SOLIDARITY ACTION

On Wednesday, March 25th, Grandmothers of Steel, along with Mabibi Wa Tama, Kemah Sackie's Liberian girls dance troupe and First Nations -drummers/singer Bridget Miller and Wilhelmina McGrimmond, celebrated 'Solidarity Action' at The Pearl Company. This wonderful, moving and beautifully coordinated event by Lisbie Rae and choreographed by Tanis McArthur was very powerful. Gentle Drums, led by Douglas Budden and Bridget Miller, added to the wonderful atmosphere.

At the same time, this event was going on across Canada with other Grandmother Groups and several countries in Africa.

The event started with Lisbie Rae, Grandmothers of Steel, reading a beautiful poem 'Lunacy' by Marika Ince. It was very inspiratonal and created a truly beautiful and peaceful feeling of solidarity with other Grandmothers and our African Grandmothers.

Then One observer enters, hesitates, leaves. Two observers enter, hesitate, leave. Three observers enter, hesitate, leave. Four observers enter, hesitate, stay

In twos and threes, others enter to same rhythm, same hesitation, till room is full of walkers, taken aback by the situation of the sunken ones (some were lying on the ground or in a crouched position)

Drum rhythm changes and stops, as walkers stop beside the sunken ones

Walkers breathe others into life; they slowly rise until all are on their feet except one.

Everyone encircles the one left on the floor as drums and walkers urge her into movement

She begins a slow dance that escalates into a wild but simple Liberian dance that all pick up and do, each in her own way. The rhythm changes and the Liberian dancers spin into the centre and dance by themselves, others clapping and swaying in a wide semi-circle open to the audience and cameras.

Paula Grove steps forward and leads all in a call and response song.

Led by Liberians, all join hands in one circle and move around in a circle together. The single dancer begins a snaking movement that turns the circle back into itself so that everyone passes and greets everyone else, finishing in a unified group tableau.

Mabibi Wa Tama's Sue Gilbert now delivers the message about 'Turning the Tide'. This is the new message from The Stephen Lewis Foundation and they ask everyone to join us in a new fundraising campaign called 'Turning the Tide'. If we can fund every worthy proposal, we can turn the tide of the AIDS pandemic at the grassroots.

Thank you to the Stephen Lewis Foundation for coordinating this whole event and bringing us all together.

Thank you also to Gail McGinnis for her beautiful photos. If you would like to check out all of Gail's photos from Solidarity Action, please go to: http://photos.gailmcginnisphotography.com/GalleryThumbnails.aspx?gallery=184931
She will print them for $2 for 4X6 and $3 for 5X7. You can pick them up from Gail's or arrange to have them picked up from Theresa or Maureen's.

Thank you also to Pearl Co. hosts, Gary and Barbara Milne.


If you would like to check out further events at The Pearl Co., 16 Steven St. Hamilton, please call: 905-524-0606.

Grandmothers of Steel Advocacy Team

Well done to our wonderful Advocacy Team for working hard to get our petition to the House of Commons. We were well represented by Mr. David Sweet (Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough-Westdale CPC).

On Wednesday, March 11th Petitions from Grandmothers for Africa from all over Canada, approx. 32,000, made a presentation in the House of Commons.

The Petition calls upon the government to do 3 important things:

- To immediately set a timetable by 2015 to meet its obligations to the 0.7% gross national income development goal.
- To contribute a fair share to the global fund to fight for AIDS and TB,malaria,
for example,5% of the funding needed for each of the next five years.
- To make legislative changes necessary for Canada's access to medicines regimes and establish a substantial flow of retroviral drugs and lower-cost generics.

These petitions stem from the heroic efforts of African grandmothers to raise children orphaned by AIDS. It is the result of the efforts of over 200 grandmother groups across Canada assisting their fellow African grandmothers.

Tabling these two petitions during International Women's Week symbolizes the important work that women perform for the common good and also the solidarity that exists among women from all parts of the world.

This Petition is one of the most successful petition efforts in the history of this country.

There will be another presentation of our Petition in the House of Commons on Wednesday, March 11th.