Spreading the word
Like many Kiwis, I was deeply upset by the recent case of little Nia. What I find so deeply depressing is that this, like youth suicide, is a really difficult issue to tackle because at the core of it, it requires attitude change not legislative change. While I have had some problems with these organisations, I think this might be a very powerful action. I’m not living in New Zealand but I promise that at 1:12am I will be standing and thinking about it along with everyone else (1:12am is a silly time to stand around outside in a tiny village in the middle of England). Child abuse is rife in New Zealand, how did we let it get this far? You can be the change by letting everyone you know know that child abuse is not ok. Every individual counts and this could be a very powerful stand if enough people join in. I urge you to join Kiwis everywhere as they take a stand at 12:12pm today.
*Nationwide Stand Against Child Abuse - This Wednesday, 12:12pm*
Family First NZ , For the Sake of Our Children Trust and the Sensible Sentencing Trust have joined together to call on all NZ’ers to stand against child abuse this Wednesday.
They are asking NZ’ers to stop whatever they are doing - to come out onto the street, outside the office or classroom, to stop their car or truck and stand outside their vehicle - and make a symbolic ‘stand’ against child abuse for three minutes at 12:12pm, this Wednesday 8 August.
The three minutes represents the three short years of little Nia’s life, and the number 12 is significant as it represents the months of the year where children are abused, neglected and killed in NZ.
The three short minutes is an opportunity for each person to reflect on what each one of us can do to be part of the solution to our unacceptable rate of child abuse .
Spread the word, the more people involved the stronger this action will be.
