On Mel Gibson, Oksana Grigoriev and the readers of the NY Times

By Sara Molinaro 

“Young attractive gold digger marries old geezer. Abuse is her most easy way out with the big payoff right? I seriously doubt the truth of her accusations.” – Recommended by 63 readers

“Isn't it strange that no one has bothered to see what she might have done to promote this fury?” – Recommended by 40 readers

“Oksana is a parasite. She was in this relationship for FAME and MONEY. She is not talented. Send her back to Russia.”  – Recommended by 38 readers

“Sounds to me like a personal matter that has become quite public, primarily because that is the way Oksana will garner the sympathy of the courts and, to achieve her goal--reward of a whole lot of money in child support.”
– Recommended by 24 readers

Read more: She's a gold-digger & other lies that make us feel safe

By Deborah DeBare 

There is definitely a correlation between economic stress and intimate partner violence, so as one might presume, there is an increased demand for services from victims of domestic violence during economic downturns like the one we are currently experiencing here in Rhode Island and throughout the country.

Read more: Does economic stress contribute to domestic violence?

By Sara Molinaro

The title of this post is the headline of a recent, heartbreaking article about women in Afghanistan – victims of forced marriages, child marriages, domestic abuse, family violence – driven to the point of suicide by fire. Their stories are terrible tragedies of brutally inhumane treatment by those expected to love and protect them.

Read more: For Afghan Wives, a Desperate, Fiery Way Out

By Laura Dussault

I have been studying nonviolence and volunteering at the Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at URI for the past year and a half. This past summer I became certified in training classes on Kingian nonviolence philosophy – based on the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- which teaches conflict management for a better way of living.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I was interested in nonviolence theory and the framework it provides for conflict management, effective communication and healthy relationships. In an abusive relationship, there can be no conflict management because the abuser uses fear and intimidation to control his/her partner. However, I felt that educating others on the principles of nonviolence theory could promote the skills needed for healthy relationships, and perhaps work to prevent abusive relationships in the future.

Read more: Nonviolence Theory: a Prevention Tool?