Valentine's Gift Guide

Valentine's Day is just around the corner (1 week & 1 day away)!  Here are some pretty Valentine's gift ideas for you.


1. Miss Bennet & Mr. Darcy print by Hello Grey Day (our fav designer) || 2. TOMS new Ballet Flats for women & Let Love Rule style for men || 3. Zimbag to put it all in or for a fun picnic* || 4. BeadForLife Zola bracelet || 5. Theo limited edition Valentine's chocolate bars (fair trade & organic!)

Do something good for you and the ones you love on Valentine's Day!


*Pssst.... our Zimbags sale goes through Valentine's Day.

Change is coming!

"Teachers are on strike again because of low salaries and we need to work for our children, but it's difficult when there are no jobs here." 

This is a note from one of our Zimbags women, Siphiwe.  Things in Zimbabwe are difficult, but the women are working hard to make a difference in the lives of their families. 

Make sure to scoot on over to our shop or Etsy and get your Zimbags products today and make a difference in the lives of women and children.  The sale goes through February 14th and many of the items on sale won't be coming back, so get yours while you can!

There are some exciting changes in our future and we can't wait to share them with you, but while you wait to see what's coming help us make room for the change!

Human Rights Watch: Zimbabwe 2011

The Human Rights Watch released their World Report 2012, which summarizes the events of 2011.  Below are some of the categories they write about and the atrocities taking place.  For a complete view of 2011, read the entire report here.

Politics

• After a period of relative calm, 2011 saw an increase in politically motivated violence across the country.

• Police and prosecutors have been highly partisan and biased in their investigations and prosecution of acts of violence between supporters of the two parties. Groups allied to ZANU-PF continue to beat and intimidate citizens in the high-density suburbs of Harare with impunity, while MDC activists accused of violence are disproportionately arrested.

Human Rights Activists & Freedom of Expression

• The Zimbabwean authorities continue to use repression and intimidation to silence human rights advocates and to prevent them from exposing abuses and promoting respect for human rights.

• On September 21, police arrested 12 activists from the organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) during a peaceful march commemorating the international day of peace. Ten of the activists were released without charge but two leaders of the organization, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, spent 13 days in custody.

• There continue to be serious limits on the rights to freedom of expression and information in Zimbabwe, particularly in the form of threats of closure of independent media organizations, as well as the intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and criminal prosecution of journalists. The government’s actions seem primarily designed to inhibit criticism of government officials and institutions, and to muzzle reporting and commentary on the political situation in the country.

Diamonds

• While violence has decreased in the Marange diamond fields over the past year, Human Rights Watch research in June found that Zimbabwe police and private security guards employed by mining companies in the Marange diamond fields were implicated in abuses against local unlicensed miners. Private security guards working with the police routinely beat and set dogs to attack and maul local miners who stray into areas of the fields controlled by the companies. During patrols, police also fired live ammunition at miners as they fled the fields.

Interaction with the World

• The United Nations Human Rights Council’s first Universal Periodic Review of Zimbabwe took place in October 2011. Zimbabwe rebuffed at the outset all recommendations pertaining to investigating allegations of violations, combating impunity, and bolstering protection in the Marange region, and related to freedoms of assembly and expression, including repealing or amending the POSA.

• Due to the absence of meaningful human rights improvements, the European Union and United States have maintained targeted sanctions on Mugabe and others within his government.

As elections still loom in 2012, political violence is sure to rise, human rights activists and journalists will most likely face more oppression, and Zimbabweans will bear the brunt of the uncertainty.  It’s important to let the government in Zimbabwe know the world is watching and we want to see their incredible potential work for positive change. 

Happy Friday & Soap to Love!

Happy Friday everyone!

Here is something we think everyone will love almost as much as weekends: Hand in Hand Soap!

Not only do they donate a bar of soap to help save lives, the soap is Fair Trade, 100% biodegradable, eco-friendly, and ethically conscious.  On top of all of that, for every bar of soap purchased they will save 50 square feet of rainforest in Southeast Asia!

Look how much good one little bar of soap can do! 

Annnnd... it smells soooo good!  Get your soap today and do a world of good.

Have a happy weekend!

The Geography of Women's Economic Opportunity

The treatment of women reflects a society’s commitment to equality and social justice. But it also reflects its ability to harness human capital, advance to innovative frontiers and generate higher levels of economic prosperity for all members.

This eye-opening article explores the Geography of Women’s Economic Opportunity. 

Most Zimbabweans have few economic opportunities, but women face more barriers than men.  And they are often the ones left to provide for children, parents, and other relatives. 

This map shows how countries rank in Gender Equity: 

 

Do you see Zimbabwe?  It’s there, in the gold color, inside the black circle.  Zimbabwe scores very low in education, economic participation, and empowerment of women.  On all of the maps in this study, one thing is clear: "ocieties which emphasize tolerance, individual autonomy and self-expression over hierarchical, authoritarian values also have higher levels of economic development." For countries to prosper, they must encourage the participation of women in the business environment.  We believe that women are the key to economic and societal success.  The women of Zimbags are proving that one bag at a time.