Hey, did you realise that Friday gone was International Men's Day? You never know? Yeah man is a real-real day! The idea was first introduced in 1999 in Trinidad & Tobago and is celebrated in many parts of the world with support from several international agencies. International Men's Day is a time to big up di good man dem we know. And I know you must know a few.

The day provides a forum for highlighting and celebrating the positive male role models that are often ignored by mass media and popular culture. The basic objectives driving celebration of an International Men's Day include the need to focus on men's and boy's health as well as getting more men involved in improving gender relations and promoting gender equality. It's also a global occasion to explore discrimination against males and celebrate their achievements and contributions to community and family.

In the land of Jam Rock, theatre artist/trainer Fabian Thomas attempted some initiatives to generate attention and action around the day. It included information sharing and coordinating participation of men in a radio discussion on FAME FM's Uncensored.

Chairman of the Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN), Dr Peter Weller, used the occasion to share the group's vision and mission statement.

Young poet Randy McLaren also created a powerful poem especially for the day entitled 'True Man'. But that was basically it.

a man's world

The day passed small-small and quiet. Very few people seem to know or care about the idea. No big drum nuh beat, no inspirational song nuh sing, no elaborate speech nuh mek.

One lady told me that as far as she is concerned men don't need a special day because it's already a man's world, and men are the main problem. Of course, that binary frame of man = villain and woman = victim, is really an oversimplification of the gender reality, and is proof that much work needs to be done. Men have to do a great deal of work to undo some of the stereotypical expectations. And we have to do this in tandem with women.

CariMAN affirms the principle of gender equality and believes that Carib-bean men and women should work together. The group aims to learn from the experiences of Caribbean women who have had to liberate themselves from harmful gender roles, inequalities and stereotypes. And a man doesn't have to be a member of CariMAN or work as a gender activist to get involved. Every man can play a part. One way is to join men from all over the world and swear the 'white ribbon' oath.

Brethren let us all make this three-part pledge: "I swear never to commit, excuse, or remain silent about violence against women"

Today is a good day to start. Tomorrow is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. And don't tell me that you never hear 'bout that day either!

box-mi-back@hotmail.com.

'Brethren let us all make this three-part pledge: "I swear never to commit, excuse, or remain silent about violence against women"