President Jimmy Carter began by sharing his passion for human rights, and his belief that issues affecting women and girls are key human rights issues. He has a 10-year plan at age ninety now to change the reality for the female population globally in every aspect of our reality. Beyond impressive!
Monterey, CA - After an astonishing day, today’s final afternoon session began with a former President and ended with a former President, all orchestrated by dear colleague and my hero and inspiration Pat Mitchell.
President Jimmy Carter began by sharing his passion for human rights, and his belief that issues affecting women and girls are key human rights issues. He has a 10-year plan at age ninety now to change the reality for the female population globally in every aspect of our reality. Beyond impressive!
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Sundance, Utah - I am here on retreat with members of my Women Moving Millions tribe, fellow passionate social change activists in support of women and girls as the way to make a better world. An extraordinary time! And the people and country of Liberia are here with me – as I continually invite their energy into the conversations, our human family sisters and brothers. I have asked for help with documenting their stories in the film we are producing due to the unprecedented Ebola crisis. I have asked them to join in the conversation and stand with us – as we begin another chapter of our human family reality; all joined together always. Gratitude and joy – and great hope from Utah and our entire planet Earth. Thank you ~ Deborah
La Jolla, CA - Liberia’s Ebola Eradication Day is just 8 days away, now set for May 9th. I was in Liberia when the last Ebola case was diagnosed on Friday, March 20th; the woman sadly died one week later. Since then there have been no new cases, thanks to the vigilance of the Liberian people. They have come together, joined with each other, committed with each other to end this deadly crisis. And they are succeeding. There is respect for Ebola and a commitment to constant washing of hands in bleach water, checking temperatures, and a change in many cultural practices, including honoring of the dead.
La Jolla, CA. - We all had a wonderful skype connection this morning, the team in Liberia and our Edify partner in San Diego and me in La Jolla . I LOVE Tuesday mornings at 7AM here! Connecting regularly with all in Liberia reminds me of why I am on the planet – it’s about connection and service and love.
Liberia and the people of Liberia are in recovery from an unprecedented crisis. Besides the tremendous death toll and infection rates, every aspect of the country has been affected. The GDP for the three most affected countries is expected to be a loss of $2.2B in 2015; countries already struggling in so many ways. So, we discussed a five point recovery plan. La Jolla, CA - This is the latest report from Liberia published recently in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/12/world/africa/idle-ebola-clinics-in-liberia-are-seen-as-misstep-in-us-relief-effort.html?_r=0 All too much too late. And an acknowledgement that it was indeed the Liberian people who ended ebola in their country, not the international community response. There is a front page story in the New York Times today, “Empty Clinics Are Called a Misstep in Ebola Effort,” which I read with great interest. On September 16, 2014, President Obama announced an expanded US plan to help Liberia. I remember that day distinctly. I was in Kauai watching the announcement on CNN while speaking with His Excellency the Vice President of Liberia. I was telling him of the announcement. The number of new ebola cases in the country peaked the week after the announcement.
La Jolla, CA - It is a very reflective time for me. So many around the globe celebrating a resurrection when our work is about getting all around the globe to realize we are one human family. It is not “us and them” but rather “we” – how to spread that message is the constant question…
I awoke today to find this message in my inbox from dear friend Jan Phillips who said this quote made her think of me. La Jolla, CA - I have been in touch with Liberia every day since departing last week. Yesterday I received a call from friend Foday, one of TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year when TIME named the Ebola Fighters with that honor last December. Foday is a hero. He tirelessly and constantly drove an ambulance, trying to get sick people to an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU). At the height of the crisis, he often had to take patients back to their homes as there was no space in the ETUs for so many. Foday is also an Ebola survivor.
La Jolla, CA - I have returned to my community in California, though my heart is still in Liberia. I am back in the US to produce a documentary film about the people and country of Liberia and ebola.
And I am being tracked by the CDC and US government. The morning of my first day here on Saturday, a nurse and an epidemiologist came to visit. I was asked to sign a letter acknowledging all the instructions which will govern my behavior until April 13, 2015, 21 days after leaving Liberia. I must take my temperature twice daily, morning and evening, and report the readings daily. I must check for signs and symptoms of illness every day and report any of ten symptoms. I must notify public health services prior to leaving San Diego County for any reason. If I develop any symptoms, I must contact public health services immediately, isolate myself and wait for additional instructions. After several days now, it has become routine and I am grateful that the screening is in place – and I still feel the prejudice of being one of “them.” |
About the AuthorDeborah Lindhom is the Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Women. For over 20 years she has lived and worked in Africa, India and the United States on issues of poverty, education and microcredit.
"Just a quick note to say how we appreciate all that you are doing in Liberia and wish we could do more to help. We enjoy reading your newsletters which are always so well written.
All the best!" ~ Ian and Julie Allen, Africa and Beyond Art Gallery Archives
November 2023
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