Hi,
I've been invited to a lecture by Lee James soon in Korea, and will be writing an article about the event.
I have an interest in cults and have developed the world's largest resource on a Korean based cult, http://www.jmscult.com and I have to admit what I am reading about BK is disturbing. If anyone has any specific info on Lee James, especially regarding his qualifications and experience, I would appreciate it.
The following about Lee James was sent along with email invitations to the event. I could find no reference to his "internationally acclaimed" play on Google and I noticed that despite listing counselling experience, no formal qualifications are listed and it is specifically stated that he did not finish his psychology degree. I am from Australia too and have never heard of the guy, so I find the reference to him being at the forefront of Australian drama to be suspicious.
There is a Internet Movie Database reference http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0416692/ to a "Lee James," born in the same city but one of the films he is listed as working on was released when he would have been 9 years old. That's if he was born in 1960. Very strange ...
I know imbd is not always accurate, but if he is an actor, he should have a listing on imdb.
I've been invited to a lecture by Lee James soon in Korea, and will be writing an article about the event.
I have an interest in cults and have developed the world's largest resource on a Korean based cult, http://www.jmscult.com and I have to admit what I am reading about BK is disturbing. If anyone has any specific info on Lee James, especially regarding his qualifications and experience, I would appreciate it.
The following about Lee James was sent along with email invitations to the event. I could find no reference to his "internationally acclaimed" play on Google and I noticed that despite listing counselling experience, no formal qualifications are listed and it is specifically stated that he did not finish his psychology degree. I am from Australia too and have never heard of the guy, so I find the reference to him being at the forefront of Australian drama to be suspicious.
There is a Internet Movie Database reference http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0416692/ to a "Lee James," born in the same city but one of the films he is listed as working on was released when he would have been 9 years old. That's if he was born in 1960. Very strange ...
I know imbd is not always accurate, but if he is an actor, he should have a listing on imdb.
Biodata
Lee James was born on April 1st 1960 in Cairns, Australia. He moved from a major in Psychology at Queensland University to Acting. He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1982 and for several years enjoyed success at the forefront of Australian drama. Last year in 2003, he upgraded to a bachelor degree of acting with his thesis entitled “Back From the Edge – Empowering the Actor”.
In April 1990, Lee moved to Japan to coordinate a meditation centre in Tokyo, work as a field advisor to World Health Organization on social trauma and disaster relief, and study the Noh and Bhuto dance forms.
He has spent the last 20 years touring Asia conducting programs for universities, theatre companies, government institutions and private corporations and in July-August 2002 he lectured and performed in 20 different countries over a 40-day period.
In April 2003 Lee returned to Australia and is now based in Sydney. He will continue his association with WHO projects outside of Australia but his main focus is in setting up a therapeutic theatre company in Sydney. The aim and vision of this company will be to bring to the stage the esoteric questions and states of being that seem so important to the quality of daily life, yet are often excluded from contemporary theatre. His own internationally acclaimed one-man show, The Quiet Dance will be brought to the stage in late 2004.
Social Work
Life Support Counseling (1998 – on-going)
This program began in Japan in 1998 and offers social workers, doctors and nursing staff the opportunity to expand their perceptions and fields of learning in all aspects of life support, especially that of hospice care (palliative care). Participants are offered the chance to broaden their views of life and death, and receive some practical methods for self-sustenance, including time and personal energy management.
Referred Counselor
Lee has counseled patients referred by doctors and hospital staff at four Tokyo hospitals, working with children with terminal illnesses, cancer patients and staff in palliative care, AIDS and post-operative care.
Current and On-going Projects 2004.
Volunteer Counselor
Half of Lee’s counseling hours are part of a United Nations volunteer counselors program. Love of Listening seminars have continued since 2000. People who have benefited include relatives of victims of the September 11th 2001 terrorist attack and the Bali bombing last year.
International Projects
Post-trauma counseling and training
Independent advisor to government agencies (eg: education, youth affairs, emergency services) and WHO for South East Asia. Dealing with emergency ‘in field’ support and training after social or natural disasters, specifically working with emergency crews and victims. Notable missions include:- Aum Shinrikyo (rehabilitation of past cult members) and post trauma for subway gas victims.
Since 2000, Lee has worked with ‘war children’ (those who’ve grown up and lost relatives in war) including the Palestinian Territories and Israel, East Timor, Angola and Bosnia.
- Hiroshima bus jacking;
- Kobe earthquake 1995; Taiwan earthquake 1999; Iran earthquake 2003/2004.
- land mine rehabilitation (Cambodia);
- drug rehabilitation (all SE Asia);
- suicide intervention and prevention (Japan, Korea);
- time/resource/stress management (China, Hong Kong, Malaysia);
- hospice support (inc. Philippines);
- post traumatic stress – training social workers in East Timor 1999, 2000, 2001)
- September 11th 2001 – Post trauma at Ground Zero New York;
- International AIDS Conferences (1997, 1999,2001);
- hostage negotiation inc. Indonesia (Aceh 2002,2003) and the Philippines
(Mindanao 2001,2002).
Lee hopes to apply the techniques learned to the plight of the urban aborigine.
Personal/Governmental/Mental Health Management (inc. indigenous peoples)
All Asia workshops, topics including Adapting to Change; Stress Free Environments; Least Effort, Greatest Result; WHolistic Health; Mind-Body-Spirit; Re-sourcing; Back to Alpha; and the Back From the Edge series.
Projects in Japan and Australia
In between
A series of workshops for educators, helping them in conflict resolution within the classroom, values education, and self-sustenance and support groups (Teachers Union, Tokyo)
Youth Retreats : The Hero Within
Retreats on a local and national level to facilitate self-empowerment, leadership and ‘living values’. In 2000, Lee completed an advisory paper on bullying in high schools.
Therapeutic Theatre
The Light Company’s philosophy includes various Mind, Body, Spirit methodologies that are carried out in hospices (for the elderly and AIDS patients), schools (countering bullying, empowerment and responsibility and conflict resolution) and in dealing with post trauma of personal or environmental disaster and/ or social crisis.