In this issue, we look at the beneficent cycles of the atmosphere, and the human interventions in these cycles that need re-balancing. We also reflect on the electrical nature of the cosmos, and consider its spiritual implications, including the key importance of meditative thought and its possible influence on both the mental and physical climate. Finally, we tak a brief look at the World Goodwill meditation initiative, the Cycle of Conferences.

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At present, the human race is faced with a growing realisation of its interdependence with all other forms of life, while also recognising the profound global impact that human activity has on other species. In The Circle of Life and Consciousness, we consider the wide spectrum of relations between humanity and the other kingdoms of nature. Also included are two Book Reviews - one on Rupert Sheldrake's revised classic A New Science of Life, and the other on David Korten's new book, Agenda for a New Economy.

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For many years now, the World Goodwill newsletter has featured the service of various groups, under the title of “Transition Activities”. The groups included in this issue represent a spectrum of approaches, from the level of presenting a vision, through training and education programmes, down to actual implementation. Each phase is necessary to carry a high vision of ideals down into practical techniques for improving people’s everyday lives. Thus the work of different groups can be seen to complement and reinforce each others’ efforts.

In November 2008 in London, New York, and Geneva, World Goodwill held its annual seminar/symposium, Human Rights, Spiritual Responsibilities – A Crisis for Democracy? This was intended to support the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2008, and also represented a continuation of the focus on democracy in the newsletter, The Meaning of Democracy (2008 #2). The thought behind the theme for the seminar was that there are now a number of competing pressures on human rights in many democracies, pressures that are building because of world events, and which, if not attended to, could indeed lead to points of crisis. At the same time, there are more and more individuals and groups who recognise the increasing importance of our responsibilities to society. There is a growing sense that democracies are not functioning as they should, and that governments need the support of their citizens not just at the ballot box, but throughout their terms of office. A number of speakers were invited to address this theme from their own perspective, and the results are now available to order as both written transcripts and audio CDs (MP3 files are available to listen to on our website, as is a transcript in French of the Geneva Forum). In this newsletter, we include some extracts and summaries, to give a flavour of the diverse discussions.

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The breadth and severity of the ongoing financial crisis is such that all will be affected. All people of goodwill will be seeking for ways to alleviate the attendant problems. We offer some reflections on inter-related themes: Trust; Risk; Greed; and the True Role of Money.

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THIS ISSUE of the newsletter is a kind of supplement to 2007 No.3, Custodians of Sustenance, in which we examined some of the factors that are conditioning the ongoing food crisis from the perspective of its production and distribution. In this issue, the theme is nourishment, so the focus shifts to what and how human beings consume. We look at  community and sharing; rituals of group nourishment; and there is also some news from the network of service.

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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.