Someone asked me recently what the domestic violence stats were for the countries of distribution for our film project. I already knew that India is the most dangerous place for women to live. At 275 million women a year experiencing intimate partner violence in comparison to our 1 out of 3, all I could do was shake my head and say, "Thank you Lord I was born in America."
But then a thought occurred to me. What is that 1 out of 3? There's 157,000,000 women in the United States makes that number 1/3 of the female population. That means it's 52.3 million! Double that of India!!!!!
Europe sits at 49 million women. So according to the real numbers, the United States is technically more dangerous than Europe and then India.
So I looked at all the countries we plan on distributing in.
Greece/Italy- 2.5million a year
Australia- 2.2million a year
India- 27.5million a year
Asia- varies pending country, anywhere from 15%-68%
Europe- estimates are 49million
UK- 2.3 million ages 16-74
United States- 52.3million
I left Asia out of this number because I only have percentages. Here's the cold hard facts - 135,800,000 women.
Our budget is equal to $.02 per female only, not counting the males, that have experienced intimate partner violence.
I think of my mother-in-law and how brave she was to leave her first husband. It came at a great cost, but her life is worth more than $.02
I think of how close I came to becoming a statistic, hanging out with "a friend" in college. My friends from high school that have shared their bravery and courage of walking away from violent relationships. Some as recent as last year. My sister-in-law whose grandson, that lived next door, had to shoot his father before he killed his mother.
America, the outcry we saw most of last year all around the nation, and even on January 6th, it starts in the homes. We MUST become better human beings towards one another. It begins with the man/woman in the mirror. That's my two cents on the issue.
For everyone helping us make a difference through this project, you just made my heart weep for joy that you care. You work hard for your money and we are all going through a difficult year, and you took more than your .02 worth and invested it in our production, in the lives that are yet to walk onto the property of the shelters, and into the HOPE that others will find.
Thank you isn't enough. So I would like to invite you to join me on Thursday, Feb 25th at 6pm CST to celebrate my birthday, this project, you and the lives of the lost that will find hope, not too far from here.
Here's the link:
Deborah Watson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Celebrating Hope- Not Too Far From Here
Time: Feb 25, 2021 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89678576482
Meeting ID: 896 7857 6482
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