Purpletigron

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=53226

"The Aspen Institute ... Community-based Forestry Demonstration Program ... report "Growth Rings: Communities and Trees" [finds that]:

-- Rural communities have the passion and on-the-ground expertise to make real forest restoration happen. Federal and state governments cannot accomplish their mandates without their involvement.

-- Declining forest health and rural economic growth will continue to decline without federal investment and commitment for restoration, collaboration, and community capacity building. When there is such investment, current trends are reversed.

-- Markets for environmentally and socially responsible products can be developed and used to further forest restoration and community development goals, but they require public and private investment and commitment."

After sharing condolences with those affected by the London bombings, Barbara Stocking (Director of Oxfam UK) writes:

"The G8 summit was ... over-shadowed ... but some real progress was still made. ... The commitments ... will help millions ... as a beginning.

Aid ... not enough. The G8 promised to increase aid to around US$50bn [~UKP2,850M] a year by 2010 ... the delay will keep 300 million people trapped in poverty.

Debt relief ... The G8 agreed to help only 18 countries. ... we're pressing for many more to receive the same support.

Trade justice The was little progress to make trade fair. ...

... the world's leaders do have another two opportunities in 2005 - a UN Summit in September and a World Trade Organisation meeting in December. ..."

Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido ('the way of harmony of spirit'):

"Aikido is not a technique to fight with or defeat the enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family. ... Aikido is non-resistance. As it is non-resistant, it is always victorious. ... A mind to serve for the peace of all human beings in the world is needed in aikido, and not the mind of one who wishes to be strong ..."