half the sky

'Women hold up half the sky'
- Chinese Proverb

If you only read one book in 2010 please make it 'Half the Sky' by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

They say...

"We wrote a book devoted to women in the developing world because if you want to fight poverty and extremism, you need to educate and empower women and bring them into the economy. " "Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world's women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute. We know there are many worthy causes competing for attention in the world. We focus on this one because this kind of oppression feels transcendent – and so does the opportunity. Outsiders can truly make a difference."

This is a devastatingly sad and hard hitting book that will open your eyes to the plight of women and girls around the world.

Follow Nicholas:

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via the 'On the ground' blog
and buy the book on Amazon