An important week is coming soon that brings awareness to an issue which affects many of our lives. Some of us have suffered from it, many of us know someone who has.

April 18 - 24 we observe Prevention of Violence Against Women Week.

"According to the Men's Rape Prevention Project in Washington DC, 58,000 soldiers died in the Vietnam war. During that same period of time, 51,000 women were killed, mostly by men who supposedly loved them. In the summer of 1990, this statistic became the catalyst for a coalition of women's groups on Cape Cod, Massachusetts to consciously develop a program that would educate, break the silence and bear witness to one issue - violence against women." (Source: www.clotheslineproject.org/History.html)

That program became The Clothesline Project (www.clotheslineproject.org). This is a grass-roots movement that has spread through towns, cities and across country borders. People in your community, who care about or have been affected by this violence, participate in this program.

It is hoped that the attention the Clothesline Project brings to the issue of violence against women will help break the silence about this aspect of our society.

As part of this program people you may know paint T-shirts with a message about their personal viewpoint on the violence. There is quite an emotional range shown in this work.

Then local businesses display these shirts in their windows during Prevention of Violence Against Women Week.

What can you do? There are two ways to be involved.

1) Women who care are invited to come and paint shirts on these days at these venues:

• Tuesday, April 6, 1 -4 p.m. at Kimberley Family Centre • 395 Wallinger Ave., Kimberley

• Wednesday and Thursday, April 7 and 8: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Summit Community Services • 125 - 10th Ave. S., Cranbrook

• Tuesday, April 13th: 1 p.m. -4 p.m. at the Women's Centre • 32 - 13th Ave. S., Cranbrook

Just bring yourself and your unique vision on this issue. Shirts and materials to paint them are provided.

2) Take a walk around town and view the work local businesses are displaying. The shirts tell the story.

As of this release these businesses in Cranbrook and Kimberley will be displaying the work:

• Save-on Foods

• Max's on 10th Ave.

• Lotus Books

• The City of Cranbrook

• Pippins

• Kootenay Roasting Co.

• Mega Silk Screening

• Giant Tiger

• Kathy's Kitchen

• Pages Book Emporium

• Corks and Caps

• Custom Embroidery

• CIBC

For more information contact:

Cranbrook Women's Centre

(250) 426-2912

Summit Community Services

250-489-3114

Or visit the website at:

www.clotheslineproject.org