While millions of personal computers sit idle on office desks and in homes worldwide, hundreds of people contract and die from infectious diseases every hour. As screen savers run, millions die from hunger, or environmental disasters devastate whole communities. But it doesn't have to be that way and one year ago World Scouting took up the challenge!

The Qrendi Scout Group have just returned from a Scout youth exchange programme, entitled 'Never Ending Story', held in Poland, as part of the EU 'Youth in Action' Programme.

The international gathering was held between from 21-31 July 2008, at the Berdo Scout Campsite, located near Myczkowce a small village, situated in the San River valley in the very heart of the Bieszczady Mountains. The campsite, which was a ten minute boat ride from the mainland, was located on an island on the largest artificial body of water in Poland- the Solina Reservoir.

INDABA is a Zulu word for 'chief's meeting'. In line with Strategic Priority 6: An Organization for the 21st Century, the Scout Association of Nicaragua has developed a new dynamic model of INDABA, creating an opportunity for all Scout leaders and young adults of the senior Scout sections to meet and set their national Strategic Priorities for Scouting in Nicaragua.

The Swiss National Jamboree 'Contura 08' has taken place in Eastern Switzerland on the Plain de la Linth with 25,145 Scouts participating in the two week event which takes place only every 14 years. This year's location was particularly special, because it was on the border of 3 cantons- St Gallen, Schwyz and Glarus.

Participants had the opportunity to take part in action-packed activities throughout the Jamboree which included a full day's programme in the Global Village. 28 workshops were presented by various NGOs and partners of the Swiss Scout Movement and World Scouting which explored issues relating to education, sustainable development, human rights and environmental protection.

Two exciting documents have been developed following the initiatives undertaken during the Centenary of Scouting in 2007- The Centenary of Scouting Overview and The Gifts for Peace Report .

A CD-ROM containing the Gifts for Peace report (in English and French) and photo exhibition will also be available to NSOs through the Scoutpak.

Please share these documents with others and show them what Scouting can achieve!

The 38th World Scout Conference was held 14-18 July 2008 on Jeju Island, Korea. It was attended by 1189 participants from 150 countries. Hosted by the Korea Scout Association, The Conference was officially opened by Dr. Han Seung-soo, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea.

Aside from the official sessions and workshops, participants had the opportunity to take part in a varied evening programme and an educational tour of Jeju Island on the Wednesday afternoon.

11.30am Jeju Island, 17 July 2008 - Japan has just won the bid to host the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in 2015. Announced just a few minutes ago in the Plenary Hall at ICC Jeju on Jeju Island at the 38th World Scout Conference, Japan was ecstatic to hear the results with the Chairman of the bidding committee, Mr. Osamu Hirose saying: We are very happy and we are sure that the Jamboree will be a very good opportunity to educate young people, and also very good chance to show how Scouts around the world are creating a better world.

The Jamboree will be located on Kirarahama or Kirara Beach in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The Japanese word "kirara" means mica: Kirara Beach offers a beautiful landscape in front of which the Seto Inland Sea glitters in the sunlight just like mica.

14 July 2008 - The first day of the 38th World Scout Conference on Jeju Island, Korea has been a great success. Hosted by the Korea Scout Association, the World Scout Conference is the governing body, the "general assembly" of Scouting, and is composed of all the members of the Organisation: the National Scout Organizations. This particular triennial event is likely to be the largest, as the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) now consists of 160 member NSOs.

The participants of the 10th World Scout Youth Forum have marked a historic moment when electing the Youth Advisors to the World Scout Committee for the period 2008 to 2011. From the six elected Youth Advisors, four of which are young women. This is the first time that an election at the world level has resulted in the majority of positions being held by females, which demonstrates support for the Strategic Priotity of involving girls, boys, women and men in all levels of decision making in Scouting.

The 38th World Scout Conference in Korea has just announced the new members of the World Scout Committee. For 6 year terms, they are the following (in alphabetical order):
Mr. Eric Khoo Heng-Pheng (Malaysia)
Mr. Wahid Labidi (Tunisia)
Mr. John May (United Kingdom)
Mr. John Neysmith (Canada)
Mr. Oscar Palmquist (Brazil)
Mr. Simon Rhee (Korea)
For a 3 year term:
Mr. William F. “Rick” Cronk (USA)