Peace and Justice of La Luz

by Tina Godby-Ware, RN Otero/Lincoln Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program

The goal of sexual health promotion is to foster healthy relationships and comfort with sexuality. It is based on the premise that adults who are comfortable with their sexuality and at ease with open discussion of sexual issues will create a family environment that supports healthy sexual behavior and responsible sexual choices. Healthy sexuality is based on respect, value, honesty, and joy.

But first, we must work diligently to challenge the institutions and practices that uphold male domination, the powerlessness of children, the turning of sexuality into a commodity, and the glorification of violence and exploration of fellow human beings. Every two minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. Only 83 percent of victims ever report this crime, with a large majority never telling anyone, allowing this silent epidemic to multiply and explode. The literature states that sexual violence is perhaps the most insidious manifestation of patriarchy, because it involves the corruption and distortion of that which is fundamental to our existence; our sexuality. (more…)

by Ken Larson
Please help us in our fight by supporting a cause I personally believe in.

Our traditional justice system has been inadequate to the task of breaking the cycle of substance abuse and crime. Four out of every five offenses are committed by someone with a drug or alcohol problem; and we just keep locking them up!

In just the past 20 years alone, state prison systems have added 1 million new cells to incarcerate the 2.3 million adults now behind bars in the U.S. That’s far more than any other country on the globe with 1 out of every 100 adult Americans currently serving time. Approximately one-half of these individuals are addicted to drugs or alcohol and most do not pose a serious threat to public safety. (more…)

Michael Kimmel argues that it is in men’s interest to work for gender equality.

© New Internationalist

Over the past three generations, women’s lives have been utterly and completely transformed – in politics, the military, the workplace, professions and education. But during that time, the ideology of masculinity has remained relatively intact. The notions we have about what it means to be a man remain locked in a pattern set decades ago, when the world looked very different. The single greatest obstacle to women’s equality today remains the behaviour and attitudes of men.

In the mid-1970s, an American psychologist offered what he called the four basic rules of masculinity:

1. No Sissy Stuff. Masculinity is based on the relentless repudiation of the feminine.

2. Be a Big Wheel. Masculinity is measured by the size of your paycheck, and marked by wealth, power and status. As a US bumper sticker put it: ‘He who has the most toys when he dies, wins.’ (more…)

Sky Yates (J.R. Oppenheim ADN)

Alamogordo Daily News
By Elva K. Österreich, Associate News Editor
04/07/2009

In an event designed to affirm the freedom of everyone in the community to not be sexually assaulted, the Take Back the Night Committee had more than 300 people marching in the sandy, windy evening of April 4.

With exhibits and events beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Tays Special Events Center, Take Back the Night offered 16 information tables, a self defense workshop, an art show and a poetry slam as precursors to a rally and march.

“For as crummy a weather as we had, I think the attendance was fabulous,” said Tina Godby-Ware, one of the organizers and a coordinator for the local Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program. “I am thrilled with the response.”