The Campbell River Women’s Centre is rising up in a big way to fight violence against women.
A flash mob will take over Spirit Square on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, to raise community awareness in one of the most visible ways possible.
“It’s about eliminating violence against women worldwide by raising awareness,” says Georgette Whitehead, executive director of the Vancouver Island North Women’s Resource Society which operates the Women’s Centre.
Campbell River’s effort is one of several that will be taking place on the same day in more than 182 countries worldwide.
The movement, dubbed One Billion Rising, is an initiative of V-Day – a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls worldwide.
One Billion Rising is a special project to mark V-Day’s 15th anniversary and the goal is to have one billion people stand up to demand an end to violence against women.
Whitehead says there has been a lot of interest so far in the flash mob which will break out at noon in Spirit Square.
People are encouraged to come out and dance to a song earmarked specially for the occasion, called Break the Chain.
“V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbers, our solidarity across borders,” says the One Billion Rising website.
It also offers a sobering statistic – that one in three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.
To view the dance to Break the Chain, go to www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fL5N8rSy4CU
There will be a live rehearsal in Campbell River Feb. 10 for those who want to learn the steps. For rehearsal location and sign up, e-mail womenscentre@shawcable.com
For more details on the Campbell River event go to https://secure.onebillionrising.org/page/event/detail/ww2 or e-mail womenscentre@shawcable.com or call 250-287-3044.