TheHungerProject:InsideOutbyCarolGiambalvo(December,1988)

Noteofwarningandapology:ForthoseindividualsreadingthispaperwhohaveparticipatedinTheHungerProject,est/TheForumoranyofWernerErhard'sprograms,pleasebeawarethatIhaveusedthe"jargon"ofErhard'sprogramsinmanyplacesinthispaper.Thisisdonetoillustrateloadingoflanguageandtheconfusionthattheuseofsuchabstractlanguagecancauseinindividuals.Iapologizeifthistriggersanyreaction.

ThePublicStory:

Initspromotionalpieces,TheHungerProjectpresentsitselftothepublicas:"anonprofit,charitablecorporationwhoseworkistogeneratethewilltoeliminatethepersistenceofhungerbytheendofthecentury."Establishedin1977,TheHungerProjectworkstoeducateandinformpeopleabouttheproblemofhungerandtosupporttheminparticipatingeffectivelyinitssolution.TheworkofTheHungerProjectisprimarilyeducational:itisnotarelieforganizationoradevelopmentagency.Noris itapoliticallobbyinggroup.Throughitsprograms,itisgeneratingamassiveexpressionofpersonalcommitmentbyindividualstoeliminatehunger.Agrassrootsnetworkofvolunteerscarriesout most of the work of The Hunger Project. It has "enrolled" over 5 million individuals in thecommitmenttoendhunger.

TheProjectIsBorn:

Sinceitsinceptionin1977,TheHungerProjecthasbeenthetargetofmuchcontroversy.MostofthecontroversyisbecauseitsprincipalfounderisWernerErhard,thefounderofest,aneducationalcorporationthatofferedtheesttrainingand,later,TheForumtoindividualsasanopportunitytotransformtheir lives. Est, as such, no longer exists. Its namewas changed to Werner Erhard &Associates and its program renamed The Forum. In addition to The Forum, it offered seminarprograms,specialeventswithWernerErhard,satelliteeventsandother"transformational"programstoindividualsandbusinesses.In1991,Erhardsoldhisenterprisestohisemployeesandhisbrother,NathanRosenberg.EventuallytheforprofitcorporationwasrenamedLandmarkEducationCorp.ErhardcontinuestoreceiveroyaltiesfromLandmarkfortheuseofhis"technology."Nowandinthepast, TheHunger Project denies any affiliation with Werner Erhard or est. This is trueonly in atechnicalsense,asTheHungerProjectwaslegallyincorporatedasaseparatecharitableentity,inthe State of California. But, the link between Werner Erhard and his organizations, bothphilosophicallyandinpersonnelremains.

Inanearlypublicationthatwaslaterwithdrawn,TheHungerProjectattributeditsinceptiontofouryears' research and discussion between Erhard, Buckminster Fuller, Roy Prosterman and otherexperts. Theproject was "formally presentedat theFebruary 1977 meetingof theest AdvisoryBoard.TheestFoundationtookresponsibilityfortheroleofbringingtheprojectintoexistenceasinitialcustodianforthosetowhomtheprojectactuallybelongs.TheHungerProjectbelongstoeveryone."*1

InalettertoestgraduatesfromtheestFoundation,signed"Love,Werner"graduatesweretoldoftheopportunitytoparticipateinWerner'snewproject,TheHungerProject,andinvitedtoattendWerner'spresentationonOctober1,1977(inNewYorkCity).ThispresentationwasoneofelevenlistedincitiesacrosstheU.S.Graduatesoftheesttrainingwereencouragedtobringfriendsandfamily.TheuniqueopportunitytoparticipateinTheHungerProjectbeganwhenapersonsignedanenrollmentcard,stating"TheHungerProjectisminecompletely.Iamwillingtoberesponsibleformakingtheendofhungeranideawhosetimehascome."

In1978,WernerErhardstated,"TheHungerProjectisnotaboutsolutions.It'snotaboutfixinguptheproblem.It'snotanybody'sgoodidea.TheHungerProjectisaboutcreatingacontextcreatingtheendofhungerasanideawhosetimehascome.AsafunctionofTheHungerProject,wewilllearnwhatweneedtoknowtomakeanidea'stimecome;thenwewillknowhowtomaketheworldwork."*2

Joan Holmes is the Executive Director of The Hunger Project (now called the Global HungerProject). Despite disclaimingaffiliation with est, in the August 1977 The Graduate Review (the

newsletter sent to all graduates of the est training), Joan Holmes was described as "The estFoundation's manager for the recently announcedproject that hasbeenformally namedTheHungerProject."*3 BeforebecomingtheManagerofTheHungerProject,shewastheManagerofest inEducation.*4 Sheadmittedlyhastakentheest trainingandsays, "theest trainingalteredeverythingforme."*5 JoanHolmesisnottheonlypersoninvolvedinTheHungerProjectthathastakentheesttrainingorTheForum.Themajority,ifnotall,ofthepersonnelonstaffofTheHungerProjectanditshundredsof"grassrootsvolunteers"havetakeneitherprogram.

DescribingtheprocessoftheformationofTheHungerProject,BobAlmanstated,"ThisworkwasstillgatheringmomentumonValentine'sDay,1977,whenstaffmembersoftheestFoundationmetwithWernertodiscusstheproblem.[author'snote:TheestFoundationwasoriginallyincorporatedin1973asanonprofitfoundationintheStateofCaliforniaunderthenameof'theFoundationfortheRealizationofMan.' Anamendmenttothearticlesof incorporationwasfiled inJuly, 1976,renamingitastheestFoundation]Asthemeetingdrewtoaclose,Wernersaid,'Itakeresponsibilityforendingstarvationwithintwentyyears'..TheestFoundationpeoplewentofftothinkaboutit.Afewdayslater,theyweremanagingTheHungerProjectevenbeforetheyknewexactlywhatitwas.Wernercrystallizedwhattheprojectstoodforandformulatedhispresentationofitseveralweeks later whenhediscussed it with theest Advisory Board, and it begantaking its presentshape."*6 Indescribingtheproductionofthefilm,"AHungryPlanet"byKeithBlume,Almanstates,"theestFoundationfundedextraprintsanddistributionofthefilm;KeithBlumegraduatedfromtheest trainingand [then] his involvement in TheHunger Project hadbegun."*7 The filmwas laterdistributedtovolunteercommittees(laterrenamed"communities")tobeshowninHungerProjectpresentations.

InamemofromJoanHolmestoestseminarians,datedNovember1980,shestated,"estgraduatesrepresentthestateoftransformationintheworld,thespaceofhavingtheworldworkforeveryone.Four years ago the graduates took on The Hunger Project and the end of starvation on ourplanet..."*8

WernerErhard sharedTheHunger Projectwith graduates in aspecial series, TheWorkshoponSeminars,asalaboratoryforgivingTheHungerProjectaform.*9 Heaskedfivegraduatesintheseminartoformacommitteetoexplorewaysforotherseminariansandtheirfriendstoparticipate.OneofthosefiveseminarianswasLynneTwist,wholaterbecameTheHungerProject'sAssistantExecutiveDirector.PriortoherbeingemployedbyTheHungerProject,LynneTwistwasonstaffatestandinchargeoftrainingtheGuestSeminarLeadersandteachingthemhowto"enroll"peopleintotheesttraining.

Later, Erhard developed a new seminar called The Hunger Project Series. As controversysurroundingTheHungerProjectgrew,thisseminarwasrenamed"MakingADifference."

Controversy:WernerErhard,EstAndTheConnectionToTheHungerProject

CriticismofWernerErhardandhisesttrainingbeganasearlyas1974whenEastWestJournal'sinterviewwithErhardquotedhimassaying:"If youblowsomebody'smind,youcanquicklyslip insomedataaboutbeing.. .estblowsthemind."*10Hefurtheradmitted"estputsyouinapermanentmeditationstate."*11

PsychologyToday,initsAugust1975report,statedthattheguidingpreceptoftheestorganizationis"toserveWernerandmakeestwork."*12 Theauthordescribedthemethodsoftheesttraining:"we'regoingtothrowawayyourbeliefsystem,tearyoudownandputyoubacktogether."* 13 Itdescribedthemethodsasdesignedalternatelytoconfuseandenlightensubjects,todeveloptheauthority of the trainer andbuild his suggestive power. The trainingcontainedcommonsensepsychology from which anyone could profit; simultaneously it was a masterful amalgam ofconsciousnessaltering techniques that powerfully effect the innocent subject. The author'sdescription of several stages in the training demonstrated the stepbystep confusion andhelplessnessexperiencedbysubjectsuntiltheycrackunderthepressureand,inthehelplessnessofthemoment(whichConwayandSiegelmancall"snapping"),embracethesystem.

*14AstudyoftheesttrainingreportedintheAnnualReviewofPsychologyin1982reportedthatno

substantial proof of benefits from the training can be offered, but there has been reportedincidentsofpsychiatricdisturbancesfollowingtheesttraining.*15

Legal actions have been filed charging emotional damages experienced by subjects, deathduring theest training, nonpaymentof a$15 million loanandnonpaymentof IRS taxes andpenalties.

WhoIsWernerErhard?

BornJackRosenbergin1935,highschoolwastheextentofErhard'sformaleducation.Marriedatageeighteen,heworkedseveraljobsbeforeleavinghiswifeandfourchildrenandrunningoffwiththewomanhewas later tomarry and, subsequently, divorce. Simultaneously, hechangedhisnamefromJohnPaul(Jack)RosenbergtoWerner(fromWernerHeisenberg,physicist,philosopher)Hans (fromBishop Hanns Lilje) Erhard (from economics minister and, later, Chancellor LudwigErhard).*16 His loverchangedhernamesimultaneouslyfromJuneBrydetoEllenVirginiaErhard.Theysettledforawhile inSt. Louis, whereErhardsoldusedcards.Later, theyweretorelocatefurtherwestandhesoldcorrespondencecourses,encyclopediasandlatertraineddoortodoorsalespersonnel.Heworkedinthiscapacityuntil 1971withGrolierSociety, Inc.,whichthenwasundergoinglegalactionsforfraudulentanddeceptivesalestechniques.

CriticspointtoErhard'sstudyofmanydisciplinesasthefoundationfortheesttraining.* 17Hisstudiesincludedhypnosis,selfmotivationtechniques(NapoleanHill,MaxwellMaltz),KarlMarx,encounterandtheHumanPotentialMovement(Maslow&RogersandEsalenInstitute),Zen(viaAlanWatts),theDaleCarnegieCourse,Subudandthemartial arts, andScientology.HewentthroughfiveScientologylevels andreceivedapproximately70hoursofauditing.OfL. RonHubbard,Erhardsays, "His genius has not been sufficiently acknowledged."*18 Much of the concepts andterminologyusedintheesttrainingcamefromScientology.

ErhardlatertookMindDynamicsandbecameaninstructor.MindDynamicswentoutofbusinessandwassuedbytheStateofCaliforniaforfraudulentclaimsandpracticingmedicinewithoutalicense.AccordingtoErhard,however, noneofthesedisciplinesresulted intheest training.HeattributedthefoundingoftheesttrainingonlytohistransformationalexperienceonafreewayinCalifornia.AccordingtoErhard,"itdidnothappenintimeandspace...IrealizedIknewnothingIrealizedIkneweverything...IrealizedIwasnotmyemotionsorthoughts,myideas,myintellect,myperception,[nor]mybeliefs,whatIdidoraccomplishedorachieved.Iwasn'twhatIhaddonerightorwrong...Iwassimplythespace,thecreator,thesourceofallthatstuff.IexperiencedSelfasSelfinadirectandunmediatedway.Ididn'tjustexperienceSelf.IbecameSelf...IamIam."*19(emphasismine)

In December 1978, Mother Jones magazine published a major critical article concerning TheHungerProject,exposingitsconnectionwithWernerErhardanditspossibleuseasarecruitmentarmforhisesttraining.SuzanneGordonpointedtoTheHungerProjectasthefirstattemptbyoneofthe"self"orientedmovementstoaddresssocialorpoliticalissues.Sheraisedsuchissuesas:whogetsthemoney?ArepeopleparticipatinginTheHungerProjectpressuredtotaketheesttraining?;why,ifTheHungerProjectclaimsnoconnectiontoest,isthereanestseminarcalled"TheHungerProject Series"?; why is Hunger Project office spaceor telephones oftenhoused in est centersaroundthecountry?;whydofamousestsupporterssuchasJohnDenverandValerieHarper(alsoservingontheestAdvisoryBoard)serveasspokespersonsforTheHungerProject?* 20Followingthispublication, est graduates in the seminar programswerehandeda statement fromDonCox,Presidentofest,whichquotedTheHungerProject'sresponsetothearticle:"naturally,TheHungerProjectwouldpreferimmediatelytoenumerateandmakestatementscorrectingthelies.[Legal]counselhasadvisedus thatpublic referencetothespecific instancesof libel inthecourseofrefuting them could give license to others to restate or republish the lies, innuendos andmisrepresentations.Barringanysuchspecificreferencesonourpart,thelawsonlibelprovidethatanyonewhorepublishesorpublicizesthedefamatorymaterialinthesepublicationsisalsosubjecttolegalactionforlibel."*21Consideringthisstatement,itisinterestingthatafterquotingstatementsfromthe Mother Jones article, a newspaper, a TV station and the Council onMindAbuse inCanadaweresued.InplainEnglish:TheHungerProjectdeclinedtoaddresstheissuesraisedinthearticle,whichleftitfreetosueanyonewhocitedtheMotherJonesmaterialinquestion.

KevinGarvey,inaseriesofarticlesforOurTown,(NewYorkCitynewspaper)statesthatTheHungerProject isWernerErhard'spoliticalspringboard.HequotesavolunteerfundraiserforTheHungerProjectasstatingthatTheHungerProjectisaforceforspreadingthewisdomofWernerErhardanditplanstospreadthiswisdomthroughpoliticalactionandeffortsatpubliceducation.*22

AGuide to World Hunger Organizations described the controversy generated by The HungerProjectanditsrelationshiptotheestmovement:"ErhardfoundedTheHungerProjectasanoutletforthecreativeandcharitableimpulsesofestgraduates.ThefinancialrelationshipbetweenestandTheHungerProjectendedwiththerepaymentofaninitial loan.However,estremainsthephilosophicalinspirationfortheworkofTheHungerProjectandhasprovidedTheHungerProjectwithaphilosophyforhowtheworldworks,muchofitsleadershipandpersonnel,alanguageandastyleofwork,andeffectivetechniquesforvolunteers."*23

New Internationalist, a world development publication, also questioned where all the intenseactivityofTheHungerProjectwasleadingandwhetheritwascapitalizingonpeople'sconcernaboutworldpovertyandusingittoinsinuatetheideasofamindmanipulatingcult.*24Again,itwaspointedoutthattheproject's keyorganizersareest graduatesandmanyofthetechniques itappliedto thought(ornonthought) abouthunger issuesarestrikingly similar. Their point is welltakenthatthereisnoshortageofpeopleconcernedabouthunger,thattheshortageisofpeoplewillingtomakethepoliticaldecisionsneededtochangethings. Yet, TheHungerProjectshiedawayfromthisanduseditsmoneyandvolunteerenergiestosustainthecampaigntopersuadepeopletosignapersonalcommitmenttoendhunger.Itfurtherassertsthat"TheHungerProjectseemstobeabsorbingtheenergyofagreatnumberofpeople.Youonlyhavetoshowupatoneoftheirmeetingstohavebeenconsideredtohaveendorsedtheproject."*25

AnarticlepublishedinSeedsmagazinequestionedTheHungerProject'suseofmeasurementsandstatisticstoproveitsthesisandiswarythatitsuseoftheInfantMortalityRate(IMR)inreachinga"nonhungry"statusforcountrieswillbesubstitutedforthemuchhardergoalofendinghunger.*26

IntheFallof1985,Forbes'writer,RichardBehar,begananinvestigationofTheHungerProjectandWernerErhard.HereportedthatTheHungerProjectretainedoneofNewYork'sfanciestlawfirmstoattempttobullyandtointimidatehimandanotherreporter intopermittingthemtocensorthestory. In his article, Behar pursued a lawsuit concerning a $15 million lowinterest loan fromWolfgangSomaryofZurichtoErhardthatwasnotrepaid.Theentangled loanplaninvolvedaCostaRicanfoundation,TheFundacionSoberanaOrdendeSanJuandeJerusalemthatservedasintermediaryfortheloanandthe2%interestrate.ThisCostaRicangrouphadbeensetupbyanErhardfriendjustseveraldaysbeforethetransferandstoodtobenefitbyreceivingamajorportionof the interest payments. Strangely enough, Behar reported, The Hunger Project cofunded aprojectwithSaveTheChildrentoawardoneofitsgrants(a$1million5yeardevelopmentgrant)inCostaRica.AccordingtoTheHungerProject'sownbarometer(IMRoflessthan50),CostaRicaisnot considered a hungry country. The person who put the deal together? None other thanFernandoFloresBanuet,thesameindividualwhosecharityservedastheconduitforthe$15millionZurich loan toErhard in1981.*27 (Note: FloresBanuetwasalsoontheAdvisory Council of TheHungerProject.ThePresidentofSaveTheChildren,DavidGuyer,(nowdeceased)hadalsoservedontheBoardofDirectorsofTheHungerProject.)

TheMcGill DailyreportsthatCUSA,OxfamInternational;thePeaceCorpsandotherrespectedhungerorganizationshavedissociatedthemselvesfromTheHungerProject.*28 OnMay30,1981,thenationalboardofdirectorsofOxfam,CanadapassedaresolutionthattheywillnotendorseorsupportanyactivitiesorprogramssponsoredbyTheHungerProjectnorwilltheyacceptanyfundsfromtheProject.

ItseemsTheHungerProjecthasturnedtothethreatoflegalactionwhenitlearnsofthepossibilityofcriticalexposuresbythemedia.BoththeMcGillDailyandtheCanadianBroadcastingCorp'sTheFifthEstatewerethreatenedwithsuits.TheHungerProjectfollowedthroughinthecaseofTheLondonSundayTimes,whichpublishedanarticleraisingissuesregardinghowTheHungerProjectspentitsmoneyandthepossibilitythatpeoplewhogivemoneytoTheHungerProjectbelievethatthey are actually feedingpeople.*29 It also questionedwhether Hunger Project people were

recruitedtotakeest.TheyquotedaHungerProjectvolunteerasboastingofconnectionsbetweenLiveAidandSportAidandthattheywere"verymuchapartnership"withGeldof'seffortsinthoseevents.

CanadiannewspapersTheOttawaCitizenandTorontoStarpointedoutthatTheHungerProject's"EndingHungerBriefing"programwasbarredfromMetro[Toronto]schoolsandfromOttawaandCarletonschoolsbecauseofthecontroversialnatureofTheHungerProject.

OnOctober23,1986,theCanadianBroadcastingCorp.'scurrentaffairprogram,TheFifthEstate,(similarinformatto20/20or60Minutes)airedadocumentaryonTheHungerProjectinwhichJoanHolmesdeniedanyconnection,eitherphilosophicalorotherwise,withest.Hereinliestheheartoftheongoingcontroversy.Denial.Deception.PeoplebeingenrolledintoTheHungerProjectandbeing asked for contributions were not fully informed. Volunteers, most of whom were estgraduates,werekeptsobusydoingtheworkofTheHungerProjectandimmersingthemselvesinthe"principlesandabstractions"thattheyveryoftencouldnotseethattherewasavastdifferencebetweenwhattheyweretoldtosaytothegeneralpublicandwhatactuallywasbeingsaidtothoseinsidetheorganizationregardingitsideology.

PersonalExperienceAndOpinion:

ForthefiveyearsthatIwasafulltimevolunteer,Ideniedevenmymostnaggingdoubts.Whathappens to apersonto producesuchdenials to ignoreone's ownquestioning?Mycriticalthinkingwasbypassedbyfocusingonlyonthepositiveaspects:surelyGodwouldwanthungertoend, for His childrentobefed.Forme, this was "theend justifies themeans." I thought it wasabsolutelytruethateducationabouthungerwasneededinorderforhungertobecomeapriorityissue.Butwhatwasthisnaggingquestionwithinme?WhydidIcringeeverytimeImeta"Wernerhater"whileoutenrollingpeopleinTheHungerProjectormakingapublicpresentation?WhywasIbeingaskedtodenytheassociationbetweenest/ErhardandTheHungerProject?Wasthisnotdeceivingpeople?WhydidIfeeldisloyalifIevenallowedmyselftoaskthesequestionsofmyself?

Iseethesecontroversial issuesasquestionsworthyofanhonestanswer. IgoevenfurtherthanthesequestionstorevealthehiddenagendaofTheHungerProject:whatitdoesnotsaytothepublic. The hiddenagendaof The Hunger Project is to transform the world according to the"principlesandabstractions"(technologyoftransformation)ofWernerErhard.Yes,theywanttoendhunger.Theferventstaffmembersandvolunteershavecommittedtheirlivestothatend.But,hunger is just thevehicle. It could beany issue: peace, disarmament, prejudiceyouname it.Hungerisanissuethatmostpeoplewouldagreeneedsourattention.Afterall,whowouldn'twanthungertoend?Howcanyoufaultanorganizationwithsuchanoblepurpose?

WhenwewereenrollingpeopleinTheHungerProjectatfleamarkets,onthebeach,atconcerts,railroadstations,onthestreetcornersitwasfairlyeasytogetapersontoagreethattheywantedhunger to end. From that agreement, more times than not, we could get them to sign anenrollmentcardsayingthattheywerewillingtoberesponsibleformakingtheendofstarvationanideawhosetimehascome.Thinkofwhatitwouldimplyifanindividualdidnotsigntheenrollmentcardthattheymustnotwanthungertoend.This,initself,isanunethicalemotionalmanipulation.Becauseonedoesnotwanttosupportaparticularorganizationdoesnotmeanthatonedoesnotwanttoseehungerend.

TheHungerProjectusesitsnoblepurposetodeflectcriticismandtoshameanyonewhomightcriticizea"noble"organizationwhichhassuchanoblepurpose.Thisimpliesthatanoblepurposeprotects an organization from deceptive behaviors and hidden agendas on the part of itsvolunteers,staffandtheorganization'sfounders.

And noble we were. Wewere the warriors, living on the cutting edge of transformation. Thebelieved the world was deceived regarding the conditions contributing to hunger and wasunawareofthetechnologyavailabletoendit.Theworldoperatesunderfalseassumptionsabouthungerthatactuallyservetokeepitinplace.Theworldisdenyingitsresponsibilityforthecauseofhungerandhasnottakenresponsibilityforendinghungerwelackthesimplecommitmenttoendhungerintheworld.Herewewere,TheHungerProjectvolunteersandstaff,vowingtotellthetruth

abouthungerintheworld,committingourselvestoraisingthecommitmenttoendhungerintheworld.Wewerebeingtotallyresponsible.Howcouldwepossiblythinkthatwewereperhapsbeingdeceived ourselves let alone that we were deceiving the public? How could we possiblyentertain the idea that we were the ones in denial? After all, we were the warriors againstdeceptionanddenialwhichkeepshungerinplace.Wearetheembodimentoftruth,courageandtotalcommitmentthatiscreatingtheendofhungerandstarvationonourplanetasanideawhosetimehascome.

WernerErhardwrotethe"principlesandabstractions"ofTheHungerProjectfoundinthe"SourceDocument."Yet,TheHungerProjectsaysithasnophilosophy.Likewise,ErhardsaysthattheesttrainingandTheForumhavenophilosophy.AccordingtoErhard,itisnothingtobebelieved,since"thetruthbelievedisalie."Regardless,theseprinciplesandabstractionsremainthebackboneofTheHungerProject.

MartyLeaf,aHungerProjectvolunteerandonetimepartnerinthelawfirmofLeaf,Duell,Drogin&KramerinNewYorkCity,wrote:"TruesatisfactioncomesfromthetransformationofSelfrealizedbymaintainingtheintegrityofWernerErhard'sabstractionsandgeneratingprinciples."*30 Hispartner,EllisDuell,hasservedastheChairmanoftheBoardofDirectorsofTheHungerProject.* 31 InTheHungerProject's1988PeriodicReport[FormCT2]totheStateofCalifornia,itisinterestingtonotefeesforlegalservicesof"Leaf,SternklerETAL"intheamountof$108,399.Alsoofnoteinthatreportarefeesforvideoproductionservicesintheamountof$35,602paidtoJohnathanS.Duell(sonofEllisDuell).

TheInsideStory:

TheHungerProjecthadover6millionpeoplewhohavesignedanenrollmentcard,committingthemselvestotheendofhunger.Considerthatamazingresult.Consider,also,thefactthatmanywellknownpoliticiansandrespectedhungerorganizationshaveeitheralignedthemselveswithTheHungerProjector,attheveryleast,arenotsuspicious.

Isn'titsillytogetpeopletosignalittlewhitecardto"committhemselvestotheendofhunger?"Notso silly when you ponder howeffective it would be to say to your congresspersons or otherpoliticiansthatover6millionpeoplestandbehindyourorganization.Wouldn'tittendtoopensomedoorswhichotherwisemightnothavebeenopen?

Ihavenoissuewithdrawingattentiontotheproblemofhungeroreducatingthepublicregardinghunger.MyissuelieswithTheHungerProject'sunderlyingphilosophyandthemethodologyusedtohavethevolunteersproducetheseamazingresults.

Thereareotherorganizationsdealingwiththeissueofhungerthathaveclearlystatedagendas,i.e., BreadfortheWorld indicatesthat it is aChristian lobbyingandeducationgroup.Yet, TheHungerProjectfindsitnecessarytodenyaphilosophy.Inmyexperienceasafulltimevolunteer,itbecameclear and intolerable that the imagebeing presented to the public and the realityworkingwithintheorganizationaretwoentirelydifferentagendas.

ThenetworkofthousandsofvolunteerswhoproducetheworkofTheHungerProject(Werner's"work")ismanagedbythepaidstaffandbyothervolunteerswhotakeonamanagerialrole.Mostof the employees and volunteers have taken the est training or The Forum or other Erhardprograms.Managingtoolsconsistofcommunications(telephone)calls,lengthyconferencecalls,conferences, BriefingLeader's trainingweekends, writtencommunications, audiotapes, etc. It isfromthesearenasthatthevolunteerisbroughttocommittothegoals,theideasandworkofTheHungerProject.

ThefundamentalideasofTheHungerProjectarerevealedin"TheSourceDocument,"whichwaswrittenbyWernerErhard.Amongthoseare:

ThePrinciplesandAbstractionsofTheHungerProject:

IndividualandPersonalResponsibility

AlignmentofWholes

CreateaContext

Transformation*32

**************************************

DefinitionofResponsibility*33

"ResponsibilitystartswiththewillingnesstoexperienceyourSelfascause.ItstartswiththewillingnesstohavetheexperienceofyourSelfascauseinthematter.

Responsibilityisnotburden,fault,praise,blame,credit,shameorguilt.Alltheseincludejudgmentsandevaluationsofgoodandbad,rightandwrongorbetterandworse.Theyarenotresponsibility.TheyarederivedfromagroundofbeinginwhichSelfinconsideredtobeathingoranobjectratherthancontext.

Responsibilitystartswiththewillingnesstodealwiththesituationfromandwiththepointofview,whetheratthemomentrealizedornot,thatyouarethesourceofwhatyouare,whatyoudoandwhatyouhave.Thispointofviewextendstoincludeevenwhatisdonetoyouand,ultimately,whatanotherdoestoanother.

Ultimately,responsibilityisacontext,acontextofSelfassourceforthecontent,i.e.forwhatis.

*****

Volunteers were instructed to read the Source Document. In fact, Briefing Leaders made anagreement to "stay grounded" in the principles and abstractions by rereading the SourceDocumentaminimumofonceeachquarter.*34 Weweretoldthat if volunteers livetheir livesaccordingtotheprinciplesandabstractions,hungerwillendintheworld.

Inaddressingthequestionof"WhatisTheHungerProject?"atavolunteerconference,JoanHolmessaid:

"TheHungerProjecthasasetofgeneratingprinciples,theexpressionofwhichoutintotheworld,isTheHungerProject.TheHungerProjectisaboutlocatinginthefabricofSelftheendofhungerandstarvation,sothat[it]canshowupthere.Itisoursensethatwhenthatisdonetoanyappreciabledegree,thatwecanhavetheendofhunger...whatwestandforishavingtheendofhungerandstarvationbeanaturalexpressionofwhosomeoneis:aSelf."*35

Erhard'sexplanationofSelf(aspreferabletooperatingintheMindState)is:

"Whereonerealizestheoneisthecontextofallcontexts;thatoneisnotyourmind,yourbeliefsystem,ideologies,traditionsandidentifications.""TheSelfistheunsubmitting,unresisting,unformedmatrixinwhichallforms,allprocessesandallmetaphorsexist."*36

In theest training,traineeswere ledtobelievethat "themind"wasanegativeconcept. If anindividualwasintheir"mindstate,"theywerebeingrootedintheirpastratherthanbeinginthismoment.

Erhardandhistrainedleadersclaimtheauthoritytodeterminewhetheramember'sactionsorstatementswerearisingoutofthe"Mindstate"orthe"Self",dependingonwhetherthoseactionsorstatementsagreeordisagreewithhimorthegoalsofthegroup.TheseconceptssetanindividualupinaconstantstateofselfexaminationandvigilanceamIoperatingfromthestateofMindorSelf?

Similarly,weweretaughtintheesttrainingandseminarprogramsthattheSelf,beingthecontext

ofallthings,meansultimatelythatweareallOne.Thereisnooneoutsideourselvesbutprojectionsofourselvesandnorealitythatwehavenotcreatedandforwhichwearenotresponsible.SinceweareallreallyOneinbeing,itisoutofrelationshipwitheachotherthathungerwillend.JoanHolmesspeakstovolunteersonthisconcept:

"Nowinalargersense,youareallOne.Butyouexpressyourselfindividually...andourrelationshipswithSelfisthespaceinwhichhungerwillend...theoriginalsinorlie,asIcandetermineit,isthatIsaidIwasn'tyou.It'stopretendwe'reseparateistheoriginallie...iftheSelfwonoutoverthatone,thentheMindwouldhavenocontroloverthatperson...see,Wernerknowswhoheisbecauseheiseverythingandeveryone.AndsotheMindhasreallynocontroloverhim."*37

HolmescontinuedillustratingtheconceptofthebattleourmindshasforcontrolofusbyaddressingwhathappenswhenonerealizesthattheyareSelf:

"...thatisthelastbarrier.AndtheMindwilldoanythingbecauseonceyourecognizethat[youareSelf],theMindhaslostitssurvivalbattle...thelastholdthattheMindhasonusistosaythatwe'reseparateandnotconnected.Sowhenyouhavethingslikeenrollmentandmoney[targets]andallthosethingstoconfront,theMindwillpickwhatitcantogetyoutothinkwe'renotconnected."*38

ThisbasicphilosophythatifweallknewwewereallSelf,therewouldbenomorehunger,isverydifferentfromtheimageTheHungerProjectpresentstothepublic:thatTheHungerProjectisabouteducationand information. Inaquotation fromtheAssistant ExecutiveDirector, LynneTwist, afurtherunderstandingisrevealed:

"Ourrelationshipwitheachother,ourrelationshipwithJoan[Holmes],ourrelationshipwithWerner[Erhard]isreallywhywe'redoingallthiswork."*39

Theconstantreminderthatwearethehungrypeopleoftheworldandtheemotionalismusedatconferencesandonaudiotapes,influencedthevolunteerstorecommitthemselvestomoreandmorework.Often,JoanHolmesspokeintears,withhervoicecracking.Emotionalmanipulationatconferencesgotvolunteersreinspiredandrededicated,whichleduptothepointwhenthenewcampaign targets were promised. A conferenceday began with acknowledging the quality,dedication,courageandcommitmentofvolunteers.Thereusuallyfollowedatimethatwascalledinest a "clearing." ("Clearing" is a termcoinedbyL. RonHubbard inhis Dianetics/Scientologytechnology)Inthis"clearing,"apersonintroducedthemselvesandsaidwhatevertheyneedtosay(toclearwhat'sgoingonintheirmindandtobepresentintheroomtohearwhattheyneedtohear). After this process, volunteersweretoldwhatresults havebeenproduced inTheHungerProjectsofarandwhatresultswereproducedduringinthelastcampaign.Eachvolunteerwas"acknowledged" for having produced all those miracles, every single volunteer created thathappening.Thenthenewcampaignwasintroduced.

Atthispoint,volunteerswereusuallyonanemotionalhigh.Atageneralvolunteerconference,allfourprogramsofTheHungerProject(andanyadditionalones)wouldthenbetargetedforthenextcampaign.

Targetsarenottobefiguredoutorbasedonwhatwehadproducedinthepast,orbasedonourtimeorenergyavailability. InHungerProject jargon, theyarenottocomefromtheMind. If apersonweretotrytoassesswhattheyhadproducedinthepast,whattimeandenergytheyweregoingtohaveavailabletoproducethetargetsinthenextcampaign,thiswasconsideredtobe"figuringitout;"comingfromyourMind.TargetsaretocomefromtheSelf.Oneisto"get"thetargetbylookingintotheUniverseandseeingtheTruthanddeclaringitgiveourwordthatwewillproduceit.Behindtheideaofgivingourword(declaringatarget)wastheconcepttaughtinest(andlaterintheForum)thatallindividualsareisone'sword.Targetsaretobea"goforit"figureneverdoyoudeclareatargetthatissmallerthanoneyouhavealreadyproduced.

Veryoften,uponreturningfromoneoftheseconferencesandhavingpromisedatargetmadefromwhatwecalledourSelf,wewouldthenfacetherealityofourhomeandworkschedule.Thatschedulewouldthenneedtobereadjustedtofitthetargetsince,asHungerProjectvolunteers,wemustkeepourwordanddowhatwesaidwewoulddoorhungerwillnotend.Itisnowonderthat

oftenweweretoldbyour manager thatfor everyonepersonweenrolled(or later on inourexperience,everyonepersonwebriefed),onelesspersondiedofhunger.Sincewearealloneanyway,eachindividualenrolledisa"hungryperson."Theeffectthatconcepthadwasifwedidnotmakeourtargets,morepeoplediedofhunger,whichproducedasenseofguilt.However,sinceguiltisnotresponsibility(referbacktothedefinitionofresponsibility),weweremadetofeelguiltyforfeelingguilty.Whenweexpressedthesefeelingstoourmanager,themanagerremindedus thatwehaveanagreement toproducesatisfactionandaliveness for ourselvesout of ourparticipationasvolunteersandthatthetargetsareonlyagameanyway.Ifitwasagame,whywereweconfrontedfornotmakingthetarget,fornotkeepingourword?

Ifwewerenotmeetingourtarget, ontheweeklycommunicationscall withourmanagers wewouldneedtolookatwhatstoodinthewayofmakingthetargetandreaffirmourcommitmenttonextweek'starget,nomatterwhat.WeweretolookattheentireNationalvolunteers'targetsasoursfromthepointofviewthatifweweretheonlyonesleft intheworld,wewouldmakethetargets.Therewasaconstantmixedmessage:"peoplearedyingbecausewearen'tkeepingourword,"and"it'sallagame."

WhenapersoncompletesaprograminWernerErhard'sNetwork,theyareledtobelievethatheorshe creates his/her reality and "can have it all." To keep that magical thinking, one has todisconnectwiththepeopleintheirlifethatdon'tthinkthatway.NeitherestnorTheHungerProjecttellsonetodothat,itisanaturalresponse.AsexpressedbyErhard'sbiographer:

..."atransformedindividualdemandstransformedrelationshipsbecauseonlyinsuchacontextcanheorshenaturallyexpressatransformedindividuality."*40

"Erhard says, 'an effective siegeonMindcannot bedirectedonly to the individual, as in thetraining,butmustbedirectedtorelationshipsandtothesocialenvironment,too.Thus,thelargerestprogramhasarevolutionarygoal:tocreatetheconditionsthespace,thecontextinthelarger community to foster transformation at each level: individual, familyrelational, andorganizationalinstitutional.'"

Itisthistransformationalworkthateachvolunteeristoliveout,livingtheabstractionsbothwithintheirpersonallives,havingtheirrelationships,jobandfinances"work"andextendingoutintotheorganizationsandsocietywithinwhichtheylive.InspeakingabouttheaccomplishmentsofTheHungerProject,theworkwedidonourselvesandthenecessityofmaintainingtheintensityofthevolunteers'work,JoanHolmesaddressedthevolunteersataconference:

"You'vegottocompleteall thatstuff inyourselfFORTHEWORLD.Whenyou'vecompleteditallyourself, internally,andyouhaveacriticalmassofpeoplewhoaredoingthatwithyou,thosestatistics[hunger]willbedowncompletely..."*41

"OurpersonalIMR's[InfantMortalityRate]are24peoplearedyingaminute.AndI'lltellyou,wedidaHellofalotofworkonourselvestogetitdownthatfarANDthere'salotmoretogo.So,ifyoustayatthesamerate,youwillgobackward.There'snodoingthat.Youcan'tdothatinthisgame.It'llcomebackinonyou.[TheMind]Youwillstopproducingresults.TheproblemsyousolvedinyourlifewillbeRESURRECTED.So,allthatstuffyoualreadyhandledinyourfamiliesandyourpersonallives,that'llallcomebacktodoagain.Yourememberhowgreatitwasthefirsttime?(Laughter)It'llbeworsethesecondtime.They'regonenowifyoucontinue..."*42

TheabstractionthattheMindwillcontinuouslytrytogetavolunteertoslowtheireffortsorstopdoingtheworkwasemphasized.Holmesspoketothisconcept:

"Howmanypeopleevergotsicksotheycouldtakeoff,togivethemselvesanexcuse?IjustwanttounderscorethatbecauseitunderscoresthestrengthandthedirtyplayingoftheMind."*43

Holmesthenusedtheseconceptstobuilduptotargetingforthenextcampaign:

"Raisethebar.Youdidn'tthinkyoucouldgooverithowhighyouraiseditlasttime?Youwentoverit.You'reachampion.Raiseit.Uptheante.Pressyourselfintomorebrilliance.You'vejustbegun.

We've just begun. We'vegota longwaytogo. You're beautifully trained. You'veput yourselftogetherwell.Youhaveagreatrelationship.Deliveronthepromise.Raisethebar.Raisetheante.Andgoforit.AndyouwillneedtodecidetodothatanddoitinspiteoftheinstructionsyourMind'sgoingtogiveyou,whetheryouaskforitornot.Youneedtostriveformorebrilliance.Youneedtoraisethetargets.Youneedtoincreasethegradient.You'reonaveryhighgradient.Don'tgetoff.Itwouldbeverydangeroustoyou.Thingswillgetverymessedupforyouifyoudothat."*44

Phobiainductionisnotuncommoningroupsthatmanipulatememberstodotheirwork(becomedeployableagents)andwhocreateintheirmembersadependencyonthegroupandtheothergroupmembersastheironlysourceforfeedback.Aspreviouslystated,theindividualhasalreadybeenconvincedthatthegrouphastheonlyanswersandtheoutside"world"haslostitscredibility.After all, the world does not really want to be transformed. In est and Forum seminars, wecontinuallyheard:Ifyoudon'tshareyourtransformation,(giveitawaybyenrollingothers)youwillloseit.Youneedtobeinatransformedenvironment,youneedtobesupportedindoing'thework.'Youwillloseyourtransformationifyouleave.JoanHolmesusedamoreovertthreattovolunteersinthepreviousquotation.

Considertheeffectthemessagethat"comingfromyourSelf" ratherthan"fromyourMind"canhaveonanindividual.Itdenigratestheprocessofcriticalthinkingtomakedecisionsthatarebestfortheindividual.Wewerenottodeclareareasonabletargetonethatwecouldmeetwithoutcausingaconflictoftimeandenergytospendonotherimportantareasofourlivessuchasjobs,marriages,children,etc.AnexamplefrommypersonalexperiencewasthatIwouldcomehomeafterstatingatargetandhavetoallotextratimetoeitherdothoseextraenrollmentsmyselformanageothervolunteerstoproducetheresultIhadpromised.WithtwoteenagechildrenathomeandhavingtohavingtospendfortimeontheworkofTheHungerProject,itoftenmeantthatIspent less and less time with my children. In addition, during the est training, the trainer hadconfrontedmeonthefactthatIhadcreatedmydiabetesinordertomanipulatemyfatherandtokeepfromdoingwhatIsaidIwoulddoandthatIcontinuetousemydiabetesthatway.(referbacktothedefinitionofresponsibilityand"beingcauseinthematter")IfIhadsomecomplicationofmydiabetesorifIwereill,insteadoftakingcareofmyself,Iwouldnotallowmyselftousemydiabetesasanexcuseandasanavoidanceofresponsibility, soI would"bewith"(ignore)thesymptomsandcontinue to dowhat I hadpromised. In bothexamples, insteadof being trulyresponsible intherealdefinitionoftheword, I wasbeingirresponsibletowardmychildrenandirresponsibletowardmyhealth.Butintermsofthegroup,Iwasbeingwhattheywantedmetobeforthem.Intermsofresponsibilitytowardchildren,Iwastold"it'snotthequantityoftimeyouspendwithyourchildren,it'sthequalityoftime."

IllustratingconceptsknowntoNewAgethinking,Holmesaddressedvolunteers:

"There'sawindowoftimeandit'sthenexttwentyyearsoreighteenyearsinwhichpeoplehavetheopportunitytobeonEarthtogofromthePisceanAgetotheAquarianAge...it'sauniquetimeinhistory.Itwon'tcomearoundagainafterwegetthereforanother2000yearsandithasn'tbeenaroundfor2000years.Itisnow.Nokidding."*45

Following the statement, Holmes congratulated each volunteer for having created that. Thisreinforcesthephilosophythatwecreateourownreality:

"...itisaspecialtime.Acknowledgeit.AndthenlookdeepintoyourSelfandseehowyouwanttoparticipateinit.Youcreatedittohere,nowhowareyougoingtoplayinit?...So,giventhatyouhavedesignedtheworldtobealiveatthiswindowoftime,giventhatyou'reconsciousandthatyou'reparticipatingandthatyouhavethetoolsnow,nokidding,togivethatgifttoeveryone,nowistheopportunitytodoit.Oneofthethingswewanttolookatforaminuteisthetargetsthatyou'vesetup."*46

Inlookingatthetargets,HolmesdistinguishedbetweenMindandSelf:

"Icongratulateyouforsettingthem[targets]asgroupandlookingintotheUniverseandseeingwhatthetruthwasandputtingitdown.I'mclearthey'rewaytoohighforyoutohavecomefromyourMind...I'mclearthatyourSelfsetthetargets...somyfinalwordaboutthetargets?MAKE

THEM."*47

Sincevolunteersarecontinuouslysurroundedwiththeseabstractions, it is commonforthemtobegintoaligntheirwholeliveswiththegoalsoftheorganization.Oftentheywillsubjugatetheirrelationships,businessesortheirmarriagestotheendofhunger.Itwascommontohearvolunteerssay"mylifeisaboutTheHungerProject"or"mylifeisabouttheendofhunger."Astheyaccepttheconcept"weareOne,"theyidentifymorecloselywithboththehungrypeopleintheworldandwithTheHungerProject.Atconferences,staffoftentoldvolunteers,"youARETheHungerProject."These slogans represent the philosophy that produces the zeal, the intense commitment, theenthusiasmandthesenseofurgencyexhibitedbyHungerProjectvolunteersandstaff.Itisalsoareasonthat whenever someonecriticizes theorganization(either est/TheForumor TheHungerProject)theindividualfeelsasthoughtheyarepersonallybeingcriticized.Healthyegoboundarieshavebeeneliminated.

JoanHolmesspokepersonallyabouthavingherwholelifebeTheHungerProject.Sheencouragedvolunteers to live their life by theabstractions. In speakingof theSelf, fromwhich theSourceDocumentandTheHungerProjectissaidtobegenerated,Holmessaid:

"Thereis,infact,agreatinauthenticityofSelfgeneratedbyanyandallacculturation.AndthatinauthenticityofSelfisexactlythepersistenceofhunger.AnditisthatTheHungerProjectwillcallintoquestion...culture,nationalismandsovereigntyaswe'vedefineditinthiscountry,Canadaoranyother country at this time, does not allowus enoughspace for us to tell the truth aboutourselves thatweare responsible for everyone. Thecultural boundaries, thenationalism, thedivisionsintheworldthathaveusseparateourSelvesherefromourSelvesinothercountriesisthepersistenceofhungeranditiswhatTheHungerProjectintendstotransform...TheHungerProjectisSelf. TheHungerProject is transformation orthetruenatureofTheHungerProject isSelf andtransformation."*48

Throughoutconferences,therewasanemphasisontherelationshipoflovebetweenstaff,JoanHolmesandvolunteers.JoanHolmespraisedvolunteersby"acknowledgingtheirmagnificence,"withhervoicecrackingandeyesfilledwithtears.Herlastcommunicationstovolunteersconsistof"Iloveyou."Theemotionalattachmentswithinthevolunteersarebuiltgraduallyonseverallevels.First,mostofthevolunteershavetakenWernerErhard'sprogramsandhaveasenseofgratitudeand love toward him and/or the organization for the transformation they believe they haveachieved. Second, volunteers are praised by the leaders of The Hunger Project for beingtransformedindividualswhoareactuallyendinghungerintheworldbyworkingonthemselvesandkeeping their word to produce the results The Hunger Project expects. Third, through viewingmoviesandvideosofhungry,oftenstarving,peopleandbeingreinforcedintheideathatweareallone,theindividualisbondedtothestarvingpeopleoftheworldandacceptsagreatamountofresponsibilityforthemandguiltshouldtheresultstheypromisednotbeproduced.Theweboflove,commitment,responsibilityandalackofhealthyegoboundariestightensandtightens.

Inrelatingtotheabstractionthat"wearethehungrypeople,"andinstatingthestatisticsofhowmanyofusdieeachminuteofhunger,thereisasenseofurgencyinstilledinthevolunteers.Usingquotesfromexpertsinthefieldofhunger,volunteersaretoldthatourworkisTHEmostimportantworkbeingdoneontheplanet.WhenaddressingvolunteersconcerningthemiraclesTheHungerProjecthasproduced,JoanHolmesusedtheopportunitytowarnofthedangersthattheMindwouldtrytogetustostopdoingthework.Inthisinstance,shetookemotionalmanipulationastepfurtherwhenspeakingoftheMindtryingtostopuswhilewewereonawin:

"Ordoyouwantonyourtombstones,'IwasaboutendinghungerandwhenIreducedthedeathstoamillion,Istopped.Itwasgoodenoughforme.Ididn'tthinkIshouldgoalltheway2milliononly24babies[dying]perminute.Thatwastolerabletome.See,Igotitdownfrom28people[dyingperminute]to2421children[dyingperminute]to18andthatwasgoodenough.AndmyMindsaidIshouldtakearestandIwentintoagreementwithit.'"*49

On theother hand, whenvolunteers recommitted themselves to the work, they were termed"courageous,bold,daring,warriors,onthecuttingedge,"anditwasstressedthatwhenwereachtheendofhunger,weprobablywillneverbegiventhecredit,butWEknowwearetheoneswho

didit,weauthoredtheendofhunger.Wearethepioneers,themoderndayPaulReveres.

Stressing the importance of our work, Nathan Gray addressed volunteers, speaking of hisexperiencewithagroupof75nursesinIndiawhoreducedtheIMRintheirarea.Hecomparedthetargets of thosewomenwhowereactually keepingbabies alive tothetargets ofTheHungerProjectvolunteers:

"ButIwanttotellyou,ourtargetsareasimportantastheirtargetswhat'smoreaccurate,yourtargets are interchangeable with theirs. Don't bullshit yourself. Don't let anybody expert orsocalledexpertoranybodytellyoudifferently."*50

TowardtheendofmyaffiliationwithTheHungerProjectandest,IhadadisagreementwiththeNewYorkStateVolunteerManagerconcerningwhethermyhusbandandIwoulddeliver14cards(filledoutbyparticipantsinanEndingHungerBriefingthatwehadledthatday)totheairportinthemiddleofthenighttoflythemtoCaliforniasotheycouldbecountedinthecampaigntargetthenextday.Iwastold,"don'tyouknowthateverypersonyoubriefisonelesspersondyingofhunger?"Bythistime,wehadreceivedfivephonecallsfromHungerProjectstaffmembersinSanFranciscoandotherBriefingLeaderswhowereattendingaBriefingLeaders' Trainingthere.WeweretoldthatJoanHolmeswouldnot "bewith"thebriefingleadersuntil theyhadmadetheirtargets. Only thosecards "in house" counted. Onestaff member told me(after midnight) thatbriefingleaders'livesdependedontheirhavingthose14cardsbythenextday.Itwasinhearingstatementslikethesethatmygnawingconcernsgrewtoanintolerablelevel.WhenwetookourcriticismstoTheHungerProjectStaff(wehadanagreementto"clear"allcomplaintswithstaff),theypromptlyapologizedonlyfortheinappropriatetimingandnumberofcalls.But,staffwasnotwillingtoberesponsibleforthethinkingandthepressuresthatcausedtheincident.

TheFour"Sourced"ProgramsOfTheHungerProject:

1.Enrollment.(nolongerinexistence)

EnrollmentwastheprimarytargetofTheHungerProject.Enrollmentconsistedofgettingsomeonetofilloutandsignacardcommittingthemselvestotheendofhunger.Tovolunteers,itwastheheartandsoulofTheHungerProject.LynneTwistspokeaboutenrollment:

"EnrollmentisacodewordforSelf...[it]isacodewordforbeingwithapersoninawaythattheyexperiencewhotheyare,evenforamoment.Theywillneverforgetit.Eveniftheydon'trememberit....Enrollmentistrulyacodewordfortheclearingthateachofuswantsaroundusinourlives."*51

AccordingtoTheHungerProject,acriticalmassofpeopleenrolledwillresult intheactualityofhunger'send.TheoriginalSourceDocumentillustratedthecriticalmass:

"OffthecoastofJapanareanumberoftinyislandswhereresidentpopulationsofmacaqueshavebeenundercontinuousobservationformorethan20years.Thescientistsprovidesupplementaryfood,butthemonkeysalsofeedthemselvesbydiggingupsweetpotatoesandeatingthem,dirtandall.Thisuncomfortablepracticecontinuedunchangedformanyyearsuntilonedayayoungmalemonkeybrokewithtraditionandcarriedhispotatodowntotheseawherehewasheditbeforeeatingit.Hetaughtthetricktohismother,whoshowedittohercurrentmateandsotheculturespreadthroughthecolonyuntilmostofthem,letussay99monkeysweredoingit.ThenoneTuesdaymorningateleven,thehundredthindividualacquiredthehabit, andwithinanhour, itappearedontwootherislandsintwophysicallyuncommentedpopulationsofmoneyswhountilthatmomenthadshownnoinclinationtowashtheirfood.

Ibelievethatideasinhumansocietiesspreadinthesamekindofwayandthatwhenenoughofusholdsomethingtobetrue,thenitbecomestrueforeveryone."*52

AfterleavingTheHungerProject,Idiscoveredrefutationof"The100thMonkeyTheory"aswrittenbyWatson.Watson,himselfadmittedthathetookcertain"scientificlicense"inhistheory.Therewerenoteven100monkeysinthebehaviorobservation.*53 Theobservationofnotewasthatayoungmonkeytaughthisparentanewbehavior.Othermonkeysonotherislandslearnedthebehavior,

butapotatowasher,"Jugo,"swamfromoneislandtoanother.

Inspeakingaboutenrollmenttargets,Twistsaid:"thetargetsareallagame.So,oneneedstoplayagamelikethere'snothingmoreimportantthanwhatyou'redoing."*54

"Enrollment" followed Cialdini's criteria for modern persuasion: commitment and consistency.*55

Cialdini,aProfessorofPsychologyatArizonaStateUniversity,statesthatoncewehavetakenastand, wewill encounter personal and interpersonal pressures to behave consistently with thecommitment.Thosepressureswillcauseustorespondinwaysthatjustifyourearlierdecision.Thisdrivetobeconsistentconstitutesahighlypotentweaponofsocialinfluence,oftencausingustoact in ways that are clearly contrary to our ownbest interests. Oncewehavecommitted tosomething,wereallydon'thavetothinkhardabouttheissueanymore.Often,therearedisturbingthings we simply would rather not realize in relation to this commitment and an automaticconsistencycansupplyasafehidingplacefromthosetroubling realizations. As this automaticconsistencyfunctionsasashieldagainstcriticalthought,itcanbeexploitedbythosewhowouldpreferthatwenotthinktoomuchinresponsetotheirrequests.

Whatisthekeytogetapersonintothisautomaticconsistencymode?Commitment.Onceonegoesonrecordas"committed",(or"enrolled")thereisanaturaltendencytobehaveinwaysthatare stubbornly consistent with the stand. Onceaperson's self image is altered to have thembelievethattheyarethetypeofpersonwhoiscommitted,[totheendofhunger]allsortsofsubtleadvantagesbecomeavailabletosomeonewhowantstoexploitthatnewimage.Theeffectofthechangeinselfimage[youarebold,courageous,audacious,committed,magnificent,etc.]islasting,accordingtoCialdini.Thevolunteerislikelytocontinuehisbehaviorforaslongashisnewselfimageholds.

2.IncomeandFinancialFamily

TheFinancialFamilyisaprograminwhichonemakesapledgetocontributeacertainamountofmoney each month to The Hunger Project. Other income programs include(d) ContributionMeetings,MajorLeadershipProgram(wherepeopleagreetocontribute$10,000ormore).LynneTwist tells volunteers that "wetakeyour$25andempower thetransformationof theplanet."*56

SincetheinceptionofTheHungerProject,ithastakeninover$85million(asof1992).Ofthatfigure,$2.5millionhasbeenexpendedingrants.Thatis2.97%.Notallgrantsareallocatedtoorganizationsthatdirectlyfeedthehungryoraredevelopmentorganizations.Forexample,in1992,agrantwasgiventoTheHungerProject India intheamountof$99,523. AnotherwasgiventoTheHungerProjectBangladesh for $19,300 andanother toCONAPOR/Senegal Council, sent in careof LeHungerProject,Senegalintheamountof$114,000.

TheHungerProjecthasneverprofessedtobeareliefordevelopmentagency.Ifapersonasksdirectly,theywillbetoldthatfact.Ifapersondoesnotask,theywillnotbemadeawareofthatfactuntilandunlesstheyreadHungerProjectmaterials.TheHungerProjectstatesthatitdoestheworkofeducationandraisingthecommitmenttoendhungerwithitsmoney.ItcannotbeproventhatmoneyflowsdirectlyfromTheHungerProjectintoWernerErhardorhisentitiesexceptfortherepaymentofthemoniesandequipment loanedtoTheHungerProject intheearlydaysof itsdevelopment.ButasIhavedemonstratedpreviously,thereismuchmoretoTheHungerProject'sagendathaneducation.

3.TheEndingHungerBriefingProgram(nolongerinexistence)

TheBriefingwasatwotofourhourlecturethatTheHungerProjectpromotedtothepublicasaneducationalexperience.ThesebriefingswereledbyBriefingLeaders,whowerespeciallyselectedandtrainedvolunteers.Infact,volunteerspaidtobetrainedtobecomeBriefingLeaders.BriefingLeaderstargetedthenumberofBriefingstheywouldlead,thenumberofpersonstobebriefed,thenumberofenrollments,contributionsandnewvolunteerstheywouldproduceoutoftheBriefingforeachcampaign.

BriefingLeadersweretoldthattheBriefingis"atransformationalexperienceinwhichpeoplearemovedtothatplaceinthemselvesthatwecalltheSelf."*57 Theinformationgiveninthebriefing

was "displayed in a way that allows the Mind to bebypassedbecause your Mind is fed byinformation.TheBriefingdeliversit[transformation]camouflagedinalegitimatepackagecallededucationorinformation."*58

AspecialcampaignfortheEndingHungerBriefingProgramtargetedschoolsforbriefings.JoanHolmessaid:

"Youwillbriefyoungpeopleinawaysothatthecommitmenttoendhungerislocatedinthem.Andyouknowhowirritatingtheycanbe.So,iftheywantsomething,they'regoingtogetit,aren'tthey?Imean,they'reruthlesspeople,andIconsideritthekindofsecretweaponofTheHungerProjecttounleashthemontheworld."*59

In1990,TheHungerProjectinitiatedaprogramcalledYouthEndingHunger(YEAH).ItseemsthattheorganizationlistenedtoJoanHolmes'commentsabouttheenergyandruthlessnessofyouthandhowtousethosequalitiesfortheorganization'sbenefit.

Deception,Dependency&Dread

In describing the process of mind control, Michael Langone, Ph.D., Director of Research andEducationfortheAmericanFamilyFoundationreferstomindcontrolorthoughtreformasaprocessinwhichagrouporindividualsystematicallyusesunethicallymanipulativemethodstopersuadeotherstoconformtothewishesofthemanipulator(s),oftentothedetrimentoftheperson(s)beingmanipulated.Hedescribesthestagesofmindcontrolasdeception,dependencyanddread.First,thegroup/leadermustpersuadeprospectsthatthegroupisbeneficialinsomewaythatappealsto the targeted individuals. As a result of this deception and the systematic use of highlymanipulative techniques of influence, recruits come to commit themselves to the group'sprescribed ways of thinking, feeling, and acting; in other words, they become members. Bygradually isolating members from outside influences [often by discrediting other sources ofinformation],establishingunrealisticallyhigh,guiltinducingexpectations,punishinganyexpressionsof "negativity," and denigrating independent critical thinking, the group causes members tobecomeextremelydependentonitscomplianceorientedexpressionsofloveandsupport.Onceastateofdependencyisfirmlyestablished,thegroup'scontrolovermembers'thoughts,feelings,andbehavior is strengthened by the members' growing dread of losing the group's psychologicalsupport(overtthreatsalsooccurinsomegroups),howevermuchthatsupportmayaimatensuringtheircompliancewithleadership'softendebilitatingdemands.*60

Conclusion

In my opinion, the issue that remains at the forefront concerning The Hunger Project is thediscrepancybetweenwhatTheHungerProjectpresentstothepublicanditshiddenagenda,aswell as the methods used on volunteers to produce its results. Many wellintentioned andwellknownpeople,nothavingthisinformation,havejoinedforceswithTheHungerProjecttoendworld hunger. The Hunger Project uses its growing number of individual enrollments andendorsementsbyinfluentialpeopletogainmorepoliticalpower,acceptanceandcredibility.DoesWernerErhardstandtobenefitfromthiscredibilityandpoliticalpower?

Thephilosophyremainsthesame,maskedundertheir"principlesandabstractions."Asthe"fundbalance"(themoneynotusedeachyear)ofTheHungerProjectgrows,peoplestilldieofhunger.Willanideafeedthem?Will"opportunity?"Willanideahelpthemfeedthemselvesandbecomeselfsufficient?Orwillthatideatransformtheworld?Transformationaccordingtowhom?Whenwehavenomore"nationalboundariesandacculturationthatkeepshungerinplace,"won'tweneedaworldleader?Whomightthatbe?WernerErhard?

EndNotes:1.TheHungerProject.May1978."It'sOurPlanetIt'sOurHungerProject"SanFrancisco,CA:TheHungerProject[pamphlet]2.Ibid.3.Holmes,Joan.August1977."ManagingTheHungerProject:...thejoyofit,thecelebration"TheGraduateReview.4.Fuller,R.W.&Wallace,Z.December1975."ALookatestinEducation"[Pamphletpublishedbyest]

5.Holmes,Joan.loc.cit.P.116.Alman,Bob.September1977."AnIdeaWhoseTimeHasCome,"TheGraduateReview7.Ibid.8.Holmes,Joan.November1980Memo9.Alman,loc.cit.,p.310.Erhard,Werner."AllICanDoIsLie"September1974,East/WestJournal,p.2.11.Ibid.p.312.Brewer,Mark."We'reGonnaTearYouDownandPutYouBackTogether"PsychologyToday,August197513.Ibid.p.314.Finkelstein,Peter,Wenegrat,B.&Yalcom,I.1982."LargeGroupAwarenessTraining"AnnualReviewofPsychologyp.52415.Glass,Leonard,MD;Kirsch,M.,MDandParris,F.,MD"PsychiatricDisturbancesAssociatedwithErhardSeminarsTraining:I.AReportofCases"AmericanJournalofPsychiatry,March1977and"PsychiatricDisturbancesAssociatedwithErhardSeminarsTraing:IIAReportofCases"AmericanJournalofPsychiatry,November197716.Bartley,W.W.,III.WernerErhard:TheTransformationofaMan,ClarksonN.Potter,Inc.,NewYork,197817.Ibid.p.6416218.Ibid.p.15619.Ibid.p.16616820.Gordon,Suzanne."LetThemEatest"MotherJones,December197821.Cox,Don."StatementbyDonCox,Presidentofest,anEducationalCorporation,"November4,197822.Garvey,Kevin."HungerProject:Erhard'sestlaboratory"OurTown,April13throughApril19,198023.Knowles,LouisL.AGuidetoWorldHungerOrganizations,1984.Seeds/Alternatives24.Tanner,John."HungryforConverts"NewInternationalist,June,198525.Ibid.26.Clark,JackandChapin,Jim."ItDoesn'tAddUp"Seeds,December,198427.Behar,RichardandKing,RalphJr."TheWindsofWerner"and"Fuzzy,butFervent"Forbes,November18,198528.Bell,DanielandWeston,Brendan."HungerProjectFeedsItself"TheMcGillDaily,February13,1985.McGillUniversity,Montreal,Canada29.Moore,Toby."Exposed:thecharitythat'fights'hungerbutwon'tfeedthehungry"The(London)SundayTimes,15June198530.Leaf,Marty."CelebrateEachDay"QuantumLeap,TheHungerProjectNewsletterNortheastRegion.October197831.States,Katherine."GoodMorning,You'reTerrific:LifeatanestFirm"TheAmericanLawyer,August,198132.TheHungerProject."GeneratingWorkability"NorthAmericanVolunteerConference,February,198333.Erhard,Werner"DefinitionofResponsibility,"197934.TheHungerProject."BriefingLeaderGuidelinesandAgreements"TheEndingHungerBriefingProgram,March198535..Holmes,Joan."WhatIsTheHungerProject?"TheHungerProjectSourceMaterial,February1985fromaneditedtranscriptofJanuary23,1985GlobalMeeting,SanFrancisco36.Bartley,W.W.,III.WernerErhard37.TheHungerProject."ConversationwithJoanHolmes,LynneTwist,CherylNewbroughon'LoveandRelationship'"SanFrancisco,CA,May22,1980(audiotape)38.Ibid.39.Ibid.40.Bartley,W.W.,III."APlaceToTellTheTruth"TheGraduateReview,est.May,1978.P.241.JoanHolmes."JoanHolmesatVolunteerConferencewithNathanGray"TheHungerProject,SanFrancisco,CA,May29,1982(audiotape)42.Ibid.43.Ibid.44.Ibid.45.Ibid.46.Ibid.47.Ibid.48.Holmes,Joan."EndingHungerBriefingConference"theHungerProject,SanFrancisco,CA,January1983(audiotape)49.Holmes,Joan."...volunteerConferencewithNathanGray"50.Ibid.

51.Twist,LynneandParrish,Catherine."TheFourSourcedProgramsofTheHungerProject."TheHungerProject,March,1985(audiotape)52."ATransformation"AnIdeaWhoseTimeHasCome.TheHungerProject,1977.WrittenbyWernerErhard.Quotationfrom:LyallWatson,forwardtoRhythmsofVisionbyLawrenceClair53.Amundson,Ron."TheHundredthMonkeyPhenomenon"TheSkepticalInquirer,Summer,198554.Twist,LynneandParrish,Catherine.FourSourcedPrograms...55.Cialdini,RobertB.InfluenceScott,Foresman&co.,198556.Twist,LynnandParrish,Catherine.FourSourcedPrograms...57.Ibid.58.Ibid.59.Holmes,Joan."JoanHolmes:EndingHungerBriefingConference",TheHungerProject,SanFrancisco,CA,January1983(audiotape)60.Langone,Michael.RecoveryfromCults.W.W.Norton,1994,p.7