There are moments in all our lives when something unexpected happens, something that we may later understand to have a profound impact. For me, it was a chance encounter in 2010 with a desperately unhappy young woman that caused me to reflect on life and the world around us. Who are we, what motivates us, and why are we so often at cross purposes with one another? We love planet Earth - it is our home. So why is our world in crisis? We live in a complex and fast changing world, in a time when significant threats are converging: climate change, pollution, overpopulation, and increasing consumerism combined with diminishing resources. We have learned so much, and yet what prevents us from applying that knowledge constructively as we look forward? As individuals we have limitations, but we also have assets that, if used wisely, can make a difference. We are not responsible for the world we inherit, but we are responsible for the world we leave behind. Now more than ever, attitudes matter. Can we excuse our behaviour by simply calling it the human condition?