Justification

At a "wolf at the door" writing workshop in March 2011, we were tasked, within 10 minutes to do the following:
1) Write your autobiography in exactly 100 words
2) Whittle it down to 30
3) Now sum-up your life in this number of non-hyphenated words: one.

For me, that word was 'justify'.

10 web-pages with photos and films make up www.imperfectidealist.blogspot.com and within these pages there is only a hint of the book's central secret.

Two days after the writing workshop, I recognise that, on one level, all 200 odd pages of The Imperfect Idealist are, so to speak, just a longer justification of my existence.

Reasons to pre-order a copy of 'The Imperfect Idealist'

Being human, on a planet over-crowded with words, those of us who try the patience of others with our use of them, and all of us who use fossil fuels more quickly than the rate of their natural production are all guilty of the crime of unsustainability.
How then can we live by the dictum "do no harm"?
Some unethical behaviour is gross; some more subtle.

"This book is, oh, so much more than an amusing and poignant social commentary by a sort of failed romantic whose work on freelender.org was once described by the leading environmental think tank, Forum for the Future, as 'ahead of its time'"

"But aren't you confusing the themes of guilt, of justice, of sharing resources equitably?"
I reply: "These themes are all one, and the sooner we integrate at a level of greater generosity and learning how all can be enriched by our conflicts, the better."

I share my journey, written in installments 22 years apart, in order to get some perspective that may be of value to others interested in facing up to a less than spotless past.

If you've ever been affected by crime, or aggrieved with anyone, this book is particularly telling in the story of years spent putting right such wrongs. (This was well before the TV series 'My Name is Earl' presented a fictional karma-cleansing).

The work is ongoing that brings new insights and meaning out of facing personal difficulties with encountering "the other".

My teacher says that the experience of sitting down to write an autobiography is that it brings into relief all the things that you are unwilling to share publically. For me, this is the working ground; what to share of my imperfections in order to become more ethically refined?

By testing myself in what I am willing to share about my own journey, I hope I offer something useful; that this book is more than just entertaining in an Adrian Mole way. 

• "This book of disclosure and personal enquiry will open doors between hearts."
• "If you actually read it, it will inform your choices of what to take and what to leave behind in life."
"Why not use this book to prepare to give appropriately next time an imperfect idealist comes knocking on your door?"

The book will be published in 2011 and is available for £20; or £10 if you order the version for Amazon Kindle.
Please place pre-orders via the Mediation Support Ltd contact form.

Front Cover

 The Imperfect Idealist
-one flawed case in restorative justice.

By Paul Crosland, instigator of the book: "40 Cases: Restorative Justice & Victim-Offender Mediation"; which is now available on Amazon Kindle for £5 payment to Mediation Support Ltd; use this contact form please.

Described by his defence barrister as "the most idealistic man I've ever met", Paul Crosland begins this autobiographical story aged 44, working as a charity fund-raiser, knocking door to door in London, in order to end the caste system in India.

"I work as I door-knocker; fund-raising. Near the beginning of this book, I recount a charged encounter with Tony Blair, who had invited me to 10, Downing Street to thank me for my work on behalf of the victims of crime.


Now aged 44, I believe the most useful work that can be undertaken alongside (or possibly outside) a spiritual journey is the work to heal past harms to the extent that's possible. No process of a 'victim' being approached by an 'offender who wants to put things right' is perfect, and so, I continue my quest for the Holy Grail of Restorative Justice."

About the author:
Paul Crosland is, amongst all the other things he doesn't quite handle perfectly, a Charity Trustee, on sabbatical amidst controversy informed by an 'enemy-image' held that Paul is like an anarchist throwing bombs at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Others say Paul is ahead of his time and an innovator most likely to reduce youth offending and youth custody with the developments -including a Restorative Justice iPhone app - being proposed by Restorative Technology Ltd, of which he is CEO and sole director. Paul hopes this book will help generate a team willing to work with him.

The Restorative Technology Ltd vision is both to enable increased understanding between those involved in and affected by crimes and also to encourage responsibility being taken by all who can contribute to generating safer societies.

As if this was 'enough', Paul also tries to:

• promote www.streetbank.com  
• co-create a "more caring, sharing Hastings  
• raise £1/day to support each student at his favourite place in India; the Nagarjuna Training Institite, Nagaloka, near Nagpur.

Words below from Paul's best friend in India, Nagamitra (नगमित्र) धम्म दाना


Nagamitra speaking in Hindi:



Support some students yourself!:
If you want to support one or more students, you can support them:

• to complete their year at the Nagaloka Nagarjuna Training Institute (which costs £28 per student per month), 
• to carry on their studies and develop their intitiatives beyond Nagaloka.

If you want to support Nagaloka directly you can: "Dream Cycle")
All money donated goes to India, and I'll even cover bank overheads for you. Please request what % of your money donated through Mediation Support Ltd you want to go directly to the Nagaloka Institute and what % to the support of individual students beyond their time at Nagaloka by naming your preferred student(s):

"I found that I could afford to support 3 students at the Nagarjuna Institute at Nagaloka for the next four months. I'm glad to have been given this opportunity to make a difference enabling three students complete their academic year at Nagaloka. If you wish to support students and avoid bank fees, I will cover the bank fees for the payments"

Paul Crosland, Director, Mediation Support Ltd

If you want to email Paul Crosland at Mediation Support Ltd to discuss making a donation, please do so via this form and I'll phone back any UK numbers or arrange an international call at a mutually convenient time.
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