A Ballad of Resistance: An evening with feminist film-maker, Leena Manimekalai

By Lauren Bellenie, WEA General Intern Guest speaker, Preeti Mangala Sekar, ED of Narika, read a poem written by Leena called “Penalty.” The poem framed the public response to Leena’s poetry, including demands from some right wing voices, who shunned it as “pornographic” writing. The poem’s content highlighted the feelings and situations that arise when…

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The Original Tree Huggers: Let Us Not Forget Their Sacrifice

Blog by: Rucha Chitnis, Former WEA South Asia Program Director. 1730 CE “Sar santey rukh rahe to bhi sasto jan.” “If a tree is saved even at the cost of one’s head, it’s worth it.” Amrita Devi Nearly 280 years ago, the sacrifice of a brave woman, Amrita Devi, would have ripple effects in one of…

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Food – Not Just a Source of Profit But A Source Of Nutrition & Sustenance

Dr. Vanaja Ramprasad, founder of WEA’s partner in India, the GREEN Foundation, shares what the global community can learn from women farmers in India. Why Food sovereignty? In renaming the concept, we have moved away from the mainstream discourse using familiar terms such as food security, right to food or entitlement to food. No doubt…

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Dr. Seema Tripathi: Leading Change at the Grassroots

Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA) is thrilled to welcome Dr. Seema Tripathi to the Bay Area in early September! Dr. Seema is one of the leaders of WEA’s partner in India, Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), an organization that promotes the rights and just livelihoods of small and landless farmers in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Seema…

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Seeds of Hope

“Seed is sacred…The desire to save seeds comes form an ethical urge to defend life’s evolution.” Dr. Vandana Shiva Seed exchanges among small farmers are a time memorial tradition that has led to the immense biodiversity of indigenous seeds around the world. Globally, it is mostly women farmers who are the seed savers, who possess…

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