Social Justice

Cambodia Knits worker Math Rofiif you've been reading the information on the products at Brindabella Baby made by fair trade programs, you may wonder why there are so many programs that focus on women's economic development. There is a very good reason for this. Women bear the greatest share of the world's poverty. Being poor puts women at greater risk of violence and disease, and reduces their ability to participate in decision-making.

In the comfort of my middle class suburban home in Canberra, it is hard to imagine how women can be so affected by poverty and inequity. But the facts are that women make up 70% of the world's poor, earning just 10% of the world's income and owning 1% of the world's property. This is despite the fact that women do 66% of the world's work, and produce 50% of the world's food (and I might add, these are economic figures - unpaid domestic work disproportionately done by women means women actually do a lot more than 66% of the world's work).

If you're planning a home birth, you'll want your family to understand and be supportive of your choice. Here are some books that might help:

We're Having a Homebirth by Kelly Mochel - this is a new US picture book to help small children understand the arrival of their new baby brother or sister. Colourfully illustrated and informative.

“Before you finish eating your breakfast this morning, you've depended on half the world. This is the way our universe is structured... We aren't going to have peace on earth until we recognise this basic fact.” - Martin Luther King

What is Fair Trade?