V-Day Annual Report 2014 - One Billion Rising for Justice | Page 28

2015 – ONE BILLION RISING REVOLUTION In 2013 and 2014 we showed the power of art and dance 2015 ONE BILLION RISING REVOLUTION and the astonishing political alchemy that occurs when art and activism happen simultaneously. Through trauma, cruelty, shame, oppression, violence, rape, and exclusion, the body of the human species has been hurt, wounded, and we have been forced to flee our bodies. This same cruelty, rape and oppression, has been enacted on the earth and the consequences have been dire. We are verging on total catastrophe and collapse of life as we know it. Through One Billion Rising, we reclaim our bodies and our communities. This year we must go further. We must go all the way and make the change. CHANGE can happen if… We must create REVOLUTION One Billion Rising Revolution is an escalation of the first two stages of our campaign. We’ve danced. We’ve demanded justice. Now we are demanding CHANGES. And only a radical shift in consciousness, and braver, bolder, and more creative and determined actions can bring about CHANGE. The grassroots movements and marginalized communities are in the lead We demand accountability so that our justice calls from last year are realized We must do everything in our power to have their voices heard - and to make them visible - whether that be through political, social, cultural or artistic actions. We are going to continue to demand justice. We will continue to challenge institutions, governments, policies, laws - and make these systems - which are responsible for creating situations of poverty and violence - accountable. CHANGE CAN HAPPEN IF… CHANGE CAN HAPPEN IF… 28 We harness our creativity and energy We will create and envision new, brave and radical artistic initiatives to bring in the new revolutionary world of equality, dignity and freedom for all women and girls. THERE IS NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN ART AS A TOOL FOR TRANSFORMATION. CHANGE can happen if… We act now. And we act together. 29