Today is International Women’s Day! I was inspired to create a video; you can check it out here.

This year’s theme is Press For Progress (#PressForProgress), which is to continue to progress gender parity.

I hope that all of us take a moment to reflect and recognize the contributions  that women have made to advance society throughout history, and to celebrate the wonderful women in our own lives. This, however, represents the “softer side” of the day.

Women- we’re just getting started…

Around the world, there are protests going on to raise awareness of the importance of women, their safety and their contribution to the global community at large.

“I am here to prove that if women stop, the world stops,” said Ines Arias, a university administrator, who joined hundreds of others to demonstrate in Madrid’s university district. “Because we do much more than working.”

Protests have been going on since midnight, and men are joining in to show their support.

Hundreds of students from the city’s universities soon joined the protest, shouting, “Don’t bring me flowers, bring me rights,” “No means no, the rest is rape” and “Madrid will be sexism’s grave.”

In fact, men are encouraged to partake:

 Margrethe Vestager, the European competition commissioner, said on Twitter: “There is a lot to fight for: Engage! Women and men alike. We need power to make equality a reality.”

Some women, fueled by impatience over the long-running fight for equality and the sense that the glacial pace of change would just not do, found large and small ways to protest — with pots and pans, raised fists and howls of rage.

I feel both proud of the people protesting and sheltered, as I enjoy rights that women in other nations are fighting for right now.

Instances of inequality exist in my community/culture (income inequality, division of domestic responsibilities, gender inequality in business), but today I am acutely aware that my experiences are privileged because of the many wonderful women (and men) who fought; challenged the status quo of their time and said, “No more!”

I am the beneficiary of their hardship.

I am aware, and I stand with the women in other communities and nations who do not (yet) enjoy the same freedoms that I know so well.

Wherever you are, please take time to consider your own situation, and how you can continue to #PressForProgress.

As a Canadian, I am thrilled that Viola Desmond is being honoured by being featured on the new Canadian $10 bill! She is the first black person AND the first non-royal woman to be featured on our currency. Often called Canada’s Rosa Parks (as she refused to move from the “whites only” section of a movie theatre in Nova Scotia in 1946, and was subsequently arrested and jailed for her defiance), today, we are reminded that we are so lucky to have her as a part of our national history. Thank you, Viola Desmond!

Give your life the green light. It’s A Go!

Amber Green