I have just returned from India attending the 8th Chief Justices of the World Conference in Lucknow.

Before going to Lucknow, I had the honour and privilege of meeting with the President of India, H.E. Mrs Prabitha Patil alongside 40 Chief Justices of the World. President Patil displayed charm and high intelligence in an address she delivered to us and which also confirmed her interest in working for the protection and well-being of children born and unborn and for world peace.

We have arrived at the appalling stage in human history when the hundred richest people in the world earn the same amount of money as the two billion poorest, approximately one third of our population. Globally, one in five people are doomed to “live” on less than $1 a day, and more than half our citizens are forced to “live” on less than $3 a day. An ever-increasing number of people are unemployed, and hundreds of millions are compelled to work for little or nothing as those who own or manage business seek to find new geographical areas where people are forced to work for survival wages, or starve.

Over the last 10 years, I have been an ardent worker and advocate for peace and for a better world order. At the moment, I am President of the Global Peace Council of the Universal Peace Federation which has its headquarters in New York; I am listed as an arbitrator with the World Intellectual Property Organization which is based in Geneva; I am a Member of the Board of Advisors of the World Future Council which has its headquarters in Hamburg, Germany; I am also a Senior Councilor with the European Council for Peace Development in the Balkans which is headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. Against such commitments, I remain more than ever committed to the challenging task of contributing my share towards the creation of a better world.

Of course, as Founding President of the Republic of Seychelles, I follow very keenly on-going political developments within our Nation – a Nation with great potential for a better future. I hope that the present leaders of the active political parties in the country will find sufficient ground to work together in the interest of the people of Seychelles in the spirit of “Seychelles First.”

Just came across these words from Rudyard Kipling:

“When the Earth last picture is painted and the tubes are twisted and dried, when the oldest colours have faded and the youngest critic has died, we shall rest and Faith we shall need it, till the Master of all Good Workmen shall put us to work anew.”
Wish you all a Merry Christmas & a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2008.

James R. Mancham
- Publisher -