Facebook has created an interactive page for teens and adults where they can pledge to stop bullying and recruit others to get involved. The campaign, Be Bold: Stop Bullying, is aimed at youth, parents and educators and hopes to inspire those who witness bullying to take a stand, reported the Toronto Star, CTV News and others Nov. 14. Participants visiting the page can take a pledge, share stories and even start their own school-based bullying prevention groups. The site will also be a resource centre, providing support and information. It's the latest attempt by Facebook to end bullying - but this time it's targeting the more than 18 million Canadians active each month on the social media site. The Canadian initiative, being launched during Bullying awareness week, is in partnership with organizations such as Family Channel, PREVNet, and Kids Help Phone and STOPcyberbullying.org. "It doesn't matter in what ways young people bully, it's a really destructive process," said Debra Pepler, the co-scientific director of PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network). "It's a collective pledge and a collective commitment to do something, when the tendency is not to do anything," said Pepler, who's also a York University psychology professor. "We can start to change norms and change attitudes. It really takes courage to stand up and intervene." Read full story.
Golden Dawn Eyes Canada
Theodore Tolias, an economics and international business instructor at York's Schulich School of Business, was recently interviewed by CBC-TV's "The National". See full story.