There is a growing level of global violence against women. As they increasingly form the backbone of the world economy, they are subject to structural violence of state-led “development” programs, i.e. sweatshop factories, trafficking and the personal violence of rape and sexual abuse. Femicide describes the massive rape and violence against women in the Congo (where 200,000-300,000 rapes have been reported), female genital mutilation that affects 100 million women Africa, dowry murders in India, killings of hundreds of women on the Mexican border, increasing levels of trafficking, and sex tourism. One in four women in the US has been subject to rape or attempted
rape.

Mville Students and faculty are organizing to publicize the global position of women through presentations at Bedford Women’s Prison on March 5, and in a presentation on the Mville campus on March 12. They are members of a recently formed campus group called the Coalition on Violence against Women that seeks to study and to educate about the situation of women both in the US and globally.

During the group’s presentations, Megan Angley presented on the global issue of violence, focusing on many aspects of violence against women including the topics of femicide, domestic violence and sexual violence. She discussed violence against women in five regions areas of the world: the United States, Mexico, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Middle East, and Asia.

Christina Calbos discussed CEDAW, the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women that has been signed by more than a hundred countries, although noticeably not the US. She described when and how this declaration was written, whether it has benefited women globally, and its implication for women and explain why the US has not ratified the convention, and what it will take to ratify it in the future Barbara Gonzalez discussed the issue of specific problems that face African women that make it far less connectable to the western world. Gender stereotypes act as a barrier to any type of progressive behavior in society. This hinders the African woman’s ability to move forward in life.

Anneka Preston describes many different modes of women’s empowerment: institutional, local, educational, and economic level Through the use of different development techniques, these organizations, nations, individuals, and methods have all tried to incorporate women into the globalization discourse. One successful case of empowerment is micro credit.

Prof . Peter Bell cited a recent study by Kristof & WuDunn entitled Half the Sky that documented the high levels of violence, discrimination and violation
of human rights against women globally. His research suggests that women hold up not half, but two-thirds of the sky. The economies of Thailand and Cambodia are built largely on the backs of women. The question for the 21st century is how might women enjoy full human rights, and how might their economic power be translated into social and political
empowerment?

Dear Manhattanville Students, Faculty, and Staff,

First and foremost, I would like to extend my prayers on behalf of the Right World View members and myself, to all those in grieving due to the recent lost that we experienced in our Manhattanville community. At such a fragile time, it is important that we remain united as we move ahead.

Secondly, I would like to applaud Director Ruthie Trovato and the entire production of The Vagina Monologues for a job well done. For those who were unable to attend, you truly missed out on a groundbreaking performance!

As we come out with our ninth issue, we are still continuing to work hard to perfect Right World View. Please note, that we are still in the process of transforming our Mission Statement in order to coincide with the path that Right World View is on. Stay tuned!
Also, please don’t hesitate to submit any personal work to Right World View as we are always searching for new talent. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook. All the support is greatly appreciated and we here at Right World View look forward to continuing to provide you with a world-class paper! Happy Reading!

Yours,
Monique E. Hardy
Editor-in-Chief

Sometimes we find ourselves trying to be perfect students, friends, girlfriends/boyfriends, wives/husbands, mothers/fathers, and just all around super-humans. Today is the day you BREATHE! Everyone deserves a time to focus on themselves. Whether it is on your drive home, or during a 30-minute break in between classes, turn off your phone and meditate in your own thoughts. This is your time to look out for your star player. This is the time you set goals for yourself and map out the ways in which you plan on accomplishing them. For those who find it hard to grasp this idea, ask yourself this one question: How can I truly be an asset to someone else, if I am not an asset to myself?

Recently, Governor Paterson has decided that in order to balance New York’s budget a significant amount of the state’s parks and historic sites may have to be shut down. His reasoning is simple: with the state $8.2 billion in debt something drastic must be done so it can get back on track. However, closing down both important natural and historic sites is a risky maneuver and it just may cause more harm than good.

At the current moment about 57 sites, mostly parks, will be shut down if Paterson has his way. Altogether this plan would save New York about $29 million a year. This sounds like a great deal of money saved, but in reality it will not be that much considering
the locations slated for closing will fall into neglect and disrepair.

Guards would most likely have to be posted at some in order to prevent vandalism,
and eventually once the state recovers financially and wants to reopen them, an ample amount of work would be needed to get them up to par. Both of these measures
would undoubtedly cost huge sums of money. So, if it’s looked at from this point of view, in the long run the state is not saving any money at all. In fact, this could just worsen the economic situation further and plunge New York into further debt.

A recent study done by the Political Economy Research Institute found that for every dollar the state spends on parks and historic sites, it gets five dollars back, mostly from tourism. By slashing the budgets for these sites, Paterson is literally throwing desperately needed money away. In a time when many New Yorkers are spending their vacation within state lines it would be an abomination to close nearby recreation locales. This would either force New Yorkers to go out of state where they would spend their money, and much more of it, or it would cause many individuals and families to not take any vacations whatsoever. Either way the state and citizens both lose out.

Above all, New York’s parks should remain open for the sole reason of enabling every resident to enjoy the natural, historic, and cultural splendor that the state has to offer. On occasion each of us requires a respite from the everyday hustle and bustle of life; and the best way to enjoy our relaxation is to visit one of the myriad sites the state offers. Hiking, lying on a beach, or learning a bit about the state’s heritage are things which should not be taken away for any reason; for they transcend our worries and let us enjoy life a bit more.

Governor Paterson’s proposal to close our state parks is not set in stone yet; it can still be averted if enough opposition arises. It’s highly important for each of us to voice our concerns on this matter if we want to save New York’s parks. In a time when it seems as though everything is falling apart and the nation is at the verge of some great calamity, we must remember that there are places to get away from it temporarily. It would be a pity to see them shut down while we sink deeper into both an economic and psychological depression. To avoid all these negativities, the parks must stay open permanently!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the “Right World View’s” new outlook on theatrical releases. This begins a new issue by issue perspective and review on movies released to theatres and upcoming DVDs. If you were second guessing it, these reviews will help you decide.

Coming to Theaters…

SHUTTER ISLAND (2010)

U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner, Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), investigate Ashcliffe Hospital for the criminally insane on Shutter Island. They are there to investigate a missing person, Rachel Solando, who vanished from a locked room. Daniels appears to have inner demons while trying to finish his investigation, as he is plagued with thoughts and memories of his dead wife (Michelle Williams). During their time at the island, they encounter suspicious people who try to warn them of the island’s dangers. Teddy and Chuck realize that they are in the middle of a mystery that they have to solve before it is too late. Shutter Island is a fantastic movie directed by Academy-Award winning director Martin Scorese. I gave this film four stars because of its great acting and its terrific storyline. DiCaprio plays a great character whose inner demons may or may not prevent him from solving this case. Since the movie is two hours long, it is imperative that you stay alert throughout it, because if you miss a part, the ending will confuse you. Other than the fast moving plot, it was a great movie.

THE WOLFMAN (2010)

The Wolfman is a remake of the classic 1941 film of the same name. Lawrence Talbot (Benicio Del Toro), a traveling Shakespearean actor, rushes back to his home in England after learning about his brother’s death. After promising to investigate said death to his brother’s fiancée (Emily Blunt), he gets attacked by a strange creature. Subsequent to recuperating he begins to transform into The Wolfman, who terrorizes all of London. Lawrence has a difficult decision to make. Can he continue on with the life that he was destined to have or must he continue on his path of violence, death, and destruction? I gave this film three stars because the acting was superb. However, even though the film was in the horror genre, it lacked in the terror department. If you like horror films that would give you nightmares, than this would not be the film for you.

When you say those people,
Do you mean that we are all from the Motherland,
Black, White, Spanish, there’s no racial divide,
Or do you break it down, putting us on separate sides?
When you say those people,
Do you mean the color of my skin,
The fact that I’m black, disregarding what’s within.
Putting all of us together, Haitians, Jamaicans, Dominicans, or
Even worse saying Africans when in fact if you look;
There are Ethiopians, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese and even more of them?
When you say those people,
Do you break it down even more, only classifying me as Canadian?
I see you- forgetting that I’m also Haitian.
I can see why you’re confused because
I was once confused myself;
Always saying Canadian-Haitian instead of Haitian-Canadian.
Maybe you forgot the second part or maybe
It’s the same reason why some African- Americans
Can’t seem to accept that we are all African descent.
When you say those people,
What exactly do you mean?
It’s funny-
Because those people are my people.
Just like those people are your people.
So who am I?
I am a proud Haitian, because I can say-
My people survived one of the biggest earthquakes in history.
I am a proud Haitian, because I can say-
My people are the first slave nation to gain its independence.
I am a proud Haitian, because I can say-
My people share an island with our Dominican brothers and sisters.
I am a proud Haitian, because I can say-
My people are the most superstitious people and I love it.
I am proud African, because I can say-
My people survived slavery.
Last but not least,
I am from the motherland, because I can say-
RACE IS NOT SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN.
{Human Gene Project state that we are 99.9% alike}**

Haiti’s independence was 5 Star quality,
De Esclaves shook up the dominoes
Matching each for every victory until
The mission became history.
L’Union was Bo Flex Strong
De Government relax and pose
As time climbs,
Business plus Power became the equation.
A great aura of struggle diffuses thru the nation which
Accommodates violence & greed amongst Haitians
The Union is Divorced.
The board line between the Bourgeois and Poor are miles apart,
Bourgeois prefer gated houses
While the Poor reside in a shanty houses
The Union is forever lost.
The 12 of January 2010 was the rebirth of Haiti.
Haiti’s founding fathers pounded
Their gavels on Ayiti(Haiti) Cherie for unity.
By any means necessary L’Union Fait La Force
Will reunite in Haitians.
The thrashing will only cease
Once the Union is realized
Many are inebriated from quake
All are emotional like Carl Thomas.
Haitians gather in circles like an orchestral
Inhaling 3D’s: Death, Destruction & Desperation.
Haiti is again an infant.
As days push forward
The island blossoms and matures but
Each grain must cater to each grain,
Because the thrashing will only cease
Once the Union is realized.

Journal Entry 1: Saturday night, Oct 21: Match.com Soul Mate?

On a scale of 1-10 rate my experience with the product? I could have lied and described her as some exotic beauty, with raven black hair that rolled past her shoulders and green eyes that gleamed, catching even the smallest amounts of light. I could have said that she was angelic, with freckles scattered along her cheeks and dimples that winked at me every time she smiled. I could have shouted that she had the most amazing smile I had ever seen, a smile of pearly whites that sparkled ten miles off. I could’ve sworn she had a voice like silk that encouraged a tingling sensation in my spine. I could’ve said that she had a name that was music to my ears, like Catherine or Emily. I could’ve said that she was sophisticated with a touch of innocence that you only saw when she looked up at you. I could’ve lied, but I didn’t.

Instead, I told them the truth. Her name was Bertha Sperts. She was nearly six-five, but not like a model, more like a basketball player with the nickname “stretch”. She towered over me so much that I could easily see the blankets of fur that lined her nostrils as we danced that night. She had hands the size of baseball mitts that gripped my neck as we swayed from side to side, stamping my skin with bruises, and huge feet that crushed my toes with each step she took.

She was built like a linebacker and ate like one too, ordering nearly everything off the menu. Then, when she had inhaled her feast, she reached across the table with her knife and fork and went to town on my pork tenderloin. She smiled sweetly as she did it, and I stared in disgust at the scrap of meat that was trapped between her teeth. Her voice was harsh as she asked to be excused and dashed off to the ladies room. I was tempted to make for the exit, but noticed a redhead in the corner. I had no chance, but it was nice to fantasize and I was definitely willing to embarrass myself. I was used to it. I glanced at the ladies bathroom and wondered how many bones Bertha would break if she found me talking to someone else. I liked my legs intact but the redhead was really hot! I couldn’t decide what to do and before I could make a play for the redhead, Bertha returned complaining of the long line in the ladies room.

I could see that she had tried to reapply her makeup, but it seemed as if she had done it in the dark. Her skin reminded me of the worn cream leather sofa I had freshmen year at Columbia. She had scattered some blush along her cheeks and plastered lipstick on her lips and teeth. A glob of what I hoped was mascara, gathered in the corner of her eye and worse of all; my pork tenderloin was still trapped in her fangs!

She was giggling at one of my sarcastic remarks, when she accidentally burped. She tried to pretend she had hiccupped, threatening to hold her breath and God forgive me, I wished she would, just long enough for her to pass out and give me time to run. She rambled on about her job and I scanned the restaurant, contemplating my escape. I thought of faking a seizure, but couldn’t bring myself to cause the scene. I weighed quietly sobbing and telling her I had asked her on the date because I was afraid to be who I was, a gay male; but my heterosexual male loafers gave me away. I considered just pointing at something with a low “oh” and running when she turned to look; but one glance at her convinced me that she could outrun me, and maybe do some serious damage if she wanted to.
No. None of those things would work and so I sat there as she whispered about a near lesbian encounter she’d had in college and winked. I wished she would’ve just converted, but no such luck. I tolerated the huge hooves that tried to slip under my pant leg, the low hissing and the damn pork tenderloin in her teeth! I put up with it all, because through it all, I had learned a very valuable lesson. Never again would I give into the pressures of Match.com.