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The following two email reports are provided by Lyn Lane and Betty McLellan. Lyn has been Australian representative on the World March of Women International Liaison Committee and Betty, along with Coralie Maclean, carried the banner "Australian Women Fighting Poverty" on behalf of other Australian women at marches in Italy and the final rallies in the United States.

The four Australian WILPF women participating in the final WMW200 rally in New York proudly display our banner made. From left: Lyn Lane (Canberra), Coralie McLean (Townsville), Betty McLellan (Townsville) and Margaret Bearlin (Canberra). After many marches, safety pins held most of the banner's "prancing women" in place.

To all in Australia...

Today was the culmination of 4 amazing days. This report will be brief as this email service is a challenge to say the least. 20, 000 marched in Washington 30,000 in New York, 90 countries represented The meetings at both the World Bank and the IMF went overtime. Everyone very courteous, but outcome predictable. i.e. "lobby your countries". UN meeting much the same - but the presentations by the women clearly lifted the tenor. Kofi Annan in Egypt, so we were welcomed by his deputy. At today's meeting we looked at the way ahead. There is a clear wish that the networks mobilised around the March continue - resources permitting. I will write more from home - middle of next week. Warm regards Lyn

18 October 2000

Dear World Marchers, What an absolutely wonderful time we've had! First, in Washington DC on a beautiful sunny day (15 Oct.), we joined 20,000 women (some even estimated 25,000) marching and chanting, marching and chanting till we thought we'd drop with exhaustion. But the air of determination and the solidarity of purpose was totally exhilarating. Then, in New York yesterday (17 Oct.), the scene was breathtaking. We were 60,000 women - of all ages and from all corners of the globe. What a spectacle of colour and beauty and solidarity and strength!

After a 2 and a half hour rally led by U.S. radical feminist Robin Morgan speaking in English and a powerful French Canadian woman speaking in French and in Spanish, we marched off from the Square in front of the United Nations building, down 2nd Avenue from 47th Street to 14th Street (about 2 miles) to Union Square. As we marched, there were women as far as the eye could see. Lots of chanting, lots of noise, drumming, whistles, etc. The most popular chant, the one we repeated over and over was "so-so-so-solidarity". After a 2 hour march, there were more speeches and entertainment in Union Square. The whole event went from 11 am till 6 pm. Our Australian banner drew lots of attention and positive comments and the four of us (Margaret Bearlin, Lyn Lane, Coralie and I) were made to feel very welcome indeed. Lyn has been kept very busy as our official delegate and will be reporting to the list on her experiences at the UN meetings. We have all felt very fortunate to be part of such a powerful, worldwide push for women's rights!

All the best... Betty

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