Submitted by arlenegloria on Sun, 02/07/2010 - 06:48

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Raging Grannies, Wikipedia entry:

The Raging Grannies (or just "Raging Grannies") are activist organizations that started in Victoria, British Columbia, over the winter of 1986/87. There are now groups in many cities and towns in different countries.

They are social justice activists, all women old enough to be grandmothers, who dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women, and sing songs at protests. They typically write the lyrics themselves, putting their political messages to the tunes of well known songs. Their activism includes peace and environmental causes.

Visit Wikipedia to read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raging_Grannies

Here's what Change.Org had to say about the video and it's backstory: 

When CBS made the decision to inject abortion politics into the Super Bowl by running a commercial from the anti-choice and homophobic group Focus on the Family, the network set off a storm of criticism from progressive activists charging CBS with maintaining a discriminatory double standard.

In years past, CBS has regularly rejected advocacy ads from progressive groups, including a 2004 MoveOn ad that criticized President Bush's fiscal irresponsibility and an ad from the United Church of Christ showing them welcoming a gay couple who had been turned away from another congregation.

CBS ultimately refused to back down in the face of this criticism. But while Focus on the Family was able to have their thinly veiled anti-choice Super Bowl ad approved, their $4 million investment - money they spent after laying off 20 percent of their staff - also bought something else: collaboration and bridge-building among women's rights and gay rights activists.

As Change.org's team of bloggers argued this week, the controversy surrounding this advertisement has illustrated why every gay rights advocate should be a feminist, and why every feminist should be a gay rights advocate.

Yes, this advertisement sparked controversy. But it might also spark a combined movement for change that lasts much longer than a 30 second commercial.

Politics aside, we hope you enjoy your Super Bowl weekend - which can now come complete with some great sustainable Super Bowl snacks - and check out the updates below for more news from the world of social change.

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