Shall we switch our lights off tomorrow March 29th 2008 from 8-9pm for Earth Hour? It's a global movement, with large accreditation to WWF, to bring awareness to energy conservation which leads to our Earth's revitalization.

"When considering a problem as large as the degradation of the global environment, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, utterly helpless to effect any change whatsoever. But we must resist that response, because this crisis will be resolved only if individuals take some responsibility for it. By educating ourselves and others, by doing our part to minimize our use and waste of resources, by becoming more active politically and demanding change- in these ways and many others, each one of us can make a difference. Perhaps most important, we each need to assess our relationship to the natural world and renew, at the deepest level of personal integrity, a connection to it. And that can only happen if we renew what is authentic and true in every aspect of our lives.' - Al Gore, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit

I am intrigued by the current leadership impasse in our nation. Whether royalty or democracy, or anything else, it will be good to remember that the essence of a government's responsibility is the preservation of the individual's dignity while guiding the community of citizens towards a prosperous and peaceful future together. It is interesting to note that in another part of the world, Bhutan is moving towards democracy on its own terms.

Any lessons to be learnt for Malaysia?

Browsing through Alvin and Heidi Toffler's Revolutionary Wealth a few months ago, the seed of a knowing took articulation, and has increasingly found resonance in the way we live.

What is the future of wealth? It is not more and more money that will get us the quality of life that we want, but it is creative thinking that will manifest greater prosperity in our lives. Money has become the bloated, inconstant middleman that is not serving us very well. I'm not saying no money at all, but consider the autonomy of the individual networking with other individuals in barter and trade-offs that provide proportionately appropriate value for that which we need.

Even nations are looking at alternatives to assess the state of their health, using Gross National Happiness as an index, for example.

So monetary and industrial economics have completed their utility- whither a peaceful one?

Yesterday's existential latte conversation summary:

Does news sell because people are naturally attracted to conflict?

Why don't we consider that violence sells because there is a certain civilisational positioning of conflict through the media to excite a sense of urgency and immediacy in the consumer. My simple litmus test: do you enjoy watching your children fight? Or your parents argue? Are you your best self when in conflict with your spouse?

Peace is our natural state.

I was in Hanoi 2 weeks ago, participating in a UN-feeder meeting on the linkages between trade, development and poverty. All of us can benefit in knowing a bit more about this area, and it's impact on our human family. See http://www.cuts-citee.org/

This entry, after a long hiatus, marks the re-launch of sorts of The Peace Café website.

I have a grand vision for The Peace Café to be a independent learning lab dedicated to enhancing the human experience through research and dialogue in ethics, ecology and education.

I wish all of us well!