You may have read that in British Prime Minister's Tony Blair's second term of office in Downing Street, he wants to make Africa a personal priority. My colleague Lesley Abdela and I are therefore producing a short research paper for a United Kingdom Department of State in which we will put forward as many practical suggestions as possible on what could be done to - help reduce conflict in Africa; promote more equitable and sustainable development throughout the Continent. Both elements can benefit from fresh ('blue water') thinking and would significantly include the role of women in both conflict prevention/post-conflict reconstruction and in economic development. We have been asked to submit these new, fresh ideas quickly, and would therefore appreciate your views as soon as possible, and those of others you might forward this request to. Lesley Abdela and I will look forward to hearing from you/them. – Tim Symonds