Suffragette Colours, and Roundels …

Well you get asked a question, and off on another rabbit run you go …

The first was ‘the roundel’ – to my surprise is of heraldic ancestry … dating, at least, from the 12^th century … more here …

English Heritage's 'blue plaque' -
commemorating a link between that
location and a famous person ...
serving as an historical marker
in the form of a roundel

… too complicated for me to start … but something I’d like to study at some stage … ie understand the symbols, charges, insignias etc …

Seven Kings underground roundel -
the new Elizabeth line colour

The use of roundels predates history, for both personal and group use … which today we’ve seen adopted: for example by our armed forces, civic organisations, and on flags …  in this country the classic to my mind is the London Underground = the tube!

The Maida Vale station
roundel put up to remember
International Women's Day 2020 -
in the Suffragette colours

The Suffragette Movement … another subject I know about insufficiently … the members in 1906 were derided by the press, but embraced the term they were given “suffraGETtes” … implying they not only wanted the vote, but intended to ‘get it’.

Over one hundred years ago women campaigned to win the right to vote. Fundraising became a vital part and success of the suffragette movement … the brand remembered to this day …

Emmeline Pethwick-Lawrence c 1910

Two ‘Emmelines’ were charismatic leaders in the campaign – Emmeline Pankhurst as the main instigator/organiser of the movement, and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence as the Women’s Social and Political Union’s treasurer: she ended up in Government …

Fundraising was an essential for the movement and our second Emmeline (Pethick-Lawrence) was incredibly successful in this enterprise.  She set up the brand colours … distinctive ones, while also ascribing values to them ...

Purple – the royal colour; and for freedom and dignity

White – for purity in private and public life

Green – the colour of hope, new beginnings and the emblem of Spring.

Beautiful earrings in the
suffragette colours

This enabled women from all walks of life to promote their support for the Suffragette movement while wearing the colours – which cultivated a strong emotional connection throughout the membership.

The merchandise ranged from hats, dresses, sashes, jewellery, badges, ribbons, rosettes, postcards, posters  … the whole gambit – whatever would suit the purse …

There were suffragette shops – while producers and merchants also jumped on the band wagon offering innumerable items in purple, white and green … Selfridges, Lilley and Skinner, Derry and Toms … even tricolour underwear?!

There was a weekly newspaper ‘Votes for Women’ – selling advertising space for these suffragette items … their readership was 40,000.

The link below is fascinating … reminding me of so much that we see today … the suffragettes were ahead of their time … it took over 20 years … but in 1928 we won the right to vote … as long as we were 21 – now universal suffrage is 18 years of age – promulgated in 1969.

The Holloway Prison brooch
for those ladies who had
been imprisoned

Thus we have a brief post on the clever fund-raising and brand style of the Suffragette Movement … remembering the courageousness of those early members – who had to endure so much to bring attention to their cause.

This book is available

World War One intervened … but the genie was out of the bottle … women eventually got the vote.

How the Suffragettes became one of the most successful brands ever ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

International Women’s Day … Tube Roundels …

Many of us are noting International Women’s Day … to state an obvious fact … without women, there’d be no men …

Emmeline Pankhursts's
Portrait Badge c 1909

In simple terms – we can’t do without each other – then there are all the other properties of life: absolutely critical to our ability to be here in this wonderful world.

Transport for London has a new roundel – which has been re-imagined based on the suffragette movement’s colours of green, purple and white … representing the coming together of women in solidarity, friendship and support.

Maida Vale was the first Underground
station to be run by women during WW1

Last week I missed the appearance of the new roundel at Victoria Station – and am not sure when I’m going up to London again – so I hope they keep it for a while. 

The link at the end of my post gives a few more details … there are only 5 roundels at stations where women first made their mark in the transport industry; but there's also a photographic exhibition at Victoria Station.

First published 1974
is a book consisting of 16 papers
contributed by female authors.
Stanford University Press c/o Wiki

The world needs all the help we can give it … women and men coming together … but let’s remember to think about others’ points of views … as well as evaluate our own opinions …

I know this group of blogging friends will always do what they can for others … and won’t judge …

On International Women’s Day why not explore the far-ranging impact women have had throughout history and will have in the future …

All of us make a difference to each other in life … let’s just make sure it is positive …

New roundels by London Underground ... for International Women's Day

I noticed that Google has an Arts and Culture Project ... concentrating on Women in Culture - which looked very interesting and informative.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

International Women's Day ...

For half the population it is ‘our day’ … and I give you a few quotes from thought provoking women:

Red: official holiday; Orange: holiday for women;
yellow: non-official holiday.
(see Wikipedia for more details on map.

“Courage calls to courage everywhere.” 

Millicent Fawcett, British writer and suffragette (1847 – 1929)

“Feet, what do I need them for if I have wings to fly?”

Frida Kahlo, Mexican artist  (1907 – 1954)

“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”

Dr Mae Jemison, American astronaut and physician  (born 1956)

“We are too precious to let disappointments enter our minds.” 

NL Beno Zephine, Indian Diplomat  (Sightless, but full of vision).    (born 1990)

“I am stronger than myself.”

Clarice Lispector, Brazilian novelist  (1920 – 1977)

“I really believe in the idea of the future.”

Zaha Hadid, British-Iraqi architect  (1950 – 2016)

“I matter.  I matter equally.  Not ‘If only’, not ‘as long as’.  

I matter.  Full Stop.” 

Chimamanda Adichie, Nigerian Writer  (born 1977)

The women whose quotes I’ve copied are taken from those expressed in today’s Google Doodle and are the ones that drew me in … while Clarice Lispector, Beno Zephine and Mae Jemison I had not heard of …

… so I looked them up … to find Clarice and her family had experienced enormous hardship before fleeing from Russian Ukraine to Romania and ultimately Brazil, where her mother had relatives. 

The story I found about her harrowing early life makeshorrendous reading … and we should all (always) remember how lucky we are – regardless of where we are in life …

Taken from a book

She overcame so much … while in the mid 1960s … the American translator Gregory Rabassa, who first encountered Lispector in the mid 1960s, at a conference on Brazilian literature, in Texas, recalled being:

 "flabbergasted to meet that rare person who looked like Marlene Dietrich and wrote like Virginia Woolf"

The quotes are so apposite in so many ways … I leave you to ponder them on this 2019’s International Women’s Day …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

The DejaVu BlogFest - Ubuntu, Survive and Thrive with the Big C, FoodBanks and the loss of the A-Z Swedish lady maestro …

Such a difficult decision … I cannot chose – I would probably go for one of my A-Z articles on the British coast … but instead I will  link across to some posts which impacted on me …

 

D L Hammons BlogFest

Michelle Wallace’s Ubuntu bloghop … “I am; because of you” or “I am what I am because of who we all are” – this latter phrase I prefer.  Michelle will be doing this again in 2015.

Londolozi – a Zulu word meaning “Protector of All Living Things” … after which a Game Reserve in South Africa has been named.

Boyd Varty’s TED talk – one of Londolozi’s owners …

 

c/o Londolozi

Survive and Thrive Blogfest articles – where I linked back to my (and thus our) Cancer posts – and I listed all the conditions bloggers had written about …

Remember the food banks …

Then lastly … Tina, the Sunflower Lady – whose light went out on 23^rd August … she was a master administrator for many of us who participate in the annual A-Z challenge in April …

As Tina would say ... Life is Good … live life, be generous and thoughtful, encourage everyone, be flexible and help where you can …

c/o Barnados - card designed by
Harry, aged 8, who is supported by
Barnado's Actions with Young Carers

If you haven’t visited one of four blog posts then please check in … thank you …

Happy Christmas, Happy New Year, lots of happiness and joy in 2015 – and here’s to success with your writing, your projects, your art, poetry ... and all creative ideas …

For other participants please visit D L Hammons blog …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Emergency Food Banks … Holiday Food Drive BlogFest …

I wrote about the Food Banks last year … and now we need to remember once again … if we haven’t been able to help a little every month, or hopefully every week since November last year … it’s time for a re-set now!

 

Help others ... 

Having just re-read my post last November – I have to say I found it quite illuminating … so I won’t repeat myself … except to say if youhave a chance please revisit.

MJ Joachim, from the excellently named blog “Effectively Human”is hosting this event … and has asked that we join her in the 2^nd annual holiday food drive.  It’s so sad to think that last year Tina was with us … supporting and guiding us along our blogging journeys – and this one she was co-hosting.

So – pretty please:

• donate to your local food banks …

• give to your church for their distribution to the needy …

• take care of the elderly, disabled or ill around your way …

• smile as we are out and about ...

• open doors for others ...

• be patient at all times ...

• count our blessings, and join Bish at...

Says it all ... 

Thankful Thursdays on the Random Thoughts blog – Bish has started a new linky list for Thankful Thursdays … seems like an excellent idea … I shall be over commenting and thinking about everyone’s entries in the coming year …

Rosey of Mail4Rosey commented “You’ve made me think too … today’s the perfect day before Thanksgiving here, and the kids are off school.  There is ZERO reason why we can’t gather up a car load of food and take it to the shelter or food pantry.”  Now it's our turn …

Lenny's sunshine

No excuses please … JUST DO IT!

Guess who has just posted:  that critter lover – the young man, Lenny, with some Master facts aboutChristmas … he’d love a visit: he loves company …

Another thought – visit those blogging friends who need our support: remember them …

Helping the Poor – these two ideas came from shopkeeper Mr Turner, of East Hoathly in East Sussex, in the 1700s:

His Saint’s day, which happens to be just before Christmas:

St Thomas Day 22^nd December:  I gave 30 poor people a penny each and a drink of beer.

On his birthday in June … My birthday:  I treated my scholars to a drink of beer. 

(Perhaps that’s something we should not encourage … but a gift on our birthday and on our saint’s day to the needy in our area – definitely a good thought – n’est pas?!)

c/o Entyce Creative
Give Tins Instead of Tinsel

In advance ... thanks to you all for doing your bit and helping others ... and thanks MJ for making sure this is annual Holiday Food Drive gets spread around the blogosphere ... 

So as I suggested last year ... with Christmas a-coming and New Year nearly upon us ... let's see if we can, on a monthly basis, help others .. thank you 

PS could everyone please spread by those birdie thingies (tweets), FB link ups et al ... another thank you!! 

Many thanks ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Sustainable Fishing and Marine Conservation Reserves ...

Now we are still a United Kingdom, thankfully!, I can happily say that that conglomerate of countries is surrounded by some of the most productive seas on the planet.

 

Brixham Trawler, by William
Adolphus Knell (1801 - 1875)

Little wonder that seafood has been part of these islanders’ diet since prehistoric times ... there are some very large shell middens around our shores, showing how important the sea was to the hunter-gatherers of the day.

Shell Midden

Commercial fishing dates back a thousand years, when small day boats worked close to the coast … employing methods used since time immemorial … nets, spears, hook-and-line, and traps.

As the population grew and settled further away from the shores … the fishermen in the latter Middle Ages (9^thC – 15^thC AD) began to experiment with mobile fishing gear, rowing trawl nets and dredges behind sailing boats.

For centuries these methods served their purpose … there were plenty of fish, which could easily meet demand. 

Railway line along the Devon coast

The Industrial Revolution changed all that … the population grew, railways forged their way across our lands and continents … demand for food and then profits surged …

With recent developments we (humans) can fish til we drip – 24 hours a day, further afield, reaching deeper and deploying bigger, more robust fishing gear, searching by ‘sat nav’ … almost pulling the plug on the oceans …

Those shoals of fish in earlier times were attended by armadas of dolphins, porpoises, whales, tuna, sharks and seabirds guiding the fishermen to their quarry …

The armada of seabirds ... 

The trawls and dredges have transformed much of the UK seabed from areas crusted with sponges, seaweed, sea-fans, anemones, corals and sea-nettles, to open expanses of sand, gravel and mud.

Grilled Dab with lemon butter
sauce on fresh wilted baby spinach

Plaice, dabs and flounder flourish on these open habitats, while previous occupants which need complex habitats with plenty of shelter, like cod, halibut and conger eels have been ousted.

The transformation of the ocean that is underway, from rich and complex to simple and denuded, is a global phenomenon.  Economic catastrophe could so easily occur through this oversimplification … leaving our oceans less able to function effectively in the face of climate change and escalating human pressures.

Lightly cooked Halibut steak

We have lost many of our large, slow maturing species of fish … like skate and halibut … caught before they were fully mature … while dabs, gurnards and whiting are abundant, live fast and die young.

Marine conservation areas are being preserved … and being networked … so vulnerable fish can find refuge, habitats can recover and breeding fish can thrive undisturbed.

Lundy Island - Britain's first Marine Conservation Area

Some frightening facts:

• 70% of the earth’s surface is ocean
• 80% of all life on earth lives in the ocean
• 2.8% of the ocean is currently protected

• 75% of the Mediterranean is overfished
• 39% of the north east Atlantic is overfished

Charles Clover, the son of a farmer and founding member of the Soil Association, has always been interested in pesticides, the destruction of greenbelt spaces … but then fish stocks took over …

Global Trawler

… he had accidentally walked into a lecture in Dutch! on beam trawling in the North Sea … to find that the lecturer Han Lindeboom described beam trawling as the equivalent to ploughing a field seven times a year … as a farmer’s son he knew that would be catastrophic to anything that wanted to grow and live there.

As an environmental journalist and a fisherman, he wrote a book … describing that overfishing was contributing to one of the greatest crises of our time … eventually Ebury press took a chance and agreed to publish it (7 years later).

The film from the book

The End of the Line was published in 2004 – it became a huge success, turned into a film in 2009 … advocating that fishermen should catch the right numbers and catch them intelligently … it’s just not saving the fish, but saving the livelihoods of fishermen.  No fish mean no jobs.

People now care if their seafood is sustainably sourced … we are starting to make more informed decisions, while brands have made sustainability a key part in their brand marketing.

 

In the 1880s:
Charles Napier Hemy -
the Fisherman (1888)

Fishermen across the UK have turned a corner in the last ten years by becoming engaged in trying to conserve fish …

Charles Clover says he’s learnt that one of the best ways to achieve goals is for conservationists and fishermen to work together.

The Foundation's Review (see below)

He has helped establish the Blue Marine Foundation in 2010 – a charity – whose vision is to have “A world in which marine resources are valued, carefully managed and used sustainably.”

As the website states:  Overfishing costs 50$ billion a year in lost income worldwide ….

Networking is what it’s all about … KENZO, the Paris fashion house, approached the Foundation to partner with Blue … and dedicated its Spring/Summer 2014 collection “BLUE” …

As the models strutted down the catwalk this autumn dressed in sweatshirts emblazoned mysteriously “NO FISH, NO NOTHING” … the tweeters were saying Blue's ruling the catwalk ... 

The creative directors had grown up around the Ocean so were passionate about Marine Conservation and particularly the Foundation’s active do approach.

Their 2013 pdf Review gives you more information – about where they’re working around the globe and with more specifics …

Ocean trawling - denuding the seas

The transformation of the ocean that is underway, from rich and complex to simple and denuded, is a global phenomenon.  

Economic catastrophe could so easily occur through this oversimplification … leaving our oceans less able to function effectively in the face of climate change and escalating human pressures.

Sustainability for all flora and fauna – each species contributes something to its surrounds, or other species … we all depend on nature in some way – and if we mess, as we are doing, with our seas as well as our earth – we are in for a dire time.

This is why it is so vital that we rebuild life in the sea and establish some areas off limits to all fishing.

The Ocean touches nearly every aspect of our
lives - making it essential to the economic, social
and economic well-being of  everyone, everywhere
c/o Ocean Publications

We need to understand the vital need to balance conservation with human development – an essential to our survival.

Blue Marine Foundation website – and see their 2013 Review …

Charles Clover’s “The End of the Line” book (check out the blurb) and film …

Here’s a trailer for the film …

Their future

Enjoy life ... but think – where did it come from … am I wasting resources … can I source nearer to home … the butterfly effect applies here … each tiny flutter and change will help our grandchildren and their future … 

 Some new information that's come to light from Bish Denham's blog " Random Thoughts" on plastic in the ocean - here's the link .. and the TED talk by Boyan Slat, a Dutch youngster, is amazing - he's pursued his dream through sheer determination, giving up his studies and his social life, crowd sourced ... and is engineering to clean the oceans of plastic ... very well worth watching the 17 minute video. 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories