UK Communications: Jan - March 2005

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The

national communications report - attached - will be distributed on a

quarterly basis. The next issue is due at the end of June 2005, unless

otherwise notified.

 

The first quarter, a period that covers usual holidays and devotees going to

India, saw an unprecedented level of media coverage on both radio and

television as well as the print media with all together 65 different

coverage.

 

UK national communications remain subject to internal change which comes as

a knock-on effect of the decentralizing of ISKCON UK temples. We hope that

the decision makers will have in place before doing away with national

communications as we know it suitably trained and/or experienced devotees at

the UK major temples to coordinate their local and regional communications.

It would be detrimental to the national communication efforts if a national

communications strategy and action plan is not there to replace the current

efforts and building on past achievement.

 

Here is a summary of communications results for the 1st quarter of 2005:

 

* Television:

 

Channel 4 has now completed their documentary on ISKCON's participation in

how we train our monks and nuns. The NCD is currently working with the

producers in finalising the product for screening later this year.

 

BBC2 TV and the NCD remain in talks on a documentary in how families within

religious traditions fill their recreational time.

 

Bhaktivedanta Manor and their blessings of Karma Cars featured on ITV's

London Tonight programme.

 

Lila Sakti dd from the Manor featured in a Star TV documentary during

Govardhana puja.

 

Channel 4 series on relaxation techniques and yoga

 

SAAB TV interview on tsunami disaster

 

* Radio:

 

Saunaka Rsi dasa was on BBC Radio 4 "Beyonf Belief" programme.

 

Akhandadhi dasa was heard on BBC4 "Radio Today", "Thought of the Day" and

"All things considered" on BBC Radio Wales.

 

Krishna Dharma dasa was on the Jeremy Vine BBC Radio 2 programme.

 

Gauri dasa was interviewed about the Tsunami disaster on BBC Radio news

programmes.

 

Watford Mercury Radio on tsunami disaster

 

Druta Karma dasa on Talk Radio wrt hidden history of the human race

 

* Media

 

My wife and I were interviewed for The Guardian newspaper Saturday magazine.

 

Krishna Dharma dasa wrote a column "A Poverty of spirit" for the Watford

Observer.

 

* Statistical analysis of media coverage in addition to those listed above:

 

General: 2

 

Bhaktivedanta Manor and blessing of Karma Cars: 5

Bhaktivedanta Manor and Holocaust remembered: 2

Bhaktivedanta Manor and weddings: 2

Bhaktivedanta Manor and cows: 2

Bhaktivedanta Manor and "My Sweet Lord": 2

Bhaktivedanta Manor Chaplain Commission: 2

Bhaktivedanta Manor and student visits: 2

 

Camden Food for All: 8

 

Tsunami disaster: 26

 

Total: 54

 

* Multi-Faith Days

 

NCD Director and the Secretary General of the Hindu Forum will continue a

consultation process with the National Maritime museum for a high-level

multi-faith Diwali 2005 celebrations.

 

NCD Director, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum and MTE at the Manor are

working on a multi-faith day in a NHS trust during April 2005.

 

* Multi-faith Group for Healthcare Chaplains

 

The NCD Director has been sanctioned by the Hindu Forum Britain to join the

Multi-faith Group for Healthcare Professionals on the basis of his

Hindu-Vaisnava chaplaincy work which include spiritual and pastoral care,

research and teaching.

 

* Other particular highlights during the 1st quarter:

 

o George Harrison honoured

o Launch of the Watford Faith Forum

o Multi-faith Holocaust memorial

o Chief Rabbi hosts devotees

o Devotees invited to Lord Mountbatten Festival of Music

o ISKCON attends London Assembly Faith reception

o Vaisnava chaplain invited to teach US doctors, nurses and students

o Local councilors visit the Manor

o ISKCON representative at the Hindu-Christian Dialogue Forum

o Publication of an academic paper "The Consciousness of surrender and

the surrendered consciousness: ecstatic dreams of Lord Krishna" by

Dr. Graham Dwyer.

 

Your servant.

 

Hari-dhama dasa with the support of Radha Mohan dasa.

 

PS: Content of the hard copy report:

 

Cover letter from the Communications Director - see above

 

(Not contained in the abridged version sent via e-mail:

 

" NHS hospital trust and Multi-Faith Day in April 2005

 

" Multi-faith Group for Healthcare Chaplains

 

" ISKCON and the National Maritime Museum

 

" Television

 

" Radio

 

" Print media

 

" Media analysis

 

" Newsletters

 

" Academia

 

" Other highlights

 

" Reports