Guest Post: Building an International Youth Movement for Sex, Rights and Climate Change Solutions in Cancún

Today's guest post comes from Cassie Gardner, a Public Health Student at UCLA, and a previous National Youth Organizer with the Sierra Club. Here she writes about her experience at the International Climate Change Conference in Cancun this past week.

Two weeks ago when I bought my flight to attend the International Climate Change Conference in Cancún Mexico (COP 16), my classmates at my UCLA Masters in Public Health Program thought I was crazy. They knew that I’d worked for nearly four years as a Sierra Club Global Population and Environment Program National Youth Organizer, to advance global women's rights, reproductive health and sustainable development solutions. But what did that have to do with reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing communities’ resilience to the economic, health and environmental impacts of climate change around the world?

For the past two years I’ve

worked with friends and colleagues to help design a collaborative policy statement for COP 15 in Copenhagen and COP 16 in Cancún, “Global Youth Support Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as Just and Equitable Climate Change Solutions.” Co-sponsored by twelve youth leadership, population and reproductive health, and environmental organizations like Advocates for Youth, Population Action International and Sierra Club, this statement makes the case that investing in women's voices and choices-- especially young women in developing countries who are often most vulnera

ble to climate change impacts, having to cope with drought, flooding, disasters and disease-- will help to build more healthy, resilient communities to climate change impacts. Sexual and reproductive health solutions that are also climate change solutions include but are not limited to educating girls and boys, empowering women, ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education, meeting the demand for voluntary family planning, and strengthening communities’ resilience to climate change impacts—thus empowering people to choose healthy families and a healthy planet.

Over the summer I volunteered for two months with a Youth Leadership in Sexual and Reproductive Health Program in Quintana Roo, Mexico, GoJoven, run by International Health Programs of the Public Health Institute. Working with youth leaders in the environmental, reproductive health, media, NGO and political fields, we strategized their involvement in the International Climate Change Conference (COP 16) from November 29th-December 10th in Cancún, Mexico. In the end we accredited six GoJoven youth leaders to officially attend the conference and more than ten to attend and speak at unofficial side-events like the Conference of Youth and Kilmaforum. While in Cancún, we also attended a PAI-run workshop on “Strengthening the Linkages between Population, Reproductive Health, Gender and Climate Change Resilience” along with youth and adult leaders from the Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Nepal. There, we shared ideas and created action plans involving public education, online networking, and social media to take this movement forward leading up to the COP 17 in South Africa next year.

Although I’m a busy graduate student, I’m honored and thrilled to work in collaboration with friends and fellow activist leaders from around the world on global justice, human rights and sustainability issues that I’m passionate about. Now it’s time to return to Los Angeles for my final exams, and to somehow find time for much-needed research, public education and continued coalition-building over the coming year to strengthen these linkages. Ideally by next year we will have built more awareness and identified new leaders for these issues, to have an even greater turn-out for COP 17 in South Africa!

Choice v. Freedom v. Abortion Rights

Last week, Katha Pollitt of The Nation and historian Nancy Cohen wrote that the repro rights movement needs a better descriptor than "pro-choice." Ms. Magazine contributor Carol Joffe wrote a similar post in February.

Cohen proposed "pro-freedom" as a patriotic alternative that would appeal to mainstream voters, while Pollitt, Joffe, and a number of progressive organizations prefer the term reproductive justice to describe the rights for which we're fighting.

I agree with Pollitt that we're probably not going to shift the language our country uses around abortion and reproduction at this rate. But I figured I'd weigh in anyway.

I like the term "abortion rights" since it is specific and normalizes the word abortion. I believe that as a movement, we should say what we mean. This also happens to be the language the AP style guide uses. NPR recently adopted the AP guidelines around this language in response to a post by their ombudsman, Alicia Shepard.

The repro justice approach is important and a more comprehensive way to discuss the variety of issues we work on. Both terms are descriptive and are not mutually exclusive, and we can use both where appropriate.

That said, "choice" feels like an old friend and I'd be a little sorry to see it go. Nor am I so quick to believe we have somehow lost the linguistic and cultural high ground to "pro-life" extremists. Your thoughts?

What Comes to Mind When You Think of Reproductive Health?

Stanford's Students Advocating Gender Equality (SAGE), an FMF Affiliate Group, asked just that. Check out what students on campus had to say.



If you're not doing so already, think about using videos and interviews to gauge the level of feminist awareness on campus and take action!

If your feminist group has an informative or action-based video that you'd like featured on the Choices Campus Blog, email your Campus Organizer.

Good work Stanford SAGE!

Latinas Empowered for Action Conference

This past weekend I attended the Latina Empowerment in Action Conference held by California Latinas for Reproductive Justice at California State University Northridge. This was an amazing conference filled with feminist fun. The conference consisted of workshops, group exercises, discussions and games(which I did not win).

The attendees ranged from students,organization representatives, and the Los Angeles general population. Women were able to network, share ideas, and come up with strategies to empower their community.

The Workshops ranged from coalition-building training to advocacy and policy training. The exercises that followed focused on situational strategy planning and teamwork in building and following bills and policies.

The discussions offered the attendees a chance to sound out on the issues they feel greatly affect the Latina and immigrant population. What was shared, and the focal point of the conference, was the introduction and development of the intersection of issues in the lives of the Latina community. Words like child care, workers rights, reproductive care and access, gender, domestic violence, political power, sex education and access, sexuality, environmental issues, and access to health care, filled the board describing the Latina women and immigrant experience.

Here are the photos from the event.




***I have put together a video, but excuse the logo of the video software I used.It goes away halfway through.


For more info, check out: California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
(213) 270-5258 (telephone)
info@clrj.org

Obama Takes a Stab at Stupak

Throughout this Stupak whirlwind, we've been awaiting to publicly address where he stands on the legislation.

Last night, on ABC news, the President defended the rights of 50% of the American population, as well as put the debate in big picture terms, by saying:

“I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill...And we're not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions...I want to make sure that the provision that emerges meets that test that we are not in some way sneaking in funding for abortions, but, on the other hand, that we're not restricting women's insurance choices.”

Here, Obama points out that Health Care Reform should be just that, and not be used as a means to sneak in conservative slashes to reproductive rights. Thank you, President Obama!! You are what a feminist looks like!

photo credit: vmarinelli on flickr.com

Conference Countdown! Last Chance for Low Rates!

The Feminist Majority Foundation's Western Regional Feminist Campus Leadership Conference is only 8 days away! Will we see you November 6-7 at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles? Don't forget to register now!

We're working hard to make sure this is one conference you won't forget!

On Friday, Nov. 6 from 12:00 - 1:30pm come to Santa Monica College Quad for a Feminist Speak OUT! The event is free and open to the public so come have your voice heard! Then stick around for our Action Training, Networking Event and Pizza Party from 6:00 - 8:00pm.

And ATTENTION FMLA ALUMNI! On Saturday, Nov. 7 from 7:45 - 10:00pm, don't miss our Feminist Mixer at Damon and Pythias in Westwood (1061 Broxton Ave). We hope to see you there.

Early Bird Registration has been EXTENDED through Monday, November 2, so register now to lock in these discount rates!

Remember, register today to get the reduced rate of $15 for individuals and $12 for groups.

See you next weekend!


For Equality,

Jacqueline, Allie, and duVergne
The West Coast Campus Team

P.S. Don't forget to check out our conference website for more info on hotels, room board, ride board, fundraising tips, and more!

ImMEDIAte Justice! Film screening FOR young women, BY young women

ImMEDIAte Justice, a program for young women to explore reproductive justice issues through documentary-style filmmaking, presents two original reproductive justice films created for and by young women. All are welcome to attend!

FILM 1:
Espie is 17 but she still hasn't had her Quinceañera. Family members disapprove of her relationship with long-time girlfriend, Jess and believe she doesn't deserve this coming-of-age rite. Meanwhile, Espie's good friend Luna anxiously awaits the homecoming of her older sister, as her family reconciles fears about her sister's life and opportunities as a queer woman. Youth get behind the lens to share Espie's much anticipated sweet 15 at 17 and Luna's family reunion in this striking & fresh look at love, family, and growing up queer and female in Boyle Heights.

FILM 2:
Where did you get your sex education? One simple question sends our filmmakers down a rabbit hole of unanswered questions and gaps in young people's knowledge about sex, as youth filmmakers explore the significance of having vital sexual health knowledge withheld.

Saturday, August 29th 2-4pm
USC School of Cinematic Arts Building, Room 110
(On the USC campus. Enter at Hoover Ave and Jefferson Blvd. Turn Right on West 34th Street.
The Cinematic Arts Building will be on your left hand side.)

Hope you can make it! There will be food, interactive activities and prizes!

Action in Rememberance of Dr. George Tiller

Aired today on Democracy Now, an excellent news coverage on the life and activism of Dr. George Tiller painted a clear picture of the significance of his work, the dangers in practicing reproductive health care and promoting reproductive justice, and why we need his work to continue on.

Among those who worked so closely with him over the past years--Dr. Tiller's attorney, Laura Shaneyfelt; OB/GYN and Tiller's colleague for seven years, Dr. Shelley Sella; gynecologist and also colleague of Tiller, Dr. Susan Robinson; senior attorney with the Center for Reproductive rights who represented more than 2,000 Dr. Tiller's patients, Bonnie Scott Jones; and president of the Feminist Majority Foundation who worked with Tiller on anti-clinic violence, Ellie Smeal--all shared their stories on what it was like working with him and their involvement in the pro-choice movement.



If your feminist group is looking to educate your campus about Dr. Tiller's significant history in the fight for reproductive choice and honor those who place their life on the line everyday to provide adequate and accessible reproductive services, consider these options:

1. Host a vigil in honor of Dr. Tiller's life
2. Host a screening and dialogue about Democracy Now's news story
   
3. Send greeting cards of support and encouragement for the awesome work of reproductive health clinics in your area.

If you have other helpful ideas, please feel free to post a comment or contact us at campusteam@feminist.org.

Let us always keep the feminist fire burning!

In solidarity!

Feminist Forum: Young, Feminist & A MOTHER ?!?!?!

Contributing journalist to The Nation and political and cultural critic, Nona Willis Aronowitz, wrote a very interesting piece recently entitled, "Raising the Baby Question", highlighting the debates among young and old feminists about mothering and caregiving. She delves into the idea of expanding our conversations surrounding reproductive justice and not to leave political and social issues of maternity leave, affordable child care, and balanced parenting to mainstream mommies who find a separation between family life and feminist ideals.

She also touches on the stigmatization of young, working class mothers and mothers of color, and how their voices are left unheard in these debates. This is profoundly the case in this clip I found of the old 70s sitcom, Good Times, where character J.J. (the eldest son of the Evans family) announces he wants to marry his new girlfriend, Henrietta, who is unexpectedly invited to dinner. When she arrives, a party of one becomes a surprising party of two. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are not too thrilled and sadly criticizes Henrietta's decision to become a mother. The ending of the clip disturbed me greatly because she was characterized as a victim of her own choice.



Check out the article and the clip and tell us what you think!   Peace.