When Canadian volunteer Leslie Davies set out to make a difference to the lives of the poor in Calcutta, she was surprised at the difference they made in her own.

Representatives from communities from around the UK got together to discuss initiatives being undertaken to bring opportunities to deprived areas.

In New York Melinda Lackey and Carlos Monteagudo are charting a vision to create widespread economic well-being in this incredibly diverse, powerful and poverty-stricken city.

Gajanan Sawant tells Bhanu Kale how deciding not to accept poverty led to the transformation of his community.

Can big business and activists agree on fighting poverty? Michael Smith reports.

If love makes the world go round, greed also keeps things moving-but it makes for a stomach-churning ride. Personal greed is rampant-not least where failed company bosses receive seven-figure 'golden handshakes' while their redundant ex-employees are only offered a few thousand pounds. A recent white paper from Britain's Department of Trade and Industry offers hope that these scandals may be addressed, by linking directors' retirement pay-outs to their companies' performance.

Like most western Europe countries, Switzerland is seeing a rise in asylum applications. Mary Lean finds out how the Swiss are responding.

Afghanistan is still waiting for freedom from hunger, disease and violence, writes Anila Daulatzai

Award-winning environmental journalist Geoffrey Lean has seen Earth Summits come and go. On his return from Johannesburg in September, he spoke at a meeting at the Initiatives of Change centre in London. We print extracts:

The Johannesburg Earth Summit highlighted the urgent need of many countries to secure greater freshwater supplies. Alan Ervine talks to Kenneth Noble about what can be done to turn aspiration into reality.