"Beware the organization that sings; it is invincible" - IWW

Independent bookstores all across Canada are in BAD shape. The Toronto Women's Bookstore is no exception. Coles/Indigo/Chapters has a stranglehold on the "what we read" market.

Controlling what we read is part of limiting our thought processes, and actions for fundamental change. I'm a perfect (not so perfect) example. I think of myself and my own generation raised in a culture of "Leave It To Beaver" (with Ward Cleaver as the natural leader of the family-how pathetic).  Thank God for the feminist movement that overcame incredible difficulties and fought to bring enlightenment to us.

Aside from a few courageous women at the beginning, there had to be support networks created to sustain and nurture the seeds of a powerful and necessary movement. The Toronto Women's Bookstore was part of such a network that provided not only a source of information and rich discourse not available anywhere else, but also a rallying point for feminist action.

Lest anyone believe the struggle is in the past, just look at the daily papers full of examples of domestic violence directed against women; or the still huge gender imbalance in wages and opportunities.

As someone who has spent a lifetime dreaming of social change, I know that the feminist movement has been a powerful engine for fundamental change. I and thousands like me who never even knew of the existence of the Toronto Women's Bookstore owe it a huge debt. The fight for a deeper, more powerful feminist perspective is needed now more than ever. That is why my guitar and I will be attending a benefit on International Women's Day, Monday March 8, at the Tranzac Club in Toronto to raise money to keep the Toronto Women's Bookstore in business-thank you singer/songwriter, Sara Marlowe for organizing this.

I hope you will join us.