His name is Juan Mann (pronounced one man) and he has just recently become a global sensation. "What is his claim to fame?" You may ask. To find this out you simply have to go visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4.

His name is Juan Mann (pronounced one man) and he has just recently become a global sensation. "What is his claim to fame?" You may ask. To find this out you simply have to go visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4.

 Now you have to watch this video clip to really know what I mean. Prepare some tissues, just in case you're a softy like me. However if you do not have access to the Internet let me explain who this man is and what his claim to fame is.

 Every Thursday for the past three years Juan Mann (not his real name) has stood in Pitt Street Mall in Sydney, Australia, holding up a sign reading "FREE HUGS" and gladly putting his arms around anyone who takes him up on the offer. Since then he has appeared on most news channels around the world.

 Lead singer of Sydney's teenage band Sick Puppies Shimon Moore befriended Juan Mann after they met in the mall. Shimon recorded the video clip at the YouTube web address above and set it to music. This heart warming video clip has just been named by YouTube as the most inspirational video clip on their site.

 The last time I visited the site, the video clip had been viewed almost 15-million times, but that's not all. Admiring followers have set up their own "free hug" practices all over the world and in turn have produced their own inspirational clips on YouTube.

 So here is this ordinary guy who wants to do something important for his community. He spends a lot of time watching the world. Feeling quite removed from reality and the outside world and decides that he has to do something. So he starts a "FREE HUG" campaign and shoots into stardom.

 Watching Sky News last night, shocking statistics were revealed about the rise in anti-depressant prescriptions in Britain. Their statistics are staggering. So many depressed people live in Britain. I wonder what our stats are and why so many people are becoming plagued by this horrid disease?

 Maybe we lack love and human touch maybe we all need some "FREE HUGS". I love the idea but I am too shy to do it. I would love to be able to dish out Juan Mann's emotions at Gateway Shopping Centre but I am way too inhibited.

 So I would love to make an appeal to my readers. If you feel you can Follow in Mann's footsteps, I urge you to start a South African "FREE HUGS" place. It has not been done in this country yet. You could be a pioneer.

 Call me if you're keen...

Juan Mann doing his thing