Womenomics

I have long held the view that women are essential to our economy, and to the global economy. It appalls and amazes me that this is not recognised. Two dissapointing stories in the media recently:

Here in NZ the mercislessley efficient drive to reduce the cost of birth - our children are our future economic prosperity and will support our aging population. Women (mothers) are also of value in two ways; firstly we train and educate the next generation of producers and in our homes generally do the work of several professionals - chauffeur, educators, cook, cleaner, child care expert - the list goes on.

Read more in Marilyn Warings "Counting for Nothing."

In the Congo where the recent wars have killed more people than any war since World War II. Members of renegade units are gang raping thousands of women, and making sex slaves of others, branding, maiming and mutilating victims. A United Nations peacekeeping force deployed in Eastern Congo was supposed to have protected the regions civilians; the failure of the force to protect women has been in part because of a veil of silence that surrounds what is occurring. Women have no say in the decision making that drives the conflict and have no access to political and economic power in a society that considers them of scant value.