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"I took my gang of several hundred women, all with leki sticks, we surrounded the police station, we beat the police officers sitting outside the station. Then other policemen came out with their leki sticks, our women then got very aggressive and starting beating the police...and then we tied them up."

It's not every morning there's a generally glowing NPR story about, well, militant grassroots uprisings against patriarchy and social injustice, but this morning's story about the Pink Sari Gang from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was certainly that...at least if you can get past the constant references to how "angry" and "vengeful" these women are.

Poking around a little bit on the web, I found an even better mini-documentary on the Gulabi (pink) Gang. Turns out that (surprise, surprise) they don't just beat up police, but have a range of programs encouraging women's empowerment and self-sufficiency, sustainability and jobs. Here's the video:

 

The Beehive Design Collective is wrapping up its national tour! Initially an all-women collective, this Maine-based group (they work in a renovated grange house!) fuses grassroots political activism with some unbelievablly intricately-rendered and conceived graphic posters meant to inspire awareness and change regarding global politics and dynamics, especially in the Americas.

The Grassroots Media Justice Tour is starting soon and might just be coming to your town. Check it out and spread the word! Bitch is proud to be a sponsor. In fact I was supposed to participate on the tour, but... well, as you all know, we need all hands on deck to sustain our beloved organization. I'm there in spirit...

Tour Highlights:

* Performances, multimedia, and interactive presentations from grassroots media makers.

* Workshops, trainings, and skill-shares.

NARAL's letter-writing link is here (goes to Congress). Planned Parenthood's is here (goes to the White House).

And, courtesy of commenter softpieces on yesterday's post, Department of Health and Human Services contact info:
Secretary Mike Leavitt's office: 202-690-7000

Alcohol is a depressant, right? And alcohol use and aggression/violence are related? But isn't it possible to use alcohol as a force of good, as a relaxant, as medicine? Don't we all deserve coping mechanisms?... And who are we to judge?   

Warning: Downer alert

Now discovered - a new way to pass time at work, while expanding your vocabulary and giving away rice!