The Doug Noll Show

Kimmie Weeks has worked to alleviate poverty and human suffering in Africa and around the world since he was fourteen. At the age of nine he came face to face with civil war, human suffering, and death. At age eleven, he committed himself to creating a better world for children. Ever since, his life has been a journey toward fulfilling this commitment. Over the years, Weeks has formed partnerships and led organizations that have provided education to thousands of students in West Africa, lobbied the disarmament of child soldiers, and provided health care and recreation supplies to children. At 26 years old, Kimmie is a graduate of Amherst College and is now completing his Masters Degree. He will be entering his Ph.D. program this fall. Join us for an uplifting, powerful conversation about what one person can do to change our world.
http://www.youthactioninternational.org

Kimmie was targeted for assassination by the Charles Taylor regime in Liberia for his outspoken leadership against Taylor’s enslavement of children to fill his mercenary army. Kimmie was 16 years old at the time. Kimmie and I also talk about his organization to help children in Africa.
http://www.youthactioninternational.org

Violence is an all too common response to conflict. Doesn’t matter whether the violence is at home, on the streets, or between countries… it doesn’t solve conflicts. So why are we violent? What are the causes of violence and what can we do to transform potentially violent situations into peaceful resolutions? In this show, we will take some time to understand what violence is all about.

In our culture, violence is strangely seductive. Take last summer’s Bruce Willis movie, Live Free or Die Hard also known as Die Hard 4. People really enjoyed it as a fast-paced, action movie. What they don’t realize is that the Die Hard movies are a perfect example of the Myth of Redemptive Violence, a social theory that describes why violence is so seductive in our culture. Let’s learn how, as a society, we vicariously revere violence and find it deeply satisfying. We even teach this to our children in the cartoons they watch.

What can we do to stop the violence? It’s easy and it’s hard: Love the children … do everything you can to love them, hold them, hug them, and make them feel safe and protected, especially when they are very small and vulnerable. The children in your life need your time and energy. Your sons, daughters, grandsons garnddaughters, your niece, younger brother. The children you teach, coach and mentor. All need you to help them grow into healthy young adults. We learn how loving children stops violence..amazing isn’t it—that love can actually stop violence..Tune in and learn why.

Continuation of Segment 3.