The rise and fall

As women become greater they at times are faced with those that wish to bring them down. The oppression of women has taken place for centuries and I believe that 2010 is a time where women everywhere will speak up, will listen to the voice within and find the strength to re write history.

There are many issues that need our most urgent attention with global warming coming to its full force as we see changes in climate all around us. Global poverty and hunger affecting thousands and the financial crisis still affecting many today. There is another little issue that many of us dance around because of the icky feeling that it gives us....violence against women.

In one of her first interviews since her highly publicized domestic dispute Rihanna told Glamour magazine she is now stronger, wiser and most of all, fearless. Rihanna's hope is to be a voice for those women who can't be heard. "Domestic violence is a big secret. No kid goes around and lets people know their parents fight. Teenage girls can't tell their parents that their boyfriend beat them up. You don't dare let your neighbor know that you fight. It's one of the things we [women] will hide, because it's embarrassing, says Rihanna.

The deeper we dig the more we will find that there are great women everywhere who on the path to creating a privileged life had some challenges and failures along the way. Oprah Winfrey had experienced considerable hardship and sexual abuse during her childhood and is now one of the most influential women in the world. Hillary Swank one of our great actresses who was just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream. And the list of inspirational women who we admire today including Madonna, Halle Berry and our very own Aussie girl Brooke Satchwell have been the victims of abuse.

Let this be a lesson for all of us great women to realise that sometimes the people we trusted will try to bring us down. Use that energy to make you stronger and more determined to go for your dreams. I remember a friend once told me "The best revenge is having a great life"....



"I still find it impossible to wrap my head around the fact that by just being born a woman you are at risk of the most appalling and probably most widespread human rights violation of our time" Nicole Kidman