Another woman of courage!

Jara Durukeh is an FGM activist.

Empowering words from Judge Judy

Judge Judy shared since she thought she wasn't conventionally beautiful, at least she would have
brains, but was disappointed when an IQ text came back with average test results. Yet she didn't let being "average" on paper change how she saw herself and limit what she would accomplish. When she says people may not like her, she says it's not because she's mean, it's because she's honest and is quick to add, "You can be a tough broad and still be feminine, caring and nice."
"Don't let someone else tell you what you're worth, don't believe someone else's vision of what you're worth." - Judge Judy
She is author to several books, one of which is Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever: The Making of a Happy Woman, where she shares with her trademark frankness, "Women need to wise up, stop subjugating who they are, and stop making stupid decisions in the name of love. They hide their talents and opinions so they won't offend. They tiptoe through life letting others take credit for their ideas because they would rather be liked than respected. They spend their lives trying to please everyone but themselves, and then they wonder why they feel so frustrated and unfulfilled."
For those of you who think over 50 is too late to start something new, The Judge Judy show debuted when she was just 52, and is still going strong. She attributes her success to tenacity, a passion for law, and a belief that she was just as good as anyone else. A belief that she admits sometimes gets her into trouble, but this fearlessness helped her succeed and become the woman who she is today. Her latest book is the inspiring What Would Judy Say: Be The Hero of Your Own Story.
Previously published on Carpool Goddess

Happy International Women's Day!

International Women's Day 2015!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poverty is sexist.

It’s about time someone said it. No matter how you cut it – socially, economically, legally - girls and women in the poorest countries are being denied the chance to reach their full potential.

So I need your help right now to do something about it. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting a meeting of the world’s most powerful leaders in June. Which means she gets to decide what gets talked about and what gets acted on. But she’ll need to set the agenda soon.

Tell Angela Merkel it’s time to put girls and women at the top of the list.
http://www.one.org/sexist?

Rest in Peace Nelson Mandela!

 

 

 

One great Man!

Time to evaluate your beliefs.

Nigeria in the News!! Good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

West Africa Latest White House Target for New Trade Agreement
West Africa joined an ever-growing list of regions and economic blocs that the White House is targeting for new trade agreements.
Acting U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis announced last week that the Obama Administration was exploring the possibility of a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the region's economic bloc consisting of 15 member states including Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast. "A TIFA with ECOWAS can significantly contribute to economic growth and increased international competitiveness on both sides of the Atlantic," said Marantis.
Earlier in the week President Barack Obama met with four African heads of state, including those from ECOWAS member states Sierra Leone, Senegal and Cape Verde. He discussed the possibility of concluding a TIFA and taking other steps to expand the United States' trade relationship with the region, which has historically been a market dominated by Europe and more recently by China. A concluded, successful TIFA would open up export opportunities for U.S. companies hoping to enter the region, and ideally further integrate the U.S. into Africa's commodity wealth and ongoing economic development.
The U.S. currently already has TIFAs with four other African regional economic blocs, namely the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA) and the South African Customs Union (SACU). These organizations have minimized trade and regulatory hurdles among member nations, allowing companies to sell to the region, rather than having to worry about differences from country to country, and making Africa overall a much more attractive export market than in years prior.
ECOWAS recorded GDP growth of 6.9% in 2012, more than double the global rate and an increase from the 5.9% rate of growth recorded in 2011. According to a recent economic forecast from Dun & Bradstreet, Sub-Saharan Africa should continue to see growth above 5% for the foreseeable future, driven primarily by commodities, and Sierra Leone and Senegal were expected to see noteworthy improvement in the coming four years.
- Jacob Barron, CICP, NACM staff writer

 

Woman of Courage

Dr. Josephine Odumakin with Michelle Obama at the award ceremony


Nigeria's Dr. Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin was one of this year's recipient of The  Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award.



The Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award annually recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk. Since the inception of this award in 2007, the Department of State has honored 66 women from 44 different countries.




The 2013 awardees are:


Malalai Bahaduri, Second Lieutenant, Afghan National Interdiction Unit (Afghanistan)

Julieta Castellanos, Rector, National Autonomous University of Honduras (Honduras)

Dr. Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin, President, Campaign for Democracy (Nigeria)

Elena Milashina, journalist, human rights activist (Russia)

Fartuun Adan, Executive Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre (Somalia)

Tsering Woeser (Wei Se), Tibetan author, poet, blogger (China) *

Razan Zeitunah, human rights lawyer and Founder, Local Coordination Committees (Syria) *

Ta Phong Tan, blogger (Vietnam) *

Nirbhaya “Fearless,” champion for justice (India) **


Congratulations and Thank you Ladies!