We are hearing a lot about how 2016 was a “bad” year, especially for women. And it’s exhausting.
We have to remind ourselves of the good things that have happened, alongside the “I-never-could-imagine” and “for-all-the-progress-we’ve-made”. A friend of mine is having a baby. Another got engaged. A friend at work got a well-deserved promotion.
There have been other victories, too — bigger than my social circle.
Women in Australia have caused real change this year. Positive change. In 2016, women were responsible for eight of the 10 biggest social change victories of 2016 on Change.org — a website where everyday people can start a petition for change. These women have changed federal laws and influenced huge supermarket chains. They’ve fought to decriminalise medicinal cannabis; raised $500 million in relief for dairy farmers; and saved 26 lives by cutting the waiting list for a life-saving cancer operation.
Below is a list of the nine biggest "victories" of women change-makers on Change.org from 2016. A "victory" is when the decision maker grants the ask of a petitioner. The petitions from the women below attracted more than 10,000 signatures, and resulted in real, tangible, positive change.
See? 2016 wasn't all bad.
"Decriminalise the use of medicinal cannabis for people with terminal cancer like my son." - Lucy Haslam, NSW
"After a three year battle, first started on behalf of their terminally ill son Dan, Tamworth couple Lucy Haslam, a former nurse, and Lou Haslam, a former drugs squad police officer, changed the federal law in February 2016, to decriminalise medicinal cannabis," Gary Nunn, the Communications Director from Change.org, told Mamamia.
"It’s the second biggest win in the history of Change.org in Australia, with 251,000 on their petition and official responses below it from all major parties."
Top Comments
Some great stuff showing the power of compassion and determination.