A few days ago in Christchurch, New Zealand, I talked to 5,000 children. The large town hall could only hold 2,500 so I had two ninety minute sessions back to back. The age range was from five to eighteen. The bulk seemed to be between five and nine years old.
The talks were set up by Vicki Buck, the remarkable lady who is mayoress of Christchurch. She is full of energy and initiatives. Christchurch has won awards as the best run city in the world. Almost all the council and senior officials have now attended my seminars on creative thinking. It is always impressive to see what one person with energy, initiative and leadership can do.
Part of the idea was that the youngsters would go home and teach their parents how to think!
The Millenium Conference is now under way. Readers of this message should seek to make the conference as widely known as possible because the more participants the more valuable the conference.
When I was in New Zealand (I am now in Australia) Graeme Allan asked me how I would express my 'mission'. I agreed that I had never expressed this directly although it is implicit in my books. So I shall attempt to do this - possibly in my next message (that is an intention, not a promise).
Some copies of my book SIMPLICITY are already available in New Zealand. I urge those interested to order from booksellers as publishers rarely print enough copies the first time around (publishers are Viking UK).
Edward de Bono
in Australia
28th June 1998
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