'The Gang of Eight'

At the close of the meeting in St Petersburg yesterday the statement from the 'Eight Wise Men' regarding the horrific situation in the Middle East said everything and nothing. Are these problems in the world ever going to be resolved or as intelligent beings are we meant to live in this continuous turmoil?
Monday evening of last week showed us the return of Salman Pax the Baghdad Blogger on Newsnight, from what he was saying things in Iraq are certainly not improving. People have now got to be careful what they wear, and the situation for women is definately worsening.
Yesterday we once again went down to the beach, Garry B accompanied us. Ruaridh once again decided that we should or at least he should eat duck for dinner! (We have been vegetarian for years and so is he!) The ducks swam and flew down the river pursued by this little dog swimming like crazy towards the estuary. At one point we thought he was so tired he would go under, moi waded into the river, both Graham and me shouting loudly at the dog. Eventually he started to come towards the shore, thank goodness, so neither Graham nor me got a 'skinny dip!'