Thursday, April 12, 2007— Letter to MPs and others in a position to assist….

 

We Would Appreciate Your Assistance.

 

ChildSafeNZ.org in associatiuon with the Electronic Media Foundation (EMFANZ - www.emfanz.org) is seeking your assistance in getting support for a child safety educational programme for parents and children to be distributed through playcentres, kindergartens, medical centres, primary schools, Kohanga Reo  and libraries.

 

A quick search at the www.nzherald.co.nz website on the terms dog attacks or dog bites will turn up an alarming number of hits. EMFANZ has been monitoring this since the "pitbull" alarm which dominated the media in the late 1990s. In the intervening time, based on the anecdotal evidence in the media, not much has changed as regards dog attacks on unsuspecting people - many of them children.

 

On closer scrutiny it is clear that many of the attacks that have taken place could have been avoided if the children had been taught to act appropriately and safely around animals. In response to this EMFANZ has taken up a project first conceived by Gael Brooks (MNZM), former director of the NZ Child Safety Foundation and has engaged the assistance of Auckland Zoo keeper and animal specialist Asha Rodger, who over the past two years has become a household face in New Zealand, and as far away are Ireland, through her appearances on "The Zoo" TV series. Together with Asha, EMFANZ has prepared an entertaining instructional safety programme for children and parents called SAFE PETS which, in a logical and non threatening or alarmist way, teaches appropriate behaviour around animals, in particular dogs.

 

Teaching children appropriate behaviour in turn creates responsible young adults who in turn become responsible parents. Help us create the positive cycle.

 

This is not something that can be created in a political term but our research into this and related subjects shows conclusively that long term measures are desperately required in this and other areas of child safety. The anticipated success of the SAFE PETS project will spawn the SAFE HOME sequel - a similar programme on child safety in and around the home.

 

Our research, dating back to the mid 90's, and earlier research dating back to 1984, into child accidents in the home, and driveway "accidents" in particular, demonstrates that quality education and parent support in these areas is desperately needed. Since the mid 1980s (an perhaps earlier) our country has had the worst child accident statistics in the OECD. You can assist EMFANZ in providing a valuable foil against this iniquity. Teaching children appropriate and responsible behaviour in turn creates responsible young adults who in turn become responsible parents - and responsible parents are more likely to bring up responsible children. Hence educational and support programmes such as the one mooted here have potentially far ranging effects on society as a whole.

 

How Can You Help?

 

Simply by supporting the SAFE PETS programme and assisting us to get the funding / sponsorship we need to make it a reality. To this effect I look forward to your comments in due course and thank you in advance for taking the time to peruse the attched information.

 

SAFE PETS SUMMARY

 

A multimedia DVD/Video for parents and children: 'SAFE PETS' deals with pet care and safety and safety around your pets, other people's pets and strays. In very easy language that will neither patronize the parents nor confuse the kids, it demystifies the basic psychology behind pet behaviour; how to learn and use a few very simple tricks and safety precautions to avoid injury and confrontation in all common situations. It deals with all common pet animals, in particular dogs, and it covers diseases and hygiene. The informations is condensed into a very watchable 30min so as not to over reach the average attention span. Multi-cultural versions are planned. The DVD version also contains extra information and picture booklets in PDF format which can be downloaded to a home computer and printed out in full colour to create attractive "children's Books" - a little after the style of the original Safe Playing Programme classroom books designed for the Safe Playing Programme.

 

SAFE PETS is presented by Asha Rodger, Auckland Zoo keeper and animal specialist who has become a household face in New Zealand, and as far away are Ireland, through her appearances on "The Zoo" TV series which has featured her quite often especially in her role as primate keeper when one of her Orangutan wards was having a baby (2006).

 

EMFANZ has fully sponsored the development, writing and video pre-production and is currently looking for funding / sponsors for production, duplication and distribution. A budget of $14,500.00 is anticipated for the balance of the work.

http://www.childsafenz.org/home/safe pets

ChildsafeNZ.org came about when a website for the What Will Happen If I Tell? Project needed an on-line presence and EMFANZ stepped up as a sponsor.  ChildsafeNZ.org has since expanded into an advocacy and resource for the health and welfare of all children in Aotearoa New Zealand and welcomes links and information that supports this mission.

The webmaster can be contacted at info@childsafenz.org.

SAFE PETS

A ChildsafeNZ.org Multimedia Child Safety Project

AN ADVOCACY FOR CHILD SAFETY AND WELFARE IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

The website is maintained and hosted free by the Electronic Media Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust

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