The history of the world shows that peoples and societies do not have to pass through a fixed series of stages in the course of development.

Human beings the world over need freedom and security that they may be able to realize their full potential.

Fires of suffering and strife are raging around the world.

Even one voice can be heard loudly all over the world in this day and age.

My attitude to peace is rather based on the Burmese definition of peace - it really means removing all the negative factors that destroy peace in this world. So peace does not mean just putting an end to violence or to war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, such as inequality, poverty.

More people, especially young people, are realising that if they want change, they've got to go about it themselves - they can't depend on a particular person, i.e. me, to do all the work. They are less easy to fool than they used to be, they now know what's going on all over the world.