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15 global challenges that cannot be addressed by any government acting alone

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  The 15 Global Challenges  from t he Millennium Project, a global participatory think tank. 1. How can sustainable development be achieved for all while addressing global climate change? 2. How can everyone have sufficient clean water without conflict? 3. How can population growth and resources be brought into balance? 4. How can genuine democracy emerge from authoritarian regimes? 5. How can decisionmaking be enhanced by integrating improved global foresight during unprecedented accelerating change? 6. How can the global convergence of information and communications technologies work for everyone? 7. How can ethical market economies be encouraged to help reduce the gap between rich and poor? 8. How can the threat of new and reemerging diseases and immune micro-organisms be reduced? 9. How can education make humanity more intelligent, knowledgeable, and wise enough to address its global challenges? 10. How can shared values and new security strategies reduce ethnic conflicts, terroris
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Charitable Landscape gardening

By Jim Sheng

Three gardeners came to work on my neighbour's garden. They cut grasses, clear out dead leaves and wild flowers, and dig up the edges around back and front gardens.

When I picked up my daughter from school, my daughter greeted them when she passed by, she always feel very proud when she say hello to strangers, and disappointed when not be answered. So greeted them and had a chat.

The man told me that they were working for Betel of Britain Charity, a free Christian residence.

I was bit surprised, and asked: "Do you work for free"? Because my neighbour is an Indian, from Tamil, the family definitely is not Christian.

The man answered:"Not for free, all income goes to the charity."

"Right," I said, "So, you are volunteer for Betel?"

He said there are many residence sites has been opened, even one opened recently in Mongolia. I asked if there was any in China. He said, I don't know but I hope so.

He give me a leaflet, the slogan on the leaflet says, their landscape gardening is "the charitable thing to do this season". and "Leave your landscape gardening to us... and help us to heal the hurting."

I didn't ask if Betel's gardeners are their former "homeless and substance-dependent people", although I thought so and quite curious to know. Because from their behaviour and appearance, I could still feel the deep wound still there. They must be, because from their website, I can found those information:

"Betel of Britain is a caring, not-for-profit Christian community in the heart of the UK dedicated to restoring homeless and substance-dependent people to productive, independent lifestyles. Our residences are drug- and alcohol-free, and all our support services are free of charge."

They do all kind of gardening jobs, such as slabbing, block paving, trees, turfing, fencing, patios, hedges, clearing and many more. And their charge is quite reasonable, I asked the man how much did my neighbour paid for the work, he said, very little, reluctant to give the real number. But I found it out from my neighbour.

They offer free estimates.

Their website:
http://www.betel.co.uk/
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