New Zealand

While attending a conference in Canada this past week I had the pleasure of meeting one of the speakers -- Alan Duff of New Zealand.

Mr. Duff is an "award winning novelist, film maker, and social activist" perhaps best known for the film, "Once Were Warriors", which focused on his Maori culture. I wanted to talk with Mr. Duff after his speech because he is the founder of the "Books in Homes" program which distributes books to 500 schools in New Zealand:

www.booksinhomes.org.nz

"The Books in Homes Programme was inspired by Alan Duff who, with the help of Christine Fernyhough, developed the idea after realising that failures in adult life often stem from childhoods spent in bookless homes. The philosophy behind the programme is simple - to break the cycle of 'booklessness'. Kids who can't read become adults who can't communicate and that's a serious disadvantage in a world that operates on the written word."

Entrepreneurs/activists such as Mr. Duff are improving lives faster and more efficiently than any government I have experienced. If any readers of this blog have a great example of a government improving quality of life please let me know.

Keep up the great work Mr. Duff -- perhaps one day a New Zealand university will recognize your public service with a honorary degree!! I mention this because in his speech in Canada Mr. Duff noted that he has never been invited as a guest speaker to any New Zealand university despite his professional and social achievements.

Clearly political correctness is the power on campus.

Todd