United States former first lady, Hilary Clinton, through her courage and fortitude, has pioneered the way for women to enter the higher echelons of the political ladder in the United States. The battle for Vice-president could well be fought in the female arena.
The female hand that rocks the cradle rocks the nation ’may be once again proven to be true, in the political arena of the 21st Century, as more and more women mobilize behind female candidates in the USA presidential election.
Political writer, Douglas Drenkow is of the view that for either Obama or McCain to secure their polls, they should consider selecting a female candidate for the vice-presidential post.
On the other side of the planet, in the South Pacific region, 21st Century trends has not brought about a great deal of change to the “Happiest Country on Earth”. The small tropical island paradise of Vanuatu is a heavily dominated male society, where it is a rarity for a woman to achieve a high ranking chiefly, or political status.
Traditional communities of the Shepherds, a small group of islands in Vanuatu archipelago of 83 islands, are the only islands to customarily acknowledge the female acquisition of chiefly status. This is claimed through the matrilineal lineage system, either by birth, or matrimonial rights.
Therefore, it was an unprecedented move, when the National Council of Chiefs acknowledged the late Grace Molisa, from the island of Ambae, as a personage of high status, both in the cultural and political arenas.
Jenny Ligo, the niece of Grace Molisa, has become only the second woman from Ambae to have a high status bestowed upon her. The Chairman of the Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs, Chief Paul Tahi announced Jenny to be one of the leaders of the nation.
Jenny, previously the CEO for the Vanuatu National Council of Women, acquired the status after performing a high-ranking, pig-clubbing ceremony to commemorate her marriage to husband Joe Ligo, last year. Jenny had to club eleven pigs to their death.
A mirror image to the Hilary Clinton legacy, Ms Ligo does not only have the Chiefs to back her, but has gained the support of the women of Ambae and other islands in her stand for election in the upcoming general election of Vanuatu. This came only after Jenny ceremoniously clubbed another eleven pigs to their death, in order to have the right to enter the arena of politics.
In 2006 Vanuatu was voted the “Happiest Country on Earth’. With their deep cultural and traditional societies, Vanuatu people rely on the three basic elements for healthy living. Romance, Adventure and the Security of Freedom of Choice.
In this ‘must see’ adventure travel paradise, of Vanuatu, the first two elements are easily achieved, yet the latter poses an uncertainty in the lives of today’s younger female population.
Education is not free in Vanuatu and the lack of government recognition by way of social welfare programs, means that what little money is earned is used to educate the boys.
Women on the other hand must find a way to make a living. The vast majority are left with no qualifications, apart from the traditional norms and values of village life.
Where many of the islanders live on under $1 per day, young girls miss out on the opportunity to become educated.
Influenced by peer pressures and the latest trends of the 21st Century, a young girl of 16 years found herself in a life scarring situation, when she was attacked by two youths on her way home from work.
Under age employment is illegal under the Labor Laws of Vanuatu, but with the lack of education, most rural families are ignorant of the legal ramifications.
There is mounting unrest amongst the younger generation demanding the right to an education and become qualified leaders for their Lesser Developed Country. Vanuatu has one of the fastest growing birth rates in the South Pacific.
The government admitted late 2007, that it does not have the finances to provide free education for the country. The statistics of 1999 have changed little.
The awful consequences of this are:
· only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade 6
· of those only 18.2% will go to high school
· 26% will never go to school at all.
YouMe Support Foundation is one of the few charities raising funds for these educationally challenged youths. Their Child Trust Fund provides non-repayable high school education grants to the children of the Outer Islands. Children who will never have the opportunity to see the inside of a high school classroom.
You can find out more about these beautiful people and this fascinating Happiest Country on Earth at http://winaresort.com. You too can make a difference in their lives, through a Blue Moon Opportunity.
Through a combined effort, young girls may subtly begin to rise, as they seek to find their rightful educated place in their emerging world.
