The self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi – 17 December 2010
What a magic carpet ride it’s been this past year for our brothers and sisters in North Africa and the Middle East. Egypt’s Mubarak-led police state deposed, Libya’s mad dog Gaddafi fittingly gunned down in a sewer. And the struggle continues for reform in Bahrain, Yemenis fight for their rights, and brave and bullied Syrians [...]
The death of Mary Leakey – 9 December 1996
This article also appears on Dorian Cope’s blog On This Deity. No matter who we are and what we think, the beautiful truth is that we are all children of Africa. It was in no small part the painstaking work of Mary Leakey that revealed this. For more than 50 years under hot African skies, [...]
The death of Hernán Cortés – 2 December 1547
This article also appears on Dorian Cope’s blog On This Deity. “He came dancing across the water with his galleons and guns, Looking for the new world in that palace in the sun”- from Cortez the Killer by Neil Young Hernán (Hernando) Cortés was a glory-seeking, ruthless murderer capable of barbaric cruelty, who more or [...]
The death of Dr Jane Elizabeth Hodgson – 23 October 2006
This article also appears on Dorian Cope’s blog On This Deity. There are many reasons why a pregnancy may be unwanted. A woman may have no access to contraception or already have too many mouths to feed. It may endanger her health, even her life. She may have been raped. The foetus may not be [...]
The death of Marie Stopes – 2 October 1958
This article also appears on Dorian Cope’s blog On This Deity. “I have some things to say about sex, which, so far as I am aware, have not yet been said … things which seem to me to be of profound importance to men and women who hope to make their marriage beautiful.” When my [...]
The death of Emmeline Pankhurst – 14 June 1928
Today, we remember one of the most important British women of the 20th century who died 83 years ago today, aged 69. Sisters! If you have ever voted in an election, thank Emmeline Pankhurst. And if you have ever decided not to vote in an election, you can thank Emmeline for having that choice. And Brothers! [...]
Swimming with dolphins in Cuba
Two years ago I had a beautiful encounter swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura, New Zealand. A pod of perhaps 500 dusky dolphins swam wild and free around me. Their choice. When they’d had enough or didn’t find we snorkellers amusing enough any more, they buggered off. In Cuba last month when we got the chance [...]
International Women’s Day
Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, a day when women all over the world celebrate their many achievements. And I’m not just talking about women becoming prime ministers or astronauts. No, I mean the really big stuff like the 67-year-old-woman from Yorkshire who, after years of abuse, says ‘no’ to her husband. [...]
Remembering Meena Keshwar Kamal
This post also appears on Dorian Cope’s blog On This Deity. In 1989, as a 26-year-old, I first truly understood what it was like to be disrespected because I am a woman. Although I was modestly dressed, I had dared to walk down the street on my own in a village in the mountains near [...]
Guns ‘n’ roses: the murder of Joan Root
This item also appears on Dorian Cope’s wonderful blog On This Deity. Five years ago today, 69-year-old Joan Root lay alone bleeding to death from gunshot wounds at her home on the shores of Lake Naivasha in Kenya. Whodunnit? Who cut down this Kenyan-born English rose? And why? As a young woman, Joan was shy [...]
