This February 14th, on Valentine’s Day, women around the world are rising up against violence and oppression. One Billion Rising  is a global movement launched  by Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues and founder of VDay.

“ One In Three Women On The Planet Will Be Raped Or Beaten In Her Lifetime. One Billion Women Violated Is An Atrocity. One Billion Women Dancing Is A Revolution.”

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*this video is very powerful and may be triggering to some

If one billion women and allies “Strike, Dance and Rise,” we can help end violence against women everywhere.  Thousands of events are planned for today:  a flashmob in Somalia, several gatherings in Mexico City, a massive protest by 25 million in Bangladesh.  New events are added daily to the official VDay Facebook Page.   Nellie’s will be attending the One Billion Rising Toronto event today at noon at Nathan Phillips Square. If you can’t make it, feel free to follow along on twitter @nelliesshelter as we’ll be live-tweeting from the event.

You can join this movement by sharing updates from the One Billion Rising Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube or Blog. You can also join the movement in person by coming out to Nathan Phillips Square today at 12 noon.  To search for an event near you, click here.

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The women who live in our shelter are rising, in activism and in healing and will be participating in the events today.  Here’s an excerpt from a poem by Victoria Connor about how she is rising:

“Upon your arrival, the damage is fierce, your mind is muddled and your eyes, with tears, you settle in and some clarity appears, your one-on-one begins and so do your fears, but then, without warning, you see a light, a shimmer of something that seems to feel right.  Baffled, but healing, the support is around:  it’s Nellie in spirit and you begin to love that sound.  You begin to awaken with a sense of peace.  Your journey’s not over, not by the least; your struggles become less and there are new ones to take their place, happy and sad.  Welcome it all, get up again and look at the pain as growth!”