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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 2, 2004)
\7 world,” says Larsen, whose long-distance girl friend lives in W ashington, D.C. “I’ve been drawn toward the things that other people didn’t want to look at like geno cide, ethnic cleansing and race issues. But I’ve always looked at them straight in the eye and wanted to move through it to find solutions.” After traveling to Ecuador and working with indigenous communities, she snagged a degree in comparative international studies from University of Wisconsin before she set sail again. This time, her rudder was aimed toward Southeast Asia. As a free-lance journalist in Thailand and Burma, Larsen’s vision for the magazine became clearer. “My work there impacted me profound ly,” she says. Although there were a lot o f ele ments that caused the bud to blossom, it was the Burmese women who left a permanent imprint. “T he women of Burma blew me away," Larsen remembers. “They had been through so much: Som e had been raped [the Burmese regime is called a 'school for rape,’ with soldiers instructed to rape ethnic minority women], some had their families killed in front of them, some had been living in the forest for years try ing to flee from the troops, many had malaria. T heir stories were so incredible and inspiring." Beyond the crosses they bore, Larsen was moved by the way the women worked together. “They were not about to give up their home land,” she recalls. They not only collaborated to find ways to share their stories with the world but also strategized how to bring the dictator ship down. “They were always helping each other...and helping to educate the children.” T h e Burmese women put things into per spective for Larsen. “To start something like a magazine to tell their stories— although risky— was not a risk. T h e obstacles seem really sfriall compared to what they’re going through.” W orld Birth will tackle issues within a broad scope. T h e magazine and its international co n tributors will cover pivotal stories on urgent global topics. Part of the aim is to be unlike traditional media sources. T h e W orld Birth W eb site states that “cover age cuts to the heart o f global problems and highlights committed local and cross-border forces already at work resolving these complex issues.” Among others, that includes human rights, education, health care, international law, economics, the environm ent, drug traffick ing, terrorism, domestic violence, grassroots movements and queer topics. The forum environmental advocates, psychologists, aca demics, midwives, artists and global change agents. In November 2002, Larsen founded the nonprofit World Birth Forum with the magazine as the primary vision. T he forum is made up of a seven-woman board of directors, a handful of staff across the nation and innumerable profes sional volunteers, all of whom contribute in integral ways. “There are so many different people helping us, so many different energies stepping forward that it’s going to emerge in a different way than I’d ever envisioned it,” Larsen shares. “It’s big ger than me.” Riding these waves of support, Larsen has big plans for the future. She hopes to take the virtual roundtables they currently host to a higher level. “It would be amazing to get these women leaders together face to face to spend a few days together to tackle big issues like sex trafficking.. .getting to meet each other face to face is really powerful.” O th er things on Larsen’s “to do” list include creating individual news bureaus in every continent that would he run by women for their local and regional news. She also sees some sort of mentor leadership program that would he similar to life coaching for women around the world. And, at the five-year mark, she’d like to look into publishing a magazine that branches off for children. “It would help teachers and educators broaden children’s minds to become global citizens so they can be really knowledge able about various cultures and traditions and social and economic trends around the world.... Right now, our public education is really lack ing in geography and basic global education.” Larsen has no doubt in her mind that there’s a rising global movement— one focused on solutions, one that’s goes beyond blame. “W om en are at the forefront o f it. I didn’t even realize how powerful and networked it was until I started this magazine.... I could feel it, and I saw it in Ecuador, in Burma and in T h ai land. But not until I started this did I realize.. .there were thousands and thousands of women’s organizations that are seeking an equal place at the table in all kinds of decision making around the world." W hen asked how it feels to watch her brain child come to fruition, Larsen says it’s been nothing less than euphoric. “I’m excited because it’s always been my dream to work with power ful, kick-ass women around the world.’ ’ j n lmagine...Having More Beautiful Skin by Spring! Men & Women Treatments for: • Laser Hair Removal • New Non-Surgical Skin Rejuvenation • Diminish Age and Sun Damage Spots • Improve the Appearance of Vascular Lesions , • Free Skin Mapping & UV Analysis SPRING BREAK SPECIALS Buy I T re a tm e n t A r e a & G e t 2nd at M icroderm abrasion Special 5 0 % O ff! 4 T re a tm e n ts for $ I 99 ! 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