Persistence, Joy, Persistence, Joy, Persistence, Joy, Persistence
Joy, Persistence, Joy, Persistence, Joy, Persistence, Joy....

This book, in its various incarnations, is an exploration of the old question:

'What can one person do to make a difference?'

The fact that I chose to apply this to Tibet was either a moment of inspiration or a moment of madness - or a curious mixture of these two..

The process can equally well be applied - by you- to whatever it is that bugs you about the world. Many people will tell you the only thing that you can change about the world is yourself. That's why this book follows Battersea Park Road. I think we need to start with ourselves so that we have done the basic stuff first and are at least making an attempt at loving each other unconditionally. ... But with the world in the state it's in there has to come a point where we can say 'Enough now!' I have many faults. I'm aware of them - so now what?

If you want to open a nursery school near your home, attempt to save a piece of parkland, help to counter drug addiction on your council estate or like me, take on a huge issue and try to make a contribution to saving the rain forests or protecting a culture - all these projects will run the same path.

How do I acquire serenity to accept what I can't change?
What exactly is courage and how can I use it to change the things I can?
And will I ever have the wisdom to know the difference?

There are the purely practical problems that I came up against. Fundraising is an essential part of any kind of new initiative - and a sense of humour is essential if you want to raise funds. The book also looks at persistence which to me is 90% of everything, at risk taking and at how you measure results. Wisdom? Well the Dalai Lama says it all in the interview at the end of this book. In my limited experience with this quality it's to do with thinking things through, and believing that small actions matter.

The reason that I chose the Dalai Lama is that I think non-violence this is the most important issue in international politics today. It seems to me that fighting terror with terror is not the best policy and that finding every way possible to support the world's greatest living proponent of non-violence might be a good idea. It is now in the best interests of China to grant Tibet the degree of autonomy that it is supposed to have within the Chinese constitution. If this were done then the Dalai Lama and hundreds of thousands of Tibetans could return to Tibet and the path of non-violence would be seen to be effective. If you agree please visit Act For Tibet the website which has been created as part of this initiative. It is an extensive site with a mass of information and many ideas of ways that you can support Tibet. Please also buy the book at Amazon.co.uk:. A Beginner's Guide to Changing the World (the book is a fast read) and send me your thoughts.