August 2004 comm. report

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis

 

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

 

I apologise for the late despatch of this report due to the hectic schedule

and workload of the Jasmashtami festival.

 

A hard copy of the 70-page report, including media coverage, is available on

request.

 

Most of our service during August 2004 was taken up by preparing for the

media and VIPs to attend Janmashtami 2004 at Bhaktivedanta Manor and in the

House of Commons. A fuller coverage of these events will feature in our

September report.

 

The rest of the August communication service highlights included:

 

A. Media: (I am inundated with television negotiations for ISKCON UK)

 

1. Negotiations with BBC2 TV on a programme "Parent Trap" to feature a Hare

Krishna family who eventually supports their son or duaghter being a Hare

Krishna;

 

2. Filming a Harinam party in Bristol for a television series;

 

3. Continuation filming a documentary on Manor priests for Channel 4 TV;

 

4. Negotiations with Channel 4 TV on a reality programme to include a Hare

Krishna family;

 

5. Negotiations with BBC TV on a documentary looking at the change in

religion within the UK from the traditional to the alternative.

 

6. Negotiations with BBC TV on the history of the Hare Krishna movement from

1969 to 2004.

 

7. BBC Radio 4 with Kripa Moya dasa on "Rites of Passage"

 

8. Bhaktivedanta Manor's Goshalla project on Mercury Radio

 

9. Intervirew with Varsana dd and the Westminster Times on the history of

Hari Nama

 

10. Thirty newspaper coverage.

 

B. Government:

 

1. Letter of support from Tony Blair, Prime Minister for Janmashtami

 

2. Letter of support from the Leader of the Oppostion for Janmashtami

 

3. Letter of support form the President of the Lib. Dem. for Janmashtami

 

C. Interfaith:

 

1. Preparing papers on deity worship and poverty for the Hindu-Christian

dialogue group.

 

2. Bimal Krsna dasa will present his report at the end of September 2004.

 

3. Gauri das and I are now ISKCON representatives on the newly formed and

highly influential Hindu Forum UK with Romapada dasa (Ramesh Kallidai).

 

D. Bhaktivedanta Manor (Radha Mohan dasa)

 

1. Newsletter, website, notice board, archives, public Open Day, and

overseeing general PR.

 

Thank you for taking the time to peruse this e-mail.

 

Your servant.

 

Hari-dhama dasa.