The defining challenge of the 21st century will be to face the reality that humanity shares a common fate on a crowded planet.

In my view, there is an urgent need to communicate with the public and help to explain where there is consensus, and where are there doubts about the issues of sustainable development.

Business often does a good job supporting communities: the arts, universities, and scientific enterprises... But that philosophy has rarely reached poor countries. Even businesses that are enlightened in their home bases see Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia as places to exploit natural resources or use cheap labor.

Extreme poverty is the best breeding ground on earth for disease, political instability, and terrorism.

Devaluations are never easy.

America's government is not even aware of the gap between its commitments and action, because almost nobody in authority understands the actions that would be needed to meet the commitments.

We need to defend the interests of those whom we've never met and never will.