The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas is a story by Ursula Le Guin which is one of my favorite stories that questions morality, happiness and humanism. The story is not just moving but it makes you ask your personal relationship to the less fortunate people around you. It makes you think why we allow such cruel and inhumane action towards a certain person or group.


"...the fact that the people of Omelas are happy people. Happiness is based on just discrimination of what is necessary, what is neither necessary nor destructive, and what is destructive. ...One thing I know there is none of Omelas is guilt."

"In the basement under one of the beautiful public buildings of Omelas, or perhaps in the cellar of one of its more spacious private homes, there is a room. It has one locked door, and no window. A little light seeps in dustily between cracks in the boards, secondhand from the cobwebbed window somewhere across the cellar. In one corner of the little room a couple of mops, with stiff, clotted, foul-smelling heads, stand near a rusty bucket. The floor is dirt, a little damp to the touch, as cellar dirt usually is. The room is about three paces long and two wide: a mere broom closet or disused tool room. In the room a child is sitting. It could be a boy or a girl. It looks about six, but actually is nearly ten. It is feeble-minded. Perhaps, it was born defective, or perhaps it becomes imbecile through fear, malnutrition and neglect. It picks its nose and occasionaly fumbles vaguely with its toes or genitals, as it sits hunched in the corner farthest from the bucket and the two mops. It is afraid of the mops. It finds them horrible. It shuts its eyes, but it knows the mops are still standing there; and the door is locked; and nobody will come. The door is always locked; and nobody ever comes, except that sometimes--the child has no understanding of time or interval--sometimes the door rattles terribly and opens, and a person, or several people, are there. One of them may come in and kick the child to make it stand up. The others never come close, but peer in at it with frightened, disgusted eyes. The food bowl and the water jug are hastily filled, the door is locked, the eyes disapper. The people at the door never say anything, but the child, who has not always lived in the tool room, and can remember sunlight and its mother's voice, sometimes speaks. "I will be good," it says. "Please let me out. I will be good!" They never answer. The child used to scream for help at night, and cry a good deal, but now it only makes a kind of whinning, "eh-haa, eh-haa," and it speaks less and less often. It is so thin there are no calves to its legs; its belly protrudes; it lives on a half-bowl of corn meal and grease a day. It is naked. Its buttocks and thighs are a mass of festered sores, as it sits in its own excrement continually."

"...They all know it has to be there. ...they all understand that their happiness, the beauty of their city, the tenderness of their friendships, the health of their children, the wisdoms of their scholars, the skills of their makers, even the abundance of their harvest and the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this child's abominable misery."


Whenever I read the this story, I cannot understand the cruelty that people have that makes them endure the condition of the poor families. The story emphasizes the rights of a child. I cannot say anything more.

One of my all time favorite poets is Rumi who was born under the same zodiac as I am. Not that it matters but it's cute to know anyhow. We are 7 centuries apart and yet I feel we are still connected. He was a teacher, a sufi, a poet, a mystic and a good friend to his best friend, Shams of Tabriz. His poetry speaks to me directly and makes me understand how a person should think and act. The poems are spiritual, humourous, humane, personal, universal, truthful, honest.

Below is one of my favorite poems which we were asked to memorize in college. This poem is meant to be performed not just read:

LIKE THIS
If anyone asks you
how the perfect satisfaction
of all our sexual wanting
will look, lift your face
and say,
Like this

When someone mentions the gracefulness
of the nightsky, climb up on the roof
and dance and say,
Like this?

If someone asks you what "spirit" is,
or what "God's fragrance" means,
lean your head toward him or her
Keep your face there close.
Like this.

When someone quotes the old poetic image
about clouds gradually uncovering the moon,
slowly loosen knot by knot the strings
of your robe.
Like this?

If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,
don't try to explain the miracle.
Kiss me on the lips.
Like this. Like this.

When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
Here.

If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your finger the space
between the creases on your forehead
This tall.

The soul sometimes leaves the body, then returns.
When someone doesn't believ that
walk back into my house
Like this.

When lovers moan,
they are telling our story.
Like this.

I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.
Like this.

When someone asks what there is to do,
light the candle in his hand.
Like this.

How did Joseph scent come to Jacob?
Huuuuuu.

How did Jacob's sight return?
Huuuuuu.

A little wind cleans the eyes.
Like this.

When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he'll put his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us.
Like this.

from "The Essential Rumi" trans. by Coleman Barks

I was very excited the first time I voted. I was compelled to do something for my country and that was to vote the perfect Presidents and government officials. I thought making my candidates win would make our country better. But I was wronged.

Cheating was so rampant. And political butterflies were everywhere. I was so sickened by it. My idealism was almost lost. I hated when people vote for candidates who’d give them a can of sardines or a kilo of rice so they would exchange their future for a one good meal. I hated when candidates during their campaigns promise heavens to people when they can only offer hell. I abhor those officials who would change positions all the time so that they could be assured of their seat in the congress. I could not believe it when people vote for the same people who have made their lives more miserable. Every project that a politician does, entitles him to own the project, to name it after him as if it is his money that he spends. I hope there’s a law that would ban politicians to write their names after those projects: coconut seeds named after a governor; medicine for free named after a mayor; a basketball court named after a congressman; a waiting shed after a councillor and village captain’s names. It’s the people’s taxes not their own money. What is wrong with them? They make me vomit.

Who am I going to vote now? A candidate whose projects are all infrastructure so that 85% if the budget go to his pocket? Or a man of people who also protects his brothers on illegal drugs and illegal gambling? Or a person who follows everything that his superior tells him to do and is never critical of the situation? A convicted rapist? A political butterfly? A gambling lord? Who is the lesser evil of these political archetypes or shall I say TRAPO (traditional politicians)? One thing that is clear is that all of them are campaigning and running so that they can protect their own interest. I have yet to see a candidate who is pro-people, pro-country and pro-environment. Most of them are blabbers and they hardly do anything. And those who really work for the people and for the country would hardly want to be associated with politics and politicians. Could you blame me if I don’t exercise my right to vote? What is my right to vote when all the candidates are the wrong/ed people? Oh yeah, why would I be blamed if my registered name was “lost” during the elections and was changed to names of a long dead people? In my country, dead people can still vote. In my country P500 or $10usd is the price of 1 vote for urban areas. In my country, a can of sardines and a kilo of rice are enough to buy the whole family of an indigenous tribe. In my country, my poor country, elections are in season again.

NB:
Trapo literally means a very dirty rug

Coordinador/a de Programa para AWID
Asociación para los Derechos de la Mujer y el Desarrollo

Locación: Preferentemente para trabajar en la Ciudad de México, Ciudad del Cabo o Toronto

Antecedentes: La Asociación para los Derechos de la Mujer y el Desarrollo -
una organización internacional de membresía, multigeneracional, feminista,
influyente en la agenda, creativa, orientada hacia el futuro, que trabaja
por los derechos de la mujer - está buscando a dos Coordinador/as de
Programa para asistir en la implementación del nuevo y emocionante Plan
Estratégico de AWID.

Como Coordinador/a de Programa, tendrá que tener experiencia en el trabajo
dentro de los movimientos de mujeres, gestionando proyectos, y antecedentes
en uno de los siguientes temas en los que AWID está trabajando actualmente:
recursos para los derechos de las mujeres, capacitación, construcción de
movimiento y VIH/SIDA.

Se incorporará a un dinámico, tecnificado, creativo equipo de feministas
trabajando desde diversas partes del mundo para lograr la misión de AWID:
fortalecer la voz, el impacto y la influencia de las activistas,
organizaciones y movimientos por los derechos de las mujeres a nivel
internacional, para avanzar efectivamente en los derechos de las mujeres.

Al trabajar con la Directora Ejecutiva o una Directora de Programa, las
responsabilidades incluirán coordinar la implementación de los objetivos de
los proyectos, incluyendo calendarización y presupuesto, asistir en los
reportes financieros, así como escribir, editar, investigar, coordinar
consultores/as, organizar eventos y reuniones, facilitar talleres,
representar a AWID en eventos internacionales, y otras tareas en la medida
en que se necesiten.

CALIFICACIONES Y EXPERIENCIA NECESARIAS:
• Profundidad y amplitud de conocimientos sobre los derechos de las
mujeres/o género y desarrollo
• Al menos cuatro años de experiencia en organizaciones y movimientos de
mujeres globalmente y/o regionalmente
• Al menos cuatro años de experiencia en la implementación del cabildeo, en
capacitación y/o en programas de investigación-acción
• Al menos cuatro años de experiencia en la coordinación de proyectos
(habiendo llevado adelante al menos un proyecto importante de principio a
fin, con supervisión mínima)
• Título universitario con un enfoque relevante sobre los derechos de las
mujeres/o género y desarrollo
• Habilidades comprobables en escritura y edición
• Fuertes habilidades organizacionales; liderazgo efectivo, capacidad para
trabajar en equipos con fechas límite estrictas y bajo presión
• Fluidez hablada y escrita del inglés
• Fluidez en español, francés o árabe
• Excelente habilidades informáticas

PARA POSTULARSE:

Por favor envía tu CV más reciente, con una carta de presentación, así como
una respuesta en inglés a las siguientes preguntas: (que no exceda las 3
páginas, escritas a doble espacio en letra Times New Roman número 12)

1. ¿Cuáles son algunos de los mayores desafíos para fortalecer los
movimientos de mujeres y feministas en el mundo?

2. ¿Qué estrategias clave se necesitan para avanzar en los derechos de las
mujeres?

3. ¿Cuáles son algunos desafíos clave de trabajar con un equipo virtual y
cómo los enfrentarías?

Por favor envía todos los documentos a Sarah Rosenhek a:
(srosenhek@awid.org) antes del 9 de FEBRERO

AWID alienta a las postulantes del Sur Global o Europa del Este.

Por favor no llamar. Agradecemos a todas/os quienes se postulen, pero
solamente las/os candidatas/os que se seleccionen serán contactadas/os.

Para más información visitar: www.awid.org

Job Opening: Program Coordinator
Association for Women’s Rights in Development

Location: Preferably able to work in Mexico City, Cape Town or Toronto

Background: The Association for Women’s Rights in Development - an international, multigenerational, feminist, agenda-setting, creative, future-oriented membership organization working for women’s rights – is looking for up to two Program Coordinators to assist in the implementation of AWID’s exciting new Strategic Plan.

As a Program Coordinator, you will have experience working within women’s movements, managing projects, and have a good background in one of the following issues that AWID is currently working on: resources for women’s rights, capacity building, movement building, and HIV/AIDS.

You will join a dynamic, tech-savvy, creative team of feminists working from around the world towards fulfilling AWID’s mission: to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally to effectively advance the rights of women.

Working with the Executive Director or a Program Manager your duties will include coordinating the implementation of project goals including timelines and budget, assist with funding reports, as well as some writing, editing, research, managing consultants, organizing events and meetings, facilitating workshops, representing AWID at international events, and other tasks as needed.

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
• Depth and breadth of knowledge of women's rights and/or gender and development
• At least four years of experience with women's organizations and movements globally and/or regionally
• At least four years experience of implementing advocacy, capacity building, and/or action-research programs
• At least four years experience in project management (led at least one major project from start to completion, with minimal supervision)
• University degree with a relevant focus on women's rights and/or gender and development
• Proven writing and editing skills
• Strong organisational skills; effective leadership, ability to work in teams with tight deadlines and under pressure;
• Written and spoken fluency in English
• Fluency in Spanish, French, or Arabic
• Excellent computer skills.


TO APPLY:

Please send your most recent CV with a cover letter as well as a written response in English to the following questions (not to exceed 3 written pages, doubled spaced Times Roman 12 font):

1. What are some of the greatest challenges to strengthening women’s and feminists movements worldwide?

2. What key strategies are needed to advance the rights of women?

3. What are some key challenges of working with a virtual team and how would you address them?

Please send all documents to Sarah Rosenhek at: (srosenhek@awid.org)
BY FEBRUARY 9th.

AWID encourages applicants from the Global South or Eastern Europe.

No calls please. We thank all those who apply, but only those candidates who are short listed will be contacted.

For more information please visit: www.awid.org