From Women to the World: Letters for a New Century

Description

Acclaimed writer Elif Shafak writes a letter to Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand after the Christchurch attack. Actress Yasmine Al Massri pens a poem about war for her mother. Activist and TV presenter June Sarpong addresses designer Diane Von Furstenberg. These are a few of the moving and insightful letters that make up From Women to the World, a book by journalist, author and executive Elizabeth Filippouli, which brings together letters from a global group of accomplished women – politicians, royalty, actors, writers, activists and more – every one addressed to a woman who means something to each of them. The results are extraordinary, heartfelt letters to historical figures, mentors, family members or inspiring ordinary people. Each is based on these women’s personal histories and experiences, drawing attention to social issues such as homelessness, war, LGBT activism, mental health care or the plight of international refugees. From Women to the World is more than a simple collection of letters – it is a book that shows a new model of leadership based on emotional intelligence and demonstrates how we have the wisdom to inspire, motivate and reinvent our world. Cover page Praise for From Women to the World Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Letter to the Reader Introduction BY ELIZABETH FILIPPOULI Let’s Talk: A “Global Conversation” The Letters List of Letters To the woman that changed me, Diane von Furstenberg From June Sarpong OBE (UK) To my Aunt, Ramona Fiani From Roula Azar Douglas (Lebanon/Canada) To Zohra Moosa, Executive Director, Mama Cash From Hellen Lunkuse T. Waiswa, (Uganda) To my Sister in Humanity, Angelina Jolie From Basma Alawee (Iraq/USA) To my Daughter, Lara Karmel From Annabel Karmel MBE (UK) To Margaret Garner, the Woman who Murdered her Daughter From Muna AbuSulayman (Saudi Arabia) To My Mother, as a Metaphor for All Women in my Family From Yasmine Al Massri (France/Lebanon) To Athena, as the Younger Anousheh From Anousheh Ansari (Iran/USA) To my Daughter, Ashtar Muallem From Iman Aoun (Palestine) To my Mother, Audrey Smith From Emma Bache (UK) To One of the World’s Greatest Cellists Jacqueline du Pré From Silvia Chiesa (Italy) To my Daughter, Sophia Babai From Shelmina Abji (USA/Tanzania) To my Younger Self, Hope From HH Sayyida Basma Al Said (Oman) To All Women Athletes of the Special Olympics From Mary Davis (USA/Ireland) To Senator Haifa Hajjar Najjar From Deema Bibi (Jordan) To my Daughter Sofia From Paola Diana (Italy) To my Grandmothers, Her Majesty Queen Zein Al-Sharaf Talal of Jordan and Begum Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah From HRH Sumaya bint El Hassan (Jordan) To The Homeless Woman From Grazia Giuliani (Italy/UK) To Murdered Politician, Anna Lindh From Miriam González Durántez (Spain/UK) To Jacinda Ardern, PM of New Zealand From Elif Shafak (Turkey/UK) To my Sister, Mantalena From Eva Kaili MEP (Greece) To a Forest of Women, among them Annie Lennox and Carole Cadwalladr From Livia Firth (Italy/UK) To my Unborn Granddaughter From Attiya Mahmood (Pakistan) To Shyama Perera From Dame Martina Milburn DCVO, CBE (UK) To All Young Women From Christina Nielsen (Denmark) To My Sisters Around The World From Femi Oke (UK/Nigeria) To My Mother, Rhoda Spielman Tzemach From Gayle Tzemach Lemmon (USA) To the Anonymous Woman From Mariane Pearl (France) To my Wife, Hanan Kattan From Shamim Sarif (UK/Canada) To Geraldine (inspired by Molly Yard and Gloria Steinem) From Geraldine Sharpe-Newton (UK/USA) To My Nieces From Dr Rebecca S. Hage Thomley (USA) To My Mother, Rezzan From Nurdeniz Tunçer (Turkey) To Ada Lovelace From Dame Stephanie (Steve) Shirley (UK) To All Women, Daughters of the World From Elizabeth Filippouli (UK/Greece) Afterword Let’s Act: Recalibrating our Systems Let’s Prioritise Empathy over Testosterone Let’s Listen: Voices from the Younger Generation of Women Let’s Inspire: The Letters Let’s Reflect: Some Thought Triggers Index Elizabeth Filippouli – Bio Acknowledgements