women

 For more information, contact:Tana Hartman, 619-6546 (c) OR Miriam Thompson, 919-370-4114  

The 31^st triennial congress of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom  (WILPF) opens on June 1 on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel  Hill, hosted by the League’s Triangle branch.  Its theme, “End War – Local to Global,”  will be explored by such outstanding speakers as Rev. Dr. William Barber II, President of  the North Carolina NAACP; Kathy Kelly, head of Voices for Creative Nonviolence; and  Madeleine Rees, former head of office of the U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights  in Bosnia and international Secretary General of WILPF. 

Kelly will speak on her recent visit to Afghanistan Friday, June 3 in Chase  Hall, Ridge Road, UNC campus, 12 noon, free.  Rev. Barber’s keynote speech “The Long  Road to Freedom, Equality and Justice” on Friday, June 3, is also free to the public, 7  p.m., Hanes Arts Center on campus.   A reception and film gala on Saturday,  June 4 will begin at 6 p.m., Hanes Arts Center, with the film “The Whistleblower,”  an expose of sexual atrocities perpetrated during the Balkan war, showing at 7:15 p.m.  Discussion with Rees and Donna Bickford, Director of the Carolina Women’s Center,  regarding the film and human trafficking will follow.    

Workshops will examine such issues as “Corporations v. Democracy;” “Water for Life,  Not for Profit;” nuclear energy, the status of women. For more information: www.trianglewilpf.org , or contact 919-370-4114 regarding  registration, scholarship, transportation and volunteer information.

The Orange County Commission for Women is co-sponsoring the event with local organizations as part of North Carolina Women United's "Women's Agenda Assembly process."

The 2008 Agenda Assembly marks the 20th anniversary of these events in North Carolina. Across the state, women hear from local experts on issues like health care, education, the economy, equal political representation, immigration and violence against women. Participants discuss the issues, prioritize them, and set the agenda for policies addressed by local and state leaders. It's democracy at its best; your voice will count! Our goal is to include over 100 women in the process this year.

• >What:2008 Women's Agenda Assembly: "Women, Power, Change"
• When: Thursday, October 2, 6:00-9:00pm
• Where: Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.

Candidates and community organizations are invited to attend and bring information to share. The event is non-partisan.Pre-registration is encouraged. Fill out the form. Distribute the flyer via your networks.

Food served starting at 6:00pm. Speakers start at 6:30pm and include experts from across Orange County and the Triangle area.

Transportation is provided from Hillsborough. Simultaneous interpretation to Spanish also provided. Registration is FREE. Contact Pam Reynolds at 919-960-3875 for more information or to turn in a registration form.