The Elder Daughter is now the digital media intern for a major British charity, Action Aid. She spent 15 months in Uganda working with some of the most vulnerable children on the continent: deaf and blind children and HIV/Aids orphans. Now she is back in England trying to make a difference in another way.
She asked me to help gather support on my blog for a campaign that only has a few days to run. She isn’t asking for money. She’s asking you to put your foot down.
Around the world, 2876 women contract HIV every day. A girl born in South Africa has a higher chance of being raped than of learning to read. Widespread violence against girls and women increases the chances that they will join the 15 million women around the world already infected with the virus.
Action Aid wants 2876 people, one for every woman and girl who will contract HIV tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that, and every day until we put our foot down to stop it, to sign a petition in support of the campaign. The campaign ends on International Women’s Day on March 8.
The petition asks the UK government to take 10 steps to help prevent violence against women and to help control HIV/Aids. These are simple, achievable steps. One of these 10 steps is to persuade other countries and international agencies to take action. You don’t have to be British to sign the petition and put your foot down.
When you have signed the petition, please forward it to 5 friends. 2876 people to put their foot down is a modest goal. Let’s help them achieve it.
Over the last few weeks, hundreds of people, besides signing the petition, have sent Action Aid a real shoe. The charity has commissioned artist Riitta Ikonen to turn these shoes into art. You can watch her progress on her blog. I especially like the puzzled shoe, though I don’t think I would like to take a hike in it.
It’s too late to send Riitta a shoe, but you can still email the Duchess a photo of the shoe you are wearing (or imagine you might wear) when you put your foot down. Send your photo to me (edited to remove my email address in hope of getting rid of so much spam). I’ll publish all the photos… And then maybe we can have a vote for the best (if I can work it out) or something… and it can be the Duchess’s first contest! Okay, I accept you may not be quite as excited about this concept as I am. Especially as, so far, there’s no prize.
Never mind. Sign the petition. Send it to your friends. Send me your virtual shoes.
Put your foot down.
I signed the petition and think it’s a very important cause. Elder daughter IS making a difference and i know you’re proud.
Comment by Midlife Slices — March 5, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
Thank you! I am proud. But where’s the shoe??? A woman like you must have something pretty special!
Comment by Duchess — March 5, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
Hi Duchess,
Will go from here to sign the petition and then forward you a shoe from the coast of California. Your daughter sounds like a woman after my own heart. good for her!
Comment by Darryle — March 5, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
Duchess – I cannot resist anything related to shoes! I will go sign the petition and will send you a shoe picture!
Comment by Liz — March 5, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Done, with a heart and a half, as they say in Ireland. Shoe picture to follow.
Comment by Tessa — March 5, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
PS, I also shared it on Facebook and will pass on to Twitter. x
Comment by Tessa — March 5, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
Duchess – the petition is signed and has been sent to The Young One’s grandmother, who will make sure that it is forwarded to everyone she knows.
A picture of my shoe is forthcoming.
Comment by Jan — March 6, 2009 @ 5:19 am
[…] Duchess, arbiter of all things witty and British at Duchess Omnium, is promoting a very worthy cause today. Hop on over there and lend your […]
Pingback by Jan’s Sushi Bar » Full Disclosure — March 6, 2009 @ 6:38 am
I signed, and I will forward the petition to a lot of people, but all my shoes are totally boring old lady shoes.
Comment by Old Woman — March 6, 2009 @ 8:21 am
O.k. my “shoe” is heading your way in a few minutes. I’ve got to get it off my old computer. Or maybe I’ve got to get everything transferred to the new one. *sigh* getting a new pc is a pain in the patooty.
Comment by Midlife Slices — March 6, 2009 @ 9:38 am
I’m putting my foot down…hope an UGG boot counts. If anyone is interested, ActionAid has launched something called the 6 Degrees Project. They are working with Amanda Ghost, who is a songwriter and producer, to create a song inspired by a woman in Uganda. I found out about it on femininezone.com but there’s more information available on http://www.actionaid.org.uk/6degrees. Sounds interesting…
Comment by Little Lady — March 6, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
Very worthy cause and I am off to sign the petition. I live in Hawaii and we don’t ever wear shoes in the house. Putting my bare foot down over here.
Comment by Pseudo — March 7, 2009 @ 8:38 am
Hi Duchess. Couldn’t link to the petition on this computer but will try again. Sounds a most worthy cause.
Comment by The Poet Laura-eate — March 8, 2009 @ 11:48 am
I signed the petition. Will working on getting shoe to you asap.
Comment by Smart Mouth Broad — March 8, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
Dear Duchess,
There are many of us who would love to converse with you via Twitter but you have to “follow” us. It won’t let me direct message you anymore either. I can’t even reply to your direct message to me because you aren’t following me. Is this on purpose? 🙂
Comment by Midlife Slices — March 11, 2009 @ 6:17 am
MLS – Oh, dear no,it isn’t on purpose! I am still puzzling how Twitter works! Making progress on that is tonight’s modest goal.
BTW it is harder for us Brits. Twitter doesn’t allow us to receive cell phone messages, updates and replies…
Comment by Duchess — March 11, 2009 @ 11:26 am