Burma's ruling military junta has warned it is ready to "take action" against Buddhist monks leading growing protests for an end to repression within the country. But the nonviolent action has confused the authorities and unleashed massive public support.

Transformational diplomacy is not about entrenching Western interests in Palestine-Israel, says Michael Marten. It is about encouraging advice from regional experts, engaging with ‘the enemy’, treating Occupier and Occupied as such and working towards a just resolution.

Buddhist monks are leading nonviolent protests across Burma as opposition to dictatorship and calls for the restoration of democracy increase. They want the Burmese people to pray in their doorways for 15 minutes at 20.00 on Sunday (23 September 2007), Monday and Tuesday.

Talk of the efficacy or otherwise of the surge is a smokescreen, says Simon Barrow. There is no long-term military solution to Iraq’s nightmare. But viable alternatives are being sought within civil society.

A war-damaged Anglican church building along Jaffna's main road in Sri Lanka is to become a centre for peace and understanding - as the church seeks to join other non-violent groups within civil society working for an end to the country's decades long conflict.

The sixtieth anniversary of India's independence reminds us, says Jonathan Bartley, that the nonviolent activism of Gandhi and the the peaceful and environmental 'awkward squads' point to a more hopeful form of politics and social change.

India gained independence through nonviolence, but partition involved much brutality, says Savi Hensman. Independence means embracing peace and justice in spite of intolerant ideologies, both religious and secular.

In an interview with Juan Michel of the WCC, a prominent Iraqi Christian shares his views on the situation in the violence-plagued country. He assesses the situation with realism, but also with hope for peace with justice.