FROM THE EDITORS May 12, 2008 Issue

TO PROMOTE AN UPTURN IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

LAST MONTH, asahi.com, an online Japanese/English newspaper, posted and editorial titled "Economic pessimism." It began: "There is an old saying that goes, 'Worry is often the cause of illness.' The perceived weakening of the economy, too, may have its beginnings in the mind" (April 3, 2008). The editorial went on to talk about the importance of reversing feelings of despair and confusion that could have a deleterious impact on the Japanese economy.

It's a keen observation that thought has a direct impact on individual experience, and that it can influence collective experience, too. But it's equally important to realize that this mental influence doesn't have to be negative. In fact, the individual conviction that divine Principle governs all can have a collective, positive effect on the world's economy.

This is not to say there still aren't issues to work out. The global financial scene may seem somewhat more settled in recent weeks than it has been, but how many would assert that the reasons for instability in the financial markets have been fully addressed? The continued slowdown in the US economy and else-where is a sobering reminder that we can't afford to be passive.

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