Innovative green architecture is a key toward building a sustainable future; while initial costs can be high, green buildings are proving to save money and energy over the long term.

New members of the European Union often emulate their western neighbours in the pursuit of higher living standards, but ignoring the consequences of increased consumption has some ugly andmessy consequences. One case in point is Bulgaria.

Leaving something behind—be it a place, job, or stage of life—often brings a sense of freedom to talk more openly about the things one finds important. In this sense, the parting words of the outgoing president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) are worth considering. Having accepted the EBRD’s top post in 2000, Jean Lemierre has over the years earned the respect of even the bank’s toughest critics—mostly for his ability to balance opposing views on what a mandate-driven bank should or should not do.

Batumi is a southwest Georgian port city that lies on the Black SeaCoast. With a population of approximately 120,000 and a long and rich history, Batumi is also the capital of the Georgian autonomous republic ofAdjara. The city was famous throughout the Soviet Era as a sea resort, and northerners relished a holiday to the southern countryside to take in the sun, wine, tea and lemon-scented air.

One chilly March morning, Aurelija Stancikiene discovered a candle and a bunch of yellow flowers at her doorstep. It took no time at all for her to get the message: In Lithuania, candles and yellow flowers are items commonly left as graveside memorials.