Run Against Media Violence the book, a road map for American Parents to combat violent content in multi-media targeted at children has been nominated along with seven other books in Parenting Category for Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. Three winners would be chosen from the eight finalists to be announced at ‘BookExpo America’ on June 4, 2004 in
Chicago.

Bala Kumar, resident of Brampton, Ontario, Canada is the author of the book Run Against Media Violence. The book is available on www.amazon.com and all online stores.

“Most parents think that violent content in media is entertainment and can bring no harm to their children and this perception is completely wrong” says Bala Kumar founder of ‘Parents Against Media Violence (PAMV)’ a non-profit parent group working towards creating awareness among parents in North America.

According to Bala Kumar children spend more time on media than in school. An average 12 year old has seen 8,000 killings and 100,000 acts of violence on network television alone. According to the available research, violent and inappropriate content in media can have serious physical and mental health problems for children including sleep disturbances, nightmares,
aggressive behavior, de-sensitization to violence, fear and depression and could adversely impact their focus education, sports and other social activities.

The book Run Against Media Violence contains new concepts such as ‘TV Rehab’, a program for parents to work with their children to bring down daily media time from 6.32 hours to less than two hours. Concepts such as ‘Don’t Buy, Don’t Support’ sends clear message to parents the power they can exercise in ensuring healthy media time for their children.

The requirement of the hour is to create awareness about the adverse effects of the violent content in multimedia targeted at children and the most cost effective way is of doing is to organize a ‘Run Against Media Violence’ in every city of north
America, says Bala Kumar.

The first Run was organized on September 16, 2001. Brampton City Mayor, representatives of Police, Fire and city council participated in 2003 Run. 2004 Run Against Media Violence is being organized on September 11, 2004 and the City of Brampton is proposing to declare that day as ‘Run Against Media Violence Day.’ For more details visit website http://www.pamv.net

Bala Kumar writes weekly column for the local ethnic newspaper on the issues related to children and media.
His presentation to Brampton city council is carried live by local network and the annual ‘Run Against Media Violence’ event was carried on the national news. His vision is to organize Parent Groups and the Run in every city/town of North America. One of the programs of this non-profit group is to work towards making 3 pm to 6.30 pm a safe media time for children
to watch. By PAMV’s efforts program ‘Blind Date’ broadcast by ‘City TV’ (Toronto) at 5.30 pm was moved to 7.00 pm during March 2004.

Bala Kumar works for a software company as consultant. He lives in Brampton with wife and teenaged daughter. He can be reached on 416-830-8551 or email: bala@pamv.net.

Bala Kumar was educated in Mysore ( St. Philomina, D.Banumaiahs high school, collage and did my CA (Chartered Accountant) in Mysore. He worked for a brief time with Vikrant Tyres and had my own practice in Bangalore. His career highlight in public practice include certifying balance sheet of Karnataka Power Corporation in my firm name CBN Kumar and Company.

Mysore is his home town and his parents, mother Lakshmamma and father Channappa still live in Mysore.