Chris Long, World ElderChris Long was born in Berkshire, England in 1927 and grew up a farmer's son. He has an agriculture degree from Reading University. He has four children, 14 grandchildren, and a growing number of great grandchildren. He currently lives in British Columbia, Canada, with wife Joycelyn.
Chris has lived and worked on three continents. His experiences are varied: from coal mining to acting and public speaking; from labour negotiations to volunteer teaching (in his 70s!) at an isolated, rural primary school in Swaziland, Africa; from travelling salesman to assisting with drafting of forestry policy and legislation for the Swazi government, from ranching to taking calls on the Vancouver Crisis Line; from managing his own nursery and landscape business to raising his four children. At 82, Chris continues to travel, work, learn, and volunteer. As well as informal learning, Chris takes classes each winter at Douglas Community College, B.C.
Through his varied experiences and as a result of befriending people of many races and faiths, Chris has grown to have a deep understanding of human nature. His never-ending thirst for knowledge ensures he is always current with the latest world affairs and crises. Chris Long truly is befitting of the description, "world elder".
[Almost all indigenous cultures recognize the value of the "elders" in their communities. They are revered for the depth of knowledge accumulated through their lives, as well as their ability to see both sides of a question, thus giving well-reasoned impartial advice. Rather than dismissing age in favour of youth, the world needs to return to a respect for wisdom born of experience.]
Chris is an avid reader and writer. His favourite children's book of all time is Kenneth Grahaeme's Wind in the Willows. His writings include a comprehensive survey of Swazi flora (which can be found online here) , journals documenting his many travel and other life adventures, essays on world and local politics, and poetry. In 2008, a limited edition of only 50 copies of "Selected Poems of Chris Long" ( a few copies are still available here) was printed, being a representative selection of Chris's thoughts and observations over 60 years (1944 to 2004). |
