Dear Brothers,
We invite you to join our Contingent of Fathers and Other Male Carers as part of the MOTHERS MARCH in London on 13 March.
We will join women in demanding recognition and support for all the work that mothers do, first of all for human survival and against war and injustice. Men are not always aware of what we can learn from our own mothers, grandmothers, partners and friends, who do the work of struggling to feed, protect and care for our families, neighbours, friends, colleagues, in a society that values the market over human life.
The Mothers' March demands that society Invest in Caring, Not Killing. This speaks volumes to those of us who try to be carers despite the immense pressure of longer working days, lower wages and higher unemployment. If we are honest with ourselves we know that we have often resisted taking responsibility for the daily care of children and other loved ones because we could leave it to women in our lives who did that work unprompted. Yet we know that we personally and the whole society would benefit if more men supported their mothers' and partners' demands for recognition and support. It would establish the centrality of caring and command men's respect and commitment.
Gloria Pacis
Emine Tarhan
Carolyn Ho
Helga Aguayo
Sue Webster
Rose Gentle
Campaigning with their soldier-sons, -husbands & -brothers.
Invest in Caring, Not Killing also speaks directly to those of us who refuse to do the killing -- refuseniks and supporters. there were 2,000 cases of soldiers going AWOL last year (over 17,000 since the occupation of Iraq in 2003).(1) "Most incidents are caused by soldiers' domestic circumstances, eg family problems, rather than any wish to avoid military service," an MoD spokesman said. But prioritising family life over killing work is a refusal of the military. And mothers and partners protecting their loved ones from being driven mad, suicidal, alcoholic and homeless by being in the military, and supporting them when they come home damaged, are also the "family problems" that led soldiers to refuse to continue to be part of the military.
Sue Glenton has spoken tirelessly in defence of her refusenik son Joe and all the sons who refuse wars:
"I used to freeze when I heard the word 'Afghanistan' on radio or TV. The sense of relief knowing that it wasn't Joe was soon replaced by a flood of guilt thinking about the families who were receiving the military visit. How many other families anywhere behave the same way, and in Afghanistan how many mothers have the same emotion on a minute by minute basis, how much greater is their concern."
We hope to see you on 13 March on the contingent of fathers and other men who are carers, in support of mothers who have more than supported us. Please circulate this letter among friends, colleagues and family, and be in touch if you would like to help with this historic event in other ways.
Yours for investing in caring and not killing! Refusing to kill is not a crime!
Ben and Michael
Payday men's network
payday@paydaynet.org
www.refusingtokill.net
(1) The Independent, 20 February 2010
|
An International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day Event Saturday 13 March 2010 Mothers March & Speak Out
For recognition and support for all the work Come with your children, relatives and friends. Bring your banners, placards and demands.
Assemble
2pm Trafalgar Sq, March to Parliament Sq |
|
|
|
mothering is hard work. The survival of the human race depends on the caring work of mothers. But we get no recognition or support. Only blame when things go wrong. And we’re even expected to do more work to feed the family, often on the lowest pay. every mother is a working mother
|
|
|
|
mothers, this march is for you who are raising children in cities, towns or villages l Who are separated from your children or have lost children l Who are surviving war and environmental disaster l Who are seeking asylum l For you who are grandmothers, non-biological mothers and other women doing caring work l For you who have disabilities or have a child with disabilities l Who are fighting for justice for loved ones l Who have been raped l Who are sex workers supporting families l Who have been criminalised by poverty l For you mothers of every race, age, passport, income, sexuality and occupation l For all of us who are overworked and underpaid. |
|
|
|
Our demand is: invest in caring not killing
Called
by All African Women’s Group Mothers’ Campaign (MoCa),
Endorsed by:
Black Women’s Rape Action Project, Sign MoCa’s petition for family reunion: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/MumsKids/petition.html For info on disability access and facilities for children, to sponsor or to make a donation: (020) 7482 2496 voice/minicom
www.globalwomenstrike.net
|
