Hanover, NH –November 5, 2013 – Cameron Conaway, Executive Editor at The Good Men Project and author of Caged: Memoirs of a Cage-Fighting Poet and Bonemeal: Poems, is set to speak about violence against women at Dartmouth University on Nov. 6. The award-winning poet and former MMA fighter, who once trained under BJJ legend Renzo Gracie, recently returned to the U.S. after living in Asia, where he researched violence against women and modern-day slavery. He has long been an outspoken writer and activist on these issues.
Upon returning home from Asia, Conaway was a featured speaker at the Child Labor Coalition in Washington, DC. He spoke of the brutal shipbreaking industry in Chittagong, and of how many participants in the room, himself included, were likely wearing clothes made by the Bangladeshi workers who are essentially treated like slaves. Conaway’s message is one of mindful awareness, a powerful message that he will share as part of Dartmouth University’s recognition of the White Ribbon Campaign.
What is the White Ribbon Campaign? In 1989, fourteen women were killed in what has come to be known as the École Polytechnic Disaster. Immediately after, a movement began to form in Canada that involved men wearing a white ribbon to signify their opposition to violence against women. In 1991, the White Ribbon Campaign began to gain momentum and has since become one of the world largest men’s anti-violence programs in the world.
According to Conaway, “It is an honor and privilege to be the featured speaker as part of Dartmouth University’s recognition of the White Ribbon Campaign. My travels throughout countries like India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Myanmar have reinforced my life’s mission. My fight, which now reaches far beyond the cage, is for the attainment of basic human rights for the world’s most vulnerable populations.”
At Dartmouth, Cameron will share his insights into the various cultures he immersed himself into during his travels, and of the incredible importance of creating a culture of peace here at home. His belief is as Leo Tolstoy once wrote: History is shaped “…by an infinitely large number of infinitesimally small actions.” Actions, Conaway believes, that we all have the power to take.
The accomplished author also garners attention for the causes through his writing. Conaway has written many features on these topics and was even given rare access to the dangerous shipbreaking yards of Chittagong for an essay titled “Of Ship and Men” which was published by The Good Men Project.
For more information on Cameron Conaway, his work and his causes, please visit www.cameronconaway.com or follow him on Twitter @CameronConaway.
