Women of the World

This International Women’s Month, I’m thinking about the U.S. government freezes on $60 billion of international aid—disproportionally affecting women and children, particularly girls. This is no surprise, as Robert Reich writes, “...as America slides toward neofascism, I think it important to understand that its roots draw from a deep distrust, bordering on hate, of people who seem weak or feminine—people who were born as, or have become, women…I relate all this to you because it’s important to understand the centrality of male dominance and misogyny to Trump’s world—and to connect this to what other authoritarians and neofascists are doing around the globe.” 

Photo: The Asia Foundation

In my mind, there are three reasons why we here in the U.S. should support foreign aid. First, there is the basic humanitarian value of caring for others. Second, the U.S. has continued the European practice of colonization to our economic benefit—extracting untold amounts resources and labor from foreign lands, imposing great suffering on generations of people and their lands. I believe that it is our moral obligation to provide a form of reparations for the lives and ecosystems of these countries. And (if that’s not enough!), the U.S. benefits in many ways from sending aid abroad as described in Jessica Craven's video. Again, I highly recommend subscribing to her newsletter!  

Formerly, the U.S. spent 1% of its annual budget to aid other countries. Could you set aside 1% of your annual budget for future generations of all peoples?

The work that we do here in the U.S. to promote social and environmental justice has reverberations throughout the world. The actions we take contacting our Congress people, boycotting, donating, supporting organizations that are feminist in their values, etc., protects women and girls—the life bearers and sustainers. When we give women more control over their own lives, they tend to have healthier and fewer babies. In turn, their children—the future caretakers of our planet—are positively affected by the support their mother receives. 

An example of the direct human impact of halting international aid, are the Women Forest Defenders in Sumatra (pictured above). They live in a part of Indonesia that adheres to strict Islamic sharia, which can be particularly patriarchal. Yet after overcoming male derision and becoming forest defenders, the women were able to greatly reduce the amount of illegal logging and poaching in their area of Leuser Ecosystem, and thus prevent ongoing flooding and evacuation of their village. With this, their status rose, and they were invited to join the men in deciding how the village’s money should be allocated. Founded and led by women, this group worked to protect the old growth rainforest—including its people and wildlife—and, in doing so, they were able to elevate the role of women within their culture. It’s wonderful—right?! Yet the U.S. funding for this work has been eliminated by our government freezes and the environmental and cultural progress has been halted. 

We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced. —Malala Yousafzai

Another example: a dear friend of mine who, until recently, was the director of women’s programming for a large foundation operating in South Asia (currently the worst place in the world to be a woman), wrote me and said that because of the government’s freezes, everyone had lost their jobs and the emergency shelters, counseling, legal support, and crisis intervention for survivors of violence and trafficking, as well as job training and legal aid/support for climate refugees, had been shut down.

I asked my friend what we could do, beyond our work to stop the government freezes. There are many wonderful organizations to support, yet she recommended donating to these groups: Women’s Earth Alliance (who I personally know, love and admire), Urgent Action Fund, MADRE, Global Fund for Women, WEDO, Planned Parenthood, Astraea and International Funders for Indigenous Peoples.

The path forward isn’t easy, but as Robert Hubbell writes, “…at least there is a path forward—created by the twin drivers of blossoming grassroots activism and a backlash to Trump's destructive and hateful agenda. So, even as I recount the latest challenges in the news, let’s recognize that every action by Trump spreads the seeds of resistance and fuels our path to victory in 2026 and 2028.”

Lots to do! And also plenty of wonderful people to do it with, a strong and passionate community! I want to leave you with these words (full text here) from Akaya Windwood: 

“There is a phenomenon in gardening where, as a plant reaches the end of its life, it blossoms like never before, and then dies. Humans sometimes do this as well. 

I believe that this is what’s happening for patriarchy and other human systems based on hierarchy. We are witnessing the final gasps of systematic oppression and control, perhaps worldwide.”

MAY IT BE SO! 

And if you missed the information in my previous letters—or would like to refer a friend to them—you can find them here. Please, keep up the networking! 

May our love motivate us as much as their fear motivates them.

Hallie 

P.S. This will be my last letter for a few weeks, as I am preparing for my talk about the origins of the feminist spirituality movement and its relevance and inspiration to us in this moment. I hope you can join us in Santa Barbara or attend virtually via live stream. Find out more at my freshly minted Bluesky account! And thank you, readers, for your encouraging responses to these newsletters. I will share a few of these responses below.

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Readers at work...

“I wanted to suggest plugging the 5 Calls app, which makes calling very easy.  It takes less than 5 minutes to call all three of our reps. It dials for you and lays out different scripts you might want to use. So far, all three offices know me by first name, which might be good, or not.  It does tell me that I’m a frequent flyer, and that more people really do need to call. The staffers are very considerate, and they state every time that it does make a difference.  I’m also told that Republicans call very frequently!”  –Nancy

“This is the time for us to act!  –Love, Debra"

“Hallie (and Merileigh and all that join forces with you for all the GOODNESS you're spreading) —wanted to send a little message of positivity and thanks. Many, many thanks for being a new beacon of hope. We need you down here in Alabama. Thank you kindly and looking forward to more of your content and guidance.” –Sally in Alabama

“In the midst of even more extreme threats to our democracy than we’d ever imagined, we’re determined to do what we can to make a difference.”  –Jenny

"Feminist in training" Photo: UMKC Women's Center