On March 4, the Cowichan Valley will join together in social action for the annual One Billion Rising and International Women’s Day events.
Starting at noon, people are invited to gather in Duncan City Square for an afternoon of dance and special speakers in solidarity with hundreds of other communities around the world that are participating in the One Billion Rising movement.
OBR is a call to action based on staggering statistics that one in three women will be beaten or raped in her lifetime.
With the world population at seven billion, this adds up to more than one billion women and girls.
Across the world, communities use dance to “express rage against injustices, and the power of global solidarity and collective action.
“They dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact that together, violence can be defeated,” says the OBR website.
This year’s OBR theme is the continued call for revolution.
“Systems have not changed yet, therefore the call for revolution remains urgent and necessary, to deepen what it can mean, and escalate actions around it. Major changes are still needed, particularly in ways of thinking and consciousness about violence against women issues,” the OBR website says.
In the evening, the community is invited to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Eagles Hall in Duncan.
The event will feature family friendly entertainment, a potluck dinner
(bring a dish to share and your own plate, cup and utensils), and music by The Hardware Girls. Doors open at 5 p.m., with dinner and entertainment running from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Then on March 8, International Women’s Day is a global day of recognition and celebration of women’s economic, political and social achievements.
The them for this year is Pledge for Parity.
For more information or to volunteer contact 748-2133 or 748-8722.
This event is hosted in partnership by Cowichan Intercultural Society, Cowichan Women Against Violence, Matraea Centre, and Cowichan Spirit of Women.