Dearest Activists,
As the world faces the Covid-19 pandemic, we are thinking about our activists, artists, survivors, youth, and supporters around the world and how the virus will impact our communities, our work, our future.
The pandemic has spotlighted and amplified the inequities in our existing systems. Our movement is global, with activists in every country. This moment calls for our global solidarity now more than ever, to help and protect the most vulnerable – in the face of an unprecedented health crisis because we can only get through this together.
While many are staying at home to help flatten the curve, elderly and marginalized communities are without food, medicine, access to clean water, and other critical resources needed to protect from exposure. For so many survivors, home is not a safe place. Advocates worldwide are providing shelter as well as posting information and resources online to provide them with support.
Workers and health care professionals in every country are on the front lines of the crisis, risking their lives to take care of other people, to keep food on the shelves, to deliver necessary services, and to heal those who are sick. They have our deepest gratitude for their service each and every day. We are calling for safe conditions, paid sick leave and more. Our partners are working to create funds, share information, and forge new pathways to help and support these brave workers.
We are hearing from activists worldwide as our movement meets this moment. We will be posting their stories frequently, as we draw inspiration, ideas, hope and love from one another.
20 MAY 2020 – KENYA
Update from Agnes Pareyio, Founder of the Tasaru Ntomonok Initiative and the V-Day Safe House for the Girls
The rapid spread of Covid-19 across the globe has led artists, activists, survivors, and youth around the world to rise to assist their impacted communities, frontline workers, and survivors. At the V-Day Safe House for the Girls in Kenya, it is no different.
Founder Agnes Pareyio and her team immediately took action to support the young girls escaping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the surrounding community. As Covid-19 hit and Kenya went on lockdown, girls studying at boarding schools took unexpected but necessary refuge at the safe house. Responding to the needs of the community, the safe house team is also supporting elders with food relief and other types of help.
“The situation in Kenya at the moment is that all the schools, social places, and marketplaces, have closed to avoid crowds. The girls are back at the safe house and keeping busy with their personal studies while observing social distancing measures, since we don’t know when the schools are reopening,” says Agnes.
8 APRIL 2020 – JAPAN
by Chikako Hama, One Billion Rising Japan global coordinator
What I am particularly angry with is that the government’s Corona Countermeasures Office has just begun. As one of the first countries besides China to be affected by Covid 19, this is too late. As of March 20, Japan is testing only 118 tests per million people even though they have the capacity to do 7,500 tests per day. The people do not trust the government at all. I live in Tokyo. as soon as the Olympics have been postponed, the Governor of Tokyo suggested a lockdown in Tokyo. What is more important, human life or hosting the Olympics? The postponement will increase the number of Covid-19 patients.
In the first place, even though Fukushima is not under-controlled, it is wrong that Japan raised its hand for the purpose of Fukushima reconstruction as an Olympic host country. The same thing has happened with the Fukushima nuclear accident.
29 MARCH 2020 – JAMAICA
by Afia Walking Tree, One Billion Rising Jamaica global coordinator
Love is such an act of power and I send it forward hundredfold to each of you! Blessings and power to us even as we move through these global atrocities. I’m sending energetic support to all who need spirits and bodies lifted out of pain right now.
I’ve been sitting on some keen transmission that came from my oracle-guides this past week and would like to share it with all of you. I feel vulnerable sharing and will share because it’s time for me to come out of the closet and share the messages coming forward. It may resonate for some and then it may not for others. It’s not a fix-all… simply a message from the spirit realm.
The spiritual and emotional implications of this time has been known and coming for a long time by many shamanas. What keeps coming forward is that this is the time for deep prayers (to set our intentions towards actions) to move forward and for us to see the world we are cultivating. This is emboldened by everyone having time to exhale and rethink their actions. See exactly what is required to have full liberation on this planet and rise up until the violence stops.
24 MARCH 2020 – ANCONA, ITALY
by Luisa Rizzitelli, One Billion Rising Italy global coordinator (alongside Nicoletta Billi and Silvia Palermo)
Stuck at home I have plenty of time to read, meditate and reflect and I think it may be useful to give you a picture of what is going on here in Italy and how our beautiful Country is coping with the Coronavirus Pandemic.
I personally believe that across Europe there is a general (maybe driven?…🙄) misunderstanding of the implications of Covid-19.
Governments in most European Countries are underestimating the spreading speed of the Virus and they didn’t raise concerns about the consequent impact on their National Health System.
The more it spreads, the more hospitals will be overwhelmed by unexpected extra-flows of people in need of assistance: those affected by the COVID-19 – most of which need special machines for the lung ventilation- but also those affected by other types of disease, sometimes even worse.
