Pauline Morrissette's U.K. LETS Trip Report
A heartfelt thank you to all who made our British-Scottish mission
a success.
Ottawa's First Nations Travel - Consultant David Bonk at 222 Rideau
Street, expedited our travel arrangements to leave on December 21,
1996.
Over the Internet we had several messages:
From: 100607.2431@CompuServe.COM (Garry Stafford)
Subject: The HRH won't be there.
Have been reading your poems/papers & plans on Econ-LETs for some
time & want you to know how helpful they are. I am part of a team
of people helping LETs grow in Kent England (Kent is known as the
'Garden of England' so LETs should present no propogation problems.)
If you get stuck for places to stay Andy Ryrie (INTERNET:10064102165)
who is the energy behind starting our system will be at Buckingham
Palace on Christmas day & is opening his house in Canterbury to any
one who wants to come. What about a similar publicity exercise on
the Archbishop of Canterbury & his 'flock' on Christmas Eve?
You may already know by now that 'Lizzy' 'Phil the Greek' & those
family members still 'accepted' (as opposed to those who are less
likely to get in than you!) will be at Sandringham in Norfolk for
Christmas (about 150miles North of London)
You will be pleased to know that by the time you arrive in the UK
we will have you down as a member of our System in Canterbury.
Thanks on behalf of all people who have benefitted from your efforts.
Garry Stafford
From: Richard.Kay@uce.ac.uk (Richard KAY)
To: johnturmel@yahoo.com
John, You're very welcome to stay with me in Coventry England during
your visit up till the 28th December. It's about 90 miles from Buck
house. I'm afraid I won't be able to picket with you due to family
commitments but wish you all the best with it in any event. Best wishes
for Christmas and the New Year.
Richard.Kay@uce.ac.uk
From: 106410.2165@compuserve.com (Andy Ryrie)
Subject: Will the Archbishop be in?
I would be delighted to welcome you to my humble abode. My phone number
(from within the UK) is 01227 700771. My house is called LETS House.
I'm about three miles from two railway stations. Canterbury East &
West both of which have trains from London and which take an hour
and a bit if they're in a good mood.
I can collect you from Canterbury in my magnificent bright yellow
'Vote Banana' campaign bus.
I am increasingly tempted by your invitation to Buck house or wherever
the action is to be had on christmas day and you pitching up here
the day before & in need of a lift, could be just what I need to persuade
me. I suppose I'm a bit personally trepidated about attracting the
glare of publicity as I think the current smokescreen quite is not
inconvenient at the moment.
Andy Ryrie
Plans were being made to accommodate and move us around Britain. The
excitement was building.
After spending our first night at a Bed and Breakfast in London, we
proceeded to Canterbury. Andy Ryrie came in his bright yellow "Vote
Banana" campaign bus. On our arrival at LETS House, Andy had a hardy
vegetarian stew waiting with all the trimmings. We retired to a warm
fire in the living room and afterwards talked into the wee hours about
the progress of LETS in Canterbury and Kent. Andy has produced at
his expense LETS cheque signing books, samples attached.
The following day Andy had made arrangements for us to have a meeting
with Garry Stafford who is actively promoting LETS in Kent. We picked
up a friend on the way, Nicholas (Nick) Peachey. Nick, a colorful
character, is an artist in many ways, musically and we later learned,
an artist on canvass. In his home, we viewed an exhibition of drawings
and paintings made whilst he worked in the Mental Health industry.
Networking was done during the evening. Angela Stafford, Gary's wife,
active in LETS is also a school teacher and saw an opportunity to
introduce Nick's type of music into the classroom, Nick seemed delighted
and fully agreed to participate. John and Nick, both playing accordions,
harmonized and learned new music from each other. We had the pleasure
of meeting sons David and Tom. Angela had baked homemade mincemeat
tarts, my absolute favourite. Just ask my mother about the Christmas
I sat under the kitchen table, while everyone was in bed, with all
the pies just out of oven cooling on top . I believe I ate l4 before
I was caught in the act with tin plates all around and dad videoing
it on camera. Again, we had a pleasant and productive night getting
a lot of insight from Garry.
Dec. 23. had a much needed sleep in. The afternoon brought a delightful
walk through fields, forest, down winding lanes, hedged with holly
and ivy, to an authentic English pub "The Three Horseshoes." Owner-Operator
Derritt Williams is a retired movie producer who worked on a film
with Orson Wells attested to by pictures around the pub. Derritt is
one of the very few, if not the only pub operator who can perform
a wedding ceremony and have a reception all under the same roof. He
kept us entertained with his many stories while we enjoyed the roaring
fire, drinking Winter Warmer Ale, enjoying pleasant company of the
locals and the warmth of the establishment in general. Derritt is
also well known for his summer JAZZ Festivals, bringing in talent
from around the globe.
We walked back to LETS House to enjoy a wonderful meal of Linda McCartney's,
vegetarian "Deep Country Pies", which I recommend. I thought I was
eating a hardy steak and kidney pie with not an ounce of meat within
and again, with all the trimmings. Well done Andy. We retired to the
warmth of a fire and Sue Nyirenda (LETS Member) friend and associate
of Andy's, joined us for music and laughter. John on accordion, Andy
on guitar, Sue playing a huge pea pod rattle and myself on bongo drums.
A great time was had by all.
The following morning it was an early departure to London. Nick Peachey
joined us, plans were to picket Buckingham Palace. But due to the
holiday season, everything was deserted, all shops shut down, and
not a telephone book in sight. Streets empty except for homeless elderly
ladies sleeping in boxes, youths huddled up in sleeping bags, rubbish
scattered and blowing in the streets of this once beautiful city.
A sad sight to behold. Andy and Nick did a bit of sightseeing with
us, then they were off to do their holiday visits. We took lodgings
at Arden House B & B, 12 St. George's Drive, 2 blocks from rail and
coach stations.
26th Dec. We had a hardy English breakfast then headed for Coventry
where Richard Kay would be our Host for the next couple of days. Richard
communicated over the net that he had done a lot of work on Multi-Registry
Systems. He has programmed a working prototype which you can talk
to, see appended printout of his message. On arrival in Coventry,
Richard took us to a wonderful Tandoori restaurant where you purchase
your alcoholic beverages off the premises and bring them with you.
We were treated to some delectable curried dishes and honey almond
bread.
The following day, I had the real pleasure of having the company of
Rosemary (Rosie) age 6, Andrew, age 8 and Stephen age 10. While John
and Richard proceeded with arrangements, Internet work and calls,
I went for a walk with these 3 different and very talented young people.
I found as we walked and explored, took photos, that all were very
interested in the environment. We all agreed that the park was in
somewhat of a shambles with garbage. So home for garbage bags. We
went back to park, but had agreed we would only collect aluminum cans
because Stephen's school recycles them for funding. After the morning
flew by, lunch, then it was down to the drawing board. Our mission,
to form a committee to discuss and design a clean-up truck for park
areas, sidewalks, etc. It was a wonderful experience to watch as names
flashed forward for this special vehicle, "The Muck Truck" from Rosie,
"The Trashmobile" and "The Green Machine." Then the intricate designing
to handle bottles, cans, paper and doggy doo was a major concern,
but, nothing was too complicated for these 3 little engineers on the
job. After dinner, gifted Andrew gave us a tune or two on the piano
which enchanted us. Then it was photo opp time and some good old fashioned
romping around on the floor. I believe John took the worst beating.
28th Dec. Said our goodbyes to the Kay family. Heading to Burnley,
Lancashire where I was born to say hi to some family members. We arrived
around at 6p.m. after literally making bus connections in minutes.
Having to change several times, running to a bank machine in Manchester
and making the Burnley bus by 5 minutes. At Burnley town centre, I
hopped in a cab and went to see Uncle Vincent and Aunt Irene. They
were dressed up waiting for Allan to take them to the club. They actually
thought I was him. Allan took them to the Miners Club then got John
and I established at the Travel Inn, brand new, on Queen Victoria
Rd. then dropped us off at the Miners Club where we had a fine time
listening to a great band with story telling and bingo in between
sets. The following day, Allan and his lovely wife Christine picked
us up for yet another evening out. I last saw Allan when he was 15
and Uncle Vincent reminded me of the time he took us down the mine's
448 stairs.
John and Allan got along famously for a first meeting as I did with
Christine. At one point she exclaimed, "this is like being at the
movies." Allan being a professor of auto mechanics and dealing with
databases kept up with John, I feel Allan will be coming on board
one way or another. The following day Allan was anxious that I meet
his son Scott who attends Liverpool University and would be down for
a New Year's Celebration. We spent a night at their home with sons'
Steven and Scott, we watched a Monarchy film called "PALLAS"/DALLAS,
a comedy that would crack the straightest face, boy did we laugh,
sure would like to get a copy of that for mom. To all the Andertons,
it was especially great to see you all. It made my Christmas Holiday
special too.
Ken Palmerton of Hebden Bridge was our next contact. He collected
us about noon to take us to his home. Took us through the scenic high
roads of Yorkshire. As we hit the top, all we could see were these
100 foot high wind generators. In the valley below we looked, we saw
top-bottom housing, a unique housing design which, although built
on the side of cliffs, allows each front door to face a road, whether
on the top or the bottom. This was a quaint, rustic, village type
atmosphere with little bridges and streams everywhere adding to the
breathtaking scenery. My mother has informed me that at the age of
3, I had lived in Hebden Bridge which might account for the great
energy I felt there.
Kathleen, Ken's wife, had a wonderful hearty stew and dumplings for
our dinner. The Leader of the Islamic Party of Great Britain, David
Pidcock, joined us. John, David and Ken talked into the wee hours
about LETS and how the Islamic Party could aid the cause. David, a
very warm and witty individual, shared a couple of jokes during dinner.
My favorite:
Three men apply for a job at the local police station. The chief says
my test is simple. He interviews the first and asks him "Who killed
Jesus Christ?" He replied "Pontius Pilate." "You pass. Go in the locker
room and put on a uniform." The second comes in, also answers "Pontius
Pilate" and is told to go in the locker room and put on a uniform.
The third guy couldn't answer who killed Jesus Christ so he was told
"Go into the locker room to think about it for awhile but don't put
on a uniform." The other two saw him and asked "Why aren't you putting
on a uniform?" He answered, "Don't tell anyone but I'm already working
on a murder case undercover."
The following day John had the privilege of sitting and talking with
86 year old Wilfrid Price, an old Social Credit Greenshirt who fought
interest rates since the Great Depression. Attached is just one of
the many wonderful articles that Wilfrid has written over his many
years titled Pollution of Body and Mind. Wilfrid also writes poetry.
That evening David Pidcock, Kevin Donnelly, yet another wonderful
poet and Labour party supporter, Rupert, Ken and John had another
meeting of minds laying the foundation for our meetings in London
to follow later.
I was busy in Hebden Bridge town center doing shopping for the tea
and accidentally ran into yet two more active members of the Calderdale
LETS- Amanda Jane Lees of Stoke-On-Trent and Jean Kessler of Hebden
Bridge. They were pleased to hear how we were talking to the politicians
about adopting a National Lets.
A hearty thank you to Kenneth and Kathleen. Although Kathleen suffers
from a breathing disability, she coped very nicely with the extra
meals and especially with all the extra company in her home, a real
hostess.
Jan. 6, the day we were leaving for Scotland, a full page article
appeared in the UK Guardian titled "Election Battleground/Local currencies
gain ground in era of globalisation" "Creating more than a token revolution."
(appended). Ken drove us to the Manchester bus station to connect
with bus to Glasgow. As we sat in the coffee shop, a young man named
Scott, who was also heading for Glasgow, gave me a Scottish Teddy
bear. He lived in Drumchapel, the place named in the Guardian article!
In Glasgow we made our way to the Rennie MacIntosh B & B, 220 Renfrew
St., where we settled in to make some phone calls. Eventually we made
contact with James Gibb Stuart, also a writer and publisher. We had
no idea at the time of booking into the MacIntosh that our Glasgow
connection was only a couple of blocks away from us. Mr. Stuart called
us and we went to meet him. He is another gentleman who has been working
hard over the past years on bringing out the message of Monetary Reform
via his publications and he gave us a few of his different books:
"The Money Bomb" and "Economics of the Green Renaissance." We spent
some quality time with his staff Gary, Katie, Cliff Morrison who runs
the Internet web site for Mr. Stuart. Mr. Stuart then took us to his
home in Bridge of Weir where his wife Nancy greeted us with a meal
then some relaxing conversation.
Next morning it was back on the bus to Coventry, Richard Kay again
picked us up, we had a meal then hit the phones making connections
in London with Sabine McNeill.
Meeting Sabine McNeill turned out to be the Grand Finale of our journey.
She enthusiastically pulled together speaking engagements for John,
arranging locations and moving forces into action. She coordinated
everything for us and made us feel like most-welcomed guests in her
home. If you ever need an event coordinated be it a wedding or a political
rally, I feel no task would be too small or too large for this astonishing
lady. Our first meeting was at the Mandeer Restaurant, Mandeer meaning
Temple. Our Host, owner of Mandeer, Mr. Ramesh Patel, charmed us with
conversation, fed us, allowed us to view his kitchen and the makings
of special delicacies whilst we awaited the arrival of Sabine and
the other guests invited to speak.
The Head table consisted of Sabine as Hostess, John Turmel, Leader
of the Abolitionist Party of Canada as guest speaker, host Ramesh
Patel, Mary Fee - LETSLINK London, Sahib Mustaqim Bleher - General
Secretary, Islamic Party of Britain, Kaleem Mohammad Alloyne-Islamic
Party, London Representative, Dr. Vidya Anand - National Education
Committee, Labour. We were also fortunate to have the presence of
Robin Johannsen and his mother Francoise. Robin is a student at Farnborough
College of Technology and is doing a documentary on LETS. Robin was
with us throughout these two days, videoing everything including the
picket of Buckingham Palace, the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada.
We owe much to this young man who has documented history in the making
of such a news worthy event.
Later it was off to the Global Cafe where John again made a presentation
on a National LETS. Nigel Foster, the owner, then took David Edmond,
Sabine, myself and John for a meal. Thank you Nigel.
The following day it was back to the Global Cafe after our picketing
sessions. That was a lot of fun with many people honking horns and
giving us the thumbs up sign. The signs read "Bankers are crooks"
and "Abolish Interest Rates." A bobbie told us at the Bank of England
that we had to get rid of "bankers are crooks" sign because it is
prohibited to insult the Bank of England but we could remain with
the "Abolish Interest Rates" sign. We were told we could use both
down the street at the Royal Bank of Canada though.
At the Global Cafe, we met with David Williams, the first officer
ever employed by a local council to promote LETS, who is standing
for Labour MP. Mary Fee was also in attendance, Nigel, Sabine, David
and myself. David produced a bill currency in Standard minutes and
Hours. (copy appended).
That evening it was back to the Mandeer Restaurant for yet another
meeting. Head table: Dr.Anand, his two associates Dr. Vasant Raval,
Professor on Management, Krishna B. Gamre, candidate for Referendum
Party in forthcoming election, Mr. Abdul Hamid Gazi, Founder, Chairman
Federal Party of Europe, Andrew Lockwood, Rainbow Centre, Martin Kavanagh,
Rainbow centre. Robin Johannsen on video. Sabine McNeill moderator.
Ramesh Patel again fed us all and gifted me with book no. 228, a book
he did in 8 languages, of poetry to his wife for the event of his
25th wedding anniversary.
We owe a lot to Sabine McNeill, especially for putting together on
such short notice these meetings of fine minds. Sabine also gifted
me with a book she wrote "The Art and Technology of NETWORKING", for
personal and Global Transformation.
On our return flight home, I counted the names of all that we had
come in contact with, it totalled 76. So, if I have left someone out
or forgotten to mention an event, don't be surprised.
Again, I have to thank Sabine for coming to my aid. She has eloquently
recapped in her communication of Friday, Jan. 17 our hectic last
two days, which I append. Thank you Sabine this will finish off my
synopsis of the trip nicely:
Date: Fri Jan 17 03:25:55 1997
From: sabine@globalnet.co.uk (Sabine Kurjo McNeill)
Subject: LET'S JOIN FORCES for the UK ELECTION
To: econ-lets@mailbase.ac.uk, vestboy@vossnet.co.uk (David Williams),
Hi, I'm sorry I've been a 'lurker', but better a reader than a non-participant,
I suppose. I am now speaking up and out for the following reasons:
1. I put John Turmel and his wonderful lady Pauline up for two days
and spent time introducing them to people. As a consequence, my LETS
thinking has changed quite fundamentally. The last time this happened
was when I met Margrit Kennedy, author of "Interest and Inflation-free
Money", who gave me five little booklets in German by Japanese Y.
Otani on capitalism, democracy, the land question, the money problem
and marxism. The volume that should accompany such an eye opening
sequence would be on Mass Media and the Internet...
2. To make use of the UK election or not to make use of the election,
that is the question. And if yes, how - that is the politically deeper
question. John, as the world's expert on losing elections (41 of them),
is also one of the best media stunt men I've ever come across (he
LOVES picketing). The fact that he is bold enough to dare to make
a fool of himself is in my eyes a great asset. The amazing thing is
that his stunts are for the right causes and that he puts his money
where his mouth is. And a court case against the Bank of Canada is
not only a stunt, it is an intellectual exercise. John is one of the
brightest people on this planet. Otherwise he would not win at gambling.
And he opened my eyes to the mathematics of interest which I had seen
from a completely different angle before.
3. In 1989 I bought the LETS software for some $100 from Michael Linton.
In 1997 I learn that John Turmel financed him by $20,000 and there
is NO acknowledgment anywhere except in John's own documentation.
4. One of the major beauty aspects of LETS is the possibility for
acknowledgment. So here I want to acknowledge John, but also Michael
and Liz Shephard in England and everybody else who has ever put efforts
into LETS. For whoever does it, surely does it for as best as they
can. If we knew better, we would do better.
5. If we can't do better, it is because "the system" that has educated
our thinking and that is running out there is sooo wrong on sooo many
levels that it simply takes time and people and communication and
conversations and reading to eventually get a glimpse of the whole
picture. Once we think we have that, what do we do? Where do we put
our energies? I for one have now decided as follows:
** I have benefitted from John's visit by feeling re-energised about
LETS and the GREEN MONEY NETWORK that I have been trying to make happen
in Central London around Mandeer (Sanskrit for temple) the vegetarian
restaurant with its most wonderful owner Ramesh Patel with experience
with commercial barter in the US
** Ramesh has introduced me to a wonderful Dr. Vidha Anand who has
stood for elections before and who is advising me in my political
thinking in this British situation. His company monitors radio and
TV for major clients
** I have talked to a most powerful PR consultant who has given me
a number of suggestions for high level political and economic approaches
** I have submitted a book proposal to a publisher
** I have submitted "Winning and Losing with Exponential Growth or
The Mathematics of Money" to a TV producer who calls himself a 'recreational
mathematician'
** I have contacted the author of the website on UK Politics who is
willing to help
** After having introduced him to John, I have encouraged David Williams,
the first officer to have been employed by a Council and Labour candidate
for Uxbridge to join econ-lets as he is the most prominent British
LETS spokesperson who will continue the LETS course that I set up
at Richmond College. He has obtained the money to set up West London
LIFT for interest-free trading among businesses and is admirable in
his ability to think locally for community and politically for LETS
** I have composed the attached file "Why LETS" as my one-page analysis
of "the whole picture"
** I have composed a letter to politicians which we shall discuss
tonight as a follow-up from John's visit. For the moment, we call
ourselves "MoneyPeace" with "Peaceful Political Pressure through Constructive
Economic Education" and "Peace through Money is Peace through Equality
and Economic Democracy" as subtitles on the letterhead. I believe
that GreenPeace is better known than LETS and hence the associations
are more obvious. EVERYBODY needs stages of education: economists,
bankers, politicians, people like you and I. As GreenPeace educates
about environmental issues in media-dramatic ways, maybe we can use
the Internet media- effectively as well as cameras for John-style
picket posters.
** I plan to organise presentations and a computer conference for
politicians at GLOBAL CAFE, the latest bestest Internet Cafe near
Piccadilly tube which brilliant Nigel Foster, ex-IBM, has put in 3
locations in Switzerland and 3 in Malaysia before opening opposite
Saatchi & Saatchi (biggest PR company who promoted Mrs Thatcher) in
Soho.
** I am working with computer communicators from NetReach to make
a "Green Money Voice Bank" happen as a bulletin board and a tool for
recording transactions over the phone
** I plan to write not only to all politicians but also to all banks
once the group is together, once I am truly not alone any more. At
the time I thought I'd campaign for "Economic Democracy" with "Young
Women for Democracy" in Amsterdam - lots of them from the East - now
let's do it with econ-lets for the UK election! If not you who? If
not now when?
Thank you John, for being who you are. You will become even more effective
when you practise the ZEN of COMMUNICATION and the TAO of MEDITATION.
And thank you Richard for making econ-lets possible and putting John
in touch with me. And thank you Michael for putting LETS on the map
before Liz did in Britain. January 23 is a major unusual planetary
constellation where the project GAIAMIND (www.gaiamind.com) invites
people to meditate at 17.30 GMT.
Greenwich - the centre of the world for measuring time. Near London's
City - the centre of the world for measuring the power of money with
indices that are based on illusory mathematics...
LET's JOIN FORCES constructively, LET'S GO for GLOBAL TALLIES!
Off the Internet, we again received the Islamic's Party support for
LETS candidates in the upcoming UK general election:
From: mail@smb.powernet.co.uk (Islamic Party of Britain)
Newsgroups: uk.religion.islam
Subject: Islamic Party joins Canadian abolitionists
Date: Fri Jan 10 16:03:51 1997
In a meeting in London with John Turmel, leader of the Canadian abolitionist
party, the Islamic Party of Britain representatives re-affirmed their
intention to join forces with anybody willing to fight the evil of
interest which is most strongly condemned in Islam (the Qur'an contains
a declaration of war from Allah and His messenger against usury),
as it is prohibited in Islam's monotheistic precedessors, Judaism
and Christianity, in their unadulterated message.
The eloquent Canadian who argues for the introduction of a government-backed
LETS (Local Exchange Trading System), a free and green alternative
to interest-based debt-finance, is picketing Buckingham Palace today
to petition the Queen to support the scheme. He has offered her free
credit from the tens of thousands of LETS supporters already in the
UK, some of whom are local councils using the scheme to alleviate
the hardships of the money drought which results in unemployment and
poverty in spite of people's ability to be productive.
He has promised to return for the British general election expected
in the spring to run a joined campaign to form a coalition promising
support for any candidate willing to support this issue.
The Islamic Party of Britain has made the fight against an interest-based
monetary system is key issue since it fought the Bradford bye-election
in 1990 against "Satanic Purses". The party hopes that the issue can
be effectively raised in the forth- coming general elections, and
is willing to support any candidate or pressure group joining the
campaign.
islamparty@smb.powernet.co.uk
http://www.muslims.net/islamparty/islamparty.htm
John and I wish to thank you all for your hospitality and hard work
on the cause, your dedication shines through. When facing a difficult
task, act as though it is impossible to fail. If you are going after
Moby Dick, take along lots of tartar sauce.
Please note in Sabine's message of Jan. 17th, you are invited on JANUARY
23rd at 17:30 GMT to meditate. AMEN
P.S. We didn't get to see the Queen, but she was aware of us being
in the United Kingdom:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Mr. J. Turmel,
Abolitionist Party of Canada,
Box 111, Ottawa, Canada, K2C 3L4.
6th January, 1997.
Dear Mr. Turmel,
I am commanded by The Queen to thank you for your letter of 11th December
with which you forwarded your book on your Abolish Interest Rates
Project.
Her Majesty appreciated your thoughtfulness in writing to her as you
about your project. The Queen does not, however, wish to take up your
offer to open an account as part of the LETSystem Scheme, though she
was interested to know of your efforts in establishing it.
Thank you for writing as you did, and I hope that you enjoyed your
recent visit to this country.
Yours sincerely,
Simon Gimson
Thank you, your Majesty. Our trip was wonderful.
Pauline Morrissette and John C. Turmel.
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