Billion rising: Women use social media to rise & be counted

Updated: Friday, February 15, 2013, 13:05 [IST]

New Delhi, Feb 15: 'I am rising' was the refrain all over the universe yesterday and today as women galvanized by the social media and other campaigns laid a foundation for women's rights and end of violence against women.

As one women from Kenya wrote on the Twitter 'we made a difference today'. The confidence of this women was seen in India yesterday and the West last night.

The global campaign of one billion rising was initiated by playwright Eve Ensler and the social media took it across the world, and ensured a participation not seen in the human history.

The twitter tag #onebillionrising has got messages in all most all languages. It was celebrated with plays, dances and flashmobs with balloons being released in London and dancing from Bangladesh to Switzerland. Even the Taliban stronghold areas of Afghanistan saw women comeout to demonstrate. In Baharain it has given voice to women to rise against the government oppression.

"By being a part of One Billion Rising we will all discover our solidarity and the scope of this issue," the organisers wrote on their website onebillionrising.org. "We will come to know that ending violence against women is as important as ending poverty, Aids or global warming." And the social media has united the women of the world, without even meeting each other.

Some of the tweets on #OneBillionRising:

Princess Kenya ‏@KenyaGee_: We made a difference today.

Gab b lop ‏@gabb1lop: #OneBillionRising being emotional, being strong...dancing, One Billion Rising is a Revolution.

Chitrangada Singh ♥ ‏@chitrangadasing: #OneBillionRising - zero tolerance to all forms of violence against women! One billion rising voices demanding change. Respect.

Fatima Tapal ‏@theunrealfatima: The world rose to demand freedom yesterday #OneBillionRising #EndViolenceAgainstWomen while #Pakistan was too busy spreading hate #HayaDay.

pearlyt ‏@pearlyt_: To women everywhere, don't lie to yourself if it hurts.

Anjelika ‏@a_pizzuto: I feel like I did a really good thing this morning with being apart of the #onebillionrising flash mob!!.

Kelly :3 ‏@KKozik: Time to stand ladies! Sexual & physical violence against women is wrong. Never give away ur power.

Nada Alwadi ‏@Bentalwadi: I'm rising to end state violence against women in#Bahrain.

Sydney Bicknell ‏@SydneySteinem: Today I rise to end violence, rape culture, and slut shaming. We're not asking for it.

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Women take part during a programme ‘One Billion Rising' campaign

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Social activist Shabana Azmi takes part in a global protest

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People dance at Carter Road, Bandra in Mumbai

People dance at Carter Road, Bandra in Mumbai on Thursday as part of One Billion Rising Movement, dedicated to the cause of violence against women to raise awareness for the cause.

People take part in a global protests 'One Billion Rising' campaign

People take part in a global protests 'One Billion Rising' campaign to end violence against women in Kolkata on Thursday.

Women take part during a programme ‘One Billion Rising' campaign

Women take part during a programme ‘One Billion Rising' campaign to stop violence against women at Parliament Street in New Delhi on Thursday.

Social activist Shabana Azmi take part in a global protests

Veteran Bollywood actress and social activist Shabana Azmi take part in a global protests 'One Billion Rising' campaign to end violence against women on Valentine's day, in Bhopal on Thursday.