No need to wait for your birthday or even resort having to lie to the waiter, telling him that today is your big day in the hopes that he will bring an extra dessert…  Today I will give you an excellent reason to celebrate and do so all month long!

March 8th is International Women’s Day. We have to thank Clara Zeltkin for initiating this movement that started in 1911. Fithing for Women’s rights, she single handedly started the IWD movement, asking men to stay home with the children while women were going to their first Women’s Day meetings.

So check out the IWD website now for all the events that are happening in your neighborhood… there are plethora of fun events all week.

In Lesotho if that is where you are today:

Date & time:    08 March 2010 7.30 to 12.00
Event:    ”2010 DECADE OF THE FEMPRENEUR”
About:    A morning meeting for women in business with key presenters and group discussions.
Venue:    Maseru Sun Cabanas Hotel, Maseru, Lesotho
Organisation:    Women Unlimited (Pty) Ltd: Research into the status of women, consultancy, training, events, information dissemination

or in New York at Madame X if that’s where you feel like going tonight:

Help celebrate International Women’s Day with the I Can Still Do That Foundation!
The event is part of the “Women Mentor Women” program of the foundation which attempts to match younger women with seasoned female entrepreneurs and professionals. Headlining the show will be Ana Maria Jomoica, a Cuban-American writer, director and actress, who will read her story “Twin Bed” from SISTERS: an Anthology.  There will be a special performance by Joanna Amelia Kalloo, who will sing “Never Felt This Way” by Alicia Keys.

Every year on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements.
Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women’s Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

By the way, did you know that IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

Of course in the US, we tend to inflate things a bit… …  This year, the United States designates the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.

March & Celebrate is my new motto!