On Friday the 14th, One billion people across the world rose up against gender inequality. Svanlaug Arnadottir took a look at what went on in Europe for Pandeia.
Vagina Monologues: London
To promote V-Day’s ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE campaign, a special one-off performance of the Vagina Monologues 
by its creator Eve Ensler took place last Friday. The play hailed by critics as “funny, poignant and a theatrical tour de force” has been running on and off for more than 16 years. Ensler’s work gives much thought to the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement buried in women’s experiences, through her interviews with over 200 women.
What is seen as her liberation of one word has become a movement of empowerment for women. V-Day’s campaign was a global call for women survivors of violence and their loved ones to gather safely in in places where they are entitled to justice. They create works of art that unshackle their stories and promote tolerance and diversity. V-Day in London was, as promised, a powerful experience.
Rise, Release and Dance in Reykjavík
Last year in Reykjavík over 2100 people came together in Harpa Music Hall in Reykjavik to rise up against violence against women, demanded justice and danced in unity for a better world. This year, the Icelandic Committee of UN Women raised the bar even further and gathered over 3000 people together to dance for justice. In cooperation with Lunch Beat Reykjavík and Sonar Music Festival the event took place in Harpa Music Hall at 12 pm – Dj Margeir made sure you could rise, release and dance with your heart and joy against violence against women.
Martial Arts in Oslo
In Oslo, Norway citizens gathered and rose together at the Norsk Taiji Senter for a session of Tai Chi and afterwards moved to the streets of Kvadraturen.
Today is V-day, and #1billionrising kicks off all over the world! Join us in Spikersuppa, Oslo, at 4pm. Get inspired http://t.co/9zLyxj1c
— Oda Gilleberg (@O_Gilleberg) February 14, 2013
Flash Mobs in Rome
Staggeringly, over 115 events were organised throughout Italy for ‘V-day – One Billion Rising’. In the capital alone there were seven events. Three of them were flashmobs organised on the notes of “Break the Chain,” Vday’s official anthem. They took place in San Lorenzo, Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps) and the Palace of Justice.
Another event involved a hula hoop jam on the Spanish Steps. According to the organisers, the hula hoop jam represented a celebration of the strength and radiance of women around the world. Finally, a Tango event brought together women to symbolise, according to the organisers, an “exchanging roles, in the continuous transformation of the embrace, to transform, invert, articulate and promote a deconstruction of stereotypes and fixed identities, against violence,” for justice, this year’s One Billion Rising main theme.