The Tvind Alert Newsletter Investigating the Tvind organisation and exchanging information in 50 countries http

The Tvind Alert Newsletter
Investigating the Tvind organisation and exchanging information in 50 countries
http://www.tvindalert.com
No 23 19th March 2004



To read more on these stories visit Tvind Alert www.tvindalert.com and click on WHAT'S NEW


Dear all,


Tvind Alert is not dead but (perhaps like the judge and jury at the never-ending Amdi Petersen fraud trial in Denmark) has just been taking a nap. We remain convinced that the story of the enterprise started by Amdi Petersen in the 1960s remains one of the most remarkable pieces of corporate doublethink, manipulation, exploitation and perhaps even money laundering and fraud ever perpetrated in the name of charity. One day we hope to make a book out of it all.  Meanwhile we will carry on publishing interesting information we discover about the Tvind network.  Please continue to send in your stories, press clippings, adverts and photos to this address: feedback@tvindalert.com.




Top story

CHICAGO TRIBUNE BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON GAIA AND TVIND

In a major series of four articles over two days the Chicago Tribune mounted a thorough investigation into Tvind in the US. The articles covered Gaia, Tvind's clothes recycling enterprise in Chicago, its other US companies, colleges, and its alleged exploitation of voluntary workers in the Third World. It showed almost none of the 2 million dollars earned between 1999 and the end of 2002 by Gaia were used to serve a better environment, as Gaia claims to do. The Tribune also looked deep into the Tvind schools and other Tvind activities in the States.

The newspaper also revealed the story of alleged cult leader Mogens Amdi Petersen and points out that in Denmark, the prosecution in his trial alleges that Tvind has 'morphed into a criminal enterprise'. There are numerous interviews with American volunteers, ex-teachers, Teachers Group members and people who knew Amdi Petersen.

To read the articles, it is necessary to visit the Chicago Tribune web site by following the link below, entering the key word 'Tvind' or Gaia.  Unfortunately, the full text must be purchased at a cost of $5.95 for up to five articles. The articles can then be read, printed and sent by email. We recommend this.  An executive summary for review purposes will shortly be available on Tvind Alert.

Source: Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/archives



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TOTAL CONTROL OF THE EPIDEMIC 'IS A SWINDLE'  -  EMPLOYEE

'The TCE is designed as what appears to be a program to combat HIV and AIDS, control the epidemic and prolong the lives of those found to be HIV-positive. In fact, it is desgined to make money for Tvind.....'  So writes a former TCE programme employee in Namibia, Lise Tvervad. Tvervad worked for TCE in both Denmark and Africa, but has now blown the whistle in a posting to an online newspaper, passed to Tvind Alert.

Tvervad writes:  'The money is gotten through contributions from government funds and from organizations that are meant to help the Third World. The TCE program itself consists of restaurants where tofu-based meals are served. The restaurants are a for-profit business and the HIV/AIDS patients have to pay for their meals. No free meals are given, not even to very needy people.

'In my job as a secretary at Tvind, I heard people say that TCE was developed solely to sell tofu which would otherwise have to be destroyed. The tofu meals are absolutely useless in prolonging the lives of HIV/AIDS patients. There is absolutely no research that even gives it  the slightest credibility. Else G. S (familiy names erased for legal resaons), who drives a Mercedes cabriolet, and other Tvind leaders like Poul L. know this very well - I have heard them talk about it.'

The full memo is posted on the Tvind Alert web site.


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TOTAL CONTROL OF THE EPIDEMIC 2  -    US FIRM GIVES MONEY AND GETS A GONG

Giant US company Johnson & Johnson gets an award....for financially supporting TCE in South Africa

On November 26th (2003) in Johannesburg, Johnson and Johnson received "the Stars of Africa Golden Award" for its collaboration with the "Total Control of the Epidemic" (TCE), realised by Humana People to People in Braam Fisherville (South Africa).

There is more about TCE on the Tvind Alert website at the 'court case' page, or by going to:
http://www.tvindalert.com/about/arrest.htm



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AMDI PETERSEN TRIAL NEWS

Amdi spoke to main witness

Last week alleged Tvind-leader Mogens Amdi Petersen spoke to Hans la Cour, the main witness in the case against Petersen and seven other top TG-members charged with major fraud and embezzlement. The Danish authorities accuse Petersen to have misused public money for self enrichment instead of research through Tvind's Humanitarian Fund.

Petersen wanted to know why La Cour originally told police that the millions for the Humanitarian Fund were used in a proper way. La Cour answered that he had learned.  In court in Aarhus he claimed that the Humanitarian Fund was just a deceit to direct public money into the Teachers Group while at the same time evading tax. La Cour was a long time member of the TG and was closely connected to the Humanitarian Fund when he left the Teachers Group in the nineties.  He has since written a book, 'The Travellers'.

According to La Cour the money never was to leave the Teachers Group. La Cour, who had come over from New Zealand, quoted Amdi Petersen who would have said that it would be 'an insane idea to think that the money of the Teachers Group should go to anyone, who had nothing to do with the Teachers Group'.
 
Source: Politiken/Berlingske Tidende
http://politiken.dk/VisArtikel.sasp?PageID=310321
http://www.berlingske.dk/indland/artikel:aid=417472/

Court reports are posted on the Tvind Alert web site under 'court case' or by visiting:
http://www.tvindalert.com/about/arrest.htm


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STORIES


Andre's story   -    an account of the Tvind college at Ulfborg in 1992 by an English reader

'The story about the journey'  -     an account of his alarming experience at the KWAZULU Natal Experimental College posted on a web page by an unidentified young American, probably from the Chicago area.


Linked from the Tvind Alert site main page

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CLOTHES RECYCLING NEWS



1.   GREAT LAKES TRADING COMPANY

A newly identified Tvind company collecting old clothes in the Chicago area. This one was connected to the Tvind college at Michigan.  More details linked from 'What's New' on the website.




2.   'USED CLOTHES AID' LEADS TO BANKRUPTCY IN MALAWI, MOZAMBIQUE & KENYA

A British Trades Union Congress report on Tvind.  From International Development Matters, Issue 25: January 2004. Linked from 'What's New'.




3.      FOLLOW THAT BLOUSE!

So you dropped a used garment into a charity clothes recycling bank.  What happens next?  A race through Africa in pursuit of a cast-off garment, by one of the founders of the Tvind Alert investigative website, Michael Durham. This article was published in the Guardian. And nowhere does it mention Tvind. The article can be read free on the Guardian Unlimited web site by following this link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1155254,00.html



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POINTS:


The expression 'Tvind-like' has entered the language in Denmark  -    meaning a place where people might be publicly humiliated in front of others.  A link is made from the What's New page.


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ABOUT TVIND ALERT

Tvind Alert is not a 'hate' page, but a website devoted to researching and sharing a full range of information about the Humana People-to-People movement, Tvind and its creator, Amdi Petersen, in the light of allegations of financial corruption and the claim that it is a secular cult.

We recognise the good intentions of Tvind volunteers and generally support all those who have become involved with Tvind in the belief that they are doing good. Unfortunately without further resources we are unable to guarantee a detailed reply to every request for advice or help. We receive dozens of messages every month. The information posted on Tvind Alert is carefully researched and is intended to assist individuals, parents, schools, local authorities and charities (and even government departments) in deciding whether or not to support Tvind. However we always welcome further information that can be used to build up the dossier on the website.

We welcome offers of assistance, expertise or financial aid to help make this website a leader in the field of investigative journalism.

To contact Tvind Alert please email: feedback@tvindalert.com
Press enquiries: tel or SMS +44 (0) 7775 531612
PO Box 45002
London
N4 3XL
UK

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