Retired Vicar Donald Reeves' thoughts turned to Europe and he worked with others to create the Banja Luka Civic Forum.

Ten years ago, Richmond, Virginia, caught the attention of the USA with its bold public acknowledgement of its painful history -a leading exporter of slaves to southern plantations for more than a century.

Rajmohan Gandhi looks at the challenges facing a world where sovereignty is no longer seen as an absolute.

Brutal honesty and an unswerving commitment to his ideals have driven Letlapa Mphahlele into areas most people would turn away from in horror—and onto an extraordinary journey of reconciliation. He talks to Anthony Duigan.

The people of Pforzheim, Germany, suffered dreadfully in World War II-and a British aircrew paid a terrible price. Michael Henderson discovers how a small community is laying its ghosts to rest.

Few issues have caused such division in recent times as Saddam Hussein's despotic regime. The Bush and Blair governments argue that such a regime must not be allowed to use weapons of mass destruction. Other governments - and millions of peace marchers - feel that war is too costly a solution. Both sides claim the moral high ground.

Keith and Ruth Neal, retired school teachers from Manchester, recently visited Sierra Leone, where a devastating civil war ended last year. They found people determined to rebuild.

The last words of Wim Lindeijer's mother led him to seek reconciliation with the Japanese. He tells his story to Michael Henderson.

Bryan Hamlin, a British-born American citizen, challenges Europe's prejudice towards the United States.

Aaron Lazare is Chancellor and Dean, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. The article is based on a lecture in Caux, Switzerland, in August 2002. Some of the material is taken from his forthcoming book on apology.