Edition 45: Reflections on 2019 and the New Year 2020!

We made it to 2020 without blowing up! Unreal, right sisters? Grab your hats and put on your space suits for a fabulous journey into WLRN's first podcast of the new year and the new decade. First up, be greeted by WLRN's newest member, Dana Vitalosova from Slovakia who also delivers WLRN's January 2nd world news segment before passing off the baton to Thistle who interviews Elizabeth, a radfem from the Midwest and admin for the popular group Radical Feminism Resources. Elizabeth gives Thistle the skinny on her take on the top stories and developments of 2019. Elizabeth and WLRN wanted to make sure all of our listeners have this link to FIST's feminist amendments to the Equality Act, a story to look for in 2020. https://feministstruggle.org/2019/10/19/feminists-in-struggle-fist-launches-campaign-for-feminist-amendments-to-the-equality-act/ After hearing from Elizabeth, enjoy Ani DiFranco's rockin' tune from new year's eve 2008 called Red Letter Year before transitioning to listening to Lierre Keith ring in the new year with her take on the top stories of 2019 and what to look for in 2020.  Lierre Keith is a writer, small farmer, and radical feminist activist. She is the author of six books, including The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice, and Sustainability, which has been called “the most important ecological book of this generation.” She is coauthor, with Derrick Jensen and Aric McBay, of Deep Green Resistance: Strategy to Save the Planet She’s also been arrested six times. You can read more about Lierre at www.lierrekeith.com. And finally, enjoy Sekhmet SheOwl's lovely commentary about what she sees as the rise of radical feminism in our friendships and our actions as we move into 2020 and the next decade. It is of note that none of the three speakers in today's program spoke to one another before they were recorded for this show, but yet, all three say some of the same things and there is much overlap. Take note and take heart! May we enjoy increased unity in the years to come. Below is a list of links WLRN requested of Lierre after the interview which she provided for us. Thank you Lierre! Wonderful to share our research and stories and to help move real conversations in society forward! Onward and Upward Sisters! Link to info on the Harris case: http://womensliberationfront.org/harris-funeral-homes-v-eeoc-frequently-asked-questions/ Loujain al-Hathloul https://theintercept.com/2019/12/24/loujain-al-hathloul-torture-saudi-arabia/ Japan's #KuToo https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/05/high-heels-at-work-are-necessary-says-japan-labour-minister Chilean anti-rape song: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/06/chilean-anti-rape-anthem-becomes-international-feminist-phenomenon Sex for Grades scandal in Nigeria and Ghana: https://www.newsweek.com/call-action-response-undercover-sex-grades-university-scandal-1463982 #AmINext in South Africa https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-death-of-uyinene-mrwetyana-and-the-rise-of-south-africas-aminext-movement J.K. Rowling https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/19/world/europe/jk-rowling-maya-forstater-transgender.html List of legal cases now pending in the UK: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1209418488965672962.html Ohio bill on ectopic pregnancies: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/05/10/sponsor-an-ohio-abortion-bill-thinks-you-can-reimplant-ectopic-pregnancies-you-cant/ Bootleg footage of Jonathan Yaniv's testimony at the Human Rights Tribunal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwJBMapAnrA&list=UUB3MxRIg1Tc3vxvy-2Uluug&index=8 Meghan Murphy in Toronto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIzXSLFeAxQ Feb 1, 2020 Seattle event with Meghan Murphy, Saba Malik, and Kara Dansky https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fighting-the-new-misogyny-a-feminist-critique-of-gender-identity-tickets-85012638089