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In this issue

Water and Life
Birthe Zimmermann, Baltic Sea Project Newsletter, Sondre Sandevej 18, DK-6400 Sonderborg, Denmark

Referring to the Asian economic crisis Jacob Frenkel, Governor of the Bank of Israel, said in a recent BBC interview: "We are all in the global village and when one country is in difficulties it affects the capital market, and therefore it is not a geographical issue of Asia; it is a global issue, and it requires a global responsibility and a global treatment."

It seems that what nature has been demonstrating since the beginning of time is now being accepted as fact by world economists, a fact which they realise can only be ignored at the peril of the entire capital market.

Other specialists and analysts are waking up to the same message within their own area of expertise, agreeing that viruses, terrorism, hunger, pollution, corruption and every kind of warfare and misuse of power are all having effects which respect no earthly boundaries and will, once activated, inevitably – as Frenkel says – require "global responsibility and global treatment".

However, many of us living in this global village of ours still have difficulties in coming to grips with the concept of inclusiveness and interdependence. The thought-forms, born out of separatism, nurtured by fear and held in check by ignorance, are still predominant, often hampering, conditioning or aborting sincere attempts to change.

It is as if the world is waiting for the last 'ism' to crumble. Free flowing world finances, manipulated and controlled by capitalistic profit hungers, are not working for the common good. It needs economists with a should and a heart to see to it that the global 'household' is blossoming and thriving through their skillful management of our common resources; and only humanitarians with compassion and a clear head can effectively and constructively assist the evolution of humankind into a brighter, more mature world community.

Our concept of inclusiveness seems still to resemble a 'layer cake', each layer only touching the one below or above, but separated from the rest of the whole. Perhaps when our understanding of 'inclusiveness' becomes more spherical so to speak – all levels, sectors and departments of society sensitive and responsive to the needs of the rest – then we shall see the emergence of a new civilisation – a global neighbourhood, true to its name.

"There will be no day of days when a New World Order comes into being. Step by step and here and there it will arrive, and even as it comes into being it will develop fresh perspectives, discover unsuspected problems, and go on to new adventures." – H G Wells.