Some years back I interviewed Assata Shakur (as part as a profile on filmmaker Gloria Rolando) for our Adventure Divas episode “Cuba: Paradox Found.” This week, to our surprise, she gets the dubious distinction of being put on the “Most Wanted” terrorist list.
And, she has a big fat bounty on her head. Lots of folks (including us) think this is more than odd - from Alice Walker to Vice. Check it out..... - Holly
A very happy International Women’s Day to all you adventure divas out there. In the final pages of Adventure Divas , the book, I wrote about exploring cultures through the eyes of people whose independence, talent and vision are transforming lives communities, and political landscapes in their respective countries... about a new brand of role model: the self-determined woman who grapples with fear, lives passionately, and, in doing so improves the world around her....and about trying to put a face on the accepted (but yet-to-be-acted-on) socioeconomic fact that the progress of nations depends upon the empowerment of women.
That was some years back; today the global movement feels like it’s cresting a hill. Recent projects such as One Billion Rising, and the new film/movement Girl Rising make me wildly optimistic.
We’re just getting up to speed in this new, estrogen-charged century!
onward --- Holly
Thanks to all of you who supported the Babushkas of Chernobyl project through our hugely successful Kickstarter campaign.
The funds raised allowed us to return to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and continue to film with the women. We’re just back, furiously translating our tapes and screening footage.
Check out our Kickstarter site/blog for updates we posted from the road, and news as we seek finishing funds and move through post production. And in case you missed Holly Morris’ article that launched this entire Babushka endeavor - it was recently republished in London’s Telegraph as well as The Week.
Okay folks, you might want to program your DVR-s to catch the tv version of Half the Sky. Here’s what PBS has to say about the programming airing Oct 1 & 2, 8 - 10 pm:
“Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide filmed in 10 countries, following Kristof, WuDunn, and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring, courageous individuals. Across the globe oppression is being confronted, and real meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls.”
Right on. Fingers crossed that the good ethos holds up on the little screen, and the hollywood stars don’t overtake. Half the Sky talked to a number of women from our PBS series, including the super-divalicous Ruchira Gupta. Check out this video excerpt from our feature on Ruchira here.
And for any of you New Yorkers, we’re event-ing with Ruchira mid-October. Drop us a line if you’d like to attend. —diva HQ
Second place in Eurovision! Not bad for a group of Russian grandmothers. Just another indication that this is indeed The Year of the Babushka.
Given our current obsession with a particular set of older ladies living in Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone, we’ve decided to set up a separate web page to track the progression of our film project about them. Also, a Twitter feed @babushkasfilm
We recently watched A. D. founder Holly Morris pack up Sky Dancer, a butt load of zip lock bags, and her Leatherman (not much else, strangely) and she is now hurling toward Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey to trace the ancient Silk Road Route for the PBS series Globe Trekker. Follow her journey @hollymorris.
the high-minded lowdown from holly morris and the diva blog crew
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