Bloggers Unite for International Women's Day

March 8, 2009 is International Women's Day.
This is not to be confused with Mother's Day, however it is fine to honor moms on this day.
I have read through some of the postings on this day that is devoted to making people
aware of the accomplishments of women throughout history and the trials women still face around the world.

Some of the topics will definitely get emotional responses.
Several of the topics will make you wonder where is the justice? Why isn't anything being done to stop negative behavior when it comes to abuse against women and children?

How can we celebrate how far certain women have gone in life and the doors that they have opened when there is still hurting and abuse taking place throughout the world?

The women who do make a difference and get public acclaim for it are to be encouraged for what they do. On a day where bloggers unite to call attention to women around the world we need to be reminded that we must all do what we can to help those less fortunate.

Women have always been strong contributors to historical events. Perhaps they do not get the attention that men do, but we are seeing more and more positive changes.

I always wanted to be an astronaut. Unfortunately my sinuses and chronic ear infections would never allow me that option. I always admire the women who get to do that. I found a list of women who have been lucky enough to do what I have dreamed about. I know they started with dreams, too, and I smile at their accomplishments

Here is the list that I borrowed from another website: http://www.aerospaceguide.net/women_in_space/index.html

Pioneering Women of Space:

• 1959: Geraldine (Jerrie) Cobb was the first woman in the U.S. to undergo astronaut testing, however, NASA cancelled the women's program in July 1961.
  
  
• June 1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was the First Woman in Space. She flew on the Vostok 5 mission which was launched on June 16, 1963. It orbited the Earth 48 times and the flight lasted 2.95 days.
  
  
• August 1982: Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya was the second woman in space. She flew aboard Soyuz T-7 which was launched August 19, 1982.
  
  
• June 1983: Sally Ride was the First American Woman in Space and third woman in space. She flew on the shuttle Challenger STS-7 mission from June 18-June 24, 1983.
  
  
• July 1984: Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya was the First Woman to Walk in Space on July 17, 1984 aboard the Soyuz T-12. Her spacewalk lasted 3.58 hours. She was also the first woman to go to space twice (in 1982 and 1984).
  
  
• August 1984: Judith Resnick was the Second American Woman in Space. She flew on the shuttle Discovery STS-41D mission in August 30-September 5, 1984.
  
  
• October 1984: Kathryn Sullivan was First American Female Spacewalker. She flew on Challenger STS-41G on October 5, 1984.
  
  
• January 1986: Christa McAuliffe was chosen to be first teacher in space. She died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.
  
  
• October 1984: Helen Sharman was the first British astronaut in space when she flew aboard the Russian space craft Soyuz TM-12 on May 18, 1991.
  
  
• January 1992: Roberta Bondar was the First Canadian Woman in Space. She flew on the shuttle Discovery STS-42 Mission, January 22-30, 1992.
  
  
• September 1992: Mae Jemison was the First Black Woman in Space during shuttle Endeavor STS-47 Mission, September 12-20, 1992. She was a Mission Specialist.
  
  
• April 1993: Ellen Ochoa was the First Hispanic American Woman in Space. She flew as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery STS-56 mission.
  
  
• July 1994: Chiaki Mukai was the First Japanese Woman in Space. She flew on Shuttle Columbia STS-56 mission, 8-23 July, 1994.
  
  
• February 1995: Eileen Collins was the First Woman Pilot of a Space Shuttle.
  
  
• September 1996: Shannon Lucid returns from six months aboard the Mir Space Station, setting space endurance record for women and U.S. space endurance record.
  
  
• May 1999: Susan Helms was the First Woman Crew Member of the International Space Station.
  
  
• July 1999: Eileen Collins was the First Woman to fly as a Space Shuttle Commander.
  

• October 2001: Claudie Haigneré was the First European Woman to visit the International Space Station.
  
  
• February 2003: Dr. Kalpana Chawla and Dr. Laurel Clark died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster on February 1, 2003.