March 8, 2020: International Women's Day, a day when in many countries there are calls for marches, actions, and movements to raise voices in favor of respect and safety for women around the world; for equality, fair treatment, and professional and labor rights and opportunities.
However, on this International Women's Day 2020, the vision goes much further: it is a call to a struggle that concerns all of us.
Different positions, opinions, and life philosophies; different proposals for action, a thousand proposed "solutions" to achieve change, but one shared unifying trait: WOMAN, the constant pursuit of mutual respect and the relief of feeling safe, regardless of place, time, or clothing; at home, at school or university, at work inside and outside the office, on the street…
This call is about information: analyzing the positions, the actions, the data; it is a call to unite and raise our voices, but also to listen. To become aware of the statistics on cases of insecurity and violence against women in your country, in your city. To assess the situation in your community, your circle of friends, and your family.
To ask ourselves honestly: how can we reduce this harsh reality? How can we influence positive change? Yes, it is true that government and authorities must listen and implement action, but we (society and businesses), through our daily actions, as women and men, what can we do? Let us be truly socially responsible companies.
As business owners, as administrators, as employees, as suppliers, as customers; because we do not act only as companies, we act as a society, a connected society in a country where "we all know what is happening," yet few are willing and able to do something about it.
Algas Pacific, as a company and as a community, expresses its empathy, solidarity, and concern for the safety of all our female colleagues: administrators, scientists, and engineers who, day after day, contribute their work and effort to the success of our products and operations. And we extend this call to any woman who is a victim of any type of violence: raise your voice, do not feel alone, know that there are many of us taking action.
Let us open our eyes and contribute every day, not just today. For a country and a world where safety, employment opportunities, and social treatment are equal for everyone.
