I believe that denying women birth control and access to abortion is violence against women, and that women should everywhere have sovereign authority to make all decisions which affect their reproductive capacity. I believe that denying access to abortion in the case of rape or incest is evil. I believe that the obsession with unattainable standards of beauty serves only to occupy women’s minds and time with useless activities, and this disempowers them.

Justice is freedom. Freedom to have choices in all aspects of life. Freedom to explore, dare, grow, and be creative. Freedom to learn. Freedom to be safe from violence in all its forms. Freedom to choose whom to love. Freedom to leave a marriage. Freedom to enter into a marriage and not be used as a form of currency. Freedom from human trafficking. Freedom to work and earn fair wages, with decent benefits and retirement.

And justice is having all these freedoms protected with laws that have real consequences and are enforced, so women and their freedoms are can be safe and unafraid as they go about their lives. Justice is removing the severe laws, traditions and punishments which unduly limit women’s activities. Justice is including, welcoming and honoring women as full stakeholders in solving the world’s critical problems. Justice is recognizing that women are needed in their wholeness, and letting that be so, if we hope to heal this planet we call home, this planet we call Mother Earth.