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.