Take some time to remember and celebrate the anti-war origins of Mother's Day.
Mother's Day
Why we should celebrate the real origins of Mother's Day
Across North America, Mother's Day is widely celebrated. Families pay tribute to women's contributions to the family with a nice meal, flowers, jewelry, clothing, even electronics. The National Retailers' Federation estimates that over $16 billion was spent in the U.S. last year to mark the day.
But the day did not begin as a day of consumerism to celebrate mothers' contributions to the home and family; once upon a time it was a day meant to celebrate their contributions to society.
A day rooted in social action
May 7, 2010 |
Use momsrule.org to send your mother or caregiver an e-card as well as an important message to Stephen Harper letting him know that you value maternal health as a human right.
Radical homemakers on the rebound
Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture
(Chelsea Green,
2010;
$29.95)
Imagine a world where men and women, well educated with Master's degrees and PhDs, choose to reject the high stress, consumerist corporate world in favour of tending to kith and kin. Imagine houses with gardens overflowing with fruits and vegetables, a small chicken coop in the backyard and pantries and cupboards bursting with homemade goods. For Shannon Hayes, author of Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture this world is a hard fought reality.
Take back the day
Inter Pares has a campaign to 'Take Back the Day' this Mother's Day. Check out their excellent video history of the day at http://www.takebacktheday.ca/.
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