Canadian 'peer power' to fight bullying

Did you know that, most of the time, bullying stops in less than 10 seconds when peers intervene on behalf of the victim? That's from a 1997 study cited in a press release from Canada's award-winning Bullying.org. "It takes great courage for kids to get involved when bullying is happening," the site says. "Young people often don't want to be seen as selling out their peers. They worry that bullies may target them next, and these fears keep the majority silent and passive. It is that silence that gives bullies their power." The press release is announcing "Canada's first-ever national anti-bullying 'Peer Power' youth network." The idea is that kids usually hear from adult experts about bullying. Now they can hear from their peers (aged 13-18) - in presentations they'll give in their communities during National Bullying Awareness Week, 11/14-20. Teachers, administrators, coaches, scout leaders, etc. can register their "Peer Power" teams in the "I Want to Help - Join Peer Power" section of Bullying.org by October 1. This would be a good model for caring anti-bullying youth in any country! And how about an anti-cyberbullying campaign too? FYI, parents, the Oregon-based Center for Safe & Responsible Internet Use has guidelines on this specifically for you at Cyberbully.org (in pdf format; for full disclosure, I helped with its editing).