A MEN’S HUI: TOWARDS WHITE RIBBON DAY PROJECT

INVITATION TO

A MEN’S HUI: TOWARDS WHITE RIBBON DAY PROJECT

Passionate about social change?

Believe in Saying NO to Family Violence?

“What can we do? How do we do it?”

Calling all ethnic men!

October White Ribbon Newsletter

October 2011

You can tell we’re busy when the October newsletter comes out a week before November! But rest assured, all our key projects are on track and White Ribbon will be on everyone’s mind this November. Later this week we have a major announcement, which will bring the White Ribbon ethos to an even greater range and number of families across New Zealand.

The 2011 Campaign is focusing on three key messages:

• Violence towards women is unacceptable

• Men must stand up and provide leadership

• Men are part of the solution

White Ribbon Ambassadors are emphasising the message that it’s OK to play with controlled aggression on the field, but you must never bring that aggression into your home or relationships. To assist local spokespeople we’ve put the full page of key messages on the website. These may also come in handy if you are planning to write letters to the editor.

We hope your preparations for White Ribbon Day are coming along well – keep us posted.  And congratulations to the All Blacks!!

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Check out the October White Ribbon Newsletter. Heaps of info on the campaign and how you can help us find prominent men for the Newspaper Pledge Project. If you want to share this with people via email, just copy this link  http://whiteribbonnz.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/white-ribbon-newsletter-october.pdf  and paste it into your email – then send to all your friends and colleagues! You can help us spread the White Ribbon Message.

Seeing men turn their lives around inspires CEO

The White Ribbon Day campaign raises awareness of men’s violence against women – which in New Zealand is generally directed at wives, girlfriends and other intimate partners.  White Ribbon Ambassadors encourage men to get involved by helping to challenge and change men’s abusive behaviour and attitudes towards women.

Seeing too many families affected by violence has inspired Bruce’s desire to become a White Ribbon Ambassador. ‘My work has shown me that too often violence pushes families over the edge.  Anything that can be done to stop this from occurring I’m going to support wholeheartedly’, says Bruce.

‘I met a father a number of years ago who described himself as an ‘animal’. He abused alcohol and regularly abused his wife and children. After attending a parenting seminar at Parents Inc he learnt the value of being a great dad and how he had to protect his family. He realised that love had to be at the centre of his family and that his violent behaviour could not continue. He was able to turn his life around and with ongoing help became a sober, gentle, loving man for his family. If this man can make these life changes, other men can too.’  

Motivated by stories like this, Bruce feels honoured to become a White Ribbon Ambassador and assist other men to seek help and change their violent behaviour.

The campaign is led by the Families Commission which actively supports a suite of family violence initiatives including the It’s Not OK campaign, the Family Violence Clearinghouse, Family Violence Statistics report and the White Ribbon Campaign.

‘I have always felt passionate about this campaign. I thought it was something fresh and exciting and wanted to be a part of this life-changing work. Violence has no place in our society and I hope the campaign will help bring about a violence-free future for all of our families’.

Bruce believes that getting communities to talk amongst themselves about stopping violence is the first step in creating a violence-free society. ‘Male ambassadors who can speak to other men and communities are really powerful. The campaign communicates to the public in a positive, proactive way and I am really proud of it.’ He stresses the importance of people at a community level standing up and being leaders. ‘We need men to stand up within their own communities to say that violence is not okay. Let us draw a line in the sand and demand that violence towards women and families is not acceptable.’

Being an avid biker with his wife, Amanda, Bruce feels a strong connection to the White Ribbon Ride, a key component of this year’s campaign. He jokes that he loves all bikes, just as long as they are Triumphs. He believes that bikes can be a great starter of communications between people. ‘Motor bikers tend to be seen as tough and rough, but I have seen real genuineness and support for this campaign from biking communities. Using bikes as the common ground is a great way to start a conversation with someone. Communities that are visited by the White Ribbon Ride find the imagery of these men and the messages they are spreading really powerful.’

In 2010 the ride visited over 40 communities throughout the North Island, generating significant support for local anti-violence initiatives. Three rides will happen in 2011, one on the east and west coasts of the North Island and one down the South Island. Riders can participate in the whole ride over all eight days or ride for sections of the route. The ride is led by the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club.

Bruce is committed to making sure the White Ribbon messages get to all corners of New Zealand. ‘I will use my connections through Parents Inc to share these messages and stories. We work with families all across the country and if I can use some of these networks to encourage more people to support the campaign, I know I’m doing something truly worthwhile.’  

http://www.theparentingplace.com
http://www.parentsinc.org.nz

Te Ahi Kikoha

Te Ahi Kikoha

The White Ribbon Ride is nearly ready to roar into life and we’re very excited that a new group made up of Super Maori Fullas and Maori health professionals will co-lead the ride alongside the Patriots Defence Forces Motorcycle Club. This group replaces the Super Maori Fullas who are unfortunately unable to take part in the ride this year.

Riding under the Te Ahi Kikoha monkier – “The Sharpened Flame”, this new entity brings a wealth of Maori knowledge and expertise and combines their passion to end violence with their love of bikes. With a deep understanding of the issues facing Maori communities, these men will deliver awesome messages to support the White Ribbon kaupapa.

Riding is with the elements, the cause moves the soul, and unity inspires a nation.

Takurua Tawera  explains, “The White Ribbon Ride is an event I always look forward to, the kaupapa ‘say no to violence against women’ reminds me of a saying, ‘a fall of one woman is the fall of a hundred warriors’. My passion is to ride with like minded men who have a vision for a better society. Riding with a cause helps me appreciate life’s pleasures in a complex world.

Takurua Tawera - Te Ahi Kikoha

If I was to encourage young men, and teach them the significance of owning and riding a motorcycle, I would say ‘let the bike and the elements teach you the meaning of life, because it’s not what I do, it’s how I do it that makes life that much more precious’. We win or lose by the way we choose, the White Ribbon Ride is a choice for me to be a better man. Takurua Tawera 

Seven new White Ribbon Ambassadors!

White Ribbon welcomes seven new Ambassadors to the Campaign and we look forward to working with them to raise awareness and get men to take action.

David White is the father of Helen Meads who was murdered by her partner Gregory Meads in September 2009. David has been very active speaking out about the impact of his daughter’s murder on her children and their family. He has been involved in supporting the White Ribbon Campaign in his local community and on national television last year. He was recently involved with Women’s Refuge’s campaign this year, as one of the people telling their story about the cost of domestic violence to their family. David has been very vocal in trying to help stop the silence around domestic violence.

Chris Sola is the Chairperson of The Dream Centre Trust and the Senior Pastor of The Dream Centre Church in Manukau. He founded both of these organisations in 2000 with the primary purpose of empowering people with a desire to dream. Described as a leader who demonstrates the values of the White Ribbon Campaign in his life, he is a man who is proactive and tirelessly working in his community. He takes a stand on things he believes in, and puts his heart into everything.

Peter Tennent is a former Mayor of New Plymouth and a very good role model who worked closely with the Taranaki Safer Families Trust and Taranaki Community Law Centre. Peter has always been willing to participate and acted as once of the faces for a local family violence project.  Passionate about his local community, he feels privileged to have led the district during its most successful decade where Taranaki was judged the best and most liveable community on the planet! (United Nations endorsed Liv.Com Awards)

Dean Davisis a live-in House Parent for Homes of Hope Charitable Trust and knows the realities of women and children who suffer from men’s violence. He is passionate about preventing violence and abuse and has been active in the local media inTauranga, where with the support of his employers he has been able to talk about how we can take action to address domestic violence and child abuse. He exemplifies responsive leadership and someone with a child focused approach, that is warm, creative and responsive as a husband, father and caregiver.

Takurua Tawera is a humble, spiritual man of integrity who exemplifies consistent behaviour in both his work and personal life. He knows the challenges and opportunities in working to address men’s violence, as he has both the past experience and current knowledge through his work engagements. He is actively involved in his community and has a history of being involved in the White Ribbon Campaign. This year Takarua will be co-leading the White Ribbon Ride – riding under the Te Ahi Kikoha monkier – “The Sharpened Flame”. This new entity which replaces the Super Maori Fullas, brings a wealth of Maori knowledge and expertise combining both his personal strengths and the groups passion to end violence with their love of bikes.

Kalum Jury-Field is a case manager at Work and Income in New Plymouth and also part of the police-led organisation known as Big Brothers, Big Sisters – where he is a brother to a young man for whom this role model support is invaluable. Kalum is also a Public Services Association (PSA) delegate, another role which he handles with diplomacy and confidence. Kalum wants to raise awareness of the violence affectingNew Zealandand is passionate about his desire to make a difference.

Bruce Pilbrowis the CEO of Parents Inc. and former Deputy Chief Families Commissioner, who helped shape elements of the White Ribbon Campaign. As an avid supporter and a motorbike rider, Bruce has been instrumental in helping the Campaign connect with families and men throughoutNew Zealand. “I have always felt passionately about this Campaign. I thought it was something fresh and exciting and wanted to be a part of this life-changing work. Violence has no place in our society and I hope the Campaign will help bring about a violence-free future for all of our families”.

Asian Report’s two-part special on domestic violence in the ethnic sector

Asian Report is bringing you a two-part special about domestic violence as it affects our ethnic sector, the Asian, African and Middle Eastern communities here. Domestic violence is a significant issue confronting our society. For many new migrants or refugees to this country, regaining a sense of family and community is vital for resettlement. However language barriers, post-traumatic stress or isolation can be exacerbating factors that contribute to domestic violence and tragedy. Shakti Community Council has four ethnic women’s refuges around New Zealand, servicing many families from our ethnic sector.

Tues 11 Oct 2011 In Part One, an anonymous survivor of abuse speaks to Lynda Chanwai-Earle about her ordeals and Lynda visits SHAKTI’S new Life and Learning Centre in Auckland.

Tues 18th Oct 2011 Part Two: Asian Report special on domestic violence as it affects our ethnic communities. Lynda Chanwai-Earle meets key spokespeople across the country, including Judge Ajit Swaran Singh from the Manukau District Court and Priyanca Radhakrishnan from Shakti’s Wellington Offices, about these issues in search of solutions.

 
First Episode from Radio NZ Asian Report is here:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/remote-player?id=2499939
Second Episode is here:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/remote-player?id=2500440

Preventing partner violence in refugee and immigrant communities
The October 2011 issue of Forced Migration Review has an article titled Preventing partner violence in refugee and immigrant communities that discusses some of the promising practices that are part of Robert Wood Johnson Foundations’ Preventing Partner Violence in Immigrant Communities: Strengthening What Works Initiative.

The promising practices are:

• Engage young people whose attitudes are still forming
• Address multiple and overlapping layers of discrimination
• Engage spiritual and community leaders
• Target unhealthy traditional or religious practices
• Overcome shame and stigma
• Draw on informal networks of support
• Challenge community norms that tolerate IPV
• Include men and women in programming
• Build community capacity or “social capital”

How does your organization work with immigrant communities to prevent sexual violence and domestic violence?

Click here for a link to this article by Greta Uehling, Alberto Bouroncle, Carter Roeber, Nathaniel Tashima and Cathleen Crain.

For further  information visit Shakti’s website or visit this gallery of images

White Ribbon Ride 2011

 Community events take the form of marches, breakfasts, meetings, school visits, tug-of-wars, and so much much more. The Ride is led by the Patriots (former or serving members of the New Zealand Defence Forces) and are joined by riders who wish to see an end to the violence that plagues New Zealand families.

2011 Route

The White Ribbon Ride will travel across all of NZ

Demand that Facebook removes pages promoting sexual and other violence against women.

Join or support the White Ribbon Ride to end violence against women

Offensive Facebook Site

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ), with the support of White Ribbon Campaign, believes that Facebook should immediately remove pages which promote sexual and other violence against women.

Facebook’s Terms of Service clearly prohibit users from posting material which is hateful, threatening, incites violence or contains gratuitous violence. There are also rules against bullying, intimidating or harassing other users and using Facebook to do anything discriminatory.

Nevertheless, there has been a proliferation of ‘pro-rape’ pages and other pages which encourage violence against women on the social networking site.

Examples of pages currently live on Facebook include: ‘You know she’s playing hard to get when you’re chasing her down an alleyway’, ‘Punching pregnant women in the stomach’, and ‘Riding your girlfriend softly cause you don’t want to wake her up.’

These pages, and many others like them, clearly violate the Terms of Service, but Facebook refuses to remove them.

As an organisation working to improve the status of women and build a society in which women are safe, NCWNZ strongly urges Facebook to remove this material.

Violence against women is an issue here in New Zealand. Statistics tell us that one in four women will experience sexual assault, and one in three women experience partner violence in their lifetime.

NCWNZ and White Ribbon Campaign encourage all New Zealanders – men and women – to take a stand on this issue and support our campaign. Join those who have signed petitions in the US and the UK and let Facebook know that New Zealanders do not condone a culture in which rape and violence against women are OK.

Click here to join the online petition.

Phil Kingsley Jones wants to Red Card Violence

September White Ribbon Newsletter.

White Ribbon Newsletter September

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