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A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTORS
 Dear Colleagues, Allies and Friends,
We believe that achieving the Millenium Development Goals is possible. This year, grassroots leaders proved it. Grandmothers in Uganda and teachers in Kenya installed rainwater catchment and filtration systems in their homes and schools. Indigenous environmental justice leaders in North America advocated for clean energy, human rights, and green jobs. Women farmers in India saved seeds and implemented strategies for re-localization of the agricultural economy. Women's Earth Alliance strategically coordinated training, advocacy services and technical support to ensure that this work would soar. We could tell you more, but our colleague Mildred Mkandla says it best.
This year, Women's Earth Alliance:
This season a generous donor gave us an incredible opportunity: for every dollar donated to Women’s Earth Alliance by December 31, our donor will match it up to $100,000. And, the $100,000 match will also apply in 2011 and 2012, so any new multi-year pledges and Giving Circle pledges will be matched dollar for dollar for 3 years! Give now, and join us in making history!
Thank you for showing us what true community can do. Now is our chance to expand our impact, heal what is broken, and let hope rise.
With joy,
 
Amira & Melinda, Directors
Women's Earth Alliance
P.S. Take a photo journey with WEA! Check out our collection on Flickr. |
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WOMEN AND AGRICULTURE
 What happens when 14 women practitioners and advocates in agriculture and food systems visit the frontlines of India’s sustainable agriculture movement? An outpouring of collaboration, alliance-building, and sharing of practical knowledge. Before implementing any initiative, WEA is committed to listening and creating meaningful partnerships, so all Initiatives start with a Learning Exchange.
The Fall 2009 India Women and Agriculture Learning Exchange Delegation traveled through Northern India visiting with grassroots women leaders who are designing solutions in the areas of sustainable agriculture, right livelihoods and food justice in order to discover how WEA can play a meaningful role in connecting resources to needs in this burgeoning movement. In each village we visited, we heard women describe the importance of accessing the training, capital, market opportunities, and moral support they need to ensure the health and sustainability of their communities. We heard a very clear theme: Women need greater connection with practitioner and information networks, as well as access to marketing support, appropriate technologies, capital, and business development training.
 Journeying through the vast and diverse country, we saw first-hand the devastating impact that industrial agriculture has had on the lives of farmers and the land. Since the early 1990s over 100,000 farmers have committed suicide – lives shattered by losing the very land under their feet to toxins and corporate control.
Amidst the challenges, we observed countless stories of triumph and courage. From village to village, women are upholding the knowledge of traditional agriculture techniques, saving seeds, launching advocacy campaigns, creating cooperatives, and modeling the solutions. Our vision for the Women and Agriculture Initiative is infused with the spirit of these women’s successes. We invite you to read our blog series "From the Fields" and watch a video here.
FROM THE NEWS: Congratulations to the Barefoot College! They recently won Half the Sky contest, coordinated by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl Wudunn, authors of Half the Sky. We visited the Barefoot College on our recent Learning Delegation. Half the Sky is spreading the word far and wide about how we all can empower women to change the world. Check them out on Oprah!
WOMEN AND WATER
 The Global Women’s Water Initiative is seeking applicants for our 2010 West Africa Training Program, which will begin with a week-long training in Accra, Ghana. This is a unique opportunity for African women who are working for water security and environmental sustainability in their communities.
The GWWI is a joint venture of international organizations A Single Drop, Crabgrass, and Women’s Earth Alliance. The 2010 West Africa Program is in partnership with WaterAid Ghana. Our work equips two-person teams of local African women leaders with technology training, introductory business skills, networking support, and seed funding to launch water service projects in their communities that have the potential to become income-generating.
Attendees will create and commit to specific action plans for the year following the training. The GWWI team will provide seed funding and follow-up support for each team to implement a water project. We welcome environmental advocates, organizers and entrepreneurs to apply.
Watch a video clip from the East Africa Training in Nairobi. Visit the blog to hear more stories and see our participants in action!
FROM THE NEWS: A Single Drop is a key project partner for our work in Africa. A Single Drop's Founder, Gemma Bulos was recently recognized by the Schwab Foundation as a Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the Philippines. This is quite an honor and one that is truly deserved. Congratulations, Gemma!
WOMEN AND LAND
 The Sacred Earth Advocacy Network is flourishing! Over the past several months, we’ve built thriving partnerships with pro bono legal and policy advocates and indigenous women environmental justice leaders throughout North America. We’ve successfully facilitated legal support for leading indigenous environmental and human rights organizations such as the Western Shoshone Defense Project, Black Mesa Water Coalition, the Indigenous Environmental Network, and Navajo Green Economy Coalition – and many more projects are active on our docket. Law clinics, top attorneys and law students across the state and nation are excited about becoming more involved and offering their support. We’ve also begun a successful conference call series which focuses national attention on environmental injustices in indigenous communities – see below for more information.
In response to the systemic targeting of indigenous lands with environmental threats such as mines, waste dumps, and power plants, WEA's Sacred Earth Advocacy Network mobilizes legal and policy advocates to provide timely and collaborative support for women-led indigenous environmental justice campaigns. Working across three primary thematic areas – climate justice and green economic development, protection for areas of spiritual significance, and environmental health – WEA facilitates services such as support for ongoing litigation, policy advocacy, and organizational development.
In 2010 we’ll be conducting three Advocacy Delegations throughout the Southwestern United States and California, focusing on sacred places, water and green economic development. Delegations are open to a broad spectrum of legal and policy advocates. Please be in touch if you or someone you know might be interested in these powerful opportunities for experiential learning, dialogue and practical action!
FROM THE NEWS: We are thrilled to share news that the US court blocks huge gold mine project in Nevada. Western Shoshone Defense Project, a partner of WEA, was a lead plaintiff in this precedent-setting case. |
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 Weaving the Worlds in 2009: Together we made history!
During a Coming Up from the Roots event last month, our International Advisor, Joanna Macy invited the 180 people who gathered to join Women's Earth Alliance for "adventures in collaboration." Clearly, you heard and responded to that call this year!
Many of you attended one or more of our WEAving the Worlds educational events, from the 150-person Gala in June at the Presidio's Golden Gate Club, to our Fall event series featuring local organizations like CommuniTree and Art in Action, dynamic speakers such as Ashwini Naryanan of Microplace, Wahleah Johns of Black Mesa Water Coalition, Vien Truong of Green for All, Nina Simons of Bioneers and author Paul Hawken. Together we ushered in a new level of support for the courageous, unstoppable work of women environmental leaders worldwide!
View the photos and read the blog from a year of powerful events!
 WEA's Conference Call Series
The Fall 2009 Weaving the Worlds Conference Call Series, a project of the Women and Land Initiative, brought a nationwide audience of
callers into intimate, information-rich conversations with leading indigenous environmental justice activists.
In September, callers heard from Wahleah Johns, Executive Director of Black Mesa Water Coalition, and Elena Foshay, Research Associate at Green for All, discussing green jobs development on the Navajo Nation in the context of federal green jobs policy. In October, we spoke with Jeneda Benally, activist in the Save the San Francisco Peaks Coalition, and Howard Shanker, lawyer for the Coalition, regarding recent developments in litigation to protect this holy mountain from desecration. And in November, we were fortunate to engage in a very timely conversation on climate justice in Copenhagen with Tom Goldtooth and Jihan Gearon of the Indigenous Environmental Network. Based on this positive response, we’ll be hosting an ongoing conference call series, sharing the crucial and often little-publicized work of our project partners across North America. Stay tuned!
Read about the series here.
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 Great News: WEA has a Match!
This season, a generous donor gave us an incredible opportunity: for every dollar donated to Women’s Earth Alliance by December 31, our donor will match it up to $100,000. And, the $100,000 match will also apply in 2011 and 2012, so any new multi-year pledges and Giving Circle pledges will be matched dollar for dollar for 3 years!
There has never been a more powerful moment to step forward and make a contribution to Women's Earth Alliance. Best case scenario? Many of you pledge for 3 years, tell your friends to do the same, and one year from now we'll all be celebrating healthy, vibrant communities because we made it happen together.
WEA is Seeking Interns!
In January 2010, WEA will be accepting a new group of dynamic interns. Please help us find the right candidates! Email info (AT) womensearthalliance.org.
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Louise Benally and her family were one of the few Dine families to resist relocation. In 1977, three years after the Navajo-Hopi Act was passed, Louise was only 14 years old and was arrested for protesting the installation of a barbed-wire fence on her ancestral land. Louise’s arrest sparked a lifelong commitment to defend the rights of her people. Louise has been an integral member of Dine Alliance, a grassroots alliance of residents working to advocate for the rights of Dine cultural and spiritual sovereignty. Louise has also worked with Big Mountain Legal Defense Fund to create twenty-two support organizations designed to channel national and international attention to the challenges facing the Dine of Big Mountain. Watch the Narrative 
This Season, give the most thoughtful gift you've ever given. 