What a day we had! On Tuesday 8th March we celebrated 100 years of International Women's Day walking on the bridge with Annie Lennox and Bianca Jagger, listened to stirring speeches from them and other inspiring women, including a descendant of Emmeline Pankhurst, who founded the Suffragette movement, and danced the Soul Train. All in the name of equality.
The concept of mobilising thousands of women to walk on bridges the world over is the brainchild of Women for Women, see http://www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/ and it was brilliant to see the trail of women walking along from the Jubilee Bridge down the embankment and back over Hungerford Bridge to join in the rally outside the Royal Festival Hall.
Some of us had been up and out of our beds rather earlier than usual too to have breakfast at the Royal Festival Hall with the Guardian newspaper who published their top 100 women list to commemorate 100 years of International Women's Day. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/08/international-womens-day-centenary1– I still don't have a copy of the special supplement but I understand that some pretty amazing women were included.
The day ended with some drinks and canapes with some of my favourite women including the wonderful Lynne Franks who founded B.Hive http://www.bhive.co/as an inspirational space for women to meet and work. This was a fitting venue to end our day of celebrations and it was good to wind down and really think about what all this means and how we can take things forward from here.
We didn't put on a show this year for the first time in eight years, but plans are in progress for something rather special later this year. All the hard work on EQUALS has been worthwhile if we can continue to work together – charities, NGOS and cultural organisations like ourselves. We all play a part in moving women's rights forward and reclaiming feminism. I am a great believer that everything happens for a reason and it was wonderful to take time out this year and enjoy being a part of other events.
We have our fantastic Pan Asian comedy showcase on Saturday 12th March at the Royal Festival Hall and our Second Sunday show at the Leicester Square Theatre on Sunday 13th March. Please come and join us for more IWD celebrations.
Lynne.
