Monthly Archives: November 2011

Nov25

Violence against Women now the most prevalent form of Human Rights Abuse in Australia

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Today, 25 November, was international White Ribbon Day – against the violence of women. Sadly, in Australia the reported figures of this type of violence is rising with now more than 70 women this year dying in her home from the effects of domestic violence.  That is more than one women per week! Violence against women has now become the single most prevalent form of human rights abuse in Australia (as reported by White Ribbon today).

Australia considers itself a first world country, but our record on Human Rights for women and our indigenous people is appalling. “Violence against women is a serious problem in our society. Statistics show that one in three Australian women over the age of 15 have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives”, source http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/white-ribbon-importance

One in three women are subjected to some sort of abuse and still it continues and anytime a women speaks out they are branded as a feminist, or a “women’s advocate” and relegated to the role of insignificant fanatic.

You are not alone in your voice and the world is Changing by the power of the Changing Woman!  Promoting positive images and stories of real women embracing their inner power and strength to change the world one woman at a time!

How can you help?

  • Join us and contribute your story;
  • Join or support another proactive organisation promoting equality
  • Treat men and women with dignity and respect
  • Strive to see the beauty in those around you and take the “bitch talk” out of your everyday language
  • Value yourself and your role in society
  • Speak proactively with strength when asserting your right to equality and justice
  • Walk away from a fight you can not win to live another day in sunshine and peace

RESOURCES:

Human Rights Online Philippines

White Ribbon Australia

Violence against women is endemic to our sick culture – article by Melinda Tankard Reist

Nov24

Violence against women is endemic to our sick culture

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A great article in The Punch online magazine by Melinda Tankard Reist, http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Violence-against-women-is-endemic-to-our-sick-culture/  as a lead up to White Ribbon Day on November 25.  The article clearly catalogs a range of violent practices against women that are dressed up to look like fashion, pop culture, television or just plain good entertainment.  Tankard Reist gives numerous examples of some of the degrading messages about women that appear on  T-Shirts, website’s, and books that promote violence against women.  Tankard Reist starts by saying;

“Of course it’s good that men stand up and pledge not to be violent and put white ribbons on their shirt collars. We need men to be engaged in the issue. But since the inception of White Ribbon Day, violence against women and children has continued unabated. And the culture that helps to makes violence against women permissible, even something to be celebrated, remains unaddressed.

Moreover, the cultural messages that eroticise violence against women and make it appear sexy, is the same culture in which survivors of sexual assault have to survive. What happened to them is made into something others call art and fashion.

Media, advertising and popular culture reflect values. Any reading of the social landscape tells us that women are really only good for one thing: to be used sexually.”

Definitively worth a read and the most concerning part of the article is the comments she has received.  Many demonstrating a lack of understanding of the damaging nature of this type of rhetoric.  Many passing it off as ‘fun’, ‘fantasy’ or worse that they don’t see it as a problem;

“Chris_D says:

08:28am | 23/11/11

@KH, I think you miss the point that we see advertising like that and think “care factor zero”.  Ignore it and it will go away.  Keep hyping it up and the advertisers are the winners, and you are their foot soldiers.”

WhiteRibbon

Australia’s campaign to
stop violence against women

White Ribbon is an organisation that is working to prevent the most common and pervasive form of male violence – that towards women. All forms of violence are unacceptable. White Ribbon believes the prevention of violence against women will change society for the better.

White Ribbon believes in the capacity of the individual to change and to encourage change in others. It believes that our generation can and must work towards stopping violence against women.

Through primary prevention initiatives and an annual campaign, White Ribbon works to change the attitudes and behaviours that lead to men’s violence against women.

From the WhiteRibbon Website.

Nov22

Grace – A Changing Women

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Grace

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Welcome to Grace, our latest Changing Women!  Someone who will no doubt also be known as a Women of Change!  Grace is now a contributor to the Changing Women forum, so look out for her posts.  Here is a little about Grace in her own words: “Hi, I am Australian and I have been living […]

Nov3

Why Men don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps – Allan & Barbara Pease

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Allan & Barbara Pease are Australia’s most successful publishing team. Their inspirational products boost personal and organisational growth around the globe.Click on Allan to see him in ACTION!

Some speakers teach.  Some entertain.  Some motivate.  Allan Pease does all three.

Known internationally as ‘Mr. Body Language‘ for almost 4 decades since his definitive book with that title became a multi-million seller and the communication bible for organisations worldwide.His keynote addresses, books, videos and audio programs, TV showsand advice on personal image are sought after by everyone from business executives and Prime Ministers, to TV presenters, Royalty and Rock Stars. His sales and communication systems have grown companies from one man bands to multi-nationals. Allan teaches your audience how to become great communicators and to win more business – and he makes them cry with laughter at the same time!

  • 9 No.1 Bestsellers
  • 15 ‘Top Ten‘ Bestsellers
  • Works translated into 51 languages
  • Sold in over 100 countries
  • Over 25 million books sold
  • Seminars in 55 countries
  • 100 Million viewers TV series and #1 Box Office movie
  • Hon. Professor at ULIM International University

Why Men don't listen and Women can't read maps

Have you ever wished your partner came with an instruction booklet?

Allan and Barbara Pease have spent seven years collecting research, interviewing experts and collating a comprehensive study of the profound communication differences between men and women to give us insight into why we each have a different reaction to the same thing.

http://www.peaseinternational.com/shopaff.asp?affid=286

Nov1

Michaela Bolzan – Woman of Change

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Michaela Bolzan

Michaela Bolzan

MiCHAELA BOLZAN – CREATIVE & CO

After fifteen years of producing in-flight entertainment for airlines and corporate communications, Creative Director, Michaela Bolzan has recently set up her own company (in 2011) called Creative & Co. The company is a dynamic, collaborative group of artists working together to create theatre, film and festivals. The group aims to produce work that inspires, challenges and entertains their audiences.

Michaela has a history creating theatre and in her words “marching to the beat of her own drum”. After completing her B.A. Honours with a major in Drama at the University of Newcastle, and at only 21 years of age she and a friend set up a theatre company in Sydney writing “issues based plays”. Writing, directing, producing and acting in her plays, now almost twenty years ago, Michaela found plenty to talk about. Current issues of the time were sadly issues that still remain issues today. Youth suicide and underage drinking were just two of the subjects that Michaela wrote plays about. She and her partner toured the plays around schools with great success. She says that these were “the most fulfilling years of my life” and she felt that “my skills were being used for good” by bringing this issues to life through theatre. These early experiences in theatre lead her to roles working with the airlines and corporate communications as a Creative Director. This role took her around the world on a regular basis, visiting her clients and producing world class film and media. The next time you are travelling in-flight on Virgin Australia, for example, you might see some of her work including the multi-awarding winning animated safety video, featuring Richard Branson.

THEATRE

Micheala’s current company, Creative & Co is developing a new play about the life of Sylvia Beach. The play will be set in Paris between World Wars I and II, when the French city was the cultural and literary capital of the Western World. People from around the world were flocking there hoping to participate in the experimental advances of the artistic community. Though it only lasted until the start of World War II, this time saw the beginning of a number of the major European artistic movements including Modernism, Dadaism and Surrealism.

As a young American woman, Sylvia travelled from her hometown of Princeton to Paris where she opened the first English bookshop, called Shakespeare and Company. For twenty years the shop became a literary magnet for artists including James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and many of the other women who made Paris of the 20s and 30s the hub of artistic pursuits.

FESTIVALS – The inaugural Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival

Micheala and her company, Creative & Co will be launching the inaugural Southern Highland Writers’ Festival in July 2012. This two-day event (21-22 July 2012) will feature talks, panel discussions and reading by some of Australia’s leading writers.

The festival will be held at the stunning Gibraltar Hotel in Bowral. Set on a beautiful 100 acre estate in the picturesque Southern Highlands of NSW (only 90mins from both Sydney and Canberra), the Gibraltar Hotel has a reputation for golfing excellence, fine food and now an innovative writers’ festival.

Check out www.southernhighlandswritersfestival for details.

As a Women of Change, Michaela was a speaker at a recent Women in Leadership forum, where she was quoted as saying that “the world needs sensible women to lead companies and countries” and no doubt more women “marching to the beat of their own drum” like Micheala herself!

CONTACT Michaela

PO Box 14, Double Bay, NSW, 2028 Australia

Michaela@creativeandco.com