THE WEB

“WHILE SPEAKING, STAY FOCUSED ON THE WORDS FROM YOUR HEART”

TITLE, THE SECRET | WRITING, RACHEL BLACKBURN

WABI-SABI The Movement launched on August 3- yeah-yeah! Leading up to this day, I spent every spare second writing about it, thinking about it, talking about it and buying multiple note books (each better than the other) to plan about it. I breathed WABI-SABI The Movement and I agonized about sending it out into the world. Was it ready? Would people understand what I was trying to say? Would they understand the words I was trying to get them to read- would they even read it? Well, the answer is a resounding yes. The world picked up WABI-SABI and sucked it right in. It’s now being read around the world, including Romania, Aruba, India, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and France. THANK GOODNESS! 

WABI-SABI is about life, about finding the beauty in imperfection- the imperfection that our lives are. Feng shui is what you do in your home and WABI-SABI is what you do in your life. Life happens, and when it happens, unpredictability happens- whether we want it or not. As I began to write this week, I found the little self-doubt ego driven monster had crawled secretly into my life. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual “what difference can you make Rachel?” that ego talk. After speaking with friends, I realized that the monster had to go- and it did. Because WABI-SABI isn’t just about me, and it isn’t just about you- it’s about us- as a collective. It’s about speaking up when others wont, about being loud when others are quiet and about making noise when people just want silence. This is about the right over the wrong, the opportunity over the restrictions. This is about having the freedom to sit at my laptop and be able to openly and freely write about women and children around the world who are unable to write for themselves. This is how I write but more importantly, this is why I write and why I will continue to write.

Last week someone very close to me was diagnosed with breast cancer, that's the fourth person in my family to be diagnosed with cancer in three years. It made me reflect on WABI-SABI and what it is The Movement is trying to do- what it is The Movement IS doing. This isn’t about the division of people and issues, whether something is worse or harder or whether someone is experiencing something far worse than you. The Movement is about enabling space for issues to be spoken about. Cancer is awful, it’s out of our control and it’s horrible to see someone you love go through something like that. When we speak about women in Sub-Saharan Africa and the issues they are dealing with, we are not comparing but we are joining the thread- like a web. Cancer has received low priority for health care services in Sub-Saharan Africa. The reason is undoubtedly the overwhelming burden of communicable diseases. But in fact breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Sub-Saharan African women and is usually diagnosed in women younger than in developed countries (mean age: 42-53 years), with later stages (III or IV, i.e. with axillary nodes and distant metastases). My point here is- we are all human and at a biological level we rarely differ at birth. In life we have heartache, we have pain, we have happiness. We are human- and this is the thread that WABI-SABI seeks to strengthen. We need to discuss issues, be a collective and join together rather than separate and segregate. We need to build the web and help those who cannot yet start theirs. Just as the spider builds her web and others can climb across, we too can start the build.

“While speaking, stay focused on your words coming from your heart”. – The Secret. 

Love and smiles, WS x

WOMEN IN WAR

LOOK AT HOW A SINGLE CANDLE CAN BOTH DEFY AND DEFINE THE DARKNESS||

TITLE, ANNE FRANK | WRITING RACHEL BLACKBURN

Foreword: Todays writing is likely to make you feel uncomfortable, but I urge you to read on. I myself, as I researched and read papers to write this,  felt at times, I needed to walk away from the screen. I felt uncomfortable - as I should. This isn’t about enjoyment. This is about education and awareness. If you feel uncomfortable, I urge you- read on. 

The walls start shaking. Your ears start ringing. Fists are pounding on the door and the air is filled with screams. The adrenaline pumping through you is suffocating. You find it hard to see or even breathe. Gunshots sound like fireworks in the distance. In an instant you realise, if you don’t run now you’ll be taken. If you’re taken you’ll be raped, tortured and sold or killed. You grab your children. You run. The phone lines are down. You don’t know where your friends are or if they’re safe. You don’t know if your parents are ok and you know your grandparents won’t be able to run. But you run. 

You run for your life. 

Every minute 28 girls will be married. By the time you finish reading this, 42 young girls will be married. War, sexual violence, conflict and genocide have infected the lives of millions around the world. This isn’t a choice. This isn’t a bad dream or movie script. This is the life and a memory in the minds of some 60 million refugees and internally displaced people around the world today. 

The word rape makes women and most men uncomfortable by its mere mention. The implications linked with such a word are clear to any who here it. We teach our children not to joke about it and we teach our children to be respectful of their own and others bodies. We feel empathy towards women we haven’t met. We ridicule those who are perpetrators in the media and demand justice - as it should rightly be served. In school we talk about consent and we talk about healthy relationships. However, the phrase genocidal rape and sexual violence in conflict is not often mentioned and rarely understood for its actual significance. Lets talk about it. 

Genocidal rape is the controlled and systematic intention of impregnation by one group against another. Men rape and sexually assault women (and sometimes other men) in groups because they are ordered to or because they are systematically permitted to do so. “Men rape not as individual men, but as members of their race, ethnicity, religion or nationality” (USDA, 2012). Sexual violence in war is not a new concept. The use of rape as a weapon has occurred to hundreds and thousands of women around the world for centuries, “…dating from the very first wars and civil disturbances, “rape and pillage” of the losing force has been one of the “spoils of war” taken by the victors” (Chowdhury & Lanier, 2012, p. 47). Yet, despite the detrimental effects genocidal rape has had on women, their families and their communities, only recently have the international courts begun to address rape as both crimes of humanity and crimes of genocide.

Sexual violence in war has been repeatedly used as a strategic and deliberate action to gain control through physical and mental harm.  Over one hundred thousand reported rapes in Berlin alone occurred at the end of World War II and during the Rwandan genocide at least a quarter of a million women were raped and many subsequently infected with HIV (Askin, 1997; Chowdhury & Lanier, 2012; Schott, 2011). A human rights watch specialist noted that women have had their lips and ears cut off and eyes gouged out, making it impossible to identify and testify against their attackers (Schott, 2011, p. 7). Evidently, wars produce an environment for mass rape to occur, and with rape so frequently used in wartime highlights the “unique power” it holds over women and the power it gives to the rapists (World news network, 2010). The physical, mental and social impacts of sexual violence are markedly evident, although sexual violence and genocidal rape is an often-invisible crime against humanity that continues to happen around the world. 

“THERE IS NO GREATER PILLAR OF STABILITY THAN A STRONG, FREE AND EDUCATED WOMAN | AND THERE IS NO MORE INSPIRING ROLE MODEL THAN A MAN WHO RESPECTS AND CHERISHES WOMEN AND CHAMPIONS THEIR LEADERSHIP”  | ANGELINA JOLIE PITT

Imagine every woman you know or love has been taken. Some to never return again, and those who do are never the same as they once were. This is the reality of villages and towns across the Middle East and Africa. On August 6, 2015 it was reported that ISIS executed 19 women for refusing to be sex slaves. Thats the size of year 10 class- executed. Last Thursday, August 6. The UN envoy investigating Islamic State's sex trade has said 'girls get peddled like barrels of petrol' and one can be bought by six different men. Yazidi women and girls are being sold, aged between one and nine years of age. Women and girls are listed on sites like possessions to be bought and sold. A document dated October 16, 2014 lists $75 for a forty-year old woman and up to $172 for a child. 

  “… men are killed to expose women and children, women are raped to humiliate men, children are tortured to destroy parents… this is the core of genocidal violence”. | Forgey, 2010, p. 13.

Sexual violence against women was used adamantly to ensure an understanding was had of the insignificance they now were; no one was coming to help them, no one cared; their feelings, bodies and rights were no longer valid. Their rights as human beings were now void. Sokolovic (2005) explains that the sexual violence which occurred in Bosnia as not a crime against humanity but:  “… a crime against life itself. It is a crime the intention of which was not the humiliation of women as human beings, since that can also be achieved by “ordinary” rape. The intention was to produce in woman, as the source of life, hatred against life in her own womb, hatred towards herself as the assumption of life, to deprive her of the noblest pleasure one can achieve, the pleasure of having a child”. Those affected by genocidal rape are not only hurt individually but also their family and their community. Mentally women suffer loss of self-respect, depression, shame, heightened fear, anxiety, anger, feeling of isolation, phobia, withdrawal, flashbacks, substance abuse disorder and even expulsion from their homes and communities (WHO, 2005; Sharlach, 2000). Women suffer economically from such atrocities, well after the event has occurred, as “women who are raped or sexually tortured lose economic and material rights… and the displacement of women as refugees, can increase their sexual vulnerability” (Schott, 2011, p. 10). The particular evil of genocide is not just physical death, but ‘social death’, which can take place even when physical death does not. Social death harms the strength of a group, the relations of family and community that give meaning to one’s identity and links one to both past and future (Card, 2008).

“Where the majority live on less than one dollar per day, and a small minority is very rich, is very unsafe. Such a world is dangerously prone to manipulation by those whose interest in violence, terror and genocide outweighs their interest in humanity” | Murigande, 2004, p. 7.

As a young women, living in a country where women are respected and have rights over their own body- I feel obligated to shed light on these issues. These are my hands, my legs, my mouth and my eyes and only I should decide who is allowed to touch them. For many women and girls around the world, their rights are stripped and they become lifeless objects.. The tribunal for the Rwandan genocide took a major step by defining rape as ‘a physical invasion of a sexual nature committed on a person under circumstances which are coercive” (Goldstone, 2002, p. 278), however the Bosnian war and the atrocities of mass rape lead to the first conviction of sexual violence on its own as a crime against humanity (ILBH, 2011).  “It is absolute terror, committed against humanity by humanity” (Murigande, 2004, p. 3) for which continues to happen. We must educate ourselves and understand what was once thought of as war stories, is in fact happening right now as we read. And 42 girls are now child brides.

Take action now: Global Citizen.
Take action now: Child Brides 

HOW WONDERFUL IS IT THAT NOBODY NEED WAIT A SINGLE MOMENT BEFORE STARTING TO IMPROVE THE WORLD | Anne Frank

FINDING BEAUTY IN IMPERFECTION

WELCOME | 

#ITSCOOLTOCARE

WRITING | BY RACHEL BLACKBURN 

It was first semester of my second year at university, and I sat numb, heart pounding, as I read the textbook. How was it possible that in 2007, 33 million people were living with human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) and that 3,400 young people, aged 15-24, just like me, were infected with HIV each day- yes I just said EACH DAY. Surely, I thought, this couldn’t be right. Shockingly, almost five years after I sat in that classroom, this statistic has only increased, with an estimated 35 million people, worldwide currently living with HIV/AIDS. Between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become a child bride - that’s 14.2 million a year and 39,000 a day. Sexual violence in war continues to be used as a strategic, deliberate action to gain control over women through physical and mental harm. And you thought your day was rough huh? I knew then, as I still know - SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE.

And the seed of WABI-SABI sprouted.

Welcome to The Movement, from wherever in the world you are - Hello, Sallut, Hallo, Ciao, Ahoj, Bog, Hej, Shalom, Marhaba, Hujambo! My name is Rachel Blackburn and I’m writing to you from Sydney, Australia. I think of myself as a sensitive and strong person. Things that are important to me do not hit and bounce off, they hit and enter my spirit, igniting a flame that is difficult to douse. When something is important to me, I think about it, dream about it, draw about it and write about it - point in case, WABI-SABI was born. I’ve never had a cookie cutter life, initially by default and now by choice. I went to 3 different primary schools and 4 different high schools. I have worked in 26 different jobs (and none of which I have ever been fired from). I’ve never broken a bone and I may be the only adult I’ve met to have never had chicken pox. I’ve flown on over 320 aeroplanes; I’ve abseiled down a mountain and jumped from a plane. I’ve lived in 25 different houses across two states in Australia and two states in America. I’ve had 3 cats, 2 dogs, 2 budgies, 2 mice and a rabbit called shadow.

My life bursts at the seams with people, work, study, books and photos (yes, I’m nicknamed Paparazzi)- all of which is layered with structure and sprinkled with spontaneity. Just the way I like it. I don’t enjoy sitting still and predictability in life is like nails down a chalkboard. I’m not one to walk by and forget you and when we meet I’ll probably ask too many questions, not because I’m a chatterbox but because I like to know someone’s story so I can understand and learn- because there’s always something to learn.

THE PART I SAY “I KINDA KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT” 

As a graduate (Bachelor of Secondary Education: Human Movement and Health Education) from Sydney University, with First Class Honours, I chose to return earlier this year and continue my studies with the Sydney Medical Faculty, studying a Masters of Public Health (and I’m graduating this November- yay!). Employment, research and volunteer work have provided me with over eight years experience working in health education. Through my honours program (2012) I conducted a qualitative research project into sexualities education and proceeded to present these findings as a co-presenter at the Joint Australian Association for Research in Education and Asia-Pacific Association Conference (2012). Having recently returned to Australia after spending 18 months aboard in New York City, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the United Nations International School and at the non-profit organisation New York Cares working with disadvantaged youth in the Greater New York City area. This period confirmed my desire to pursue a career in public health. Martin Luther King, Jr once said, “OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER”, and I for one, have no intention of being silent (fist pump).

THE PART I TELL YOU “THIS IS HOW THE SEED GREW”

On Thursday 8^th March 2012 I awoke to discover that something had occurred around the world over night - Kony2012: Invisible Children. A Human Rights campaign had begun via a video posted online, running for 29:59 seconds and more than 25 million people had viewed it within hours. As I watched Jacobs story I was overwhelmed, seeing his face and hearing his cries, my body wasn’t sure whether it needed to break down and hysterically cry or violently vomit up my breakfast. Joseph Kony is a Ugandan guerrilla group leader, head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). He abducts children from their homes across several countries including northern Uganda, the Democratic republic of Congo, South Sudan and Sudan. It is said more than 60,000 children have been taken; boys become soldiers and girls become sex slaves. He is one of the world’s worst war criminals and this campaign aimed to begin a chain reaction, which had hoped to result in the arrest of Kony and disarm the LRA. The ‘Invisible children’ site states, “If the world knows who Joseph Kony is, it will unite to stop him. It starts here”. And that's when I decided I wanted to spend my life making the world aware of things I believe are unacceptable- full stop.

At the age of 14 my Grandpa handed me the Diary of Anne Frank. I learned of World War II and the sickening war crimes that resulted in the death of millions. I felt physically ill that people allowed this to happen; how could anyone believe this was ok. Several years later a teacher suggested I watch ‘Hotel Rwanda’. Throughout the movie I again felt sick, my chest hurt and I felt this overwhelming sense of betrayal. I had been betrayed by my global nation that had once again allowed such a horrible massacre to happen. People around the world had continued to live each day, many oblivious to what was happening, whilst over 800,000 people were brutally murdered. Not many months passed and I watched the film ‘Blood Diamond’, exposing me to the horrifying reality of child soldiers. I continued to look into issues that happened around the world. How were so many people living in constant chaos - poverty, fear, violence and disease consumed their nations. What could I do to help? And how was this even happening?

THE PART I TELL YOU “LETS GET REAL, I’LL LEVEL WITH YOU”

I will be the first to tell you (yes, you heard it here first)- no I haven’t been on the ground in Africa, the Middle East or Asia. I haven’t observed with my own eyes the atrocities that I will talk about. I don’t run an orphanage. I don’t have a father in politics. I haven’t worked for a global human rights corporation. But what I do have is two eyes, a heart and one hell of a voice. I think that's where the problem begins, right? We think we have to be someone special to care, someone special to speak up- but I’m here to tell you, you don’t! At some point, unacceptable acts, started to become acceptable. That needs to stop.

And guess what?

#ITSCOOLTOCARE

THE MOVEMENT

WE NOW LIVE IN A GLOBAL VILLAGE| 

LETS STAND TOGETHER

WRITING | BY RACHEL BLACKBURN 

WABI-SABI THE MOVEMENT | is my creation and today, August 3, 2015 marks two important events in my life. One, being my late Grandmas birthday, a woman with fierce strength who carried me on her wings for much of her life and two, being my childhood best friends birthday. August 3 has always been a special day and today, I am sending WABI-SABI out into the world, to grow, develop and take flight.

WABI-SABI is a Japanese word, loosely translated into FINDING BEAUTY IN IMPERFECTION. The world we live in is full of imperfections, some are personal, some are trivial and some are evils waging within cities and towns we have no control over. Nothing is perfect (as much as we are led to believe) and this movement is about grabbing those imperfections by the throat, looking them in the eye and saying- here I am, here I stand- with or without you.  There are individuals around the globe, that in spite of these imperfections, are able to shine brightly and beautifully from within and yet there are many that still need things to change so they too, can shine. This is WABI-SABI, finding beauty in imperfection. I specifically chose a word that cannot explicitly be translated into English, this movement isn’t about the English word or the western world- this is a GLOBAL MOVEMENT. We are a global village. This movement, and this website, is designed to create a platform where people, not just women, can be INFORMED, INSPIRED AND EDUCATED. This is about women’s rights (or lack thereof) and the vast differences between the way we live in comparison to millions of others. Have you ever thought, that while you might have missed the bus and you’re now running late for work, there is a young Syrian girl fleeing rebel forces who just got her period- as though things weren’t already hard enough? But yes, they’re women, biologically just like us. There are things we need to start talking about.

I’m not asking you for a dollar a day, or for you to stop eating for 48 hours. I’m not asking you to stop buying your iced lattes, or to stop getting your nails done. We live in a privileged society, we are lucky. Many of us work hard and we, of course will continue to live our lives the way we want. So quit with your excuses about this potentially imposing on your life in some way, it won’t. What I am asking, is that you make the commitment to read. Click on the link. Open the article. I am asking you TO LEARN. TO BE EDUCATED. TO CARE. I want you to talk about it. I want you to think about it and if you feel compelled, I want you to write about it. At some point along the way, things that were once unacceptable, started becoming acceptable. THAT NEEDS TO STOP. It is not ok that 39,000 children a day will become a bride. It is not ok that 125 million girls and women alive today have been genitally mutilated. It is not ok that since the 1980s 60 million women in India are missing. It is not ok that in 2009, 14 million children became orphans due to AIDS in Africa.

We are so saturated with information that it has become normal to scroll past it and not care. We have a culture where if we close the window, shut the app, turn off the phone- it disappears. But it doesn’t for so many people and we must stop thinking it does. The moment I truly decided I wanted to do something was when I realised, that if the world continued the way it is and my generation didn't do something to change this- then this is a world I wouldn’t want to be part of. It isn’t a world I would want to raise my children in. At the simplest level, we teach our children in school to help the child who dropped her books, to hold the door open when someone has their hands full, to share their food if someone has none- we teach them to care. When as adults did we stop? When did it become a matter of birthplace that determined the worth of someones life?

I believe people around the world need a common ground that can make a movement and create change through awareness and education. WABI-SABI IS A PLATFORM.  I’m not suggesting that tomorrow something drastic is going to change for these women, but what will change, is now you know. We know that through education and awareness change can happen. There will come a time when there is an opportunity for change and opportunity for action. If you’re educated and you understand the severity of these issues then that will be a moment you can stand up and say “hey! I believe in that! I want to support that!” THE SPLASH IN THE OCEAN MAKES FOR BIG WAVES.

#WABISABITHEMOVEMENT

THE WOMEN

THE WOMEN GETTING BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

WORDS BY WOMEN WHO HAVE CHALLENGED, SUPPORTED AND INSPIRED ME ALONG THE WAY. |

ZOE, 22 | Long Island, NY

With the fast paced world that we live in, it's easy to get caught up in our own tiny sphere of a world. We ignore the larger issues that are far worse than being late to work, or that pimple that just appeared on your forehead. It's important to raise awareness so that we can appreciate all that we have been given already as western women and to fight for and grant those SAME rights to other women around the world. 

To be a woman means a multitude of things and it may mean something different to each and every woman- I think that's important to note. We are often grouped together and labeled “women” which in essence, is a very broad term. For me personally, to be a woman means to be balanced. It means to be compassionate, kind, and loving, but also strong, independent and smart. Finding beauty in imperfection allows us to appreciate the authentic, natural, raw and organic beauty of all living beings. It is important to appreciate things for what they are, even if that means being IMPERFECT. People should look outside the privileged lives we often take for granted and realize that thousands of women and girls need our compassion. If we are unaware and remain blind to the issues of those around the world, there will never be equality. It takes passion and perseverance to create a movement and to achieve equality. It takes more than just a few people, it may take all of us, and IT JUST MIGHT REQUIRE YOU.

KELLIE, 39 | Hometown Canada | Current Sydney, Australia 

I think it is important to be informed about issues that affect women globally because we can otherwise think every other woman's lived experiences are much like our own. We can become the voice of feminism and set the agendas for equality with no perspective of or input from diverse women with diverse lived experiences. It's easy to think our own big battles are paramount, but a GLANCE GLOBALLY can shift the focus of feminism and invite new ways of thinking and agenda setting. I think we need to find beauty in ourselves FULL STOP. We need to critique the idea that one body is perfect and another is imperfect. Let's throw out that horrible dualism. I've got this fantastic poster I bought that says 'ACCEPT AND BE'; wouldn't it be a more interesting world if we could accept who we are and get on with doing amazing things?! 

To be a woman today means so many complex and contested things. I'm part of diverse social groupings who have increased access and freedoms, have more choice and autonomy over our bodies and minds, and have rights to express our gender in so many varied ways. At the same time it means I'm still part of a social grouping who are paid less, REMAIN VULNERABLE TO VIOLENCE, continue to be sexually exploited and harassed, and who are judged against unrealistic gender norms. I'm not sure just women should get behind this movement just because they are women. I think CITIZENS OF PRIVILEGED WESTERN COUNTRIES in general should be more concerned with gender-based violence, inequalities and poverty in their own backyards and globally.

SAMIRA, 30 | Sydney, Australia 

Women often underestimate their value in society and the impact they can have on the world. This ideology is more often than not INGRAINED IN OUR THOUGHTS from a young age as we are bombarded with the notion that women are less valuable to society than men. By educating people about ongoing issues that women are constantly subjected to, WE GIVE THESE WOMEN A VOICE. We allow their struggle to be heard. We provide an opportunity for change. Change that can create a positive and long-term effect on the world. Change that can provide opportunities for women who have been imprisoned by the construct of DYSFUNCTIONAL SOCIETIES. Change that will provide a platform for women to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. People should commit to reading about these issues because it’s easy for people to become caught up in what we hear from people and what the media tells us. Caring enough to SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH encourages us to read and discover facts about these issues, rather than just acquiring other people’s opinions. By reading and caring about these issues, we become more educated and play an active role in the conversations that encourage others to follow suit. The more we know, the more influential we become. The more we care, the more compassionate we become. The more educated conversations we have, the more active we become in CREATING A BETTER WORLD FOR EVERYONE. It is imperative that conversations about these issues occur above the table. The issues that women face must be addressed and dealt with seriously in order for positive changes to occur.

I believe our imperfections are what makes us unique and allows us flourish and transform into beautiful people. We often hear that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Similarly, our imperfections may appear to be problematic for some, but for others, they are the very things that draw us to them. Our imperfections are often related to the things we struggle with, the burdens we carry, whether they are physical, emotional, social, cognitive or spiritual. However, without those struggles we wouldn’t feel challenged and we wouldn’t grow to become the strong women we are and can be. Being a woman in today’s world can be challenging and thrilling at the same time. As a Muslim woman, I am often faced with the stereotype that I am oppressed and need rescuing. However, I am far from what the media projects. I, like many other women, am educated. I am opinionated. I am strong. I stand my ground. I have my beliefs and values, and I play an active role in modern society. I work hard. I have fun. I’m active and I socialise, a lot. But most importantly, as a teacher, I educate younger women to value themselves and the role they need to uphold in society. I educate young women about their rights and how to protect themselves. I educate young women about the importance of being open-minded and accepting of everyone, regardless of faith, background, socio-economic status and so on. I educate young women about the importance of being positive role models for the younger generations and positive members in the diverse wider society. I educate young women about freedom and ability to make choices in this privileged country. I TEACH EMPATHY AND COMPASSION, AND ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALITY. Only a week ago, my students were learning about Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream” speech. Their first response was “Miss, we’ve read this speech so many times”. But I promised that the outcome of my lesson would be different. We read the speech, and after discussing the ideas that were drawn from it, I asked them “what is your dream?” To which they replied, "WE'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED THAT" A door was opened and an opportunity arose for these young women to discover their place in the world. To share their passion and pave their path for success. To be a woman in today’s world is so much more powerful than people imagine. Society has been doing things the same way for so long, but we have the ability to PIONEER CHANGE. To shed light from a different perspective. To challenge the status quo. To discover our dreams and take others on the journey with us.

CHRISTINA, 27 | Hometown Russia | Current Manhattan, NY

IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS. Lack of knowledge is what can cause people to be unengaged. If we can generate awareness then we are likely to engage a wider audience- hopefully, this will mean people are more likely to help those in need. We need to progress as humanity. The lack of education and schooling in developing countries needs to be eliminated. This can be done if we collectively take action to bring change and provide education to those who don’t have the opportunity.  People must make a commitment to learning about these issues because that is the only way that action will be taken.

Being a woman in today’s world has its’ advantages and disadvantages. Unfortunately, even in the United States, women in most jobs are still not getting equal pay to their male counterparts. While performing the same duties, male employees, on average, will earn more. Being a woman in today’s world comes with pressure, we have societal concepts that are projected on females, for example “what it means to be pretty” or  “what qualities you should have to find a husband” etc. These projections come from society as a whole, but the media fuels them.  Social media especially has affected us all. We have instant connection and instant judgment on our looks with how many  “likes” we get on Instagram. What it means to me to find beauty in imperfection is to accept your flaws, “PERFECTLY IMPERFECT”. Perfection is a concept that is unattainable, there will always be things you will wish to change about yourself if you aren’t happy with your flaws. Being okay with who you are is to find beauty in imperfection.  The way you are is already perfect… you just have to realize it.

MILA | Hometown Serbia | Current Manhattan, NY 

To be a woman in today's world means SOMETHING GOOD. I actually think, in the history of the human race, this is the best time to be a woman. Women are really starting to get the right kind of attention, and it's not bad to "do things like a girl" anymore. It's something we can be proud of. Being a woman means to be empowered, free, beautiful and wise.

To find beauty in imperfection basically MEANS TO LIVE LIFE. Everything is perfectly imperfect on this Earth: nature, animals, countries, people... To find beauty in imperfection is to look for the good in every situation. Looking for the negative only makes US miserable. Loving your imperfections is essential to living a healthy life, but it's a challenge. I'm learning to let go of sadness and/or anger about the imperfections that surround me and are me every day. One thing I can guarantee you is that when you start looking for the good, you will receive so much more goodness back. Therefore, love those imperfections. It's important to raise awareness; otherwise nobody will know there is a problem at all! The ones who are being violated are often not able or allowed to raise their voice and fight back. That's why we, the "lucky ones" are supposed to do our best to make everybody be the "lucky one" as well. People (aka we) should commit to caring because if we don't care - who will? If we don't act - who will? If we don't fight for equal and global human rights - who will? Simple as that.

LIZ, 25 | Manhattan, NY

Finding beauty in IMPERFECTION IS LOVING YOUR FLAWS. The media tries to jam this image of the "perfect woman" down our throats with these photo shopped images of these 6 foot goddesses with their bleached straight teeth, washboard abs and thigh gaps. Standing at 5'2" and 125 pounds, I love that I'm short and curvy! I have cushion on my body, SO PEOPLE WANT TO HUG ME and not feel like they could break my bones. I don't have "perfect" teeth, but I can still light up a room with my smile. Loving and forgiving my body (stretch marks, cellulite and all) gives me confidence.  I'm also not a perfect friend or daughter. Obviously, I try to be a good person, but sometimes it's tough and I end up hurting the people I love.  I'm really stubborn and frequently wrong. I HAVE THIS STRONG DESIRE TO FOLLOW THE RULES AND RIDICULE THOSE WHO DON'T. A wise friend used to say, "not all rules are meant to be followed but it's up to you to know which ones to break".  We are all works in progress, but these imperfections make us unique, and that is beautiful. I will be the first to admit, I'm fairly ignorant about most of the world's issues. I try to stay informed, but unfortunately if it doesn't make headlines or the nightly news, chances are I've missed it. I think many can agree the "out of site, out of mind" saying is true. But how can we change this? We raise awareness until change comes. People in third world countries continue to struggle for the basic necessities; food, clean water, clothing, and shelter. Additionally, women aren't getting the nutrients and feminine products they need to be able to take care of themselves to have a higher quality of life. In many countries, those lucky enough to attend school miss a week or so every month because they don't have the proper means to ease their periods. Consequentially, many fall so far behind they aren't able to complete their education.  Women all over the world still struggle to be treated as equals, or are too afraid to take a stand. Child marriages, domestic abuse, and the effects of war are very real and very much swept under the rug.  If we make all of their issues known, perhaps we can help make a change. It's crucial to stay informed and do whatever we can to help others. One selfless act can mean the world to someone who was never given a chance.

Being a woman is today's world is tough! We have to be strong in the face of adversity, and constantly prove ourselves. Young women today have this disturbing idea that they need to hide their intellect and just look pretty or slutty to get by. Why is this still happening? Ladies, we are in an age of opportunity!  Women are running corporations, hospitals, law offices, farms, businesses of all sizes, charities and volunteer programs because they are using their knowledge and drive to better themselves and the world.  Luckily, we have these really strong role models who continue to make strides for us all, like Michelle Obama. She is fit, fearless and principled.  As an artist, my passion is in storytelling, to teach and get others to think and feel something, to try to spark a conversation, and hold up a MIRROR TO SOCIETY TO PROVOKE POSITIVE CHANGE. If we continue to guide each other to be our best, we can achieve anything.

ALEX, 29 | Gold Coast, Australia 

In our hectic lifestyles today, it becomes somewhat simple to only focus on issues that DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR LIVES. It's so easy to switch off - to not turn on the TV, to stop reading, to turn your back on things that are REALLY happening. In a bizarre contradiction, the world is becoming such a smaller place but we are also becoming somewhat small minded. We need to educate and re-educate. We need to keep having those conversations with our mums, our girlfriends, and one day, our children, in hope of awareness leading to change. To find beauty in imperfection means to recognise that a "FLAW" IS A MATTER OF OPINION. A perspective; that a "flaw" is something society has mass created by way of technology, media and an unrealistic view on what constitutes perfection. Beauty in imperfection is appreciating our individuality - MIND, BODY & SPIRIT - and that of the people and world around you. It's recognising we each have our own "cracks" and it's those cracks that tell our story. As they say, "wrinkles merely indicate where smiles have once been". 

To be a woman in todays world is liberating. I feel, in the society I am lucky enough to live in and with the support network I have around me, I CAN BE ANYTHING I WANT TO BE WITHOUT MY GENDER BEING A HINDRANCE. In fact, I look proudly upon the developments I make in my personal life and my professional life because I AM a woman... I am not saved by a man. Some days the weight of the world gets on top of us all but for the most part, I "HAVE" ME and I get a real sense of satisfaction in that. THAT, in itself, often shocks the people around me. I am my mother's daughter and that makes me a woman who CAN have it all, a woman who appreciates a good man by her side but it's certainly not vital for her survival. So, you'll pick up the paper to read about some celebrity wedding or sports stars infidelity scandal but you don't WANT TO HEAR ABOUT REAL TOPICS HAPPENING REAL TIME? ... It's time to get REAL! I want my children's children to not be brainwashed by sensationalism. I want them to have emotion... empathy... education... empowerment. I want them to see the imperfections of the world and want to touch it, in some way. 

EMILY, 23 | Manhattan, NY

For so many women like myself, who are fortunate enough to live in a country that provides freedom and safety, sometimes it’s hard to comprehend how many women around the world are living without such liberties.  It is vital to NOT IGNORE THIS FACT. Instead we must increase our awareness of the global issues women are facing everyday, and spread this knowledge globally.  If every woman reached out in even the smallest way to help another woman in need somewhere in the world – we could have a GLOBAL IMPACT.

To me, finding beauty in imperfection can mean something different to everyone.  It can mean seeing your partner’s flaws as exactly what you love about them, or realizing your own beauty and self-worth as a woman despite all the FLAWS SOCIETY TELLS YOU THAT YOU HAVE. Finding beauty in imperfection is all of those who find a reason to smile each day despite their circumstances.  They’re the people who find happiness in the sun coming up each day, and in simply being alive no matter what life throws at them.      Every woman around the world feels love and pain, goes through life’s many ups and downs, and knows what it’s like to be belittled and underestimated.  We are all connected as women of the world, and we should stand by for each other and for those who may not have the chance to stand up for themselves.  As women we should care about the issues other women are facing and be COMMITTED TO EDUCATING OURSELVES on these issues and spreading awareness in order to spark a global conversation about the changes needed to take place.

The world is smaller than ever before, making it easier for each voice to be heard and have an impact.  This should compel everyone to speak out about what he or she cares about and SEEK TO INSPIRE CHANGE.  Change starts with having a voice and making it heard.  As a woman in today’s world who is fortunate enough to have rights in society and freedom of speech, it is important to me to make my voice heard by lending it to issues that matter to me as a woman.  Being a woman is a beautiful and powerful thing, and it is up to us to fight for women’s rights NOT JUST IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT GLOBALLY. 

LORETTA, 79 | Tasmania, Australia 

There is an old saying "BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP" and therefore you need to get to know the person without regard to their appearance whatever the "imperfections" might be compared to someone else's standard. A world where everyone looks and thinks the same would be very boring and dull, so it has been the differences that have provided us with the diversity and "beauty" in those imperfections.

A long time ago women of the Western world protested and brought about the right to have a vote providing an ALTERNATIVE VIEW to the all male dominated world, and the need to raise awareness of the plight of not only women, but children, refugees and others who could not bring about changes to improve their lives. We should commit to taking an interest in global issues, because if we do not, all of a sudden it’s too late and society will change for the worst and change all our lives to a subservient existence.

I love being a woman of today in Australia having experienced the wonderful journey from romance, marriage, children, grandchildren and mature age, all of which have contributed to the person I am AFTER SIXTY YEARS OF WOMANHOOD. Women of today have available so many opportunities in career, travel, partnerships and family. This has been brought about by so many women over the past century being dedicated to improving society's understanding of what women have to offer. I greatly appreciate all that women do to highlight areas of further improvement.

VICTORIA, 25 | Sydney, Australia 

The world is full of INDIVIDUAL, UNIQUE SOULS discovering life and experience every day differently. When did we feel it was okay to define what is perfect or imperfect? This discovery is different for everyone; this discovery is beautiful (whatever that means to you). So to find beauty in imperfection is to live freely, authentically and embrace what is. Human nature is beautiful, and if you are reading this, you are part of it.

It is important to raise awareness about issues that are often not publicized. We live in a controlled society and the information that is readily and most available are often delivered by money and power – and a high percentage are men. How do we expect to cover female issues when most of the powerful decision makers are male? We live in a world of ignorance because it makes us feel better about ourselves. We, the people, need to give a voice to those who cannot be heard.

  

These issues should be as available and public as any other issue. We are so constantly slammed with information that scares us that we are made to think in black and white. We let those who speak on our behalf compromise our voice. Being a woman comes with a lot of responsibilities. Obviously the world has changed dramatically over the last century, especially for women, however, I am still treated differently because of the way I look. I am underestimated constantly by both sexes yet given opportunities for the same reasons. We have fought to hold an equal place in society and we are still fighting, so to be a woman in this day and age means a crazy amount of strength, determination and courage.

SAMI, 23 | Sydney, Australia 

To me, finding beauty in imperfection means being happy with who you are and having the confidence in today's world to step outside and not worry about what others think of you, because who and what is perfect? The differences in physical features and the small 'imperfections' of WOMEN (AND MEN!) are, what I think make a person beautiful, rather than all of us looking and acting the same. This can sometimes be easier said than done though, but I once read something along the lines of how when we're all old and grey, we're not going to remember the specific days we felt beautiful or not, but THE DAYS THAT WERE SPENT MAKING FANTASTIC MEMORIES. So that's what I think of when facing the world each morning, bad hair day or not! 

Being a woman in today's world is quite a challenge with what seems like all of the pressure put on to us to be 'perfect.' Perfect in looks, abilities, thoughts and beliefs. With the intense feminist movement sweeping across the world at the moment, I think that even puts pressure on women to act and conform in a certain way. As an example, I know that women in some industries in Australia are now judged by fellow women if they choose to be family-driven, rather than career-driven. If women are judged by fellow women, how are we meant to work together TO CHASE THAT DREAM OF EQUALITY? But on the other hand, how lucky are women in privileged countries if all they get for a choice they make is a bit of judgement!? So many women around the world aren't provided with the option to choose different paths for their lives; rather they are forced into whatever fate it is.

I WANT TO BE A WOMAN IN TOMORROW'S WORLD, where men and women, despite what part of the world they come from, care for the quality of each individual's right to be safe and happy where options are provided and women are encouraged to make choices. But for tomorrow's world to begin, we need to equip people with the information about the issues women face around the world, because lack of knowledge, or even ignorance, will not lead to change.

RALEIGH, 25 | California | Manhattan, NY

Finding beauty in imperfection means not only accepting, BUT ALSO TRULY, DEEPLY LOVING WHO WE ARE AS INDIVIDUALS. I believe that perspective is all we have to combat the constant berating of society’s “ideals”. As women, we are continually being force fed an image of perfection that we are encouraged to desire AND aspire to. This image has become so widespread that our peers, our significant others and our friends are either expecting it of us, or pursuing it themselves. While I believe in the idea that we should continue to better ourselves each day in whatever way makes us happiest, the idea that we should strive for perfection is TOXIC. We are all unique individuals. What makes us beautiful is that independence, that uniqueness, and most importantly, those imperfections. 

It is important for women to have a voice and to stand up for those WHO CANNOT STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES. More importantly, we must carefully listen to those who do stand up, and understand what it is they are trying to say. The more people who know, the more likely it is that we will stand together and begin the change that is needed. A commitment to caring about these issues is simply a commitment to bettering the overall quality of life. If we continue to allow women to be mistreated, beaten, shunned, and held back, we will continue to short-change ourselves as a whole. Each person should have the same opportunities to develop personally and professionally, because we never know who will be the next “great”. We may have stunted our advancement into the medical world because we are not offering women the same educational opportunities as men. We may be holding ourselves back from achieving greatness because as a society we do not believe that women can achieve. Women are dying or being beaten everyday at the hands of men who believe they are somehow better than those they choose to violate simply because they were born with different sex organs. Until this inequality is recognized and we commit to making permanent changes both in LAW AND THOUGHT, we will remain held back. 

I sincerely believe we are living in an era of progress. People are opening their minds to differences and learning to love those around them. Now, more than ever, I believe in HUMANITY’S ABILITY to embrace and overcome prejudice. Social medial and advancements in technology are exposing those who violate our rights everyday and they are no longer able to hide in the shadows. We are SHEDDING LIGHT on issues that 10 years ago were too far buried for significant change. Being a woman in today’s world is exciting. Although we have miles to go, we are progressing. As long as we are determined to continue that progression, being a woman will only get better and better.

KALI, 25 | Tasmania | Melbourne, Australia

AWARENESS IS THE START OF AN EDUCATION PROCESS. I don't think people know how bad these issues are, and they need to be educated. Unfortunately, we aren't raised to think globally. Through reading and caring about these issues, people should commit to helping make a change. These issues aren't created by nature, geography or natural disasters, they have been created by people, so its only people who can make a difference. People can choose to do bad things, it is of their own free will and they may choose not to educate themselves. BUT THIS SHOULD BE BY CHOICE, not by lack of opportunity or through an environment where things are forced upon them. Being part of WABI-SABI The Movement is about MOVING FORWARD AS ONE WORLD, rather than separately as individual countries. Finding beauty in imperfection is a difficult question for me. Unfortunately, being a perfectionist (yes I will admit that out loud) I rarely find beauty in imperfection. But when I do, it is much more beautiful than anything perfect.

I LOVE BEING A WOMAN! I am very fortunate that I have far less challenges than women did 50 years ago. I feel very independent and driven to achieve what I want for myself in life and believe that I have the freedom to make this possible. I don't feel like I am defined by the fact that I am a woman. But I know this is not the case for all women around the world. I believe everyone, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, should have the right and opportunity to make a choice. 

DELLA, 28 | Tasmania | Sydney, Australia

It’s only when you start discussing these issues that you realise how insignificant some things we complain about are. As I am writing this article I have learned new things about myself, most of all that anything is possible for me, and I am reminded of how lucky I am. I am also reminded of the suffering, heartbreak and hell that other women around the globe have to go through. I am writing with a SPARK IN MY HEART, A FIRE IN MY BELLY and I really want to do something to help. I’m glad I have the chance to write about something of significant importance through the WABI-SABI movement.

Finding the beauty in imperfection is simply finding the POETRY WITHIN A STORY wherein the beauty lies. Everyone has a story, and whether we like it or not, it has moulded us into the person we are today. Finding the beauty within imperfection to me is CHOOSING TO SEE THE POSITIVE. It’s about embracing what has happened to you in your life (events have affected and changed you), and deciding whether you you want to accept that as part of who you are – or not. As an example, you may have been treated badly in the past by an individual for no apparent reason. This was due to their inner turmoil or imperfection; they may have been having a bad day, or may not have had the ability to react in a positive way to the situation at hand. Recognising that it’s not about you and not taking it personally is finding the beauty in an imperfection situation. Similarly, if you look at a situation that you were in and you feel like you deserved the punishment bestowed upon you by that person, choosing to do an inventory of the situation and think about why you may have reacted a certain way, then choosing to accept this as part of your character - or not. This is another way we can find the beauty in our own imperfections. From your past, if you have the ability to see how it has affected the way you react to certain situations, you can choose, to accept this, and decide how you wish to act or react next time; thus finding the beauty in the IMPERFECT PERSON YOU ARE. 

I think it is important to also look at these situations above in the greater scheme of things, and where they fit in. What may seem a big deal to you may be minor in comparison to a many other women. When you actually take a moment out of your busy day and think about it, what actually makes you different? Not much biologically! Put simply, perhaps just the fact that you were lucky enough to be BORN IN A COUNTRY WITHOUT GENOCIDE. Sometimes we ‘westerners’ take for granted even the smallest things. The fact that we can get up out of bed at night and grab a glass of fresh water because we’re thirsty. We can decide what type of career we want, or what we would like to eat for breakfast. I mean how important is the decision of LATTE OVER CAPPUCCINO? 

Being a woman in today’s world is everything. SHE IS BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE. She is strong and capable. She is equal to a man and should be allowed to do whatever she wants. The view of a woman changes all the time, but in order to keep the momentum, we as women need to make it happen. WE MUST ALL FEEL EMPOWERED TO MAKE A CHANGE. We must also remember that this is only one point of view; my point of view. If only all women around the globe could DO WHAT THEY WANT. Together, we can make it happen.

NICOLE, 25 | Gold Coast Australia

People become consumed with their own day to day lives. It becomes difficult to imagine what life is like for the less fortunate. OUR LINK TO THIS KIND OF INFORMATION IS THE MEDIA. The media today is filled with too many fluffy pieces. Networks focus heavily on what they think people want to hear for ratings rather than the UNPLEASANT TRUTHS. I’d be lying if I said I knew all the issues and how I could help. Education is key. With more knowledge we could understand what the real issues are, and how we could help. GIVE THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE A VOICE A CHANCE TO BE HEARD. But it isn’t just knowledge, it’s money, time and resources, these three points alone are so big that it’s hard to know where to begin but, you have to start somewhere right? This is our world, and we need to change it. 

The debate is what is a “Real Beauty”? I guess the most common saying is beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Some people like blondes, some like brown, others like short, tall or Channing Tatum look a likes. We as humans go with our feelings and attractions, and why not? In saying that, our views on beauty and perfection in the western world is heavily influenced on the media and the beauty of models and celebrities. You can’t turn a page in Vogue magazine without seeing an impossibly perfect skinned, long legged, caramel girl that makes your eyes widen with envy. The aim is to make you think these girls are perfection. It’s all a lie. An imperfection, a flaw, a limitation, whatever you want to call it, THAT’S WHAT MAKES HUMANS DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER. The imperfection of a girl’s nose can give her face a perfect balance, the uncontrollable stutter in someone speech can teach them the bravery to overcome and stand up to others. Have you ever noticed, once you get to know someone and they have a personality that brings a smile to your face, they suddenly become even more attractive?! That has always amazed me, that EMOTIONS CAN CONTROL BEAUTY. We can lean so much from others “imperfections” – what a wonderful thought.  

It’s difficult for me to answer the question “why should people commit to caring?”. I don’t believe in forcing people into feeling or believing in issues. However, I DO BELIEVE IN HUMANITY and the compassion and empathy we carry. As a woman when I see a broken situation my instincts tell me help, love, nurture. It’s a choice that I believe more people would choose if given the correct information and opportunity. When a situation is right in front of you or you put yourself in their shoes, it’s hard to not have a human emotion of response and action. Knowledge is power, and if we know how to help we should. I have been lucky enough to have lived in 3 major cities over my 25 years and have met some incredible women along the way. Many who have inspired me with their wisdom, SURPRISED ME WITH THEIR BRAVERY and captured me with their charisma. All of this has almost left me lost as to where I stand in this world. Not depressingly lost, I just feel there is more I could be doing. It could be career change, experience more cultures, where I want to live or how to help more people. I’m sure I am not the only woman who feels this way. We have so much freedom today as western women. We all have a path, but I don’t believe it’s yet written, we have that power. Today we are a strong, talented, driven generation of women. If we look at how far women have come, there is nothing stopping us from achieving anything we desire in the future. I know I’ll find my place in the future, but if I don’t, I know I’ll have fun trying to find out along the way and continuing on my path meeting and learning from other INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. 

♡♡♡

As you can see, we all think differently. If you would like to be part of THE WOMEN BEHIND THE MOVEMENT or THE MEN BEHIND THE MOVEMENT I would LOVE to hear from you. Please email your submission to wabisabithemovement@gmail.com and attach a photo!

Love and smiles, WS x

#THEWOMENBEHINDTHEMOVEMENT
#THEMENBEHINDTHEMOVEMENT

EDUCATION

EDUCATION IS 

THE MOST POWERFUL 

WEAPON YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD| 

TITLE NELSON MANDELA | WORD BY RACHEL BLACKBURN

Image: R Blackburn

An individual’s view of health can be influenced through lifestyle, geographical location, family, friends, EDUCATION and representations through the media. As a western nation, we now have access to images and information to know that DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE STRUGGLING. Two-thirds of the world’s 799 million illiterate adults ages 15 and over are women. As our world fast advances, technology constantly being improved, populations growing, travel increasing, and things once never thought possible have been done, the interconnectedness of our world is increasingly apparent. Be it through the global media, advertising, the internet, or the international threat of terrorism, the barriers of time, distance, language, and culture are being eroded (Keleher & McDougall, 2009, p. 170). MAKING DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IS OFTEN NO LONGER POSSIBLE OR RELEVANT. We now live in a global village and health concerns are increasingly transnational (domino effect). The health problems of one country should be a concern for all of us (Keleher & McDougall, 2009, p. 170), and a determinants approach is central to tackling global health inequities.

Growing up, I knew I didn’t want an average 9-5 desk job. I wanted a job where I could help people, educate people, and cause MOMENTUM IN THE HUGE MACHINE OF CHANGE. I am amazed that we live on the same earth yet live worlds apart. How lucky am I to be born in Australia. We do not choose when or where we are born, though it greatly impacts on the life we "choose". When I enrolled at University I felt I had a sound understanding of what it meant to be healthy and what did or did not affect that. However, looking back, my ideas about health were limited and perhaps a little naive, confined to factors given to me by the media and the norms of my privileged society. My definition of health was confined to eating well, being active and having a positive outlook on life. A determinants approach to health has opened my eyes and opened my heart and I realise now, those factors barely touch on what affects the health of an individual and their community. As Kali says, "awareness is the start of an education process. I don't think people know how bad these issues are, and they need to be educated. Unfortunately, we aren't raised to think globally”. Health is a dynamic concept with multiple meanings, dependent on the context in which it is used. This, we can learn through education.

When I looked at a health issue, my idea of a solution was focused around a downstream response- those at a micro level including treatment systems, disease management, individual prevention and early intervention. A level often used by politicians and the media. A downstream response would be supplying food rations in developing countries. I now see the importance of adapting an upstream approach- those at a macro level (whole-of-population approaches). This approach includes government policies that promote good health and prevent illness and disease, including, EDUCATION and affordable health care (Keleher & McDougall, 2009, p. 8).  “Education is key... with more knowledge we could understand how we could help. It’s a choice that I believe more people would choose if given the correct information and opportunity" says Nicole, 25. An upstream approach entails finding the reasons behind poverty in developing countries, not why are they hungry today and how we can deliver their next meal, but how did they get this far? Poverty and inequities are well recognised as key determinants of health and social well-being. Health for most of the world’s population is less determined by the biology, than it is by social cultural, environmental, political, economic vulnerability, limited access to information and services, and violence and war (Keleher & McDougall, 2009, p. 170). Solutions to health problems need to adapt an upstream approach of looking ‘up and around’ so we can see them more complexly in order to really deal with these health issues. It means going beyond contemporary concentration on the immediate causes of disease and instead focusing on the ‘CAUSES OF THE CAUSE’.

These is an increasing imbalance between the western world and developing nations. Many political boarders now serve as semi-permeable membranes, OFTEN QUITE OPEN TO DISEASES AND YET CLOSED TO THE FREE MOVEMENT OF CURES (Farmer, 1996). When discussing health in low and middle income countries, it is important to consider the wider structural determinants of health such as economic globalisation, structural adjustment programs, historical factors, communication technologies and global media (Keleher & McDougall, 2009, p. 170). Health, in particular is susceptible to political power. There are several reasons as to why health is political. Firstly, good health is not shared equally, social factors that influence good health (poverty, hygiene, education) are dependent on political action and funding. The United Nations have stated that health is the RIGHT OF EVERY CITIZEN. However, different political philosophies determine the budget for health, the types of programs and approaches that will be funded, and how health services and health resources such as EDUCATION will be distributed (Keleher & MacDougall, 2009, p. 6). Often, the health and well being of citizens lie in the hands of the government, their values and ideologies.

Throughout the coming weeks and months (and years), WABI-SABI The Movement will write with a loud voice- in the hope of educating, informing and inspiring you. EDUCATE | INSPIRE | LEARN Each person is unique, their personalities differ and they learn and observe in different ways, though through the varied content and media, we will create awareness-  to create change.

#EDUCATEINSPIRELEARN