WHEN THEIR BRAINS FINALLY OVERHEATED, THEY COLLAPSED FROM EXHAUSTION

Nobel laureates stress need to strengthen democracy and economic development (Agence France Presse, May 20th, 2005)

Nobel Prize winners pooled their collective brain power to tackle the problems of "a world in danger," pinpointing the poor, oppressed and marginalized as holding a key to the future. The laureates meeting in Jordan's ancient city of Petra focused in a two-day conference on four main areas - peace and security; economic development; health, environment and science; and education, media and culture.

In a region noted for its wars, and with neighboring Iraq giving daily examples of bloodshed, the delegates called for peace to be promoted by linking economic development and education to efforts to end conflict.

In a statement issued after the meeting, they cited inequity and injustice as the "root causes of terrorism" and underscored the need to strengthen democratic institutions and foster economic development.

The prize winners also said that those people who most needed help should be part of the consultations involved in organizing official development assistance.

And in an area where women are frequently sidelined, the delegates said women should be empowered "so they can fully participate in economic development activities."

Among those at the conference were Nobel Peace Prize winners the Dalai Lama, Elie Wiesel, Israel's Shimon Peres, Northern Ireland's Betty Williams, Jose Ramos-Horta from East Timor, and Northern Ireland's David Trimble.

They were joined by among others the Hollywood actor Richard Gere and former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

In a vision of a childhood future, the delegates called leaders to work to "connect every classroom worldwide to the Internet."

A dissenting report from a brilliant, but unnamed New England blogger called for quintupling gas prices, enthroning monarchs and burning witches.