2016 NEWSLETTER
MALAYSIA, REVIEWS, CARTOONS, RUTHENIAN, MUSICAL COMPETITION, RUSSIAN, ALBANIA, ROMANIA, BRAILLE EDITION iN NEPAL, INDIA PROJECTS, NEW BOSNIAK EDITION, ARMENIAN CD, MONGOLIAN EDITION AND ANIMATION; BALUCHI, SINDHI, & URDU EDITIONS; SKETCH VIDEO OF JG EPILOGUE PoL; KAZAKH, RUSSIAN, & ENGLISH MUSICAL; SERBIAN LIBRARIES; MARK SKOUSEN ENDORSEMENT; VIETNAM READER REVIEW; SLOVAKIAN THEATER; FINLAND E-BOOK; THE NETHERLANDS TOME; AFRICA & INDIA THEATER; CHINA SEMINARS; THE MOVIE: WHO IS JG?; RECOGNITION; HOLIDAY GIFT SEASON; SUMMER ACTIVITY
MALAYSIA
Great news from Noor Amin Ahmad and LEAD Malaysia, “This is the book cover design for ‘The Adventure of Jonathan Gullible’ (Malaysian version). It is now queing for printing, ISBN number is 978-967-13141-3-5 We (3 of us) are planning to go to Mumbai. Hope everything is smooth so that we can meet you there with some books!” https://www.atlasnetwork.org/event/asia-liberty-forum-2017
JG STUDENT REVIEW
Hawaii Pacific Univesity economics student, Chelsea Caraang, wrote this after reading Jonathan Gullible: “As a typical young adult and member of society, I never had a keen interest in learning about government systems because it never made sense to me. I had a hard time understanding the connection between what is moral and what is legal. Reading ‘The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible’ made me think deeply about what our duty is as a citizen and what the right thing to do is. What is our responsibility as an individual and what is the government’s role in making our decisions? It also made me wonder where we can find a place where society has complete freedom? Where can we find a place where force is a protection? Many are blind to see the impracticality of the laws and principles behind government systems. Each individual has his or her own freewill. You sow what you reap, meaning you are fully responsible for your own actions. Freedom is not a threat; it is not a burden. We must make our own decisions. This, of course, requires our powers of discernment and the use of our mind and will. This book not only teaches about lessons and principles in economics, but lessons on a better society. It starts with our actions. But as Jonathan Gullible said, ‘…There’s plenty of work to do.’ I am inspired to keep searching for a place where things are done right, where people are truly free. And it all starts with my own freewill.” -Chelsea Caraang
ANIMATED CARTOON EPISODES
Joe Kent has prepared animated shorts for select episodes from “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible.” View these at Liberty International.
Episode 1: https://liberty-intl.org/2016/11/cartoon-the-adventures-of-jonathan-gullible-episode-1/
Episode 2: https://liberty-intl.org/2016/12/the-adventures-of-jonathan-gullible-episode-2-the-tall-tax/
RUTHENIAN
Thanks to Tomislav Krsmanovic, the Ruthenian edition of “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible” has just arrived. Tomislav has now completed publication of nine language editions in the Balkan region. He is a great hero of freedom in a very tough part of the world. For his tireless efforts for liberty, The International Society for Individual Liberty (now renamed Liberty International) presented Tomislav with the prestigious Bruce Evoy Torch of Freedom Award. (JG is now in 51 languages worldwide.) Tomislav writes:
“Right now I called again Santa Nikola, the book was printed two weeks ago. I am happy that I have once again contributed to the libertarian project. I want to continue our libertarian adventure–my life is so similar to the life of Jonathan Gullible, but on the local way. I believe that all those who collaborated around the globe or who read the book, are slowly coming to the same conclusion–that their lives are also similar to Jonathan’s. Nor do I mean that my life is something unusual, or that I am a special person, Jonathan is universal, a global phenomenon of modern civilization. My dream is to buy from my brother his house in the village Uzovnica and there to develop new libertarian projects. With the best greetings.”
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE IN RUSSIA
In Sochi, Russia: A schoolgirl from Kazakhstan, Karaganda Jana Gubina, and songwriter & TV host Lyudmila Melnikova were awarded Diplomas of the International Competition “Kinotavrik” for the creation of drawings for the children`s films of the fairy tale “Rabbit and Turtle” from Ken Schoolland’s “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible” and “Dragon Pyhalka” by Dmitry Yemets. This is marvelous news!!!
AFRICA
Great news from Adedayo Thomas: “I want to inform you that in my collaborative proposals and follow up with schools for the adaptation of your book, a Federal Polytechnic (Offa) has approved our proposal. The good news is that Jonathan Gullible has been approved as one of the textbooks for Radio and Television Production course for Higher National Diploma (B.Sc. Equivalent) final year Students. This will commence in the 2nd semester (May-Aug 2017). The course outline will be: Class work, Radio and TV presentation and end up with a stage production as their exams and for the school/public audience. The issue at hand now is how to go about it considering the cost implication, which will be printing the play version, since I already have the book itself, my three (travels) visitation to the school during the course/practical, video recording and finally stage production.” So I seek support for his fabulous work with theatrical productions of JG across Africa.
RUSSIAN
From Azamat Parchiev, “First published in St. Petersburg, the book has quickly found its Russian audience with a libertarian mindset. Here are some websites with the Russian version of The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible available: http://libertynews.ru/node/30 The website provides a free digital version of the book. “LibertyNews” consists of a number of articles that are focused on ideas of capitalism, liberty, and freedom from government control of the economy. Such notions are relatively new in the post Soviet Russia. In addition, the website provides various interviews and books on liberty. The Mises Center is an institution that focuses on the social-economic development of Belarus. According to the above mentioned website, the Mises Center uses The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible as academic literature in their teachings.
Another free digital Russian version of Schoolland’s book is available at “liveinternet.ru”. http://r-e-e-d.com/gullible/ R-e-e-d: Free Generation is a Russian internet journal that connects the younger generation of post Soviet republics. For more than 70 years the ideas of personal freedom, private property, and a free market economy was outlawed in such republics and the purpose of R-e-e-d is to bring libertarians of these countries together. The project focuses on world news, organizing lectures in various universities, and publishing articles by many experts in order to understand the role of the individual and of the government in the future. The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible is available in the online library of the website. LibroEsperanta.ru is simply an online store that sells a hard copy of the book. The website is mostly selling academic literature.” Azamat Parchiev is from Moscow and formerly a student of economics at Hawaii Pacific University.
ALBANIA
Mina Pickens wrote: “After Ayn Rand ‘s books, this is my next favorite one The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible, by Ken Schoolland! Thank you my friend for this masterpiece and thank you for existing! So inspired!” Many thanks to you, Mina, for your inspiration! I look forward to reading your books in the near future!
ROMANIA
Tudor Smirna wrote: “I have finally gotten my Ph.D. title and now I am teaching in the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. I started studying The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible with the students for an introductory course and I must tell you that I thought the book is like tea: if you pour minute attention over it, it opens so richly. Each little chapter leads to a distinct field in economics. We had very interesting discussions about it.
By the way, I realized I missed the point of the chapter: Bored of Digestion. I really thought it was about communist canteens, not education. You know we had such things, dubbed ‘temples of hunger’ in construction–several of them in Bucharest? Ceausescu really wanted to ban feeding at home and to make everyone go to eat at these huge canteens. They were never finished as intended. Instead, they’ve become glittering malls.” So much reality in the stories of Jonathan Gullible!
NEPAL
Riya Basnet and Nisha Niralu as founders and leaders in Students for Liberty of South Asia have accomplished miracles in Nepal with their projects to produce a Braille edition of Jonathan Gullible for the blind, to distribute books and hold lessons for youth, and to establish women’s empowerment projects across the rural countryside. Says Riya, “We just conducted our recent workshop in mid west of Nepal, shifting the project from east to west in order to make it more national. Also we have found a small community school where we can take our Jonathan Gullible lessons to teach the children, we have asked the authority to add it to their curricular. They have been very positive as these children do not possess any extra curricular activities and Jonathan’s story sharing can be one to add fun to their studies.” Riya and Nisha passed along copies of the 2 volume Braille edition at the World Conference on Market Liberalization in Bali last summer.
The World Conference in Bali, organized by Li Schoolland, was one of the best ever, bringing together 150 attendees and 40 speakers from all over the world to the glorious estate of Hugo van Reijen. See the Riya and
Nisha interview and many video materials at Liberty International.
INDIA
Shruti Sharma (leading discussion) has been working with Nikesh Pahuja on a Punjabi edition of JG. In addition, Shruti has been dilligent with Students for Liberty in using the book in university study groups in India. Ekta Sodha (in red on the cover of Education World) has invited JG books for her five private schools of 4000 students. Barun Mitra, President of the Liberty Institute, (on left of center photo) is providing the initial editions in Hindi and English for their libraries and lessons. Sanjay George is soon the complete the Malayalam edition and Baladevan Rangaraju (President of the India Institute) is soon to complete the Tamil edition.
NEW BOSNIAN EDITION
Edo Omerčević, Director of the Center for Advancement of Free Enterprise has recently published the new edition in Bosniak and is planning to introduce it to the youth of Bosnia. Says Edo, “Next year we plan to make a large campaign to promote the translated Adventures of JG in primary schools in Bosnia (7-9th grade). In light of this project, we would like to launch also essay competitions for the students.”
NEW ARMENIAN EDITION
From Anna Martirosyan, Founder of Armenian Students for Liberty: “Our Freedom School will be held from 27 November to 2 December and new poster will be printed soon. Now we print Atlas book by Tom Palmer ‘Why Liberty’ and IEA book by Eamonn Butler ‘Foundations of a Free Society’ to distribute to Freedom School attendees. We also copy CDs now with your greatest bestseller of ‘The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey’. I am so grateful to hear about the opportunity to print this book and to contribute that the Armenian free thinking people could discover this great book for themselves. I hope this will promote new opportunities for its further promotion in Armenia, such as the theatrical presentations, reading-discussing evenings with the texts from this book and etc. I also thought about summer camp for school children in Armenia dedicated to this book promotion where the texts of this book could be learnt and discussed by presentations, games and other interactive means. I would like to express my voluntarily willingness to invest my time to contribute to the promotion of this book in Armenia.” The Armenian translation was organized by Inessa Shahnazarova and translated by Zara Shushanyan with the financial support of Artem Sarian.
MONGOLIA
The Silk Road Foundation under the direction of Dashka Pobruush invited me for the launch of the second printing of the second edition of the Mongolian translation of Jonathan Gullible by Batchuluun Baldandorj and sponsored by P. Tsenguun, Khaliunbat Myagmarjav, Enkhchimeg Davaanyum, and others. It was a great turnout for the book followed by media events and an appearance at the Economic Club of Ulaan Bataar. This was followed by the Free Market Academy attended by 25 brilliant university students.
Dashka Pobruush and the Silk Road Foundation have numerous continuing projects that have included the monthly publication of Insider Magazine, the production of the Mongolian Philosophy of Liberty, and extensive work with the local media.
Writes Dashka, “My friend Amartuvshin Dorj and our some friends are making some TV Shows about Free Society Principles. Now we made and Broadcast your Philosophy of Liberty video with explanation and some interesting cases throught TV channel in Mongolia. We are making a series of TV shows about Liberty and it is broadcasting 6 times per week. We also organizing a lecture named ‘Development through Liberty’ every Thursday.”
Эрх чөлөөний философи нэвтрүүлэг (1080p Full HD)
NEW BALUCHI, SINDHI, URDU EDITIONS
Khalil Ahmad (on left), founder of the Alternate Solutions Institute, won the Torch of Freedom Award at the World Conference of the International Society for Individual Liberty in Bali this summer 2015. Gratitute has been offered for his extensive publications, including 6 editions of JG: 3 Urdu, 2 Sindhi, and one Baluchi. Writes Muhammad Anwar (right), “We are happy to share with you that all three publications: Baluchi, Sindhi and Urdu edition of Jonathan Gullible. E-versions can be downloaded from: http://southasia.fnst.org/Partner-Publications/1913c2694/index.html With best regards, Muhammad Anwar, Administrator, Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit, Islamabad, Pakistan.”
NEW SKETCH VIDEO OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF LIBERTY
Stanley Varner, above right with Alicia Yan, has created a whole new sketch video version of The Philosophy of Liberty! See it by clicking here on YouTube!
KAZAK, RUSSIAN, & ENGLISH MUSICAL
This very special surprise from, Lyumila Melnikova, Людмила Мельникова: “In our cinema there was video presentation of our puppet musicals ‘Rabbit and Turtle’ and ‘Grades in Reverse’ [from JG] in the English, Kazakh, & Russian languages. Children not only watched it, but also sang the songs from the musical, played their roles in the fairy-tales in the Russian and Kazakh languages. All the children were happy and applauded. They liked our fairy-tales very much. I’m going to make regularly such meetings in cinemas and schools. That’s our success! We’ve even translated the cover of your book into Kazakh. I send you photos of this children cinema festival. I hope you like it!” Indeed, this is glorious news!!! I am extremely happy about these productions!
More wonderful JG news from Lyudmila in Moscow! What stars in the heavens! April 3, 2014: “Hello mister Ken! I’ve already come from Moscow where I was invited as a member of jury at contest, I’ve brought gifted young singers, children, my students from Kazakhstan, who have become laureate, winners of contest. I’ve published our musical and got acquainted contest’s participants with your book. I’ve got an award certificate from organization committee of contest and from Russian Association of UNO Assistance. Glad with our success. Thank you for assistance, care and outgoingness! At photos: our disk with musical and contest in Moscow.”
“On Kazakhstan TV there was successfully performed an exhibition of the ‘Grades in reverse’ fairy-tale of our musical. Children were amazed. They like it very much! Now I prepare musical with children for performance in Schoolchildren’s Palace. Children sing songs from musical, dance and play their roles in the fairy-tale with great pleasure. All newspapers and television in Kazakhstan speak about our musical, your book ‘Adventures of Jonathan Gullible,’ about you and us. I organized such advertising in order to attract attention to the main presentation, the first run of the musical and in consideration of cooperation.
“Now I’m finishing with staging of ‘Jonathan’s Adventures’ with children, pupils. We’ve done very good and grandiosely, more even than I expected. Children crowds running after me and ask me to sing songs with them from Jonathan’s Adventures. I’ve already involved high school pupils, pupils of 7 grades, who play in the chapter ‘Сandles and coats,’ ‘Dream machine,’ ‘John in the way,’ ‘Freedom.’ Youth also love the play and music. I’ve involved children of different age. The smallest one is pupils of 1st grade, they play in ‘Rabbit and Turtle,’ pupils of 4th grade participate in ‘Grades in reverse,’ pupils of high school play adult characters of Jonathan, Lady Tweed, & farmers. When we make video I will send some fragments to you or will give it to you in May, in Astana. Ken, would you like to try to show ‘Rabbit and Turtle’ fairy-tale, the English variant, to your Hawaiian children? I wonder, what would they say? How would they like it and the music?
“I have sent you video of TV-version of fairy tale ‘Rabbit and Turtle’ in the English language. You have already got such one, but in the Russian. Now it can be understood by children of America and Hawaii. This video could be downloaded to your web-site JG. Also there was finished premier of muppet theatre ‘Rabbit and Turtle’. Our children are amazed by it and they want more and also want to study the song concerning Lysander and Turtle. This is my present to you for Christmas. In Kazakhstan this show is a sensation. All newspapers write about this event in the Russian and Kazakh languages. With your permission your photo, information about your book, fragments of fairy-tale are in newspapers. I have organized such PR-company for promotion of your book. I hope, you don’t mind, do you? I will send you video of mupplet musical later. I’m glad to cooperate with you! Merry Christmas and aloha Lyudmila”
“The Kazakh composer, Lyudmila Melnikova, is writing a musical in Russian, Kazakh, and English for children and youth about freedom and justice, inspired by the fairy tale of Кen Schoolland’s book, The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible. While the work so far has been without cost, money is essential to record the music in a production studio. Fragments of music are now available for impressions. Libretto and lyrics for some character songs have also been created. We hope for your understanding and support. Says Lyudmila, ‘I have written the music to the fairy-tale, I only need to record it in studio. Now I prepare staging of fairy tale’s chapter of ‘Turtle and Rabbit’ in puppet theater for children. I appreciate your desire of financial assistance in studio. It’s really nice to meet you. I send you one more part of blues ‘I want to prohibit the sun’ from the chapter ‘Candles and Coats.’
“Today, at Kazakhstan TV will be first night of your fairy-tail ‘Rabbit and Tortoise’ in children’s program ‘Spoki noki.’ I send you its fragment in the Russian language. Authors of fairy tale are mentioned in a full version of program, in the beginning and the end, in theaters. Aloha Lyudmila.” 1. Сказка Кролик и Черепаха_урез(1).mp4 (80.7 MB) Ссылка для скачивания файлов: http://files.mail.ru/909C6FB361FC4215BD313AB587D49379 Файлы будут храниться до 24.12.2013 I send to you video-story “Rabbit and Turtle” (full version in Russian).
Сказка Кролик и Черепаха_пол.mp4 (210992866)
Many thanks to Pavel Koktyshev, Director of the Institute for Public Policy in Kazakhstan. Helping to realize this project, Kim Ong has offered to set up a fundraising site that will offer the opportunity for tax free donations through the International Society for Individual Liberty. Please contact Jim Elwood, Executive Director of ISIL, jimelwood@isil.org, or me for more information about how to make this happen.
SERBIAN LIBRARIES
Tomislav Krsmanovic has great successes in Serbia! “I’m pleased to inform you that 51 libraries in Serbia are now provided with 80 copies of the Adventures of Jonathan Gullible (AJG) where pupils and students are now reading the book. I have been invited to promote AJG in January 2014 in libraries around Serbia and to give speeches in the local media (radio, TV, newspapers). I hope to create some libertarian chapters in Serbia. Our country is looking to find its way in this very complex and quickly changing world. Libertarianism is becoming the focus of young people as its message and ideas are inspiring them. I will keep you informed.”
Tomislav (center), with Virgis Daukas (left) and Geo Olsson (right), has arranged to translate and publish the book into more languages than any other: Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, Bosniak, Romany, and Montenegran. And many of these were published in more that one edition to incorporate expanded and revised material! What a champion of liberty throughout the Balkans!
Earlier from Tomislav, “I would like to use this opportunity to inform you that THE ADVENTURES OF JONATHAN GULLIBLE lives anew through a small but valuable step in advancing freedom in Serbia. Some young people, children of my friends, enthuasiastic young libertarians, are sending copies of JG (I have about 200 to 300 copies), to every library in Serbia. They are advising libraries to give conferences about the book in their towns, to organize media appearances, and to gather interested young libertarians to give new enthusiasm for Libertarianism in Serbia. My energy is the same as in 1992 and after that when I was publishing JG in several languages in spite of my age.” Yet, Tomislav has long been battling thugs and officials who have harassed him personally and through the courts.
SKOUSEN ENDORSEMENT
From Mark Skousen’s latest edition of Forecasts & Strategies: “The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty is presented every other year by the Cato Institute (a FreedomFest sponsor) to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the freedom movement. You can nominate your favorite candidate. The Friedman Prize winner will be announced next year and the award presented at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on May 21, 2014. Personally, I recommend Ken Schoolland, professor of economics at Hawaii Pacific University, whose book “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible” has been translated into 50 languages. I consider it the best introduction to free-market economics ever invented. It’s fun to read for both young people and those of us with a Ph. D. in economics. Ken also hosts the Liberty Camps in Eastern Europe and China every year and is a regular at FreedomFest.”
VIETNAM READER REVIEW
“I am a student of Can Tho University in Vietnam. My name is Nguyen Duy Anh and I have just graduated from School. I am writing this letter to express my ideas after reading “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible”as well as looking for opportunities to advance my study. The book was translated and published in Vietnam a year ago but I have not been able to have it up until now. Thank you very much for writing such an interesting and useful book! It is not just about free market but also about freedom and justice, those topics that aren’t taught at school or widely discussed. Vietnam is a socialist country so our access to related resource is very limited. The reference part of the book provided many useful sources to learn more about freedom and liberty. Good news is that since Vietnam open the door for trading the society also become more open. Recently we can organize some public class or forum about these topics although the scope is usually about economics, not politics.
“This year I was given a scholarship for a short-term class about “Foundations of the Market Economy” by Vietnam center for Economics and Policy Research and ATLAS Economic Research Foundation. Your book helped me a lot. It is interesting to compare the stories from “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible” to the events in Vietnam. For example, the problem happened in “Best Laid Plans is currently a hot topic in Vietnam. Many people objected to price given by the government to take their land because it is far behind the market price. In some case it leads to crime when people feeling desperate as they can do nothing about the government. They revenged by suicide or by killing the officers. By doing so, I can also debate in a better way whether these events are good or bad, right or wrong. My interest in the book also leads me to the idea of writing this letter to you to look for opportunities to study abroad for Master degree. My undergraduate study is about International Business. My research interest is about free market. However I also want to learn more about freedom, justice and liberty. Best regards, Nguyen Duy Anh” (Left in photo).
SLOVAKIAN PLAYS
Matus Posvanc has posted links to the theatrical productions for Slovakian schools! “You can find video record we made from one performance on the school on these links (but only Slovak version)
Before the play http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjRYHj9YItA
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sojOLOiW1F0
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1FRXqorkTA
Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7F-wxu5mDI
Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B3DxMkNd64
We also produced a radio play which you can find on following links with English subtitles …
1. part of the radio play http://vimeo.com/23851327
2. part of the radio play http://vimeo.com/23857938
3. part of the radio play http://vimeo.com/23858019
4. part of the radio play http://vimeo.com/23858464
Enclosed you can find script of this theatrical play we produced based on the Ken´s excellent book, English version. We planned to produce some animated version of it but were not able to find funds for it. Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or questions. Very best, Matus.”
FINLAND E-BOOK
Great news from Petri Kajander in Finland: “You can find as of today Jonathan as an Ebook in Finnish http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Gulliblen-seikkailut-yhteiskunnasta-ebook/dp/B00EFYZ32W/. iTunes is coming in the next few days. So, I suppose now it’s finally published (at least it has an ISBN-number :)” Many thanks, Petri!
THE NETHERLANDS TOME
Fred Meijroos, founder of the publishing house www.succesboeken.nl, launched the second Dutch edition of JG in Amsterdam this summer. This is a magnificent volume of 348 pages, containing illustrations and the full 42 chapter commentaries, background, and references–including a new chapter on the issue of moral hazard. Fred’s marketing talents are unsurpassed, bringing together a lively day long event with more than a hundred in attendance from all over The Netherlands. My sincere thanks to both Fred and to Steffen Hentrich (the translator at far right) for such a professional translation.
Photo on the right, left to right: Hubert Jongen, Ken, Fred Meijroos, Kenli Schoolland, Rita Jongen. Fred is one of those true geniuses of entrepreneurship who, with the brilliant and determined help of his wife, has become the focal point for new perspectives on the human condition. Much appreciated at this launch event was my daughter, Kenli, who gave a very insightful presentation about the Chinese economy. And, as special stars at the event, Hubert & Rita Jongen are the folks in the last chapter of the book who are depicted as the father and mother of Jonathan because of their very inspiring role in developing the book and taking it international. Their family were also in attendance: Louk and Minga Jongen front and center in the photo on the left. My sincere thanks to both Fred and to Steffen Hentrich (the translator at left) for such a professional translation.
AFRICA & INDIA THEATER
It was one of the greatest moments of the ISIL Libertarian International Conference this summer to meet Adedayo Thomas, who keeps making a tidal wave of change across Africa. And another very worthy cause for contributors. Says Adedayo, “It will be well appreciated if you put the Play performance into your next year budget. At least within 3-5 universities in Nigeria if we cannot do countries. The noninvolvement of ISIL in the play tour performance last year did not project consent to such project. I am sure when the video is released by ATLAS, ISIL would love to have been mentioned.What do you think?” I think Adedayo is right! His award winning plays (see the previous JG newsletter) have toured Africa to great effect. This is surely a time for enormous impact for donors. (Jan Malek, Ken, and Adedayo Thomas at the ISIL conference in Lausanne.)
Adedayo is all over the arena in battles for liberty: in addition to the JG plays–book fairs, journalist interviews, radio broadcasts. Reports Adedayo, “Rushing to the book fair stand to meet a Socialist Professor for another round of discussion who pronounced openly that I should be sent to prison for being a Free Market Advocate during the book fair conference on Tuesday. Yesterday, rejoice put my energy to the task of starting from the book fair stand at 9 am, to a discussion with journalists on ‘Will Capitalism ever die’ at 11.30 at the media centre, then to the Women’s University of Africa at 3:00pm for outreach, back to the book fair stand to take high school students on about globalization using the IPencil CD and finally a debate with Communist Movement of Zimbabwe at the Star FM radio station from 7-8Pm.”
Note, the Commentary edition of Jonathan Gullible is front and center on the table at the book fair! Want to help send books to Nigeria? Support the touring play? Please contact Jim Elwood jimelwood@isil.org or me for suggestions.
Adedayo’s influence is stretching across continents as well. Srijan BandyopadhyayI wrote: “I hope you are well. We met last year at the Asia Liberty Forum in New Delhi, India. I am writing to you with a request – A friend, Bonny Singh, is a law student and wishes to conduct a play on his college campus, to spread awareness on the importance of economic freedom and individual liberty. I remember that a Nigerian group had developed a play on this subject, titled ‘A letter from Jonathan Gullible‘, based on your book, The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible. I suggested to Bonny that this would be a good option for him to take up, if he were able to customise it to local tastes. Would it be possible for you to provide Bonny with a script of the play, or connect him with the individuals from Nigeria? We have a few copies of your book at CCS, and we will be sending that to Bonny from our end. Your help in this matter would be much appreciated.”
To which, Adedayo replied: “Dear Srijan, please let Bonny knows he has my full support for his project. He should please use and or adapt the play to suit his audience. In fact, if my plans become clearer by month end, I will be able to tell you if coming to India by Jan, 2014 will still hold. If that becomes a reality, I will be willing to work more with you and Bonny on such project. Thank you, Ken, for providing this platform for us to develop.” I’m thrilled.
CHINA
The second Chinese edition of JG was published last year and was used in classes at the annual International Summer Economics Seminars at Northeastern University in Shenyang. These events, along with summer Austrian Economics Summits in Bratislava, Slovakia and Bucharest, Romania, were organized by my wife, Li Schoolland and her TFT Events: http://tftevents.com See all the news about the most recent was the highly successful World Conference on Market Liberalization in Bali, Indonesia this summer 2015.
Li is seeking funding to provide a hundred copies of JG to the select 100 students from all over China who are expected to attend the seminars next year. The price is now only $3 per copy. Please contact me if you can support such an endeavor. Below is the back cover of the Chinese edition showing the bookshelf of many of the JG international editions.
THE MOVIE: WHO IS JG?
Animator Keith Baxter (L) (Disney, DreamWorks, and Universal) has teamed with Producer Matthew Parker (R) (Codex Media) and a team of libertarians in Hollywood to prepare for the full length feature film. For a copy of the business plan and investment potential, please contact me or Matthew Parker.
PHILOSOPHY OF LIBERTY
Ideas on the PoL animation from Joe Quirk (below): “I’ve watched your video countless times contemplating its artful concision and persuasive use of imagery. I’ve imagined how your message could be brought to be bear on a humanitarian theme– to show how prosperity could emerge from the poor if only we let it happen. The fact that your video has been watched almost a half million times on Youtube alone shows that people send it to each other. It’s contagious in part because it appeals to the best in people, and I think the first sequel should approach the humanitarian theme you set up near the end.”
RECOGNITION
The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible has received the support of dozens of public policy institutions, endorsements from eminent figure in economics and journalism (Skousen, Friedman, Williams, Stossel, & Forbes), and numerous awards for excellence in free market education, plays, and artwork.
Mark Skousen will surely be carved on the Mt. Rushmore of Free Market Economics as a result of his vast and prolific authorship. His book is the best thing I have found for my economics classes. To top it off, Mark recently received notice from Steven Landefeld, the director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, that the BEA will begin publishing an expanded aggregate statistic that reflects that concept that Mark initiated, developed, and pushed for many years: Gross Domestic Expenditures (GDE). This will be published every quarter along with GDP. GDE fills in a big piece of the macroeconomics puzzle. It establishes the proper balance between production and consumption, between the “make” and the “use” economy, and one that is consistent with growth theory. JG proudly received the Leonard E. Read Book Award from Mark (photo above right) when he was President of the Foundation for Economic Education.
HOLIDAY GIFT SEASON?
Frankly, I want help in promoting JG during the coming holiday season. If you have suggestions, please write to me. If you are seeking the perfect holiday gift for someone interested in learning about free markets, please contact AMAZON.COM or me directly for bulk rates directly from the publishers: 1) the university edition; 2) the youth edition & audio; 3) the two commentary editions: South Africa & India
ROMANIA
Organized by Li Schoolland, Founder of TFT Events with Romanian Austrian Economics Summer School, Murray Rothbard Center for Political Economy and Business of The Romanian-American University, Cato Institute, Societatea pentru Libertate Individuala, Ludwig von Mises Institute-Romania Media Partner: Forbes Romania. Presentations on immigration, moral hazard, wage policy, income policy, and ethics. Bucharest, Romania, June 2013
SLOVAKIA
Organized by Li Schoolland, Founder of TFT Events: Bratislava Austrian Economic Summit, presentations on moral hazard, economic crisis, immigration, and ethics. CEVRO Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia, June 2013
USA
Global Free Market Education (all about Jonathan Gullible educational programs and projects) and more with Gabriel Calzada from Guatemala, Alexander Kokotovic from SFL & Serbia, Nouh El Harmouzi of Morocco, and Mary Ruwart, Jim Elwood, and myself of The International Society for Individual Liberty, Freedom Fest: Las Vegas, Nevada, July, 2013. John Stossel presented with the latest edition of JG that he endorsed.
CHINA
Organized by Li Schoolland, Founder of TFT Events: China English Camp, including economics tutoring on Austrian Economics to Jason Xingbin Li, of “Kunshang School” & graduate student with Jesus Huerta de Soto, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain; Beijing, China, July 2013
Seminar on Problems with Fiscal Surveillance and Governance in China & the World, IAPP-Cathay Institute for Public Affairs, Renmin University, presentation on income distribution and American democracy, Beijing, China, July 28, 2013. And Seminar & Book Release on Market & Government Transformation, IAPP-Cathay Institute for Public Affairs, Renmin University, presentation on global economics education, Beijing, China, July 29, 2013
THE NETHERLANDS
Ethics of Liberty presentation, Libertarian Party of the Nederlands, Amsterdam, Nederlands, August 18, 2013
SWITZERLAND
International Conference of Mouvement pour laLiberté and ISIL, presentation on economics of health issues, Lausanne, Switzerland, August 2013. Featured speaker was Shin Dong-Hyuk, famous for his story in the book about North Korea, Escape From Camp 14. At lower left is Kozeta Cuadari-Cika, winner of the Bruce Evoy Memorial Award for her outstanding work in Albania under difficult circumstances. She is accompanied on the left by previous winner, Valentina Nicolaie, for her accomplishments in Romania. Center below is Christian Michel, ISIL organizer of the conference…a great success.
