TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
Katea's Blog
Katea's Blog
« previous 5


Religious Fundamentalism(s) and Women's Rights
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

When I received a mail from AWID asking me what I think about Religious Fundamentlisms and what do I know about it, immediately my response was, "the use of religion and religious practices to legitimize abuses, discrimination, restrictions specifically on women." It is almost an open knowledge about rape and sexual abuses by a church minister, pastor, priest or whatever you call them, and it took sometime before someone finally had the gut to expose it. This, of course, we immediately react to and file complaints. But what about the subtle manipulation of one's own life due to our religion? How does one religion become fundamentalistic? How do RFs affect women, particularly young women? How do we resist RFs? These are just some of the questions we tackled during a 4-day-conference in Istanbul recently (Nov 18-21, 2007)

RFs do not directly affect me, as I'm quite eclectic with my religious practices. As a matter of fact, I have always been fascinated with religion--the mysterious side of it. But I never allowed anyone to impose something on me and I grew up in an a family, where curiosity is encouraged even questioning the existence/non-existence of God even if my family is a devoted Catholic. What I do not like, is that when options become limited because of religion. Say for instance, health and sexual reproductive rights. In the Philippines, the use of contraceptives and abortion are heavily discouraged, if not illegal. The reason behind this is that it is immoral and a capital sin to take away one's life or to prevent life from "living". According to our priest, life begins not at the moment of conception but at the time when man and woman unite in bed. Therefore, the use of contraceptives prevents the coming of life. Abortion, on the other hand, should never be an option because it's not the child's fault.

In my opinion, the use of contraceptives prevents unwanted pregnancy, which in most cases, is always the sole responsibility of the woman (most of the time young woman). She can either be discriminated and humiliated by the society for the "untimely" pregnancy. She may not be able to finish school (as some schools have defined restrictions on this). She may not be able to find a good job (because she did not finish school). She may get a job which may not be able to support her and her child. She may get into prostitution. Then she gets into drugs, she gets addicted, sells her child, gets depressed and commits suicide. But that's her fault right? Because if she has not gotten into PMS, she would not have born a child. So the moral of the story, do not engage into PMS. Make sure you marry the guy first so that both of you will be responsible for the kid. So what about the growing number of population among the "married couples" who are also not allowed or discouraged to use contraceptives? Well, some would say, "children are the gift of God, the more children you have, the more blessings you receive, and also the more help you can get when they grow old." So, it does not matter whether the parents can give them basic needs and good education. And what happens when they can no longer feed their children? Can the Church support them? "But why look for a good life in this lifetime, when the Kingdom of God can be reached after death?" If there's one thing I know about God, S/He does not want us to suffer: physically, mentally, and spiritually. That's the reason why s/he sent all these prophets, teachers, angels and the rest of the gang. Because if otherwise, then what a sadist God some people have.

For abortion, the only reason why women's rights groups push it is not because they are so irresponsible and immoral. The only reason why they push it is when the life of the woman is in danger. The most common would be health reasons, and the more lasting effect would be psychological. Say for instance, the girl/woman is raped and she gets pregnant. Don't you think it is a valid reason to get an abortion? Yes, the life of the child is important but are we saying that the life of the mother/woman isn't?

If there is an option to use contraceptives and administer abortion, this does not mean that women are compelled to do this option. If the woman who is a rape victim says she will deliver the child, it is also her right and should be commended for her strength and gut. If a young woman does not engage in PMS to avoid the use of contraceptions, that is also her right. Nobody says it's wrong. But when you limit the options and impose rules and laws on women who do not accept it, then this is when the women's rights activists say, "our body, our rights."

November 28, 2007 | 3:54 AM Comments  1 comments



Baranggay Elections: A Series of Unfortunate and Dirtiest Events
Related to country: Philippines


"What is above so is below"

The dirty system--corruption, vote buying, red tape, cheating etc.-- that the latest baranggay election in my country only proves that I can no longer trust my future in the hands of the people/ politicians who say that they want to serve their people. More and more people are selling their votes for instant money and instant food, and most of them are the poor ones who are most often than not are lazy or the "bum" who would rather drink until they drop or produce babies until they reach the age of infertility (except for the poor ones who are working hard like the farmers and fisherfolks, thank God, have dignity and self-honor who despite of their humble lifestyle, they carry the good values and culture that their foreparents have instilled in them). Sometimes, I think that these people deserve to be poor all their life because they don't work and they don't think. You don't need a university diploma to realize that selling your vote is making your life in danger, and worse making your children and their children's children suffer a great deal. It would have been ok if they are the one ones who suffer but their vote reverberates and affects even the votes of the people who are trying to keep their town "proper and prosperous". The lazy ones are evil because they create a web of troubles and crimes.

Some people took advantage of the election, drinking everyday and asking the baranggay official wannabes to pay for their credit/debt. Some of them asked money to pay their fare to Manila. Some asked for a "jollibee or mcdonald's meal" for a vote. Some asked their wedding to be sponsored by these wannabes.

Some wannabes sold their house to have enough money to be given to the people. In remote places they paid 100 pesos to 300 pesos per person for a vote ($2.50-7usd). Some gave bags of groceries, or a kilo of rice, or a bottle of gin/beer. Some spent, 500,000 pesos for a baranggay chairman post. Why? Why are these people dying/gambling to get a position in the baranggay when you can only get a maximum 5000 pesos a month? Why spend all your lifetime materials gains? The corruption was rampant everywhere and who was to blame? Who was to castigate them? The very same government, the very same people who did massive cheating in the last national elections? The vote-buying-capitalists and the vote-buying-consumers are of the same type. They think, since the President "allegedly" did it, the congressmen and the senators did it, why can't they do it as well? And they did! And a lot of people tolerated it. Why? I don't know. I didn't vote because there was not a single candidate who's worth my precious vote. Most people voted officals who are corrupt and corrupted and for them that's ok because they got 100 pesos in hand, or they had some cans of goods on their table. They are stupid and they are lazy and this combination produces corrupted spirit and helpless situation. They really deserve to be poor because they have no sense of responsibility. The corrupt officials, on the other hand, deserve to receive bad karma 500,000 times (I'm thinking of the "allegedly" 500,000 redtape money). If our national hero Jose Rizal would witness this, he would probably retract his decision to sacrifice himself for his people and this country. The social cancer he talked about a hundred years ago, is now malignant and has spread all over the country and the only solution is death.

But what can we do, fellow concerned citizens? I am so sick and tired of these stupid and lazy people. I am so sick and tired of the system. But what am I to do? Migrate? Disown my citizenship as a Filipino and then what?

I remember a Hindu prayer from Rig Veda (?) and it goes something like this:

Make the corrupted souls peaceful.
Make the peaceful ones virtuous.
Make the virtuous ones aware.
Make the aware ones enlightened.
Make the enlighted ones spread enlightenment to others.

November 5, 2007 | 8:08 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


Empowering African Women through Education

Here's an announcent for our sisters in Africa who wish to get a scholarship:
Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) Foundation: 2008 Scholarship

Source: Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) Foundation

[Please note: The information below has been adapted directly from the
source.]

2008 Scholarship Application opens October 1, 2007.

WAAW foundation is pleased to announce its very first scholarship program,
offering $500/year for need-based female African students admitted to a
University, College or institute of higher learning in Africa. Scholarships
are renewable annually, following proof of the student's continued academic
performance.

Eligibility:

- Female students of African origin, who have gained admission to an
institution of higher learning in Africa.
- Able to demonstrate financial need.
- Excellent academic record.

Special consideration will also be given to underprivileged students,
orphans and children of widows, students in the first or second year of
stud, and students admitted to engineering, math, technology and science
based programs.

The Application Process:

Scholarship applications are reviewed by the WAAW foundation Scholarship
Committee, and awards are announced at the end of January for the
scholarship year. WAAW will start accepting applications from October 1,
2007. Applications submitted prior to this date will not be received or
reviewed. Application deadline is the 15th of December of the previous
year. Instructions on how to apply are given below.

How to Apply:

Visit the WAAW foundation web site at
http://www.waawfoundation.org/scholarship.htm and download the application
form. Follow the application instructions carefully. Your application
package must include the following:

- Application form (download in PDF format).
- Curriculum vita or resume.
- A 1-2 page essay on your future career goals and how you expect the WAAW
foundation scholarship will assist in fulfilling those goals.
- Two letters of recommendation, preferably from academic
mentors/advisors.
- Current University transcripts, if applicable.

Please complete all sections of the application form and submit all
required materials to WAAW foundation by December 15, 2007. Completed
application forms and supporting documents should preferably be submitted
electronically (with subject heading: Scholarship) to
scholarship@waawfoundation.org

Application materials may also be mailed to:

Scholarship Application, WAAW Foundation
209 Rugen Lane, College Station, Texas, USA 77845.

For further information about the WAAW Foundation scholarship, please visit
http://www.waawfoundation.org/scholarship.htm

November 5, 2007 | 8:01 AM Comments  0 comments

Tags:


« previous 5


hekatea's Profile

hekatea's Friends


Latest Posts
Child/Youth...
On Reading Umberto Eco
Learning a New Language
Lucca Leadership Training
The 2008 Justice...

Monthly Archive
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
July 2008
August 2008

Change Language


Tags Archive
animation anime australia books chiangmai competition environment gender greenpeace humanrights internationalconference justice leadership movie outback philanthropy photography politics production reading scams selfdiscovery seminar thailand training travel writing youth ztenbn

Filter By Type
Events
News
Travel
Topics

Friends
Zainul Abedin
-franz-
-SB- Shobuz Bhai
A Better Community for All (ABC4All)
A.B. PobuwoloTowaye
Aare Kornar !
ABen-Shema
ABHIPRAYA
Adam Kaufman
Adel
Adrielle Saldanha
african prince
Ai
Ajit
AK
alfred ibulu jr
alima
AmakaforKids
Amanda Kefalas
amani007
Andrew
Angie
Anita Yip
ankag
ansh
Arundhaty Parida
Askia
Awais Aftab
AWellEarth.net
azaleaicornmill
Ben Holland
Benoit Couture
BERYL
Bettina Rudolf
bigpun007
BIR1935
Bishnu
Blake Jacobi
BOLA OLANREWAJU
bundesliga
Caitlin
Cam
Camolot
Carlo
Carolyn
Carrie
Charles
Charles Candelario
Chase
Cherrie
cherry
ChieuNghi Truong
Chris
Chris Wells
Chris Williams
Christine
clarita zarate
Dan Tshin
danielle
Dave Matthews
Dhiviya
dia el deen abd el fattah
Dilip Kr. Saha
Donna Roy
dudu
Elijah C. Briggs
Eric
Eva Huijbregts
Evelyn
Evelyn
Farah Rahimtula
FEMI DUROJAYE
florabale
George C. Owens
Global Fund
Gloria
Greta
Hansha Sanjyal
Harikrishnan.G
Harry Bobor Stevens
Haylz
Helen
Henry Ekwuruke
idreeskhan
ISNAYP Media
J R
James
Jamil Ahmad Malik
jean celeste paredes
jeanne castellanos
Jewel-
Jonah Wittkamper
Jörg
jOrOss
Joyce Christine
JUSTICE FOR ALL
Kahendi
Karen Lee Gross
Karin Chisholm
Kat Birch
Katie Broad
Katja
khalid khan jogezai
KIMM
Kyna Mori C. Flores
Larin
LauraK
LorenzoHarewood
Luís Manuel Pin
Lula M
lutherking
lutherking
Malcolm Lawrence
Marc Ludwig
MARCKENSON
MARCO
Mariane Vadeboncoeur
Marie
Marina Different
Mark
Mary
mary ann c
maryjn
Mateusz Palys
Medaer Frans
MEDJEEN
Michael Furdyk
michelle
michelle
Miguel Silva
Miles Robert Aronson
mohamed elkashash
Muddasir Ali Issani
Muhammad Danish
Naglaa
Naomi den Besten
Natalie Steiner
nielu natha
Nina
nockia
Noelle Anne Rodriguez
norhana
Nuijten
Ogunro Temitope
Ossama ALASS
Owulezi
Ozerova Irina
Padam Raj
Peace2Peace
Pham Thanh Nhon
Phyo Win Latt
princes chona regencia
rahul bhowmik
Rajesh
Ranjan K Baruah
Ranya
Rebecca Lohman
ROSANIE
Rotaract Club of Manila Metro
S.Senthilpushpa
S.Senthilpushpa
Sandy Mae
Sara Hamilton
Sarah
Sarah Boyd
Sebastain
Selene Biffi
Semakula Saidi
Shahnawaz شاهنواز
Shireen
sleemfesh
soccer-girl110
SSandifer
STANLEY IJEOMA
Sudip Aryal
Sunny
surendar
Swapnil
sweden45
Tamoy
Tanya
Teresa Allan
Terri Willard
TM
TOPH
Tracey
tree
Uli Heinrich
Uranusz
VICTORY ASHAMOLE C
Vivek
vixie
W.Thomas Black
We-R-One
WeAreTeachers
wilfried fink
Will
Yama Enayat
Youth Develop Nepal
Yuming Ma
Zach
ZAM
zand
Zeljka Banicek
Zovya
~Caroline~

Links
ABC4All
Arts and Letters Daily
Association for Progressive...
Association for Women's...
Atikha
CocoNatur
Council of Europe
eldis
Feminist
Friends of Seven Lakes Kids
idealist
International Women's...
Nabuur
Native Planet
Youth Action Network
Youth for Change
Youth for Exchange and...


42908 views
Important Disclaimer