Let me say quite simply, Mr Rudd THANK YOU

Minister of Foreign Affairs and ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has now joined the global It Gets Better movement with his own video supporting LGBT youth.

“This message is for the young folk in our schools who are bullied because they are gay,” the politician begins. “In Australia it’s reported that one in every two LGBTI teens experience bullying at school. It’s gotta stop.

“So I’m adding my voice to the It Gets Better campaign around the world. Let me say quite simply – it’s not OK… there is zero tolerance for bullying in Australia and anywhere in the world.

Apple Genius Steve Jobs was bullied

An Apple A Day: Bullying And Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs has been heralded as the greatest marketer in modern history. Yet, before the iPad, iPod, and his years of fame and wealth, Jobs was a victim of bullying.

Most of us want, feel and have the same needs to be happy

Isn't empathy what differentiate us from animals?
The media and entertainment industry should be part of such important social change.

"No, you don't know what it's like
When nothing feels all right
You don't know what it's like
To be like me
To be hurt
To feel lost
To be left out in the dark
To be kicked when you're down
To feel like you've been pushed around
To be on the edge of breaking down
And no one's there to save you
No, you don't know what it's like
Welcome to my life"
— Simple Plan

"All I wanted to do was go back inside to the library and read a book.I used to spend all my time reading books, or watching television. It was safe. Nobody ever was hurt or teased or looked stupid while reading books or watching television."
— Kathryn Magendie (Sweetie)

"There is no gesture more devastating than the back turning away."
— Rachel Simmons (Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls)

I've been actually really very pleased to see how much awareness was raised around bullying, and how deeply it affects everyone. You know, you don't have to be the loser kid in high school to be bullied. Bullying and being picked on comes in so many different forms.
Lady Gaga

The bullying was hideous and relentless, and we turned it round by making ourselves celebrities.
Julian Clary

"Life is a fight, but not everyone’s a fighter. Otherwise, bullies would be an endangered species."
— Andrew Vachss (Terminal)

"Some people won't be happy until they've pushed you to the ground. What you have to do is have the courage to stand your ground and not give them the time of day. Hold on to your power and never give it away."
— Donna Schoenroc

Poems to teach about bullying classroom activities

Australian Human Rights Commission says in the world of the web cyber bullying is an abuse of human rights

The Australian Human Rights Commission says in the world of the web, cyber bullying is an abuse of human rights.

Cyber bullying is when a child or teenager is threatened, harassed or humiliated by another child or teenager using the internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.

Catherine Branson QC, the president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, says the damage caused by cyber bullying can last a lifetime.

"Cyber bullying can affect large numbers of people and can intimidate them and in some cases leave them with lasting emotional damage," she said.

"We know that in particular it can affect young people through social networking sites and indeed through their mobiles phones."

So serious is the issue that the Commission has established a partnership with the Child Health Promotion Research Centre at Edith Cowen University to develop a new anti-cyber bullying campaign.

read more http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/28/3255965.htm

A GREAT ANTI BULLYING RESOURCE FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, TEENS AND CHILDREN

A GREAT RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS, PARENTS AND CHILDREN WITH VIDEOS, REOURCES AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES.

SCHOOL PRINCIPALS NEED HELP TO COMBAT CYBER BULLYING

VICTORIAN school principals need more help to cope with the rising threat of cyberbullying, an Auditor-General's report has found.

The report released today says 769 principals from state primary and secondary schools surveyed identified cyberbullying as an "emerging or increasing" risk.

Despite extensive, updated information on cyber safety provided by the education department, an approach for dealing with bullying on the internet has not been provided to schools, the report says.

Engaging parents on the issue is also proving tough, according to the principals surveyed.

It recommends the education department develop its understanding of cyber safety issues in schools, offer clear guidance on the best approach to dealing with cyber safety and support schools with training.
The report also found:

On average, about 167 students are injured in school a day across 1559 schools. There were 339 personal injury claims made in the five years to 2009, with 104 successful claims averaging a payout of $45,700.
Alleged assault and sexual assaults fell by 26 per cent, or one incident a day in 2009, compared with 1.3 every day in 2007.

Factors that increased the likelihood that a child bullied included that their parents frequently felt angry with them or felt their child bothered them a lot; children had an emotional, developmental or behavioral problem; and mothers reported less than very good mental health.
In addition, one in five bullies has an emotional, developmental or behavioral problem, more than three times the rate in non-bullies, Shetgiri notes.
However, parents who share ideas and talk with their children, and who have met most or all of their child's friends are less likely to have children who bully, Shetgiri finds.
"Parents can find effective ways to manage any feelings of anger toward their child and can work with healthcare providers to make sure any emotional or behavioral concerns they have about their child, as well as their own mental health, are addressed," Shetgiri says.
The findings were presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver.
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/05/03/Parents-can-raise-a-child-who-wont-bully/UPI-97991304477634/#ixzz1O4dLp2Zf

WE ALL CAN HELP STOP BULLYING THIS DOCTOR DID

CINCINNATI — The grade-school bullies called him so many names he wanted to die.

"Stupid," ''Freaky," ''Retarded" and "Trashcan" were the kindest things they said to their fifth-grade classmate, Josh Frey. The cruel words upset the 11-year-old Mason boy so much he refused a kidney transplant.

Josh needs that operation. His end-stage renal disease requires daily dialysis.

The bullying accelerated in January. Josh was so down in the dumps he didn't want to go to school.

He discussed his depression with his doctor, Rene G. Van De Voorde III. The medical director of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's dialysis unit volunteered to go to Josh's school, Stewart Elementary in Sharonville.

He talked to Josh's fellow students, bullies included. No one mentioned the b-word.

Instead of talking about bullying, he told them what it is like to be Josh, to be poked with lots of needles and never cry, to take seven different kinds of medicine and never complain. And to be connected to a dialysis machine every night when he goes to bed.

"No big deal," Josh says. "It's just another IV needle."

After the doctor's visit, Josh's classmates called him by another name: "Brave."

Research in Ireland has shown that young students who are or who are perceived to be lesbian or gay experience very significant levels of homophobic abuse in schools.
In launching the new guidelines,Ireland Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said, “The 21st century school should be one that is safe and supportive of all students, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people”.
Senator Averil “Every young person should feel safe and supported at school. However, the reality is that homophobic bullying is causing many lesbian, gay and bisexual students to feel threatened and undermining their ability to learn.”

Allem Halkic received over 300 text messages, one of which read: "I'm going to hit you. And trust me, the boys at your school who you think you're so cool with ... hate you. Don't be surprised if you get hit sometime soon."

Tougher penalties for workplace and cyber bullies are likely to be passed in Victoria's State Parliament on Tuesday. They will be known as Brodie's Law.

RIVERVIEW, Mich. -- Bullying is a problem in just about every school in America. However, one group of students in Metro Detroit may have a solution to end the violence.
Students at Riverview High School have formed a group called “Diversity Club.” This group allows students of different backgrounds to be there for each other when bullying takes its toll.
Nicolas Thorton, a senior at Riverview High School and member of the group, feels that the group can act as another friend.
“You should always have someone's back even if there not your best friend,” Thorton said. “You should always have their back because when someone's making fun of you, you're going to want someone there for you.”
The group recently traveled to Huntington Elementary to teach fourth and fifth-graders about standing up for others when they witness someone being bullied. They believe that being an “upstander” is critical in eliminating bullying in schools.
“An upstander is someone who stands up and speaks out for things they believe in and helps other people versus a bystander who just watches something that happens,” Thorton said.
Thorton grew up being bullied, but now he said he wants to educate the younger generation about the effects of bullying and encourage them to break the vicious cycle that continues through out the country.
“I wanted to help kids realize that the things they do now effect the rest of their lives,” said Thorton.
School bullying statistics show that 77 percent of students say they have been bullied mentally, physically and verbally. But now, cyber bullying is on the rise.

A University of Michigan Medical Sciences study found that most elementary students who suffer from sleep disorders are also labeled bullies and discipline problems while they are in school.

Childhood Plastic Surgery to Combat Bullying: A In this Disturbing Trend, Doctors say - Fox News Latino
One of the darkest sides of the technology wonders is the promotion of perfect looks by the Media causing an increase of 30% in children and teens plastic surgery over the last decade.
The media is selling us lies by using editing to change natural looks, they sell perfect body images telling us every day how imperfect and ugly we are and how our lives will change if only we could be perfect.
Bombarded with programs that promote bullying the weak, different and not so beautiful try desperately to change who they are in the hope to stop the bullying and be accepted.
In the past was not so easy to be famous and unfortunately to be good, intelligent or different is not cool, girls aspire to look like edited and perfected-unachievable photo perfection, and boys are putting their lives at risk by performing Jackass stunts.
What to do? Unless the Media helps to change this trend, I am afraid our world would become empty and cruel.
Imagine a world were all of us look perfectly alike, where we can not laugh because it can cause wrinkles, insipid, lonely and boring. The alternative a world were we can laugh, be friends, do good and become wonderfully beautiful inside and out...

Lady Gaga a victim of teenage bullying | My Kids Health

During an interview with The Guardian, Lady Gaga tells how she was dumped in a rubbish bin on a street corner, by a group of boys from her class. Some girls from the same class were also there, and found the whole experience hilarious. Lady Gaga was mortified, and at the tender age of 14 was left feeling worthless.

During her school years, Gaga, aged 25 was picked on verbally and physically, mainly for being eccentric and theatrical in her behavior, although she was also constantly called fat. The very same behaviour has led, ironically to her being one of the most famous female pop stars on the stage today.

Gaga has expressed empathy with teenagers and children who are bullied at school, understanding how it makes you feel. She said:

Bullying really stays with you your whole life, and it really, really never goes away.

Her peers called her a slut, drew graffiti and vulgarities on her school locker, while the others were left in a pristine state, and got pinched in the school corridors.

The latest single by Lady Gaga has been adopted as an anthem for human rights, with some proceeds from ‘Born this Way’ going to Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Australian Psychological Society : Helping girls develop a positive self image
We are all unique and valuable but that message is not given to our children often enough.
The entertainment industry, sports and famous people do not seem to put much effort in the good.
Apparently, oblivious of their contribution to our present problems: such as street and home violence, substance abuse, present growing culture of zero empathy...
In a society that promotes and loves jackasses, to be good is uncool, and really difficult.
Not easy to be unpopular in any age, but much more when you are a young person, you need to be courageous and have support.
I wish I could see the day that the Entertainment and Media industries decide to help our youth, their families and create the world we deserve and can have.

MEGAN GALE -IF SOMEONE HURTS YOU DON'T ACCEPT IT , SAY NO

'Gossips' respond to Megan Gale's cafe tweets | Herald Sun
If someone hurts you in any way, make it clear, politely of course, that you won't accept that kind of treatment," she said.

"I completely understand that I will not always be [everyone's] cup of tea and not appeal to everyone and I'm totally fine with that.

"Although with that said ... I still don't see the need for people to be hateful and negative, especially women hating on other women."

Gale hopes she changed the way her two critics approach ridicule in the future.

"I think they were pretty shocked when they saw me ... I was laughing about it though," she said.

"It's just strange that for some reason we seem far more quick to judge and be negative, rather than be positive and encouraging and support one another.

Have your say, it is anonymous and the Australian Government is listening -closes on 27th April

Australian government wants your opinion on cyber safety it is anonymous.
visit the site and have your say

The power of one...and many.

Hundreds march against bullies
A Facebook campaign launched by a 13-year-old bullying victim has resulted in a march of support attended by hundreds Saturday in Sorel-Tracy.

Maxime Collard, a student at Polyvalente Bernard-Gariepy, reportedly thought about committing suicide because of the bullying he had to endure. But instead, with the support of his mother and school officials, he organized an anti-bullying campaign at his school and created a Facebook page demanding that he and other victims be left alone. Within 24 hours the page had attracted more than 400 friends and hundreds of supportive comments.

On Saturday, hundreds took to the streets in support of Collard’s campaign, including Quebec Education minister Line Beauchamp.

Call for a anti-bullying/violence national forum

Rosslyn Noonan: School bullying reveals gap in natural justice - Opinion - NZ Herald News

Prime Minister John Key has called for a "national conversation" on how to reduce bullying in our schools. Political leadership is welcome on an issue that is complex and too often dismissed as unimportant and, at any rate, insoluble.

A generation of students who live online as much as in real life have not hesitated to post scratchy recordings of vicious assaults.

Each clip becomes a reminder that something has gone terribly wrong in the lives of both victim and bully.

I wish our Prime Minister would call for a National Conversation too sign petition

Damages for bullied Catholic studentA SYDNEY school will have to pay damages to a former student after the Supreme Court found it had failed to address continuing bullying which targeted the girl.

Jazmine Oyston sued her old school, St Patrick's College at Campbelltown, for negligence, claiming she suffered psychiatric injury after being taunted and abused by other students.

It began in 2002 when she was in year 7 and continued until 2005, when her parents withdrew her from the all-girls' Catholic college.

Bullied flood victim Blake Rice flees hometown after attack | News.com.au
The boy lost his mother and brother and instead of being surrounded with friends he is surrounded with bullies aged 13 to 22 years that had also threatened to murder his family and shoot up his house.

There is something really wrong with them, they do not have empathy?
They will be abusers and criminals and we are not doing anything about it.
How many more cases are there, that we do not know because the victim is not famous.
Youth violence is increasing and if we do not take action now , we will have more gangs and violence in our schools and streets, it will not be only Blake or Kate suffering but our families, friends and neigbours.
Our present solutions do not seem to have great results, I call for a National Forum were citizens concerned (ex: Teachers, Students,Government, Police, Sports Clubs, Defence Forces, Media, etc) will be involved to discuss innovative ways to solve this growing problem.
If we do not take preventative measures, inevitably we will end up with unsafe streets and schools.
In the end we will all suffer with our lack of action.
FORUM

Debate Opinion: Family of work bullying victim welcomes new laws: "Family of work bullying victim welcomes new laws PLANS for new laws under which workplace bullies will be imprisoned for up to 10 years have..."
Anti-bullying laws are and important step in turning bullying unacceptable and with dangerous consequences for the bullies.

Debate Opinion: 'Sexting' on the rise among teenagers | News.com.a...

Debate Opinion: 'Sexting' on the rise among teenagers | News.com.a...: "'Sexting' on the rise among teenagers | News.com.au 'The common idea is that young people are doing this as a response to pressure o..."

The media very often reports bad behavior by famous people sending "sexy" messages, doing drugs, and committing sexual and physical abuses with no recrimination, consequences and ridicule making it acceptable behavior and even glorifying it.
With no or few good role models in the public eye, is very easy for young people to fall into this kind of behavior , without money and support they end up usually with no job prospects, with a drug problem , physical, emotional and sexual scars caused by them or to them, and in worst cases in jail.

A young girl dragged to a dark place: Anger over sex assaults by school classmate | News.com.au

"
One day her teacher gave the class a task after talking to them about what "no" meant.

They were asked to write about when they should get a "no" feeling.

The girl drew a harrowing picture, which shocked the teacher who spoke to her mother about it.

That picture tells a thousand words. It shows the boy with his "evil eyes" dragging a crying girl to the toilet block as other boys watch."

Please sign my petition for a National Children Forum to discuss and find new solutions to effectively address our escalating violence and bullying in schools, home and streets.
Our school programs are outdated and need urgent review.
Do not be a bystander be part of the solution sign my petition

As a bystander, you can do a lot to stop and prevent bullying.
This film goes through scenarios where bystanders did nothing, and once scenario that shows how one bystander standing up may have changed the victims life for good.

Just by watching bullying take place, you increase a victims humiliation.
Don't let bullying be a show or event. STAND UP and intervene.

You can report a bullying incident anonymously to a teachers mailbox.

Befriend a student who continually gets picked on.

More schools to combat cyber-bullies - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

More schools to combat cyber-bullies - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
It is a positive step to introduce online tools to combat cyber bullying but it will not work unless we update outdated school anti-bullying programs.
Please sign the petition to call for a National Children Forum to address the root problems and solutions to youth violence.

Media's treatment of bullying story 'inexcusable' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Media's treatment of bullying story 'inexcusable' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Both boys are being let down one way or another by the system and it is time do take action.
Unfortunately, only when extreme cases occur we the public are made aware and demand action, forgetting that around the country similar abuse is a daily event for so many (too many) children.
We have to ask ourselves how much do we really value our children, and what does it say about us as a society when we let these incidents go unpunished, unheard and not addressed as serious as they are?
Are we forgetting that the bullies grow up and end up hurting others in their homes , work or streets in a vicious circle of violence and abuse, often ending up in jail?
We all will suffer if this problem is not addressed as it should early in childhood.
It is obvious that present anti-bullying programs are outdated and not working as well as they should, violence is becoming more common in our daily lives, we need to take this problem seriously if we want to decrease violence, and the place to start is in schools.
Take action sign the petition to ask government to call for a National Children Forum were government officials, universities, schools, teachers, parents, child specialists, sport clubs, media and all concerned citizens will meet to discuss current problems and find solutions.

Push for NSW election action on bullying - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Push for NSW election action on bullying - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
The Chinese Australian Forum says many Asian parents are worried about violence in schools, especially bullying.

Forum President Tony Pang says while the Liberal Party has released a policy to introduce more school counsellors, more significant change is needed.

"Both of the parties have not done adequately in terms of bringing up policy in addressing racial bullying and bullying at school," Mr Pang said.

Mr Pang says the state's Anti-Discrimination Act should be amended to make racial harassment illegal, similar to Western Australian legislation.

Matt And Tough Love | Listen | 97.3FM

Matt And Tough Love | Listen | 97.3FM
Congratulations to this parent, teaching right and wrong to your children will make this world a better place.
A brave parent, hopefully all the children involved learn their lessons and become excellent citizens.

Tune In Not Out

Tune In Not Out
Share your story, see videos and clips, blog, be involved, join other young people.

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition | About the Conference - Australia's peak Youth Sector Coalition policy change Interrupting Convention Conference

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition | About the Conference - Australia's peak Youth Sector Coalition policy change Interrupting Convention Conference
Home | Conference | About the Conference
About the Conference
Interrupting Transmission: youth | change | policy | practice
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour
May 30 - June 1 2011

AYAC is currently coordinating the first national youth sector conference since 2007. It is anticipated that in excess of 500 delegates will attend the conference, to access the most recent information about what’s happening in the area of youth policy, development and practice, and to develop networks and contacts throughout the youth sector.

National Youth Week – Win Free Stuff Competition | Australian Youth Forum

National Youth Week – Win Free Stuff Competition | Australian Youth Forum
What would you do if you were the Prime Minister for a day? What do you think is the best thing about being a young person in Australia? This year’s National Youth Week ‘Win Free Stuff’ competition is all about hearing your views and ideas as young Australians.

The AYF is an official partner of the 2011 National Youth Week and this year the AYF Youth Engagement Steering Committee helped develop the questions for the Win Free Stuff Competition. There are five questions you can answer.Not only do you have the chance to win a great prize, but the Steering Committee will be taking onboard your ideas about what is important to you.

If you are aged 12-25, go to the National Youth Week website and let us know in 25 words or less what you think.

For more information about what the AYF Steering Committee is up to during National Youth Week, make sure you stop by the AYF Facebook page.

AYF Steering Committee Update: Jamie | Australian Youth Forum

AYF Steering Committee Update: Jamie | Australian Youth Forum
AYF Steering Committee Update: Jamie – 15 March 2011

In all honesty, a lot of young people wouldn’t think it’s cool to share their opinion on big issues like foreign policy, high school curriculum and climate change. A lot of young people today will even keep quiet about issues that affect them in their very own cities like Indigenous policy, sexuality or financial problems. But if we really think about it, if we as a group remain silent then who is going to be in control of our future?

That is why I am a part of the AYF Youth Engagement Steering Committee, I come across young people every day who have amazing ideas, incredible passion and the power to bring about change, but perhaps lack the confidence or the direction to share their thoughts. I hear many young people complain about the state of Australia and the world we live in but I want to see more of them creating change by volunteering or TALKING and spreading their ideas.

I knew the other 10 members of the Committee were all going to be incredible people but I was blown away by what many of them have achieved in such a short time. As a Committee we will be out there throughout 2011, gathering the ideas and opinions of young people and sharing them with the Australian Government. The voices of this country’s 4 million young people are a powerful resource that Australia would be foolish not to listen to.

If you are a young person with an idea, thought or opinion - don’t hold back, go on the ‘have a say’ page and voice your opinion now!

Have a say

Have a say
Have a say join the current discussions and have a voice.

National Youth Week 2011 | National Youth Week 2011 - 14 days to go!

National Youth Week 2011 | National Youth Week 2011 - 14 days to go!
Meet our Young Members


National Youth Week (NYW) is run by young for young people! NYW Young Members are aged between 12 and 25 and come from all corners of Australia. The 10 Young Members for NYW 2011 help plan and develop NYW and inform decisions about how it runs. Check it out

Take a stand together-make your own avatar and share the message

Take a stand together
There is no point to have these wonderful websites if the children are not informed about them.
I asked about a few bullying resources available and no students ever heard about them, should that information be given at school??????
Not all students like math but they have to learn the essentials because it is an essential life skill. Conflict resolution and anti bullying training should be part of the curriculum? just a suggestion

CONGRATULATIONS TO OPERATION RESCUE

Four Australians high up in paedophile ring
Boylover.net, an online ring that tried to hide behind claims of legitimate conversation about paedophilia, is the biggest syndicate uncovered by police worldwide.

So far 184 people have been arrested and 230 children rescued around the world, including four in Australia.

The suspects include scout leaders, lifesavers and teachers as well as from many other walks of life.

They were members of the Netherlands-based website, which at its height had 70,000 members - most of them men.

Operation Rescue began in 2007 and involved police from Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Europol, the Netherlands and Canada along with investigators from Britain's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

"With over 200 children removed from harm globally, we imagine an even larger number of children were safeguarded elsewhere in the world," the manager of investigations at the Canberra based high tech crime lab, Grant Edwards, said.
MANY THANKS FROM ALL THE VICTIMS OF THE WORST KIND OF CRIMINALS.

National Children Forum: Bullying Video's "Little Zangief" A Hero Online | ...

National Children Forum: Bullying Video's "Little Zangief" A Hero Online | ...: "Bullying Video's "Little Zangief" A Hero Online | Incredible Hulk No winners... It is obvious that any type of violence should..."