As the economic crisis deepens, climate change approaches critical levels and global tensions increase, the need to break the monopoly on television daily news has never been greater. We must know why the crisis is happening and what we can do to defend ourselves. Corporate TV news won’t ask the real questions, let alone provide answers.

The scale of the problems facing us demands original and profound solutions. If ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, get ready for an era of unprecedented imagination and innovation. But there will be no progress without a fight against forces wedded to the status quo. We are entering a period of action, where people take solutions into their own hands and create a bold vision for new ways of living and doing business.

Check out Real News Network at www.therealnews.com

Your Moment of Zen 2/28.3/1

"Fear comes from this selfish idea of cutting one's self off from the universe".- Swami Vivekananda

Your Moment of Zen 2/27/09

"Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness"- Confucius

Your Moment of Zen for Thursday Feb.26/09

"To free oneself of knowledge is to die, and thus one lives"- Krishnamurti

Your Moment of Zen for Wednesday Feb 25/09

"The main purpose of life is to live rightly, think rightly, act rightly".- Mahatma Gandhi

ZENBIZ RADIO MEDIA ALERT

Don't miss tommorow's show on ZenBiz Radio on Voice America Business at 11:00 a.m. pacific, 2:00 p.m. eastern

"Surviving, Thriving, and Sustaining"!

If a lot of the things we depend upon break down, can you survive? One of our guests this week, who practices under the single name Shahee, says yes!

Shahee is a raw food chef - and he notes that a raw, local diet is a good substitute for pharmaceuticals. His latest project is the building of a bus to be his mobile home and clinic, running fully on ecologically sound systems and with very simple technology cobbled together out of parts available from any junk pile..

Find out how to thrive if the trucks stop showing up with fuel for the pumps, groceries for the store, and if the power goes out and stays out.

Our other guest Susan Davis, is passionate about and committed to Sustainable Design & Green Building. She is co owner of Spectrum Fine Homes, Inc and GreenPoint Coach.

Susan takes a unique holistic approach to planning and building; addressing the spirit of the occupants, the building itself, and the health of the environment. Join in at www.voiceamerica.com

Your Moment of Zen for Tuesday Feb. 24/09

"Whoever gives reverence receives reverence: whoever brings sugar eats almond cake"- Djalal ad-Din Rumi

Your Moment of Zen!

Dear fellow Zenners,

Each day I hope you will pause for a moment, take a breath, and just absorb these zenful thoughts, it will truly be your Moment of Zen !

Monday Feb. 23

"There is only the one reality, neither to be realized or attained. To say, "I am able to realize something" or "I am able to attain something" is to place yourself among the arrogant"- Huang Po

You have only three things to do.

1. Do no evil; try to find out what causes harm to yourself and others and try to refrain from doing them in body, speech and mind as much as possible.

2. Do good; try to find out what causes good and what helps yourself and others and try to do those things as much as possible.

3.Tame your mind; try to learn how to work on your negative emotions and habitual patterns and try to tame them. This is where the view and meditation comes in. All these are ways to become a better human being.

Quote of the Day from The Zenman:

Friday Feb. 20 "Of all the strategies, to know when to quit may be the best".

Saturday/Sunday Feb 21/22 "Where beauty is, then there is ugliness: where right is, also there is wrong. Knowledge and ignorance are interdependent, delusion and enlightenment condition each other. Since olden times it has been so. How could it be otherwise now"- Ryokan

The Proliferation of Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes
World expert looks at why they are exploding during these uncertain times

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 17, 2009 -- Voice America, the world's premiere web radio network, announces the appearance of international fraud expert Robert L. Fitzpatrick, exclusively on the highly acclaimed ZenBiz Radio Show on Wednesday Feb. 18th at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at http://ping.fm/h5FZ2

Robert L. FitzPatrick is an expert in examining fraud in North America.. He is an internationally recognized authority in multi-level marketing schemes and pyramid fraud, and is a leader in the campaign for stronger regulation of investment and business opportunity schemes.

Fitzpatrick is also co-author of False Profits, the first book to critically examine the multilevel marketing industry.

He recently appeared on "Marketplace" on the CBC television network in Canada exposing the shocking picture of the Canadian authorities allowing an obvious scam artist to ply his trade all over the country.

Ponzis and Pyramids do indeed represent a dark side to our culture and economy and exposing or examining their realities represents a place of light and courage but can also be quite disturbing.

Fitzpatrick will touch on the deeper questions as to why the schemes are proliferating, why they are tolerated and protected by government and why would otherwise seemingly honest people fall for them so readily - and defend them so vehemently.

Don't miss this exclusive inside look at Ponzis and Pyramids only on ZenBiz Radio at http//www.voiceamerica.com.

ZenBiz Radio airs live on Wednesdays at 11 AM Pacific / 1 PM Central / 2 PM Eastern on the VoiceAmerica Business Network, with a replay the folowing Saturday on VoiceAmerica's Variety Network. To access the show, log on at http://ping.fm/uhLlw All shows will be available in Allan Holender's Content Library on the VoiceAmerica Business Network for on-demand and podcast download.

The VoiceAmericaTM Network offers the latest conversations in a talk radio format, providing education, interaction, and advice on key issues live, on demand as well as through pod cast download. If interested in hosting a talk radio show on VoiceAmerica Network, contact Jeff Spenard, President of Internet Radio at 480-294-6417 or at jeff.spenard @ modavox.com.

Contact Executive Producer Dave Kredell at 480-294-6409 for advertising / sponsorship information or other show details

LAST DAYS TO REGISTER!!!

LANGARA COLLEGE OFFERS FIRST COURSE ON "ESSENCE OF ZENTREPRENEURSHIP"

Langara College in Vancouver is offering a new course on the "Essence of Zentrepreneurship" in Spring 2009.

Explore enlightened approaches to business planning, leadership, management, professional relationships and social entrepreneurism.

Discover how Western enterprises and business people can implement insights from Eastern philosophies into their search for more meaningful work and find ethical paths to lasting prosperity.

Instructor Allan Holender is the author of the recently published book Zentrepreneurism-A 21st Century Guide to The New World of Business.

Allan gained his knowledge through first hand experience as a business owner, "serial entrepreneur", CEO, Manager, leadership expert, teacher and writer. He is also a popular media personality and commentator in Canada and the United States, having hosted a nationally syndicated business radio show on the Talk America Network.

Note: Course includes the textbook.

$359 1.8 CEU's/ILUs

3 days- Sats Feb 21, 28, Mar. 7, 2009- 1000-1600 (CRN50590)

Call to register 604.323.5322

How Close Might Our Society Be To Collapse"?

LISTEN TODAY TO ZENBIZ RADIO FOR THE ANSWER!! ON VOICE AMERICA BUSINESS AT 11:00 a.m. pst http://ping.fm/9e1Xw


"Embodied Intelligence in the Face of Chaos and Uncertainty"

It sometimes seems that no matter where you look, the world appears to be falling to pieces. Financial markets have plummeted. People are losing their jobs. The environment is wracked by immense shifts. Yet some people know, in their bones, that despite the turmoil and disarray, opportunities abound for them.

How do you find your silver lining in all this mess? Join Allan and Bruce as they interview Dr. Susan Bernstein, an expert in optimizing "embodied intelligence" in the face of chaos and uncertainty. She'll discuss the four forces of panic and how to avoid t hem.

Bruce turns "The Stewart Report" this week over to a topic that most people would really rather not think about: how close might our society be to collapse? Bruce will explore when the tipping point of collapse could be reached - and how listeners can take a good hard look at their own communities and determine whether they'd be a safe place to be in a collapsing society!

Check it out on ZenBiz Radio Today at 11:00 a.m. pst. on Voice America Business: http://ping.fm/9e1Xw

PASS IT ON!! SPREAD THE WORD!! SHARE THIS!!

LISTEN UP!

ZENBIZ RADIO ON VOICE AMERICA BUSINESS TOMORROW AT 11:00 A.M. PST
www.voiceamerica.com

Finding the Sweet Spot

This week, Allan Holender and Bruce Stewart will be interviewing Dave Pollard, the author of Finding the Sweet Spot: The Natural Entrepreneur's Guide to Responsible, Sustainable, Joyful Work. Dave Pollard has been an advisor to entrepreneurs for most of his professional career. His approach is highly zentrepreneurial: it is as much about removing the stress from your life as it is about making a viable living. Allan will also be sharing his thoughts on the killer epidemic in American culture- "The Relentless Pursuit of Success". And catch the new weekly feature ZenBiz Buzz with Allan and Bru ce. This will truly be your moment of Zen.

PONZI SCHEMES PROLIFERATING


Federal and state authorities are reporting a growing number of financial scams that echo the alleged Madoff fraud, as strapped investors seek access to their cash amid increasingly hard times.

At least six suspected multimillion-dollar fraud cases have emerged this month alone, many of them alleged Ponzi schemes, in which investors are lured by promises of lofty returns but are actually paid off from new victims' funds. For the full Wall Street Journal story go to Allan's blog at www.zentrepreneurism.com

Ponzi Schemes Poliferating!

Wall Street Journal

JANUARY 28, 2009

By STEVE STECKLOW

Federal and state authorities are reporting a growing number of financial scams that echo the alleged Madoff fraud, as strapped investors seek access to their cash amid increasingly hard times.At least six suspected multimillion-dollar fraud cases have emerged this month alone, many of themalleged Ponzi schemes, in which investors are lured by promises of lofty returns but are actually paid offfrom new victims' funds.

On Tuesday, authorities arrested Arthur Nadel, the missing Florida hedge-fund adviser, who wasaccused by federal authorities of defrauding clients of millions of dollars. His arrest came as Spanishbanking giant Banco Santander SA said it would offer thousands of its private-banking clients !1.38billion ($1.82 billion) in compensation for losses arising from investments in Bernard L. Madoff'salleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme, the first financial company to do so.

Todd Foster, a lawyer for Mr. Nadel, says his client voluntarily surrendered to the authorities and is cooperating with them. He says "we aren't in a position to comment on the criminal charges now,"adding that investment "losses don't necessarily equate with fraud."

In the latest case to emerge, Nicholas Cosmo, a Long Island, N.Y., investment-firm owner, surrenderedto federal authorities Monday. Mr. Cosmo allegedly raised more than $370 million between 2006 and2008 by promising investors 48% annual returns from funding commercial loans, according to a federal affidavit in support of his arrest.

But little money was lent, and only about $746,000 remains, according to the federal affidavit.
According to his attorneys, Mr. Cosmo intends to work with authorities "to allay investors' concerns." A federal judge in New York's Eastern District ordered him held pending a bail hearing Thursday.

The rise in financial-fraud reports preceded the Madoff case's emergence. A review of recent Securities and Exchange Commission civil actions shows an increase in cases in which the agency alleged Ponzi schemes. The agency, which doesn't keep an official count, brought at least 23 Ponzi cases last year, upfrom 15 in 2007. It has already filed four in 2009.

That tally doesn't include actions on the state level,where allegations of securities fraud are routinely pursued. The SEC declined to make anyone availableto discuss its Ponzi cases.
More schemes are emerging now, experts say, in part because of the economic downturn. Tough times have prompted people to seek to cash in their investments, only to find out their money is missing.

New investment also dries up in slumps, making it harder for fraudulent funds to replenish their coffers andmake the payments needed to keep their operations going.

The recent economic boom may have made some investors especially susceptible to Ponzi schemes andother investment frauds, investigators say. That's because legitimate but secretive hedge funds and other investment firms reported years of strong gains, making eye-popping returns seem more plausible."When you have serious economic problems, people who have been content with where their money hasbeen sitting sometimes need it," says Bill E. Branscum, a private investigator in Naples, Fla., who has probed dozens of Ponzi schemes. "And in needing it and in finding out that they can't get it, that servesto reveal Ponzi schemes that may have gone unnoticed."

Three weeks ago, the SEC accused a Philadelphia-area investment fund manager, Joseph S. Forte, with running a Ponzi scheme since at least 1995 that claimed returns as high as 38% and raised $50 million.Mr. Forte didn't return phone calls made late in the day.

Meanwhile, Idaho's securities regulators are investigating allegations by investors in Idaho Falls that they lost up to $100 million in an alleged Ponzi scheme by Daren Palmer, a local money manager. No charges have been filed. Mr. Palmer didn't return phone calls made late in the day.
There was also the case of Marcus Schrenker, an Indiana financial adviser who was arrested in Florida earlier this month after allegedly trying to stage his death in a plane crash as investigators probed his businesses.

He faces charges in Indiana and Florida; his lawyer has said Mr. Schrenker isn't mentallycompetent to stand trial in Florida.The biggest case, of course, is the one allegedly carried off by New York money manager Mr. Madoff,who has estimated inflicting losses of $50 billion on his investors. Mr. Madoff's attorney, Ira Lee Sorkin, declined to comment.

In scale, all of the SEC's other alleged Ponzi cases pale in comparison with Mr. Madoff's alleged scheme,which lasted for decades. The second-largest SEC case last year, one that the agency says primarily targeted Orthodox Jews, totaled about $255 million, according to SEC records. Excluding the Madoff case, the alleged schemes cited in the past 13 months generated more than $1.1 billion from unsuspecting investors, according to SEC records.

The Ponzi scams alleged by the SEC sprung up all around the country: in Texas, where participants,many of them elderly, invested $45 million in a phony hedge fund that supposedly produced annual returns as high as 61%; in a currency-trading scheme in Georgia which promised returns of 10% a month; in Florida, where two companies raised $30 million by allegedly convincing investors they would earn money by exporting gadgets like Apple iPods to South America. The SEC alleges that the companies purchased few electronics and used "newly invested funds to make principal and interest payments toexisting investors."

An attorney for the defendant in the Texas case, Rod Cameron Stringer, had no comment. An attorneyfor the defendant in the Georgia case, James G. Ossie, said his client "hasn't yet responded to the allegations of the government" but that "he's been cooperating with regulators and wants to makerestitution to all his clients." The defendant in the Florida case, Andres Pimstein, pleaded guilty last month to related criminal charges of wire fraud "in connection with a multi-million dollar investment'Ponzi' scheme," according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mr. Pimstein couldn't be reached for comment. According to SEC filings, many of the alleged victims in the agency's cases believed they were receiving huge returns from exotic investments, including hedge funds, private placements of securities and Ponzi operators "always need a disguise," says Robert L. FitzPatrick, a Charlotte, N.C., consultant andexpert on Ponzi and pyramid schemes, a similar form of ruse in which investors lure other investors. "

It normally includes some kind of rather vague description of the way it earns money." He notes that legitimate hedge funds, which are lightly regulated, generally lack transparency. The Ponzi scheme's namesake, Charles Ponzi, a Boston-based con man, peddled an exotic investment.Mr. Ponzi raised millions of dollars in 1920 by promising 50% returns in 45 days by exploiting exchange-rate discrepancies in international postal coupons, used to buy stamps. But authorities said he wasn't even buying the coupons; he later pleaded guilty to mail fraud.

In many of the SEC cases, the perpetrators allegedly siphoned off money to fund lavish lifestyles. An SECcivil complaint last year accuses a California investment adviser of using millions of his clients' money"to pay for lavish personal expenses, such as upkeep on his Ferrari, limousine services and shopping trips." The defendant, Robert C. Brown Jr., of Hillsborough, Calif., couldn't be reached for comment late in the day.

The SEC has accused South Florida investment adviser Anthony A. James of misappropriating at least$2.4 million in client funds to buy a six-bedroom home, a Porsche and season tickets to the Miami Heatbasketball team. In that case, filed in September, the SEC alleges that between 2001 and January 2008,Mr. James, principal of James Asset Advisory LLC, received at least $5.2 million from about 44 clientswho were told their money would be invested in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

The SEC alleges the money never was invested. Instead, the agency says, Mr. James misappropriated atleast $2.4 million for personal expenses. They also say that "like a classic Ponzi scheme," he and hiscompany "transferred approximately $2.8 million from new clients to existing clients to repay principal or to create the illusion of profitable trading."

Bruce M. Lyons, Mr. James's attorney in the SEC case, says his client doesn't dispute the allegations and that he's "trying to arrange to make everybody who was involved in the transactions whole."—Philip Shishkin and William M. Bulkeley contributed to this article.

Write to Steve Stecklow at steve.stecklow@wsj.com

ZENBIZ RADIO MEDIA ALERT

LISTEN UP!! TOMMOROW AT 11:00 A.M. PACIFIC
ON WWW.VOICEAMERICA.COM


Taking Charge for Yourself

This week, Allan Holender and Bruce Stewart will start sharing their on-going dialogue about life with you. Allan - the author of Zentrepreneurism - and Bruce - the founder of Accendor Research - will share in conversation their parallel journeys toward the Zentrepreneurial road. Hear how the book came to be, and a little bit about Allan's journey through the slings and arrows of the kinds of schemes that ensnare so many budding entrepreneurs. Hear how Bruce, disgusted with the behaviours of both the corporate managers and entrepreneurs he worked with, had to overcome his own beliefs to found his own Zentrepreneurial company.

Missed the Live Show ? This episode is rebroadcast at 11pm Pacific. Past Episodes are available On Demand and Podcast Ready

MEDIA ALERT!!

If you missed the inaugural ZenBiz Radio Show with Dave Stewart you can listen to the re-broadcast at 8:00 a.m. pacific Saturday morning on www.voiceamerica.com

LISTEN UP! ZENBIZ RADIO LAUNCHES WITH GUEST DAVE STEWART TODAY AT 11:00 A.M. PST ON VOICE AMERICA www.voiceamerica.com
"A NEW KIND OF TALK RADIO FOR GOOD"!

LISTEN TO ZENBIZ RADIO WITH DAVE STEWART TOMMOROW ON VOICE AMERICA!!


Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11am Pacific

Welcome to the inaugural episode of ZenBiz Radio

Zentrepreneur of the Week A day after the historic inauguration of Barack Obama, Dave Stewart, music icon and humanitarian will be Allan Holender's guest. Allan and Dave will discuss Dave's commitment to humanity through his music, why he feels the world is ready for the message of Zentrepreneurism, and what causes, music projects and entrepreneurial ventures he is currently working on. Dave's music tribute video to Obama, "American Prayer", shown at the Inauguration ceremony will be talked about, as well as Dave's heroes, what he is most passionate about. He'll also be asked the question Allan asks all his guests: "What did you love to do most when you were 10 years old?" - inspirational, engaging and entertaining talk you shouldn't miss!

Missed the Live Show ? This episode is rebroadcast at 11pm Pacific. Past Episodes are available On Demand and Podcast Ready

Listen LIVE to VoiceAmericaBusiness!
Be sure to tune to ZenBiz Radio Wednesdays at 11AM PST.

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