Atomic Moms, Radium Girls, and Hiroshima Maidens: Part 1

August 6, 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on a human population, specifically the people of Hiroshima, Japan. As a commemorative series, Women Of Green is taking a look back at the impact of nuclear war on the lives of women. This is the first post in the series. Mothers and Daughters Reflect on the Bomb In looking at the effects of nuclear weapons on mothers and daughters, the documentary film, Atomic Mom makes clear not only the past and effects, but also a way forward. In addition, filmmaker M.T. Silva has created Momisodes, a web series of Atomic Mom where mothers and daughters share thoughts on peace, and you can contribute your own ‘momisode’ to the series. The Film: Two decades after the end of the Cold War, the U.S. President claimed it was a particular mission for his administration to reduce the numbers of weapons on the planet, and to secure those weapons and materials that remain. The importance of this mission is too often forgotten in the current century—except when politicians raise the specter of scary nations who might have or attain weapons, like North Korea or Iran, or scary, […]

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10 Ways to Be An Agent of Change

Women Agents Of Change

As a 3% blogger, I’m constantly amazed and inspired by all the women and men who not only believe in our vision, but also jump right in to further the cause — writing for our blog, speaking at our events, and sponsoring our conferences. Many of these luminaries have shared their wisdom and insights with us over the years. Here are a few of their tips for creating the change we want to see in ourselves and in the world.

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Dangerous Isolation: Meet the Fearless Advocates Helping Rural Women Escape Abuse

Rural West Virginia

From helping care for an abused woman’s animals to switching jackets so she can slip past her husband in the parking lot, advocates in poor, rural areas are thinking outside the box.

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17 Ways You Can Work For Social Justice

Social Justice In Action

If you’re feeling inspired by the Supreme Court’s historic same-sex marriage decision, then do your part to help build and sustain forward momentum toward justice for all. Legalizing same-sex marriage is a huge victory, but it is not the finish line of justice. Inequality takes many forms, and people are still waiting on their ability to live freely, safely, or, just to live.

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The Discrimination No One Talks About, Even Now

Julianne Moore

There is another form of discrimination in this country where words and opinions are blatantly expressed, and most just ignore the issue: ageism. We are a youth oriented country that looks at aging as something to avoid at all costs. We have to face that our population is aging and the number of Americans over age 60 is growing. We need to examine our social attitudes and realize that we live in a society that stereotypes aging adults.

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Girls Are Unstoppable: Always #LikeAGirl Campaign

#LikeAGirl Unstoppable

Last summer, Procter & Gamble’s Always scored a big hit with its stereotype-crushing Like a Girl ad, which then got a slot on the Super Bowl. Now, the feminine products brand is back with another powerful commercial aimed at building the confidence of women. The new Leo Burnett ad, Unstoppable, is directed, like its predecessor, by documentarian Lauren Greenfield. And it features a diverse group of girls and young women talking about the limitations they’ve experienced as a result of social norms.

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The Power of Quiet In A World That Can’t Stop Talking

Quiet Revoution - bamboo

We as a society have an implicit bias toward extroverts — those who talk the most get the most attention, even though there’s no link between how much we talk and the quality of our insights. And that means we too often dismiss introverts and their ideas — that is, we leave out at least a third of the population, by Susan’s estimate. And that’s costly to everybody, not just introverts.

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The Token Man: Talking gender diversity, feminine values, and organizational responsibility

Token Man Team

In a new initiative from the founder of Creative Social, Daniele Fiandaca, a series of prominent women from across the marketing industry interview male figures about their views on gender imbalance and diversity in the industry. In the second interview in the gender diversity series, Token Man, Emma Perkins, executive creative director at Lowe Open interviews Daren Rubins, chief executive PHD. Emma Perkins: Thanks Daren for agreeing to be a Token Man. We met at the 3% Conference in London but given how fraught the topic can be, why were you keen to do an interview for Token Man? Daren Rubins: Firstly when I heard you present at the 3% conference I thought it was a fantastic initiative. I’m also a firm believer in gender equality and the role women and feminine values have to play in the workplace. Its something that I’m actively pursuing as an area of interest. I’ve worked in a very male dominated industry for so long and its undergone a huge transition in the past few years and I personally think the media industry is a lot better off for it. So I’ve started to become quite interested in the dynamics of more senior women at the top of organizations and imbedded right throughout as well as the role […]

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The Route of the Whale: Award-Winning Multimedia Project Protects Whales

Route Of The Whales

The great whales are indicators species that have a lot to say about marine and coastal biodiversity, according to Lisa Bassett, author and professor at the University of Oregon School of Communication and Journalism. Today, seven out of 13 species of great whales are listed as endangered or vulnerable because of commercial whaling (despite an international moratorium); ship strikes; oil and gas exploration; military sonar vessels; pollution; disease, and climate change,” Bassett reminds us. As a professor of journalism, Bassett knew that by documenting an environmental problem, you can become part of the solution. This was the concept behind a four-week study abroad program offered by the University of Oregon (OU), entitled Nature & Culture: Multimedia Storytelling in Uruguay. This astonishing and exciting program focuses on the environment, traditional cultures, sustainability and conservation. The flagship program occurred in 2013, when Bassett led a group of UO students to Uruguay to create a multimedia project entitled The Route of the Whale. The project explored the route from its beginning in the hillside town of Piriapolis to the Brazilian border at Chuy. The students investigated environmental issues and solutions to those issues, in marine biology, conservation and sustainability. They did their work both in the classroom and in […]

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One Woman’s Mission to Restore Dignity to the Girls Kidnapped by Joseph Kony

Alica Achan, Pader Girls Academy

Those who made it back were shunned from their community—so Alice Achan built them a place to call home. Alice Achan may run one of the most successful girls’ schools in Uganda today, but that’s because she knows firsthand what a monumental challenge it is for a young girl in her country to get an education. Achan, 41, grew up in a small Acholi-tribe village during the widespread murders, rapes, and kidnappings wrought by the notorious Lord’s Resistance Army, a guerrilla group led by Joseph Kony, in the 1980s and 1990s. As a result of the massacres and violence, Achan, one of 27 children born to a polygamist father, had to leave almost a dozen different schools during her childhood and teenage years. If she had stayed in school, Achan risked being abducted by LRA rebels and forced to work in rebel camps as both free laborer and sex slave—the fate of so many girls. Yet Achan persevered by moving all over northern Uganda in pursuit of her high school degree. In 1996, she graduated at the age of 23. The struggle to develop her academic skills and earn her degree prepared Achan for her life’s mission: to create a […]

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