My editor proposes “global, worldwide, intercontinental, total” as synonyms; “domestic, common and general” as antonyms. I don’t quite understand. International is total but not common and general? And I had always thought that we were all international, that international was a real mosaic which we all belonged to. Then, what is our voice in ‘international’ and what impact does ‘international’ have on our lives, on the local, on proximity, our everyday life? Could we evade that which comes from elsewhere if we wanted to? And do we want to? What is the added value of the global encounter?

And L’Arche in there, with its 133 communities and 5000 members, with and without an intellectual disability, who all belong to this International Federation? Do we know what L’Arche International is all about? Do we feel linked? Can we belong to ‘international’ and to the ‘local’? Can we be involved both here and there? Is there an exchange between the two levels?

On the front page, this issue proposes a stroll through the youngest country of the Federation, Ukraine. A country, which still searches for its identity, which has been pushed around and even oppressed by its neighbours, by what came from international, throughout its colourful history. Next, read through a reflection from Australia on the impact of globalisation on people with an intellectual disability. Richard from England and Alexandre from France share their thoughts about L’Arche – at home and elsewhere. Maria and Thomas aver that we are all connected. Mireya de Corrales, President of the Federation, shares her vision on the theme “Belonging to ‘international’”. And then, participants of the formation programme L’Arche Experience, who have really experimented ‘international’ will share what they have lived in India and Bangladesh last autumn.

In this year 2008, when we as a Federation prepare ourselves for the next International General Assembly, the theme ‘international’ seems to be very present. L’Arche International, the Federation and its structures turn more and more into distinct bodies. Indeed, ‘international’ makes you dream, but it is nevertheless not an easy subject. Maybe I should stop my brainstorming with a reference to Jean who reminds us, quite simply, that, eventually, “we, as human beings, are all cut from the same cloth”.

Happy reading,
Tina Bovermann