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"Imagine the personal indignation of women who kept quiet, for years, Each year, he contacts Halton‘s two boards of education and more than 100 businesses asking their perâ€" sonnel directors to circulate his letters and post notices encouraging male executives and employees to speak out against violence and wear white ribbons in support of the fight to end violence against women and children. "Perhaps if these new statistics are true, and I have no reason to think they‘re not, then we have all the more reason to do something about it," said Anand, adding that in past years, women tended to keep quiet about any violence they were experiencing, "because they felt ashamed and were afraid of what would happen to their families â€" their children, and what these men would do to them." SOLO EFFORT Anand, working almost singleâ€" handedly, says something must be done. About three years ago, he formed the group ‘Halton Men Against Violence Against Women and Children,‘ which at one time peaked at 12 members. Currently, eight to 10 men come to meetings, "but mostly, it‘s still a oneâ€"man show." The third annual vigil will be held at George‘s Square (Trafalgar and Sumner, two blocks north of Lakeshore) on Dec. 6th, starting at 7 p.m. This vigil is coâ€"sponsored by the Halton Rape Crisis Centre, Halton Women‘s Place, WHAM (Women of Halton Action Movement), Women‘s Information and Support Centre of Halton, and the Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights. Candles will be proâ€" vided. In the past, it was believed that one in 10 women experienced phy51- cal and sexual violence. Anand will also continue to supâ€" port and attend the Candlelight Vigil being held to remember the 14 women slain by an angry gunman at L‘Ecole Polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989, a mass murder known as the ‘Montreal Massacre.‘ According to the report, the result of random selection telephone interâ€" views of 12,300 women across Canada, half of them were physically or sexually abused since age 16; 45% of the victims knew their assailants; 29% were abused by their present or former spouse (married or common law); 15% reported living with a vioâ€" lent man; 21% experienced violence while pregnant; 63% were attacked more than once, and 32% more than 10 times. In addition, four out of 10 children witness violence in their homes. "I am appalled and very disapâ€" pointed and I feel very ashamed as a man," he lamented. CANDLELIGHT VIGIL . To Anand, a white ribbon "symâ€" bolizes men‘s commitment to ‘zero tolerance‘ of violence against women and children." The Glen Abbey resident is, for a third year, spearheading Halton‘s White Ribbon Campaign, Nov. 27th to Dec. 3rd. "I‘m absolutely shocked and flabâ€" bergasted" at these statistics. "I didn‘t think it was that high." A survey released earlier this month by Statistics Canada stating more than half of Canada‘s 10 million women have experienced spousal vioâ€" lence, and that 60% fear for their perâ€" sonal safety in their everyday lives, writhes Mohan Anand. By WILMA BLOKHUIS Oakville North News Staff Statistics on violence alarm White Ribbon organizer "If the percentage (of women who suffered this violence) is as high as stated in this survey, then we must take action quickly. It‘s not enough to just say ‘I don‘t like it‘ and do nothâ€" ing. Men must collectively stand up and first, recognize the problem; secâ€" ond, be ready and willing to do someâ€" thing about it; and thirdly, ask what we should be doing about it. Building women‘s shelters and rape crisis cenâ€" tres are just bandâ€"aid solutions. Anand advocates violence is not just a women‘s and children‘s issue, but "demeaning situation for our whole society. about the violence they suffered and accepted this kind of suppression and bad treatment. I feel a reverence for the women who had that kind of patience." Anand has drafted a list of ‘Ten FREE CHILDREN‘S ACTIVITY CENTRE Every Sat. in Dec. Noonâ€"4 p.m. Every Monday Tuesday until December 14. 1 per family, children under 10. ber 14. n under 10. REN‘S NTRE Dec. m "This is a social disease, not just a women‘s and children‘s issue," said * Join others in the committee to insist that police lay charges in all cases of assault on wives or children. * Write to the media or to advertisâ€" ers to object to demeaning images of women. * Report any cases of violence against women and/or children to police. * Object to any sexually demeanâ€" ing pictures of women in newspapers, magazines and posters. * Challenge jokes and sexist lanâ€" guage that imply violence towards, or abuse of, women and children. * Examine how your own behavior might contribute to the problem. Things You Can Do Immediately to Help Stop the Violence Against Women and Children.‘ They include: "It doesn‘t mean if you wear a white ribbon that you are a violent man," said Anand, noting the Red Ribbon Campaign protesting drunk driving continues to battle a similar societal stigma. "If you wear a red ribbon, it doesn‘t mean you‘re a drunk. It means you‘re against drinkâ€" ing and driving." In addition to men being asked to wear white ribbons or a white armâ€" band, they are also encouraged to hang white ribbons them from their houses, cars, and at work. "The white ribbon symbolizes a call for all vioâ€" lent men to stop harassing, beating and sexually assaulting women and children. Anand. Violence in general and vioâ€" lence against women and children is an antiâ€"social behavior and should be regarded as such." '-'.':-_. Monday to Friday _‘ 9:30 a.m. to 9 p ~. Saturday, Dec. 4 9:30 a.m. to 6 p . â€" Saturday, Dec. 11, 18 9:30 a.m. to 9 p Sunday noon to 5 p.m. *with exceptions ... Y ~TON FOOD DROP BOX Accepting donations 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. .. noon to 5 p.m. *with exceptions Mohan Anand ~ QEW SOUTH SERYICE RD.