This book deals with contemporary issues of vital global concern on human rights, environment and development, and religion. In the text of his 1993 Rede Lecture - which forms the basis for the book - the author presents his own analytical comments on current thinking on these issues. Also included are declarations from three major conferences: the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992; the UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, 1993; and the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, 1993. The author led delegations to these conferences, and was closely associated with their deliberations.