"All we need is love" to quote a familiar Beatles tune. I think this is right... love is all we need. If we truly loved one another and our neighbor as ourself (which many faiths call their followers to do), we wouldn't want them to be hungry or homeless, to be taken advantage of in the labor market , or to enter into conflict against them. To love means sacrificing some of what we personally get, have or do, so that our beloved has some of what they need. Herein is part of the problem, of course, too many people have a need to take care of ourselves and our own before and sometimes instead of our neighbor.

In addition, we are called to love the earth, the lovely globe we call home. Loving the earth requires some sacrifice as well, a difficult thing for many. Turning off lights, saving energy, living more simply and lightly on the earth, being careful not to put harmful chemicals on the landscape lest it wash into the water system, etc. are all ways we can love the earth.

" The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected, like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." - Chief Seattle

The upcoming film, book, and event on "How To Make The World A Better Place" are anchored by the story of The Good Samaritan. The Samaritan was the one who walked down the road and noticed the man beaten and robbed, laying in the road and, disregarding any hesitation, helped the man onto his donkey, led him to a nearby inn and payed for his stay plus any additional expenses that might come up. The Samaritan man came after several other men who could have also helped the man but chose not to (perhaps not even noticing him in the road.)

People who actually WANT to make the world a better place, need to NOTICE when things are going wrong and ACT to make things better (regardless of their busy schedule, convenience, and social, financial status or age) in a culture where lots of people walk by and don't notice anything is wrong or choose not to act to make things different. The Good Samaritan is a model for us in "sticking his neck out," something some don't want to do. Also this man valued a problem at hand over his own comfort, schedule, etc.