We Believe You

Have a look at this rape awareness campaign from mumsnet.com.
Here is what they say about the campaign.

Today, with overwhelming support from Mumsnetters, we're launching a new campaign. It's called We Believe You, and it has two simple aims. First, we want to shine a spotlight on the prevalence of rape and sexual assault in women's lives; then, we want to pull apart the many myths surrounding rape, which make so many women feel that they will not be believed if they report this crime.

Any thoughts about this campaign?

Making complaints CAN make a difference

Recently a Vodka company in posted an advertisement that appeared to depict a rape. After complaints the advertisement was withdrawn within a day and the company made an apology and donated funds to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. Part of our work with young people should be HOW TO BE AN ACTIVIST against the things in life you want to change.

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Belvedere Vodka executives quickly apologized for an ad posted online that showed a smiling man grabbing a woman, who appeared to be in fear, from behind.
"Unlike some people, Belvedere always goes down smoothly," the ad's caption read.
It drew hundreds of negative comments after it appeared Friday on the company's Facebook page, with many suggesting it appeared to depict a rape.
Belvedere Vodka marketing Senior Vice President Jason Lundy posted an apology on the page Friday afternoon, saying the ad also offended "the people who work here at Belvedere."
"The post is absolutely inconsistent with our values and beliefs and in addition to removing the offensive post we are committed to making sure that something like this doesn't happen again," Lundy said.
Company President Charles Gibb added his apology in a posting Saturday.

Go here to read more

pc rape games

Believe it or not these exist. It makes it seem disheartening when this sort of stuff is discovered.
I'm goinbg to show you 2 articles and thern have a small discussion ( RANT)

I was sent this article first: ( clink on the link to read more)

A game that involves the player stalking victims and then raping them in a virtual world is being offered for sale by online retailer Amazon.com, the Belfast Telegraph's website can reveal.
The shocking 'rape simulator', Rapelay, is set in Japan and carries a sickening game description on the Amazon website. An MP said last night that he plans to raise the issue in Parliament.
Reviews by gaming websites have expressed horror at the basis for the game.

I had trouble accepting this so did a search and this is what I found

( read here for more) Withdrawn from sale:
Amazon.com has stopped selling RapeLay, in which players have to stalk and rape a family of women
In Rapelay, gamers direct a character to sexually assault a mother and her two young daughters at an underground station, before raping any of a selection female characters.
The game was intended for release just in Japan, but was on offer to British buyers through Amazon Marketplace, the section of the online store's website open to third-party sellers.
But Amazon has now withdrawn the game after complaints from users, deeming it to be inappropriate. "We determined that we did not want to be selling this particular item," a spokeswoman said.

I can hardley believe that Amazon had to wait for people to complain before they stopped the sale of this game. For that matter I can hardley comprehend that anybody MADE this game. Here we are trying to help young people see the positive in relationships, to develop love and compassion for all people and this sort of crap keeps appearing. We are told that many things are impossible to control on the web. What a bunch of bollocks. Amazon stopped advertising this game, many countries block particular websites, our govt computer systems block us from facebook and bebo and and and.... Lets get real. No more excuses. Lets decide what is okay and what isnt. Be vocal; be part of the decision

When Bodies Become War Zones

I have recently been reading Danielle Topins blog which is very interesting. Her latest entry about violence, poverty and the use of womens bodies as a target is very interesting. She writes about Jamaica BUT this is applicable anywhere. Here is the first paragraph of her entry around this issue.

"During a recent walk through a secluded road in my neighborhood, I came face to face with the discomfort of unwanted desire. I was in a zone: in my own world, feeling confident and self-assured. As I walked, however, I became aware that I was attracting male attention, and an interesting thing happened. The more attention I received, the more uncomfortable I became; and at some point I became aware that I had noticeably slowed the pace of my walk, and quieted the skip in my step. I was trying to make myself less visible, in order to detract the male attention I was receiving. I also became aware of a feeling of fear...fear that someone would seize me and try to forcefully kill my jauntiness. I felt fearful of being raped. "

This is an issue that all of us need to combat and denounce at all times. Does anyone have examples of working with young people around this issue that has been successful????

Lud