Climate Change is limiting our chances of a Peaceful World - Jasmine, Peace and Justice Ambassador

Many people still don’t believe that climate change is a major issue in the world today, but what if you knew that climate change is reducing our chance of a peaceful world? In 2007, the UN Security General Ban Ki-moon, described the conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region as the world’s first climate change conflict. Since 2007, many more wars have resulted from climate change, including Syria’s current civil war. If we cannot reduce our Earth’s rapidly rising temperature, climate change wars will become a reality.

Did you know that immediately before Syria’s civil war in 2011, Syria suffered the worst drought on record? This is not a coincidence. Syria’s drought resulted in more than 1.5 million people moving from Syrian farms into the city. This caused a stronger political unrest and allowed more people to rebel, ultimately producing a civil war. Although Syria’s record- breaking drought cannot be the sole blame, climate change cannot be overlooked as a cause f Syria’s current war.

The earliest water war was recorded 4500 years ago, when two nations fought to secure disappearing water. As soon as water disappears, a result of climate change, tensions will rise to secure the most precious resource on this Earth. This is already happening around the Nile River in Africa, the Indus River in South Asia and the Mekong River in Southeast Asia. New competition will appear, trying to secure the vanishing water, which will likely 

lead to conflict. If the Earth’s rising temperature cannot be controlled, countries will go to war to secure our disappearing water.

If we cannot stop climate change, which causes wild weather and eradicates resources, the little peace that we possess now may soon be lost. Countries will go to war to secure resources and citizens will tire of governments who cannot make situations better. If we are unable to control our increasing temperature, then we may have no hope of maintaining a peaceful and just world.

“The bottom line is that the impacts of climate change can exacerbate resource competition, threaten livelihoods, and increase the risk of instability and conflict, especially in places already undergoing economic, political, and social stress.” - John Kerry

Sources:

http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/11/249393.htm

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/kerry-political- crises-linked- climate-change- 151110190932931.html

http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/does-climate- change-cause- conflict

Dead Cows, Asia and the Global Economy- Laura, Sustainable Cities Ambassador

In rural Victoria and Southern NSW there is the beginnings of a cry to arms. But without understanding the issue Australia is on the cusp of accelerating the poor vs rich divide and sliding into a corporate wealth and citizen slave economy. Through the media over the last few weeks we have all heard about the Farm milk crisis, but do we understand how it came about that Fonterra dropped their Farm Gate milk price?

Farms within southern Australia have traditionally been small family operations with a couple of thousand acres, Dairy farms as a subset of this have been and still are small herds with farms employing between 2 and 4 people. With this size operation processing milk has changed enormously since the days of fetching a pail from the neighbour. No one farm can afford to purchase and run a milk processing plant, however a geographically linked group of like-minded farmers can band together and build a co-op. Then the Co-op might grow and merge with other Co-ops this is how Australia’s Largest milk processor Murray-Goulbourn came about.
Murray-Goulbourn then decided on a strategic path of growth into the Asian markets, to do this they needed more processing facilities and all the co-opted farmers couldn’t stump up the cash, so it was decided that they would ask investors, to help out. They tried to protect the farmers with conditions regarding the profit margins eating into the price paid for the raw product (Farm Gate Milk Price). This was all very ambitious and some of the strategy and goals sold to the investors didn’t take into account Asian and global market risks. Basically the price of a product on a global market is different to the price within local markets. The calculation kinda goes like this Cost to produce the product + profit margin = Price to consumer however when the consumer can’t afford to pay the end price, the profit margin drops but what happens when the profit margin can’t drop any further and the product is already being produced. The payment back to the producer becomes less than the cost to produce the product, Farm Gate Milk price dropped.

When the global financial crisis happened Australia came out on top, this meant our money and products cost more in other economies, Asia’s economy hasn’t bounced back in a timely manner. This means Murray-Goulbourn had two choices; turn the lights out and default on investors and farmers or drop the Farm Gate Milk price. When the largest milk processor drops the FGM price there is a knock on effect to the other processors, they look to the largest operator to help understand the market value. Fonterra panicked, and retrospectively dropped the milk price. This meant farmers for a couple of months payments prior to May had to return money and would be paid less going forwards. Farming isn’t a cash business where you are able to quickly access cash. Farmers can’t drop down to cash-converters and sell a tractor. Therefore they need to look at what is costing them more to keep than to sell, the farmer starts searching the farm and sees his cows. Calls the local abattoir operator and books a truck for that afternoon.

This is how we ended up in this mess but how do we help the farmers out, how do we build in a safe guard? I don't have any answers but here are some options to think about:
- In good years build a levy and invest the funds into other markets.
- Encourage primary production diversification to soften the fall for farmers for example grow crops or breed other animals. - Support other industries in rural areas such as manufacturing to stimulate the rural economy, by building manufacturing plants in small towns it allows farmers to have off farm incomes. 

These are long term Government changes that need to be put into place how can we the city folk help?
- Pay extra for our local milk.
- Donate to a kick starter.
- Push our big supermarket chains to pay a higher price at the Farm Gate.

Why women's health is fundamental for equality

Improving women’s health is fundamental in reaching the eventual goal of equality. Without proper access to health care that deals directly with the issues pertaining to health problems related to females, women can be severely and unfairly disadvantaged within society, hindering them from
overcoming further hurdles to the path of reaching gender equity. Education is an essential tool in bringing about this valuable change and improvement to women’s health globally.

For developing nations, in many countries, due to lower levels of access to health care services, maternal health, and disease can be large problems that pose an ongoing threat to women. However, these nations can benefit greatly from investing in education.

In reducing fertility rates, education for girls has been an important part in increasing female participation in school and thus decreasing birth rates. In particular, engagement in secondary and further study for women in Mali leads to an average fertility rate of 3 as compared to those without
access to education, with an average fertility rate of 7. This discrepancy highlights the great potential for education to be used as a manner in which we can aim to reduce fertility rates. This reduction is important as young women of high school or middle school age account for 1 in 7 deaths due to childbirth. Also, adolescents who give birth are up to 5 times more likely to suffer complications as a result. Thus, limiting the amount of potential births and delaying them is key in improving women’s health.

Additionally, higher levels of education for women directly correlate to a delay and spacing out of pregnancies as well as a seeking out of health care and support. This means that increasing access to education directly improves maternal health. In Burkina Faso, compared to those who have not had an education, mothers who have completed secondary school are two times as likely to give birth in health facilities, and so give birth in a safer environment. In all, around 2 maternal deaths are avoided in every 1000 women with one additional year of education.

In terms of the prevalence of HIV/aids in women, education can assist in increasing access to treatment, combating stigma and limiting discrimination. Women with post-primary education are 5 times as likely to be educated on the topic of HIV/aids, with HIV having the capability to spread twice as fast amongst girls without an education in Zambia, showing that education is the best way we can reduce the impact of health problems for women.

With generally greater access to health facilities and contraception, and more widespread knowledge about family planning and pharmaceutical services, in developed nations, the most pressing matters for women’s health can be quite different. Mental health issues, such as eating disorders, and depression have been increasing in prevalence over the years, especially amongst girls of primary and secondary schooling age. This provides a massive obstacle for change, as without an empowered, engaged and able collective of young women pioneers for gender equality, a truly just society will be difficult to attain. However, within the context of developed nations as well, education focused around women’s health can provide an important platform to facilitate assistance, raise awareness and transfer information. Undeniably, knowledge of these health problems and de-stigmatisation of such mental illnesses can have a tangible impact, allowing those who suffer from them to identify more easily if they should seek help.

Education, ultimately increases opportunities for women to access pathways to attain health care. It is a key component of working towards gender equality, that assists in reducing the barriers that limit female participation within society.

** Much of the information regarding the impact education can have in developing nations for women can be found in more detail at this link: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0019/001902/190214e.pdf

I’m not making this up! A look at the treatment of women’s health

There are more women and girls in poverty around the world than men and boys.  That’s a fact.  A fact that leads to the inevitable outcome that women and girls are more likely to be denied adequate health care than men and boys.  You can see from this graph that these statistics aren’t limited developing countries either.  http://www.citylab.com/work/2012/11/poverty-gap-between-men-and-women-around-world/3840/ In the USA the gap is larger than the global average.  Why?  Women are more likely to be victims of violence than men, often forcing them to leave their homes, pets, possessions and life’s work behind.   55% of Australia's homeless women are homeless because of domestic violence. This makes women susceptible to further violence and financial difficulties, leaving them unable to afford adequate health care, especially in countries where basic health care isn’t free or accessible.  Maternity care, access to contraceptives and termination services are in limited supply, illegal or too expensive for many women around the globe.

But, there is one issue that affects women with health issues all over Australia and the world on a daily basis that is being ignored; it’s a problem I’ve had constantly over the last five years and it’s something we need to talk about.  It’s a common disease called ‘I’m not making this up’.  It flared for months before I was diagnosed with glandular fever and chronic B12 deficiency.  For years before I received a nervous system disorder diagnosis.  It occurs in hospital every time a doctor reads ‘fibromyalgia’ on a chart or when ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’ are listed under known health problems.  It must come up in my blood tests every time a health professional asks if I’m seeing a psychologist instead of dealing with my physical health concerns.  It’s exhausting and it’s making the health of thousands of Australian women and girls worse.  Everytime I see a doctor I am torn between trying to appear tough and wanting them to understand the severity of my pain.  I shouldn’t have to worry about that, I should be entitled to feel and respond accordingly without needing to analyse how to best react in order to recieve adequate medical attention.  Many people and health professionals still function with the medieval assumption that some women are hypochondriacs, attention seekers or have low pain thresholds.  We need to work as a community to change the stigma which surrounds conditions and illnesses common to women.  We need to listen to women and stop making them feel guilty for admitting they’re in pain, sick or needing help.  We need to encourage each other to see medical professionals when something seems not quite right because this is the only way we can make sure we catch cancer and other illnesses in their earliest possible stages. As women and girls we need to do these things for ourselves, we need to allow ourselves to be looked after.  As men and boys we need to work on changing these stereotypes and helping the women around us feel comfortable.

I have spoken with so many women and girls who have been frustrated because their doctor carelessly misdiagnosed or dismissed their health concerns.  Although there are fair reasons for denying treatment or tests for a patient, that reason should never be because the patient is a women.  However subtle the discrimination is at times, it still exists and it needs to stop.  If you’re not happy with the way a health professional has treated you, tell them and if you’re still unhappy keep looking until you find someone who treats you and respects you.  In extreme cases, it is okay to report them without feeling like their actions reflect badly on you.  I wish I had.  There are wonderful health professionals out there who want to help.  So keep your eyes out for women who need practical support as well as emotional.  Together we can change the stigma which surrounds the treatment of women and make ‘I’m not making this up’ a disease of the past.

For those struggling with illness and feeling isolated, Facebook is full of support pages with other people going through what you are.  Having a mental or physical illness is never something to be ashamed about.  Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help and Beyond Blue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ are great websites to check out if you ever need help or want to participate in fundraising events.  Check out http://www.may28.org/ to learn more specifically about women’s reproductive health and rights as touched on in the opening paragraph.  If you’re struggling financially there medical services besides a basic GP visit that you can access with government support so speak to you GP about health care plans for mental and physical health.  It’s so important that you keep the chatting about these things.  Every conversation leads to awareness which leads to change.

Equality - Difference - Unity

The issue of gender inequality undoubtedly is a huge and complex one. Therefore, a solution, on a large scale, is equally as complicated. In light of this, two key ideals have emerged and have been proposed as the best methods of female empowerment. This has culminated in a common debate amongst feminist theorists. That is, the debate between equality and difference.

The notion of equality involves women aiming to conform to typically masculine economic, social and political structures, therefore adopting them as their own and gaining equal power to men within them. On the other hand, embracing difference involves women accepting and celebrating their fundamental differences to men and being granted choice in decisions relating to their individual preference for compliance or defiance within patriarchal structures.

Equality is often criticised for its implied acceptance of the rational tendencies of male practices as being superior to the perceived irrational tendencies of women. By simply wishing to immerse themselves in structures that have been established by and for men, it can be argued that the female fight for “equality” with men elevates and promotes the masculine role as being superior within society. Simultaneously, the desire to disassociate from traditionally feminine practises implicitly denounces their value, necessity and importance within society.

Likewise, the acceptance of essential differences between men and women is also often criticised for a number of reasons. It is often said that the “free choice” that this method of empowerment claims to offer is not in fact necessarily free. This is because every decision that is made is always influenced by the social structures that surround everyone within a community. Given that modern society is patriarchal, these decisions will almost definitely be tainted, either consciously or subconsciously, by ideas of male superiority.

Thus it can be seen that both of the fundamental driving solutions within circles dedicated to battling gender inequality seem inherently flawed. So, can we ever reach gender equality? Will it ever be possible with the current structures of our global society?

These are both difficult questions, because whilst we should always remain optimistic, looking forward to our goal of reaching total gender equality, the path ahead seems increasingly tough. However, I think the key idea to take away from all this is that reaching gender equality is an uphill battle that will require the desire to change from all members of society.

It will require the recognition of structural power that some hold, and the subsequent relinquishment of that power because inequalities always stem from an imbalance of opportunity and influence. That is why campaigns such as #heforshe [1] become so important. They allow us to discuss openly the need for the entire international community to be supportive of gender equality in order to move forward and make improvements. So for me, the only real solution here is unity. This involves all members of our society looking within themselves to find how they unintentionally contribute to gender inequality, and cultivating a desire to not only change as individuals, but instigate a change within society.

[1] http://www.heforshe.org/en

Never underestimate the importance of a woman. She can change the world!

As March draws to a close, so too does, what I like to call, the Month of Women.  Although International Women’s Day is but one day and was held on the 8th March, the dialogue it inspires, the awareness that it raises and the action it encourages in raising awareness of international women’s rights, plights and power is something that, once highlighted, only seems to gain momentum.

The truth is that gender inequality is still a monumental, contemporary issue in all global communities.  Even in Australia, gender inequality prevents equal participation in social and employment environments, and sees a gender pay gap of 17.9%.  That’s right. In 2016, women are still earning less than men for doing the same work, right in our own backyard.

However, internationally, the constraints placed on women due to their gender are concerning, appalling, and in some cases, deadly.  For example, arranged marriages in Pakistan can lead to ‘honor killings’ in the case of refusal or marrying below their caste.  Girls in Afghanistan aren’t generally permitted to go to school under Taliban rule, and even where they can (generally families will prefer to invest in a male’s education over their female relatives), they are subjected to acid attacks, segregated education or poisoned water.  In Niger, women are designated domestic duties that tend to transcend any chance at education.  This education doesn’t necessarily need to be in the form of books and literature, statutes and mathematics, but personal development and interpersonal skills, market skills, financial literacy.  But no. What is failed to be realised though, is refusing to invest in the education of women is refusing to facilitate a solution to the global problems of poverty and hunger.

Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 concern ‘End[ing] poverty in all its forms everywhere’ and to ‘end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and sustainable agriculture’.  Time and time again, it has been discussed and proven that women are key to reducing poverty and ending hunger by increasing education and facilitating their skill development in a similar vein to what men are entitled to.  For example, women are expected to tend the farm as well as look after children, to prepare meals and keep the residence clean, while men hold land titles and make financial and commercial decisions.  Some women have small artisanal businesses that stagnate due to lack of business acumen and access to finance.  Teaching women time management and productivity skills lead to efficiency and better time to invest in diverse pursuits.  Allowing women greater access to resources can all but eliminate hunger for up to 150 million people, according to The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.  Ensuring women are aware of investment funds and micro finance loans that could invariably increase the scope of a business is key to improving female self-sufficiency.

The point is that gender inequality doesn’t just inhibit women; it inhibits the global community.  Educating and increasing access for women to productivity resources, to agricultural education, to personal development and efficiency, to basic education, can almost orchestrate a substantial decrease in global poverty and hunger.  Mobilising women just a little bit - whether it be how to deal in increasingly volatile situations or how to manage their fruit-selling business efficiently and accurately - can create a whole new world, not just for the individuals, but for their children, families and community.

Never underestimate the importance of a woman. She can change the world.  All that we need to do is to facilitate this change by campaigning against archaic discrimination and empowering women.  This is key to working towards the elimination of poverty and hunger on a global scale.

How can "Scrubs" teach us about gender equality?

I’ve spent the last week rewatching episodes of Scrubs. It was a popular TV series in the early to mid 2000’s and has become somewhat of a modern classic.  I love the show, I think it fits well into its time.  However, if Scrubs was airing now it would probably be considered politically incorrect.

It’s the little things in the way we relate to each other that have changed.  It’s no longer okay to insult men by calling them girls names.  It’s not okay to insult someone by saying they do something ‘like a girl’. You can watch a video about that here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs.  It’s not okay to dismiss a woman’s opinion because she may be menstruating.   We’ve come a long way in the last ten to 15 years but we’re slowing down and we still have a long way to go before we can say gender equality has been achieved.

It’s International Women’s Day on the 8th of March and this year’s campaign is focused around the theme Pledge For Parity.  Parity essentially means equality of rank.  The International Women’s Day page (which can be found here: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/) tells us that in the last year we have gone backwards.  

In 2014 the World Economic Forum estimated, based on current progress, that the gender gap would not be closed until 2095; last year they estimated that it would not be achieved until 2133.  That means that girls born in the next decade may be lucky enough to have great grandchildren born into a world where women and girls are received as equal world citizens.  

I’m not really okay with that.  

So I have been doing small things like changing AFL teams (even though I don’t really follow football) to the team which has both a women’s league team and the most female board members.  Encouraging our communities to stop victim blaming, keeping up the momentum on the period taxing debate.  Even things as simple as supporting our mothers as they go through menopause, instead of treating ‘the change’ as a taboo subject.  These are things we all can do and a good place to start is to head to the women’s day page and make the pledge.  

This March is also an opportunity to celebrate the work women and men have done and are doing all around the world.  If you would like to do something outside of your local community then head to http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/ to get updated with information.  The page is a partnership of over 600 organisations in 40 countries all determined to end the practice of child brides.  The International Women’s Day page is also full of valuable information on what you can do to celebrate this women’s day.