A PAUSE!
We are pausing for a moment to prepare our next post, which will BEGIN the conclusion of our two-armed series on Ecofeminism.
I write '“begin” because it appears that it may take more than one post to adequately cover our concluding topic, which is:
Images of the Divine, including how these images impact Women and the Earth under patriarchy.
Following is a brief recap of our coverage of Ecofeminism from January 20, 2025 to the present:
NOTE: TO SEE ANY OF THE POSTS BELOW—OR ALL OF OUR POSTS—PLEASE CLICK ON “BLOG” ON OUR WEBSITE AT: www.cwed.org
First: a definition of Ecofeminism
Ecofeminism is a theory and a movement that puts together the ecological/environmentalist movement and the women’s feminist movement. Ecofeminism understands that the two movements are wholeheartedly connected.
The ecofeminist perspective, at its heart, means understanding that environmental issues have been impacted by the patriarchal order in the same way that women’s issues have been impacted by the patriarchal order.
We initiated our study on Ecofeminism with one of its arms, a segment on feminism—women’s herstory and a general overview of patriarchy and the law of coverture.
— We began with our post on patriarchy: AS THE PAGE TURNS,February 6, 2025: .
For the entire 15 posts in the segment on women and feminism, we examined women’s travels and travails through time, from patriarchal oppression to some forms of freedom—freedom found in the right to vote, the right to meaningful work, the right to be true to themselves, to name a few.
We concluded the feminist segment with the post: Girl Power: Together in Fourth Wave Feminism, May 21, 2025.
—We moved on to the second arm of our study on Ecofeminism with posts on environmentalism and the Earth.
We began with the post: Ecofeminism: First Stop! What Really is the Earth?, May 29, 2025.
Within the 10-post segment on the Earth, we saw that patriarchy affects both Women and the Earth because it views both as objects—as things—to be possessed, to be used and abused at the will of the so-called “owner”.
We concluded the general topic on the Earth by tracing back through the ages with the post: Caution for Earth: An Epic Journey Through the Ages, July 10, 2025.
Our last few posts on the Earth segment have focused more specifically on individuals, featuring seven recent environmentalists.
Eleanor Rae, PhD: Founder and co-president of the Center for Women, the Earth, the Divine (C:WED) in post: Bloom where you are planted!, July 18, 2025.
Rachel Chang
Natalie Forlenza
First year college students; former leaders of their high school World Youth Alliance Club in post: Youth for Nature, July 24, 2025
Mary Evelyn Tucker, PhD and John Grim, PhD: Co-founders and co-directors of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecologyin post: Where Have We Come From; Where Are We Going?,August 8, 2025
Mary Robinson: Former President of Ireland who served from 1990 to1997 in post: First Female President of Ireland and Climate Activist, August 15, 2025
Bella Abzug (1920-1998):Former U.S. Representative who served from 1971 to 1977 in post: Bella, August 23, 2025.
So, for our concluding post, we will bring together the two arms of Ecofeminism: Feminism (Women’s Issues) and Environmentalism (Earth Issues), as they both exist—and have existed—under patriarchy .
That conclusion of our series will treat what is likely THE KEY FACTOR in the way both Women and the Earth are—and have been—treated.
That key is the IMAGE OF THE DIVINE held by past and present civilizations, and the part that image has played—and still does—in the patriarchal oppression of Women and the Earth.
And we will ask where, perhaps, might a rescue be lingering, one that could move women and the Earth out from under patriarchy. There is so much more work to be done—work that still calls to us.
This call is ever so much louder now in our present times when we are seeing serious attempts—and actual actions—of diminishing or eliminating our freedoms, our rights, and our employment.
A chilling example:
“Pete Hegseth, [the U.S.President]’s chosen Secretary of Defense, recently reposted a video in which evangelical pastors called for repealing women’s right to vote—echoing the rhetoric of early 20th-century patriarchs. He captioned it: ‘All of Christ for All of Life.’ Let that sink in.”
—Ms. Magazine online email 8/25/25
As we close out our series with the examination of Images of the Divine, we will explore how these images have a significant impact on how we live, move, think, and desire: the way we act and react in relationships with women, men, and children; and with the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and all the living things of the Earth.
Imaging really does matter: it makes all the difference!
Focus on the new C:WED Section!
WOMEN SPEAK OUT.
BELIEVE THE WOMEN.
Backstory:
“Missing from governmental discussions of the Epstein/Maxwell story have been the voices of survivors.
We had planned to include, at the end of the post, one woman’s story, accessible only through a link or URL within the post.
HOWEVER, TODAY WE MUST PAUSE AT THIS POINT,
BECAUSE:
THIS WEEK A POWERFUL EVENT HAPPENED.
Many of the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual assault, rape, and trafficking, spoke out on Wednesday morning September 3rd, outside on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in an area known as the House Triangle.
It was a bipartisan-arranged gathering called the “Stand With Survivors” rally, and it was televised nationally in a press conference.
The survivors bravely told their stories during the rally, with one survivor speaking for the first time.
They demanded the release of all the Epstein materials and files, including those held by the FBI and U.S. attorneys' offices.
They were calling for congressional support for a proposed bill that would force a vote leading to the release of all the files—because therein exists the stark evidence of their victimization.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) organized the rally and are proposing the bill called the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” which would trigger a vote to force the release of all the files.
Epstein survivors stand with Reps. Khanna (center) and Massie (right) to push the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Report of the Event by Reuters:
WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein demanded on Wednesday that the U.S. Congress pass legislation forcing the release of all unclassified records related to the disgraced financier held by [the] administration.
The victims said they supported legislation in the House of Representatives called the Epstein Files Transparency Bill, [which is being co-sponsored by Rep Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky and Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California].
At least 218 House members' signatures would be needed to force the vote, so if all 212 House Democrats backed the measure, Massie would need to persuade five fellow Republicans to join him.
As of Wednesday he had the backing of three Representatives: Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene. —Reuters 9/3/25.
Update: On Saturday, September 6th, while currently retaining her backing for the bill, Nancy Mace reversed her position by publicly praising the President—perhaps because he has warned that signing the bill would be considered a “hostile act.’
On that same Wednesday, in the afternoon after the rally, Nicolle Wallace, television political commentator and anchor of the MSNBC news and politics program Deadline/White House, interviewed on her show Epstein survivor Jess Michaels who was victimized by him in 1991.
Jess Michaels was the first survivor C:WED featured in our new section: WOMEN SPEAK OUT. BELIEVE THE WOMEN.
Following is a segment of Nicolle’s interview.
Nicolle: What is the difference between telling your story because you need to and you’ve been asked to—and then sharing your story with everyone that was there today at the rally outside the Capitol?
Jess: “What was so different about today is that we were all together. A lot of us have told our stories in small groups. We have shared our stories individually in inverviews or in documentaries. But this was an incredible collective of survivor sisterhood that we haven’t seen before.
Nicolle: What is the best way to continue the momentum and the match that you all lit today?
Jess: The best way we can feel supported is by:
—taking us as the experts of what happened;
—listening to our stories and our own voices;
—inviting us to your platforms;
—being willing to hear us and being willing to share what we are talking about;
—centering survivors’ experiences over convicted pedophiles;
—and getting justice and accountability for what happened.
—And, considering how we’re going to make sure this never happens again.
Nicolle: What are your questions? If all the [Epstein] material were suddenly released, what would you pore through it wanting to know?
Jess: Why no one listened to Maria Farmer in 1996.
Why no one listened to any of the young girls—and their moms—that went to the police in 2006.
How that [Jeffrey Epstein] sweetheart deal was considered justice for those young girls.
How there can be hundreds of thousands of pieces of evidence that are now considered unworthy of investigation.
And, to be really clear about this: from what I have heard from many people, this is a nonpartisan issue.
This is people coming together recognizing that sex trafficking is not something that is acceptable.
It is a line drawn in the sand.
Those are the questions I want answered—for all of us. Not just for Epstein survivors—for all Americans.
“This is very much a human story of class struggle: between those who have—power, money, fame, and fortune—and those who don’t.”—Alex Wagner, MSNBC political analyst.
DO YOU WISH TO BE MORE PROACTIVE?
CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
Request that House members vote for the:
“Epstein Files Transparency Act”
Ask your House members to:
stand with the survivors who are seeking an investigation and full release of unredacted Epstein files.
Thank members who stand with the survivors!
HERE’S HOW:
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE:
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
CONTACTING U.S. SENATORS:
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
PAPER STILL WORKS:
Handwritten or typed letters mailed in the U.S. Post Office are still considered an effective way to communicate with your representatives, according to the U.S. Capitol - Visitor Center.
https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/CVC_CraftVideo_FollowAlong_Letters.pdf
The link above offers a guideline on how to format and compose a letter to your member of Congress.
C:WED WISH LIST:
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