OBE may stand for:

• Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• Out-of-body experience
• Out-Of-Box Experience
• Open Back-End, functionality in computer software
• Off-budget enterprise, type of government body
• Outcome-based education
• Ottawa Board of Education
• Overcome By Events or Overtaken By Events, term from military strategy
• Original Black Entertainment TV, British-based television network available on Sky Digital
• O.B.E., Scottish disco house/funk/punk band
• Operating basis earthquake

Obe may refer to:

• Obe (Afghanistan), town also known as Obwi or Obeh
• Obe District in Afghanistan

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Anthony Peake (born 1954) is a British author whose work focuses on near-death experience, deja vu and the nature of reality.^[1]

Biography[link]

Peake has suggested a different explanation as to what happens to human consciousness at the point of death. This theory, which he terms Cheating the Ferryman was first published in the International Journal of Near Death Studies in 2004 and later described in his book Is There Life After Death? (2006). The theory involves Peake's unorthodox interpretation of the latest theories of quantum mechanics, neurology and consciousness studies and concludes that at the point of death the dying person is presented with a literal minute-by-minute recreation of their life in 'real time' from their subjective viewpoint. This inwardly generated 'reality' is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.^[2]

According to (Pillow, 2010) Peake is a dualist who argues that the human body is occupied by two entities, "one materialistic (ego) and one transcendent (spirit)".^[3] In his book The Daemon (2008) Peake has suggested that migraines and past lives could be linked.^[4]

Peake proposes that four seemingly conflicting theories of quantum physics - the Implicate Order of David Bohm, the Many-Worlds Interpretation of Hugh Everett, the Copenhagen Interpretation of Niels Bohr and the Anthropic Principle of Brandon Carter - can be seen as complementary.

Peake terms this new version of reality the Bohmian IMAX in recognition of Daniel Dennett's Cartesian Theater and the work of David Bohm. Peake therefore suggests purportedly scientifically rational explanations for such puzzling phenomenon as déjà vu, synchronicity and precognition.^[5]

Works published[link]

• Is There Life After Death? The Extraordinary Science Of What Happens When We Die (2006)
• The Daemon: A Guide To Your Extraordinary Secret Self (2008)
• The Out-of-Body Experience: The History and Science of Astral Travel (2011)

See also[link]

• John William Dunne
• H. F. Saltmarsh
• Thomas Warren Campbell
• P. M. H. Atwater

References[link]

External links[link]

• Anthony Peake's web site
• Interview with Anthony Peake. November 2007

Robert Allen Monroe (October 30, 1915–March 17, 1995) was a New York radio broadcasting executive who became known for his research into altered consciousness. His 1971 book Journeys Out of the Body is credited with popularizing the term "out-of-body experience".

Monroe achieved world-wide recognition as an explorer of human consciousness. His research, beginning in the 1950s, produced evidence that specific sound patterns have identifiable, beneficial effects on our capabilities. For example, certain combinations of frequencies appeared to enhance alertness; others to induce sleep; and still others to evoke expanded states of consciousness.

Assisted by specialists in psychology, medicine, biochemistry, psychiatry, electrical engineering, physics, and education, Robert Monroe developed Hemi-Sync, a patented audio technology that is claimed to facilitate enhanced performance.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

He is also notable as one of the founders of the Jefferson Cable Corporation, the first cable company to cover central Virginia.^[6]

Biography[link]

This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (December 2011)

Robert Allen Monroe was born in Indiana, weighing twelve pounds. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and Columbus, Ohio; his mother, Georgia Helen Jordan Monroe, was a non-practicing medical doctor and cellist and piano player. His father, Robert Emmett Monroe, was a college professor of Romance Languages who led tours in Europe in the summers. Monroe had two older sisters, Dorothy and Peggy, and a younger brother, Emmett, who became a medical doctor.

According to his third book "Ultimate Journey",^[7] he dropped out of Ohio State University in his sophomore year due to a hospital stay for a facial burn that caused him to fall behind in his studies. During almost a year away from college, a desire to find work led him to become a hobo who rode freight trains. He returned to college Ohio State to graduate after having studied pre-med, English, engineering and journalism.

He had an early fascination with flying and music and had great mechanical aptitude. He displayed some ability to read music by age four without having studied the subject, perhaps by listening to his mother and sisters playing piano.

He married Jeanette, a graduate student and daughter of a lawyer, in 1937 and divorced her in 1938 or 1939. He married Mary Ashworth, a divorcee with a daughter Maria, in 1950 or 1951, They had Bob's only biological child together, daughter Laurie. They divorced in 1968. He then married Nancy Penn Honeycutt, a divorcee with four children. They remained married until her death from breast cancer in about 1993 or 1994.

Monroe developed ulcers in young adulthood and so was classified 4F (unfit for service) during World War II. He spent the war years working for a manufacturing company that designed a flight-simulator prototype. He wrote for an aviation column in "Argosy" magazine and was given a job with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), for whom he produced a weekly radio show called "Scramble!", the primary purpose of which was to interest youth in aviation.

In 1953 Mr. Monroe formed RAM Enterprises, a corporation that produced network radio programs, as many as 28 programs monthly, principally in dramatic and popular quiz shows.

In 1956 the firm created a Research and Development division to study the effects of various sound patterns on human consciousness, including the sleep state. Monroe was especially attracted to the concept of sleep-learning. This was a natural direction to take, applying to this new area the audio production methods used in the firm's commercial activity. The purpose was to find more constructive uses for such knowledge than was ordinarily available, and the results of this research have become internationally known.

According to his own account, while experimenting with sleep-learning in 1958 Monroe experienced an unusual phenomenon, which he described as sensations of paralysis and vibration accompanied by a bright light that appeared to be shining on him from a shallow angle. Monroe went on to say that this occurred another nine times over the next six weeks, culminating in his first out-of-body experience. Monroe recorded his account in his 1971 book Journeys Out Of The Body and went on to become a prominent researcher in the field of human consciousness.^[1][2][3][4] Monroe later authored two more books, Far Journeys (1985) and Ultimate Journey (1994).

In 1962 the company moved to Virginia, and a few years later changed the corporate name to Monroe Industries. In this location it became active in radio station ownership, cable television, and later in the production and sale of audio cassettes. These cassettes were practical expressions of the discoveries made in the earlier and ongoing corporate research program.

In 1985 the company officially changed its name, once again, to Interstate Industries, Inc. This reflected Monroe’s analogy of how the use of Hemi-Sync serves as a ramp from the “local road” to the “interstate” in allowing people to go "full steam ahead" in the exploration of consciousness, avoiding all of the stops and starts.

The research subsidiary was divested and established as an independent non-profit organization, The Monroe Institute, later in 1985. Interstate Industries, Inc. remains a privately-held company, now doing business as Monroe Products.

Robert Monroe's leadership of the entire program of development were supported for more than 50 years by many specialists who continue their participation to this day. His daughter, Laurie Monroe, continued her father’s research into consciousness and the mind’s potential until her death in 2006. Under the current direction of another of Monroe's daughters, Maria Monroe Whitehead, Monroe's stepson, A. J. Honeycutt, and Teresa West, president of Monroe Products, the company's objective is to continue to expand the Hemi-Sync line of products and their benefits into markets worldwide.

Hemi-Sync[link]

In 1975, Monroe registered the first of several patents^[8][9][10] concerning audio techniques designed to stimulate brain functions until the left and right hemispheres became synchronized. Monroe held that this state, dubbed Hemi-Sync (hemispherical synchronization), could be used to promote mental well being or to trigger an altered state of consciousness. Monroe's concept was based on an earlier hypothesis known as binaural beats and has since been expanded upon a commercial basis by the self-help industry.^[11]

Bibliography[link]

Robert Monroe was the author of three books:

• Journeys Out of the Body (1971) ISBN 0-385-00861-9
• Far Journeys (1985) ISBN 0-385-23182-2
• Ultimate Journey (1994) ISBN 0-385-47208-0

See also[link]

• The Monroe Institute
• Hemi-Sync
• Parapsychology
• Out-of-body experience
• Astral projection
• Lucid dreaming

References[link]

External links[link]

• Monroe Products
• The Monroe Institute
• Monroe biography

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (October 2010)

Robert Charles Swan, OBE, FRGS is the first person to walk to both Poles.^[1]

He was born on 28 July 1956 in Durham, England and attended Aysgarth School and then Sedbergh School (1969–1974) before completing a BA degree in Ancient History (1976–1979) at St Chad's College, Durham University. He is currently an advocate for the protection of Antarctica and renewable energy. Swan is also the founder of 2041, a company which is dedicated to the preservation of the Antarctic^[2] and the author with Gil Reavill of Antarctica 2041: My Quest to Save the Earth's Last Wilderness.^[3]

"In the Footsteps of Scott" (1984–1987)[link]

Southern Quest set sail on November 3, 1984 to travel the 14,842 nautical miles (27,487 km) to Antarctica. The expedition stopped over in Lyttelton, New Zealand to meet Bill Burton, who at 96 years old was the last surviving member of Scott's expedition in 1912. Swan's initial Antarctic expedition was thus officially dubbed "In the Footsteps of Scott". Upon arrival on the frozen continent, Swan and his team spent the Antarctic winter at the 'Jack Hayward' base with colleagues John Tolson and Dr. Michael Stroud. When the winter had passed, Swan, Mear, and Wood set out to walk 900 miles (1,400 km) to the South Pole. They arrived at the South Pole on 11 January 1986, after 70 days without the aid of any radio communications or back-up support and having hauled 350 lb (160 kg) sledges. Swan's team had achieved the longest unassisted march ever made in history. Once at the pole, they received the bad news that their ship, Southern Quest, had been crushed by pack ice and had sunk, just minutes before they arrived. There was much criticism of the adventure from the scientists working in Antarctica as time and money had to be spent in flying some of the party back out to New Zealand. However, Swan returned in 1987 with a ship to collect the rest of the team at 'Jack Hayward' base and to remove all traces of his expedition, i.e., rubbish and remaining stores.

The North Pole (1987–1989)[link]

Three years after reaching the South Pole, Swan assembled a team of eight people from seven nations for an attempt at the North Pole. The team consisted of Dr. Misha Malakhov from Russia, Rupert Summerson of the UK, Graeme Joy of Australia, Arved Fuchs of Germany, Hiroshi Onishi from Japan, Angus Cockney of the Inuit, and Daryl E. Roberts of the USA. The expedition was called "Icewalk". Icewalk's base camp held 22 representatives from 15 different nations. They produced a series of educational films there and facilitated the removal of rubbish from the surrounding Arctic wilderness. Swan and his team reached the North Pole on 14 May 1989. The team nearly drowned during their expedition to the North Pole, due to the unseasonable melting of Arctic ice. Their journey made Swan the first man to walk to both the North and South poles.

From Earth Summit to World Summit (1992–2002)[link]

In 1992, Swan was invited by the United Nations to be a keynote speaker to the first Earth Summit for Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In response to the world leaders' challenge to "think global act local", Swan made a commitment to deliver a global and local environmental mission involving industry, business, and young people to the next World Summit in 2002.

In 1996–97 he organized One Step Beyond, The South Pole Challenge, which brought 35 young adventurers from 25 nations together in Antarctica. They came together to define the global mission that Swan had been tasked with at the Earth Summit. The mission was to remove and recycle 1,500 tons of waste that had been left at Bellinghausen station in Antarctica after decades of scientific research. The team worked for eight years to raise the money, plan, and execute the mission. The rubbish at the Russian base of Bellinghausen, King George Island, was finally cleared and the native penguins reclaimed their beach for the first time in 47 years. After the cleanup, Swan noticed a small, disused scientists' station on the horizon at King George Island. It sparked an idea that generated the concept of the "E-base" – the world's first education station in Antarctica.

Having fulfilled the challenge for a global mission by cleaning up Bellinghausen station, Swan turned his efforts to a local mission. In 2002, Swan and his '2041' sailboat embarked on the longest overland 'voyage' in history. The voyage's destination was the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Swan partnered with 'loveLife' – a charity battling AIDS in South Africa.

The 'voyage' reached out to over 750,000 young people across South Africa. During the World Summit, the 'Ice Station' exhibit was visited by 128 world leaders and 35,000 visitors, including 12,000 young people. It was awarded first prize for outstanding contribution to the World Summit.

Swan was once again charged by the world leaders to continue his mission and report back at the next World Summit for Sustainable Development, ten years later, in 2012.

'2041' and Inspire Antarctic Expeditions (2003–2008)[link]

Swan's 67' foot racing yacht '2041' is named after the year in which the 'Madrid Protocol' comes up for debate. The protocol, signed by nearly every nation, provides additional protection for the Antarctic Treaty and designates the continent as "a Natural Reserve Land for Science and Peace". It also places a ban on mining and mineral exploration in Antarctica for 50 years (1991–2041).

The Cape to Rio Yacht Race, January – April 2003[link]

As the first step to the 2012 World Summit, Swan brought a team of young African leaders on '2041' for the "Cape to Rio Yacht Race".

The Circumnavigation of Africa, May 2003 – May 2004[link]

Returning from the Rio, the yacht embarked on "The Circumnavigation of Africa". The voyage promoted AIDS awareness, water saving, and recycling whilst visiting over 30 ports.

Along the route, communities came out in force to participate in clean-up projects with the aim of improving their immediate environment. Three young men from 'loveLife' were chosen by Swan to become the first African crew in history to circumnavigate their own continent.^{[citation needed]}

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, December 2004 – January 2005[link]

Continuing on her journey towards the 2012 World Summit, Swan entered sailboat '2041' in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with the world's first sails made entirely from recycled plastic (PET) bottles. '2041' was crewed by industry leaders and teachers selected for their outstanding inspiration for young people. The sailboat finished 24th in the race.

Inspire Antarctic Expeditions, 2003 – present[link]

After 23 years of sustainable leadership and teamwork experience, Swan led the first corporate expedition to Antarctica in 2003. The expedition members witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change in Antarctica. They were tasked by Swan to become leaders in sustainability upon their return home. Between the 2003 – 2007 expeditions, Swan's dream of building the E-base became a reality. Each successive year's expedition members helped plan, build, and promote the E-base—the world's first education station in Antarctica to be used as a resource for teachers and young people from around the world.

The E-base and the Voyage for Cleaner Energy, 2008 – present[link]

"The E-base Goes Live", March 2008[link]

Powered entirely on renewable energy, Swan and a small team lived and sent broadcasts from the E-base via the internet for two weeks. It was the first time in history that a team had attempted to survive in Antarctica relying solely on renewable energy. Their mission was successful, and the team departed the continent after the allotted two weeks in good health.

The Voyage for Cleaner Energy, April 2008 – present[link]

On April 8, 2008, the Voyage for Cleaner Energy and '2041' sailboat launched from San Francisco, California. '2041' was refitted to operate entirely on wind, solar, and biodiesel generated energy. '2041' and Swan engaged in a multi-city tour of the West Coast of the USA to highlight renewable energy and engage the youth of the world to take positive steps toward renewable, sustainable energy practices. April 8, 2008 was officially deemed "Robert Swan Day" in San Francisco at the bequest of Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Awards, Honors & Publications[link]

• 1987 In the Footsteps of Scott published by Jonathon Cape, authored by Swan and Roger Mear
• 1988 Swan was awarded the Polar Medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II^[4]
• 1988 Destination: Antarctica published by Scholastic, Inc.
• 1989 Official Flag Bearer for the Explorers Club of New York to the North Pole (USA)
• 1989 Appointed United Nations Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador (UNEP)
• 1990 Winner of the United Nations Global 500 award
• 1990 Icewalk published by Icewalk Features
• 1992 Appointed United Nations Education/Science and Cultural Organization Goodwill Ambassador with Special Responsibility for Youth (UNESCO)
• 1992 Visiting Professor of the School of Environment, Leeds Metropolitan University (UK)
• 1993 Founded the Robert Swan Foundation – a registered charity for the promotion of youth and scientific endeavors in the environment
• 1993 Doctorate of Letters, The Robert Gordon University (UK)
• 1994 Appointed Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO
• 1995 Awarded OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• 1998 Smithsonian Award for the Information technology in Education & Academia (USA)
• 2000 Honorary Member of the Amstel Club, the Netherlands
• 2000 2041: The Voyage South published by Hayloft Publishing
• 2002 Vice President of the Countryside Management Association (UK)
• 2005 Awarded 'Freedom of the City of London'
• 2005 Elected, by membership vote, Honorary President of the 'Ski Club of Great Britain'
• 2006 Honorary Fellow at St. Chad's College, Durham University (UK)
• April 5, 2008 torchbearer of the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay in St Petersburg, Russia^[5]

See also[link]

• Third Man phenomenon

References[link]

External links[link]

• 2041.com
• Robert Swan CV
• Robert Swan Expedition 1984–85
• Robert Swan profile

Medal record
Women's Athletics
Competitor for  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Gold	1992 Barcelona	400 m hurdles
Bronze	1992 Barcelona	4x400 m relay
World Championships
Gold	1993 Stuttgart	400 m hurdles
Silver	1991 Tokyo	400 m hurdles
Bronze	1993 Stuttgart	4x400 m relay
Goodwill Games
Gold	1994 Saint Petersburg	400 m hurdles
IAAF World Cup
Gold	1994 London	400 m hurdles
Gold	1994 London	4x400 m relay
Bronze	1989 Barcelona	400 m hurdles
European Championships
Gold	1994 Helsinki	400 m hurdles
Bronze	1990 Split	4x400 m relay
European Cup
Gold	1993 Rome	400 m hurdles
Gold	1994 Birmingham	400 m hurdles
Gold	1996 Madrid	400 m hurdles
Gold	1997 Munich	400 m hurdles
Silver	1989 Gateshead	400 m hurdles
Silver	1991 Frankfurt	400 m hurdles
European Indoor Championships
Gold	1989 The Hague	400 m
Competitor for  England
Commonwealth Games
Gold	1986 Edinburgh	100 m hurdles
Gold	1990 Auckland	400 m hurdles
Gold	1990 Auckland	4x400 m relay
Gold	1994 Victoria	400 m hurdles
Gold	1994 Victoria	4x400 m relay
Silver	1990 Auckland	100 m hurdles

Sally Jane Janet Gunnell OBE (born 29 July 1966 in Chigwell, Essex, England) is a former British Olympic champion in the 400 m hurdles. She has also worked as a television presenter predominantly for the BBC until January 2006.^[1]

Early life[link]

She attended the West Hatch High School on High Road in Chigwell.

Career[link]

Athletics[link]

Gunnell started out in athletics with the Essex Ladies club^[2] as an accomplished long jumper and pentathlete, before turning to the sprints and hurdling.

Gunnell won the 400 m hurdles at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona.^[3] She set the world record in the same event when she won gold in the 1993 World Championships. This record was broken by Kim Batten in 1995, but is still the UK record. Her defence of her Olympic title in Atlanta in 1996 was cut short, as she pulled up in one of her races, injured. This seemed a particularly cruel blow, as this race occurred on her 30th birthday.^[4]

In 1996, Gunnell worked as a Red Cross ambassador in Angola. In September 1997, she retired after a recurrence of an achilles tendon injury.

Gunnell remains the only woman to have held the European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic 400 metre hurdles titles at the same time.^[5] This record can only be matched by an athlete from the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Malta or Cyprus, as these are the only European nations that also compete in the Commonwealth Games.

Television[link]

She was one of the four celebrity guests in the ITV's You Bet – Series 7 (1993–4), co-winning with Michaela Strachan, donating her winnings to a charity working to find a cure for breast cancer.

In summer 2006, she was a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses.^[6] She also won a Weakest Link Sporting Heroes Special, first broadcast on Saturday 25 July 2009 on BBC One.

She took part in a celebrity version of TV show Total Wipeout which aired on 2 January 2010.

Recognition[link]

In the 1993 New Year Honours, Gunnell was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).^[7] In 2011, Gunnell was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex.^[8]

Personal life[link]

She is married to fellow athlete Jonathan Bigg, and has three sons; Finley, Luca, and Marley. She lives in Steyning, a village in West Sussex, just outside Brighton.^[9] Sally is an avid fan of Burnley F.C.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sally Gunnell Official Website
• Profile at the IMDb
• http://www.mtc-uk.com/talent/sally-gunnell/

Awards
Preceded by None	Women's European Athlete of the Year 1993	Succeeded by Irina Privalova
Sporting positions
Preceded by Tatyana Ledovskaya	Women's 400 m Hurdles Best Year Performance 1992–1994	Succeeded by Kim Batten