Thoughts for International Women's Day

Women are more environmentally friendly than men!
Thoughts for International Women's Day - 8 March 2006

Do women tread more lightly across the world than men? You bet they do. I have no surveys or statistics to back up my theory, but if you put together findings from published studies on gender inequality (from pay levels to private school fees to wealth following divorce), it does appear to ring true.

Here is the logic:
- The poor use fewer of the earth's resources than the rich
- It is more environmentally friendly to use fewer resources
- Women are paid less than men, less is spent on them and they are more likely to be poor
- Therefore women are more environmentally friendly than men!

Of course that's all a bit generalised and simplistic. But the point should be taken seriously: in working out how to save the environment and live more sustainably, we need to take a more 'female' approach to judging progress and generally running the world.

We need to:
- value quiet solutions over high profile contests and debates
- value sharing, compromise and consensus over outright winners and losers
- place a higher value on caring skills and community benefit - and place less value on individual wealth and power.

We in the rich industrialised countries demand wide consumer choice, total safety, total hygiene, total comfort, unrestricted travel across the globe etc. But, as all these perks are bought at a price to others elsewhere in the world (and it's generally the women who pay the most heavily), our own indulgence should make us feel distinctly uneasy. There's no way we can Make Poverty History without also striving to Make Profligacy History.

Community media has a central role to play in this - women and girls around the world need to use it to speak out and make their voices heard. New technology and media literacy are helping to bring the voices of the powerless to the world's attention as never before. Now we must ensure that these voices are listened to - that the opinions, achievements, solutions and ideas of those who survive on very little are taken seriously.

Cathy Aitchison
Refugee Week Radio

Refugee Week Radio, a series of online broadcasts taking place during Refugee Week in June, will include programmes and items on environment and sustainable living, education and international development, especially as relates to women. Please get in touch via the website if you want more information or to get involved.
www.refugeeweekradio.net
Refugee Week Radio - broadcasting online from 19-25 June 2006