Did you #Riseforjustice this valentine’s day?
Usually Friday 14th evokes a clichéd variety of emotions in people of all ages, all over the world. Lonely singletons bawling into their Ben & Jerrys watching Bridget Jones while smug couples canoodle over candlelight, however, hundreds of thousands people spent their valentine’s day uniting together and rising for justice.
And what exactly is rising for justice? One Billion Rising is a global campaign that was created by Eve Ensler as a direct response to the UN statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With a world population of seven billion, that equates to approximately one billion women being abused at some time in their life. One billion rising aims to bring to attention and eliminate violence against women by countries uniting together and striking back as an act of defiance against women’s suffering and commanding an end to violence against women.
The one billion rising campaign is a chance to become creative when expressing emotions, instead of lecture type events that discuss the issues of violence against women, (which are obviously still extremely worthwhile!), an important aspect of one billion rising is the encouragement to dance. Onebillionrising.org explains why they chose the decision to dance:
“Dancing insists we take up space. It has no set direction but we go there together. It’s dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive. It breaks the rules. It can happen anywhere at any time with anyone and everyone. It’s free. No corporation can control it. It joins us and pushes us to go further. It’s contagious and it spreads quickly. It’s of the body. It’s transcendent.”
People all over the world take part in over ten thousand events that promote one billion rising. Song, dance, art, rituals, marches, testimonies and any other creative way of revealing emotions are performed as a united front.
On February 14th 2014, most people spent the day at work, at University, with friends, boyfriends and family. Yet in Trafalgar Square, London, at 12pm hundreds of people met to share and support one another.
The event included testimonies where many would share their own personal experiences as well as a song; one group decided to contribute by singing about how they had felt as oppose to talking, an extremely powerful and creative way to express feelings. Other events around the world included; a flash mob in New York City and Naples, belly dancing in Indonesia and a gathering of women scavengers in the Philippines poorest dumpsite rising against poverty and state neglect. Video uploads from hundreds of events were posted online to watch and attract social media attention.
Other events do take place during other times other than just Valentine’s Day. Official V-day events are a series of artistic events held annually between February and April.
V-day originated on 14th February 1998 and over 16 years tens of thousands of V-day events have taken place all over the world. They act as a way to aid raise funds and awareness for smaller, more local groups and organisations that are continuously working to help end violence against women and girls. One billion rising was born as a one-day mass global action response to the V-day events due to their rising popularity.
In an average day of a student, one might question how often violence and discrimination against women occurs more locally to them and how it affects them directly? Truth be told, it doesn’t. Spending days in the library and nights in pub, worries for concern are usually the ever present work load, money, boys, fashion and where the next meal is from. But surely, as a woman, as a friend, as someone that has taken it upon themselves to read this article; the chance to stand up with others and support the idea of eradicating violence and demanding justice for those all around the world who have been injured and hurt is a huge accomplishment, success and something to be proud of.
Even though Valentine’s Day has now past, becoming part of and supporting one billion rising is still just as important. By following V-day events that take part around the world regularly and signing up to complete a video on onebillionrising.org you can help support the organisation.
By Sophie Green
Images:
http://www.elitismstyle.com/blogazine/archives/24008
http://www.onebillionrising.org/events/one-billion-rising-kamloops-to-india/