We need to embrace a more realistic approach to dealing with human conflicts, an approach that is in tune with a new reality of heavy interdependence in which the old concepts of "we" and "they" are no longer relevant. The very idea of total victory for one's own side and the total defeat of one's enemy is untenable.

Today, more than ever, we need to make this fundamental recognition of the basic oneness of humanity the foundationof our perspective on the world and its challenges. From the dangerous rate of global warming to the widening gapbetween rich and poor, from the rise of global terrorism to regional conflicts, we need a fundamental shift in our attitudes and our consciousness -- a wider, more holistic outlook.

The Dalai Lama, The Washington Post, 10/21/07