November 24, 1914 to December 28, 2010 Jean Benson Wilkinson, a longtime defender of civil liberties and beloved teacher, passed away at the age of 96 in Berkeley, California, on December 28 surrounded by her loving family. Jean was an…
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WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR
Welcome, New Year! though we are growing old, And life looks sadder than it seemed of yore, And Winter’s fleecy robe with ermined fold Doth bear a blemish unperceived before, And falling storms, grateful to boyhood’s ears, Bring up stern…
Mary, mother of Jesus Christ
Mary (in English) or Miriam (in Hebrew) or Maryam (in Arabic) was born into the Jewish community around 20BC in Nazareth, Galilee. In the Christian tradition, her birthday is celebrated on the 8th September and in both Christian and Islamic…
The Kirk that Stole Christmas…
Christmas is now a central festivity in Scotland, with Scots spending more on presents than the rest of the UK population- but as a Scottish festival, it has had a chequered history. The celebration of Yule is currently associated with…
Holiday Recipes
After several weeks of snow, this Scot, at least, appreciates our ancestor’s need for festivities to bring cheer to the unrelenting cold and wet. This December brings a number of opportunities to celebrate from Al-Hijra, the Muslim New Year on…
Recognising local faces in global spaces: lessons we can learn from our Indian grandmothers, part two
Part one of this article can be found here. Participating in international women’s forums during the interwar years often made this generation aware of their marginalisation as Indian women and colonial subjects within these forums. This was brought home to…
Recognising local faces in global spaces: lessons we can learn from our Indian grandmothers, part 1.
In our evermore interconnected world transnational networks are becoming increasingly important in enabling workers, activists and academics to overcome the limitations imposed by national boundaries. Look at the success of a global research and policy network such as WIEGO (Women…
16 Days Against Violence Against Women: Lucy Faithfull (or was she Lady Faithless?) – Mother to Hundreds
An account of Lucy Faithfull’s life is a history of child care in the twentieth century. She was a passionate campaigner for children, Children’s Officer for Oxford, and the first social worker to sit in the House of Lords. In…
Sixteen Days Against Violence Against Women
Today, Thursday, 25th November 2010, sees the launch of 16 Days of Action to Eliminate Violence Against Women. Events are planned worldwide to increase awareness of this pressing problem, which continues to require immediate attention and intervention today. My own…