INTERNATIONAL: Getting Loud to End Violence Against Women

Following the chain of events that leads to something good is almost as inspirational as the good thing itself. Take the inspiring story of a group of diverse women who pulled together to bring peace to war-torn Liberia — a story that inspired the award-winning documentary, Pray The Devil Back To Hell, which was just released on DVD.

That documentary inspired the foundation of Peace is Loud, an organization aimed at amplifying women's voices in the peace-building process around the world, supported in part by T-shirt sales right here in the Tonic Shop.

Now, Peace is Loud is extending their mission by participating in The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence,an annual campaign by the Center for Women's Global Leadership that calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.

Each day, from now until Dec. 10, Peace is Loud will be sharing the words, biographies and reflections of 16 amazing women activists on their site. One inspiring woman per day, spanning the dates between today's International Day Against Violence Against Women to International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.

Here's a short look at the women being featured on Peace is Loud:

Nov. 25: Hibaaq Osman, Founder and Chair of Karama, a regional movement of activists in the Middle East and Africa collaborating to end violence against women.

Nov. 26: Abigail Disney, the filmmaker and philanthropist behind Pray The Devil Back To Hell and Pace is Loud.

Nov. 27: Korto Williams, a feminist poet living in Liberia, a society deeply divided on class and ethnicity.

Nov. 28: Millika Dutt, Founder and Executive Director of Breakthrough, an innovative international human rights organization, who also serves on the boards of WITNESS, Games for Change and the Rights Working Group.

Nov. 29: Debora Barros Fince, a Wayuu indigenous activist from Columbia and the director of Wayuumunsurat, "Women Weaving Peace."

Nov. 30: Terry McGovern, founder of the HIV Law Project and now HIV/AIDS Human Rights Program Officer for the Ford Foundation.

Dec. 1: L. Muthoni Wanyeki, Executive Director of the Kenya Human Rights Commission.
Dec. 2: Aset Chad, a nurse and refugee from Chechnya who survived a winter of 1999-2000 war crime in which many of her neighbors, including children, women, seniors and her wounded patients were executed during a Russian military "cleaning operation."

Dec. 3: Dorothy Johnson-Speight, the founder of Mother's In Charge, Inc., an organization focused on violence prevention through education and intervention for children, young adults, families and community organizations.

Dec. 4: Thelma Ekiyor, Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute.

Dec. 5: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning.

Dec. 6: Mu Sochua, a member of parliament in Cambodia who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Dec. 7: Leymah Gbowee, the Founder and Director of Women in Peace and Security Network - Africa and winner of the 2009 Gruber Women's Rights Prize.

Dec. 8: Zainab Salbi, co-founder and CEO of Women for Women International, an organization that helps women survivors of war (like Salbi herself) move from crisis and instability to self-reliance and active citizenship.

Dec. 9: Teresa Mejia, Executive Director of The Women's Building in San Francisco's Mission District.

Dec. 10: Winnie Byanyima, Director of the UNDP Gender Team.