All of Creation is calling us to make huge changes this decade. And they can’t happen without women living into their full power!
The Jubilee Circles in Mexico help women claim their rights and power in the face of male domination and despite living on the economy’s margins. The guests on the November podcast episode are Angelica Juarez Jimenez a physician, an artist, and part of Jubilee through the Jubilee Circle in San Mateo, Mexico, in the state of Puebla. And Lindsey Mercer-Robledo, an organizer, working in the Jubilee Circle in San Cristobal in the southernmost Mexican state of Chiapas.
Be sure to listen to them on the November podcast episode as they tell stories about several kinds of empowerment: economic, political, civic, and relational. They are piercing patriarchy shaped by machismo; they are raising their voices in leadership in their communities; they are bringing income to their families. All in all, they are claiming the full personhood for which God has called them.
Empowering Women in the San Mateo Circle—Angelica tells how women in San Mateo formed a support-learning group to create artisan products. Working together, they amaze themselves and one another with what they create. After getting contracts for their products, they formed a cooperative business as well as a “saving bank.” Women bring income into their families. They are educated in the legal and human rights of women. They have come out of the shadows of suppression.
Empowering Women in the San Cristobal Circle—Lindsey tells how women in San Cristobal are learning the power of their citizenship and the possibility of effecting change through their participation in local political processes. They are amazing themselves by supporting candidates for office from their own group. Others display their home-made products in a version of a farmer’s market. Workshops increase the quality and variety of their products. Their lives experience the power of being new people and making new choices for change.
Changing the World—Though not covered in the podcast, a most important by-product happens when women are able to claim their full personhood. Not only do they correct the imbalances of patriarchy, they correct the imbalance in species. The human species has quadrupled in number in the past 90 years. As a result, we are driving other species into perilous, massive extinctions. But get this. When societies agree that women be educated, that they must have equal economic opportunity, that they have reproductive choice, and that all systems facilitate real feminine leadership—guess what? Human births decline. Women living with full personhood reverse our planet’s perils caused by the huge dominance of the human species over all others. Women also prefer an earth-friendly economy to the endless growth economy that ravages our planet.
All of us can support the full personhood of women, even in the products we purchase. Corporate America is one of the largest supporters of anti-choice, anti-women politicians — even some corporations who claim they are pro-woman on their websites strongly support political voices opposing women’s freedoms at local, state, and federal levels. Among them: AT&T, Coca-Cola, Disney, Nike, Procter & Gamble, and Uber. Watch what they fund. And watch for opportunities to sign petitions that let them know you’re watching. We can’t get to the world we need unless all are able to make choices that matter for life.
John Michno Elected by Board to Direct JEM Starting January 1, 2021
At an October meeting, the JEM Board voted for John Michno to become the next Director of JEM, effective January 1, 2021. Current director, Lee Van Ham, is stepping aside from that position but will continue to be active in JEM in communication, funding, writing, and presentations. The Board believes this to be an important step to assure Jubilee leadership into this critical decade of the 2020s.
John became involved in the San Diego Jubilee Circle over a year and a half ago and was hired part time in December 2019. He comes out of the business world where he led some good-sized projects but found, after some years, that he wanted to contribute more to growth from the heart. He brings knowledge of technology along with a faith commitment that includes communicating collaboratively and nonviolently in conflicted situations
A Special Read and Gift for Christmas 2020
Have you noticed that the birth of Jesus as told in the gospels is not the same story as the “Christmas story” in holiday celebrations? Lee Van Ham explains this along with the great impact a birth story can have in his book The Liberating Birth of Jesus: A Birth Story Able to Reverse the Earth’s Perils. The story in the gospels thrives in the creation worldview, but the Christmas story was born over 300 years later in empire’s worldview. Understanding the distinction is more important than ever given that we have only until 2030 to make major changes in how we live on our planet.
Order a copy directly from Jubilee or from various internet suppliers (Barnes & Noble and Powell’s are recommended alternatives to Amazon). Keeping with the gift idea, the first five orders Jubilee receives will be sent free of charge.
Hear Lee interviewed about the book on the Simple Living OneEarth podcast. Read reviews at theoneearthproject.com/books.
Relax with Simple Living Works! Non-consumer Christmas
Have you ever returned home from a hectic day of holiday shopping to notice yourself tired, wondering what’s really important? Sometimes the hustle and bustle prevent us from real family closeness. Check out new holiday traditions with Jubilee partner Jerry Iverson at JEM-SimpleLivingChristmas. Look for the word, “Christmas”.
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