A few nights ago, on the ReachOut Forum - White Ribbon Foundation, Director: Isabel McCrae and with her, Dr Michael Flood, were online giving us an insight about violence and what we think, what we should ALL do to help prevent violence from happening to ALL people.

I gave out my theory that night.

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A couple of years ago on the Oprah Winfrey Show, there was a story about a woman called: Susan Still, who experienced domestic violence from her ex husband (now). This story is really interesting, because the young children were getting involved and I found it ridiculous and outrageous that this father will allow his 13 year old son(s) to sit there and video record the violence happening. Susan is now a survivor of domestic violence.

This is my theory:

Violence happen for so many reasons. Some find it cool to hit one person and bruise them, others go to the extreme without thinking straight of what they're doing is wrong.

To deal with the problem for some people, they find it difficult to deal with, because once the damage is done...it's done and they're in that stage of thinking: what can I do? How do I get it out of it? They're too afraid to do something, because they don't know what can happen next.

Some say violence is a way to allow the other person to NOT get the person angry again. Me, I find that a load of crap. So, if someone hits me and is violent towards me - must I sit there and allow that to happen? No, I will take action and STOP the violence from happening towards me. If I am scared, than that gives the other person the opportunity to continue to intimidate me and make me feel weak and at risk of violence.

People jump to conclusion, without looking at the factors or ways of dealing with the issue. They think violence is the answer to everything. Well it is, if they're looking to spend their life in prison! But I say it's wrong.

Schools, Universities, etc - at some stage, provide information of what can people do, but vaguely do I see many action take place in Universities. In Primary schools - a lot of actions get taken, because they teach little children of what they can do. They teach them from wrong to right. Young children in Primary school, find it hard to discuss with higher authorities, because they still don't know what to do, as they're afraid if their parents find out that theyve been speaking with teachers, counsellors or sometimes the police.

In highschools, it is a subject now: 'Community and Family Studies'. They teach them a lot of things that happen within the society. In some Universities, I guess they think: they're old enough to know from wrong to right, so they should know what decision to make, but people in Universities are also, at risk of being victims of abuse as well and who knows...they can be experiencing it, since they were young.

That's easy. You think you're in a situation with violence: Call the Crisis Help Line...Call the Emergency Hotline...Dial 000. They teach us that in schools (primary).

I think the WRF is doing a great job in publicising it to the media and on the internet, in the mall. I've seen signs around Parramatta about the WRF and was excited that it's about time action is being taken. Amnesty International is also doing a good job, but its great WRF is getting it out there more.

Well that's my theory.

If anyone would like to share their opinion please do so on NO TO VIOLENCE, official cause page on Facebook.

Direct Link: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/151616?recruiter_id=29834858

To check out the White Ribbon Foundation website...please do and help other people get involved in this action.

Thanks all