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8- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday March 8, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Women's Day always worth celebrating By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER International Women's Day is 99 years old and counting. And still with all of the history tallied in almost one century of celebrating women's achievements, the day deserves its due, according to feminist, peace activist and author Deborah Ellis. "There is no such thing as just another Women's Day," Ellis told more than 600 women who packed the Oakville Conference Centre for the Women of Halton Action Movement's fifth annual fundraising dinner party Wednesday (March 5). "Especially when there are plenty of women in the world who can't celebrate their gender," added Ellis. While interviewing women about their war experience at a refugee camp in Pakistan in 1999, Ellis discovered that an Afghan and Pakistani women's organization was planning a big International Women's Day rally there. It had been a day worthy of national attention in neighbouring Afghanistan, up until the Taliban misogynist rule overtook the country in 1996. But during its regime, the Taliban more than discouraged the celebration, it threatened to cut off the legs of anyone caught participating in such an event. And still, Ellis witnessed women and men diligently smuggling themselves across the border to Pakistan, traversing mountains, passing through rigorous checkpoints and leaving behind their families despite worry for their safety. "I asked them why they dared to take the risk," said Ellis. They told her that the strength they gained from the march helped carry RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER LIFE OF THE PARTY: Author Deborah Ellis was guest speaker at The Dinner Party for International Women's Day. them through the dark times. It was also something they could share with and do for the other women who couldn't come that day. "They needed to have a sense that lives can get better and that they could control their destiny. Without it, they said, there's no point getting up in the morning," said Ellis. Celebrating resistance and understanding the presence and absence of courage has driven Ellis to travel to countries in strife ­ Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, South America and Africa ­ interviewing the most vulnerable populations; children. "There is no such thing as other people's children," said Ellis who has donated more than $550,000 in royalties to kid-centred charities in these afflicted places. She has interviewed children whose homes, schools and family have been bombed and killed in Afghanistan, others in Malawi and Zambia whose lives have been altered forever due to AIDS, those living in prisons with their convicted parents in Bolivia, Canadian youth living on military bases, where one of their parents is serving in Afghanistan, and last fall she went to Iraq to interview refugee children. "My job is easy because everyone has a story to tell," said Ellis. In all of her travels, Ellis also met women with "exceptional courage, those willing to work hard for social change, struggling for justice and a decent world." Closer to home, local activist and WHAM co-ordinator Bev LaFrancois said young women need to recognize the similar courage their predecessors invested in securing women's right to vote, be recognized as people and own property. "I'm concerned they take these rights for granted," said LaFrancois. The next generation has its work cut out for it, especially because childcare still remains an obstacle for women seeking employment, because women still earn 70 per cent of what men earn and because older women are three times more likely to be poor. The money raised from Wednesday's dinner will be divided to support local women through Halton's Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Services, as well as those abroad, through the Canadians in Support of Afghan Women charity. ESL CLASS PRONUNCIATION SPELLING Monday and Tuesday Afternoons 1 to 4 Adult Learning Centre 171 Speers Road Thomas Merton Oakville Catholic Secondary School REGISTER NOW Your Link the Future ESL Class Job Readiness Training Learn Business English Wednesday, Thursday & Friday Afternoons 1 to 4 ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING Adult ESL Classes Saturday Mornings ­ 9 to 11:30 St. Marguerite School g 1359 Bayshire Drive, Oakville Start Anytime REGISTER NOW Your Link the Future Adult Learning Centre 171 Speers Rd., Oakville Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School REGISTER NOW Your Link the Future [905] 849-7555 ext. 223 [905] 849-7555 ext. 223 [905] 849-7555 ext. 223