The spirit of Chico Mendes lives on!

On this day 22 years ago, the world woke up to the sad news Chico Mendes had been killed by farmers who responded to his activism in defence of the forest and the people of Acre.

During the 80’s Chico Mendes fought tirelessly and with great courage while his companions were threatened and killed. His leadership became known worldwide and was the reason the Brazilian government began to respond by withdrawing some land from farmers and turning them into protected areas. Understanding the threat had become, Chico Mendes had made a declaration in Rio de Janeiro predicting his assassination shortly before his last trip back to Acre.

"I do not want flowers at my funeral; because I know they'll pull them out of the forest! I just want my murder will serve to end the impunity of the gunmen, under the protection of the federal police in Acre and that, since 1975, has already killed over 50 people as I do, tappers leaders who defend the Amazon rainforest and make it an example of that progress is possible without destruction. Xapuri I go to meet death. "

And that is what happened on December 22, 1988, shortly after he came home to be reunited with his family.

The seed must die to germinate. And it was this day that began a new cycle of struggle for environmental causes in Brazil and worldwide. Without a doubt, we are a movement that continues what began Chico. When we act for a sustainable world, and just happy we can be sure that Chico Mendes lives in us as a seed of hope and inspiration.
Message drawn from this post by Lou Gold.

On this day 22 years ago, Chico Mendes was killed by farmers who responded to his activism in defense of the forest and the people of Acre.

During the 80 Chico Mendes fought tirelessly and with great courage while his companions were threatened and killed. His leadership became known worldwide and why the Brazilian government began to respond by withdrawing some land from farmers and turning them into protected areas. Understanding the threat had become, Chico Mendes has a pronunciation in Rio de Janeiro predicting his assassination.
Despite the warnings and premonitions, he returned to Acre saying

"I do not want flowers at my funeral, because I know they'll pull them out of the forest! I just want my murder will serve to end the impunity of the gunmen, under the protection of the federal police in Acre and that, since 1975, already killed over 50 people as I do, tappers leaders who defend the Amazon rainforest and make it an example of that progress is possible without destruction. Xapuri I go to meet death. "


And that is what happened on December 22, 1988, shortly after he came home to reunite with his family.
The seed must die to germinate. And it was this day that began a new stage of the environmental cause in Brazil and worldwide.

This is the man largely responsible for planting the 'seed' for me to do all I can to stop deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

Sylvester Stein at the age of 51, he took up running

I had a shock today ploughing through my emails to receive an email from Sylvester Stein who at the age of 51, took up running. Here is an extract from the email:
“You’ve left it a bit late!” I can remember people saying. “All those years of missed training. It will be impossible for you to catch up now.”
Well, that was 39 years ago and on Christmas Day I will 90 years old. On Christmas Day I will still be going for my morning run. On Christmas Day I will be celebrating 40 years of sporting success and not a single year of it was achieved in my so called ‘youth’!
Since returning to the athletics scene in 1971 I have become a British and European champion sprinter, the World Champion Veteran runner for the 200m and winner of two gold medals. Just a few years ago, I became the British 60m veteran sprint champion, and competed in the World Masters Athletics Games in Austria, setting a new British record.
Don’t ever use age as an excuse.
In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of any reasonable excuse as to why you can’t exceed your sporting expectations, however old you are.
With age comes experience and I have learnt two valuable lessons in my sporting career:
1. Never give up
2. That the first step to becoming a successful athlete in this modern era is to train your brain before your body. Dedication and a passion for competing is crucial but as they say, "knowledge is power" and the world of sport is no different.
I opened my mind to the sports science research available and armed myself with the weaponry required to improve every aspect of my performance.
I made it my business to keep up with the latest training techniques and sport science breakthroughs to ensure I was constantly improving as an athlete. Such is the level of the competition these days you cannot afford to leave a single stone unturned.
That knowledge, combined with a strong will to succeed is the only two ingredients any athlete needs to be truly successful.


I have to say what an inspiration to me being 51 and training for my run through the Amazon.

Reds greet Chilean miners

A group of Chilean miners who survived the San José mine accident earlier this year have arrived at Old Trafford after accepting an invitation from United and Concha y Toro.

The 23 miners, accompanied by Chilean football legend Elías Figueroa, were welcomed on Sunday at a dinner hosted by Sir Bobby Charlton, who paid tribute to the courage shown by the miners in their 69-day underground fight for their lives from August to October.

"I can’t believe these are the same people the whole world dropped everything for," said Sir Bobby. "You took it in your stride and everyone around the world is very proud of you."

On Monday, the miners are taking part in a training session at Carrington, before watching the Reds’ match against Arsenal in the evening.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking forward to meeting a group of people for whom he has huge respect.

"It’s fantastic that they’re coming," he said. "We’re doing a training session and I’m looking forward to seeing them. These are people who showed real substance and perseverance to make sure they survived.

"There are examples in life which you should always take note of. I mean, the life of a miner, having to work in the bowels of the earth and not being able to see anything. That’s a great sacrifice to earn your living. I’m sure they’ll enjoy themselves on their trip."The party from Chile also met Sir Alex and the players at Carrington during their stay, an experience which no doubt evoked memories for the miners’ VIP companion – Elias Figueroa, arguably the greatest Chilean footballer of all time. He overcame adversity of his own – being diagnosed with polio at the age of eleven and told he would never play football – to make more than 800 career appearances in several South Anerican countries and represent Chile in three World Cups.

“As a football person, I certainly know what a big football club Manchester United is,” said Figueroa.

“I was grateful for the invitation to come to Old Trafford and grateful to Concha y Toro for allowing me to come along on this trip with the miners. Like everyone else around the world, I watched the miners’ plight on television. I thought to myself what great guys they must be, to have come out of that situation.

"However, I was only watching from a distance then. Now that I have met up with them I know they are even bigger characters than the images we saw on television during their troubles when they were trapped underground. They are fantastic human beings.”

No smoke without fire

Out running last night I got so annoyed when I ran towards someone burning grass at the side of the road as I struggled to breathe I mutters all sorts of profanities under my breathe but on the way back it hit me like a bolt of thunder my mission in life is to stop the burning of the amazon rainforest and it went from working against me to working for me – is the glass half full or empty? – I managed to knock 2 mins of my personal best for that particular run. So just proves to put fire in your belly you need smoke!!!

Sporting Hero and Legends part 3

I remember back in the 70’s Mike was reading a book he had borrowed from the library and during our weight training session I picked up the book and started to read it, I have to say quickly the book became more important than the training. After he finished reading it I took the book to read it. It had everything dedication, hardship, predagisce, triumph over adversity and finally glory. Many times that book made me laugh and cry and certainly motivated me. No wonder they have decided to make a film about him, my only complaint is it has taken so long!!!
My number one sporting legend and hero is not only the smallest but probably the oldest still living Precious McKenzie MBE Born in 1936 a South African-born weightlifter who won Commonwealth titles representing both England and New Zealand and has won several World powerlifting and Masters World powerlifting titles. His diminutive stature — 1.45m (4' 9") — made him a distinctive figure at any competition.

The Precious McKenzie Story" written by Marion Connock - published by Pelham Books you can get a copy from amazon.co.uk

Born in Durban South Africa the second youngest in a family of five. His father was killed hunting crocodiles shortly after he was born. Precious was a weak child, suffering many serious illnesses during his childhood. His mother was unable to cope, and Precious and his younger sister, Gloria, were put in welfare 'care' of a number of foster parents, several of whom treated them cruelly. An ambition to be a circus performer ended because of South Africa's race laws and this led him to weight training and weightlifting. Although he was ranked the best weightlifter in his weight category in South Africa, he was barred in 1958 from representing his country at the Empire and Commonwealth Games that year. Because he was classified as coloured under the apartheid regime he was also excluded from the South African team for the 1960 Rome Olympiad. In 1963, he was told he could be included in the South African team for the 1964 Olympics, provided he was segregated from the white members of the team. He refused and left South Africa for Britain in 1964 with his wife and young family. British minister for sport, Denis Howell, fast-tracked his citizenship application to allow him to compete for England in the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica where he won gold.

He worked in a shoe factory in Northampton, applying later for citizenship. Due to his particular circumstances, this was not forthcoming, but then, on the eve of going to Canada, Dennis Howell (who was then the Minister of Sport and who wrote the foreword to "The Precious McKenzie Story"

Precious moved to Bristol where he completed a Physical Education degree.

McKenzie competed in three Empire/Commonwealth Games representing England, and at three Olympics (1968, 1972 and 1976) representing Britain.

In 1974 he featured on Thames Television's "This is your Life" show with Eamon Andrews. The same year Queen Elizabeth personally awarded him the MBE for his services to international weight lifting.


As a result of contacts made during the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, he decided to settle in that country where, rather than operate as a factory worker, he was offered the opportunity to be a weight trainer in a gym. He settled in the North Island city of Auckland and won his fourth Commonwealth gold representing New Zealand at the age of 42. He has won more Olympic, Commonwealth and World medals in his sport than has perhaps any other sports person, competing in both the bantam and flyweight divisions.

He subsequently became a private consultant in the field of back injury prevention and the New Zealand Safety Council's Manual Handling Advisor, running courses in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and USA.

In 2006 he was recognized by his native country with an induction into the South African Sports Hall of Fame.

A film title ‘The Precious One’ is being made about his life directed by Roger Spottiswoode and with a cast including Kim Basinger, Nick Nolte, Kevin Hart, Tatyana Ali, Viola Davis, John Rhys-Davies, Arnold Vosloo I hope it comes out as planned next year. http://www.aspectfilm.com/precious/

In one sense, at 4ft 9ins, there isn't a lot of Precious McKenzie. But it's a case of the old saying – there is more than meets the eye.Irrepressible is the word to describe McKenzie. He has confronted adversity for much of his life and simply laughed in its face. He's been far, far too busy to indulge in self-pitying for him, every day is a challenge, each moment of life a sparkling cause for celebration.

What a shame that given the chance to come to England and later represent the country exemplary famously, landladies in the Midlands where many overseas workers were housed building some of the great motorways of England, used to put up signs in their windows if they had rooms to let. 'No blacks, dogs or Irish' what a disgrace.
In the end, the McKenzie family was befriended by a Pakistani who let them a couple of rooms. Memories, such memories they all seem a long time ago for the man who went on to represent Britain and then New Zealand at assorted Olympic and Commonwealth Games from 1966 to 1978. For Great Britain, he won gold medals at the 1966, 1970 and 1974 Commonwealth Games and then gold New Zealand at the 1978 Games. Four consecutive gold medal's truly awesome.

Today, McKenzie is based in Auckland where he works as a back injury prevention consultant and the New Zealand Safety Council's Manual Handling Advisor. A weightlifter should know how to preserve his back and McKenzie has found his consultant services much valued wherever he goes.

But the greatest surprise of his life? His mind inevitably drifts back to South Africa, the land of his birth, and the feared, hated apartheid system that drove him away. "I was very surprised when it stopped; I didn't think I would see that happen in my lifetime”. "The trouble was, the world was supporting the apartheid system because of the gold in South Africa. I thought, no way would it end."

How sad that even with his excellent qualifications and glory at 3 commonwealth games he had to leave for a better life in N Zealand. A better job, better prospects, everything. He once said “this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I enjoy my life and I am healthy. It is true what they say, your health is your wealth and the day I cannot work anymore, I will be near to the grave."

Sure, but there's work and work. McKenzie still travels the globe in his job, he regards it more of a crusade than a simple job for he asserts that the spine is the key to a healthy body. He calls it the motorway of the human body. So what is the general physical state of people he meets and helps around the globe?

"Unfortunately, people's health is getting worse and worse. We have more and more mechanical things as aids: cars, trains, aeroplanes, computers etc. Children don't get to the park to play and man is getting weaker and weaker. It is all to do with the sedentary lifestyle. Computers in particular, do everything so man is getting lazier and lazier." But not this lean, slim 74 year-old. Whilst he sees myriad numbers of his fellow citizens around the globe decline in a physical sense, McKenzie retains his shape and fitness with an iron-like grip on his mental processes. He continues to train regularly, nearly every day of the week. He is determined to maintain a healthy mind and body and insists physical exercise is the key to that. These are the lessons he imparts to his audiences, sometimes 200 people in a day.


Just before he retired at over 70 years of age he broke five world records for weight lifting in his class, at his age.An inspiration to others? For sure. And now, as moves get underway to make a film of his extraordinary life story, Precious McKenzie confides to one remaining ambition, a deep, burning desire that remains unfulfilled to meet Nelson Mandela.


My idea of heaven would be to be there and sit in the middle of these two inspirational great men.


Medal record
Men's Weightlifting Commonwealth Games
Competitor for England
Gold 1966 Kingston Bantamweight
Gold 1970 Edinburgh Bantamweight
Gold 1974 Christchurch Flyweight
Competitor for New Zealand
Gold 1978 Edmonton Bantamweight

Olympic & Power Lifting Achievements

9 times British Weight Lifting Champion
10 times British Power Lifting Champion
5 times World Power Lifting Champion
8 World Masters Power Lifting Records
1999- 2002

4 consecutive Gold Medals at the Commonwealth Games

Represented Britain in 3 Olympic Games:
Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, Montreal 1976

Current World Masters Power Lifting Champion

Elected to the World Hall of Fame for Power Lifting - Texas, USA

Presented with an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II

Sporting Hero and Legends part 2

Whilst I have enjoyed and participated in many sports and probably most suited to long distance running, never fast but what is known as a plodder more suited to the marathon than the 100m and two runners have always inspired me the legendary Ron Hill (I once ran the first half of a mile of a marathon close behind my idol, however as he was looking for around 2.30 and my ambition was to break 3 hours common sense took over and I slowed to me own pace and managed 2:58:56 my all tome personal best, the other was Terry Fox the one legged Canadian who attempted to run across Canada in 1980, he embarked on the Marathon of Hope where he attempted to run across Canada in an effort to raise money for cancer research. Fox hoped to raise C$1 for each of Canada's 24 million people on his run, a goal he met despite being forced to end his run after 143 days and 5,300 kilometres when his cancer spread to his lungs.


It is after a suggestion last year from my kind brother that as I would be 50 I should try a new challenge and suggested an ultra-marathon and at first dismissing the idea I decided to look in to it, however was surprised and disappointed to find out how expensive and the waiting lists are 2 to 3 years ahead! So being concerned with helping to save the Amazon Rainforest decided to create my own and will next year attempt to run across the Amazon region 77 Marathons in less than 13 weeks running 6 full marathons a week approximately 2,000 miles.

Sporting Hero and Legends part 1

Sporting hero and Legend 1

‘When you get a minute from all the TV you have to watch (family joke) I have the perfect task for you. Go to my website on the sporting heroes’ page http://www.unique-bodyweight-exercises.com/sporting-heroes.html and I want you to write about a sporting hero who has inspired you and say why. It can be anyone from George Best when you were a kid to whomever. Talk about how they have inspired you for the Amazon run if you want. I am just starting a blog about sporting heroes and thought you would be the perfect choice to start it of when you have time’.


Those were the words emailed to me by my brother. I considered the obvious Manchester United players, the genius of Best and Cantona, the 'Steady Eddie' Charlton and of course my favourite United player of all time Ryan Giggs, but I diversified into other sports and thought of the obvious Bruce Lee, Muhammad Ali, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Colombo, The Barbarians twins, Frank Zane and Daley Thompson oh I am showing my age!!! but having read his AB book and the story of the Japanese monks I went deeper into what is a true legend and hero and went back into the archives of my memory and came up with someone who to me ‘sums up’ that to me and I am sure once he is revealed you will agree however as he had planted the seed of Manchester United I could not get one guy out of my mind.


Probably the biggest, unsung hero in United's great history - and he would, without doubt in my opinion, be classed as a 'hard man.' He made 679 appearances in the red shirt over a period of 19 years but his career took in eras of both a glorious and tragic part of United's history.


He was also working down the pit as a miner at the time that he signed for United and did so for four years afterwards, even after he had won a place in the first team. I remember when I first read this I just could not imagine it and this was 20 years ago, never mind these days working down the pit and playing for Manchester United!!! His debut game in the first team came at the age of 20 years and 11 months, at Anfield against Liverpool, wearing the number two shirt, on the 13th December 1952, in a 2-0 victory. The player concerned is of course, Bill Foulkes.
Unfashionable, unassuming, never the player to really catch the eye, but he was certainly effective. Initially as a right full back, and then as a centre half. Foulkes was a fitness fanatic, and it says a great deal about his physical dedication in that he was able to stay part time for four years, only training at United on a Tuesday and Thursday throughout the early part of his career.


I remember many years ago reading on how he used to get the bus to the ground with the fans, no fancy Porsche and Ferrari cars in those days, imagine Rooney a couple of years ago still working down the pit because it paid better than going full time playing for Manchester United.


Matt Busby had been badgering him to turn full time professional from the day he got into the first team. But Foulkes was married, earned more from working down a coal mine than he did from football, and was more secure in financial terms than most full time players. However, he was still ambitious as far as his football was concerned, but there was another reason holding him back from signing on as a full time pro - a thing called National Service! As a miner, he was in a category that fell under the term of 'protected trade' and as such, he was ineligible for the mandatory two years of military service. However, his call up for the full England team in October 1954 was the spur that he needed to take the plunge into the full time professional ranks, and in January of 1955 he pleased his manager by signing a full time professional contract.


He played in the last game of the 1954/55 season, and then sure enough, his 'call up' papers dropped through the letterbox of his home in early May of 1955. Foulkes was conscripted into the Royal Army Service Corps, and was initially stationed down in Aldershot. Busby talked to Foulkes before he left to start his army service. He made a statement that would leave most people with lockjaw had it been heard today! Busby told Foulkes that as he was stationed so far away, if he wanted to keep his place in the first team, he would have to make his own arrangements for getting to the games - the Club could not help him! He promised Foulkes that if he arrived at the various grounds in good time, he would play!


He was virtually ever present in United's team from the start of the 1955/56 season until just after the turn of the year when against Preston North End United were beaten3-1. Bill had a torrid time that day against Tom Finney - but how many full backs didn't during that era? Busby decided to leave Foulkes out for the next game in favour of young Ian Greaves, and he was never to regain his place again during that season. This was the breakthrough season for the young 'Babes' and they finished as League Champions by a the massive distance of 11 points in front of their rivals, with a young team of which the average age was just 22 years! Foulkes had played more than the requisite number of first team games to qualify for a winner’s medal that season no team had ever won the Championship before with such a young average age, seems Alan Hanson famous quote was previously proven wrong by a United team.


During the 1957/58 season, the day that he had been looking forward to, arrived - 'demob day!' He could now go home to his wife, and also concentrate fully on his Manchester United career.


Foulkes was playing well, but little was he to know that his life was about to change forever. We all know the happenings of February 6th 1958, and we know the part that Bill Foulkes had to play in that tragic event. That United were able to put a team out just thirteen days later in an F.A. Cup tie, was little short of a miracle. When you consider what happened, even more of a miracle was the fact that both Bill Foulkes, and Harry Gregg, were able to play in that F.A. Cup tie. They had lost seven of their closest friends (and were to lose one more just 30 hours after that tie took place) and several more were still lying injured. No trauma counselling back in those days for them. Jimmy Murphy made Foulkes Club Captain, and given the circumstances, that was a tremendous burden and responsibility for him to have to carry, given the state the club found itself in. The first team was all of a sudden a mixture of reserve team and youth team players, plus two buys, Ernie Taylor and Stan Crowther. As well as playing his own game, Foulkes had to lead from the front and help carry a lot of players who were not only scarred by the tragedy, but also before their time as far as playing in the first team was concerned. Somehow, that team fought their way to the F.A. Cup Final, eventually losing to Bolton Wanderers at Wembley. They also performed heroically in the European Cup semi-final against A.C. Milan, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford. The team had to make the long overland journey to Milan by rail, and this was no preparation for the second leg. Tired, the team lost 4-0.


Foulkes' character, like that of the other survivors, changed after the tragedy. He also, became very introverted, moody, and was difficult to get inside of and kept his distance. The younger players christened him 'popular Bill' or 'PB' for short. It was a reference to his moodiness. As Club Captain, he had carried that enormous responsibility on his shoulders. The pressures on Foulkes were obviously at some time or another going to eventually tell, and so it was that his form became a little erratic.


In the middle of the1960/61 season Busby made centre half Foulkes' permanent position. For the next 8 years, Foulkes was virtually an ever present in the Manchester United team. He shared in the glory of the F.A. Cup win against Leicester City in 1963, he won another two First Divison Championship medals in 1965 and 1967, and of course he was in the team that triumphed against Benfica in the European Cup Final at Wembley in May of 1968. I suppose that it was also such a fitting script, that Foulkes should score the goal against Real Madrid in the Bernabeau that took United to that European Final. He was by this time, almost 38 years of age.


Without doubt Bill Foulkes had played his part in the Club's history. No player plays 679 games for Manchester United, and for a manager like Sir Matt Busby, without being more than a half decent player. Foulkes was as tough as granite and in my opinion was as hard as anybody that has ever played the game. Nobody took any kind of liberties with him. Even in training he neither gave, nor asked any quarter. As a full back, he played against some of the greatest wingers in the game; as a centre half, he also mixed it with the toughest and the best of centre forwards of his era, and in both cases, the number of times that he came off second best could be counted on one hand. He was almost never out of the team through injury, and there was a solid consistency in his play. He was a rock at the heart of the United defence. He was the minder for ball playing colleagues who were of a more delicate disposition than he was. Foulkes was very destructive in the tackle, and relentless in pursuit of the man he had been assigned to mark. In his 'minder's' role in Madrid in April 1957 when the great Alfredo Di Stefano had kicked young Eddie Colman to the ground in his frustration of being man marked so effectively. It was both a cruel, cowardly act, and one that should have brought the great man an early bath. Foulkes was on Di Stefano in an instant grabbing him by the front of the shirt. The great Alfredo paled visibly, and uttered the words; 'oikay Foulksay - no more!' as he feared for his own wellbeing! On another occasion, in a league game at Preston's Deepdale, Tommy Docherty cynically kick him, off the ball. He'd picked the wrong guy to be cynical with - Foulkes was on him like lightning and picked him up with one hand, and hurled him into the Deepdale mud like a rag doll! Unpretentious, unassuming, solid, dependable, consistent, that was Bill Foulkes. Never one to court the limelight, nor to be in the news for the wrong reasons.


Age finally did catch up with him just a year after that wonderful European Cup win. At the start of the '69/'70 season, after just three games, and a heavy home defeat against Southampton by 4-1. Ron Davies the big Welsh centre-forward scored all four goals that day, and it was to prove to be Bill Foulkes' last game for Manchester United. It was sad that he had to end his playing career on that low note but the march of time was there for all to see.


In my opinion Bill Foulkes was a tremendous servant of Manchester United both as a player, and a man, and he never ever let them down. He had the mental toughness to overcome adversity, tragedy, and the physical toughness to survive in what was back then, a very, very, tough era. I find it so hard to comprehend that not only did he not earn a fortune for his services to football and Manchester United, but he worked as a miner for 4 of those years, did 2 years National service away from his wife and children but used his spare time and favours to play for the club, not only overcame the terrible tragedy that we the fans call simply ‘Munich’ but captained the club at such a terrible time so quickly after the event leading by example (how I wish modern day players with all the luxuries heaped upon them could act so impressively and so to me although not my favourite Manchester United player he is a true legend and sporting hero.

It's a long road

As I run each day, well 5 times a week, I never seem to get that 6th run in at the moment, always something comes up.The thoughts keep coming into my head will I be able to do this mammoth task or have I bit off more than I can chew? I do not have the answer yet but I do know I will give it my best shot, for the 12 charities chosen, for my friends and family to be proud of and finally tom prove that a 50 odd year old guy can do it when he plans, trains and has the guts to do it.

I am running at least an hour and although it is slow about 10k, I remember when I ran that in 36+ mins!!! I did run 22 k on Sunday boy it was hard, a lot harder than I thought especially after I did run a marathon last month all be it very slow and did have to walk and run near the end, wow, those hills still give me nightmares, love you Cornwall but will never forget all those hills one after another.

It will be interesting to see if my months training for November goes as planned especially as we are now over half way through the month.

Until next time as the song say's 'Keep on Running'.

Edison Pena New York Marathon

A Chilean miner ran, walked and hobbled his way to the finish line of the New York City Marathon, showing the grit that helped him survive more than two months trapped underground.

Edison Pena crossed the Central Park finish line at 3.24pm local time, with a time of 5 hours, 40 minutes, 51 seconds. He was draped in a Chilean flag as Elvis music played over the speakers.

The 34-year-old survivor had beat his own goal - to complete the course through the city's five boroughs in six hours.

Bags of ice covered his swollen knees as a grim-faced Pena covered the last part of the 26.2-mile course.

"First, I want to run this marathon, but secondly, I'd like to motivate those people who aren't running the marathon to do so in the future," he said before starting. "I also want to especially motivate young children and youth to run because running makes you free."

Pena's personal victory came just weeks after he was still training in near-darkness, jogging each day 2,300 feet underground in stifling heat and humidity. He and 32 other men survived 69 days in the caved-in mine.

He said running was his salvation - his way of proving how much he wanted to live.

On a sunny day in Manhattan, the strong will that kept him focused came shining through. It didn't seem to matter to the world whether Number 7127 actually finished the race running into Central Park - or ended his first marathon barely making it. To the wildly cheering crowds, he was already a winner among the 45,000 runners, including some of the world's best marathon runners.

Pena has not competed in years as an amateur runner. And since the rescue, he covered only 6.5 miles as part of a triathlon team event in Chile on October 24.

On Sunday, he again was doing what he could, moving step by step, painfully, toward the Central Park finish line. And as he put it before leaving Chile for New York, he now faced "a new challenge - to care more deeply, to be more present with the people we love."

Coaster run GB

Over the summer an extraordinary event has been taking place. Starting at Blackpool Tower, this event has linked hundreds of people together in a single cause - to get a little wooden baton named Barry around the coast of Great Britain. Barry arrived back in Blackpool where the journey began arriving on 23rd October, my birthday. I am proud to have done my small bit in this inspiring event, well done to all who took part but a massive congratulations to the organisers.
Barry started life as a chunk of Old English Oak in deepest Lancashire and his life found purpose as the rather wacky idea was put forward to a running forum in December 2009. Barry was born as the idea became a reality and the little wooden fellow was launched from the Tower to start his epic journey. In just five months, purely over the internet, a group of people who had largely never met, had organised themselves enough to start getting Barry ‘round our wonderful coast. To date, he has covered well over 4,000 miles, being passed palm to palm, from the big starting post of Blackpool Tower, North into the craggy crevices of Scotland, down the whole East coast and across the very base of Blighty and up into Wales. In the process, hundreds have developed a special relationship with each other and with Barry. All felt a need to look after and nurture this little wooden wonder. Tears have even been shed as Barry left for the next leg of his journey. Some found themselves volunteering for future legs, simply to meet him again. Many, very together people found themselves talking to the little bit of woodwork. The apparent charisma of Barry has made the huge task of organising strangers into doing a relay around the coast of Great Britain, not only possible, but enjoyable and unforgettable.

No elite, in any boardroom, nor big financial backing could have made a coastal relay like CoastersGB such a success in such short time. Only a spirit of pulling together reminiscent of the blitz years in the name of getting a cute little baton ‘round the coast can do that, it seems. Technology has also played a role beyond getting strangers to talk to each other. From our website www.coastersgb.co.uk Barry’s whereabouts can be tracked and pictures of each leg of his journey found.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso

A belated happy Birthday to The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso who was 75 yesterday, but as you know I was up in Scotland doing my bit for the run around GB coast run.

Although it was a very long day starting at 05.00 and getting home at 23.00 it was an experience I would not have wanted to miss. I love Scotland and was pleased to do my bit and although I ran alone was grateful for the help from Richard and Graeme and was proud to carry 'Barry the Baton' the 13 or 14 miles from Montrose to Arbroath.

Coasting around Britain

Well it is almost upon me my leg of the Coasting around Britain, tomorrow I shall run between 12-16 miles from Montrose to Abroath, I am scheduled to receive 'Barry' the baton from Richard aka Longbow at Montrose railway station do my leg and pass 'Barry' on to Graeme at Abroath Museum.

So it is up at 05.00 to get the bus to Wigan and the then the train to Montrose for my leg to kick off at 12.30, I have allowed myself up to 3 hours as not sure if it is 12 or nearly 17 miles.

I shall post on Wednesday my experience.

Upwards & Onwards

The Wizard of the Dribble and The Magician.

After a terrible performance by the English national team in the world cup yesterday I saw a short film about the great Sir Stanley Mathews and all the good work he had done in Soweto and amazingly I had never heard about his great work there. Mr Capello has stated his English players were tired and yet Sir Stan played football for England at the age of 42 years 103 days.

Longest England career
Stanley Matthews, 22 years 228 days, 29 September 1934 — 15 May 1957

Oldest player
Stanley Matthews, 42 years 103 days, 15 May 1957

Appearances in three separate decades
Stanley Matthews, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s


Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE (1 February 1915 – 23 February 2000) was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year awards. Matthews' nicknames included The Wizard of the Dribble and The Magician. A vegetarian teetotaller, he kept fit enough to play at the top level until he was 50 years old, the oldest player ever to play in England's top football division and the oldest player ever to represent the country. He played his final competitive game in 1970, at the age of 55, for Hibernians in Malta, which team he also coached at the time. Matthews was also an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 to honour his contribution to the English game.[1]
Matthews played in the famous Battle of Highbury where England defeated the World Champions Italy 3-2 with a brace from Eric Brook and one goal from Ted Drake. Matthews later recollected that this was the most violent match that he had been involved in with Brook suffering a broken arm and Drake acquiring two black eyes.
A testimonial match in honour of Sir Stanley was played in April 1965 at the Victoria Ground, where almost 35,000 people watched a 10-goal thriller between a British XI and a Europe XI, that included greats such as Lev Yashin, Josef Masopust, Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano, which finished 6–4 to the Europeans. Matthews was carried shoulder-high from the field at full-time.
Praise
"The man who taught us the way football should be played" - Pelé

"I grew up in an era when he was a god to those of us who aspired to play the game. He was a true gentleman and we shall never see his like again" - Brian Clough

"It is not just in England where his name is famous. All over the world he is regarded as a true football genius" - Berti Vogts

"For me this man probably had the greatest name of any player ever, certainly in Britain. I don't think anyone since had a name so synonymous with football in England" - Gordon Banks

"He [Stanley Matthews] told me that he used to play for just twenty pounds a week. Today he would be worth all the money in the Bank of England" - Gianfranco Zola
Honours
Blackpool
• FA Cup winner: 1953
Stoke City (second spell)
• Football League Second Division winner: 1962/63
Individual
• 1948: Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
• 1956: European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or)
• 1957: CBE
• 1963: Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
• 1965: Knight Bachelor
• 1992: FIFA Gold Medal Order
• 2002: English Football Hall of Fame
• 2010: Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame

Michael Jackson

One year on, so sad to think the genius of pop will perform no more, he was a great inspiration for many people including myself.

So glad I got the opportunity to see him perform.

Thank you very much for the memories,RIP Michael

Ralph Little's Brazil charity trip

Royle Family and Married Single Other star Ralf Little has returned from a trip to Brazil on behalf of Action Aid
Actor Ralf Little has just returned from visiting an ActionAid project in Rio de Janeiro's notorious City of God, where he is an ambassador for the charity, which is using football to try and bring children out of their poverty stricken lives to show them new opportunities, particularly as Brazil is set to host the World Cup in 2014.
In Brazil, Ralf visited its world-famous slums and shantytowns - known as favelas - to meet the children who need help.

The most notorious of the slums is the Cidade de Deus (City of God), Brazil's poorest and most notorious shantytown, where ActionAid has one of its key projects.

The slum is now home to 65,000 people although it was planned for just 25,000. And, in this slum alone, 10% of children are in a state of malnutrition. It's a jarring contrast to the glamour of Copacabana Beach.
Brazil's slums
Children make up 40 per cent of the population of the slum, and it's estimated that up to 20 per cent of those children will not make it into their teens due to gangs, gun crime, drugs and poverty.

The actor was quickly followed around by the women and children who call it home - meeting families who live five to a room beside huge piles of rotting rubbish washed down the hillside by the frequent rains.

The project Ralf visited is called the Centre for Education and Cultural Actions (CEACC), an ActionAid-supported after school club that gives children in the area a safe place to play, and a chance of learning new skills like computing, football and capoeira and a refuge.

The centre supports hundreds of children with activities and further education to help prevent them from falling into a life of drugs and crime.
Knowing that this year's World Cup legacy is to provide education for all, and that World Cup 2014 will be taking place in Rio de Janeiro, ActionAid has found a great opportunity to make a connection between this event and education through sport, which can raise public awareness in tackling poverty.

Trooping of the Colour

It is day's like today, I feel proud to be British, watching the Trooping of the Colour ceremony on TV and hearing the Guys 8 weeks ago were actually on active service in Afghanistan and here they are today on parade in front of the Queen.Well done young men, you are a fantastic example to everyone but especially your generation we we hear so much bad press about the youth of today.

It is also great to see so many women know part of what was once totally dominated by men, keep up the good work girls, I personally believe there are some jobs ordinary women cannot do (there are always exceptions to the rule) but women have proved that they can also play a very important role in the defence of the realm.

It was also refreshing to see more coloured personnel in the guards and household division once again after years of being part of the elite and with as usual many people quick to jump on the bandwagon of immigrants in the UK, it is a great reminder how the UK is loyally served by many nationalities from the commonwealth, 4 brothers from I think from Gambia having some part in the proceedings.

This is why 'Help for Heroes' was chosen as one of the deserving dozen charities I will participate in this endeavor and with you help raise money for them.



Finally I have to mention the horses the drum carriers carrying the rank of Major and one is 23 years old, brilliant.

Soccer Aid

It was fantastic to watch Soccer Aid last night, living in Brasil for the last 5 years I have never had the pleasure previously, what a inspiring idea from Robbie Williams to get the world of entertainment with football legends to play a footie match for such a worthwhile cause.

what a great atmosphere and spirit the game was played in.

The Inspiration: Major Phil Packer

The Inspiration:
Major Phil Packer

Thirteen days after the London Marathon 2009, the crowds were still cheering as Major Phil Packer crossed the finish line. This was just a year after he had been told he would never walk again.
Packer, a commanding officer of the Royal Military Police, had been driving on the army base in Basra in February 2008, when a mortar alarm sounded. The major leapt out of his 4x4 vehicle to take cover. In the chaos, the vehicle rolled over him, bruising his heart, breaking his ribs and injuring the base of his spine. He faced a gruelling year of rehabilitation.
At the army's treatment centre at Headley Court in Surrey, soldiers are encouraged to rest completely between bouts of rehab. But Packer refused to sit quietly. Instead, he set himself the target of raising a million pounds for the charity Help for Heroes, through several high-profile challenges - one of which was the London Marathon. It was a way to fill what the 38-year-old called the "huge void" in his life.
His defiance and determination grabbed the attention of the world's media - and the respect of Runner's World readers - who voted overwhelmingly for Packer as their Jane Tomlinson Inspiration Award winner of 2010.
"I'm delighted - and quite shocked - to have received this recognition from the running community," says Packer. "I had initially planned to do the race in a wheelchair, so I also have to be very grateful that the London Marathon organisers took this chance on me as my mobility improved."
Just a month after Packer started using crutches, he lined up with the rest of the crowd, on April 26. He walked exactly two miles a day - the maximum distance his doctors would allow. His tactic was to walk as quickly as possible for one mile in the early morning, so he could rest and recover during the hottest part of the day, before doing the final mile in the evening. He admits that he found it tough going: "It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. My shoulders, arms and lower back hurt because of my crutches and the fact I wasn't used to standing up so much."
Packer relied on daily stretches and physiotherapy four nights a week. Under the full glare of the media spotlight, he was also acutely aware that the public were watching and willing him on. He admits that this newfound fame was "initially very difficult. It was strange to get so much attention and exposure".
Yet having raised £1.6m for Help for Heroes, Packer adopted a quotation from George Eliot as his raison d'être: "What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for others?" This was why Packer is tackling the London Marathon again this year, aiming to do the 26.2 miles in exactly 26 hours, to raise funds for 26 different charities including the NSPCC and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Packer will walk every mile alongside a representative from one of his charities.
The race also helped to publicise Packer's British Inspiration Trust, a new charitable foundation to help young people suffering from disability. Why the focus on youth? "I was 36 when I was injured - if I'd been 16 I think I would have found it very much more difficult to cope, " Packer says. "There's the challenge of dealing with a disability itself, but at that age you have additional factors to consider: benefits, support, accommodation, further education and relationships.
"I benefited from having a strong infrastructure of support around me, from my family to my employer. Now I want to provide that for others."

The Rising Star Emelia Gorecka

The Rising Star
Emelia Gorecka
She's won everything from the English National Cross Country Championships to the ISF World School Games. But Emelia Gorecka, who turned 16 in January, is definitely not one to rest on her laurels.
This April, Gorecka was the youngest runner in the junior women's race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Undaunted by her older, more-experienced competitors, Goreka finished the 6K in 23rd place, with a time of 20:25. Just eight seconds behind fastest Brit Kate Avery, Gorecka helped the GB team to fifth place. Not bad for someone who is doing her GCSEs this year.
"I'm lucky to have found a good balance between studies and running," she says. "I take every season as it comes and keep progressing by small amounts. I'm really happy with the way my season's been developing. The highlight was the World Champs. I can't wait to be up there again."
Gorecka has been running since primary school. She performed so well in the school cross-country event that her teachers advised her to try track work. She excelled at both the 800m and 1500m. But it wasn't until 2007, aged 13, that Gorecka found her niche: when she returned to cross-country.
Her progression was stellar. In 2007, she came either first or second in all of her five cross-country events; by 2008, she was winning every time, recording 15 consecutive victories. At the same time, Gorecka began experimenting with longer track work, cutting her 3,000m PB from 9:58.98 to 9:22.8 in just a year.
She credits her success to the support of coach Mick Woods and her fellow runners at Aldershot, Farnham and District AC. She also ranks her club mates amongst her closest friends. "They help me stay calm and focused," she says. "Running is like my relaxation time; I go out at least three times a week but there's no additional pressure on me. I don't get fazed by the competition - I thrive on it."
Gorecka has the perfect mix of natural ability and natural optimism. Asked about the much-criticised state of British school sports, she is typically upbeat: "You just need to look at the under-13s competitions to see how many children there are who are really enthusiastic about running. The problem is that they tend to drop out of sport during their teenage years. We just need to get them to stay on - and the situation really looks good."

The Master - Geoff Oliver

The Master:
Geoff Oliver broke his first world record aged 65 - which is proof that you're never too old to excel. Now 76, the retired teacher - and grandfather of seven - holds 11 world bests, in everything from 30 miles to 100K. He set an incredible four national and two world records at a single event last year: the Self-Transcendence 24 Hour Race at Tooting Bec Athletics Track.
"Some runners get tangled up in PBs - I just run as I feel and the rest takes care of itself," he says. This tactic helped Oliver run a world-beating 111 miles in 24 hours, as well as setting a new best time of 20:43:49 for the 100-mile distance. He came 10th overall, beating runners a third of his age.
It's all the more remarkable because Oliver, from Billesdon in Leicestershire, only started to run competitively in his fifties. "I had run a bit when I was studying, and then in my twenties I found myself teaching recruits in the Army," he says. "I used to ferry them to races, and decided to join in, running up and down fells in my army boots."
It was a no-nonsense introduction to the world of endurance running. Does Oliver think that modern runners would benefit from a similar gruelling experience? "Modern life is certainly a bit wimpish," he says. "That may be why standards seem to be slipping. When I ran 6:32:27 at this year's Barry 40-mile Track Race I broke a record - but unfortunately it was my own record from the previous year."
As President of Hinckley Running Club and the 100K Association, Oliver is doing what he can to encourage a sense of fighting spirit in the upcoming generation of long-distance runners. "Most of the new runners seem to prefer distances under 10 miles, which is an shame because ultra-running teaches you the perfect mixture of physical and psychological control," he says.
Oliver cites Don Ritchie as his personal inspiration: the 52-year-old ultra runner has held the world records for 100K and 100 miles since the 1970s. As for himself, he accepts that he is slowing down in his late seventies, but is sure he will never stop running: "There's just something euphoric about it," he says.

Another fine example of I am not too old at 50!

The Survivor: Kirste Snellgrove

The Running Magazine has announced their 'Running Heroes 2010'
The Survivor: Kirste Snellgrove
On being told that she had breast cancer, Kirste Snellgrove's first question was unusual: would she still be able to run? Defying her doctor's orders, Snellgrove, 41, ran after her mastectomy and she ran during her courses of radio- and chemotherapy.
Snellgrove had only started running in 2001, as a way of losing a few pounds. "I caught sight of my backside in a shop's changing room mirror," she jokes. "But I got the running bug."
She did her first marathon at London the year after. Yet as her illness took hold, running began to take on a new significance. "It became more important than ever," Snellgrove says. "It was a way for me to step away from my own problems and leave everything behind for a while.
"I've still got health issues - the doctors found cancer in my lung and it's beginning to look like I can't get rid of that. But I always look on the positive side of things and I'm generally a very happy bunny."
Snellgrove, who lives in Benfleet in Essex, has made as few concessions as possible to her illness. She still works as a police training sergeant at Essex Police College and has no intention of stepping down. Fresh from completing her ninth London Marathon this year - her 19th marathon so far - she has also tried not to let the illness affect her running goals. "I've had to recognise that I'm a bit of a plodder now," she laughs. "I get tired quite quickly these days, so I perhaps don't get to do as much training as I would like. But I do at least one long run a week and still try to pack in the shorter sessions, too."
As in previous years, Snellgrove will run the 2010 London Marathon as a team, alongside friends Anna Spencer and Rachel O'Conner, and her husband, John Bowman. Now in training for her fourth triathlon (the London Tri in August) Snellgrove is due to start a new round of chemotherapy a few weeks before the event.
"It'll be a challenge," she admits. "But I did the Marathon last year four weeks after chemo. "I was never a quick runner anyway, so it's never been about times. I don't race so much as struggle through, determined to get to the end.
"But I'm addicted to that feeling of crossing the line and going to bed satisfied with your day. I'll never, ever stop."

Well I never! Lily Allen in the Amazon Rainforest on a mission.

I never thought Lily Allen and I would have much in common, however she is there in Acre making a film for the WWF and she can only help by more publicity to stop de-forestation. I thing the girl has a lovely voice and a load of talent, but getting photographed with a ciggie in her mouth is disappointing remember girl you are a 'Role Model' and is is really necessary to have such profanity in your music. The trouble is if the truth be known she makes me feel old, I remember when old Mary Whitehouse used to be there banging her drum and I used to think silly old duffer what does she know, get a life! Now I am there doing exactly the same, Never being interested in computer games and so never played them but when I see the the horrendous violence glorified I shudder. Rap music well as someone who loves Black music and without Northern Soul my life would have been so much harder but Rap does nothing for me but make me sad.

One day Lily like me will start thinking more about children's influences and then I hope we just see the talent she has and not how to shock and sell Cd's.

Great Brits

It is amazing how many Brits are out there doing their bit, the more I learn the more I discover Great Brits, Good Luck to Ed Stafford currently nearing the end of a 4,000 mile walk through the Amazon, it has taken him 2 years, Rosie Swale-Pope who ran round the world and is currently running 26 marathons in 26 days and... Mark Cooper who is planning to run 50 marathons in 56 days, Good Luck one and all.

The photos above show Ed with an electric eel, Rosie pulling 'Icebird' and Mark enjoying the seaside.

London Marathon

Well done to everyone who attempted and especially those that finished the London Marathon yesterday.

Millions of pounds will be raised from celebrities and ordinary people putting those trainees on and putting one foot in front of the other, it is very important and up lifting to have the support of the crowd, how I wish I had that luxury next year when I am traipsing through the Amazon.

I remember when I used to rum Marathons regular in the 80's (well I ran about 10) and when I ran the first few I ran at the same pace as good old Jimmy Saville and I remember how excited the crowd got but I soon got fed up and decided to run ahead of him so that when the crowd did cheer I stood a chance of it being for me, especially as I used to wear a red headband and some times people would shout things like 'Come on John' or 'well done McEnroe'.

How important is Laughter?

I am a great believer that on my travels through this world and life the one thing that seems to set the British apart from the rest of the world is our humour, I agree there is a fine line between what is acceptable and stepping over the mark but my fear is we are becoming obsessed with being 'politically correct'.

As much as I really believe in what I am doing I could not help but laugh when a good friend sent me the photo of the dogs in an email.

Avaaz

I am a proud member of the Avaaz network and have taken action on urgent global issues -- signing petitions and sending messages, our community is growing like wildfire (more than 50,000 people a week!) and we've made an unmistakable difference.
It is heartwarming to learn that likeminded souls working together can make a big difference.

Some of the recent success stories include:

Save the oceans was a huge win! The UK announced its plan to double the total global area of protected ocean with a massive new conservation zone bigger than Germany and Italy combined. In the public comment period before the decision, Avaaz members contributed more than 85% of the responses, urging a ban on commercial fishing and support for the island peoples' rights. It's a huge victory, and the Foreign Ministry cited the "over 221,000 responses co-ordinated by Avaaz... from 223 countries" in its announcement.

Elephants - with elephants at risk, 500,000 of us worldwide empowered the African Elephant Coalition with our support -- and, after a nail-biting close vote and final push with partners on the ground, won protection for elephants at a UN Endangered Species session. The head of the Species Survival Network said “the petition, no doubt, made a difference and helped achieve the right result for elephants everywhere."



Uganda - in an unprecedented show of public opposition to the proposed law that would sentence gay Ugandans to death, Avaaz worked with church leaders and human rights activists to deliver a 450,000-strong petition to the Speaker of Uganda's parliament in an hour-long meeting and a press conference that made headlines around the country and the world.

Parliament had been expected to begin debate in February -- but in the face of local and global pressure, Parliament still hasn't begun formal discussion. Some say the bill may be left to die in committee, potentially a quiet but extraordinary victory for human rights. Avaaz continues to work closely with allies to monitor the bill -- and stands ready to take action once more if it regains momentum.

Brazil anti-corruption - took a giant leap against political corruption in Brazil, adding Avaaz members' voices to a national push that will bring to a vote landmark legislation banning individuals convicted of serious crimes from standing for public office.

And much more!

• launched a drive for a million-signature Citizen's Initiative in the EU to ensure genetically modified crop regulation.

• raised almost $700,000 for an intensive, long-term campaign to fight the "rape trade"--the sexual enslavement of women and girls around the world.

• pressed Chevron's CEO to clean up his company's toxic legacy in the Amazon.

• defended human rights and judicial independence in Spain in the face of three controversial lawsuits against judge Baltasar Garzón and a fierce political campaign to destroy his career.

• mobilized support for a just two-state solution in the Middle East and against settlement construction in East Jerusalem.

• stood for civility and genuine debate in Israeli media -- and in U.S. media coverage of Israel and Palestine.

• ... the list goes on!

Through these campaigns, members of the Avaaz network--each of us--have made headlines, shifted policy, and changed lives. But in each of these campaigns, and on many other issues, the work continues.


Avaaz launched in 2007 with a simple, deeply democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want. Since then, we have grown to link millions of people in every country on earth -- connecting to one another and taking action on urgent global issues. Each of us might only be able to offer a few minutes a week, but small actions add up -- and when hundreds of thousands of us, or even millions of us, join our voices together, we can change the world.

In fact, that's what Avaaz means in many languages: voice. (In others, more poetically, it means "song.")

To learn more go to:
www.avaaz.org

Let's Stop Bullfighting

Just received the following email today from the Humane Society International.
The bloody spectacle of bullfighting is responsible for the deaths of up to 250,000 animals worldwide every year. At bullfights, the audience cheers as animals are taunted, injured, and often killed.
Many veterinarians, zoologists and ex-matadors themselves agree that bulls are forced to endure unnecessary stress and suffering both in and out of the ring, all in the name of entertainment. Sign our petition asking that Catalonia ban this cruel practice!
Bullfighting is already banned in many countries, and although it is still legal in both Spain and Mexico, some cities in both nations have independently outlawed the practice of bullfighting.
Catalonia may be next. After an overwhelming demonstration of public support for an end to bullfighting, with local citizens collecting over 180,000 signatures, the Catalonian government is due to vote on the future of bullfighting in the region.
This vote could be a historic step towards ending the brutal spectacle of bullfighting.
Please join us and the citizens of Catalonia in sending a message to the Catalonian government, explaining how you support an end to bullfighting and encouraging them to take a stand against cruel bullfights.
Sincerely,

Mark Glover
Director
Humane Society International/Europe

Just trying to do my Bit!

Danish Slaughter of Dolphins

I received today an email with photos of poor dolphins being slaughtered in some Danish seaside town all in the name of proving your manhood!!! I could understand if it was sharks or crocodiles but dolphins, I mean they are one of the poor creatures on this planet who actually not only trust humans but actively seek them out for company.

Last week I wrote about the Japs wanting to resume whale hunting and 2 African countries wanting to kill elephants for their Ivory and whilst hope neither is successful at least can see that however wrong the reason those countries wish to murder animals for commercial gain, but to kill defenseless dolphins to prove your manhood, I suggest any Dane wanting to truly prove their bravery and courage they join the British army and get out to Afghanistan.

Human beings are a disease

I find my feeling towards my fellow man is following a similar pattern as my life, a roller coaster, When I see how the world and especially the British rallied round to help the Haiti earthquake appeal I feel so proud, however last week brought me down to earth on news that certain countries are trying to overturn the Whaling ban and the Ivory ban and want to start hunting poor Whales and Elephants again. Will we ever learn? It bring me back to the quote from The Matrix - 'I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM1-DQ2Wo_w

Let us hope common sense prevails and we never return to the barbaric torture of animals now banned and can carry on getting the rest of the acts that should be banned like bullfighting.