And when they wouldn’t listen, we marched

[Bridget Burns]

Originally posted at WEDO.org http://www.wedo.org/news/and-when-the-world-wouldnt-listen-we-marched

RIO DE JANEIRO (JUNE 19)- On Monday June 18^th, women took to the streets in Rio de Janeiro. WEDO, the Women's Environment and Development Organization, along with friends and allies from the Rio+20 Women's Major Group, was proud to join thousands of women, from every corner of the world, and march among a sea of voices calling for justice, equality and change.

"The lack of ambition and action in the plenary halls of RioCentro is unacceptable," says Eleanor Blomstrom, "the planet cannot wait, and women will not wait, for Governments to commit to true progress towards sustainable development and human rights- we are taking to the streets, and demanding to be heard."

For Bridget Burns, part of the WEDO team in Rio, the march was an inspiring and invigorating event-- a reminder as to why women's groups are here, fighting for a sustainable future. "We marched with passion- committed to fighting against injustice everywhere. We marched with resolve-to create a just society, a healthy planet and a sustainable future, to protect nature- forests, land, water, biodiversity, to put an end to violence against women, to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights, to fight sexual discrimination, to promote peace. We marched with understanding- that the crises of today cannot be solved by the same systems which created them. And we marched with joy- joy in being together, joy in our diversity of cultures, views and backgrounds, and in our collective spirit and solidarity."

Some photos of WEDO and friends below:

 

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For press enquiries, contact: Bridget Burns, [e-mail]; www.wedo.org; [phone]

Follow the WEDO team in Rio on Twitter at @WEDO_worldwide, Facebook & at www.wedo.org. Use the hashtags #WomenRio and #WEDO20plus. For a full list of the RIO WEDO team bios and contacts, click here.

The Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), a women’s global advocacy organization, was founded in 1991 on the eve of the Earth Summit (UNCED) by U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug and a visionary international committee including Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. WEDO’s mission is to ensure that women’s rights; social, economic and environmental justice; and sustainable development principles – as well as the linkages between them – are at the heart of global and national policies, programs and practices. It allies with a wide range of partners, from government Ministries, to environmental international NGOs, to grassroots women’s networks. www.wedo.org