Today started with a quick morning interview with Winnipeg City TV. Here’s the link for the interview:
http://video.citytv.com/video/detail/2526818575001.000000/bt-winnipeg–change-the-cycle-07042013/
Violence Against Women with breakfast – now that is cool. The interviewer was really excited about Sonja biking with me along the Highway of Tears. It makes it a feel good story – which it is!
Some reflections on what interviewers are interested in:
Why do this alone by bike?
How does a Men’s Group work?
Are there, success stories?
Who comes to these programs?
All interviewers know about Highway of Tears, but they do not ask any further questions on this topic. The issue of violence against First Nations and Aboriginal women needs to be addressed by me. Also the systemic nature of Violence Against Women is not brought up at all.
I feel good about these interviews because a few thousand people hear about the topic of Violence Against Women, and maybe it’s from a new or different perspective as well. I believe it’s important for me to emphasize that Violence Against Women is a men’s issue – not a women’s issue. That is something that interviewers see as new, but that makes sense.
After the interview, I managed to find my way out of Winnipeg without trouble following major highways and the Highway 1 to Portage La Prairie where I entered Hw 16 the Yellowhead. Highway 1 was extremely busy with big trucks, but there are 4 lanes plus a wide shoulder. Highway 16 is much quieter but it’s only 2 lanes with a meter wide shoulder.
Today I biked 195km to Neepawa, which was Margaret Lawrence’s hometown. It was a surprisingly easy day, with winds mostly from the north and 30 degrees but the air is dry so that the heat is easier to take. Now I’m at a campground with lots of mosquitoes! Here are some pictures of the prairie landscape – you can’t smell the canola, but it is wonderful!
Just catching up with reading your blog, Joachim. I can only imagine the trail of inspiration you’re leaving on this journey.
I was particularly moved by your statement “violence against women is a men’s issue, not a woman’s issue”. Thank you for the continued work you do!
Thanks Sarah
Yes it’s a Men’s issue and let’s work together to raise boys and girls who are empowered by their relationships with women, men, children, their parent their communities, the ones they believe are different and not shy away into entitlement of power and control….