Free The Children

If you haven't heard about this organization yet, you should. It's called Free The Children. My sons high school is raising money to build schools for children in Kenya, Africa through this program. Reaching out to the Maasai Mara. One of the characters in my latest book is Maasai, so I was happy to see this. They're selling cards and other art work to raise money and they will be hosting a dinner in March to raise more funds to build schools and provide clean water there. It's great to see the youth of this generation getting excited about social outreach. If you have the time take a look at the video below, it will touch your heart.

Davos, Switzerland debates

When I heard about the Davos debate competition taking place on YouTube this week I was moved to put in my two cents by responding to their question of a possible economic recovery in 2009. In many ways it relates to the topic covered in my book "A Silent Violence" - the extreme poor. I believe they need a bail out just as much as the car industry and the banks of North America. They have been living in crisis mode for decades, and they've been dying of disease, starvation, AIDS and malaria. There is so much untapped potential in the developing world - future doctors, inventors, teachers, and artists are there, but they require investment, they need schools, and proper health care for them to be able to reach their potential.

The better videos submitted to YouTube will be shown to those attending the World Economic Forum - C.E.O.'s world leaders and non-profit executives. Who knows, maybe my little video will catch their attention.

Highlights of 2008

I spent the first week of 2009 looking back on 2008 with a heart of thankfulness, remembering all the good things that occurred this past year. I've attempted here to rank the top three.

1) One highlight that really stuck out was the fun two week summer vacation we took visiting some of the tiny gulf islands and the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was quality time with my wife, Olivia, and our teenage sons, Andre and Colt, along with some of their friends; camping, hiking and jumping off cliffs and waterfalls. There's just something about that adrenaline rush you get when you're flying through the air that makes cliff jumping so invigorating. Nothing else compares. Maybe it's the realization that you're still alive after falling 40-50 feet into fresh water. I also had my first solo kayaking adventure this summer too, while researching the book I'm presently working on. An overnight journey that went around Valdes island. Beautiful weather. Surrounded by nature. Coffee made over a hiker's gas stove. Who could ask for anything more. Times spent with family and friends rank the highest in my highlights for 2008.

2) We took top prize at the Mount Washington 48 Hour Guerrilla Film Festival with our 5 minute short, Free Spirit. Cast and crew worked together in miraculous ways to see this completed.

3) A Silent Violence was published, after working on it for three years. Two spent writing and one year in editing.