With the news being dominated by an increasingly
rancorous political discourse, it is both refreshing and encouraging
to see what can happen when actions speak louder than words.
The first week in March, I attended two
events, each spotlighting important issues. On March 3,
Vital Voices kicked off their Women Can campaign in conjunction
with International Women's Day. A press conference was
held at the showroom studio of designer Diane von Furstenberg, who has
been a strong advocate for Vital Voices. Her commitment is not
just in the abstract. From March 2nd through March 8,
10% of the profits from her worldwide boutiques and online sales were
donated to the organization. In addition, von Furstenberg committed
to making her store locations around the globe a venue for presentations
by speakers from the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network. In
her opening remarks she said, "All the things I believe in are embodied
in Vital Voices," adding that, "The support from women to women
immediately resonated."
A video was shown which contextualized
the activities of Vital Voices. Their preeminent philosophy is
that the skills of leadership can be mentored and passed on. This
has become a reality through their programming, which since 1997 has
worked with more than 5,000 nascent women leaders from over 150 nations
in locations spanning Latin America, Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East,
and Asia. Sound bites included interviews with the Liberian President
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and Dona Shalala who declared that, "Leaders
aren't born, they are made."
An important component of the Women
Can agenda is the understanding that partnering with the business
community is essential. Carly Fiorina, CEO of Carly Fiorina Enterprises,
former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Corporation, and Board Member of Vital
Voices, was on hand representing the nuts-and-bolts thinking of the
corporate mind set. She presented the premise ("driven by data,
which makes it crystal clear") that "if we want to solve problems,
women must be engaged." She stated, "By the year 2015, purchasing
power in the developing world will be the largest market in the world."
Part of infrastructure is management, and as Fiorina pointed out, "We
can't get there without focusing on women." She illuminated
the point that if an individual woman was helped, she in turn would
invest in her family, and then down the road...in a fund to help other
women. Candidly, Fiorina said, "Investing in women is about
enlightened self-interest."
The next spokesperson was Lorie Jackson.
For a lesser figure, representing ExxonMobil Corporation may have been
a prickly task. A graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard, Jackson talked enthusiastically about the African Women's
Leadership initiative that ExxonMobil has underwritten at the cost of
$1.5 million dollars. She described the three-part program that
is engaged in fostering entrepreneurship among African women artisans;
developing women political leaders; spearheading advocacy that would
change and update existing laws that prevent women from being involved
in a nation's economic life. Qualifying ExxonMobil as "a research-oriented
company," she sited studies that have shown that educating girls and
women allows them to become "drivers of change." When I conversed
with Jackson later, she underscored how rewarding it was for her to
be playing a major role in implementing this agenda. "I believe
in women's capabilities," she told me, "and here I am in an energy
company, and I am able to do this." Jackson continued, "We
are maximizing the positive social impact of our activity."
David Jones, Global CEO of Euro RSCG
Worldwide, the ad agency that is designing the branding and marketing
for Women Can, contributed remarks from "a man's perspective."
He related how he had seen doors shut on his sister, and didn't want
to witness the same scenario for his daughter. He observed, "There's
progress, but nowhere where it needs to be."
Two beneficiaries of the Vital Voices
network were present. Inez McCormick, human rights activist from
Northern Ireland, underscored that "Vital Voices takes away away the
loneliness of the battle." Maria Pacheco, a 2007 Economic Opportunity
Award Winner, said, "I saw that somebody cared about my dream."
She shared her realization that "Many hands change history."
That thought resonated at the panel discussion
held on March 5 at the James Cohan Gallery in Chelsea.
With the tag line "Retired Military Leaders Speak Out Against Torture
and Abusive Interrogation," I was interested in hearing about the
Human Rights First campaign Elect to End Torture
'08. James Cohan opened the evening saying, "The gallery's
interest is in being pro-active." He told me in a follow-up
interview that he saw the donation of his space as creating "a platform
for social action, to give Human Rights First an opportunity to speak
of their agenda."
At that time, HR 2082 - The
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal 2008, was awaiting the stroke
of President Bush's pen. This law would bind the interrogation
tactics of the CIA and all intelligence services to the United States
Army Field Manual rules. These guidelines are unambiguous about
prohibiting "acts of violence or intimidation, including physical
or mental torture, or exposure to inhumane treatment." On March
8, The White House issued a press release stating that
the President had vetoed the bill on the grounds that, "The bill would
impede the United States Government's efforts to protect the American
people effectively from terrorist attacks and other threats because
it imposes several unnecessary and unacceptable burdens on our Intelligence
Community."
Executive Director of Human Rights First,
Maureen Byrnes, introduced the program. She outlined the goal
of promoting an enlightening conversation with the purpose of "protecting
and defending each individual's dignity." Human Rights First sees
the public as an essential partner in this quest.
The speakers included Major General Fred
E. Haynes, USMC (Retired) and Brigadier General James Cullen, USA (Retired).
General Haynes is a combat veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam,
who served as a captain in the regiment that seized Mt. Suribachi, Iwo
Jima. General Cullen has over 26 years of combined active duty
and reserve service. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Service
Medal. Devon Chaffee, an Associate Attorney in the Human Rights
First Washington, D.C. office, has been a first-hand observer to the
military commission proceeding in Guantánamo. She has testified
before Congress on the legality of torture. She perceived that
in her experience with lawmakers on the Hill, those in a position to
make policy were afraid to "come out, for fear of being branded soft
on terrorism."
General Haynes started the discussion
with a story about his experiences in Iwo Jima that illustrated the
importance of handling prisoners of war with respect. He said
that when he dealt with his troops he told them in simple terms, "Treat
them the way you would want to be treated." He upheld the conviction
that, "If you treat people right, you are likely to get good information."
As part of the group of military personnel that has met with all the
major candidates for the Presidency on this issue, he told the audience
that they had requested, "When you give your Inaugural Address, point
number three should be close Guantánamo Bay, no more renditions, no
more secret prisons."
General Cullen brought the force of his
direct personality to his insights. "I don't think there is
any lack of clarity in the law," he said. He gave a brief historical
overview that included The Lieber Code of 1863, and included the point
that "General Eisenhower was absolutely clear about abiding by the
Geneva Convention." For General Cullen, what he sees is that
"our national conscience has become unhinged at the very top."
He explicated that soldiers are taught in basic training how to deal
with illegal orders. He elaborated on the problem with putting
forth one set of rules for the 19-year-old in the field and another
for the 40-year-old CIA operative. "If you allow these dual
standards, our enemies can properly, under international law, respond
in kind on the 19-year-old. They have applied a precedent that can be
brought against our soldiers."
General Haynes reiterated, "The key
to carrying out policy is people have to be held responsible from the
top down." General Cullen asked, "How did the train come off
the track?" He responded to his rhetorical question without
missing a beat. " A boulder was put out by the Vice-President's
office."
The need for citizens to become part
of the conversation on a continuum of concerns has never been greater.
Through personal action, their influence and clout can impact the larger
picture. As Margaret Meade wisely said, "Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."