Women take it to the bridge

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/women-t ... ridge.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

CWU members responded to the call of International Women's Day and joined 'Women on the Bridge' in London today, to celebrate the strength of women and call for justice, peace and equality.

Members of the union's Women's Advisory Committee (WAC) gathered at the Millennium Bridge, waving CWU flags and joining thousands of others, including celebrities and activists like Cherie Blair, Bianca Jagger and Kathy Lette, to show solidarity and demand change.

CWU equality officer Linda Roy (pictured being interviewed) said she was hugely inspired by the event and the memory of great figures of the past, like Mary Macarthur and Emmeline Pankhurst, but she also stressed that there is much yet to do: "Women around the world are still being tortured and beaten in countries such as Afghanistan - there is so much brutality towards women. We are here to show our sisters around the world that we're here, standing with them."

WAC Chair Jean Sharrocks said: "This is about women coming together, all over this country and all over the world, to demand their rights. We are going backwards in this country now. All the cuts that this Government is making are hitting women and children the hardest."

A flock of white doves was released from the bridge as a symbol of peace and then more than two thousand people marched, holding white balloons, to the Royal Festival Hall. Along the way the chant went up, "Unite! No war! No fight! Women unite!"

Once there, they listened to a range of speakers invited by event organisers, Women for Women. Bianca Jagger (left) spoke powerfully about the need to declare "a non-violent war in order to protect women's rights" and she stressed that "we cannot afford to be apathetic", even in this country. She said: "We call ourselves a developed country, but we've only had one female prime minister. And how many women are in the Cabinet? We cannot afford to be apathetic... for the sake of our daughters and granddaughters."

However, she stressed that the situation is far worse in parts of the world, where women suffer terrible violence and where rape is used as a weapon of war, saying: "Women across the world need our support."

Cherie Blair (right) argued that economic empowerment is the key to improving the lives of women in the developing world. She also acknowledged that in this country we still have some way to go: we do not have equal pay, women still hit a glass ceiling in the workplace and are scarce in the boardroom.

Other speakers included writer Kathy Lette, who refuted any claim that all is well in the post-feminist world in which we now live and announced emphatically that: "The post-feminist has kept her bra and burned her brains!"

Dr Helen and Laura Pankhurst, the descendants of Emmeline Pankhurst, described how far the cause of women had come and yet how far there was still to go: it was no longer about the vote in this country, but about changing the culture.

View the day in pictures at the link and find us on Facebook for even more stunning shots of the day!

[DGP1]

Whilst they were all in London enjoying themselves, who was making their men folk dinner???

It's all very well talking but when you neglect your kitchen duties you really need to sit down and have a look at yourself.



Now DGP is going off to hide under a rock until it's safe to come out again

[Straight4ward]

Whilst they were all in London enjoying themselves, who was making their men folk dinner???

It's all very well talking but when you neglect your kitchen duties you really need to sit down and have a look at yourself.



Now DGP is going off to hide under a rock until it's safe to come out again

More than an hour has passed since you posted this.

Do you think you'll get away with it?

[DGP1]

Whilst they were all in London enjoying themselves, who was making their men folk dinner???

It's all very well talking but when you neglect your kitchen duties you really need to sit down and have a look at yourself.



Now DGP is going off to hide under a rock until it's safe to come out again

More than an hour has passed since you posted this.

Do you think you'll get away with it?

I would have if you hadn't asked if I'd got away with it

[Lounge Lizard]

They're not back from London yet.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Your getting the silent treatment DGP - so you know your in deep now.

[DGP1]

Your getting the silent treatment DGP - so you know your in deep now.

I've been married for too long for that to have any affect on me

[Lounge Lizard]

Your getting the silent treatment DGP - so you know your in deep now.

I've been married for too long for that to have any affect on me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n03g8nsaBro" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;