Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Another victory for vaginas everywhere!



---From The Feminist Majority--- http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswire.asp

12/22/2009 - Mexico City legalizes same-sex marriage and adoptions
The Mexico City assembly approved a bill Monday permitting same-sex couples to marry, reports The Guardian. It is the first major Latin American city to do so. Mayor Marcelo Ebrard is expected to sign the bill, which alters the city code to define marriage as "the free uniting of two people," instead of its current definition as a union between a man and a woman.

If the bill becomes law, same-sex couples will gain a series of rights, including the ability to legally adopt children, obtain joint bank loans, inherit wealth, and be added to their spouse�s insurance. Mexico City has recognized civil unions since 2007, but the unions did not confer legal rights.

Mexico would become the 8th country in the world in which same-sex marriage is legal. Gay rights activists and progressive lawmakers praised the vote and celebrated in the city legislature.

"Mexico City has put itself in the vanguard," said Mexico City legislator Victor Hugo Romo. "This is a historic day."

The conservative National Action Party and the Roman Catholic Church opposed the bill and called on Mayor Ebrard to veto it. The NAP has promised to challenge the bill in court if Ebrard signs it.

Liberals are backing the bill and cited a triumph over hate and discrimination. "For centuries, unfair laws prohibited marriage between whites and blacks, between Europeans and Indians," legislator Romo said. "Today, all the barriers have disappeared."

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Vagina Monologues 2010!!!!!




Auditions have gone well and we have a brand new cast of vagina warriors!!! New Director Erica Hanes will make VDAY 2010 at OSU phenomenal! To find out more information on meetings, volunteering, or vday in general please email osuheartsvm@gmail.com!


LOVE YOUR VAGINA AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Latest in vagina news; The Terminator is Back



Read & Discuss the latest article from the empowering Eve Ensler entitled


The Terminator is Back



What governor - once an actor, then a Terminator, married to a major women's leader - has the chutzpah to wipe out 100 percent of the domestic violence budget of California, the biggest state in the country, with a single grope of his veto pen?

What same governor does this as the state economy is plummeting and violence is escalating? When the STAND Hotline, that serves Contra Costa County, fielded more than 12,500 calls for help in the first seven months of 2009, triple the number in a normal year (if violence is ever normal)? In a state where over the past six months at least five men, desperate from losing their jobs, have murdered their families and themselves? What other governor is willing to sacrifice the lives of his constituent daughters and mothers in order to protect oil corporations from paying taxes on their multi-billion-dollar profits - fair taxes that could easily fund these same programs?

I try to imagine what the governor thinks as he draws his veto pen through 40 years of women's struggle and work, how he sleeps knowing women across his state who are exposed to brutality will be left without escape, shelter or even a friendly voice at the end of a hotline. How he justifies women having to choose between becoming homeless or staying in the midst of danger. Then I am reminded he is the Terminator - no pity, no remorse, no fear.

Fortunately, other governors do feel pity and remorse. They know that having muscle isn't what makes a man, but it is compassion and wisdom and respect for women and girls. In New Mexico, Governor Bill Richardson has not only preserved funds for domestic violence programs, but has made a sincere and deep commitment to ending violence against women in his state.

Schwarzenegger has always had contempt for the vulnerable, or maybe it's just his own inner girlie man he despises. But now he has gone too far.

This cut is reckless and dangerous. It could begin a wave of cuts throughout the country. It sends a message to perpetrators. It basically says no one is watching, no one is coming. All bets are off. Having just spent months in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I can tell you that this climate of free-for-all spreads violence like a California wildfire.

Governor, too many hours in your cigar smoking corporate oil drilling boy's tent has made you think that you can get away with this. We've got your number. Unlike you we don't act alone. There are thousands of us, we are organized, and we won't be stopped by one muscle-bound veto.

Don't terminate. Reinstate the funds. Don't annihilate. Alleviate the suffering.


Eve Ensler, a playwright and activist, is the founder of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

VAGINA NEWS UPDATE




The fight must continue! It may be summer break for you or me (well not for me really) but for women around the world and especially in the Congo, the continuation to raise awareness and funding to help end violence against women is paramount. As each day passes, more girls are raped, and more women are tortured in senseless war tactics. All women must do what they can even just by remaining informed to help end this violence. In this weeks news, vagina lovers at OSU are saddened by the reality that the U.N is not upholding its mission to protect those most vulnerable to human rights violations. Below is an excerpt from Eve's Washington post article. Please visit VDAY ARTICLE

BREAK THE SILENCE. JOIN THE MOVEMENT. VDAY...UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS!


[ Resolution 1820 must be enforced with seriousness by the Security Council and the secretary general. Arrests need to be made immediately of known rapists and war criminals at the highest levels. The United Nations must stop supporting military actions, because they are doomed in Congo. And the root economic causes of the war need to be addressed with the leaders of countries in Africa's Great Lakes region who commit violence to reap benefits from Congo's minerals, as well as their Western corporate partners. They, too, are liable for these atrocities.

President Obama and U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice should send a very clear message to the world. It is within U.S. power, as a member of the Security Council, to push for measures to end impunity and to carve out an enduring peace through careful diplomacy for the people of Congo.]

Eve Ensler, a playwright and activist, is the founder of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls.


This Article was originally published in:

Washington Post
06/30/2009

Monday, May 4, 2009

SPOTLIGHT CAMPAIGN 2009: DRC




V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologues. In 2007, more than 3000 V-Day events took place in the U.S. and around the world. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $50 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. http://www.vday.org



SPOTLIGHT CAMPAIGN 2009: DRC DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO





Stop Raping our Greatest Resource: Power to Women in the DRC is a new global campaign to call attention to the wide-scale atrocities committed against women and girls in Eastern DRC and demand an end to the impunity with which these crimes are committed.

By joining this campaign, you will be supporting Congolese women and men who are demanding an end to rape. You will be supporting local efforts to demand justice and accountability. You will be supporting survivors of sexual violence to heal and rebuild their lives and communities. And you will join others around the globe to demand that women and girls in DRC are safe.

The Campaign is being initiated by V-Day and UNICEF, representing UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict.


Donate to STOP RAPING OUR GREATEST RESOURCE: POWER TO THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, a global campaign that is:

* Raising awareness about the level of sexual violence in the DRC
* Advocating for change on local, provincial, national and international levels
* Providing support to activists in the DRC and around the globe who are working to end the atrocities and change perceptions about sexual violence
* Raising funds to build the City of Joy in Bukavu, South Kivu--a project of Panzi Hospital in partnership with V-Day and Unicef-- that will be a refuge for healed women survivors of rape and torture, providing them with leadership development, educational and income-generating opportunities

To learn more about donating to the cause please visit: VDAY

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

V-Day Earth Week

This week has been so full of vagina events I've hardlly had time to post! Here are the final events of the quarter!


Eco-Vulva

This Wednesday April 22, 2009
All Day on the Ohio State South Oval

How earth friendly is your vagina?
Come find out ways to be more in tune with nature and discover an array of earth and vagina friendly products. We will have tons of food, music, books, prizes and other fun things all day long!


Open Mic Night: What I Want My Words To Do To You

Thursday, April 16, 2009

!!!!THIS WEEKEND!!!!




The V-day crew is at it again, putting on the stellar, much anticipated performance of Eve Ensler's work, A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer. Tickets are on sale NOW and are only 3$!!!!


Performing to Stop the Violence against Women and Girls


Host: V-day @ The Ohio State University
Start Time: Friday, April 17, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time: Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 8:00pm
Location: Saxbe Auditorium in Drinko Hall, the Law building.
Street: 55 W 12th Ave
Email: mcdeming@gmail.osu


Join The event on facebook!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Recent [()] Friendly News

President Obama: Say "NO" to Abstinence-Only Programs

Over the past decade the federal government has allocated more than $1.3 billion for ineffective, dangerous abstinence-only programs that provide students with incomplete, medically inaccurate information. These programs focus solely on abstinence and provide little or no information about contraception.


To read more click here



In order to make responsible and healthy decisions, young people need medically accurate, age-appropriate information about sex and sexuality.

President Obama has said that he supports comprehensive sex education programs that promote abstinence and provide information on contraception.

As President Obama finalizes the details of his fiscal year 2010 budget, join leading organizations such as The National Partnership for Women & Families by urging him to stop funding abstinence-only programs and direct our scarce public health resources to evidence-based, comprehensive sex education programs that actually work.

Take action now!



BUFFET FAMILY TO INVEST IN WOMEN AND GIRLS


April 07, 2009
Women and Girls to Be Focus of Buffett Son's Fund

Organizations serving women and girls will be the main beneficiaries of roughly $1-billion pledged by Warren Buffett to his son Peter’s NoVo Foundation, the Associated Press reports.

NoVo, in New York, has begun granting millions to charities that focus on female clients, promoting their educational and economic development and fighting domestic violence.

“It just was logical for us after we really thought about it,” said Jennifer Buffett, Peter Buffett’s wife. “If you empower adolescent girls who are the mother of every child yet to be born … they have so much more to offer their sons, their daughters in that next generation.”

To read more click here

Source:

Monday, March 30, 2009

ONLY A FEW WEEKS AWAY




Its hard to believe that just getting back into the swing of a new quarter, our play A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, is just around the corner...

V-day has done it again! On April 17th and 18th at 8p the same people who brought you The Vagina Monologues will be bringing to OSU's campus its highly anticipated performance: A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant and a Prayer (MMRP)!!!
This event is only $3...Yes, you heard me! Only $3 to raise awareness AND to support local organizations working to end violence against women and girls! Come on down to the Michael E. Moritz Law School Auditorium located at 55 West 12th Avenue for a night of solidarity, women's empowerment, and some damn good monologues! Get your flaming hot tickets at the door, from a cast or crew member or at osuheartstvm@gmail.com All are welcome.


About The Play

A groundbreaking collection of monologues by world-renowned authors and playwrights, edited by Eve Ensler and Mollie Doyle and commissioned by V-Day for the first V-Day: UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS festival, which took place June 2006 in New York City.


Beyond the time constraint of five minutes or less and the theme of women and violence, each monologue was for the writer to realize. No constructs, restrictions, or rules. A fantasy of a world where there is no violence. A poem about the physics of a slap. A memory.

These writings are inspired, funny, angry, heartfelt, tragic, and beautiful. Together they create a true and profound portrait of how violence against women affects every one of us. A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT, AND A PRAYER is a call to the world to demand an end to violence against women.

ABOUT V-DAY:
V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler's award winning play The Vagina Monologues and other artistic works.

In 2008, more than 3400 V-Day events took place in the U.S. and around the world. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $60 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women.

Join The Fight. We Did.
www.vday.org

Vaginas in the News

Here is an example of how women everywhere are joining the fight to stop the violence. Rock on Ladies! ({'}) VDAY LOVE from OSU ({'})


Dont miss the OSU Open Mic Prison Show happening April 23, 2009 at 8:30pm in the Hale Center room 134. BE THERE

Sunday March 29, 2009

V-Day raises awareness with "Any One of Us"

Samantha Sonderen

Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Features
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 Last Friday February 20, The Vagina Monologues were performed at the Touhill Performing arts center.  This years show focused on women in the penitentiary and the choices they make that put them in there.
Media Credit: Sofi Seck
Last Friday February 20, The Vagina Monologues were performed at the Touhill Performing arts center. This years show focused on women in the penitentiary and the choices they make that put them in there.

At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Valentine's Day is not merely what it used to be. It is not solely about candy, stuffed animals or romantic dinners. Valentine's Day is now also "V-Day," a day to raise awareness about women and gender equality.

The "VOICES" student group puts on a yearly show to demonstrate specific issues that some women deal with on a regular basis.

In previous years, the V-Day production has been "The Vagina Monologues," but this year "Any One Of Us: Words From Prison" was the show that had audience members filling the Touhill Performing Arts Center and the Pilot House with cheers.

V-Day has been around for quite some time, but it was not presented at UM-St. Louis until a few years ago when the "VOICES" group was formed.

V-Day can serve many purposes and offer benefits to the lives of women.

Whether it is at the V-Day booth selling vagina lollipops, or with a production, Monica Swindle, V-Day organizer, attempts to make the reasoning for V-Day clear and known to the student population.

"The purpose is to raise awareness about women's sexuality, domestic violence issues and also to raise money for local domestic violence organizations," Swindle said.

This year's show, "Any One Of Us: Words From Prison," focused on some of the issues that bring women into a correctional facility and the extreme situations that they face while behind bars.

Matthew Amend, the director of the production, put together a cast of women to play nine prisoners telling a story about the struggles they faced in life and in prison. The show was based on actual letters that were submitted by women in four different correctional facilities.

The roles of the prisoners were played by Tanesha Simchah Walker, Katie Bucher, Amanda Densmore, Krystle Morehouse, Rachel Ogborn, Theresa Greene, Jacqueline Thompsen, Natalie Crothers and Cori Stewart.

Direct Link for Full Story

http://media.www.thecurrentonline.com/media/storage/paper304/news/2009/02/23/Features/VDay-Raises.Awareness.With.any.One.Of.Us-3643390.shtml

Sunday, March 29, 2009

OPEN MIC NIGHT:Prison Show


PRISON SHOW
Featuring a special performance by the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

1$ AT THE DOOR ( ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT SARNCO)
Thursday April 23, 2009 8:30- 10:30PM Hale Center.


({}) ANOTHER VAGINA FRIENDLY PRODUCTION ({})
































Thursday, March 19, 2009

Eco-Vulva











V-Day at OSU PRESENTS......



EcoVulva
on the Oval
April 22, 2009 (Earth Day).






EcoVulva is designed to educate and raise awareness on environmentally-friendly women’s issues such as personal hygiene, safe-sex practices, and “being green”. University and community organizations, along with local business, will be participating in this event (this means free prizes for you). The event will take place on The North Oval on the OSU main campus.







LOVE MOTHER EARTH...LOVE YOUR VULVA...Love those buckeyes

















Thursday, March 12, 2009

How green is your vagina?

With Earth Day coming up and the general need for a more environmentally friendly world- one might ask, how green is your vagina? Here are some tips on keeping your vagina eco friendly!


No more plastic
-Cloth Pads and Menstrual Cups are more comfortable, have better designs, and help eliminate tons of waste by saying goodbye to plastic and hello to cloth and comfort!
http://www.partypantspads.com/
http://www.sorella-luna.com/



Live a LUSH life! -LUSH bath and beauty products are 100% vegetarian, made by hand and never tested on animals. Women deserve fresh, natural ingredients that benefit our bodies. Stay green with LUSH cosmetics:)
http://www.lush.com


Get Up! Get Out! Get Green!
Walk, ride, take transit, or carpool everywhere. Get in shape and help reduce your carbon footprint. Once a week? Twice? Everyday? It all makes a difference. Can't walk or bike to and from just yet? Ride to work, take the bus home, bus to work the next day and ride home. Baby steps.


Staying Green is Sexy
Use a condom EVERY SINGLE TIME and do not flush them down the toilet. If you can find fair trade condoms use them, otherwise just try to stay away from plastic materials like polyurethane condoms and also seek out environmentally friendly sex toy companies such as Dreamscapes
http://www.dreamscapesfl.com/


Down with the Douchebag
Feminie Hygeine products such as douches are not only bad for the environment, they are bad for your vagina because they disturb its natural pH balance. The vagina is a wonderful part of the body that has its own cleansing system and does not need artificial chemicals to maintain its freshness. Save your money and create one of these homeade cleansers.

Vinegar Douche

Morning: Mix two teaspoons apple cider vinegar with two cups of room temperature water. Fill douche bag and use accordingly.

Evening: Mix one teaspoon live yogurt, unflavored, with one cup of warm water. Fill douche bag and use accordingly.

Tea Tree Oil Douche
Two quarts warm water
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
10 drops of Tea Tree Oil
Combine ingredients in a two quart douche bag and use accordingly.

General Hygiene Douche
Two quarts warm water
Two tablespoons peppermint, rosemary, or yarrow.
Boil water and herbs for 30 minutes and let soak for two hours. Strain off the herbs and pour mixture into douche bag. Use accordingly. This douche is safe enough for weekly use.

Douches for yeast infections or vaginitis should be used daily for two weeks. If the symptoms continue, then it is important to seek the help of a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment. Do not use hot water for the obvious reason of scalding the delicate tissue on the inside of the vagina.



Special thanks to Home Remedies
http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com

Love your vagina this Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month!

During Women's History Month, take time out to inspire the next generation by recognizing Women's achievements throughout history. As 51% percent of the population women are a pretty big deal (emphasis on the pretty)!

In recognition of Girl power here is a brief time line of Women's Achievements


1850-1900

  • In 1854, Florence Nightingale takes 38 women to Turkey to nurse wounded and sick Crimean War soldiers.

  • In 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman doctor in the Western hemisphere.

  • Harvard Medical School admits the first black students and the first woman: Harriot Kezia Hunt, 44. Hunt withdraws after riots by male students.

  • Women make up 13 percent of all paid workers in America.

  • Susan B. Anthony meets Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick B. Douglass for the first time at an anti-slavery meeting in Rochester, NY.

  • 1900-1975

  • Women officially participate in the Olympics for the first time. The first 19 women to compete in the modern Olympics Games in Paris, France, play in just three sports: tennis, golf, and croquet.

  • 19 percent, or one in five, women are in the work force. That's 5 million women earning wages outside of the home.

  • The International Ladies' Garment Workers Union (IGWU) is formed.

  • Women are admitted to the U.S. military academies.

  • The first national Women's Health Conference is held in Boston.

  • Elizabeth Ann Seaton is canonized as the first American-born saint.

  • Gloria Randle Scott becomes the first black president of the Girl Scouts of America.

  • 1975-2000

  • More than 2.5 million girls took part in high school athletic programs during the 1997-98 school year. That's triple the number in 1972-73.

  • In 1998, women earned 73 cents for every dollar earned by men ($25,862 compared with $35,345). This figure isn't statistically different from women's all-time high in this regard of 74 cents ($23,710 versus $32,144) in 1996.

  • In 1998, the educational attainment levels of women ages 25 to 29 exceeded those of men in the same age group. 90 percent of young women had at least a high school diploma and 29 percent had a bachelor's degree or more. The respective percentages for men of the same ages were 87 percent and 26 percent.

  • Even if women and men voted at the same rate, women would hold the balance of electoral power. Projections indicate women constituted 52 percent of the voting-age population in November 1998, representing majorities in each state except Alaska and Nevada.


  • We haven't come a long way, we've come a short way. If we hadn't come a short way, no one would be calling us baby. ~Elizabeth Janeway


    Special thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau and 2000: Anniversaries in Women's History for statistics.




    TAKE ACTION! Show your appreciation for vagina's all over the world!


    Donate your Time...


    Get Involved with campus or community organizations that cater to Women's initiatives


    V-Day@OSU
    osuheartstvm@gmail.com



    WARR Women and Allies Rising in Resistance
    http://warr.org.ohio-state.edu/



    WISE Women's Initiative for Strength & Empowerment
    wiseosu@gmail.com



    Volunteer at your local Women's Shelter



    Support Local women owned businesses



    Intern at the Women's Fund of Central Ohio
    - contact info@womensfundcentralohio.org



    Intern with the Governor's Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach
    visit for more info
    http://www.governor.ohio.gov



    Donate your Love :)


    Tell the women in your life how special and powerful they are!


    Take a "Love yourself girl" day and do something nice for yourself (and your vagina)


    Spend time with younger girls in your life, tell them that they are beautiful and they can do anything they set their mind to!


    Reach out to a woman or girl you feel might need a friend





    $$$ Donate your Money $$$



    Globally...

    Donate to End violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo
    https://secure.ga4.org/01/drcongo/

    Donate to V Day Until the Violence Stops!
    http://www.vday.org



    Locally...



    Invest in the potential of Women and Girls in Central Ohio!

    visit http://www.womensfundcentralohio.org/

    Donate to help women and children in Central Ohio


    Ameythst Inc.

    http://www.amethyst-inc.org/


    Help Eliminate Domestic Violence in Ohio

    http://www.choicesdvcols.org/


    HAPPY WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH


    LOVE,


    OSU VAGINAS



    For more information about Women's History Month please visit

    www.nwhp.org


    Tuesday, March 10, 2009

    All Things Vagina

    V-Day at OSU Events 2009

    --Events--

    Surly Girl Fundraiser
    A Raffle and fundraiser to benefit SARNCO at Surly Girl Saloon in the Short North
    January 29th 5pm-close

    The Vagina Monologues, A play by Eve Ensler
    February 12-14th 8pm Independance Hall
    -For Valentine For Victory For VAGINA!

    V-Day at OSU Spotlight Campaign- Teach In on the Democratic Republic of Congo
    Friday, March 6, 2009
    Time:
    2:00pm - 4:00pm
    Location:
    OSU Jennings Hall Room 155
    -LEARN what you can do to help STOP the violence in the DRC

    V-Day Open Mic Night
    April 8th Hale Hall 7:30-9:00pm
    -Come and let your voice be heard in a vagina friendly space

    (MMRP) A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, A play by Eve Ensler
    April 17th and 18th Drinko Hall
    -This is the final event for VDay please come and enjoy a powerful play written by Eve Ensler, performed by fabulous OSU Students



    None of these events would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our V-Day @ OSU members! Thank you from the bottom of my heart Vagina warriors! Special Thanks to our fabulous campus organizer Micaela Deming for all of her hard work!

    Who We Are

    V-Day at Ohio State University shall strive to promote awareness of violence against women and other women’s issues around the world. This work is centered on several different events including productions of The Vagina Monologues.


    V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.

    V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.

    V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.

    V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.

    V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.

    V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.

    V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine's Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.

    V-Day is a fierce, wild, unstoppable movement and community. Join us!