Domestic Violence Awareness Month

We define domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. --USDOJ Office on Violence Against Women

If you are at risk, or you know someone who is (or suspect that they are at risk), please visit the website. We are aware that men are often victims & can receive help through the office. The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233); 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)

Here is a link to other countries' national domestic abuse hotlines. Get help or help someone!

(photograph via Saving Grace)

Congo

>Usually a spoonful of sugar & so on. Not now, though we are refraining from showing the worst of the photos of children. Please read the BBC's (Q&A Congo), or go here for the latest on Congo. If you're reading this, please go to Raise Hope for Congo, the Enough Project. If you're in the UK, France, or anywhere else, contact your governmental agency for international affairs. Something must be done & it can be but people must put pressure on their government. France has been trying to convince EU member countries to contribute troops but the answer has been an inexcusable "no."

From ABC News: Congolese women demonstrate in Goma, eastern Congo, Nov. 14, 2008, against war-related violence in the northern Kivu province. About 300 women responded to the demonstration called by local women's groups and nongovernmental organizations. The signs read: "Do you want us to also take weapons?" and "We are crying for our children killed in Rutchuru."

photo via ABC.com/Jerome Delay/AP Photo

What kind of world do you want? (Part 2)

Isn't she lovely? This lady (we don't know her name) posed for photographer Jay Dedman on the afternoon of 28 January 2006. We hope she is alive & well. But she lives in the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman. Please go to Raise Hope for Congo & the Enough Project to see what you can do; it's probably more than you think. We cannot stress the urgency of the current crisis in eastern Congo enough. If you own or use a cell phone, a computer, any kind of electronics, this affects you. Here is the link to Anderson Cooper's 60 Minutes piece, The War Against Women, in January 2008. It was repeated in August & the situation has only deteriorated.

Once you know, you can't say you don't.