March 8, the International Women’s day, is this year celebrated under the banner: A promise is a promise -

 
   

… time for Action to end Violence against Women!!! 

25 singers and musicians recording in over 20 countries are behind “We are one Woman” – UN Women’s theme song – a first in the UN system. Launching International Women’s Day, this year ‘We are one woman’ focuses on solidarity and aims to inspire listeners to join the drive for women’s rights and gender equality.

 

We are one Woman!

 

 

This year, International Women’s Day focuses on ending violence against women — a gross human rights violation that affects up to 7 in 10 women and a top priority for UN Women.

As commemorations are underway in all corners of the globe, “One Woman” reminds us that together, we can overcome violence and discrimination: “We Shall Shine!” Join us to help spread the word and enjoy this musical celebration of women worldwide.

Igniting the fire in India – & beyond

 

I was in India last year on December 16, when the young woman in Delhi was gang-raped, destroyed, beaten and along with her friend thrown naked off a bus – the site of the ordeal – for dead. This deed, performed so many times before, this time, finally, managed to stir huge crowds, and the world responded. India was electrified: Never Again! was the strong and eternally repeated and all-encom- passing sentiment of the wave of rage, rolling.

One billlion rising – dancing!

Rallying around ‘One Billion Rising’ and February 14 as world V-Day events were held in 207 countries from a debate in UK Parliament to a human chain in Bangladesh, dancing in Kabul and Tripoli to rallies in Steubenville and many, many other events in many, many more places.

‘Break the Chain’ became the song of the 2013 campaign: Strike, Dance. Rise with the below music video: Break the chain!

Read more about March 8 Women and Media events in the latest newsletter here!

 

 

In ZIMBABWE:
Owning Radio Sets is considered criminal offence

While radio plays a very important role in many societies, not least in a country like Zimbabwe, the police has declared war on short wave radio, on solar powered and wind up radios, i.e. on radios that can provide other voices and information and news than that of the government mouth-piece radio stations.

In many African countries Zimbabwe included, radio is the most important medium communities rely on to keep informed about news, and events. Low literacy levels and poor circulation make dependence on newspapers negligible.The cost of a television set is beyond the reach of many as many people leave on less than a US$1 a day.

Poor infrastructure is also another reason why people depend on radios because in most rural areas there is no electricity and the cost of purchasing a television is prohibitive to many in this region. Internet use, although rising in some countries because of an increase in the number of Internet cafes in many major cities among others, is still nominal in Zimbabwe. Read more of he Radio Dialogue (Bulawayo) story here.

 

Kinshasa FM – (radio) journalist in DRC

A rare portrait of two quite different journalists in Congo: a ‘soldier radio journalist’, the producer calls him, and a brave and open-minded journalists from the written press. Welcome into some of the corners of their professional world with challenges, dreams and goals!