© News .

“She’s on a Role!”

March 8, 2004

International Women’s Day

Lynn Paus OP Contributor

March 8, 2004 - International Women’s Day

Every year on March 8, millions of women and men around the world celebrate International Women’s Day. This day pro- vides an occasion to celebrate the gains in the fight for women’s rights, to assess the current challenges facing women, and to consider | future steps to improve women’s equality. | This year, Canadians will celebrate International Women’s Week from Saturday, _ March 6 to Saturday, March 12, 2004, with the highlight being International Women’s Day on March 8. “She’s on a Role!” is the Canadian theme for this year’s week-long series of events.

Many Canadian women, | from athletes to social activists, have accom- | plished great things in their community, country, and around the world. Some of | these women receive little recognition for | their efforts; yet provide excellent role mod- | els for Canadians, especially Canadian | youth.

This year’s theme encourages Canadians to take a closer look at what has been accom- plished to promote gender equality and build | Canada into the country it is today, as well as celebrating the many women who continue | q to work towards these goals.

Did you know that the beginnings of International Women’s Day can be traced | back to the end of the 19th Century and the | beginning of the 20th Century? Working women in North America waged bitter strikes for decent working conditions in the textile mills of New York. They marched in an effort to win shorter working hours, an | end to child labour, safe working conditions, | equal pay, and recognition of their basic | rights, including the right to vote.

The tradition of struggle for equality, jus- tice, peace, and development continues to this day.

Upcoming International Women’s Day Events in Vancouver:

International Women’s Day | Rally and March March 6 | “Stop Attacks on Women: At Home and Abroad”

Gather at 11am at Burrard Skytrain Station | March to Vancouver Public Library | Rally and speakers at noon

| | Info Fair at the Public Library in the Alice Mackay Room from 1 to 3pm. / | To book a table contact Judith at : 604.708.0447 or by email at jradovan@shaw.ca

IWD Celebration Dance Saturday March 6, 8pm WISE Club, 1882 Adanac (and Victoria) (Wheelchair access is from the rear of build- ing) Tickets sliding scale $5 to $20 at door or may be purchased at Little Sisters and

the other press e HellyParry e kelly-parry@telus.net

A Day of Prayer for Christians Worldwide

Ted Morrison OP Contributor

“Prayer and action are insepara- ble—<www.worlddayofprayer.net>

On March 7, Christian women from over 170 countries will par- ticipate in an ecumenical World Day of Prayer. Held on the first Friday in March, each year since 1927, the day brings together women of disparate sects and cul- tures. Given that March 8 is International Women’s Day, it is entirely appropriate that this year’s theme for reflection is “In Faith, Women Shape the Future.”

The World Day of Prayer traces its origins to the 19th-century, when groups of women in com- munities in the US and Canada united to pray for and support women in mission—both «at home and in foreign lands. In those days, the boards that direct- ed missions were exclusively male, and tended to take a dim view of this type of thing.

However, where there’s a need, someone will move to fill it, and beginning in 1861 women of var- ious Christian denominations began to found their own mission boards. In 1887, there were calls from Methodist and Presbyterian women’s organizations for days of prayer for missions both at home and overseas. In 1895, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Anglican Church of Canada inau-

gurated a day of group prayers, called “corporate intercession”.

For the first few dozen years, days of prayer were set by differ- ent sects according to their own needs. Religious disagreements branches of Christianity, small to outsiders, created barriers that often acted to prevent co-operative effort.

It wasn’t until after the horrors of the First World War that mul- tiple denominations began to assemble for this purpose. In 1918, five denominations came together for a day of united

between various

prayer and action.

From that time, the Day has grown out of its missionary tradi- tion to something far broader. On March 7 2004, the world we live in would barely be recogniza- ble to the women who quietly and steadily fought for their right to pray both for and with one another, and some feel the need for prayer has never been greater.

The World Day of Prayer is intended, in a small way, to bring people closer together, and to establish a mindful and continual relationship between Christian women, their communities, and each other. But, it’s not entirely without controversy.

In 2001, the Winnipeg organ- izing committee caused a stir by censoring the phrase “God, father

Police and Customs Join MADD Against Marijuana

Kelly Parry News Editor

In an open letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, the coun- try’s top police associations, a pre- eminent victims’ rights organiza- tion, and the national union rep- resenting customs officers called on the Prime Minister to delay the passage of the new marijuana legislation until countermeasures are in place to safeguard Canadians’ health and safety. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), the Canadian Professional Police Association (CPPA), the Canadian Association of Police

Boards (CAPB), Mothers Against

Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), and Customs Excise Union Douanes Accise (CEUDA) | stated that the

Government's current initiative of

i ssessio ws for loosening possession laws f marijuana “will come at a high price for our society.”

wae Page 4 _http://www.otherpress.ca

Edgar MacLeod, CACP President states: “With Bill C-10 this government is putting the cart before the horse. We need a National Drug Strategy that encourages collaboration and active involvement of the federal government, provinces and terri- tories, and municipalities. The current drug strategy falls far short of that goal. The strategy is not adequately funded and in most cases the funding and the tools are not currently in place.”

Andrew Murie, National Executive Director of MADD Canada states: “The Government is aware of legislation that will keep roads safe from drug- impaired drivers. Police need the authority to detect and charge drug-impaired drivers. Effective safeguards should be in place before we make marijuana easily accessible to the public, and par-

and mother of us all,” which had been written into the service. Bernice Santor, who chaired the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canadas WDP committee, expressed mild surprise that the inclusive language met with such stiff opposition.

By their __ participation, Christian women the world around affirm their faith in Jesus and share their hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, opportunities, and needs.

The website tells visitors that the World Day of Prayer move- ment encourages women to:

* Become aware of the whole world, and no longer live in isola- tion

March 3, 2004

Photos by Angela Blattmann

* Be enriched by the faith experi- ence of Christians from ‘other countries and cultures * Take up the burdens of other people and pray both with and for them ¢ Become aware of their talents and use them in the service of society

This year, Christian women in British Columbia who wish to become involved in the World Day of Prayer should contact the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada at 416.929.5184 or email wicc@wicc.org. Visit their website at <www.wicc.org> for more information.

®

MADD"

Mothers Against Drunk Driving” Les méres contre l’alcool au volant™

ticularly to young motorists, who are already over-represented in impaired driving crashes and fatalities.”

Tony Cannavino, CPPA President states: “The marijuana bill is sending the wrong message to Canadians, particularly our young people. We have serious concerns about the booming mar- ijuana grow-op industry. We need tools and training for police to deal with drug-impaired drivers. We need to retain police discre- tion to lay criminal charges for marijuana possession when cir- cumstances warrant. There are serious issues about Canada’s bor- ders. We are urging Prime Minister Martin to listen to police and victims, and reject this bill until these problems have been corrected.”

Edward W. Keyes, CAPB

President states: “It is imperative

that adequate programs be put in place before legislation to decrim- inalize marijuana is enacted, to educate young people and their parents about the adverse effects of illicit drug use and to enable an integrated approach to preven- tion, enforcement, treatment, rehabilitation and research. We share the concerns of MADD Canada and our policing partners in this regard.”

Ron Moran, CEUDA National. President states: “With the grow- ing and misguided impression that Canada is fast becoming the Amsterdam of North America, travelers must expect longer wait times at the border if this bill is adopted.”

The open letter to the Prime Minister listed all the above con- cerns and can be consulted at

<www.cppa-acpp.ca> under “What's new.”