As Americans and people of other former colonies recognize, there's a great deal to be said for national independence. But, at times, we might also wonder: is it sufficient? After all, many of today's problems -- including war and modern weaponry, environmental catastrophe, disease pandemics, and widespread poverty -- are global phenomena. To address these problems effectively, we need collective action. And to secure this action, we need a change in human consciousness and behavior -- a shift from a parochial national independence to the interdependence of nations.