I was able to read most of an advance copy of this book before Bill Drayton (founder of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public) snatched it away and ran off with it on his annual 2-week hiking trip to the mountains.

I think this has to be the most important book – not just for women’s rights globally but for human rights – published in my memory. Kristof and WuDunn weave together a most compelling story of how culture and customs historically suppress women. They tackle many tough, taboo topics – for example honor killing. But more importantly, they champion the stories of heroic women worldwide wholly committed to changing the many evils of the status quo.

What is more, they posit a kind of general framework theory that the really important advances in human rights that are going to be made in the near future are going to be brought about by these entrepreneurial pioneering women. In essence, that the backbone of the human rights movement and of real change across all societies is going to be a direct function of brave women who give themselves permission to say “NO” to thousands of years of (to most Westerners) unimaginable oppressive cultural customs and who take it upon themselves to lead to a new way. Once you have read the book, it is very hard, if not impossible, to disagree with Kristof and WuDunn’s general theme. To wit, the brave women of Iran who took to the streets to protest the results of the recent election.

Among many other “super” women, HALF THE SKY spotlights the following inspirational Ashoka Fellows:

• Sunitha Krishnan (India), founder of Prajwala, a citizen sector organization in Hyderabad, India, fighting forced prostitution and sex trafficking, rescuing women and children from sexual exploitation, incestual rape, sexual torture, and abuse in prostitution. Her organization helps former prostitutes learn vocational skills so they can move into new careers. “Prajwala” means “an eternal flame”.

• Sakena Yacoobi (Afghanistan), founder of the Afghan Institute of Learning, a citizen sector organization providing teacher training to Afghan women, educating and fostering education for girls and boys, and providing health education to women and children. Her organization also runs fixed and mobile health clinics that provide family planning services. Sakena holds the distinction of having been Ashoka’s first Afghan Fellow. Educating women and girls was banned under the Taliban and is controversial under Islamic law.

• Roshaneh Zafar (Pakistan), founder of Pakistani microfinance lender, Kashf. A former World Bank employee, she was inspired after a chance meeting with Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank. “Kashf” means “miracle” and Kashf is indeed fostering a miracle by leveraging microfinance to women to transform the role of women in Pakistani society and bringing about a poverty-free world. To date, Kashf supports 305,038 families in Pakistan, has disbursed $202 million, and has 52 branches nationwide.

I am not alone in my enthusiasm for this book! Last Tuesday, September 15, 2009, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (“UNODC”) hosted a panel discussion and book signing with Mr. Kristof and Ms. WuDunn in the UN Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters. All 550 seats in the Trusteeship Council Chamber were filled. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivered opening remarks. Special recognition goes to Simone Monasebian and Anna Rosario Kennedy of the UNODC for putting together this behemoth of an event.

Five out of five stars. An absolute must read for anyone who cares about women’s rights or human rights. A genuine eye popper that moves so fast, tackles so much that has hitherto been taboo and unmovable, and interweaves the unbelievably positive stories of the very heroic women already leading and creating change in a tapestry that is glimpse of a brave and very different, humanitarian new world.

Once you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down. And once you have read it, you will be moved to help bring about tomorrow. Absolute proof that the glass (or the sky) is half full. We just have to give ourselves permission to make change. Or as Gandhi said, “we must be the change we wish to see.”

BUY IT. READ IT. PASS IT AROUND.

-Tom Boone, Ashoka: Innovators for the Public

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/08/11/congo.rape/

Wonder where we could get a tape of both the June speech and the one where she (heartbreak!) voted for The Empty Suit when the Thug “won” the nomination…

Yes! What Hillary’s doing for girls and women is a continuation of her deeply felt policy that was obvious to me back in l995 in Bejing! What a speech:

Women’s rights ARE human rights. And human rights ARE women’s rights. Yup. She’s doing a FAR MORE IMPORTANT JOB now for the truly oppressed. And I will listen to John Lennon’s “Woman is the Nigger of hte World” song of l970 once again….how true, still!

Yes, indeed! I agree she did the right thing taking the SoS and leaving the Congressional pandora’s box unopened.

Your idea is…well….prophetic?

Hillary for N.Y. Governor…..altho I prefer POTUS!

Madame President 2016

I’m ordering “ALMOST MADAM PRESIDENT” newly published book (publisher?) by Nichola Gutgold I believe. It’s supposed to be quite a book on Hillary’s accomplilshment written without anti-Hillary bias. There’s another out by Marie Cocco but I don’t know that much about it.

And in Washpost today at Greenwich village Italian restaurant Bubba had lunch with Obambi and split the bill. I think Totus owed Bill Clinton lunch …

Another rocket scientist.

I’m very proud to say that my wife is much like Hillary in her efforts to promote the welfare and recognition of women.

It makes me very proud.

Maybe, one day, we’ll live in a society that values the contributions of women in more areas than the bedroom.

Obumble and his minions could learn a thing or two if they just stopped playing at leadership and watched someone who actually leads.

One of the interesting things I learned from the back to back coverage of Teddy’s weekend funeral was, yes, Teddy and the Clintons were always good friends, despite the fact Ted was far-left and the Clintons were more centerists. But one thing that apparently stuck in his mind was the fact the Clintons supported Jimmy Carter’s re-election in 1980 instead of Kennedy’s challenge of the sitting president.

Teddy had befriended 0 from the 2004 convention speech to his first days in the senate. Like Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the uniformly corrupt democratic party leadership, Teddy probably felt he would be in charge wherever he wanted to be with 0. That would not have been as clear with Hillary.

What better way to have the last word on ‘loyalty’ than to do what he did – endorse 0 and be the catalyst in defeating your disloyal friends, Hillary & Bill. He carried that grudge for a very long time.