I often wonder to myself: Would we be in the same economic situation globally if women ran Wall Street? If there were more women in positions of power in the economic centers around the world would the bankers that got us into this mess have engaged in so much mindless risk? In a BBC interview Icelandic financier and executive chairman of Audur Capital Halla Tomosdottir asked as much. Audur Capital, as we wrote for the AWEARNESS Blog earlier this year, is partnering with Icelandic singer Björk to help the recovery of her home country's beleaguered economy.

For quite a while now -- especially after September 11th -- the planet, particularly The West, has been in high testosterone, "Gladiator" mode. It is somewhat understandable: national security is traditionally thought of as a "masculine" issue. And when threatened human beings react on the Ying -- as opposed to Yang -- side. But what's wrong at this point in time with less military -- or, "hard power" -- and a little more "smart power," to use Hillary Rodham Clinton's phrase. Striking out mindlessly with the military is an overmasculine grotesque.

On March 6, 7 and 8 at the Emerging Leaders Forum in Liberia, women leaders from around the world will meet to discuss matters of international peace and security. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and President Tarja Halonen of Finland are co-convening the event. US Secretary of State Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, First Lady Michelle Obama, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be among the 400 guests. The discussion should be lively and touch on issues often overlooked by their political counterparts with the Y chromosome.

How can you get involved? Check out The Women's Colloquium website here.

[Image: UWE.AC.UK]