(Fwd) Re: HYPATIA CALL FOR PAPERS

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

FYI...

Stefanie Rixecker
ECOFEM Coordinator

-- Forwarded Message Follows ---


From:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

CALL FOR PAPERS:   HYPATIA:  INTERSECTIONS OF NATIVE WOMEN AND FEMINISM

Native American Feminism is a topic that has received little discussion
among feminist philosophers.  Yet, as Paula Gunn Allen wrote many years ago,
there are many red roots of white feminism.  The womanist voices of Native
women philosophers, as nurtured by our cultures, will flow through the
academic forum in this special guest edition to be edited by Anne Waters,
J.D., Ph.D., of Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Cheokee descent.

Among the many issues that affect indigenous women on a daily basis, 
perhaps
none are more important than maintaining our “native ways of knowing,”
including belief systems, and maintenance of our culture.  Other philosophical
issues of Native American cultural survival include:  influence of
international human genome biodiversity project on reproductive freedom;
surviving environmental catastrophes (genocide of known environments); impact
of environmental policies on native women; native women and economics;
comparative native women’s thought at the turn of  the 20th and 21st  century;
native women’s traditional political and land rights; impact of colonial race
theories on native women; native women responding  to contemporary race
theory; native women, class, and marxism; native women, power, and
sovereignty; traditional and contemporary social roles of native women; and
significant gender differences in native culture, just to name a few.

Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy  invites submissions for an
anthology of original essays exploring intersections of Native American Women
and Feminism.   Articles that focus on theories of gender, economics of
gender, jurisprudence and gender, education and gender, the environment and
gender,  race and gender, and culture and gender are encouraged.  The
following topics are also  appropriate.

1.  Ways that Native American women have, past or present, experienced and
culturally defined what it means to be or take on a gender, including recent
critiques of postmodern analysis, cultural studies, queer theory,
anthropological and initial contact recordings, and the recent gender research
of Will Roscoe.

2.  Ways American women, and feminists or womanists in particular, have
culturally embodied or incorporated native thought, belief systems, or
practices of economics, politics, divisions of labor, spirituality, etc., into
traditional or contemporary beliefs, practices, or analysis of feminist
philosophy, including struggles for autonomy and political sovereignty.

3.  Ways Native American women have, past or present, embraced a  philosophy
of education, its role within a community, and its relevance to building
nations.

4.  Discovery of philosophical work by unrecognized Native American women,
especially directing attention to bodies, power, domination, cultural images,
and the phenomenology of lived experience.

5.  Any aspect of a thought of a recognized Native American woman as
philosopher, including the impact of gender on cognitive and creative
activities, and vice versa .

6.  Philosophical ideas in Native American women poets, novelists, dramatists,
scientists, engineers, environmentalists, healers, and visionaries.

7.  How the nature of philosophical work needs remoulding to incorporate
Native American women's contributions, past or present, or needs to be
redefined to be more inclusive of Native American contributions.

8.  Reflections on the experience of teaching the works of Native American
women as philosophers, including issues of essentialism, gender, mothering,
embodiment, the role of social construction in identity, and environmental
justice.

9.  Reflections on the relationship between Native America and American
Education, including comparisons of holocaust and genocide in Nazi Germany and
Native America .

10.  Traditional Native American approaches to traditional areas of
philosophy, eg., epistemology questions, ethical issues, science and nature,
and nature vs. culture controversies, environmental policies, social and
political organization, philosophy of language, philosophy of education,
political aspects of Native American sovereignty, identity and  nationalism,
philosophy of gender, class, and race theory, and philosophy of law and social
interaction.

11.  Philosophical responses to the holocaust and genocide of Native America,
including issues of production and reproduction, among others.

12.  Theoretical issues about Native American Feminists and Womanists, and the
relationship between Native American Feminism and EuroAmerican Feminism,
including responses to post!colonialism and postmodernism.

13.  Comparisons and contrasts between theories of Native American
feminist/women's philosophy and other indigenous feminist philosophies-
Chicana, Black, etc.


 All papers shoul

(Fwd) CFP: Conference on Communication and Environment

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

FYI...

Stefanie Rixecker
ECOFEM Coordinator

--- Forwarded Message Follows ---
--
CALL FOR PAPERS

FIFTH CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION AND ENVIRONMENT
NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
JULY  24--27, 1999

The School of Communication at Northern Arizona University will host the Fifth
Biennial Conference on Communication and Environment (COCE) July 24--27,
1999.
In maintaining the tradition of past COCE meetings, we encourage
interdisciplinary submissions that examine historical and contemporary
perspectives on environmental communication.  We welcome scholarly
diverstiy in
the study of environmental communication, including journalism, visual
communication, rhetoric, public address, political communication, cultural
studies, feminism, mass communication, as well as other related aras of
inquiry.

Plese send completed papers or comprehensive abstracts (two--three pages) to
COCE planners by March 1, 1999 (postmark date).  For specific infomration
regarding submissions or other issues, contact Brant Short at 520-523-4701
(office), 520-523-1505 (fax) orr [EMAIL PROTECTED] (e-mail).

Papers and abstracts should be sent to:

Brant Short
School of Communication
Northern Arizona University
Box 5619
Flagstaff, AZ  86011

Flagstaff is surrounded by the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world and
is in view of the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountains in Arizona.  The
city is located approximately 70 miles from Grand Canyon National Park and is
adjacent to three national monuments (Walnut Canyon, Wupatki, and Sunset
Crater).  Camping, hiking, and other forms of outdoor recreation are abundant
in the area.

For more information about the city, see, http://www.flagstaff.az.us.



Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker
Division of Environmental Management & Design
Lincoln University, Canterbury
PO Box 84
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: 64-03-325-3841

(Fwd) cfp

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

FYI...

Stefanie Rixecker
ECOFEM Coordinator

--- Forwarded Message Follows ---


From: France Winddance Twine <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

CALL FOR PAPERS

FEMINISM AND ANTI-RACISM: INTERNATIONAL STRUGGLES


The editors of Feminism and Anti-Racism: International Struggles seek
previously-unpublished submissions from feminist anti-racist activists and
feminist scholars both locally and globally. Submissions (in English)
should address the following questions: 1) How does gender and
region/nation structure how feminists engage in anti-racist practices?; 2)
How has the restructuring of the world economy affected feminist
anti-racist practices?; 3) What are the actual practices of feminist
anti-racist organizers?  The aim of this volume is to bridge feminist
anti-racist theorizing and transnational activism by providing empirical
studies and analyses of local and global practices that challenge both
racial and gender inequalities.

This book will be divided into three sections. We invite submissions from
Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and North American that
address the following concerns. The first section will examine
institutional sites of anti-racist struggles: 1)  prisons and prisoner
rights; 2) educational institutions, 3)  hospitals and health care
organizations and hospitals, and 4) employment. The second section of this
volume will examine local practices of anti-racism: 1) media activism
(video/film); 2) feminist theatre; 3) environmental racism and
indigenous land struggles, 4) sex industry and sex tourism, 5) religion
and 6) youth activism. The third section of this volume will address
racism and anti-racism: 1) How racism distorts and deploys feminisms; 2)
feminist challenges to the pan-aryan racist movement; 3) the state of
feminist anti-racism in post-apartheid South Africa and 4) feminist
anti-racism in contexts of civil war or ethnic conflict.

This volume is forthcoming from New York University Press in 2000.
Deadline for submission of 500 word abstracts is February 15, 1999. For
more information contact France Winddance Twine, Jackson School of
International Studies, Box 35-3650, University of Washington, Seattle,
Washington 98195-3650 or Kathleen Blee, Director, Women Studies Program,
2630 Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
15260: Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

The Editors

France Winddance Twine, a U.S. Black and American Indian feminist
(enrolled member of the Creek Nation of Oklahoma), is an Associate
Professor of International Studies & Women Studies at the University of
Washington in Seattle and Associate Editor of Signs: Journal of Women in
Culture and Society. Her recent publications include RACISM IN A RACIAL
DEMOCRACY: THE MAINTENANCE OF WHITE SUPREMACY IN BRAZI (Rutgers University
Press, 1997) and three co-edited volumes, "Feminisms and Youth Cultures",
a special issue of SIGNS: JOURNAL OF WOMEN IN CULTURE AND SOCIETY (Spring,
1998), the co-editor with H. Ragone', IDEOLOGIES AND TECHNOLOGIES OF
MOTHERHOOD: RACE, CLASS, RELIGION AND NATIONALISM (Routledge, 1999) the
co-editor with J. Warren, RACING RESEARCH/ RSEARCHING RACE: ETHICAL AND
METHODOLOGICAL DILEMMAS IN FIELD RESEARCH (New York University Press,
forthcoming).

Kathleen Blee, a white feminist anti-racist activist, is Professor of
Sociology and Director of Women's Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.
She is the author of WOMEN OF THE KLAN: RACISM AND GENDER IN THE 1920s
(California,1991), the editor of NO MIDDLE GROUND: WOMEN AND RADICAL
PROTEST (NYU, 1998), the co-author with Dwight B. Billings of THE ROAD
TO POVERTY: MAKING WEALTH AND POVERTY IN AN AMERICAN REGION (Cambridge
University Press, 1999).



***
F Winddance Twine
Associate Professor of International Studies & Women Studies
The Jackson School of International Studies
University of Washington
Box 35-3650
Seattle, WA 98195-3650

FAX: (206) 685-0668




Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker
Division of Environmental Management & Design
Lincoln University, Canterbury
PO Box 84
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: 64-03-325-3841

(Fwd) New TWS West. Sect. web site; Ecol. and Manage. of Dead

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

FYI...

Stefanie Rixecker
ECOFEM Coordinator

--- Forwarded Message Follows ---


Greetings,

The Western Section of the Wildlife Society (TWS/WS) has expanded it's
web site and moved it onto its own server; the site is now located at
"http://www.tws-west.org".  There will be a referral page at its old
location (http://www.cccweb.com/tws-west/) for just a while, so update
your listing if you have an entry for the TWS/WS site in your
"BookMarks" or "Favorites" folders.

We have created a new "Positions Available" page that lists "Career
Opportunities and other Job Announcements", and will be posting any
wildlife-related positions that we become aware of that are located
within California, Nevada, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.  

We have also expanded our "Meetings/Workshops" page and will be posting
upcoming meetings, workshops and conferences held throughout the west
and will post announcements for conferences occurring elsewhere whenever
we receive requests to list them.  The latest addition to the
"Meetings/Workshop" page is the Symposium Announcement and First Call
for Papers - The Ecology and Management of Dead Wood in Western Forests"
which will be held November 2-4, 1999 (Abstracts due May 1, 1999) in
Reno, Nevada.  Additional information, including contact addresses is on
the web site.

Bill Standleyand  Barbara Kermeen
TWS/WS Webmaster  TWS/WS Electronic Communication Chair
[EMAIL PROTECTED]   [EMAIL PROTECTED]

 

Bill Standley; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Wildlifer.Com; http://www.wildlifer.com
 Bill's Wildlife Links; http://www.wildlifer.com/wildlifesites/




Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker
Division of Environmental Management & Design
Lincoln University, Canterbury
PO Box 84
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: 64-03-325-3841

Conference on the Environment (Interdisciplinary) - Baltimore, USA, June 1999

[Demetri Kantarelis]

  5th International
 INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
 ***

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, USA
   June 23-26, 1999
  Best Western Hotel

  CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
  (Early Deadline for Abstracts and Registration: February 15, 1999)

  The Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA), in conjunction
  with Assumption College, Worcester Massachusetts, invites you to
  participate in the 5th International INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE
  ON THE ENVIRONMENT!

  The Conference is motivated by the need to combine ideas and
  research findings from different disciplines to enhance our understanding
  of the interactions between the natural environment and human institutions.

  Conference presentations are aimed at the educated layperson and FOCUS on:
 (I)   What all disciplines have to offer with respect to understanding
   environmental and resource problems;
 (II)  What solutions are available;
 (III) What are the implications of the globalization of environmental
   concerns.

  The conference welcomes environmental practitioners, academics, students and
  all interested persons regardless of background. Participants may organize
  sessions (please ask for the "Panel Organizer Guidelines"), present papers,
  participate in poster sessions, chair sessions, discuss papers, participate
  in round-table discussions, or simply observe.

  To facilitate communication, authors should make an effort to write
  their papers so as to be understood by audience outside their disciplines.
  All papers will pass a peer review process for publication consideration
  in the Conference Proceedings. With your help we hope to disseminate the
  Conference Proceedings around the world to libraries, legislators,
  governmental agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

  The program will consist of:
- small concurrent seminar-type sessions with: chairperson, presenters,
and at least one discussant assigned to comment on each paper;
- poster sessions;
- round-table thematic discussion sessions with moderator;
- workshops and panels;
- invited speakers.
  Time allocated for each session is one hour and 30 minutes.

  * To ORGANIZE PANELS please ask for "Panel Organizer Guidelines".
The fee for each participant in the panel, except the organizer,
is $250. The fee for the panel organizer is $75.

  * To participate as a PRESENTER please submit ABSTRACTS and/or PAPERS:

ABSTRACT/PAPER SUBMISSION AND REGISTRATION
 EARLY DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15, 1999.

 - Please, submit your abstract (of no more than 300 words) via e-mail
   ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) by February 15, 1999. Additionally, mail
   two hard copies of your abstract (IEA address below). All abstracts
   submitted will be evaluated for presentation and publication in the Book
   of Abstracts which will be available at the Conference.
 - You may submit abstracts for no more than 2 papers;
 - A $50 abstract/paper refundable deposit is due at the time of submission
   for each abstract;
 - Abstracts/papers must not have been published, accepted, or submitted
   for publication elsewhere;
 - The disciplines that best fit your paper must be typed on the top
   right corner of the front page;
 - For co-authorships please include names, affiliations, and addresses of
   all authors and indicate who will serve as presenter;
 - The title of your abstract(s) or paper(s) is(are):

  __

  __

FINAL PAPER SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MAY 1, 1999.

 - Please submit 4 copies of the paper(s) by May 1, 1999; an Abstract
   is acceptable only if you do not wish your paper to be considered for
   IEA publication;
 - Papers must not have been published, accepted, or submitted for
   publication elsewhere;
 - All papers submitted will be evaluated using a blind review process for
   presentation and publication in the Conference Proceedings. Format
   instructions will be attached to the acceptance for publication letter.
   Accepted for publication manuscripts of more than 12 single-spaced pages
   will be considered at $10 per additional page;
 - Authorship should be identified only on a removable cover page;
 - The disciplines that best fit your paper must be typed on the top
   right corner of the cover page;
 - For co-authorships please include names, affiliations, and addresses of
   all authors on your cover page and indicate who will serve as paper
   presenter;
 - The title of your paper(s) is(are):

  __

  _

RE: hypocrites?/convictions

[Devon Pena]

Perhaps the only kind of "spirituality" that is possible as a common form is
that which everyone might derive from a sense of conviviality with other
peoples and life forms?  I.e., we can feel connected to each other and to
life without necessarily invoking a God, Goddess, Holy Spirit, etc.  The
sense of place, place-based identity, may be the sort of common
"spirituality" that we can all agree to without getting trapped into
ethnoreligious conflict or ideological debate?

Warmly,

Devon Peña

> -Original Message-
> From: Margaret Limbacher [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, November 30, 1998 8:10 PM
> To:   STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT
> Subject:  Re: hypocrites?/convictions
> 
> I'm new at this, so I hope I'm doing this correctly. I don't think that
> "spiritual commonality" is necissary for positive changes to happen. It is
> necissary that there is a common goal, but the spiritual beliefs of a
> group can vary (as long as they agree on the goal.) I believe that
> everyone's spiritual beliefs vary.I don't think that there is true
> spiritual commonality even among people
> who claim to hold the same spiritual beliefs. I think the way a person  
> understands spirituality (whether it is rejected or accepted) is always
> unique. 
> Sunshine Daydreams
> Maggie
> 

RE: A Lurker Finally Posts -- Knowledge,Teaching,Contradictions in Ecofemini...

[Devon Pena]

Yes!  Exactly one of the points I was trying to make Jane!  We have tried to
get the white male (and female) faculty who teach courses on third-world and
American ethnic communities and cultures to utilize at least 50% native
authors from the groups or societies studied.  And yes, there can be no
essentialzing a voice -- as a Chicano, I cannot speak for all Chicanas/os.

Warmly,

Devon Peña

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 12:51 AM
> To:   STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT
> Subject:  Re: A Lurker Finally Posts -- Knowledge,
> Teaching,Contradictions in Ecofemini...
> 
> Dear Sandy,
> 
> I understand what you are saying about being an indigenous person not
> meaning
> you must or should academically speak for all indigenous people; youcould
> change this to woman, race, etc, and the truth you speak would still
> stand.
> Nevertheless, In essence, it is abominant to think (as many U.S.
> universities
> do) that while it takes maybe 10 courses a semester to even to begin to
> represent American literature, for example, it only takes one to cover all
> the
> history, literature, philosophy, science, etc. of some "other" culture
> adequately enough.  And while they may require 3 courses in "american" or
> other western country studies, one or two to cover the whole rest of the
> world
> is adequate for a general studies requirement.  It gets down to a hiring
> issue, in a sense, as all academics know.  no one person should be asked
> to
> "represent" their ethnicity; EVERY class that teaches anything should
> include
> women authors (50%+ of the world).  I think the reason these obvious
> things
> don't "fly" may be because the Byronic Park professors of academia are
> tired,
> and don't want to learn anything new, and just want to teach what they
> already
> have a grip on.  
> 
> Begging forgiveness for this diatribe,
> Jane

Re: hypocrites?/convictions/spirit

[Joe E. Dees]

Date sent:  Wed, 2 Dec 1998 06:16:46 EST
Send reply to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From:   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject:Re: hypocrites?/convictions/spirit

> In a message dated 98-12-01 20:04:37 EST, you write:
> 
> << People's positive actions and efforts to
>  diminish dominiation and exploitation of life can be the "ground/unity"
>  that we need.  >>
> 
> Hi~!
> 
> Yes Maggie, but you need to recruit more people to the cause before it is too
> late!  And spirituality is the way to do it!  And even if all the well-
> intentioned people who are around now do some good to help stop the
> destruction and restore the damage- then the children yet to be born - what
> will they be taught by those who did not participate in these efforts?  Back
> to square one.
> 
> Everyone has to be recruited and it has to hit the core of their beliefs so
> that they teach their children who will teach their children - so that
> environmental stewardship and diminished domination of the Earth is something
> that is passed on from generation to generation - not just something a handful
> of concerned citizens are working on in their lifetime.  
> 
> The masses need to be brought back to caring for life/back to Earth values/in
> my view back to God and spirituality!
> Or all your attempts are in vain - no matter how you look at it others will be
> born who do not perceive each other and the world the way you do (without
> spirit) - In fact more people then not believe in the Holy Spirit and their
> soul - so the answer is share why it is important to the soul and the Holy
> Spirit to care for the Earth - and share it with others and they will share it
> and so and so on!
> 
> Peace!
> Angela
> 
Once again, you assert that it is your way or no way, and once 
again, I must disagree.  Losing our human individuality in some 
spiritual totalitarianism is not the answer, and never will be.   Joe

N. Calif. ranks last in pollution charges

[Us]

N. Calif. ranks last in pollution charges

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Every year, the U.S. government sends people to prison
for damaging the environment - but not in Northern California, with its
stunning mountains, coastal bluffs and redwood forests. For years, federal
prosecutors here have declined to file criminal charges in nearly every
case. In fact, the U.S. attorney's office in San Francisco, which is
responsible for enforcing federal law from the redwood forests along the
Oregon state line to the protected waters of Monterey Bay, ranks last in
the country in prosecuting environmental crimes. The office has instead
focused on drugs, immigration and white-collar crime, exasperating
pollution cops. See full story

Re: hypocrites?/convictions/spirit

[Margaret Limbacher]

Angela,
I think there is a Catch-22 with appealing to people's spirituality to get
them involved in an Ecofeminist movement. You want to appeal to people's
spirituality right? Many people use religion as a framework for
understanding their own spirituality. Religion is heavily influenced by
the patriarchal world in which it exists. Many people believe because of
their religion that our domination over animals and the earth (and even
men over women) is the way god designed the world to be. So for many
people you must ask them to question their religion or their spiritual
grounding. If they would have been willing to question their religion or
spiritual beliefs, then they might not be part of the masses that are
unconcerned with ecofeminism. 

(This is just a passing thought. so it might be something to be ignored.) 
The core of most
religion actually
is based on the concept of domination in some ways, because god dominates
us. a power greater than ourselves. true people recognize spirit/god
within themselves, but i think a lot of people view god as a force
dominant over them. So if dominance as an act of god, why would people
want to diminish it?

just some thoughts. 
i think your enthusiasm is great and it's wonderful that you have a strong
spirituality! 
Sunshine Daydreams
maggie

Re: hypocrites?/convictions/spirit

[donna]

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> The masses need to be brought back to caring for life/back to Earth values/in
> my view back to God and spirituality!

> Or all your attempts are in vain - no matter how you look at it others will be
> born who do not perceive each other and the world the way you do (without
> spirit) - In fact more people then not believe in the Holy Spirit and their
> soul - so the answer is share why it is important to the soul and the Holy
> Spirit to care for the Earth - and share it with others and they will share it
> and so and so on!
>
> Peace!
> Angela

Hi Angela,

The north American continent fared far better on many fronts prior to the
introduction of western civilized religion. Since the introduction of these
values, this continent has lost 95% of it's native forests, not to mention untold
numbers of species, clean watershed, breathable air quality, fertile topsoil. Are
you necessarily certain that passing on these values would be the best course of
action to sustain life on this planet? If so, why?

love
/donna

Fw: New Issue of Feminista!

[Us]

--
From: juliette cutler page <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: New Issue of Feminista!
Date: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 5:58 PM


*** F E M I N I S T A !©   A N N O U N C E M E N T ***
*** VOLUME 2, NUMBER 7 IS NOW ONLINE ***

PLEASE FORWARD to your friends, family, university, bookstore, library,
magazines, newspapers, radio programs, feminist organizations, etc!

http://www.feminista.com/

Feminista is the online feminist journal given kudos by Yahoo!, Diotima,
Microsoft's Women's Daily Living, BUST, MIT's Program in Women's Studies
home page, San Jose NOW, University of Maryland Baltimore County Women's
Studies Department, The Austrian National Library, The University of
Saskatechewan's Women and Gender Studies program page, Stanford's Feminist
Studies 101 page, Refuse and Resist, University of York Library Women's
Studies, The University of Wisconsin System Women's Studies Library,
Resources for Independent Thinking, WebActive, MensNet, and many other
excellent organizations and web sites.

Our list of "100 Great 20th Century Works of Fiction by Women"

http://www.feminista.com/v2n3/100.html

has been praised in Wired, the Village Voice, and the LA Times.

Our current issue includes  " The Feminista! Women's Resource
Bibliography," compiled by Lili Ann Pintea-Reed, Ph.D. , "Debriefing
Traumatized People: A Model for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder," by Barry Fowler, "And now, introducing: The Bigots Formerly
Known As Gay," by Jennifer L. Pozner, and an article on the poet Nina
Cassian as well as several original works by modern poets.

Feminista! aspires to be an online journal of such quality that we are
known regionally, nationally and internationally for our content and
networking capacity. Feminista! is a journal of art, literature, social
commentary, philosophy, wit, humor, and respect, and is currently published
on the first of each month. The Table of Contents for our current issue
(September 1998, Volume 2 Number 5) is enclosed. You can join our mailing
list from:

http://www.feminista.com/v2n5/from-the-editor.html

or participate in feminist discussion at:

http://www.feminista.com/wwwboard

We are actively seeking contributions of articles and time from persons
normally marginalized in our society.  Please send inquiries and requests
for information to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

You can support Feminista! financially by ordering books through our
association with Amazon.com.  Feminista! receives between 5 and 15% of the
price of each book ordered from our site.  Our feminist bibliography, from
which you can order the listed books, is located at

http://www.feminista.com/bibliography.html


Best wishes,

Juliette Cutler Page
Editor in Chief

Trish Wilson
Editor at Large


Visit the Feminista! Message Board, Announcements, A Woman's List of
Political
Bookmarks, and our archive.

copyright © 1997, 1998 Feminista!

If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, please reply with the
message "remove".





***
Juliette Cutler Page
Department of Radiology
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, L-371
San Francisco, California 94143-0628

Telephone 415 476-5911/8268
Fax  415 476-4690


--

Pollution and Health

[Natalie Blennerhassett]

 HELP!! I am looking for info on women, health and the environment
specifically ---> Xenoestrogens
This topic one of many that will be presented at the UN'95 International 
Women's Conference in Beijing.

Thanks --- Natalie Blennerhassett
   [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: introduction

[Sara Ann Keating]

On Tue, 20 Sep 1994 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> Hi, my name is Paige Brown, I have an MS in Environmental
> Economics, & @ BA's - English (where I did Feminist film studies)
> and Ag. Economics. I currently live and work in Washington DC at
> the World Resources Institute my area of work is forestry and
> global warming. I was strongly inculcated with free market
> ideology.  I am interested in the connections between patriarchal
> social systems and the subjugation of women and the degradation
> of the environment. 

I think there is no way of separating them;  both are, in 
patriarchal systems, viewed only for what man can take from them, not 
what they may have to give or what man can give *back.*

> Regarding Bob A's question what is ecofem, again there seems to
> be several schools of thought. I am uncomfortable with the more
> spiritually based side of ecofeminism and am opposed to what I
> would term the essentialist expressions of ecofeminis. I think it
> is problematic to associate women with nature, (and here I am
> thinking specifically of Vandana Shiva's works). I find Shiva
> very interesting, but fundamentally disagree that women are
> "naturally" more nurturing, nature-connected etc...

Haven't read Shiva, but the point you are making is valid.  Women 
are no more(and probably no *less*) nuturing, connected to nature, or 
whatever, than men are.  Being connected to nature and being nuturing are 
combinations of personality traits, possibly inborn tendencies, and 
conscious will.

Re: introduction

[Michel Suzanne]

hi again another introduction and a reply to robert auger's question of 
what is ecofeminism.  my name is suzanne michel, i am a phd student in 
geography at the university of colorado at boulder. i just finished my 
masters thesis on applying feminist and communicative theory to issues of 
wildlife rights in southern CA.  i myself have a strong background in 
computer science, literature and biogeography -- and do not adhere to the 
'essentialist thought' that women are inherently nuturing -- and i am not 
sure that was shiva's goal.  what i do examine is the social and 
historical association and subjugation of women and natural entities.  i 
also examine political and scientific structures that have been 
historically constructed as masculinist -- see donna haraway.  what i 
believe is important to ecofeminism is the social construction of our 
knowledge of nature (to include our bodies) and how this constructed 
knowledge reifies a particular race, gender, culture, sexuality etc

i think a great, and somewhat polemica introduction to ecofeminism for 
you robert is a book written by a feminist geographer named joni seager 
called "Earth Follies:  Coming to feminist terms with the environmental 
crises"  published i believe 1992 by routledge.  has anyone else read 
this book?  i would be interested to hear their comments on it. that book 
has touched a very raw nerve in the geographic community especially those 
who are physical scientists or involved in GIS or remote sensing.

by the way, i hope that you don't get the impression that i am 
anti-technolgy -- i adhere to donna haraway's idea of cyborg politics -- 
blurring the boundaries and building affinities between the technical and 
humanist thought, between humans and animals, between culture and nature 
(and other dualisms) are ways we can address current environmental issues.

suzanne m. michel
geography dept
university of colorado, boulder

(any other people on the net from CU?) 

introduction

[PAIGEB%smtpgate]

Hi, my name is Paige Brown, I have an MS in Environmental
Economics, & @ BA's - English (where I did Feminist film studies)
and Ag. Economics. I currently live and work in Washington DC at
the World Resources Institute my area of work is forestry and
global warming. I was strongly inculcated with free market
ideology.  I am interested in the connections between patriarchal
social systems and the subjugation of women and the degradation
of the environment. 
Regarding Bob A's question what is ecofem, again there seems to
be several schools of thought. I am uncomfortable with the more
spiritually based side of ecofeminism and am opposed to what I
would term the essentialist expressions of ecofeminis. I think it
is problematic to associate women with nature, (and here I am
thinking specifically of Vandana Shiva's works). I find Shiva
very interesting, but fundamentally disagree that women are
"naturally" more nurturing, nature-connected etc...

No Subject

[Robert L Auger]

Since this List is fairly new it looks like introductions are
appropriate.  I'm Bob Auger (yes, I'm a man), from Pittsburgh Pa.  I'm
at CMU getting a PhD in Chemical Engineering specializing in
environmental biotechnology.  I got my BS from Delaware where I also got
minors in chemistry and philosophy.  I took a course in Feminist Theory,
which enlightened me to the current subjugation of women in our society.
interested in finding out.  Since there is currently no active
discussion on this list perhaps this would be a good starting point.  
I don't subscribe to any 'type' of feminism but perhaps I should
review my class notes to see where I stand philosophically (I do
remember certain schools of thought that I agreed with).  Politically I
am a conservative, which should add yet another dimension to any
discussion.  Perhaps the matriarchs of this list could post an
explanation of ecofeminism.

Bob Auger

Re: UPDATE: WISC. STUDENT ENVIRO CONF.

[Janet Parker]

Stefanie, you asked if there were other conferences going on that people 
should know about.  For those interested in the religious or theological 
dimensions of ecofeminism and environmentalism, a regional conference is 
taking place in New York City from October 6-8, 1994.  It's called 
"Theology for Earth Community" and is particularly directed toward 
scholars and students of religion and theology.  The issue which will be 
addressed is what the different disciplines within religious studies are 
doing with regard to the ecological crisis, and what still needs to be 
done.  Prominent scholars from all disciplines in (Christian) religious 
studies will address the conference.  The conference will be held at 
Union Theological Seminary in New York.  To register or inquire, here is 
the info.:  Auburn Theological Seminary (Auburn is connected to Union) 
3041 Broadway, NY, NY 10027.  Attn. Laura Wilhelm.  tel. 212-662-4315, 
fax: 212-663-5214.

Indigenous Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

I'm forwarding this information because I think it has relevance to 
the list.  My apologies to those who've received it from other lists.

Stefanie Rixecker
[EMAIL PROTECTED]



--- Forwarded Message Follows ---

Date sent:  18 Sep 1994 20:33:52 -0600
X-mailing-list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From:   [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject:Indigenous Workshop on "Intellectual Property Rights"
Send reply to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]

>Date: Sat, 10 Sep 1994 18:09:06 GMT
>Reply-To: Rich Winkel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sender: Activists Mailing List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From: Rich Winkel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Organization: PACH
>Subject:  Indigenous Workshop on "Intellectual Property Rights"
>
>/** headlines: 292.0 **/
>** Topic: Indigenous Peoples Workshop [Oaklan **
>** Written 10:26 PM  Sep  7, 1994 by econet in cdp:headlines **
>/* Written  4:44 PM  Sep  5, 1994 by [EMAIL PROTECTED] in env.summitamer */
>/* -- "Indigenous peoples & IPR legislation" -- */
>
> INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' WORKING GROUP ON CULTURAL INTEGRITY
>
>  WORKSHOP ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, CUSTOMARY LAW
>AND "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS"
>
>   OAKLAND, CA. SEPTEMBER 15-16
>
>**
>
> --- URGENT APPEAL ---
>
>Indigenous advocates and leaders from South, Meso and North America will be
>gathering for a "Workshop on Customary Law and Intellectual Property
>Rights" to develope an Indigenous people's strategy to address
>international and local issues relating to "intellectual property rights"
>("IPR"), indigenous Customary Law, and indigenous peoples' inherent rights.
>The meeting will take place in Oakland, CA, at the South and Meso American
>Indian Rights Center--SAIIC--the 14-15 of September 1994.
>
>The Indigenous Peoples' Biodiversity Network (IPBN), and the ABYA YALA FUND
>are organizing the workshop, which will be hosted by SAIIC. Workshop
>objectives are to analyze "IPR" issues as well as define and develop
>strategic responses from an indigenous perspective.
>
>Accelerating demand for biogenetic materials, indigenous knowledge and
>tribal wisdom --all useful in development of new pharmaceuticul and
>agricultural products--  seriously threatens Indigenous bio-cultural
>resources as well as spiritual and cultural values.
>
>This new demand is causing an invasion of biologically-rich indigenous
>territories similar to the European invasion of the Americas 500 years ago.
>This invasion is supported by the neo-liberal establishment's renewed
>confidence in the legitimacy of Western paradigms, and ambitions of global
>control through "development"  (GATT, NAFTA, etc.).  This new framework
>dangerously threatens  aboriginal culture's chances for continuity as
>peoples of the land.
>
>The new bio-conquistadores are imposing "agreements" on indigenous
>communities consecrated by their own legal systems. This reflect the
>"developer" nations understanding of "intellectual", "property" and
>"rights"--which is far removed from the understanding of these concepts in
>indigenous law.
>
>In the absence of an adequate protective framework at the regional or
>international level, indigenous peoples urgently need to develop strategies
>to strengthen their customary laws, to protect their inherent rights, and
>protect from alien views on Mother Earth that are being forced on
>indigenous communities through the imposition of Western "IPR" regimes.
>
>As aboriginal nations, indigenous peoples have customary laws which are
>judicial-cultural norms and practices predating those imposed by colonial
>and national judiciary systems. These laws regulate traditional access to
>and use of biological resources in indigenous territories.
>
>Indigenous peoples' involvement in the "IPR" debate and development of
>strategic approaches to empowering indigenous communities to protect their
>knowledge and biological resources are crucial to safeguard their inherent
>rights and survival as cultures of the land.
>
>However, in spite of the importance of biodiversity and "IPR" issues for
>indigenous peoples' survival, there is a surprising lacuna of information,
>analysis and practical strategies developed by indigenous peoples
>themselves. This workshop will provide an important opportunity for
>indigenous peoples to develop policy and strategies to enhance their
>struggles for advancing inherent rights, bio-cultural resource protection
>and development, as well as conservation of  cultural and spiritual
>values.
>
>We are appealing for your help to make this gathering a success. We
>need:
>
>*Sponsors for indigenous participants from the South
>(individuals or institutions who can providing AIRFARE, FOOD, AND
>LODGING costs for one designed participant)
>
>*Office supplies (notebooks, pens, markers, etc.)
>
>*"IPR" papers and documents in English and Span

Summit of the Americas - Public Participation

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

I'm forwarding this to the list for those who might be 
interested...and (perhaps) to spur on conversation about what "public 
participation" means for women and environment.  


Stefanie Rixecker
[EMAIL PROTECTED]




--- Forwarded Message Follows ---

Date sent:  17 Sep 1994 18:23:46 -0600
X-mailing-list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From:   Preston Hardison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject:Summit of the Americas - Public Participation
Send reply to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]


   This comes from the EcoNet/IGC conference env.summitamer on the
   upcoming Summit of the Americas. For more information about EcoNet,
   send a blank e-mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

   Written: Aug 19, 1994 by dcaudubon in igc:env.summitamer


   GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR PROMOTING EFFECTIVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION


The upcoming Summit offers a unique opportunity for the 
   governments of the hemisphere to commit to a set of guiding 
   principles for promoting effective public participation in 
   democratic governance.  The principles would apply to a) all 
   government activities in all sectors and at all levels, as well as 
   to  b) bilateral and multilateral agreements and activities in the 
   region.

   Background

In recent years, a consensus has been building among 
   governments and non-government entities at both international 
   and regional levels on the role of public participation in the 
   development and implementation of institutional systems for 
   governance.  Agreements ranging from Agenda 21 to the North 
   American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation have recognized 
   and promoted public participation as fundamental to effective 
   systems of democratic governance.

The emergence of a set of guiding principles for promoting 
   effective public participation in government represents both a 
   pragmatic and ethical approach to democratic governance.  Public 
   participation is necessary both to the development of sound laws 
   and policies and to the effective enforcement of the same.  The 
   respect of citizens for the law largely derives from trust that 
   the lawmaking process allows for consideration of their views.  
   Public participation in the process enables lawmakers to gather 
   complete information on issues and set priorities.  

Public participation in monitoring and enforcement efforts is 
   necessary to complement efforts by the governments.  National, 
   state and local governments as well as regional bodies do not have 
   violations of law.  Citizens can also serve a watchdog function, 
   assuring that the various branches and levels of government 
   properly and fully carry out their respective responsibilities.

Although the environmental community has been one of the most 
   vocal advocates in support of the incorporation of effective 
   mechanisms for public participation, the need for these mechanisms 
   is not limited to maintaining the integrity of environmental 
   protection.  All governmental regulation and management systems -- 
   whether related to financial institutions, fiscal management, or 
   trade -- require the inclusion of public participation mechanisms 
   to assure the integrity and effectiveness of the democratic 
   process. 

   Principles for Effective Public Participation

The following constitute the basic principles for realizing 
   effective public participation:

Access to Information

The public should have the right of access to information in 
   the possession of the government, as well as information within 
   the possession of entities, that may affect the health, welfare, 
   or safety of the public.  Practical implementation of these rights 
   necessitates parallel mechanisms for generating information 
   relating to the public and its health, welfare, and safety, such 
   as monitoring and reporting requirements as well as government 
   support for research and education efforts.

Transparency and Public Participation in the Development of 
   Laws, Regulations, and Policies

The public should have the right to have prior notice of 
   proposed laws, regulations, and policies, as well as the right to 
   comment and be heard concerning the proposed rules.

Private Access to Remedies

The public (and especially persons with a recognized interest 
   in any issue) should have the right of access to the judiciary and 
   effective remedies should be available to assure protection of 
   individual rights. 

Fair, Open and Equitable Processes:  Administrative, Quasi-
   Judicial and Judicial Proceedings

Administrative, quasi-judicial, and judicial processes should 
   be fair, open to the public, and allow all participants the right 
   to confront their accusers.

Fair and Open Election Processes

All governments should provide for, and implement, fair and 
   open election 

UPDATE: WISC. STUDENT ENVIRO CONF.

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

Some info about how people "build bridges" between environmentally 
conscious groups.  Does anyone have other conference announcements, 
community activities, and the like they wish to share?  Events from 
AROUND THE WORLD are definitely of interest!!

Stefanie Rixecker
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

 --- Forwarded Message Follows ---

Date sent:  16 Sep 1994 12:44:03 -0700
X-mailing-list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From:   Lisa Yee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject:UPDATE: WISC. STUDENT ENVIRO CONF.
Send reply to:  Environmental Studies Discussion List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

UPDATE ON WISCONSIN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP DIRECTIVE
CONFERENCE

A conference organized by Wisconsin students in conjunction with
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation to
link Wisconsin's student enviros with Wisconsin's traditional
environmental movement.

DATE: FRI 9/30 - SUN 10/2

LOCATION: UW-MADISON, MEMORIAL UNION

SPEAKERS:

WISCONSIN'S BEST will be at the Wisconsin Environmental Leadership
Challenge Conference.  We hope you'll come learn and teach

FRIDAY EVENING 9/30
George Meyer, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources.  Admission is FREE to attend the welcoming address.

SATURDAY 10/1
Larry Classen, Staff Attorney, Wisconsin's Environmental Decade.
Want to know how to get people mobilized on an issue?  We'll show
you how, using mining, water pollution, and other issue areas as
examples.  10:15-11:15 am.

Bill Line, Manager, National Wildlife Federation Public Affairs
will give an overview of effective media outreach strategies and
conduct mock press interviews, using wetlands protection as a
substantive model.  11:15-12:15.

Harald Jordahl, Clerk, State Assembly Natural Resources Committee,
as one who is always on top of the latest ecology issues in the
State, will provide pointers on effective lobbying techniques
using endangered species and biodiversity protection as examples.
1:30-2:30 pm.

Stephen Born, Professor of Planning & Environmental Studies,
UW-Madison will offer a brief perspective of the history of the
Wisconsin ecology movement during dinner, 6:00-7:30

SUNDAY 10/2

Sundays activities will bring together students and Wisconsin
Wildlife Federation members to work on a common environmental
action agenda!

TRANSPORTATION:

If you need help getting to and from the conference, call Russ and
he will arrange free transportation with Wisconsin Wildlife
Federation members.

Russ Hitz (715)632-2143

HOUSING:

If you would like to arrange for FREE housing with a UW-Madison
student, please contact Mojgone, Neil, or David.

Mojgone (608)284-1697 Neil (608)259-0432 David (414)244-7477

REGISTRATION:

Students $12.00 (Includes conference attendance and all materials,
continental breakfast and dinner on Saturday.

Send name, address, day phone with area code, e-mail address, and
name of school with a check or money order to:

Russell Hitz Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Rt. 1, Box 4 Wheeler,
WI 54772

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Contact Lisa Yee, National Wildlife Federation (313)769-6960

USAID Press Releases via Internet (fwd)

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

Just a bit more infoStefanie Rixecker
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


-- Forwarded message --
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 1994 13:06:21 EDT
X-mailing-list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Jim Russo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: USAID Press Releases via Internet

*
   USAID Press Releases Now Available Via Internet
*

 The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has
created a distribution-only Listserv list to make its press
releases available via electronic mail.

 USAID is the government agency that invests in developmental
and humanitarian assistance worldwide.

Internet E-mail users can SUBSCRIBE by sending an e-mail to:

  [EMAIL PROTECTED]

In the text portion write:

  sub usaid_press_release YOUR FULL NAME

If you would like to find out about other USAID information on
the Internet, please check out our gopher at:

  gopher.info.usaid.gov

Please Repost as Appropriate! Please Repost as Appropriate!

Already posted to:

[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]

ELAN-L

Summit of the Americas - Proposal for WHC

[STEFANIE S. RIXECKER]

Some more information on current environmental policy events and 
actions.
Stefanie Rixecker
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

- Forwarded Message Follows ---

Date sent:  17 Sep 1994 18:31:40 -0600
X-mailing-list: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From:   Preston Hardison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject:Summit of the Americas - Proposal for WHC
Send reply to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]


The following comes from the EcoNet/IGC conference env.summitamer.
For more information about EcoNet, send a blank e-mail message
to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Written: Aug 19, 1994 by dcaudubon in igc:env.summitamer */


   PROPOSAL FOR REVITALIZATION OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE CONVENTION

The environmental community has been asked to submit 
   proposals to the Office of Environmental Policy for inclusion in 
   the official agenda for the Summit of the Americas.  Biodiversity 
   and conservation issues are often marginalized in discussions and 
   in actions taken under the sustainable development framework.  
   However, these issues are important in their own right and should 
   be a critical element of the Summit for the Americas.  The 
   Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the 
   Western Hemisphere, commonly known as the Western Hemisphere 
   Convention, provides an appropriate structure for conservation and 
   protection of biodiversity on a regional level for the following 
   reasons: 

   %first, the treaty has been signed by twenty-two states 
-- it is in full force and effect and does not require 
renegotiation, and its broad language allows for modern 
environmental perspectives to be included in treaty 
implementation; 

   %second, the Convention on Biological Diversity calls on 
signatories to the Convention to develop regional mechanisms 
to implement its terms--the Western Hemisphere Convention 
could be readily used to accomplish this goal;

   %third, the Convention offers a comprehensive yet 
flexible legal framework for creating regional solutions to 
problems relating to the conservation of wildlife, 
migratory birds and their habitats;  

   %fourth, much of the international NGO community would 
enthusiastically support the revitalization of the treaty 
and would contribute considerably to these efforts; and 

   %fifth, an increasing number of signatories to the 
Convention have shown a serious commitment to revitalizing 
the Convention. 

Thus, just as regional trade agreements provide the framework 
   for an economic union extending from Patagonia to the Arctic, so 
   too does the Western Hemisphere Convention provide a comprehensive 
   framework for addressing conservation and biodiversity issues that 
   are unique to our hemisphere, as well as the flexibility to deal 
   with changing social priorities.

The United States should consider the following as means to 
   address this issue at the summit:

1)  A joint announcement by the heads of state of a meeting 
   of the environmental ministers of each country as a follow-up to 
   the Summit.  This meeting could take place in Latin America and 
   its agenda could include a revitalization of the Convention and 
   other biodiversity-related issues.

2)  A joint declaration by the heads of state announcing a 
   renewed commitment to implementation of the Western Hemisphere 
   Convention.

3)  An announcement by the United States of specific expanded 
   commitments to implement the Western Hemisphere Convention, 
   including funding for environmental education, training programs 
   for park managers, improved management of protected areas, 
   of NGOs and relevant government institutions.

4)  An announcement by the Organization of American States 
   that it will undertake certain functions under the treaty, such as 
   education and technology exchange.

5)  An announcement by the Inter-American Development Bank  
   ("IDB") that it will accept funding proposals for implementation 
   of the treaty.  The IDB might also consider creation of a new 
   biodiversity fund for the Western Hemisphere.

6)  Announcements by heads of state regarding the creation of 
   national parks and protected areas under the Western Hemisphere 
   Convention. 

7)  [For nonsignatory countries] Announcements by heads of 
   state that they will sign and ratify the Western Hemisphere 
   Treaty.


   The National Audubon Society
   The Nature Conservancy
   The Environmental Law Institute
   International Council for Bird Preservation
   Natural Resources Defense Council
   Sierra Club
   Conservation International
   The Humane Society
   National Wildlife Federation
   Defenders of Wildlife
   Center for International Environmental Law
   Healing Forest Conservancy
   Interamerican Dialogue on Water M

Re: spirituality

[Joe E. Dees]

Date sent:  Tue, 01 Dec 1998 21:15:36 -0600
Send reply to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From:   Gwendolyn L Griffin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: STUDIES IN WOMEN AND ENVIRONMENT <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject:spirituality

> hi all -- have enjoyed the most recent posts.  (last couple of digests)
> esp in tonights digest, i reflect on the idea of not believing in a
> spirit/essence of self/goddess/gods/God/etc etc etc
> as it is so far from my reality -- hard for me to understand.  granted,
> i interact on an activist front with many who refuse the ideas of 
> spirit/essence of self/goddess/god/God/etc etc etc and since in our
> struggle on whatever front we come together on we are united, i do not
> question from whence they come -- as in part (honestly) i fear being
> judged for believing such things.  my own belief is of a true essence of
> self, but to think that i come from that place, thinking that that
> recognition is needed in the transformation of the whole -- is perhaps
> problematic in and of itself.
> whew.  there is so much to learn.  
> united we stand, divided we fall.  
> diversity, key to healthy ecosystems of all sorts.  
> with much love, 
> seeking understanding, 
> gwendolyn
> 

The secret is that we will all willingly stand side-by-side and join 
hands to work together towards common goals within our shared 
destiny, but none among us desires to bow at the feet of another, 
and neither will we be forced to bow in a direction decided by 
another - and the noble among us do not desire to be bowed unto, 
nor do they wish - or demand -  to decide the direction in which 
others bow.  Joe