For democracy to achieve its true potential, humanity must reflect more deeply on the spiritual nature of freedom. This in turn will help us to become more responsible citizens, and to recognise the nature of group consciousness. This newsletter ponders these three inter-related themes.

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In this issue, we take a look at the contrast between ideal and reality in the field of urban design and planning; reflect on the sustainability of modern cities; and consider measures to reduce urban inequality.

There is also news of co-workers who cooperated with the theme of the World Goodwill Seminar, Evoking the Soul of the Nations.

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In this issue, we examine some of the many factors that influence the work of farmers around the world. We ask whether the pressures of the industrial farming system mean that we must now seek out a new agrarianism. And we look at the complicated issue of trade in food in the context of "food miles".

There is also mention of two service initiatives undertaken by co-workers.

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In 1947, Alice Bailey published Problems of Humanity. This global survey identifies six main areas where humanity faces special difficulty: the psychological renewal of nations; children, youth and education; capital, labour and employment; racial minorities; organised religion; and international unity. The principles in Problems of Humanity are timeless; but human societies evolve, and so it is important to keep an eye on how these principles may work out in fresh situations. To that end, World Goodwill publishes a Study Course on the problems which comes in seven sets: an introductory set, and one for each of the problems. In this newsletter, we report on the updating of two of these sets: the psychological renewal of the nations; and capital, labour and employment. Also included is a review of the book Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken, which discusses the almost undetected rise of a great movement that seeks to serve the whole.

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This issue focuses on the theme of service and the many service groups active throughout the world. The importance of meditation as a subjective service is also emphasised. The Cycle of Conferences initiative is cited as an example of this kind of subjective work. Also mentioned are the many groups whose activities are inspired by the work of Alice Bailey; and the opportunity to generate thoughtforms of solution through online discussion in the Problems of Humanity Discussion Forums.

What is Death? explores the continuous spiral progress of all souls into form at birth, and out of form at death. Also examined are the analogy between death and sleep, and how technology has changed our way of dying and whether this is always beneficial.

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The World Goodwill Newsletter is now being recorded and can be either listened to online or downloaded.

What is Life? considers some of the metaphysical dimensions of the mysterious energy of life, including the mediating factor of soul. Also discussed are the moral issues surrounding human fertility, conception and birth. Finally, there is news of a new outreach initiative in the Middle East.

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Living Synthesis--World Service returns to the theme of world service, and to the nature of the new group of world servers (see also under Key Concepts). A collection of reflections on the use of the energy of synthesis in service is drawn from the meetings held to celebrate the Festival Week of the New Group of World Servers.

Newsletter 2006 #1, Patterns of Meaning, considers the effect of the vast surplus of information that engulfs us in the information era. This issue also reflects on the esoteric implications of 'embedding' intelligence in matter, and discusses the impact of information technology on our sense of identity.