Thursday, April 30, 2009

Presidential Commission on Women

Working with women in politics in Nepal, it is always interesting to remember that women's issues at home are still in need of attention...


For too long, women have been an afterthought when it comes to the political process. We've been counted out and left behind, and it's time we stood up and made our voices heard.

That's why after the election, WomenCount started our campaign to establish a Presidential Commission on Women to provide an independent, thorough look at the lives of women in America -- in the home, in the workplace, raising our families, our health, our economic impact -- and to make substantive policy recommendations that will help American women move forward.

Representative Jackie Speier -- a champion for women in Congress -- heard our call and immediately got to work on legislation supporting the cause.

Earlier this month, she introduced a bill that would create the Commission. A strong show of public support is the best way to convince Congress to pass this bill into law and make the Presidential Commission on Women a reality.

Click here to urge Congress to support Rep. Speier's bill creating a Presidential Commission on Women.

You've probably seen the news recently about President Obama creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. It's an important step, and we applaud the President for taking it.

But this Council serves a very different purpose than the Commission created by this bill. The Council coordinates all federal policy dealing with women's issues, where the Commission would take a step back and look at every aspect of life for women in America.

The Commission would develop the policies that create equality and opportunity for women, and work with the White House to implement those policies.

We can't think of a more important step for women in America than creating this Commission, and we hope you will help us to make it a reality.

Tell Congress to support a Presidential Commission on Women today!

WomenCount was founded by women inspired by Hillary Clinton's historic run for the presidency. WomenCount is dedicated to giving us a voice in the political process and is proud to have spearheaded the effort to create the Presidential Commission on Women.

Thank you for your help on this vital issue, and we look forward to working on it with you in the future.

Yours truly,
Stacy, Dale, Sarah, Jen and the WomenCount Team

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

University of Washington Features Global Daughter

When I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in European Studies I never dreamed I would end up living and working in Asia. Despite my focus on Europe, my time at UW opened my mind and willingness to explore all cultures of the world. Recently they asked me to write an article on what I was doing now, and we are very pleased to have Global Daughter featured in their Spring Newsletter. For the full newsletter, including pictures please visit:
http://jsis.washington.edu/advise//file/Spr-2009(1).pdf 
(We are on page 7)

Alumni News—News on what some of our most recent alumni are doing..

A Journey to Global Daughter
Prepared by: Erika Mosebach, JSIS Alumni
Company: Global Daughter, www.globaldaughter.com

After completing my European Studies degree from UW in 2004, I decided to travel the world-strangely enough everywhere but Europe! I began my search of the unknown in Kyoto, Japan, where my B.A. opened doors for me to teach English and explore Asia. After two years, I felt it was time to move on to my next challenge and I found myself on a deserted island off the coast of Costa Rica saving endangered sea turtles. It was there, after having witnessed the beauty and humanity of women from different cultures around the globe that my best friend/travel companion and I hashed out the concept of Global Daughter.

We headed to Kathmandu, Nepal, a place steeped in political and social unrest for many years to make our mark. After working with local women’s groups we decided the best way for us to make an impact would be by interacting on a grassroots level with women artisans to bring their amazing handicrafts to the Western market. We now provide skills development training, as well as all the tools needed for these groups to be successful with their handicrafts in hopes that they may be able to lift themselves out of poverty. Global Daughter is an online fair trade boutique that sells unique handmade jewelry, gifts and home accents that are eco and socially friendly. It is also a social project that emphasizes personal relationships, community participation and human development.

Many of my European Studies courses related to women and their struggle and impact throughout history. We at Global Daughter firmly believe that in order to repair a nation that has been through war women MUST be active participants in building their country’s economy. Global Daughter is for women, by women, inspired by all women. To be a part of the fair trade movement to improve the lives others, please visit us at: www.globaldaughter.com.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Now in Marlene's Market in Tacoma!


Skipping on the Shipping!

Marlene's Market and Deli in Tacoma is now featuring Global Daughter handmade gifts! We are very pleased to have our fairly traded, women-made goods available in a retail environment that promotes healthy living, ecologically sound products and social responsibility. Along with the Tacoma store, GD products can also be found at the Federal Way Marlene's location. We encourage you to shop at either store and shop GD to live a fair trade lifestyle....in style!

Tacoma Marlene's Market & Deli
2951 S. 38th St.
Tacoma, WA 98409
Get Directions    

Federal Way Marlene's Market & Deli
2565 S. Gateway Center PL
Federal Way, WA 98003

(253)839-0933
Get Directions

   


Friday, April 24, 2009

GD and Smashbox Cosmetics



Global Daughter wants to say a big THANK YOU to Smashbox Cosmetics, a company that not only produces top notch cosmetics but supports women causes worldwide. It is coincidentally our favorite brand of cosmetics, so to begin a relationship with them is a dream come true!

On Tuesday, GD was invited to the corporate offices by the President of Smashbox to kick off their series of Earth Week Events with a presentation and shopping hour. For Global Daughter to be a part of their green effort is an honor and a great opportunity for our project. Thanks to the preparation and hard work of "smashers" Stephanie and Tiffany....... it was a SMASHing success!

Smashbox-a company with a conscience that is as beautiful on the inside...as the outside!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Earth Day 2009. Visuals.


Wind turbines in Oklahoma, USA.


Kathmandu water pollution. 0% oxygen. Nothing can survive in this river except disease.


Our President leading the way.


Global Effort.


Let's dissect a tree.


Plant a tree with a friend.


Climate change. This polar bear is wearing a life jacket??


Michelle flexing her muscle for the Earth!





We aren't the only ones roaming around.




Virgin Islands- Climate change is contributing to the bleaching of coral reefs. The top photo shows a healthy staghorn coral reef, and the bottom one shows one that's been bleached. Photos by NOAA and Dave Burdick



Himalayas — Melting Mountains Glaciers in the Himalayas provide the water source for one-sixth of humanity. Now that water source is threatened by climate change, as the temperature rises, these reservoirs of ice disappear. Dubbed the 'Third Pole', for having the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar caps, the Himalayas boast 11 peaks over 26,246 feet and around 100 over 22,966 feet. Scientists predict that 80 percent of these glaciers will disappear within 30 years if current warming rates are maintained.



Skip on the plastic w/ Global Daughter's 100% cotton shopping bag.
It makes the Earth happy.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Until I see you again, Nepal


See you! (Erin with a Nepali street cow)

I am a professional at approaching airline ticket counters with ultra heavy baggage and extra suitcases. I beg, I argue and I cry to get the agent not to charge me to move my life from one country to the next. "But I'm moving two years here man, give me a break." Luggage packed to the brim and bags hanging off my body like a pack mule, I am usually able to get on the plane headed for the next city.

As I left Nepal this week, after almost two years, it was more than extra baggage that I was bringing back home with me. Along with hiking boots and Tibetan art, I have also packed a fair trade business, millions of memories with friends, and the love of a country. You can imagine how heavy this can all be and why I will not say "goodbye nepal" but rather, "until I see you again."

One and a half years has flown by in Nepal. For a country that is a behind in development, time sure does fly! Some days I felt like dancing in the street in the monsoon rains and some days I felt like lifting taxi drivers up by the throat. It was a roller coaster (of Himalayan proportions) of emotions and experiences. But, not a day went by that I did not know I was alive.

Global Daughter allowed me to travel the country and meet amazing women doing amazing things against all odds. Global Daughter has worked together with women artisans here and built personal and professional relationships with them and their families that will remain the foundation of this project. We started Global Daughter as two and now we have grown into a family. And you know what they say about family, family first! That is why we will continue to communicate with GD artisans and make it a priority to further their professional development.

Even though we are both back in America now, we are charged up and more energetic than ever to grow Global Daughter and continue to impact lives in a place that has become our home. I will now be in Seattle and Erika will continue initiatives in Los Angeles. In two markets, we hope to get maximum exposure for our project and connect more women in America with women in Nepal. Things may be daunting here at home with the economy, but the Global Daughter Movement will march on (now in two cities!).

We want to thank you all for supporting us. We are trying to tell the story of women in Nepal, and we will tell it until we are blue in the face, no matter where we are, to anyone who will listen. Erika and I have connected with women in Nepal, now we want to connect them...with YOU! If you have any comments or suggestions about this project or just have questions about women in Nepal, we would love to hear from you. We could both go on for days about women's issues in Nepal, so hit us up and make our day!

If you are in the Seattle or Los Angeles area and would like Erin or Erika to do a personal presentation about women in Nepal for your organization, friends, church group, or school, please contact us at info@globaldaughter.com.

Help us get blue in the face!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Women Artisans in Janakpur

Janakpur Arts and Crafts Center was the first artisan workshop we associated ourselves with over a year ago.This woman-owned and operated center produces original and distinctive designs and has been running for over 15 years. Janakpur is located in the southeast region of Nepal bordering India and is a world away from Kathmandu. The illiteracy rate is over 65% and education is still not looked at as a priority for many families in the area. Most of the women that work at the center have not been to school and some have tragic and painful stories of family abuse, personal loss, extreme poverty and caste discrimination.

The employment opportunity the center provides these women not only offers them a financial income, it also encourages their creativity and self confidence. By working at the center and gaining economic independence, they are role models for their daughters and success stories in their communities. The artisans work either at the center or in the comfort of their own homes (some of their husbands do not allow them to leave the house). Each artisan is specially-trained in a certain aspect of production, for example, master fabric cutter, detail painter, tailor, designers, etc.

On my current trip to the Center, I was able to meet up with women who we have worked with from the beginning. It was great to hear their stories and find that most of them are healthy. Ranju, the master seamstress who makes our cushion covers, has recovered fully from an emergency hysterectomy. That is good news. And since we were there last, they have added 5 women on staff. It is great to go into the workshop and be remembered and feel natural amongst the women artisans. We am proud to be working with them, for them and creating a connection between them and YOU!






















































Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Janakpur in Pictures

Janakpur is Global Daughter's home. We started working in this village over a year ago and it is the last place I go before I return to the U.S. This place is full of life, color, history, culture and of course, beautiful women. I visited the Janakpur Arts and Crafts Center, but after thousands of pictures and several days, I thought to share pictures from Janakpur separately. Tourists rarely visit this place (12- hour bus ride from Kathmandu) but I think it is the gem of the country. We all connect to different places differently. The people here are family..I actually have people recognize me from our trip there a year ago! (I am sure the white hair has nothing to do with it!) When I am there, at the workshop or walking down the street with the ox carts and women dressed in the most intense and magical colors, I feel like I got the memo on life.