Subject: [fem-women2000 757] Women's Globalnet #182: Perdita Huston, feminist activist and writer die
From: iwtc <iwtc@iwtc.org>
Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 00:20:52 +0000
Seq: 757
IWTC WOMEN'S GLOBALNET #182 Initiatives and Activities of Women Worldwide By Anne S. Walker December 5, 2001 PERDITA HUSTON, FEMINIST ACTIVIST, WRITER, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATOR AND HUMANITARIAN DIES Perdita Huston (1936-2001), the journalist whose pioneering books on women in less developed societies have informed development policies since the 1960s, died December 4, 2001 at her Silver Springs home. The cause was ovarian cancer. Beginning with her involvement in the Algerian war for independence, Perdita reported on the social consequences of conflict and the emerging global trends of the post colonial period. Her early work interviewing rural women in less developed countries resulted in two books, "Message from the Village" (1977) and "Third World Women Speak Out" (1978) and led the way for scholars and development professionals to better understand the situation and potential of women and their families. Her articles and books are based on interviews with ordinary people and thus give voice to the views of those affected by the major social, political and environmental issues of our time. A native of Maine, USA, Perdita completed her university studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Internationales in Paris. In 1977 she joined the Peace Corps staff as Regional Director for North Africa, Near East, Asia and the Pacific. In 1981 she was appointed Scholar in Residence at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and was subsequently asked to initiate the Population and Sustainable Development program at the World Conservation Union in Gland, Switzerland. There too, she focused attention on women's roles and organized the first international women's meeting on environmental management. When Director of Public Affairs of the International Planned Parenthood Federation in London, Perdita wrote a history of the early pioneers of family planning in 12 countries entitled "Motherhood by Choice" (1991. The book was based on interviews with the activists themselves or their co-workers. Following the success of this book, Perdita spent 5 years traveling to 11 nations interviewing three generations of families for her latest book, "Families As We Are: Conversations from Around the World" (2001). Published in the spring of 2001, the book was launched in New York at a special celebration at the United Nations. In the midst of writing this book, Perdita returned to the Peace Corps as Country Director for its programs in Mali and then Bulgaria. Perdita was a loving and much-loved wife, mother and grandmother and leaves behind two daughters, one son, and four grandchildren. Our sympathy goes out to her family, who shared Perdita with all of us throughout her life. She will be sorely missed. The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNANCA) has created the "Perdita Huston Human Rights Fund" in support of human rights with special attention to women's human rights. Checks, made payable to UNANCA, can be sent to: UNANCA, 1808 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 101, Washington, DC 20009, USA. IWTC Women's GlobalNet is a production of: International Women's Tribune Centre 777 United Nations Plaza 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: (1-212) 687-8633 Fax: (1-212) 661-2704 Email: <iwtc@iwtc.org> Web: <http://www.iwtc.org> PLEASE NOTE: For back issues of IWTC Women's GlobalNet, go to our website at <www.iwtc.org> and click on either Women's GlobalNet under Resources, or What's New? You can subscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to: <iwtc-womensglobalnet-subscribe@igc.topica.com> You can unsubscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to: <iwtc-womensglobalnet-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com> WOMEN, INK. For quality, cutting-edge publications on women and development by, for and about women worldwide, see Women, Ink's 2001 catalogue at : <http://www.womenink.org>. Or contact Women, Ink. at 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: Yasna Uberoi (1-212) 687-8633 ext 212 or Mary Wong (1-212) 687-8633 ext 204. Fax: (1-212) 661-2704. E-mail: <wink@womenink.org> To subscribe to the Women, Ink. monthly bulletin "BookLink", which features new titles added to the Women, Ink. collection, write to: <wink@womenink.org> WOMEN, INK. IS A SERVICE OF IWTC ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: fem-women2000@jca.apc.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?aVxinV.aVF16V Or send an email to: iwtc-womensglobalnet-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ _________________________________________________________________________ fem-Women2000@jca.apc.org for Women 2000, UN Special Session on Beijing+5 Searcheable Archive http://www.jca.apc.org/fem/news/women2000/index.shtml visit fem-net HomePage for other mailing lists http://www.jca.apc.org/fem