Female Heads of State: Who Are They, Where Are They?
Posted on July 5, 2008
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We almost did it! France tried and failed. India did it years ago, as did Israel, Great Britain and the Philippines. So did Germany, Chile and Liberia. Even Pakistan. There are 42 countries that have had at least one woman as president or prime minister over the last half century. Here is the current rundown.
Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor – Germany, 2005-present
Merkel is the first female Chancellor of Germany. Merkel, considered by Forbes Magazine to be the most powerful woman in the world in 2007, became the second woman to chair the G8 after Margaret Thatcher.
Mary McAleese, President – Ireland, 1997-present
Mary McAleese is the eighth, and current President of Ireland. She is Ireland’s second female president and the world’s first woman to succeed another woman as an elected head of state. She was first elected president in 1997 and was re-elected, without contest, to another seven-year term in 2004.
Tarja Halonen, President – Finland, 2000-present
The first woman to hold her country’s top position, Halonen was re-elected for a second six-year term in January 2006.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Executive President – Liberia, 2006-present
The first African democratically elected female head of state. Sirleaf is a 67-year-old Harvard-educated economist and a seasoned politician. She is often referred to as the “Iron Lady“.
Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Executive President – Chile, 2006-present
In 2005, Bachelet ran for president as a member of the Socialist Party, promoting women’s rights, aid to the poor, and pension-system reforms. In 2006 Bachelet won the runoff election, becoming the first woman president of Chile and the first popularly elected South American woman president.
Pratibha Patil, President – India, 2007-present
She won the presidential election held on July 19, 2007 defeating her nearest rival Bhairon Singh Shekhawat by over 300,000 votes.
Cristina E. Fernández de Kirchner, Executive President – Argentina, 2007-present
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was elected president of Argentina in 2007. Her candidacy was boosted by the fact that her husband, Néstor Kirchner, was at the time Argentina’s sitting president.
Néstor Kirchner chose not to run for reelection in 2007, and his wife replaced him as the candidate of the Justicialist party. She won with 45% of the vote in general elections of October 2007, and took office in December of that year.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Executive President – The Philippines, 2001- present
She was elected Vice President of the Philippines in 1998 with almost 13 million votes, the largest mandate in the history of presidential or vice presidential elections. She was sworn in as the 14th President of the Philippines on 20 January 2001.
Welcome Home Ingrid!
Posted on July 4, 2008
Filed Under International, Politics, Women | Comments Off on Welcome Home Ingrid!
Posted by Nyna
We are so happy here in Paris to witness the return of Ingrid Betancourt, the Franco-Colombian politician, wife, and mother who had been held hostage by the FARC rebels for nearly seven years. I had just been standing in front of her photo hanging in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris the night before she was released, hoping and praying for her safety. The next day we learned that she was free.
You haven’t heard anything from me lately because I’ve been busy with my new book, which should be out in time for Pride next year. There were over 700,000 people in the Bastille for Pride in Paris this year, and we were certainly over a million in the streets of the Marais afterwards.
Paris is literally bursting with pride right now, and I am grateful to be here to witness it.
Oh, and Happy Independence over there!
Nyna is a screenwriter and film director. She lives in Paris and New York City.
Finding The Perfect Sex Toy Gift
Posted on July 3, 2008
Filed Under Gadgets, Gay/Lesbian, Novelty, Sex, Shopping, Women | Comments Off on Finding The Perfect Sex Toy Gift
Looking for a romantic gift kit or a sexy surprise for your partner? Sex toys and places to buy poppers near me US make great gifts at any time of year: anniversaries, birthdays, and even weddings. There is always an occasion to give the gift of pleasure.
The ladies over at Sex Toys at Babeland, have some great suggestions for that special naughty surprise.
Vibrators: For a first toy, they generally recommend something simple and inexpensive with variable speeds. Try a best-seller like the Babeland Bullet, the Orchid G, or the Blueberry Buzz.
A Tasty Treat: The Babeland Body Kit and Chocolate Body Sauce make you or your lover into a yummy dessert. The dulce de leche flavored Babeland Lickable Oil is absolutely delicious!
Sensual Massage: There are lots of options for massage oils these days—traditional massage oil, spray oil, and soy massage candles. The soy massage candles are made of skin-safe soy wax. Simply light the candle and let the wax liquify, then drizzle the warm oil on your partner’s body for a warming massage.
A Luxurious Sex Toy: When you want to give the very best, the Elastomer Rabbit Habit makes a classic and romantic gift for her. The firm curve of the stainless steel Pure Wand (formerly Jupiter Wand) is a dream come true for G-spot and the SaSi programmable vibrator makes tech geeks swoon.
Something not too intimidating: A Babeland Gift Card is a perfect choice if you want to give a fun gift, but you’re not exactly sure what to buy.
ENJOY!
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