Audiences the world over are captivated by images of violence. Rolling news runs round-the-clock footage of troops and tanks fighting harsh battles in some of the world's most inhospitable places. This deserves our attention and thank goodness these pictures stir the public and their political leaders to tackle pressing security issues.
None of this was necessary. None of it was inevitable. Much of it is a direct consequence of policies introduced by one of the most ruthless and callous governments this country has ever seen. And for that same government to turn around and celebrate the charities forced to pick up the pieces is not only paradoxical - it's an act of gross hypocrisy.
Despite malnutrition causing a third of child deaths, new research published this week highlights that nutrition programmes are chronically underfunded - with only 0.37% of total aid spent on basic interventions that are deemed to have huge benefits for children and for economic growth.
By showing strong leadership and committing its fair share of new money to the Green Climate Fund to help children adapt to the effects of climate change, the UK Government can make sure children everywhere have enough nutritious food to eat, grow up to fulfil their potential and do not pay for our past mistakes with their futures.
We are hoping for a document which reflects the huge importance of sustainability and equality - and which does not shirk other difficult but necessary tasks, such as achieving corporate accountability and upholding human rights. With only 1,000 days until the start of the new plan, it is important that these most vital ingredients are recognised now.
We knew that people felt strongly about tax evasion and avoidance - but the results of our latest opinion poll still shocked us. The survey, in which ComRes questioned 2,270 British adults, found that one in three people (34 per cent) say they are currently boycotting the products or services of a company which doesn't pay its fair share of UK tax. In London, this rises to 44 per cent.
Aside from facing a few days off the trading floor last week in Wall Street, big banks will be the ones to benefit the most from the impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Wall Street and other financial centres, such as the City of London, have ridden the wave of extreme weather over the past year, including the drought in the US, driving food commodity prices to new heights.