Monday September 29th

Christina called from Toronto and outlined her itinerary for the next month

and offered to set some wheels in motion for us in Calgary and in

Vancouver. She has arranged for her trip to India and will be helping from

wherever she travels. She is planning to go to England for a few days and

visit with Sarah Miles.

Barb had several healing sessions to-day, and during this time I went out

to look after some details like buying socks, getting a key made, and

checking on a transfer of some funds from England to my CIBC account.

During the experience, I was in the Army and Navy Store (key and socks) and

I heard I fellow paying a bill with " cold, hard cash". He then pulled out

a $20 bill. I asked why he referred to this as "cold, hard cash) and we

played with the language for a bit. I did my purchases and also paid with

"cold, hard cash leaving a Friendship penny that was appreciated by the

cashier. I also gave one to a Native Indian who was also at the register

at the time. He seemed to like it as well. I went upstairs in the store

and was buying the socks and the Native Indian came by and gave his penny

to the cashier - or at least tried to give it to her. She refused. I

thought this was strange, so when I was getting ready to pay my bill AI

queried her as to whether or not she would accept a Friendship Penny from

me. Her instant answer was that she would not. I indicated to her that I

would not complete my purchase unless she at least agreed to look at the

Friendship Penny sometime in the future. She agreed. I completed the

purchase. As I am writing this, I am two doors away and will go and check

out if she has completed her commitment.

I left, feeling that I may have been a little too aggressive, but also

justified my actions to myself.

I went and picked up Justine and we went to visit with Dr. Toh, Sweet-Hin

PhD Director Centre for International Education & Development (CIED) and

Professor of Educational Policy Studies. I had seen his name before, but

I did not have it in any context other than vaguely associated with Global

Education, but since CIDA has shut down the funding for Global Education it

seems that the focus may now be on "peace education" Certainly after

reading Dr. Tohs paper and presentation made in Maputo last month it is

clear that global education is not in the language terminology currently

acceptable to those involved with educational pedagogy. They are planning

to rename it, although it will be in my estimation exactly the same thing.

Dr. Toh agreed to send on to me his connections in Maputo Mozambique, as I

have been invited there, and his connections may make my experience easier.

We also agreed to look at how we could create links between our work.

After a lengthy discussion Justine and I left. I took her home and went

over to Zina's where we spent a few minutes sharing some ideas on her

extraordinary experiences around Sai Baba. We then left and home for

dinner. Justine left early for a meeting with the Buddhist community where

she was involved with the organization of a three day event with some

Buddhist monks that were coming to Edmonton. It was a logistical meeting

and we were invited to come and meet with the organising committee at the

end of the meeting. In the meantime Barb and I took a quick drive out to

West Edmonton Mall. It was quite an incredible place, and we got in a

short conversation with a local Edmontonian person who often used the

facilities there for conferences. She said that the Mall creates a great

distraction form the dreary process of conference presentations etc. She

was wandering the Mall in anticipation of her daughter having a baby that

evening. We gave her a friendship penny for good luck and we were on our

way. We ventured through 30% of the facility and as time was running out,

we took some video shots, and then rushed off to catch the tail end of the

meeting. After the meeting we met with a most incredible human being.

Steven KH Aung. To look at his business card one may get the impression

that he is out to impress people. Not so. In fact while his card has a

great deal on it, it in no way communicates the extent of what this man is

about. I will not attempt to cover too much in this report, but I will

check out the story that CBC did on him as one of the thirteen most

influential people in Canada in terms of the future. I would like to note

that Dr. Aung is incredibly well organised, works 22 hours per day, and has

allocated his time in such a manner that his is able to maintain a calmness

and centeredness that enable s him to do incredible work - from community

development, spiritual development, research in natural medicines,

teaching, painting and at the same time keep up to date on progress in

virtually all fields of medicine in both the language of English, and

Chinese. He also writes prodigiously both books, articles and papers on

leading educational concepts sometimes borrowing from ancient Chinese

tradition, and sometimes from his current research.

Steven is very interested "peace" work and has offered to become

involved with the IAEWP as a Consultant, Advisor and whatever other role

may seem practical for his many diverse talents. I should also note that

he is the Founder and President of the 5,000 member World Natural Medicine

Foundation, Canadian Medical Acupuncture Society, and President of the

International Buddhist Friends Association.