2011 Global Economic Justice Workshops
The past 50 years have seen a dramatic change in the role of women while the global economy has become increasingly interconnected. By examining the global economy from the lens of gender a plethora of new insights into development, security, and economic justice becomes available. We hope you will join us for an exploration of the role of women within the global economy.
Workshop Organizers: Kathy McNeely, Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Nate Kratzer, Outreach and Congregation Fellow, Jubilee USA Network
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Women, Agriculture, Climate and Food Sovereignty
(Co-Sponsored with the Eco-Justice Workshops)
Food sovereignty, the right of people to control their own food and agricultural systems, is the rallying call for the largest global movement we have witnessed in years. Most of the world’s billion hungry people are women, children, and farmers, and therefore food sovereignty requires a radical restructuring of food systems. Women’s role is central in agriculture. We will hear stories from Africa and other places about the challenges women face, including land ownership, access to credit and farming resources, and the right to save seeds; and learn about how particular farming methods impact climate and ecological balance. As food prices rise and food crises loom, we will hear about the formation of movements that link local and global struggles, and how people of faith are getting involved in critiquing broken models and strengthening just and sustainable alternatives.
Speakers:
- Cheryl Morden (invited), Director of the North American Liaison Office of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, Senior Scientist and Director of the Sustainable Food Systems Program at Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA);
- Maria Aguiar, consultant to Grassroots International
Moderator: Andrew Kang Bartlett, Presbyterian Hunger Program, PCUSA.
Achieving The Millennium Development Goals: Gender Is How We Role
In September 2000, the leaders of the world committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to end poverty and make development a reality for all people by 2015. Although, we are now only four years away from our goal, great strides need to be made to achieve the MDGs. This workshop will examine how women disproportionately suffer from hunger, disease, environmental degradation, and poverty. We will hear the stories and voices of women as they strive to achieve the MDGs. This workshop will also address how strides toward economic justice, particularly addressing the debt crisis can help to make the MDGs pledge to end poverty a reality. Join us to learn the stories of women living and overcoming poverty and see how you can help by taking action in your community.
Speaker: Emira Woods
Reframing the Economy Through Women’s Eyes: Feminist Political Economics
Feminist political economics (FPE) is one among several heterodox systems of economics that challenge the reigning orthodox neo-liberal economic model. That model focuses on the market economy with growth and accumulation as its primary goals. FPE, in contrast, focuses on the provisioning of human needs and human well-being. It employs gender as a defining category and focuses on the actual lived experience of women, men and families and what it means to be a human person.
Speaker: Maria Riley
“Leaps and Bounds,” a Theatrical Production
Get out of “lecture mode” and explore the deepening of our planet’s economic and ecological crises through this creative one woman show. Through a combination of artistic expression – dance, theater and spoken word – participants will engage in and witness the economic and ecological driving forces behind our world’s deteriorating development and security schemes. Group discussion will focus on what gender has to do with the dual crises we currently face.
Presenter: Tevyn East, Choreographer and Performer with the Affording Hope Project
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Economic Justice in Caregiving
Worldwide women have been entering the paid labor force for a number of years. Unfortunately, our current social contract identifies the work-life conflict as a personal rather than a political problem. As a result, families around the world suffer and are left to address child and elder care on their own, often times with inadequate solutions. Recognizing that our society’s social fabric is at risk is the first step, reinvesting in human well-being is the second.
Presenter: Julia Wartenberg
Taking it Home: Organizing for Justice in Your Community
This workshop will give us the tools we need to learn how to continue EAD’s momentum in our home communities. Join this workshop to share experiences and explore creative ideas and strategies to engage your congregation and help it to become a prophetic and powerful force for God’s justice in the world. We will discuss relevant legislative initiatives and other possibilities for action in the coming months.