Thursday October 2, 1997

Woke up around what I thought was 9 AM (by Barbara's watch) hoping to get

a quick start. We had to be through the bridge before ten AM. Fortunately

Barbara's watch was 1 hour off and we left at the real time of 9:00 AM.

This is a good way to be on time. My friend Bob French used to do this

with his watch but he only did it with 10 minutes, and he knew about it!. J

So we made our way to Jasper. On the way it was suggested by one of the

gatekeepers that I should go to the administration building on Patricia

Street (next to the Home Hardware). Arrived by eleven after driving

through some spectacular views of Canada. On the way, I created the first

part of my video presentation to Bill Gates. Without rewriting the darn

thing, I spoke to him from my heart. I asked him to take up the challenge

of Ted Turner, but in a more sustainable way. I also suggested that he

change his PR people. They are putting all the wrong spin on his actions.

Consider two facts: If you look at what Bill Gates connection gave last

year, one could certainly come up with an interesting number. Let's use

the same PR positioning that Ted Turner did. Everyone knows that Ted

Turner is giving a $1 Billion Dollar gift. Right. Excuse me? I a m

sorry. I read that he is giving $100 million a year for ten years.

Without criticism, that is a great gift. And how is this money going to be

given? By a committee! Good. Who is on this committee? Is it the same

people who are ruining this system? Or is it people that Ted Turner picks?

I hope so. And who is he going to pick to help him with these

allocations? Does Ted have advisors around him that are on the pulse? Our

programs and our networks will uncover the programs that need the

attention. I do say need the attention, not the money. We need to focus

attention on the ideas here.

And William Gates has the Will. William Gates is more connected to the

paradigm shift than is Ted Turner. Ted just has better PR. If Will Gates

PR used the same $1 Billion dollar rationale, his spin doctors could talk

about his $4 Billion donation. Those same spin doctors would make certain

it was known when he played golf in Jasper that he did not in fact book out

the whole golf course. This is the story going around the community.

Apparently Bill booked four tee off times. Not such a big deal. You

see Ted Turner has better press. And Bill Gates donations to the library

of $200,000 was seen as a self interest gesture. Maybe it was, but that is

not the point. NO matter what your truth is, you can organize your giving

differently through your taking up the World Citizenship Challenge of Ted

Turner. And you ask to have a position on his committee. If you and he

were on this committee, we could really find out what Maurice Strong is

doing. I mention this to you, because you may not be aware of the work

that Maurice Strong is involved with. As one of the important financial

players on the planet to-day, it would make sense for you to find out how

he is reorganising the United Nations, and its 32 member agencies, and also

find out why the World National Committees for UNICEF have been so

unsuccessful with the raising of money. For example: The complete UNICEF

yearly budget is approximately 1 Billion dollars - the whole thing. And

the National committees raise about $280 Million. All of the committees

-worldwide. There is something wrong here. I do not know what it is, but

either they are not doing their job, or someone is skimming a lot out of

it. At least that is my perception. The other reason I think something is

wrong at their Fundraising end, is that when they brought out their 50th

anniversary coin it generated $4 Million. I thought this was strange.

Why? Because in my mind, and I want to stress that this is my unverified

information through direct information, I have been led to believe that

Canada raised over $100 million on its 150th Anniversary coin sets. That

is for a Canadian coin! How come a UN coin raises only $4 Million? I

mentioned this disparity to the Program Director of UNICEF and he seemed

astounded. This information, even if not correct 100% does not mean that

we couldn't raise a great deal more for UNICEF projects if we had the will.

Our program will do it. We would like you to take up Ted's Challenge and

ask him if you can name a couple of positions on his committee. You put up

the cash, and offer to loan him to meet his commitment. Actually you both

win. Why? Because working together both of your positions are leveraged,

and you will benefit from the use of his Spin doctors. Win Win.

This proposal is good from a business perspective, because you have the

cash to do it and you have the need, even if you consciously choose not to

acknowledge it. Every person needs to feel that he is doing the best that

he can. This is a way for you to get that feeling. Without the media on

your side, you will continue to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous

fortune, but by taking your arms against a sea of troubles, you can end

them, and still be around to talk about it.. Ted does not even have the

cash - and more incredibly he is counting on borrowing it! he even so

stated publicly. Well, if his stock ever hit its correct multiple on

future sales projections, or break-up value, or rate of return on future

incomes, or whatever true term of value, where is he going to get the coin

to cover his commitment? What if his bankers change their accounting

systems to realistic accounting systems where you balance in quality of

life, sustainability and equity.

I think I covered more in the writing than I did on the video. I will

cross reference later.

Arriving in Jasper I immediately found the Administration office and was

talking with the Assistant to the superintendent of the Park. His name is

Ifan Thomas. I took him through our website and also explained the project

I wanted to start using the parks. The idea was basically this: Since

these parks are "world heritage parks" they should be supported by the

world. I explained the world wide promotion where we use the Peace Coin

2000 as legal tender to get into the park. We add a new category for

charging people: World Citizens $10. Or a Peace Coin. How does one get a

peace coin? By becoming a World Citizen, which means you learn the

information on the World Citizenship Challenge. After you fill in the

information you receive your coin. Valid at World heritage Parks ( where

ever we organize this with the other parks.) I learned that UNESCO has

approved of our Parks as World Heritage Parks, and they have a list of same

around the world . I can approach them on the same basis. We then use

this tool as a promotion tool for Canada, and World Citizenship, and the

education of people in values important to preserving parks. One might

call this a brilliant idea if he were to get caught up in his ego.

Fortunately we are not.

So we asked Ifan to review our website and have Ron Hooper the

Superintendent to look at our site, and to consider the ideas that I have

brought forward. I then asked them to write to Sheila Copps and propose

this idea under the World Citizenship Challenge. This ended our meeting.

Ont. he way out the door I decided to go and check out the local newspaper.

I met the editor Peter Glen and we went to lunch together. I told him

about the World Citizenship Challenge, and our website, and the idea for

using the parks to teach about world citizenship. I think he liked the

idea and this could be a focal point for getting started. Hooray for

Jasper! I then went over to the local school and talked with the

Principal. We talked about the signs around her school. They are great,

and I took some shots of the signs and we told her about the meetings I

have had that day and our World Citizenship Challenge., I asked her to

look at our site, and to get her students involved. I think she will, and

I also think that this town of Jasper is going to really pick up the ball

as they say. I then went to the library left message. I went to the

Information Building and Vicky Wallace helped me by recommending me to both

the Museum, where Peter Glen's wife works., and to the local Chamber of

commerce to meet with Doreen VanAsten the current General Manager of Jasper

Tourism and Commerce. I then went to a local store, the Jasper Rock and

Jade Shop where I interviewed Tom Wright the local proprietor. I think I

covered the gamut here, and I think they all are ready to do something.

What happens is up to the will of the Great Spirit. The seeds have been

sown. I will spend some time nurturing them as I move forward.

Just before leaving I ran into Dan and Randy from Halifax. They gave me a

short interview as Canadians - and spoke on one country - unity. Canada.

Our waiter in the restaurant where we had some Chinese food before leaving

town was from Hong Kong. Where is your home? I asked. "Canada. I am

Canadian. I go back to Hong Kong every year or so, but its not the same .

My home is here."

Found our way out of town by 5 PM and we went through some of the most

spectacular views yet, from small 100 foot waterfalls to a three hundred

foot fall coming out of the clouds. Breathtaking views even though the

rain is almost continuous. No sunshine yet.

We travelled to the Maintenance depot looking for another recommended

contact. There we met Stephane from Sherbrook, Quebec. Another Quebecker

living in Alberta. Home? Canada.

We left a note for Jim Todgham whom we had been advised to meet as another

contact point. Found a nice lodge just after the glaciers. They had a

sauna and a steam, where we met Al and Ruby from Yellowknife. Al is the

"rich barber" J and his wife of thirty five years they are on their way up

to Jasper with their son Tory. They are from Newfoundland and I have asked

them if we can do an interview in the morning. They have agreed.

We have not made a deal on our room yet, as we have to meet the manager in

the morning. We also have been using our UN card to move through various

check points with our "story". It continues to work to help us stay within

a reasonable budget, although we are still way over what I originally

anticipated.