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Participants are discussing (US Embassy Photo)

view of the room (US Embassy Photo)

On Tuesday, August 7, 2012, the Embassy welcomed some of its Facebook "friends" to our Mbacké auditorium for a discussion of the global bestseller “Half the Sky,” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  Mr. Kristof and Ms. WuDunn are well-known American reporters who happen to be married to one another.  They have both worked for the New York Times, and won a Pulitzer prize for their coverage of China’s Tiananmen Square movement.

From the website http://www.halftheskymovement.org/:

“’Half the Sky’ is a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation:  the oppression of women and girls in the developing world.” Through stories of women and girls suffering inconceivable violence and injustice, “Kristof and WuDunn help us see that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. They make clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Throughout much of the world, the greatest unexploited economic resource is the female half of the population.  Deeply felt, pragmatic and inspirational, Half the Sky is essential reading for every global citizen.”

Discussion participants agreed that "Half the Sky" should be widely read not only raise awareness but also to spread the lesson that everyone, at any level, can play his or her part to improve the status of women, and of all human beings.  Each participant promised to share this book with their loved ones and some hope to hold future discussion sessions.  This amazing book shocks us, and then shows us that women's oppression is not inevitable – that we each have a duty to act.  It makes you want to help because after all, change is possible.

If you would like to read “Half the Sky,” you can visit the American Information Center at the U.S. Embassy.  For more information, including contact details and opening hours click on this link:  http://dakar.usembassy.gov/irc.html.

Finally, don’t miss finding out about the movement — inspired by Kristof and WuDunn’s work, also entitled “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.”  The movement is working to amplify the book’s impact, and galvanizing even more people to join the burgeoning movement for change.  Check it out at:  http://www.halftheskymovement.org/.