UPCOMING EVENTS


The Shark God arrives in NYC
October 2006

1) The Shark God: Christianity, cults and spiritual crisis in the South Pacific

Award-winning author Charles Montgomery offers slides and stories from The Shark God, the true account of his expedition to chart the strange legacy of missionaries in the South Pacific.
When: Sunday, October 8, 10:15 am, (immediately following the 9:15 liturgy)
Where: St. James Church, East Hall, 865 Madison Ave. (at 71st St.)
For more information call 212-774-4254
www.thesharkgod.com

2) Upper North Side Author Series: Canadian Wilds and Beyond

Featuring adventure stories and debate from authors Charles Montgomery (The Shark God) and Brian Payton (Shadow of the Bear)
Sponsored by the Canadian Consulate
Moderated by Edward Bergman, author of The Spiritual Traveller in New York
When: Thursday, October 12, 7:00-8:30 pm
Where: McNally Robinson Booksellers, Soho
50 Prince St. (between Lafayette and Mulberry)
New York
For info, tel: (212) 274-1160

***

The Shark God in England: November, 2006


1) British Museum

The Shark God: Encounters with myth and magic in the South Pacific
Join award-winning journalist Charles Montgomery as he uses spectacular photos and stories to recreate the South Pacific expedition behind his new book.

Event details

What: The Shark God: Encounters with Myth and Magic in the South Pacific
(Part of the British Museum's Power and Taboo exhibit)
Where: Stevenson Lecture Theatre, British Museum, WC1
When: Thursday, 9 November at 13:30
http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/powerandtaboo/events/lunch.html
To book please contact the Box Office:
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8181
Email: boxoffice@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

2) Network Canada/Canadian High Commission

The Shark God: Encounters with myth and magic in the South Pacific
Award-winning journalist Charles Montgomery spent six months exploring the world of cargo cults, shark worship and new religions in the remote islands of Melanesia. Join him as he recreates the expedition with stories and spectacular slides.

Event details
Where: Canadian High Commission, Grosvenor Square
When: Wednesday, 8 November
Information: thomas@networkcanada.org
All attendees must register at: www.networkcanada.org

3) Chester Cathedral
November 14, event yet to be confirmed

4) Oxford: Magdalen Auditorium

The Shark God: Encounters with myth and magic in the South Pacific
Talk and slide show
Award-winning journalist Charles Montgomery explored the bizarre world of cargo cults, sorcery and shark worship among the remote islands of Melanesia. Join him as he uses spectacular images and stories to recreate the expedition behind The Shark God.

Where: Magdalen Auditorium, Longwall Street, Oxford
When: Tuesday, Nov. 14th at 8pm
More information email: ortons@well.ox.ac.uk
or: hawchr@gmail.com

This event is a production of the Oxford University Canadian Society and the Oxford University Exploration Club. Everyone welcome.
posted by editor at 3:54 PM

This just in:

Vanuatu, Pacific Islands, Tops World for Happiness (Update1)

July 12 (Bloomberg) -- Vanuatu, a group of South Pacific islands populated by fisherman and farmers, is the world's happiest place, according to a study published today.

The U.S. and U.K. are among the world's least happy countries because of their consumer-driven economies, according to an index compiled by the New Economics Foundation, a London-based researcher and environmental campaigner.

Vanuatu is slightly larger than Connecticut and has a population of 209,000, according to the Central Intelligence Agency. The inhabitants of the islands live for about 69 years on average, about eight less than Americans, and economic output per person is $2,944, a 13th of that in the U.S.

``People can live long, happy lives without using more than their fair share of the earth's resources,'' said the report, published on the foundation's Web site.

The New Economics Foundation was set up in 1986 to question the agenda of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations.

The Happy Planet Index covers 178 countries by multiplying life expectancy by life satisfaction, and dividing it by environmental impact in each country, including carbon emissions. The index was compiled over two months, using United Nations life expectancy figures from 2003, World Database of Happiness statistics from 2005 and the World Footprint Network's research on consumption and environmental impact.

Small and Happy

Vanuatu scored 68.2 points, while the U.S. came in 150th place on 28.8 points. The U.K., ranked 108th, earned 40.3 points. Islands scored better because their societies tended to bond better with higher life satisfaction, the report said.

The red perils of the 1960s, Cuba and Vietnam, are now havens of happiness, ranked more than 100 places higher than the U.S. The biggest malcontents were in Zimbabwe, ranking bottom.

The U.S. and Germany have similar levels of satisfaction and life expectancy, though Germans, ranked 81st, have an ``ecological footprint,'' or area of land required to sustain the population, half the size of the U.S.

Italy ranked highest among members of the G8, placing 66th, with Russia the lowest, almost last in the survey at 172nd place.

Central American countries account for nine of the top 10 happiest countries. African countries including Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea make up six of the bottom 10, the index showed.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Amy Wilson in London at awilson23@bloomberg.net.
posted by editor at 9:13 AM

I've been researching the idea of sustainable cities for the past eight months. With its dense, livable downtown, Vancouver has become the envy of Urban planners across North America. Part of the city's formula involves extracting amenities from developers in exchange for the right to build higher. You want the right to sell fifty extra condos on that site? Well, then you're going to have to chip in some money for a museum, or a park, or even some social housing in return. The bargain is paying off for both developers and residents. Soon more than 100,000 people will have ditched the suburbs in favour of vertical living around the downtown. Problem is, many of these people now have to commute to suburban business parks for work. Read my story on Vancouverism, "Futureville," in the May issue of Canadian Geographic. [canadiangeographic.ca]
posted by editor at 10:53 AM

posted by editor at 10:53 AM

Fans of adventure in Vancouver, Mark your calendars:
On MAY 24, '06, along with other writers, I'll be talking and showing images behind the adventures that went into Explore Magazine's anthology, Way Out There. Vancouver Library, 7:30 pm.
Who else will be there? Alisa Smith, Daniel Wood, James MacKinnon and Leslie Anthony.
posted by editor at 2:03 PM

On Tuesday, May 3, and In the wake of a week of rioting in the Solomon Islands, I joined with Brother John Blyth of the Melanesian Brotherhood to tell the story of the 2003 martyrdom of six of his fellow brothers on Guadalcanal. We ate pizza and swapped stories with the congregation at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. John was a good friend of Brother Frances Tofi, a central character in The Last Heathen/The Shark God.

I remember the moment when Frances used a whispered prayer to calm a band of militants who were holding a young man hostage near Honiara. I remember thinking that this was a pretty lacklustre climax for my story. A prayer, a smile, a calm resolution to what might have been a murderous confrontation. Where were the miracles for which the brothers were famous? Little did I know that Frances would paddle off to confront the nation's last warlord, and that he would lose his life in the process, and that his death would help lead to a new peace in the islands.

I hope to bring this story to congregations in the US when The Shark God is released there this summer.
posted by editor at 1:53 PM

I'm in Vancouver, working on new stories and preparing for the US release of The Shark God.

May 2, '06:
I'll be presenting slides and stories from the South Pacific journey behind The Last Heathen at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver.

MAY 24, '06
Along with other writers, I'll be talking and showing images behind the adventures that went into Explore Magazine's anthology, Way Out There. Vancouver Library, 7:30 pm.
Who else will be there? Alisa Smith, Daniel Wood, James MacKinnon and Bruce Grierson...
posted by editor at 2:42 PM

FALL, 2005

SEPT 21
Clayoquot Community Hall, Tofino, BC, Sept. 21, 7:30 pm.
Charles will read and tell stories about adventure and epiphany along with writer Andrew Struthers and filmmaker Velcrow Ripper.

SEPT 25
Word On the Street, Vancouver Library, Noon, Magazine Mews tent
Charles will read from The Last Heathen along with writers James MacKinnon (Dead Man in Paradise) and John Vaillant (The Golden Spruce)

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' FEST
GRANVILLE ISLAND
Charles will appear with other writers on October 20 and 1pm and 8pm.

HARBOURFRONT INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' FESTIVAL
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Charles will recreate the South Pacific adventure behind The Last Heathen at events on October 22 and 27
posted by editor at 9:45 AM

FALL, 2005

SEPT 21
Clayoquot Community Hall, Tofino, BC, Sept. 21, 7:30 pm.
Charles will read and tell stories about adventure and epiphany along with writer Andrew Struthers and filmmaker Velcrow Ripper.

SEPT 25
Word On the Street, Vancouver Library, Noon, Magazine Mews tent
Charles will read from The Last Heathen along with writers James MacKinnon (Dead Man in Paradise) and John Vaillant (The Golden Spruce)

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' FEST
GRANVILLE ISLAND
Charles will appear with other writers on October 20 and 1pm and 8pm.

HARBOURFRONT INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' FESTIVAL
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Charles will recreate the South Pacific adventure behind The Last Heathen at events on October 22 and 27
posted by editor at 9:45 AM

July 22 and 23, 2005

Charles will appear at the Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw:
July 22, 05: Reading and talking with author Terry Rigelhof
July 23: Readings, slides and storytelling from the South Pacific journey that went into The Last Heathen
For more information: www.festivalofwords.com

July 28, 2005

Charles will appear along with Karen X Tulchinsky, Terrie Hamazaki and Dan Gawthrop as part of Queer Author's Night at the Vancouver Public Library.
Alice MacKay Room, 7pm, admission free.
For more information: 604-331-3602


September 8, 2005

Charles will appear along with Susan Musgrave in an opening night performance at the Whistler Writers' Festival. It will be an evening of spectacular images and tales of adventure, magic and myth in the South Pacific.
For more information:
http://www.theviciouscircle.ca/retreat/index.htm
posted by editor at 10:25 AM