I recently had the opportunity to attend the University of Penn’s conference on “Gender, War, and Militarism” from the 25th to the 26th of October. The conference was sponsored by the Alice Paul Center and Penn’s Women’s Studies Program and included panel speakers who were academics, lecturers, and directors of women’s organizations from across the nation as well as the globe.

The first session began with papers prepared on “Gender and the Militarization of Society.” Caren Kaplan, a professor of women and gender studies at the University of California, Davis, started off the line-up with a paper entitled, “Endless War: U.S. Feminism’s Cosmopolitan Militarism.” The outline of this paper analyzed how Western feminist organizations such as NOW and Feminist Majority, have focused little attention or energy on the wars (occupations) being waged across the world. Caren Kaplan also offered that many of her experiences as a professor put her in contact with students who were aware of atrocities and discrimination, but often ‘misguided’ in their efforts to combat such oppressive practices.

It was a busy Keep Space for Peace Week, October 4 to 13. So far we've learned of 13 WILPF sponsored or co-sponsored events around the United States, and another five in Germany, Britain and Australia. Now Ashland Or, Boston, Monterey, Omaha, Palo Alto, Portland OR, Sacramento, St Louis, Tucson, MacGregor for Vandenberg AFB, and West Palm Beach all need to send reports (and photos if possible) for submission to the United Nations World Space Week publication. We want them for our own use as well. Send reports to carol.disarm@gmail.com. I'll check with you before submission if any editing is needed.

(from Carol Urner, in Washington D.C. September 29 to October 5)

I spent this past week in Washington D.C. on behalf of WILPF and the DISARM! Dismantle the War Economy Committee. I attended the Women Act for New Directions (WAND) national conference as part of the WILPF initiated “Women Set the Agenda to Prevent War" project.

Three of us came especially for this purpose, namely Pyllis Yinglng (Catonsville MD Branch), Tzili Mor (Washington D.C.Branch) and myself (from Portland OR and Los Angeles Branches). Other WILPF members present included Yoshiko Ikuta from our WILPF DISARM leadership team.

"Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator."

In all cultures and faith, it is tradition and custom to treat your invited guest with dignity and respect. As Columbia University President Lee Bollinger, in an unscholarly manner and subscribing to America's newfound doctrine of "pre-emptive strike", insulted and attacked his invited guest, the President of Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sat motionless listening to his hosts demeaning remarks. Bollinger's introduction of the President was disrespectful and cutting to not only the President of Iran but also to the Iranian people, Muslims across the globe, and socially conscious citizens of the world. Bollinger's comments were more of an indictment by a trial lawyer rather than an introduction by an open-minded Ivy League scholar. The insults inflicted on Ahmadinejad helped him win support of his chief opponents in Iran, including Iranian Jews and Muslims in general. Most agree that Ahmadinejad is a controversial figure; he should be subjected to tough questions in the realm of scholarly debate. However, it is not fair to say that history repeats itself in this case. During the Cold War, even as Russia and the United States were battling, Russian leaders and diplomats were given due respect and protocol when they addressed the United Nations. Even last year, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, despite his rhetoric, was greeted with more respect than Ahmadinejad. How would the news media, domestic or international, react if President George W. Bush had been introduced in a similar fashion at a university in Iran? Americans should ponder at the way Ahmadinejad was treated and how this image is portrayed throughout the international media. While the United States media focuses on Ahmadinejad's detachment from reality, the rest of the world is focused on Bollinger's callous introduction, giving Ahmadinejad the break he desperately needed. At a time when we are constantly asking the question "Why do they hate us", it is no wonder that Bollinger's actions will be used as justifications by hardliners around the globe to further their cause. We can win over our enemies' heart with dialogue, understanding, and tolerance; insult and high handedness simply escalates hatred. As the audience at Columbia University and some Americans laughed at the way Ahmadinejad was ridiculed, let's not be blind and forget that most of the world is not laughing with us.

The draft WILPF calendar below came out of Peace and Security Working Group and Program committee meetings at the Bolivia Congress. You can view the calendar with links and formatting at http://disarm.wilpf.org/enews. It is still open for suggestions and additions. It includes international calendar dates for women's peace issues, disarmament/demilitarization and human rights which the Program Committee at the Congress thought were important for our planning.

AUGUST 29, 2007 Peace and Security Working Group Calendar

January: CEDAW Reporting: (In 2008, January 14 to February 1, Bolivia, Burundi, France, Lebanon and Sweden will be reporting at the 40th Session. Are these WILPF Sections participating in NGO shadow reporting?)

WILPF's International Congress, Santa Cruz Bolivia

Submitted by Sha'an Mouliert

Chair Building the Beloved Community Issue Committee

It has taken me this long to digest the events in Bolivia. The Congress was dynamic, intriguing, emotional, painful and quite the learning experience. I'll try my best to put it into context, mind you, I didn't receive the Congress' material until I returned home and this was my first International Congress. The effort and energy our Bolivian sisters put into the Congress was evident. It's amazing what a small group of women can accomplish.