WDO – Newsletter 2010 No. 1 (January 4, 2010)

March 8 Committee of Women of Diverse Origins (Montreal, Quebec)
Newsletter 2010 No. 1 (January 4, 2010)

Dear sisters and friends,

As well as celebrating March 8th once again this year, we are undertaking a major activity as the new decade gets underway, the Montreal International Women’s Conference 2010 (MIWC 2010) under the banner:

For a Militant Global Women’s Movement in the 21st Century.

Building upon the links we have established over the past nine years and in coordination with a vibrant global women’s network, this conference will bring together women from around the world active in their communities and in their institutions and on the frontlines of struggles against imperialist globalization, war and violence against women. We will hear from women resisting conservative, fundamentalist and reactionary policies and defending women’s and human rights in houses of Parliaments to women active in the Parliament of the streets. The conference will culminate with the establishment of an International Women’s Alliance

For a Militant Global Women’s Movement in the 21st Century
Montreal International Women’s Conference 2010 (MIWC 2010)
When: August 13-16, 2010
Where: Montreal, Quebec

This initiative grew out of the Women’s Commission at the International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS) in Hong Kong in June 2008. Our March 8 Committee of Women of Diverse Origins was present and proposed to host the international conference in 2010 in Montreal. The date has been set for August 13-16, 2010. Accomodation has already been booked at residences of the University of Quebec in Montréal (UQAM). The actual site of the conference is being organized.

With the help of Gabriela Philippines and the ILPS Women’s Commission network, we have formed an International Coordinating Group with representatives from Europe, Philippines, Taiwan, US and Canada.

The Conference Coordinating Committee in Montreal is headed by local community activist, Tess Tesalona, and the following Committees have been established (and are looking for more volunteers!):

Communications, Programme, Finance, Outreach, Logistics, Registration and Welcome

Also, an Honour Committee of matrons of the conference – distinguished women who support the intiative – has been set up and includes Dr. Shree Mulay, Associate dean of Community Health and Humanities, Memorial University, Newfoundland, the Honorable Flor Marcelino, Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, Government of Manitoba, Edith Ballantyne, retired Secretary-General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Janet Lumb, Artistic Director of the Asian Heritage Festival, and others to be announced.

This conference will be a milestone in advancing the progressive, global women’s movement and we hope you will join us in this endeavor. For more information, or to volunteer your services, please contact Tess Tesalona at the Immigrant Workers’ Centre +1 514 342 2111.

March 8, 2010

Our usual International Women’s Day celebration this year will be a more modest affair, with our member groups and allies getting together to exchange about their current issues and organizing challenges and successes. This will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2010. This event will act as a lead-up to the August conference.

The International Women’s Day march will take place on the evening of Monday, March 8, 2010. More news in our next newsletter.

Please note these dates on your calendar of activities.

Long live sisterhood and international solidarity!

FDO-WDO
MIWC 2010 Communications Committee
email: wdofdo@gmail.com