peace and violence do not mix!

My baby, this blog, is almost a year old already! My first post was on April 23, 2009 and the subject was Domestic Violence. (http://bit.ly/5t6Od) Since it's almost birthday time, I figured I would do another domestic violence post.

I wrote about it last year because I chose to wrote a research paper on it last year and with doing all of the research, I really became passionate about the topic. I've done more research and of course I have to share what I've learned here.

here are some simple facts on Domestic Violence; it's real, it's out there, and it happens more then we realize. It's not just physical abuse. It includes, emotional, psychological, social, financial, sexual, and physical abuse. It includes stalking, intimidation, talking down to, emotional blackmail, pushing, shoving, hitting, slapping, victim being kept away from family and friends, victim being forced to participate in sexual acts against their will, keeping the victim from having job and not allowing them to have any money, punching, kicking, etc. It's also important to know that it happens to both men and women. Over one billion Americans have been affected by domestic violence at some point in their life time.

Here are some more facts from a resource guide provided by Avon.

• Many women will not leave an abusive relationship because she fears the safety of herself and her children
• Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rates of partner violence.
• Those who participate in dating violence are more likely to participate in binge drinking, fighting and/or smoking, and are at an increased risk of suffering from mental illness.
• Every 9 seconds in the U.S. a person is woman is assaulted or beaten.
• Up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually
  
• Victims of domestic violence lose nearly 8 million days of paid work per year in the U.S.
• The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds 5.4 billion dollars per year.
• Men who witnessed their parents' violence as children were twice as likely to abuse their own partners than sons of nonviolent parents.

Violence doesn't have a face, we can't always see it when it's coming our way. However, together we can get rid of all this violence. We can help stop the violence that is hurting so many people. If you see abuse, say something, try to help before it gets worse. No one deserves to die from abuse. Teach others the statistics. Look out for the warning sign. Make posters. Let's try to do whatever it takes to help.

Here are several resources that can help you join the mission against domestic violence:

• http://seeitandstopit.org
• http://safeyouth.org
• http://chooserespect.org
• http://breakthecycle.org
• http://loveisrespect.org
• http://dosomething.org
• http://avonfoundation.org
• http://ndvh.com
• http://endabuse.com
• http://ncadv.org
• http://nnedv.com
• http://ncvc.com
• http://ncdsv.org
• http://ncvc.org
• http://childhelp.org
• http://childwitenesstoviolence.org
• http://preventchildabuse.org

Remember that peace is possible. You've probably seen it a million times but violence is never the answer. Take a stand and demand respect. No one has the right to hurt you. Stand up against violence. Let's find some peace and love in this world. It's impossible for the world to have both. Let's put violence to an end! We can do it!