natural gas line line through the city. (The story can be read at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/us/puerto-ricos-plan-for-gas-pipeline-has-many-critics.html?pagewanted=all.)

Locals told us that although they supported green energy, they felt that this project was rushed, not well planned, and posed a health threat for the communities where the gas line was being built.

We hear ya Puerto Rico!

Even more impressive than the size of the protest and people's commitment to the cause, was their commitment to having fun while they were doing this work.

Thank you for the inspiration.

Day 1 - radio station or march?

February 19, 2012  [images will be added]

Day 1 and we have already separated.  While my Hawai‘i sisters were rising and dressing to march in solidarity with Puerto Ricans protesting their governor’s endorsement of an underwater pipeline to bring in more fossil fuel from the United States, I awoke from my first morning in Puerto Rico in the hills of Aibonito. 

Aibonito comes from an old Taino name, Hatibonito.  The drive is long and windy, like the road to Kahukūloa, but inland through the mountains, like the road to Big Bear.  It’s peppered with little villages along the way, and cold increases with the altitude, as if you’re going to Volcano.  It also has a river called Cojonesdos, which poetically translates to “home,” but literally means “testicles.”
Aibonito is where Ornellia Perez lives, and where I spent Saturday night.  Breakfast was 2 eggs laid by the neighbor’s hens, salad greens, toast with sunflower seed spread, orange-carrot juice, Puerto Rican coffee, and a view of the ocean.  Muy delicioso.
Ornellia had an opportunity to fill in for the regular host of radio talk show called Canto Libre, Freedom Song, and promote the conference in which I’ve come to Puerto Rico to participate.  Others were committed to march in old San Juan, but willing to call in to the show.  As the primary language is Spanish, I couldn’t really have a big role with the radio program, but thirteen years in Hawai‘i talk radio should’ve enabled me to kōkua some of the technical aspects, or help develop the program.
We drove an hour-and-a-half to Ponce (POHN-seh) in the south of La Isla Grande, the main island.  Ponce people are like Texans, claiming everything is bigger there, always trying to outdo non-Ponceians.  The welcome sign upon entering the township is 5 huge letters spread out across the road.
Ornellia had developed an outline for the 90 minute program, and we dove right in.
Ornellia introduced herself and the important work she does with women at Centro Mujer y Nueva Familia in Baranquitas where she works.  Immediately, the president of her board of directors called in to report on the march in which our IWNAM sisters were participating.  We also had call-in interviews with María Reinat-Pumarejo (Puerto Rico), Terri-Lee Keko‘olani (Hawai‘i) and Aida F. Santos-Maranan (Philippines).  All three were able to provide historical context to today’s movement, and their activities.
Ornellia did a beautiful job reviewing the materials from across the years with International Women's Network against Militarism.  We threw in a few songs by Korean singer Ahn Hea Kyong: Warrior, Uno and others.  And we closed with a beautiful poem by David Whyte, first in English and then translated to Spanish.  Following this call-in show, an elderly man called in to tell us to tell all the women that the work is so important, that everyone in his family has cancer.  He was crying. 

Here's the poem.

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone

that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.

~David Whyte