Could you forgive someone who destroyed your life or, even worse, killed your child? In these edited extracts from his new book, Forgiveness: breaking the chain of hate, Michael Henderson finds that the world has reason to be grateful to people who, against all the odds, have found a way to forgive.

Australian concert pianist Penelope Thwaites talks to Mike Lowe about music, parenthood and the need for grace.

Jehan Perera works with civic organizations and through the media in Sri Lanka to promote peace and human rights.

When she was 16, Natalie Porter's stereotypes let her down. Drugs came to her in the hand of a friend, not some dodgy dealer.

There may be some question about how long you are to speak. On such occasions I remember that a certain economics professor had a reputation for long speeches. His wife said, 'After you have heard one of my husband's speeches you may not be any wiser but you're certainly a lot older.'

Alan Channer joins people of many faiths and traditions at an ecological symposium in the Chateau de Klingenthal, France