The author's true, exciting and serendipitous journey through the wilds of Papua New Guinea, the Himalayas, around the planet and into the heart of life guaranteed to change the way you see the world.
Mangonui Céilí co-founder Fiona McGrory describes him as a ‘one-stop shop for entertainment.’ U.K. based Pete Grassby—consummate singer, songwriter, recording artist, accordion repairer, Morris dancer and dance caller—is back in New Zealand for his annual tour. He’ll be joined by one of his U.K. bands, Grasshoppers, for the Auckland folk festival later this month. Several years ago he toured Aotearoa with another of his bands, Aardvarks. One wonders what he would call a New Zealand band should he dare to establish one. Sand Flies?
This entertainer extraordinaire will be hosting the next Céilí (‘Kay-lee’) at the Mangonui Hall on the waterfront on Saturday, January 21st. The Céilí begins at 7.30pm. But be sure to get there early. It is always standing room only when Pete Grassby hosts a céilí. Not only will Mr. Grassby call an oft-humorous variety of dances and play melodeon, he’ll sing a song or three. Grassby’s wit and charm ensure that everyone, including those who just come along to watch, have a great time. Pete Grassby will be backed up for this céilí by the regular talented Mangonui Céilí band, Spootiskerry Spraoi, affectionately called ‘Spoots.’ Admission is, as always, $3 per adult plus a plate for supper. Accompanied children are free.
Pete Grassby is available for gigs and house parties, as well as repairs of squeeze boxes during his limited time in the Far North and can be contacted at pdgrassby@fsmail.net
To purchase Pete’s CDs contact him by email as well.
Here’s the complete interview:
And here are three of the six tracks we played in the interview:
Trowie Byrn (John Stickle) Track 12 on Cilan:
Nan’s Waltz (Pat Shuldham Shaw) Track 3 on Malvern Hills:
Scarborough Fair (Traditional arranged by Pete Grassby) Track 5 on Cilan
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
I recently interviewed a young woman, Kim Wong, about Chinese Medicine. This Voices From the North interview covers the history of Chinese Medicine and some of the key areas acupuncture and associated treatment methods can greatly assist people. Kim spoke of her success treating sore throats, headaches, muscle pain and injuries and more. She also indicated acupuncture can really reduce the side effects of a person quitting smoking. For the complete interview click below:
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
My recent special guest on Voices from the Northwas Jackie Connell. Jackie edits the monthly newsletter for International Dolphin Watch (IDW) and, together with her husband, Terry Connell, is the co-founder of Operation Sunshine, a UK-based charity helping special needs families throughout the UK and internationally.
Jackie Connell has always been concerned about our environment and the need to bring a more meaningful and spiritual aspect into people’s lives. From the moment she heard dolphin expert Dr. Horace Dobbs being interviewed by Johnny Walker on BBC Radio 2 in 2000 she knew she was going to meet and work with this extraordinary man. But, as you listen to the hour I spend in the studio with Jackie, you’ll realise this sort of intuitive premonition is nothing new to her. The story she shares of the magic that brought Terry and her toNew Zealandleaves little doubt that Jackie has been cruising in the arms of the angels all her life. From childhood she had a recurring dream of a place she didn’t recognize. When a colleague from the open university where she worked sent Jackie a postcard fromMatauriBaywhile on vacation inNew Zealand, a postcard of a scene identical to her lifelong repetitive dream, Jackie and Terry began an odyssey that eventually landed them on the sunny shores ofNew Zealandas swallows for six months of the year.
Two pieces of music are shared during the hour. First there is a haunting track from Enigma called The Dream of the Dolphin. You can hear that song below.
Later we play A Song of Iruka, a melody from a Japanese woman who claims the song was written by dolphins and channelled through her. Inspired by the work and vision of Horace Dobbs, Konoe Ishizaki co-founded the Ki and Dolphin Healing Centre inKyoto. At 10.00pm on 26 November 1993, two weeks before the Dolphin Healing Centre opened, Konoe had a vision in which the dolphins gave her the following message:
Good evening! The fact is that you were born here to come and play a ‘life’ game. Be generous enough to play with anybody whom you encounter and also with those who say something nasty. You are all playfellows. There are humorous people and there are people who are not so humorous. Imagine that all of you are enjoying the game together. Some play the role of a disliked person, some play the role of clown. Everybody has a role to play.
This philosophical perspective is remarkably similar to that pieced together by regression hypnotist and therapist Dr. Michael Newton in his inspiring book Journey of Souls. As for the practical and loving guidance of angels in the synchronistic unfolding of our lives you need look no further than Paul Elder’s book, Eyes of an Angel.
At the end of our time together Jackie Connell gifted me one of Horace Dobbs’ beautiful children’s books about Dilo, a make-believe dolphin. For more on the enigmatic dolphin pioneer Dr. Horace Dobbs, whose talks, books and films have introduced millions to the magical healing energy of dolphins, and for a complete list of his more than 20 books visit www.horacedobbs.com and/or watch the following video:
In preparation for my interview with Jackie, I watched the powerful Oscar award winning documentary, The Cove, featuring former Flipper trainer turned activist Ric O’Barry. Like Ric O’Barry, Jackie and the team of Operation Sunshine do not support dolphins being kept in captivity and therefore will not participate in programmes where dolphins are kept in such a way.
For the International Dolphin Watch free newsletter visit the IDW web site where the latest news can be downloaded free through the home page at: http://www.idw.org/.
And, last but not least, my complete interview with Jackie Connell can be heard below:
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
Russell Garcia is a living legend in the world of music. In this recent Voices from the Northinterview, Russ gives further insight into his early life. At a very early age (maybe 5) he would sit by the radio on a Sunday morning (these were pre-television days) enthralled by the symphonic offerings of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. His brother initially bought him a beat up trumpet which Russ taught himself to play. Pushed quickly through school, he set up a band in junior high, taught himself to read music and made arrangements for the band. As Russ mentioned in an earlier interview, his arrangement of Stardust at age eleven was performed by the Oakland Philharmonic.
He was fortunate to receive excellent training in counterpoint, harmony and arrangement from two high school music teachers. By age 15, at the beginning of the Great Depression, Russ was playing trumpet in a ballroom and earning a higher weekly salary than his father. A year at San Francisco State University was enough to demonstrate to Russ that he already had more than enough theory and skill to move on and fully enter a life as a professional musician. He went on the road with big bands led by the likes of Harry James, Bob Crosby and Stan Kenton. Russ admitted his skill as a musician wasn’t what got him a place with the bands—he usually only played third or forth trumpet. It was his deft talent at composition and arrangement that landed him the work. He was writing an arrangement a week and receiving the pleasure of hearing it being performed by the band.
Life on the road was a significant challenge; so he soon found himself determined to make it in Hollywood, and he did! Through a connection with Ronald Reagan (then married to Jane Wyman,) he got his first big break as staff composer/arranger at NBC studio.
Russ’s life has been one involving a combination of fortuitous circumstances and hard work. But because he’s always done what he loves, the work is almost effortless. He feels his skills as an arranger have been enhanced by personally taking lessons in each of the instruments he writes arrangements for. He took lessons on violin and cello for roughly three months each and longer on French horn, to name just a few of the instruments he works with. He had a personal office at Universal Studios for over two decades, getting an opportunity there initially with the aid of Henry Mancini.
Russ Garcia with Charlie Chaplain on ‘Limelight’
Having worked with virtually all the big names of his era (Oscar Peterson and Louis Armstrong spring to mind), soon-to-turn-95-years-young Russ Garcia is to headline a concert starting in Kerikeri on April 9th. New York singers Shaynee Rainbolt and Terese Geneco and New Zealand stalwart Tim Beverige will belt out a mix of Russ Garcia originals and great standards arranged by Russ for them and the ten piece backing band of top New Zealand musicians. The show will also run in Tauranga, Auckland and Wellington. Here’s an opportunity to hear Russ share stories from his life with the legends of music and film.
My complete interview with Russell Garcia can be heard below. Included is a Garcia original, The Human Race is One that Russ put together for his Chinese friends using their pentatonic scale. It was later translated into Chinese. You’ll hear his lovely wife Gina singing on the track. This is just one of the songs from a two CD collection the Garcia’s have created as part of the Virtues programme they’ve freely offered in New Zealand schools for close to forty years. They still share their raps, songs, humour and inspiration regularly at schools in Russell and Te Ti, drawing inspiration from the teaching of their Bahá’í faith.
Russ and Gina Garcia have been married close to sixty years. They continue to renew their wedding vows each year and share with each other the words they chose for their wedding in a Hollywood chapel all those years ago, including two poems from Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet on Love and Marriage. I trust you enjoy the great rendition Richard Harris gives to these poems included in the interview.
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
Rather than running to your doctor when you feel unwell, first ask: “How can I help myself?” or, even better: “What can I do to help my fellow man?”
Geoffrey Morell
From dairy farmer to energy healer and medical intuitive, Geoffrey Morell has led a full life. Now in his 85th year, he and his wife, Sally Fallon-Morell, recently purchased a farm with the intention of establishing a dairy herd for the production of raw, organic milk. Why would a man in his golden years do such a thing, you might ask? Geoffrey Morell is the co-founder of the Weston A. Price Foundation and raw milk is one of the wonder foods espoused by the foundation. Besides, the man has found a way to tap into the fountain of youth—continue to dream, follow through on your dreams and begin every day with a simple request of the Universe (my paraphrasing): Please bring to me the people and circumstances on this day to allow me best to serve.
Sally Fallon-Morell and Geoffrey Morell
Geoffrey Morell, originally from New Zealand and now living near Washington D.C., was back in our fair land to attend the 100th birthday celebration of his uncle, Owen Maria. More on that in a forthcoming interview and blog. I interviewed Geoffrey last year when he visited to celebrate Owen’s 99th birthday. Longevity must run in the family. His earlier interview can be found here.
In our hour on the air on Voices from the Northtogether this time around he shared several key points:
To be a healer requires three things: 1. The need to be receptive; 2. The need to change your way of thinking; 3. The need to change your way of eating. And to be healer requires the banishment of three words from your emotional vocabulary—ego, jealousy and hate.
Geoffrey’s own methods of healing began after many years of meditation. He was then visited in the inner realms by Jesus, Sai Baba and a blonde woman who collectively instructed him.
Healers and others coming into contact with the public need to take steps to ground themselves.
Approximately one in 20 people that Geoffrey sees have entities attached to them. They come from three sources: 1. Not letting go of loved ones when they die. 2. Using a Ouijaboard. 3. Some form of voodoo.
Rather than running to your doctor when you feel unwell, Geoffrey suggests you first ask: “How can I help myself?” or, even better: “What can I do to help my fellow man?” And ask that all imperfections be removed.
Beware of unfermented soy products including baby formula. More on that here.
Anyone who follows my writing and broadcasts knows I’m been a long-term mostly raw food vegetarian/vegan. I don’t like to pigeon-hole myself by belonging to any particular belief structure or system. I tend to agree with Krishnamurti who said there is little freedom in ‘isms’. I recently attended a presentation by vegan friends. They quoted T. Colin Campbell’s interpretation of the China Study, saying there are grave health dangers in consuming dairy products, claiming many people are unable to digest the casein in milk. Campbell claims cancer could be almost be eliminated by avoiding animal products.
Then, along comes the ever-youthful Geoffrey Morell, who claims we should be consuming the nutrient-dense foods of our ancestors including animal broths and raw milk. Who’s right? I leave that one for you to decide. I used to think the world was painted in black and white. I tend to see it in gradients from black to white now, with vivid splashes of colour as well, of course There are those who claim the Weston A. Price Foundation is based on outdated science. There are others who claim that a vegan lifestyle can leave you bereft of necessary vitamins and minerals. For example Dr. Ben Kim says:
If you are a strict vegan eating mainly whole, unprocessed plant foods, and you are experiencing health challenges, you can probably experience dramatically better health just by adding some organic eggs to your diet. Organic eggs from free range birds and organic butter are two foods that will provide you with essential nutrients that are not abundant or present at all in plant foods and may not conflict with your compassion for animals.
Every step in each of our journeys is valid. We can all learn from each other and we will find peace when we can truly embrace and love one another, regardless of our beliefs. I wish you all peace and the best of health, John
Listen to the he complete inspiring interview with Geoffrey Morell below:
Members of the Weston A. Price Foundation are entitled to receive the comprehensive 100 page quarterly journal, Wise Traditions. For more information please visit www.westonaprice.org. The magazine contains cutting edge health information and takes a no-holds-barred approach to the many myths foisted on the public by the various health voices in the world today.
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
Richard Weatherly is an entertaining storyteller. He’s certainly one of a kind. One of life’s unforgettable characters.Former director of the New Zealand International Film Festival and, more recently, proprietor of the Swamp Palace cinema in the Oruru Community Hall, he speaks with reverence for his past and the past of picture theatres in New Zealand. This Voices from the North interview is as much about Twentieth Century New Zealand history as it is about Richard. When I say proprietor of the Swamp Palace I mean all of the following: cinema director, manager, projectionist, ticket-seller, sweets dispenser and ‘sit on the balcony railing tell you about the film’ Richard Weatherly.put up fierce competition to cinemas. Of course this was followed by television and, more recently multiplexes sprang up, signalling the end for many of the traditional picture theatres.
Richard points out that in the mid 50s New Zealand was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. There were more cinema seats here per head of population than in any other country in the world. The average New Zealander went out to the movies two-and-a-half times a week.
The Swamp Palace
This is a warmly nostalgic and informative interview, harkening back to a bygone era that existed not so very long ago when projectionists roamed the land, bringing films and sometimes projection equipment to small motion picture theatres all over the country, including the Oruru Hall and the Mangonui Hall right here in our little part of New Zealand.
Richard gives a detailed overview of censorship, from its beginning in the Great War in 1916 to the huge range of ratings Richard grew up with in the 50s and 60s: G, Y, A, R13, R16, R18, R21 and S. An S (special) certificate could be awarded by the national censor to a film with unusual qualities. The Sound of Music was released in New Zealand with an S rating: Especially suitable for family entertainment. The famous early 60s documentary Sky Above Mud Below, filming the exploits of a French couple amongst the forgotten nude to semi-nude tribes of Papua New Guinea received an S rating which stated: Nudity and native customs may prove embarrassing to young women. As Richard points out, the film was hugely successful with young women. They sat stoically throughout the filming until a young tribes-woman was shown nursing a child on one breast and a pig on the other!
The interview was enormously educational for me, as I grew up in the 60s and 70s in Canada, a different time and place altogether. Richard speaks of the dress codes that existed in cinemas and of the days of permanent reserves of seats in Auckland—in which the patron paid for a specific seat whether they showed up or not. And these were the days of the pubs closing at 6.00 pm so evening pictures had little competition.
This began to change in the 50s when radio—the likes of Selwyn Toogood with his It’s in the Bagprogramme—put up fierce competition to cinemas. Of course this was followed by television and, more recently multiplexes sprang up, signalling the end for many of the traditional picture theatres.
I encourage you to listen to the complete interview below. Richard tells of the safety on the Auckland buses for children (without their parents), the joy of the Sunday drive, visa versa parties and much more. All and all, this is a highly entertaining and informative interview with selections of music from Janice Joplin and Grace Slicks.
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
My special guest on Voices from the Northin February, 2007 was Jill Freeman. Jill is an Alexander and vision improvement teacher. And she provides ACC supported Tai Chi classes for seniors twice weekly in the Mangonui Hall. For those in the Far North, Jill Freeman can be contacted on 09 4060969.
In this illuminating interview, Jill explains the origins of the Alexander Technique and how the method can be of immense help to people experiencing a lack of ease in breathing, speech, song or movement. The founder of the technique which eventually took his name, F. M. Alexander, was an actor who lost his voice. After consulting with numerous medical specialists he decided to take matters into his own hands. He began to observe himself closely and eventually surmised the importance of posture: in particular, the relation of the head to the neck and the torso. The entire interview can be heard below. Jill is a good story teller so the interview is filled with interesting antecdotes.
Now, I’d like to share a little more on the Alexander Technique. F. Matthias Alexander (1859-1955) is the founder of what has become known as the Alexander Technique. He was weak and sickly as a child growing up in rural Tasmania. Later, as a young Shakespearean actor in Melbourne he suffered from voice loss while reciting, a disastrous state of affairs for an ambitious young actor. Numerous doctors and voice teachers were unable to help him. In despair, he turned to self-enquiry, using a three-way mirror to observe his movements while engaged in the act of reciting.
He noticed that he tightened his neck muscles and pulled his head back when reciting, consequently compressing his spine. He discovered that these movements, the tension in his throat muscles and the sharp intake of breath just prior to reciting, had become habituated. And, at first, he was unable to break these harmful habits.
Then, after much effort and self-observation he found that if he didn’t tense his neck and stopped trying to correct the other faults, they disappeared on their own. “By not doing he managed to do.”
By not doing he was making a conscious choice to do. This is the fundamental guiding principle behind his teachings. He also determined that the relationship between his head, neck and torso influenced the posture of his entire body. He called this relationship ‘primary control.’ When he allowed his neck to be free and his head to move forwards and up, his back lengthened and his voice and recital work dramatically improved.
Alexander began to give voice lessons while continuing with his acting work, and for over fifty years he investigated human movement. He was a pioneer in body/mind work, being one of the first to identify the link between thought, emotion and action. In fact, all his work and conjecture was based on the indivisible unity of the human organism.
He found that he needed to use his hands to gently move clients’ bodies into the right position (for that individual). Ultimately he took his work to London and New York and led his first teachers training while working in London in 1930. Many famous people used and endorsed his technique. Since Alexander’s death, his work has grown and expanded worldwide. Today interested people can read books, go to a teacher for personal lessons, listen to an Alexander audio recording and/or attend group introductory seminars.
The Alexander Technique enhances personal body awareness and can help prevent backache and repetitive strain injuries. It is a personal, gentle, non-intrusive approach involving a teacher/student rather than therapist/client relationship.
Alexander’s premise was that much of what we do in the modern world is unnatural, yet we become habituated to these unnatural activities. Humans no longer move with the grace of wild animals or even that of native peoples. The Hopis call Westerners ‘termite people’ because we do so much. For generations we’ve been taught by society that it is important to always be doing something.
In being so busy we concentrate on what we have to do, rather than on the way in which we do it. This is just another example of being focused on the destination to such a degree that enjoyment of the journey is missed. I see F. M. Alexander’s example as one more reason to take time to smell the roses, watch the insects at work and lie on the grass in the rain. Isn’t it time to notice and engage in the natural beauty around you? This simple act can have a profound and positive influence on your health and well-being. Alexander said that that awareness and observation comprised fully 80% of the desired change in posture and action.
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“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
UK folk entertainer extraordinaire Pete Grassby (he’s been described as a ‘one-man folk festival’) made his annual foray to the Far North of New Zealand and the Mangonui Ceili last night. The hall was packed and Pete was on form with spirited and oft-hilarious dance calling. I interviewed multi-instrumentalist/singer Pete Grassby recently in a DBFR studio and I’d like to share a little of that Voices from the Northinterview with you now.
In the last months Pete has had his own brush with cancer. He had a mole removed from his back (a growth that had been there for something like 15 years – “It didn’t itch and it didn’t hurt and being in the middle of my back, I couldn’t see it so I left it’) that turned out to be cancerous so surgery was repeated and extended a further 5mm all around the original incision. “That felt more like a badger than a mole being removed,” said Pete. Get the humour?
Pete encourages anyone with an unusual skin growth to get it checked, rather than live with the uncertainty.
He has personally used the experience as a call to take stock. A few months back Pete lost another dear friend, guitarist Dave Bennett. Once again, a reminder that the termination of one’s life can come around at any time, so get on with what needs to be done.
Pete shared some touching live music in the studio after speaking about the origins of one of my favourite Pete Grassby songs—The Whale Song—from his Cilan CD. He started off the live music with a couple Richard Thompson offerings performed with Pete’s own interpretation on guitar (a six string kindly lent Pete by Dougie Chowns.) In addition to being a fine singer and superb guitarist, Richard Thompson is a great lyricist. So listen closely to the words Pete sings of Down Where the Drunkards Roll and Beeswing.
Listen to the complete interview below:
At last count, Pete was able to play about 40 different instruments (including percussion) and he’d like to record one song on his upcoming CD that includes parts with each of these instruments. He’s a talented melodeon player (and repairer) and he squeezed out a medley of three tunes on the melodeon he brought with him from home. The three melodies were The Sweetness of Mary, Stan Chapman’s arrangement of a traditional Scottish tune and Marnie Swanson of the Grey Coast by Andy Thorburn.
Not long ago Pete played the Bunker in Devonport, Auckland. He calls it the best folk club in the world. That’s no small assertion from a man who’s played a lot of clubs in his lifetime in music.
Pete Grassby closed out the interview with a Tony Franklin song of a Cornish tinker called The Higgler. All in all this was a most enjoyable interview for me to be part of. Pete is wonderful, warm-hearted man and ‘folk song story telling’ is a natural extension of his kind and friendly nature. As always, we look forward to his return next January to the Mangonui Ceili. If all goes well I’ll interview him again then and include selections from the CD he plans to begin recording in a few months time.
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
On his 45th birthday on 18 August 2000, at 9.00am, Jean Béliveau left his family behind to undertake a mission—to walk around the world through all 5 continents. At the time, hispartner Luc invited the media to witness and chronicle this ambitious undertaking. Nobody showed up. A few days ago I met and interviewed Jean for my weekly radio programme, Voices from the North. At the time of our meeting Jean had worn out 49 pairs of shoes, personally met four Nobel Peace winners (including Nelson Mandela) and logged over 70,000 km on foot during his journey dedicated to the UNESCO Decade, 2001-2010: the INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD.
A film About the Peace Walker
He had already crossed the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia before landing in New Zealand in October. He was in Mangonui on a rest day before embarking on his last four days of walking to bring him to Cape Reinga and the completion of the international phase of his walk. He will then fly with Air New Zealand to Vancouver to reunite with his family and begin the final 5,000 km phase of his pilgrimage across Canada to his place of origin in Montreal.
When Jean Béliveau arrives in Vancouver in a few days the media will show up. He’s a celebrity of sorts in Canada now and the whole country will be watching as he makes his way on foot across the country. He shares his name with a Canadian hockey legend and his journey will surely take his fellow Canadians back to another legendary journey on foot by the late great Terry Fox.
“I feel like the walk is not my walk anymore. It is the walk of humanity, of these people who came with me in hope of a better world.” ~Jean Béliveau
In our hour long interview Jean shares the story behind his walk. He readily admits it may have started out as an escape from an unfulfilling life in business. As he says: “I played the game. It left me empty.” His ten years of walking around the planet has filled that emptiness with purpose. He has found his mission. He couldn’t return to a life of materialism after this. He no longer defines the undeveloped world as poor. “Africa time” and the immense smiles of the so-called impoverished of that continent showed him there’s so much more to life than the increasingly internationalized ‘American Dream’ of material prosperity. As Jean said to me; “A smile doesn’t think money.”
This walk which began so quietly in Montreal in August 2000 has taken on a life of its own. I hope the happy, fulfilled walker I met will be able to retain his integrity and humility in the months and years ahead. I believe he will. And along the way he will inspire many others to follow their dreams and contribute to a world of true meaning and peace. It has been my great pleasure to meet Jean Beliveau.
“In Search of Simplicity is a unique and awe-inspiring way to re-visit and even answer some of the gnawing questions we all intrinsically have about the meaning of life and our true, individual purpose on the planet. I love this book.”
“In Search of Simplicity is one of those rare literary jewels with the ability to completely and simultaneously ingratiate itself into the mind, heart and soul of the reader.”
As I said in a recent post I would soon be uploading the complete interview I did with disaster survival expert Doug Copp. The complete fascinating interview can be heard below:
I find it interesting to see the charged responses I’ve received to this post. It seems some people are far more interested in Doug Copp the man rather than in what he has to say. I’ve made a point of re-reading Doug’s points on the Triangle of Life. I’ve also spoken personally with a number of people who survived extremely dangerous circumstances during the recent Christchurch quake. There is no one set of guidelines that will always keep you safe in an earthquake. Some people happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and others get to safety when others nearby don’t. I still think it is wise to read the following guidelines. They do have merit. The mayor of the Far North District here is an engineer and he came back from Christchurch supporting what Doug Copp says about wooden buildings. I’m also inserting a very short extract from my interview with Doug below. See what you think after hearing this. I really do wonder about Duck and Cover. Does it make sense to you?
Here are some suggestions from Doug Copp, the world’s disaster survival expert, on surviving a quake using knowledge of the triangle of life.
1) Q: Why is ‘it” called the triangle of life?
A: If you look closely at collapsed buildings either in pictures or on TV you will rapidly discover that you see ‘triangular spaces’ formed throughout collapsed structures. It is as natural and normal as gravity or the ‘shape of snowflakes’. They are formed everywhere around objects when buildings collapse.
2) Q: Why has it taken Doug Copp 23 years to eliminate Duck and Cover?
A: If Galileo could come back from the dead he would ask why some people still believE that the earth is the center of the universe, the world is flat, people should be ‘bled’ to allow demons to escape from the body and man never landed on the moon.
As Schopenhauer, the German Philosopher, said: ‘The path of all truth is first to be ridiculed, secondly to be violently opposed and thirdly to be accepted as ‘self evident’.
Doug Copp
3) Q: What are the 15 safest places to be in an earthquake? (The places most people survive.)
A: 1) Outside in the middle of a field where nothing can fall on top of you.
2) Outside in the middle of the street where falling glass can’t reach you.
3) On a seismic resistant platform such as a boat.
4) On the top floor of a wooden building.
5) On the top floor of a concrete building
6) In the space between 2 large objects (between twin beds, between 2 cars, between 2 rows of desks).
7) Next to an office bank vault or stack of paper.
8 ) Next to a squashed vehicle
9) At the foot of a bed
10) In front of a hotel lobby counter or bar counter.
11) In front of a sofa.
12) Next to Kitchen Cabinets
13) Next to a big bulky object like a piece of machinery, fridge, stove.
14) Next to a large carrying beam
15) In the subterranean exterior perimeter of a building.
4) Q: Where are the 14 deadliest places to be in an earthquake? (The places where most dead victims are recovered from; or simply the most lethal).
A: 1) Under an object that gets squashed (like a desk, car, bed)
2) Inside of an object that gets squashed (like a car)
3) On top of an object that gets squashed (like a bed or sofa)
4) Inside of an elevator
5) On stairs.
6) More than 10 ft away from the outside of a building and on the ground floor
7) In a brick building less than 10 ft from the outside wall.
8 ) In a doorway of a collapsed building.
9) On the ground floor of any building.
10) Under a carrying beam.
11) Under an object with a high center of gravity that fell over in the earthquake (like a fridge).
12) The middle decks of highway over-passes.
13) Places that catch fire after collapsing.
14) Places with toxins, chemicals and gases that collapse.
5) Q: What is frequency of moment?
A: This convoluted term is meant to explain the resultant third force from 2 objects which are swinging out of synch with each other. If the swinging lasts long enough and the force of the earthquake is strong enough then the smaller object will break into pieces at the joints and collapse( such as, stairs moving out of synch with the rest of the building.)
Triangle of Life
6) Q: What do I do in a multi-storey building?
A: Be calm; lay down, in a fetal position next to a bed or sofa. When the earthquake has stopped and the building has not collapsed DO NOT MOVE! DO NOT GO TO THE STAIRS! Wait until all the panicked people have fled down the stairs. If the stairs haven’t collapsed under all the combined weight of panicked, fleeing people then you know that they will be safe for you to go on. If you can, then wait for an expert to inspect the stairs before putting weight on them.
7) Q: What do I do in a basement?
A: Basements are relatively safe if you are near the outside perimeter of the subterranean area. The center of the basement area is very unsafe. Typically the walls fall outward and downward until the forces reach the subterranean area. At this point the lateral force is stopped by bedrock and is reflected inward. For example: The outside perimeter under the World Trade Center had huge voids where thousands of people would have been safe; whereas, the center core area was so pulverized that it crushed a subway car to an inch thick. You can see this video at www.amerrescue.org
8 ) Q: What do I do on a highway?
A: Pull your car to the side of the road. Do NOT stop under an overpass or something that can fall on your car.
9) Q: What about the glass windows in a multi-storey building?
A: Typically, glass is NOT a problem for the people inside the building. (It is like bursting a blown up paper bag.) The glass blows outward as the air pressure inside of the building increases at the same time as the volume of the space decreases. If you are outside of the building then you should run away from the building into the middle of the street.
10) Q: Where is the deadliest place to be?
A: Most dead people are found squashed under a desk.
11) Q: How dangerous is it to search a collapsed building?
A: According to OSHA: 60% of ‘rescuers’ are killed going into their first confined space rescue.
12) Q: What are the 10 most important things that I really need in a safety kit? Which are NOT usually found in a emergency kit.
A: 1) Chlorine to purify drinking water (usually there is lots of water; however, it is contaminated from sewer lines and water lines leaking and mixing together.). Or O3 Liquid Oxygen purification and energizing and immune system booster drops.
2) Garbage bags (to use to protect your valuables, to cut out arm holes to make a raincoat, to keep your food safe from the weather and rats.)
3) 50 ft of nylon rope (to use to make a tent and other uses)
4) Plastic tarps (to protect your valuables, and to make a tent)
5) A Swiss Army Knife with lots of tools.
6) LED flashlight.
7) A hand crank generating radio.
8 )Energy bars in sealed bags
9) Baby wipes.
10) Emergen’c’ powered multivitamin and mineral powders.
13) Q: Where is the best place to put an earthquake kit?
A: 1) On the roof of your house in a safe box.
2) In the trunk of your car
3) In a shipping container in the middle of your corporate workplace parking lot.
14) Q: What about books falling on you?
A: In 23 years I have never heard of a single individual getting killed by a falling book.
15) Q: What about ceiling fixtures falling on you?
A: They typically stay attached to the ceiling and don’t fall away.
16) Q: Who will come to save my family in a major disaster?
A: 1) You. You care more for and will do more for your family than anyone else will. In a major disaster the local ‘forces’ are overwhelmed. Do you really expect FEMA to save you?
17) Q: How do people get injured after the earthquake?
A: By falling objects. Solution: spend as much time looking up to see what is above you as you do walking over the rubble and looking at your feet.
18) Q: What do I do after a major earthquake stops?
A: Get ready for the next aftershock. Get in a safe place and stay safe. Never go back inside of a building until 2 weeks after the initial earthquake.
19) Q: What do rescuers do when a major earthquake occurs?
A: 1) Think about their family.
2) Think about their duty to others.
20) Q: What type of structure is immune from earthquake collapse?
A: None.
21) Q: How come nobody told us to stop going under doorways?
A: If somebody who had been telling you to go under doorways actually told you not to do it anymore then they would have to admit that they made a mistake and expose themselves to liability.
Triangle of Life
22) Q: What happens when schools collapse?
A: The legs snap when the ceiling falls on the desks. The ceiling doesn’t break up because there are so many points of support. The ceiling stays intact and the weight snaps all the legs. You are left with rows of crushed desks and rows of wide open aisles to be safe in and escape to the outside by crawling through.
23) Q: How do I understand what an earthquake is?
A: Think of an earthquake as 2 extremely large misshapen and rough edged objects sliding past each other. Sometimes they get ‘hooked’ or caught up together until the forces pulling one object and pushing the other object make them break free. This built up force that is released is the initial earthquake. The forces which continue until the ‘rough’ area has been completely cleared are aftershocks. Remember an earthquake is NOT a single seismic event. It is a period of time—usually less than a month) when you can have hundreds if not thousands of aftershocks. Most of these aftershocks are tiny; however, you can have a larger aftershock than the initial earthquake. Stay outside and safe. Go on vacation.
24) Q: How do I understand the ‘force’ of an earthquake?
A: There are many hundreds of elements which determine how much force an earthquake will actually bring to your structure. A smaller magnitude earthquake can cause more damage than a larger magnitude earthquake if the smaller earthquake is closer to you or not as deep. Earthquakes under the ocean have a lot of their energy absorbed by the ocean itself. The type of soil is very important and the underground formations can cause earthquake energy to be amplified or even deflected from your area. I could write a book on this.
26) Q: What about terrorist explosions?
A: The survivors are found in survivable voids (triangles of life) on the opposite side of the objects as the blast center.
27) Q: What about collapsed buildings in landslides?
A: If the building is collapsed and covered by the dirt or rocks of a landslide then you will survive in the same triangle of life or survivable voids; however, you must have air to breath. Plumbing pipes and other conduit can provide oxygen to the victims trapped inside of the landslide; however, it is much more difficult for the rescuers to locate entry points into the buried rubble. You can see video of Doug Copp searching inside of collapsed buildings buried under a landslide at www.amerrescue.org
28) Q: What is the most important thing for a ‘rescuer’ to have after a major earthquake?
A: Have piece of mind that your family is safe because you told everyone about the triangle of life and the things you learned from this video, power point presentation and manual. This is necessary in order to do your duty to others than your family.
29) Q: What is the most important thing a survivor or rescuer needs immediately before and after a major earthquake?
A: Before: Purchase a ‘Quake Alarm’ device which does for earthquakes what smoke detectors do for fires. It will give you enough warning of an earthquake for you to take action to save your life. It sounds the alarm as a result of the non lethal pre-destructive waves; thereby, warning you before the building starts to collapse. For less than $20, it has already saved the lives of an entire school of children. www.amerrescue.org After: Proper attitude: Be calm, be patient, be focused and pay attention (This is just the beginning of the ordeal.)
30) Q: What is the most important thing that you have learned from your experiences at major disasters throughout the world?
A: All people look the same when they are squashed under a desk.
Doug Coop is the founder of ARTI ( the world’s most experienced rescue and disaster mitigation/management organization) and the discoverer of the ‘triangle of life’ to take building collapse survivability from 2% using ‘duck and cover’ to 90% using the ‘triangle of life’ ARTI is an All Unpaid Volunteer organization willing to stand up to and fight USA insurance companies and bureaucrats who consider it cheaper and less trouble if victims die rather than survive with possible trauma and sue ( less profit for insurance companies and higher premiums for bureaucrats.)
See www.amerrescue.org for hundreds of pages of testimonials, videos, docs. Complete information to survive major disaster, learned from Doug Copp’s searching 896 collapsed buildings and witnessing 1+ million collapsed buildings, at more than 100 major disaster events; throughout the entire world…amerrescue@aol.com www.amerrescue.org Read Doug’s eye-opening blog at: www.dougcopp.wordpress.com/ or contact him at:
1-902-567-1227 home
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