Memory Mdyetseni - Living Hero #2

Africa’s socioeconomic circumstance leaves its citizens with few choices and little hope when faced with disasters such as HIV/AIDS and famine. Because of their role and position in society, all these challenges hit women the hardest.

Approximately 65% of the women in Malawi are illiterate and therefore cannot engage in meaningful economic activity or employment save for casual labour and peasant farming. As drought exasperates the already critical situation, many women are forced to make desperate decisions. When things like wild tubers, roots, and termites have failed to sustain their families, women have found themselves joining the sex trade just to get a little money to buy maize. They argue that it is better to die five or 10 years later from AIDS than to die now from hunger.

As an orphan from a young age, Memory Mdyetseni struggled to complete her education in her homeland of Malawi. Despite all the odds being against her, Memory graduated from university in 2006 with a degree in education, a lifelong dream she once thought to be unattainable. She is now the co-founder and Director of Atikana Pa Ulendo (Girls On The Move) Secondary School for Girls in rural Malawi. This project is a joint Canadian/Malawian initiative that is giving Malawian girls the opportunity to move forward, to improve their lives, and to take ownership of their futures. APU is an all-girls’ secondary school (grades 9-12) in rural Malawi. With a total of 72 students, APU’s goal is to reach its capacity of 320 students within the next four years. The first group of girls began form 1 (grade 9) in January, and the hope is that 80 more will fill their places next January when they move up to form 2.

It may seem like a daunting goal, but it is already a small miracle that each of these girls are where they are today. Memory is putting her considerable talents and passion into improving the lives of hundreds of other young girls who are suffering the same hardships that she has overcome.

During the 2005 famine in Malawi, Memory undertook the daunting task of launching her own Famine Relief Effort in her home region of Kasungu. She and her husband Henry Mdyetseni, risked their lives to purchase, transport and distribute hundreds of bags of maize to thousands of the poorest villagers in Chamama, near Kasungu.

Through her work with girls education, as well as through her Famine Relief Effort, Memory has become a respected role model in her community. She has single-handedly changed the views of the male leaders in her community who are now encouraging their daughters to continue with their schooling. Not only are they willingly accepting leadership from a woman, but they are actively seeking Memory’s advice. Because of Memory, hundreds of little girls can now believe that they too can have a future – a future that includes education, health, independence and empowerment.

Memory Mdyetseni, my living hero #2.

“The world belongs to the stubborn." – Memory Chazeza Mdyetseni

Ideological Insanity

Today’s big headline in the Edmonton Journal reads - “Terrorists target USA via Alberta”. Apparently it may be effective to disrupt the energy supply to the US by attacking Alberta’s oil and gas industry. When I think of Rona Ambrose’s Canada Day speech from last year where she stressed how important Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan was in keeping Canada safe, I have to wonder why my risk of being harmed by a terrorist attack has increased so dramatically since 2001.

I have always wondered who decides who is classified as a terrorist and who is classified as a freedom fighter. Logically and obviously, the definition is in the eye of the beholder. Technically a terrorist is defined as anyone who engages in terrorism. Terrorism is defined as the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. From my perspective, pretty much every country on the planet can be accused of engaging in terrorism. Again it all depends on one’s perspective and personal ideology. This uniqueness in ideology is what all the fuss is about. Anatomically and physiologically we are the same but ideologically we are different. Ideology is learned, not genetically predisposed so I have to believe a solution is possible.

I know my personal ideology has evolved over the years through dialogue and education. I can’t think of any of my ideological shifts being induced through force or intimidation. Therefore it is not a huge logical leap for me to assume that there was not a shift in American ideology after the attacks of September 11th nor will there be any shift in Afghan or Iraqi ideology generated by the current wars in those countries. I am left to wonder what we are expecting to accomplish with these wars when the same tactics that are being used do not work on ourselves.

Yup, probably said too much here already. So much more to say but the topic is way too volatile. I encourage anyone who wishes to find a solution to visit http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/ or watch the documentary Torturing Democracy. It is impossible to not question the real motives behind the Iraq and Afghanistan wars when one considers the only outcome possible when tactics such as these are being employed.

What do we stand for and what are we willing to die for? I always thought we stood on the side of good, no matter what. When one stoops to using the very tactics we have condemned our enemies for using, our enemies have won.

“The healthy man does not torture others - generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers”
- Carl Gustav Jung (1875 - 1961)

Selfless Acts

At the beginning of the UBBT challenge I never really put a lot of thought into the 1000 acts of kindness requirement. I figured this one would kind of be self perpetuating and just a matter of logging the acts. However when one puts a little thought into it, the specifics of the requirement become a bit of a conundrum.

The first snag one runs into is the definition of a kind act. Does it really count if it is something that I would have done anyway? Is it really a kind act worth documenting if I also benefit from it? First off, there are really few selfless acts. Everything I do for others tends to reciprocate back upon me. I can’t think of any kind thing that I have done for another that hasn’t given me a piece of my soul back. I definitely feel a lot better about myself and the world in general and my personal situation in life always benefits from helping others. I found myself asking that if I would have done the act anyway and it really isn’t a selfless act, what is the purpose of this test requirement?

One of the most difficult things to maintain in a hectic lifestyle is the mindfulness required to stay in the moment. So many of our actions and reactions are generated without a thought and without awareness. We can go through an entire week with little or no memory of the experiences of our routine days. These routines make it easy for us to keep our thoughts on the mistakes of our past and our concerns for the future rather than on the gift of the moment. Ironically one can really only utilize the experience of the past to shape the future if that experience is used in the here and now.

I have found by documenting my daily acts of kindness, no matter how insignificant, I am forced to stay in the moment and recognize my actions in their purest form. While documenting these acts may not give me any extra insight into myself, since we all tend to perform kind acts throughout our lives without thinking about them, the exercise of documenting them does bring me back to the moment. The real benefit I am finding from being in the moment is that not only am I forced to notice what I am doing to make a difference, I am now also noticing what I am not doing but could be doing. Self awareness definitely imposes a great sense of responsibility upon oneself.

Sometimes our inactions speak to the world louder than our actions and for that reason the acts of kindness requirement of the Ultimate Black Belt Test is, for me, the most defining characteristic of this entire project. It’s amazing what can evolve from one simple question.

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.”
Thich Nhat Hahn (b. 1926)

Off and Running

Had a pretty good week this week. I was fortunate to have spent some time talking to Coach Tom about the student members I am bringing on to the UBBT and our conversation really helped solidify my focus and ultimately, theirs. This project speaks to me on so many levels but the biggest value it brings to my kung fu is that it gives me an excuse to train. Having a full time job while running a full time school makes for a fairly hectic daily schedule when one is also dealing with personal challenges along the way. I have never lacked for excuses to not spend more time on my own personal development so having this personal mandate for the next sixteen or so months is a great opportunity for me to grow and more importantly, do it guilt free. Having a bunch of my students share this journey with me will definitely maximize the value of the experience.

I was actually standing outside Canada Post yesterday when Master Dave McNeill called to see if I had received my cane shipment from him, I have to tell you, his canes are works of art. Every time I have the opportunity to speak with him he freely offers his expert advice and assistance. What has always impressed me with Master McNeill is how genuine he is. He always remembers our previous conversations and my personal situation so his advice is never blind or empty. As always, I got some great support concerning the care for my reconstructed knee that seems to be taking forever to get back online.

My conversation with Master McNeill reminded me that the chances of anyone completing UBBT 6 without suffering major setbacks is unlikely. I actually have an advantage by going in with a hobbled knee in that my whole approach and plan will take this limitation into account so I am definitely mentally ready for this.

“Today, I begin my “black belt test” again. My life is my test.”
- Tom Callos

Taxation Without Representation

Canada’s federal election is only a couple of weeks away and while all the candidates are campaigning for my vote, I can definitely relate to how people can become disillusioned and apathetic with the whole process.

Our federal representation is based upon population with our local Member of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons and representing the will of us constituents. Unfortunately Canadian politics is such that MPs do not represent the will of the constituents that elected them but rather the will of their political party as dictated by the leader of their party. While we may have 308 seated members in the House of Commons, typically it is mainly only one, the Prime Minister, who really holds all the power. No MPs of the Prime Minister’s political party dare vote against him in Parliament without suffering the inevitable consequence of being removed from caucus and being forced to change parties or sit as an independent. Not really an appealing option for someone who wishes to keep his job and earn another term in office with the promise of a pension. And thus if the ruling party holds a majority, the Prime Minister pretty much runs the country on his whim. So much for my personal representation in Ottawa.

The disillusionment and apathy that our political system has generated has fueled voting strategies that make individual MPs irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Rather than voting for the riding candidate of their choice to represent them in the House of Commons, people are voting for the candidate that represents the political party that has the best chance of defeating their least favorite candidate for Prime Minister. In an attempt to avoid splitting the left vote, websites like http://www.voteforenvironment.ca/ have been created to ensure that Stephen Harper’s poor environmental record does not get a chance to resonate for another four years.

Like with the financial crisis in the the US, wouldn’t it be better to just fix the system to run the way it was designed to operate as opposed to coming up with strategies to work around and patch a flawed approach? Why do we not demand that our MPs be allowed to vote the will of their constituents without political consequence? This would make all 308 Members of Parliament relevant again and would restore the faith of the Canadian people that they do have a voice in the House of Commons.

“Canadians can disagree, but it takes a lot to get Canadians to intensely hate something or hate somebody. And it usually involves hockey.”
- Stephen Harper ( b. 1959)

Busy

It has been a busy two weeks since my last posting and lots has happened. We destroyed one of our Chinese Lions after its performance in a memorial funeral service, as is the custom, and then wrote off another due to excessive damage from normal wear and tear. Since they were our Kwan Kung and Zhang Fei lions respectively, they will need to be replaced as soon as it is feasible. We raised another $250 for our Benevolent Foundation with a lion dance performed for Marlin Travel at Westland Mall this morning. The spectators were great and the team really fed off the crowd’s enthusiasm.

I have lots of sticks in the fire right now so the next few months will be quite hectic. Our annual fundraising event is set to run in about six weeks and we hope to raise a significant amount of funds for important initiatives. I am in the process of preparing for UBBT 6 with a bunch of my black belts participating as student members and I have Master McNeill crafting me a cane that I will use when I begin studying his curriculum. Busy, busy, busy.

While all this is going on I find myself pondering the current economic crisis the west finds itself embroiled in. I fear this situation may shift our focus from the environment back to the economy and I am not sure our future can afford such a distraction at this pivotal point in time. With federal elections looming in both the USA and Canada, I fear what mandate we may be giving our future leaders. Will we vote for what is right for the world or will we vote for what is right for our wallets?

Definitely a time for me to give thanks for my privileged life and perhaps remind myself of the responsibility I hold as a leader, a role model, and a citizen. By simplifying my life and keeping my focus on the important issues such as peace education, the environment and sustainable living, the societal paradigm shift required to make lasting change will happen. There has never been a more important time to step up and be counted.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848)

Travis Panasiuk - Jan. 30, 1988 to Sept. 4, 2008

It has only been three days since Travis died in a highway accident and the intensity of my emotions is overwhelming. His very first and very last kung fu classes were exactly seventeen months apart - to the day. In those seventeen months Travis touched us all in such a profound way that his persona will forever be imprinted upon the spirit of Silent River Kung Fu and will always be a part of us. He was the best of who we are.

Travis’ life was filled with challenges, challenges that he addressed with his kung fu. Travis could have continued his life down the road of self destruction he was on but he ultimately chose a different path and fought to regain control. It was a struggle for Travis but it was a struggle he openly shared with his instructors. Travis held himself accountable and set an example that inspired and motivated everyone who had the privilege to teach him or train at his side.

Travis was well on his way to earning a black belt in a few years. I had often looked forward to that day when he would do his presentation on what kung fu had done for him. Oh what insights he could have shared. Travis was the living epitome of the impact discipline and respect can have on a life.

Ironically Travis had visited me several times in the past couple of weeks to talk about the untimely death of his childhood friend Brock. Travis was having difficulty making sense of such a tragedy. Today I find myself faced with the same struggle over Travis’ death. I hope Travis got more use out of the advise I gave him than I am.

I hope to honour Travis’ memory by approaching my kung fu with the same enthusiasm as Travis approached his. Whether it was forms, sparring, lion dance, san shou, fitness training, or tai chi, Travis put his all into his training and ended every session looking forward to his next. Goodbye Travis, you were not only the student we all wish we had, you were the student we all want to be.

“In my lifetime
I will demonstrate my lessons
Stop the cycle of procrastination
Live every moment
Let the past be history
Have the future changed
Control my thoughts
Forge my spirit
Create hope
Push forward
Pull aid
Forget weakness
Discover strength
Continue greatness
Allow All to share in my difference.”
- Travis Panasiuk (1988 - 2008)