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[From: Rob Coats, Perth Cooordinator]

What follows is an excerpt from a student newspaper that recently did and article on student activism. She spelled my name wrong (after I spelled it out to her), but the above is as it appears in the paper in amongst the comments of many other left and right wing students spokespersons. I also made clear during the interview that the movement was NOT anti-anti-capitalism but pro-capitalism. That part was left off, but any publicity is good publicity.

=================================

While the left wing groups don't consider the violence of M1 and S11 protests to have hurt their cause, right wing groups say it has resulted in students becoming increasingly conservative and has led to a counter movement.

Part of this counter culture is D2, a right wing organisation holding pro-capitalism marches all over the world on December 2nd in retaliation to the anti-capitalism approach of M1 and S11.

Robert Coat[e]s, one of the coordinators for the Perth march said students who may have been apolitical before are getting involved to express their opposition to the other protests.

"I'm finding that people that might not necessarily have had a political opinion are becoming very cynical about the violence that has happened, like at M1 and S11" he said.

"People outside university are getting the impression that all students are left wing drop-kicks who are bludging off of the government. That's a stereotype I want to clear up because that is not how the majority of students are."

===============================================

From: PRODOS, Melbourne

Reporting that, a couple of weeks ago I was interviewed by Channel 7, a mainstream TV station in Melbourne, regarding the principles of Capitalism and about "D2".
The reporter was friendly and sympathetic to our cause.

"Let's Walk!"

From: PRODOS, Melbourne

Letting you know that I just got a phone call out of the blue from the National Post of Canada who wanted to know about WalkForCapitalism.

Questions asked:
- When did the campaign commence?
- What did you think of the World Trade Center attack?
- Why are people defending free trade and capitalism? Does it even need a
defense?
- About PRODOS?
- How and why has this campaign spread so widely and across the world?
- Do you believe that the debate on Capitalism is THE important debate of
today?
- What about Reagan and Thatcher? Weren't they defenders of Capitalism?

To coordinators in Canada:

Please try and follow up on this report. Let them know what you're doing.
Keep them posted. Make yourself available for follow-up. Make sure
you include the National Post in your media contact lists.

I was told it should be in the paper and online -
http://www.NationalPost.com
tomorrow.

From: Vecheslav Silagadze, Toronto, Canada

The Walk for Capitalism people who held the small counter-protest
this Tuesday [in Toronto] were noticed.

[Please read this media report:]

http://news.excite.ca/news/r/011016/19/news-canada-demonstration-col

[Read last two paragraphs]

[Prodos: Congratulations Toronto! We luv ya!
You're an inspiration!

Fellow coordinators,

Perth has just released its first media-release. (see Global Media release
#1 (and templates)). Following the edited section of template #2.

=================
WalkForCapitalism, PERTH spokesperson, ROBERT COATS said "We hope to create
an opportunity for Capitalism's advocates to have a chance to celebrate the
sense of life such a view of the world allows. The goal of this walk is to
make the voices of Freedom and of Individual Rights heard." Further plans
will be announced shortly.
=================

As a general update:
The permit for our walk route is still pending. Plans for printing flyers
and doing handout sessions are going into the works today, with the first
handout session planned to take place late next week at universities across
the metro area.

Upon confirmation of the walk route, a further media release is planned,
and also some handout session in our city.

That is our basic advertisement schedule as it stands. We are hoping this
first media release will generate some interest and possible leads as to
where to spread the word next. If that doesn't occur I guess its back to
the drawing board with full gusto.

Any further ideas are welcomed.

[From: Rosemary Gately, Saratoga Springs Coordinator]

I took a big step today and faxed the Media Release to the four major
papers in the Capital District

The Saratogian [Saratoga Springs, of course]
The Gazette [Schenectady]
The Record [Troy]
The Times Union [Albany]

The ball is rolling.

I've talked to several people today by phone--I took PRODOS' advice about
letting my fingers do the walking :-) --and several people have been very
helpful in giving me new leads to follow. Right now I am allowing myself
some optimism about possibly getting use of the Senior Center just
off the main street in the Business district. The manager won't be
available to talk to until Monday morning though.

I talked to the Commissioner of Accounts office and she said to assume that the
email authorization from PRODOS would suffice for now and that they would
follow up if anything additional from him was needed. She also said not to
be overly concerned about the 30 day permit notice since I am on record as
making every effort to comply. She said that I could bring in whatever I
had and then notify them of details that I don't have right now.
I'm much relieved.

[Prodos: Great work Rosemary!
Note to coordinators: Sending PLANET your campaign updates is
greatly appreciated as this list is specifically for the
purpose of "requesting, offering, and exchanging practical
information and ideas" on the campaign.]

[From: Robert Groezinger, Bath, UK]

I've just been interviewed by BBC-Online. In the next 24 hours or
so, the result should be on their website: www.bbc.co.uk/news (go
to: UK; go to: England).

[Moderator: Go to http://makeashorterlink.com/?H1F232A1 and you
will be redirected directly to the article]

The questions were: How did I get the idea to be pro-capitalist
(I had to cut a long story short there); what we are doing about
the fact that there aren't very many people supporting this (yet!);
and because I had mentioned visiting small businesses during the
Walk: Are we distancing us from the big multinationals? (We're not,
we're trying to visit a representative sample of businesses and
places that represent captialism). That was it basically. I assume
(hope!) that they will also incorporate something they have already
seen on the WFC website.

[From: John Shaw]

I sent a couple of letters out in support of the walk for capitalism, one is
published. It runs a little ragged since I had originally written it in
reply to some specific National Post articles, but the www.walkforcapitalism.org website address is now there in print.
Typically if the local paper (Era Banner - Newmarket and area Canada) picks
one of these up all of the associated papers pick it up.

If a hack like me gets published then you *can* get published, and people
*do* read the letters to the editor and they will often pay just as much
credence to these letters as they do to the 'professionals'. Two neighbours
have already said "Hey is that you ?"

[...]

The Era Banner letters do get put on-line - they have not updated their
website with today's edition as of when I'm writing this but the link will
be somewhere on this page soon <http://www.yorkregion.com/index.html> -
click on the "opinions" button on the left-hand side.

[From: Simon Patkin, Hong Kong Coordinator &
WalkForCapitalism PR Consultant]

[The following is approved by PRODOS]

Here is a suggested announcement and invite you can send to the media,
chambers of commerce, commercial groups, politicians, etc. etc. to solicit
participants for the Walk for Capitalism AND also nominations for this
year's "Capitalism Award". Just fill in the blanks and if you see "Hong Kong"
in the copy, just replace it with your own city and change the times to fit
your own agenda.

This should fit on one page and can be faxed out in bulk - simple and easy.

You might need to change font sizes or line up text to fit in one page, but
this should not be too difficult

Also suggest you create a letter head with the following details:

Walk for Capitalism
Address
Telephone Number \ Fax Number
Email Address

Best regards

Simon Patkin

--------------

[Prodos: I have edited parts of the following letter template]

-------------

Invitation to the first ever Worldwide "WalkForCapitalism"

When:
Sunday, 2 December 2001

Time and Place:
10:30am-11:30am   Assemble, Location
11:30am-12:30pm   Walk to ???? via ????
12:30pm-01:00pm   Rally and End

Call for Nominations for "ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CAPITALISM AWARD"

Who:    Person who has done most to defend and support
capitalism and/or best embodies the spirit of free enterprise

When:   Nominations to be received by ?????

How:    By Internet http://prodos.com/bulletin/capitalismaward.html

On Sunday, 2 December 2001, the first ever global Walk For Capitalism will
take place. Scheduled for 100 cities worldwide, over 90 cities including
[your city] have so far signed up and you and your members are welcome to
take part.

The [your city] "Walk" is open to any person who supports free market
capitalism and free trade. This includes business people, employees,
teachers and students, actors, poets and anyone else who understands
the importance of individual rights.

We need your assistance to help spread the word.

We will also present the first ever [your city] "ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL
CAPITALISM AWARD" to recognize the person in [your city] who has
done the most to defend and promote the principles of capitalism
and/or who, by his or her example, most gloriously embodies the
spirit of capitalism.

The CAPITALISM AWARD will be presented each year on "CAPITALISM DAY" - the
first Sunday of December. Nominations for the Capitalism Award may come
from business, science, art, education, politics, invention, or any other
field of creative, productive, human endeavour. The inaugural award will
take the form of a certificate, provided by The Prodos Institute.

For more information on the [your city] Walk For Capitalism, please email me
at [your email] or visit the website www.walkforcapitalism.org/[your city]

[Your Name]
[Your City] Coordinator
WalkForCapitalism.ORG/yourcity

From: Prodos

When Edmonton Coordinator, Kira Yakimovich, sent one of her
media releases to one of the local University papers, they
wrote a very negative and stupid editorial condemning the Walk.

Would one or more of our Canadian supporters like
to assist Kira by having a go at writing a reply (for publication)
to this absurd rubbish?

This is a no-holds-barred excercise for anyone who
enjoys some blood sport.

Please write back and I'll forward you the article: prodos@prodos.com

Thanks.

[From: Robert Groezinger]

WalkForCapitalism has been mentioned favorably in a German magazine I have never heard of. It is mentioned in an article about the general trend to demonstrate against anything and everything, that "globalisation" is such an easy target because somehow everyone is affected. And they write: Anti-Globalisation demonstrators are in reality ANTI-WORLD demonstrators. Good point I think.

The last paragraph begins by saying it is time to give these alarmists a rocket and that the "Walk for Capitalism" on 2nd December is a good opportunity to do just that. It even has a link to the WalkForCapitalism site.
Have a look:
http://www.brandeins.de/magazin/kolumnen/artikel5.html

I would like to thank everyone who offered to help with a reply to the anti-capitalism article that was published in the University paper in Edmonton. The letters printed in response to the article included: Micheal Cust's 'Walk for Capitalism a Victim of Bad Press,' Scott Powell's 'Capitalism Totally Worth Celebrating,' and Peter Jaworski's 'Capitalism: Best Social Structure Ever.'

A journalist from the Edmonton Journal has offered to help with nominations for the Capitalism Award and hopefully I will be seeing more articles in support of the walk.

From personal experience it is always better to fax. The journalists never check the fax so it is an underling who picks it up. The underling hands it to the journalist or to who they think it is most relevant to irrespective of who you mark it to the attention of (this is best as you never know who is writing stories on what, dumb luck is a Godsend).

Emails often go to the wrong people and due to them being electronic they will glance at it then delete without sending it on to anyone who might be interested.

I work in the newsroom at a major media organization. I can tell you that faxing press releases is the most effective way of getting your message to the right person (even above e-mail).

Some tips: * always include the date of the event * keep it as concise as possible * make sure contact information is clear and accurate * a little background helps, but put everything you want the reporter to know in the first paragraph.

It helps to know the reporter's name, but staff changes frequently, and people get reassigned. It can also help to know the name of the desk ("Style", "Metro"), but these faxes are usually hand-sorted and delivered to the right person, so complete information is not always necessary.

[SEATTLE] - Individuals in nearly 100 cities around the world, including Seattle, have joined WalkForCapitalism, the first-ever global rally for capitalism.

WalkForCapitalism, scheduled on Sunday December 2, 2001, celebrates individual rights, free trade, private property, creativity, and technology.

Global coordinator of the campaign is the Melbourne radio talk show host, Prodos.

Cities taking part include: New York, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Moscow, Hong Kong, and many others.

"The rallies will be festive and positive," said Prodos. "We want to honor people like Bill Gates - creative and productive individuals from every walk of life - science, art, education, etc - who make our lives immeasurably better. Our event will be a huge contrast to the anticapitalist riots in Genoa, Toronto, and Seattle.”

Prodos added that "it's time for the world to choose between the positive principles that the World Trade Center symbolized, and those which fueled its vicious destruction and killed thousands of innocent people.”

New York philosopher Dr. Andrew Bernstein, author of the campaign's position statement explained: "Man's most life-giving material and spiritual advances were all created under capitalism. The more capitalist a culture, the greater its freedom and prosperity."

WalkForCapitalism Seattle coordinator Tym Parsons commented: "W4C has special resonance for Seattleites, given the venomous hostility to capitalism shown in the anti-WTO protests here. But W4C isn't about supporting the WTO. Our message is simply: free trade IS fair trade."

"We ask everyone to walk with us,” Parsons said, “and show that the anticapitalist rabble doesn't own this town."

Website: http://www.WalkForCapitalism.org/ Phone international: + 613 9428 1234 or Mobile: + 61 411 08 07 08 Email: info@WalkforCapitalism.org

Here's the text of a slightly altered Press Release, converted from email version to FAX version.

I haven't received any publicity or inquiries from my first emails. I'll resend in a couple of days ... meanwhile, I'll try FAXing them (to newspapers, radio & TV stations). [...]

St. Louis will be one of nearly 100 cities around the world, on December 2, 2001, to host the WalkForCapitalism – the first annual Global Rally for Capitalism.

Individuals from every continent of the globe, and from all walks of life will join forces to defend, promote and celebrate Free Enterprise. Capitalism requires or encourages: political freedom and individual rights – creativity, technology, and the sanctity of private property – free trade in global markets – profits and corporate wealth – individual and national prosperity – and the real prospect of World Peace.

The December 2nd festivities will include walks, rallies, and the presentation of International Capitalism Awards to deserving recipients in each city around the world.

Dr. Dan Sullivan is the St. Louis Coordinator – for information or interviews, or to nominate a deserving recipient of the St. Louis Area Capitalism Award – call the St. Louis WalkForCapitalism Hotline: 314-994-1103

BACKGROUND: Melbourne, Australia's internet radio presenter and professional street performer, PRODOS, is founder and international coordinator of WalkForCapitalism. “The spirit of the rallies will be festive and positive,” he said. “We offer a hand of support and friendship to the independent thinkers, creators and producers of the world – to whom we owe so much.”

He described anti-capitalist activists as: “Nihilists who openly endorse using violence against anyone disagreeing with them,” and said that there was no place for this in a civilized society. “It is time for the world to choose between the kind of positive, constructive capitalist principles that built the World Trade Center versus the kind which fueled its vicious destruction, killing and injuring thousands of innocent people.”

Prodos emphasizes, however, that WalkForCapitalism is a positive celebration, not a reactive or anti-terrorist movement. Planning and organization of the Rally began months before the September 11 attacks – but the wave of terrorism has caused an increase in participation, probably because so many people feel thay want to DO SOMETHING to show their support for the United States, and for the free enterprise system that has made America the greatest success story in the history of Mankind.

PARTICIPATING CITIES: Cities scheduled to take part now total nearly 100, including the U.S. cities: New York, Washington, Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and others. Additional cities from around the world include: London, Stockholm, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Prague, Moscow, Delhi, Hong Kong, and Seoul, as well as cities in New Zealand, Australia, and many other countries.

POSITION STATEMENT: New York Philosopher, DR ANDREW BERNSTEIN, author of the WalkForCapitalism Position Statement, explained that, "Mankind's greatest inventions and works of art – his most life-giving material and spiritual advances – from the steam engine to the cinema, from the novel to the Internet, and countless medical cures, ideas and inventions – were all created under capitalism. The more capitalist a culture, the greater its freedom and prosperity." See the full Position Statement, the complete list of Participating Cities, and other information at http://WalkForCapitalism.ORG

CONTACTS: For information or interviews – - PRODOS (Melbourne, Australia) Founder & Global Campaign Coordinator - DR ANDREW BERNSTEIN (New York) Author of campaign's Position Statement Phone international: + 613 9428 1234 or Mobile: + 61 411 08 07 08 Phone within Australia: 03 9428 1234 or Mobile: 0411 08 07 08 Email: info@WalkForCapitalism.ORG

I've cleared this with Prodos, save some minor editorial changes. Feel free to send it to the media in your cities.

=========================================================================== Much has been made of the alleged “root causes” of terrorism. We are told that American cultural “arrogance”—as well as American foreign policy and “indifference” to Third World poverty—are to blame for 9/11.

To see why this is spurious—and to understand what is to blame—we must ask ourselves the following questions. What sort of values built the soaring temple to the human spirit that was the WTC? What values fueled its vicious destruction?

The WTC stood for capitalism. Capitalism is the only system that recognizes the individual’s right to his own life—and by extension of that—his right to liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. It is the essence of American culture.

Prior to capitalism, the norm was famine, plague, and extreme poverty. Capitalism has created unmatched abundance, enabling hundreds of millions to live better today than all the kings of yesterday.

What principle explains why the most life-giving advances—everything from the steam engine to the Internet—were created under capitalism?

When human beings are free to pursue their rational self-interest, they are superlatively productive. The political-economic freedom of capitalism liberates the most able and ambitious to create and innovate. The result is that people like Thomas Edison and Bill Gates make our lives immeasurably better.

In contrast, the countries of the noncapitalist Middle East continue to suffer in abysmal squalor, beset by dictatorships. Lack of freedom is the cause of their poverty, not lack of US handouts. In fact, draining American taxpayers for their sakes is contrary to individual rights. Americans have a right to exist for their own sakes.

Nor is US support of Israel to blame for terrorism. There are no legitimate "Palestinian rights," if that means functioning under a terrorist dictatorship like Arafat's PLO. Palestinians within Israel have much more freedom and prosperity than they do under the Palestinian Authority.

Since Israel is the freest, most American-oriented country in the region, any legitimate Palestinian "aspirations" first necessitate the destruction of the Palestinian Authority, the cessation of terrorist attacks against Israel, and Palestinian support for individual rights on par with Israel’s.

What about America’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil? That was oil discovered and developed by Western capitalists in the 1930s, subsequently stolen from them when the oilfields were nationalized by the Arabs and Iranians. Much to their lasting shame, the US, Britain, and France did nothing. Western countries are paying for that now in supporting corrupt, tyrannical governments in the region, in order to continue getting the oil that is the life-blood of their economies.

What is the alternative to supporting Arab feudal monarchies, short of militarily taking back the oilfields and rightfully restoring them to Western oil companies? The “Arab Street” hardly supports individual rights and capitalism. As things stand now, the alternative to present regimes is yet more terrorist Islamic theocracies.

For terrorism to be vanquished, the antipathy to secular Western values that permeates the Middle East must be eliminated. The WTC was destroyed because radical Muslims taught the teeming “Street” to hate capitalism, and value death and self-sacrifice:

"The Americans love Pepsi-Cola, we love death,” said an Afghan mujahedin fighter to Time magazine.

"The Americans are fighting so they can live and enjoy the material things in life. But we are fighting so we can die in the cause of God,” said one Taliban official.

We can help the process of cultural change in the Middle East along, if only by unapologetically standing up for capitalism ourselves. On Sunday December 2—in over 100 cities worldwide—there is a unique symbolic opportunity to do this: WalkForCapitalism.

WalkForCapitalism, http://www.WalkForCapitalism.org/ , the brainchild of Australian radio talk show host Prodos, promises to be a celebration of individual rights, private property, free trade, creativity, and technology. Join us for this walk, in your city.

The following Op-Ed was submitted to the Financial Post, Canada's leading business daily, by invitation of the editor Terrence Corcoran, who is a tremendous friend and ally of Objectivists and Capitalism. Hopefully, the article will be published. Since it is so generic, anyone else wishing to have it sent to any other paper of their choice should contact me for the standard Word version with my contact information. Happy walking. :) Brad Aisa <baisa@brad-aisa.com>

On Sunday Dec 2nd, 2001, an unprecedented event will occur in over 100 cities worldwide: the first International Walk For Capitalism.

That's right, a walk *for* capitalism -- for individual rights, property rights, and global free trade.

When I first tell people about the "Walk For Capitalism", they do a double take. Some repeat it, almost in disbelief, "A walk *for* capitalism? ...**FOR** capitalism???" Some people honestly think it's a joke.

Such is capitalism's sorry status -- the overworked, unappreciated, battered step-child of western society, serving as its whipping boy for all manner of alleged ills, while reliably providing its members with food, clothing, shelter, and interplanetary space missions.

Let me emphasize at this point that by "capitalism" I mean full, unregulated, unsocialized, laissez-faire capitalism -- I do not mean the Western status quo, which is a mixture of freedom and controls.

But those attacking capitalism today, from without and within, are not attacking the statist portion of our "capitalist" system, they are attacking the free part.

The planning for these walks started long before the events of 9/11 -- Islamic terrorism is not a significant threat to capitalism. (Or at least wouldn't be if we stopped appeasing terrorist-sponsoring states.)

The greatest threat to capitalism -- and the prosperity and happiness it brings -- comes from the terror campaigns being waged from *within* our society: the left-wing thugs unleashing violence and destruction on our streets; the environmentalist/multiculturalist/anti-capitalist teachers and intellectuals waging war on the minds of our students and citizens; and the politicians of every "wing", burying us under mountains of taxation, regulation, socialization, and environmental edicts.

Capitalism needs a voice. Those of us helping to organize these pro-capitalist walks and rallies are giving it one. Our intellectual heroes are Ludwig Von Mises, the Austrian economist who scientifically refuted socialism, and developed a comprehensive integrated defense of full laissez-faire capitalism; and philosopher Ayn Rand, the first philosopher in history to formulate a rational ethics of egoism, and a true moral defense of capitalism.

Capitalism is the only practical system because it is based on man's nature, and on immutable economic laws. Capitalism is the only moral system, because it is based on the supremacy of the individual and the sanctity of his life. Capitalism (to the extent it is instituted) leads to peace, prosperity, and human happiness. All rational roads lead to capitalism; all others lead to destruction.

Why not join us? You don't need to be a "rally type." You don't even need to agree with the "extremism" of our laissez- faire position. I can assure you that no one is ever going to hold a rally for the "radical centre" (to use Newsweek's preposterous phrase.) And the left makes little distinction between 100%, 50%, or 10% capitalism -- any is too much for them. Can you really afford *not* to take sides?

Besides, our rallies and walks are going to be positive and fun. We're going to have a variety of interesting speakers, a fabulous Capitalism Award in each city, signs (of course!), and a march. In short, a good old-fashioned demonstration, but with civility and class and good ideas for a change.

My name is Håkan Arnoldson and I'm one of the co-orinators for WFC in Gothenburg (Sweden). I just got a phone call from the producer of the radio show "Transit" ( http://www.sr.se/p3/program/transit ) on the Swedish national radio station "P3"

He wanted to get a hold of someone from Sweden who is going to participate in a WFC walk outside Sweden. So if someone of you knows anyone from Sweden that is going to participate in a WFC walk please tell them to contact me at timetraveller@cyberdude.com

It can give us some time on the air which should be good promotion for WFC in Sweden.

If you know of any Swedes participating in your local WFC-events - please contact me.

Swedish National Broadcasting Corp. is planning a report on D2 - calling swedish people participating in different parts of the world. (So far we have established contacts for Brussles and Los Angeles.)

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has informed me that it will be publishing my op-ed, "Lack of Capitalism 'Root Cause' of Terrorism", this Saturday in its Soapbox section. The P-I's editorial editor said that this would double its readership.

As far as what that means for other cities that want to use it, I suggest we go with Plan B, which I mentioned earlier. In order to not jeopardise publication in the P-I, maybe other city coordinators can significantly rewrite it as they please, including the title. After all the only consideration here is use of my language, not the actual idea of the piece.

If you do want to retain some of my language, please send me your draft before you submit it, and we can work it out.

[From: John Shaw]

Peter Foster's entire editorial this morning is entirely on the walk. The
National Post is the main business paper in Canada - and the only one
showing a libertarian bent. The editorial does not seem to be on-line yet
as the page only shows yesterday's editorials - but should be later in the
day I would think.

The main page is http://www.nationalpost.com/ direct is
http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/editorials/

I think we should all know who is being honored in each city around the globe. While we in Seattle have the honor of presenting our award to Bill Gates, who is the first private citizen in human history to be the "Richest Man in the World" because of how much personal freedom the PC, e-mail, and the Internet has given to us all (this never would have gotten started otherwise!), I would like to mention at least some other rewardees who might actually not be quite so famous

It’s moral to be selfish, contrary to what the anticapitalist N3O altruists say (“OK, let’s hear it for capitalism for a change!” 11/30).

It’s moral if you value your own life and happiness, as opposed to sacrificing them for the sake of others. Altruism means sacrificing a greater personal value for a lesser one, or for no personal value at all.

Selfishness is trying for the most fulfilling job and the best possible mate. Selflessness is staying in a hopeless marriage, or Bill Gates working in a soup kitchen instead of doing what he loves most.

Altruists want selfishness to mean: at the expense of, or in disregard for others. But rational selfishness entails both self-regard and non-self-sacrificial, benevolent regard for others.

Altruists imply that you can be “too” happy, “too” successful, and that any “excess” well-being must be sacrificed for the sake of the less well-off.

Was just interviewed on Radio New Zealand's 'Kim Hill' morning programme about the WalkFor Capitalism. (Radio NZ is the government-owned broadcaster sucking off the state's tit; Kim Hill is their 'leading interviewer' - an unreconstructed state-worshipper.)

Interview went for five minutes or so, but unfortunately wasn't very probing. She wanted to know why Russia is doing so badly now that it has 'capitalism' - I pointed out that what it has is not capitalism but gangsterism. That what it is missing is precisely the foundations of capitalism: property rights, individual rights, and the rule of law.

She asked about the ribbons, so reiterated the point: dark blue ribbon symbolises the foundations of capitalism - property rights, individual rights, and the rule of law - sky blue represents opportunity, adventure and romance.

I have just sent the following press release to the local media. I do not expect more than 10 people on the Bath Walk, but walk we will. It's a great feeling to be walking with all you pro-capitalists world wide. It's a great feeling to be _doing_ something _positive_, promoting the ideas of some of the greatest thinkers this planet has ever seen.

Walk for Capitalism will go ahead as planned. Bath is one of 108 cities in 31 countries on six continents taking part in this novel event. On their Website, the group have posted the following: "Supporters of Capitalism are invited to take part in the first ever Walk for Capitalism. Be part of this new, worldwide movement for freedom, prosperity, happiness and life. Celebrate with us in Bath the heroic achievement of the human race: Victory over famine, poverty and destitution."

The group will gather on 2nd December at 11.15 a.m. between the Footbridge south of Southgate and the Brunel railway bridge. The Walk will start at 11.30 a.m. The group will march through the inner city, stopping off in front of shops and restaurants and celebrating the merits of capitalism.

Robert Groezinger, the Bath Co-ordinator of the movement, explaines: "Walk for Capitalism is a positive event of promotion, discussion and celebration. On this day, around the globe, we thank the Producers and Creators - humankind's great benefactors. We extend a hand of friendship and support, praise their achievements, independence of thought, and their courage in following their dreams."

Mr. Groezinger, who is a customer support agent for a large computer components company, added that he is "very excited".

"Even as a small group this time round, we will be breaking ground. And that is what matters most. The experience gathered this year will help us stage a bigger, grander event next year."

(Warning: It's a long address, so you might have to manually copy it into your web browser, instead of simply clicking it)

Did anyone think of making "global" media such as CNN or international media such as BBC, Sky News interested in the Walk? Here in Stockholm, Sweden we're shooting the whole walk by ourselves--both pictures and films. After the walk we're delivering the material to Swedish media, saving them the trouble of going outside when it's freezing... ;)

If any of you guys are also filming your own Walks and have contacts with these "bigger" media companies we could supply e.g. CNN with "worldwide coverage from the Walk."

Feet First: America has known walks for breast cancer, AIDS, the homeless, etc. But this Sunday human-rights advocates from Delhi to Dayton are putting on their sneakers for the Walk for Capitalism. Described as "the first ever global rally" to celebrate "free trade, globalization, rule of law, profit, free speech," the Walk hopes to mark the first Sunday of each December as "Capitalism Day," on which people are to "thank the Producers and Creators, humankind's great benefactors." More info, plus a sample of hate mail from antiglobalization shock troopers, is available at WalkForCapitalism.org <http://www.WalkForCapitalism.org> .

If you have an online subscription, it can be found on the bottom of the page at

Here's a link to the Queen's University's coverage of the walk for capitalism, as well as a link to the pro-capitalism piece written by one of our walkers (John Clary). In order:

I would just like to state for the record - for anyone who has read the Seattle Times Article - that I have NEVER been a Marxist. I was a Archaeologist in my 20's. :D

I have yet to hear anything regarding this Editorial Essay, so before it fades into oblivion, I'll put it out for general consumption.

There is a direct, inescapable connection between those who denounce the use of the internal combustion engine, and the terrorists who perpetrated the savage acts of mass murder on September 11, 2001; both seek to destroy the motive power of freedom. Man's mind.

I am responding to an Op-Ed that appeared in the Business Section, Sunday Ed., November 18. The author of that piece, "Recognize the link between oil, war," offered the internal combustion engine as the root cause of terrorist attacks on September 11th. Furthermore, it is implied that the invention of the internal combustion engine (ICE) is one of the most reprehensibly immoral acts ever perpetrated by man, second only to the discovery of petroleum. An opinion of this caliber of ineptitude could only come from the P-I's own, Bertram Scudder. Judging by the effort to weave his twisted illusion, Mr. Scudder either attempted to perpetrate a tremendously blatant act of historical revision in order to buttress his statist goals; or he is simply so ignorant as to be bordering on insentience. The reality of human history is that the discovery of petroleum and the invention of the internal combustion engine are inarguable two of the greatest achievements of Man.

The automobile is one of a multitude of beneficial innovations made possible by the ICE. From transportation to food production, since it's invention, the ICE has revolutionized the lives of people the world over. Myopic zealots like Scudder preach that Man should "phase out" the ICE; abandon, "19th century solutions to a 21st century energy problem." Focusing on the negative aspects of Man's reliance on the automobile, Scudder misses the innovations that allow a 2000lb object to be self-propelled for 1 mile on 2 ounces of liquid while expelling less harmful exhaust than Mr. Scudder in a typical day of long-winded pontification. He ignores the hundreds of acres of crops worked by a single harvester; thousands of trucks delivering goods daily; ships of cargo pushed through oceans; and trains of freight pulled across continents. What does he expect to happen if all of that were to come to a stop? .or if the goods on which we rely become too expensive to purchase? No Answer.

Do let's humor Mr. Scudder and focus, for a moment on the object used by, "most American's, who blithely tool along their highways burning gasoline." The automobile represents the ability of every person to direct his destiny, decide her direction, and conduct themselves by their own volition and their own individual source of motive power. It is this fact against which Scudder is a true opponent. He seeks to "phase out" the individual's command of the motive power of freedom - the ability to think, act, decide, move, explore without so much as a 'by your leave' of the noble Mr. Scudder. Missing all of the advances of ICE technology since its inception, overlooking the undeniable benefits promoted by the very modern technology of the ICE, and blatantly rejecting the only rational solution to the nation's dependence on foreign resources, Scudder advocates a thoroughly 3rd century solution to the current 'problem' of energy production - the totalitarian authority of an imperial state.

Is this too harsh an assessment of the motive of the noble Mr. Scudder? He declares that, "the government's obligation is to provide for our nation's energy security by reducing energy consumption." What other evaluation can be deduced about one who advocates absolute government intervention into a free market economy to decide the preferences and destinies of a free people? He selectively ignores the reality that we are bound together as a civilization of individuals by a citizen government, in the framework of a representative republic operating within a free market, economy - Capitalism! That means that 'the market' - Man's choice of what he values as reflected by his distribution of the earnings of his own productive effort - decides what products are needed and the resources and technologies that are valued by a people at a given time. I, for one do not wish to abandon this system in order to be dictated to by Mr. Scudder nor his conception of a totalitarian state. When we are ready, and when a truly superior form of motive power is developed, Man will advance his technology accordingly; just as he's done for over 200,000 years. Until that time, the ICE will continue to evolve and improve and provide the primary motive power required for an industrial civilization to develop to the improvement of every living creature on Earth as well as the Earth itself.

Need I remind Mr. Scudder that prior to the discovery of Petroleum, the oil that lubricated and lit the industrial revolution came from whales, clothing from the products of animal hides, the skies were scorched with the filth of coal, forests were razed to feed furnaces and steam engines, and in absence of the automobile, Man rode horses. Is this where you propose we return, Mr. Scudder? No answer.

The following media release was faxed today to four newspapers, four radio stations and four TV stations in the Capital District.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - On December 2, as part of the first ever global rally for capitalism, participating cities, including Saratoga Springs, will present the inaugural international Capitalism Awards and celebrate the launch of "Capitalism Day." The Capitalism Award will be presented to an individual in each city--from business, science, art, education, politics, invention, or any other field of creative, producive, human endeavor--who has defended and supported capitalism and/or best embodies the spirit of free enterprise.

More than 100 cities have joined "WalkForCapitalism." Individuals from every corner of the globe, and from every walk of life will be defending, promoting, and celebrating the American ideals of individual rights, limited Constitutional government and political/intellectual/economic freedom. Cities in more than thirty countries are taking part, including New York, Moscow, Hong Kong, Seattle, Oslo, London, Brussels, Paris, Prague, Warsaw, Toronto, Delhi, Budapest, Stockholm, Belgrade, Caracas and Bucharest.

The WalkForCapitalism campaign was founded and is being coordinated worldwide by PRODOS, a Melbourne based internet radio presenter, professional street performer, and defender of the United States of America.

Coordinator for the Saratoga Springs Walk, Rosemary Gately, says the spirit of the rally will be "festive and positive" and that the focus will be on celebrating and thanking business people and store owners along the walk route who are representative of the creators and producers of the world. "When individuals are left free to create, produce and build for personal gain,they raise the living standards of us all," she said.

The event in Saratoga Springs will begin at noon along the south side of the City Center. For more information about the walk or to check for updates or changes, go to www.walkforcapitalism.org/saratogasprings .

[Toronto, Ontario] - Hundreds of admirers of Ayn Rand, Frederic Bastiat, Ludwig Von Mises and other leading thinkers of their genre, are expected to rally tomorrow at Metro Hall Square at 10 am, to celebrate the spirit of capitalism and the freedom and prosperity it brings to all who live under such a system.

This will be one of over 100 Walk for Capitalism rallies around the world, and organizers here believe that it could be the largest in this inaugural year.

Toronto Walk coordinator Scott Powell says, "I'm encouraged by the support we're getting from students, business people, professionals and people from all walks of life, who see this as a chance to stand up for something good. And capitalism is good. It's the only social system that respects individual rights, including property rights, and makes it possible for us to enjoy the good things in life."

Toronto businessman Steve Gedeon will be Master of Ceremonies for this first annual International Walk for Capitalism. He, along with program director, Brad Aisa, have put together an outstanding Rally Program, including University of Toronto intellectual activist, Ray Girn, and individual rights advocate, Karen Selick.

"This is not just about money," says Powell. "It's about individual freedom. And it's about property rights."

This is the complete opposite of the anti-globalization and anti-free trade demonstrators who simply take over an area without permission and who believe they are justified in defacing, damaging and even destroying property.

"That's not exercising freedom of speech," says Powell, "that's violating the rights of the property owners, and the tax payers who have to clean up after them."

Capitalism Day Walkers have a different approach. Tomorrow, the Rally MC will announce the winner of the 2001 Capitalism Award, presented to the individual in each participating city who has done the most to defend and promote freedom and prosperity and/or who by their actions most gloriously embodies the spirit and principles of Capitalism.

Then walkers will stop along their parade route and award Double Blue Ribbons to businesses, institutions and other establishments representative of the capitalist spirit. # # #

- DR ANDREW BERNSTEIN (based in New York) Author of campaign's position statement

In TORONTO contact: - Scott Powell, Toronto Coordinator via e-mail at W4ctor@hotmail.com or by calling - Mary Lou Gutscher, Toronto Media Contact Person Phone: 416-250-1564 or 416-898-9594