I read "Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit" , the Nahoko Uehashi novel on which the Seirei no Moribito anime is based, quite a while back, but didn't have time to blog about it until now.

Anyway, it's interesting to see how different Yuko Shimizu's book illustrations were from the anime's character designs.The anime designers seemed to have added ( Read more... )

A list of middle grade/young adult  SFF novels with characters of color in the lead role:  Stacy Whitman's Book lists: Multicultural SF/F for MG and YA  (Seirei no Moribito and its sequel get a mention :-)

Another good POC YA novel listing by Doret:  CORA Diversity Roll Call

A growing listing of professional-level fantansy/sci-fi illustrations ( Read more... )

Female Imams Blaze Trail Amid China's Muslims (NPR, July 21, 2010) :

Excerpts:

China has an estimated 21 million Muslims, who have developed their own set of Islamic practices with Chinese characteristics. The biggest difference is the development of independent women's mosques with female imams, something scholars who have researched the issue ( Read more... )

Somaly Mam, one of 2009 TIME 100 heroes and icons, is an anti-human-trafficking activist and  a founder of  AFESIP.   Herself a survivor of  forced prostitution,  Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery at age 12. She endured unspeakable torture for years, eventually escaping after witnessing the murder of her friend at the hands of a pimp.

( Read more... )

For those on the f-list interested in the history of warrior women, here's an interesting historical character from Hausaland (in modern day northern Nigeria):

Amina of Zazzau (Zaria) was a reigning queen who studied the arts of war since her youth. She led military campaigns to extend her territory.  There's  some dispute as to the time period of ( Read more... )

Peace worker Zawadi Nikuze has been giving talks in various US cities recently.  Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts prevented me from attending her presentation when she was visiting my locale.  All the same, I'd like to get the word out about this remarkable woman:

Zawadi Nikuze, 33,  is the coordinator of the African Great Lakes Initiative’s ( Read more... )

Dear readers,

I'll be open for commissions for the next 3 weeks, but instead of taking payment for my work, I ask that the money be directed to SWAN. SWAN (Service Women's Action Network) is a non-partisan, non-profit human rights organization that works to improve the welfare of U.S. servicewomen and all women veterans.

( Here's how it works )

http://www.makelillyright.com

From the site:

Lilly Ledbetter is the namesake of a new federal law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which gives workers who are discriminated against a fair chance to sue their employers. Ledbetter worked the graveyard shift as a supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Alabama for nearly two decades ( Read more... )

Note:  I wrote this fic last year.  So it's obviously not meant to be a commentary on anything that's in the news right now ;-)  Anyway, this isn't quite meant to be a regular story. It's more like my notes on Ukyo's backstory for AoaA:
( An Act of Charity )

I don't observe Valentine's Day - it has no cultural or religious significance for me. ( But I have nothing against other people celebrating it... )