Jonathan Gullible Newsletters

2012 Winter Newsletter

THE BALKANS, POLAND, FRANCE, JAPAN, ITALY, SLOVENIA, SLOVAKIA, ARMENIA, ALBANIA, VIETNAM, THE NETHERLANDS, ESTONIA, FINLAND, US.

 

BALKAN INTERVIEW

The full interview by Yadranko Brkic about the story of the book and animation for free market fans in the Balkans. Says Yadranko, "Our organization is Sloboda i Prosperitet TV (in English: Freedom and Prosperity TV): a libertarian network of alternative media in western Balkans. It is a regional hub for individial freedom/free market enthusiasts, bloggers, clubs, nongovernment research organizations from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Montenegro.  Right now I am not sure which of them will be featuring the interview on their websites, but they will surely be seeing it via our website, YouTube chanel, Facebook page, and Twitter.  Some notable and most active organizations that will pay attention to the interview and possibly seek direct cooperation with ISIL are: Center for Liberal Democratic Studies, Katalaksija Internet magazine, Libertarian Club Libek, and Trzisno Resenje from Serbia, Adriatic Institute and Association Iustitia from Croatia, Campaign for Freedom and Prosperity from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Svetilnik: Society for Promotion of Freedom from Slovenia, most of which already have ties to Atlas Institute, CATO, and Friedrich Naumann Foundation. And since one of the goals of this new Sloboda i Prosperitet TV regional project is the initiation and stimulation of regional cooperation, we are planning a series of interviews with all of these organizations in the coming months, where we will begin the conversation about brainstorming ideas for planning, financing, and organizing joint Summer camps with ISIL in western Balkans in the future.  And that's where I believe our recent interview will come in most handy."

 

NEW ENGLISH EDITION FOR YOUTH

  

The New English Edition for youth is now available from Aspekt Publishing Co. It has more than 40 beautiful illustrations and carries an audio CD with every copy. A perfect gift from publisher Kris Haladus in Poland. 

 

FRANCE

 

Louise Zizka and Jacques De Guenin translated JG many years ago and it has had some rough treatment with publishers in France and Belgium. At last, Akila Bezzouh, Jean Robin, and Editions Tatamis have produced a gem. See Jacques making the formal publication presentation on video.

Writes Akila, "Jonathan Gullible in French is finally between my hands, right now! Yes we have received it yesterday and it will be officially in stores and online stores on October 25. The result in French is outstanding and looks on the cover very much like the English commentary edition. I am very happy with the result. Jacques De Guenin is very glad of my initiative in finding a French publisher. We have invited him for a conference to talk about the book and The Philosophy of Liberty.

"This conference is one of a series of conferences that Jean and I are organizing for the Enquête & Debat within the Saint Paul Cultural Center in Paris every Monday evening. For example, a week ago we invited the libertarian philosopher Alain Laurent who published for the first time Atlas Shrugged, titled The Strike, in France translated by Sophie Bastide-Foltz. Jacques De Guenin's conference is planned for Monday November 7th. It will be filmed by us and put online on various French websites to create a buzz about the book and libertarian ideas in France specifically in this time of economic and social crisis.  

"I will send copies of JG to French speaking libertarian think tanks and organizations here in Europe and the francophone world. I will also see about private schools and the media. If you have contacts who can speak about the book I can send a copy to them as well. That’s all for now. I will keep you updated of any news related to JG. Have a good day and my best wishes for your little family."

 

JAPAN

 

Hiroshi Yoshida has accomplished a remarkable addition to the Philosophy of Liberty: a Japanese audio narration
 
Says Yoshida-san, "The voice was given by Ken Sasaki, and he gave his voice to The Road to Serfdom. His profession is not only voice actor but also programming. We have already had 500 visitors since the PoL gained a voice!" 
 
It would be marvelous if we could arrange audio narration for all of the 40 language versions!
 
 
 
ITALIAN
 
 
 
From Maria Stefania Gelsomini, "I’m so happy to tell you that my article was published just today (Saturday, August 27) on the newspaper Il Giornale: a whole page dedicated to you, to J.G., and to the ISIL World Conference in Vulcano!! Another article of mine, on the same subject, will appear on the newspaper Il Resto del Carlino, next monday, when the Conference will start. Aloha!"
 
 
SLOVENIA
 
  
 
Celebrations are in order for Breda Sturm, illustrator of the new Slovenian edition of JG. "Dear Ken, I have great news! My illustrations of JG have been selected for the exhibition of The 46rd Golden Pen of Belgrade (46. Zlatno Pero Beograda) - The 11th International Biennial of Illustration 2011. http://www.ulupuds.org.rs/Aktuelnosti.htm" Congratulations, Breda!
 
 
SLOVAKIA
 
  
 
I was actually pleased to learn that there was a highly critical review of the Slovakian play by Matus Posvanc and Martin Bican that is being performed in the schools of Slovakia. Matus explained it this way: ""We were blamed that we are brainwashers as communists were in the 1950s in our country. Just 2 points to this. First we try to influence young people about freedom. If brainwashing about freedom is bad, we fully confess to that. Second, the people who comment in the media concerning our show did not know anything about it. They did not even see it. So we consider this article as just a propaganda against our work and our ideas. We will try the best to continue with the play. We will see what happens.”
 
Bravo, Matus and Martin! When statists begin to criticize, then you must be having great success!

 

 
ARMENIA
 
 
 
From Armenia, Inessa Shahnazarova writes, "I have some great news about the Armenian edition of JG: the translation will be finished by January 20, 2012! I have found a professional translator in Yerevan who is now working on it. I have to mention that we are very grateful to Artem Sarian who helped us with the sum that the translator asked. I will go to Yerevan in April, and hopefully will arrange the publication."
 
In response to Inessa's report above and my expressions of sincere gratitude, Artem responded, "I am happy to help. After all that is the least I can do for my former motherland. They need liberty badly especially in light of the all human rights violations that took place there within last several years. That is the reason why I started the entire discussion on the POL and ended up financing the JG translation. I am simply happy to help."
 
Artem Sarian and Arman S. Mkryan translated the Armenian edition of the Philosophy of Liberty!
 
 
ALBANIA
 
 
 
From Kozeta Cika in Tirana, holding her Albanian translation of Ayn Rand's Anthem above: "Yes, we will soon have a new Albanian edition of J.G. and it sounds great, something that we have discussed for so long. I don't know how to thank Jim Elwood [Executive Director of the International Society for Individual Liberty-ISIL] for that, he is wonderful. I would like to translate it from the very beginning; I just think I can do it better now. I hope to have it published within the year."
 
Kozeta translated the first Albanian edition of JG in 1998 and it has long been in demand and out of print. Many thanks, Kozeta!
 
 
VIETNAM, The NETHERLANDS, ESTONIA, FINLAND
 
 
 
From Minh Nguyen [above left]: "Yes, I do hope that the appearance of Jonathan and his "father" will certainly create a special significance for the free market movement and also for the FNF's actual existence in Vietnam. I am really looking forward to our cooperation."
 
From Fred Meijroos of Belfra Publishers for Success, The Netherlands: "We are ready to translate Jonathan Gullible into Dutch and get it again on the Dutch market."
 
From Paul Vahur of Estonia: "We are working on this project. Just last week I was doing some fundraising and so far it has been going well. I hope to sort this out next week. Will let you know if there is any progress."
 
From Petri Kajander of Finland [above right]: "I'm now considering putting the book in production so if you have any changes now it's the time to tell me about them!"
 
 
 
SUSAN WELLS and A DRUG WAR CAROL
 
Susan Wells is well known to fans of JG for her screenplay of JG. For those interested in her graphic novel spoof of the drug war, please see her website. Perfect for the holiday season!