Adventure Divas (40 page)

ENDNOTES

*
 
¹
 All statistics are from Joni Seager,
The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World,
third edition, New York: Penguin, 2003.

*
 
²
 An island province of Papua New Guinea in which a nine-year secessionist revolt ended in 1997.

*
 
³
 Iran follows the Islamic calendar, which starts with the birth of Muhammad in 570 on the Christian calendar.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T
he Adventure Divas enterprise—the TV series, the website, and this book—has been an exercise in gratitude, hard work, and camaraderie from the start, and individuals all over the globe helped make it possible. The size of my appreciation is reflected in the epic length of these acknowledgments.

The divas who appear in this book, and the many others who appear in the television documentaries but could not be included in these pages, continue to be a driving inspiration: Iramis, Dori, and Janet of Instinto, Gloria Rolando, Lizette Vila, Carilda Oliver Labra, Assata Shakur, Emilia Machado, Kiran Bedi, Alice Garg, Anuradha Pal, Bachendri Pal, Ruchira Gupta, Ela Bhatt, Shubha Mudgal, Marilyn Waring, Helen Clark, Sima Urale, Hinewehi Mohi, the Land Girls, Tania Stanley, Gaylene Preston, Keri Hulme, Tahmineh Milani, Mokarrameh Ghanbari, Shahla Sherkat, Azita Hajiyan, Pari Zanganeh, Pooran Farrokhzad, Zahra Rahnavard, and Zahra Moussavi.

Huge thanks go out to the early believers who got us off the ground: Andy Meyer, Jack Slevin, Ken and Cindy McBride, Johnny Morris, Bill Wheeler, Tina Slevin, Carolyn Broquet, Steve Marts, Warren Franklin, Matt Bien and Paul Goldberg of Pure Audio, Michael Gross, Kate Thompson, and my longtime dear friend Laura Slevin.

To those who stoked the furnace at Divas HQ, much credit is due: Stacy Lewis and Jen Senkler were integral at launch time; a heartfelt spin of Sky Prancer to Rena Bussinger, Heather Reilly, and Susannah Fotopulos for their smarts and commitment; Jill Hodges made our web presence read, rumble, and dance; and, as mentioned above, essential creatives Michael Gross and Kate Thompson came early and stayed late.

The road and post folks offered up much appreciated humor (and sometimes Cipro and coffee), along with their considerable talent: Thanks to Simon and Val Griffith, Jan McKinley, Susan Thomas, Steve Cammarano, Cathia Geller, Jim Wilson, Sophia Zubiria, Jen Brown, Lois Shelton, Paul Mailman, Pamela Yates, Maryam Kia, John Chater, Parviz Abnar, Doug Dunderdale, Liza Bambenek, Dan Davis, Orlando Stuart, Felicity Oram, Ellen Forney, Michael Cozzi, and Carrie Akre. Flying Spot postproduction and DataWeb also deserve thanks.

Special thanks to Julie Costanzo, Persheng Vaziri, Catherine Murphy, Cheryl Dunn, Nassim Assefi, Pramila Jayapal, and Vanessa Boeye, who not only made it happen on the road, but also helped me recount it on the page.

Countless others contributed, among them Lara Kidoguchi, Katie Dreke, Nick Boorman, Denise Olivier, Neide Cooley, Kathleen Gasperini, Karen Wetherall Davis, David Geller of Whatcounts, Knoll Lowney, Laura Puckett, Joe Bolden, Mark Van S., Firouzeh Nourzad, Sholeh Seydali, Babak Khiavchi, Yasmine Rafii, Parisa Sadeghi, Puja Vohra, Teri Hein, Mike Frankfurter, Jim Dow, and Paige Meili. Also, hats off to the many interns, and to the contributers to www.adventuredivas.com.

PBS provided invaluable exposure and creative freedom. Enough cannot be said for Mary Jane McKinven, the brilliant, committed executive without whom
Adventure Divas
might never have hit the airwaves. Big thanks are also due to PBS’s John Wilson and Sandy Heberer for their ongoing support.

REI and its CEO, Sally Jewell, provided essential underwriting; and thanks go out to the executives at National Geographic with whom we worked while on the road, especially Jacques Grenier and Mark Nelson. That loveable Australian, Ian Cross of Pilot Productions, brings the world into our homes every day, and I feel lucky to be a part of his operation.

Hang-ten to the one and only David Fox: who wouldn’t be grateful to have a smart and loyal barrister who always has my back
and
lets me in on the best surf breaks? Thanks, too, to my agent Alan Berger of CAA, for his integrity and support through the thicket of the television industry.

This book began
after the cameras clicked off, and it, too, has been informed by many people.

Respect and gratitude to my literary agent, Leigh Feldman of Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman: the word
diva
could have been invented for this excellent advocate, who knows exactly when to soothe and advise—and when to deliver a full-court press—all with absolute charm and intelligence.

At Random House/Villard Books, Bruce Tracy and Katie Zug kicked off this venture and my fabulous editor Stephanie Higgs deserves a magnum of Mumm for her tenacious work in the face of ever pushed deadlines, for hammering away at my mixed metaphors, and for valiantly shepherding this book through the publishing process. Thanks, too, to Beth Pearson and all the talented production staff at Random House, as well as Robin Desser of Knopf for her early encouragement.

Editorial wisdom came from far and wide: Andrea Chapin, Blase Reardon, and Howard Chaffey gave valuable input; and very special thanks to Jennie Goode and Lindsay Knisely, kindred grrrl spirits who, time and again, kept me on point.

To those who fed and walked me at all the right times throughout the writing process: Sunny Speidel, Betsy Whittaker, Inga Muscio, Johanna Striar, Evelyn C. White, Ewen Thomson, Jenny Leah, Sarah Stimson, Scott Friskics, my ever-supportive siblings—and the late, great Boo Radley, who left so many gifts.

TV relishes image and chaos, but writing requires quiet and space. In Brazil, a big
obrigada
to Monica and Rich Drennan, for use of their tropical getaway, and to expat John McGlocklin, for his advice and companionship in South America and beyond.

The Cottages at Hedgebrook writer’s residency in Washington State provides incredible space and facilitates creativity. Co-founders Sheryl Feldman and Nancy Skinner Nordhoff deserve huge credit for their visionary action that now makes it possible for so many other women to realize their own creative and political visions.

I am indebted to valued friends and former colleagues from Seal Press, Faith Conlon and Ingrid Emerick, who gave the Niger prose its first airing, and to editors Susan Fox Rogers and Maria Finn Dominguez, each of whom published early material from the Cuba chapter.

Giant appreciation to my dad, Johnny Morris, whose support and go-for-the-gold approach informs many endeavors in this book and my life.

A sloppy French kiss to Michael Kovnat, whose brainy curiosity, patience, and zealous fact-checking brought home the final chapters in this book, and with whom I look forward to sharing all of the chapters and adventures to come.

And last, a galaxy of gratitude and love to Jeannie Morris, my mom. She has been a partner, co-conspirator, and invaluable positive spirit, in all things Adventure Divas, from day one. And she hardly ever told me to comb my hair. Yo Jeannie, we did it.

RESOURCES

V
isit www.adventuredivas.com for more information about the women featured in this book, to purchase videos or DVDs of the documentary series, and for travel resources and assorted divagear.

Below is a listing of the books, films, and other media created by the profiled divas. When available, a specific distributor, retailer, or website is listed. Some general sources for rare, out-of-print, and foreign language materials include: Alibris (www.alibris.com), BookFinder (www.bookfinder.com), Powell’s Books (www.powells.com), Biblio (www.biblio.com), Amazon (www.amazon.com)/Bibliofind (www.bibliofind.com), and eBay (www.ebay.com).

CUBA

CARILDA OLIVER LABRA

SELECTED BOOKS OF POETRY

Se Me ha Perdido un Hombre
(
I Have Lost a Man
), 1993

Dust Disappears
(selected poems translated into English), 1991

Memoria de la Fiebre
(
Feverish Memory
), 1958

Canto a Matanzas
(
Song to Matanzas
), 1956

Canto a Marti
(
Song to Marti
), 1953

Canto a la Bandera
(
Song to the Flag
), 1950

Al Sur De Mi Garganta
(
At the South of My Throat
), 1949

Preludio Lirico
(
Lyric Prelude
), 1943

WEB

Selected poems published online (in Spanish) at

www.palabravirtual.com

INSTINTO

ALBUM

Cuban Hip Hop All-Stars, Vol. 1,
2001

FILM

Cuban Hip Hop All-Stars,
2004

WEB

www.papayarecords.com

GLORIA ROLANDO

FILMS

Los Marqueses de Atarés,
2001

Raices de Mi Córazon
(
Roots of My Heart
), 2000

El Alacrán,
1999

Eyes of the Rainbow,
1998

My Footsteps in Baragua,
1996

Oggún: The Eternal Present,
1992

WEB

www.afrocubaweb.com/gloriarolando.htm

ASSATA SHAKUR

BOOK

Assata: An Autobiography,
1987

WEB

www.assatashakur.org

LIZETTE VILA

SELECTED FILMS

Otra Mujer sin Rostro
(
Another Woman Without Face
)
,
2004

Voces . . . Sueños, Amor, y Paz
(
Voices . . . Dreams, Love and Peace
)
,
2003

Romanza de un Ulma
(
Romance of a Sou
l
)
,
2003

Contra el Silencio: Una Mujer
(
Against Silence: A Woman
), 2002

Mujer Alma de Maravillas
(
Woman, Soul of Wonders
)
,
2002

Una Mujer sin Rostro
(
Woman Without Face
)
,
2001

Yo No Soy un Santo
(
I Am Not a Sain
t
)
,
1999

Gracias a la Vida
(
Thanks for the Life
)
,
1998

Cambiando Vidas
(
Changing Live
s
)
,
1993

INDIA

KIRAN BEDI

BOOKS BY

As I See It . . . ,
2003

What Went Wrong?,
2001

Government.net,
2001

It’s Always Possible,
1999

BOOKS ABOUT

Kiran Bedi: The Kindly Baton
by Dr. Meenakshi Saksena, 2000

“I Dare!”
Kiran Bedi: A Biography
by Parmesh Dangwal, 1995

WEB

www.kiranbedi.com

PHOOLAN DEVI AKA “THE BANDIT QUEEN”

BOOKS

India’s Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi
by Mala Sen, 1991

FILM

Bandit Queen
(directed by Shekhar Kapur), 1995

RUCHIRA GUPTA

DOCUMENTARY

The Selling of Innocents,
1997

Available for noncommercial use from:

Ruchira Gupta, Executive Director

Apne Aap Women Worldwide

22 Ballgunge Park Road

Kolkata-17, India

E-mail: [email protected]

For broadcast use contact:

Associated Producers

110 Spadina Avenue, Suite 1001

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Phone: 1416-4800453

ORGANIZATION

Apne Aap (Women Worldwide), an initiative to end sex trafficking, founded by Ruchira Gupta.

WEB

www.apneaap.org

ALICE GARG

ORGANIZATION

Bal Rashmi Society

A 48 Shanti Path

Tilak Nagar, Jaipur, 302 004

Rajasthan, India

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 0141-2620861

      0141-2651523

ANURADHA PAL

ALBUMS

Shanti
(
Spiritual Essence of India
)

Stree Shakti
(all-female percussion ensemble, led by Anuradha Pal, that performs traditional and innovative music)

Anu: A Tabla Solo

WEB

www.anuradhapal.com

IRAN

FOROUGH FARROKHZAD

SELECTED POEMS

Tavallodi Digar
(
Another Birth
), 1964

Esian
(
Rebellion
), 1958

Divar
(
The Wall
), 1956

Asir
(
The Captive
), 1955

FILM

The House Is Black,
1962 (available from www.iranianmovies.com)

WEB

www.forughfarrokhzad.org

POORAN FARROKHZAD

SELECTED WORKS

Encyclopedia of Women Culture Makers in Iran and in the World

The Eternal Women

Zane Shabane Mo Ood

Atash O Bad

Dar Entehaye Atashe Ayeene

WEB

www.ketab.com

MOKARRAMEH GHANBARI

DOCUMENTARY

Mokarrameh, Memories and Dreams,
directed by Ebrahim Mokhtari. Available from:

First Run Icarus Films

32 Court St., 21st Fl.

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: 718 488-8900

E-mail: [email protected]

WEB

www.mokarrameh.com

ZAHRA RAHNAVARD

SELECTED WORKS

The Beauty of Concealment and the Concealment of Beauty
(Translated text online at www.al-islam.org)

Imperialist Roots of the Abolition of Hejab

The Revolt of Moses

The Hijrah
[
Emigration
]
of Joseph

Tempests and the Tulips of Shahrivar

The Stories of Ali and Mash Medina

Philosophy of Islamic Art

Strongholds Behind the Front Line

Mourning at Hira

The Social Strata from Qur’anic Point of View

The Rise of Moslem Women

A Hero from the Qur’anic Viewpoint

Insight into the Qur’anic Verses

Islamic Government

SHAHLA SHERKAT

MAGAZINE

Zanan
(
Women
), Shahla Sherkat, Editor

E-mail: [email protected]

WEB

www.zanan.co.ir

PARI ZANGANEH

ALBUMS

Shah Pari

Goleh Ghessehaa

Gozashtehaayeh Noh
(
Reviving the Past
)

NEW ZEALAND

KERI HULME

SELECTED BOOKS

Strands
(poems), 1992

Te Kihau
(
The Windeater
), 1986

The Bone People,
1985

HINEWEHI MOHI

ALBUMS

Oceania II,
2002

Oceania,
2000

WEB

www.maorimusic.com

GAYLENE PRESTON

FILMS

Perfect Strangers,
2003

Titless Wonders,
2001 (available from www.gpprods.com)

Punitive Damage,
1999

War Stories Our Mothers Never Told Us,
1995

Bread and Roses,
1993

Ruby and Rata,
1990

Kai Purakau
(documentary about Keri Hulme), 1987

Mr. Wrong
(aka
Dark of Night
in U.S.), 1985

WEB

www.filmarchive.org.nz

www.gaylenepreston.co.nz

MARILYN WARING

BOOKS

Three Masquerades,
1996

If Women Counted: A New Feminist Economics
(original title:
Counting for Nothing
), 1988

DOCUMENTARY

Who’s Counting?
(produced by the National Film Board of Canada), 1995

WEB

www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/who.htm