Any history of Initiatives of Change might have a chapter dedicated to to three American brothers, the Colwells. Their contribution to this work for reconciliation is unknown to today’s generation but they once played a vital, inspiring and often taken-for-granted role.

The year 2007 will be the 200th anniversary of William Wilberforce leading the battle to end the transatlantic slave trade.

A unique sacred space in the heart of London where people of all faiths, or none, can meet with others from different traditions and explore differences in a spirit of friendship and respect.

Catholic, Jew and Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Confucianist all find they can change where needed and travel along the good road together.

The attempted rescue of a beached whale in the Thames was a testament to the immediacy with which events are transmitted around the world and the hold that animals have over us humans.

It would be hard to conclude that the world is safer than it has been, that there has actually been a decline in the number of wars, genocides and human rights abuses over the past decade - yet two prestigious research organisations, 3,000 miles apart, have independently come to that conclusion.

Though apologies have an important place in healing national and international relations, it is often difficult to know when they are appropriate.

Mayor Shinzo Hamai chose something quite remarkable for the inscription on the memorial to the first atom bomb: ‘Rest in peace. For we shall not make the same mistake again.’

The damage was done when politicians started believing the cases they had made.

For many the war years were enough adventure to last a lifetime.