Now there is a real chance to make serious changes: to improve the voting system, to lessen the power of party hacks and to return an element of independence to individual MPs.

ECONOMIST: Letters

He would also lower the voting age to 17, and lessen the personal power of the prime minister.

ECONOMIST: Canada

Earth Hour does lessen the electrical load of power plants to some extent, thus making a small contribution for that hour by lessening the amount of coal burned.

FORBES: Moving Beyond The Symbolism Of Earth Hour

"The protesting parties see the current design of federal demarcation plan in the new constitution as a way to minimize their demographic power, and lessen their political bargaining capacity, " said Dipendra Jha, a lawyer at the Supreme Court and a Madhesi practicing in Kathmandu.

CNN: Beleaguered Nepal enshrines its new constitution

Nuclear power, over time, would lessen our dependence on both oil and coal, but so far the executive branch has also been slow in implementing incentives contained in the 2005 energy bill.

FORBES: Magazine Article

His Holiness clearly understood that the importance of protecting the health of people whether not yet born or already walking the planet far exceeds the business interests of those who would place our health at risk rather than retro-fit their power plants with the technology available to lessen the harmful effects of their emissions.

FORBES: Pro-Life Forces Reject Rick Santorum's Anti-EPA Stance As Out Of Step With Those Committed To Protecting Life

Dr James Mitchell, head of business development for Atlantis in London, said the project could lessen the blow from workforce reductions at the former Dounreay nuclear power complex.

BBC: Major tidal power plan revealed

Economic interdependence would lessen risk, improve the quality of life for normal North Koreans and disperse power within the country.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Rasputin's political power emanated from a supposed ability to staunch the tsarevich's bleeding and lessen his pain.

ECONOMIST: Ra-Ra-Rasputin