This time last month the world looked different. The events of 11th September have coloured many aspects of people's lives all round the world, and this issue in part reflects that. A number of pieces have touched on the tragedy in America in which thousands lost their lives, and even more lost their colleagues, friends and members of their family. For readers wanting to focus on this theme, we have gathered items from other parts of the magazine together in a new Section, headed the New York Tragedy. There is a piece by Dr James Garbarino, and there is the invitation for readers to write in. In particular, we have focused on the impact of events on children and what they should be told.

Away from the tragedy, life carries on, and we are carrying a lot of other material as well :

In the International Section, there is a profile of the President of FICE, Theo Binnendijk, and a description of a very effective service for young offenders in the Netherlands run by Sociaal-agogisch Centrum, the organisation which Theo heads up.

There is also a useful article on the rights of children and young people in education, which resulted from a congress in Luxembourg. It is in English, French and German.

In the Webmag Section, Jim Hyland writes from a practice viewpoint about the Department of Health's proposed National Minimum Standards for residential children's homes, Phill Warrilow reports on an important international residential childcare conference held in Wales, Gus Greene addresses the handling of spiritual matters, often a tricky task for workers, and Kathleen Lane, still recalling her trip in the States, focuses on some of the qualities of her American friends.

In Bits and Pieces, we touch on the death of Chris Beedell, one of Britain's leading residential childcare teachers, the impact of Devolution, the CfC's challenge to professionals and the chance to participate in TOPSS consultations on the Standards for residential childcare managers.