Postretirement And Other Employee Benefits (Reconciliation Of The Change In The Benefit Obligations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2009
Postretirement And Other Employee Benefits
Beginning projected benefit obligation	$ 133,683	$ 129,603
Service cost	1,494	1,389	1,759
Interest cost	5,715	5,681	6,779
Actuarial (gain) loss	(5,502)	12,791
Curtailment gain	(597)
Total benefits paid	(4,236)	(4,410)
Plan participant contributions	69	66
Amendments		242
Acquisitions/disposals	2,073	(6,149)
Effect of conversion to U.S. dollars	5,175	(5,530)
Ending projected benefit obligation	$ 137,874	$ 133,683	$ 129,603
Discount rate	4.90%	4.10%
Rate of compensation increases	4.20%	3.90%

Defined benefit plan business combinations and disposal benefit obligation.

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The net increase or decrease of changes in the value of either the benefit obligation or the plan assets resulting from experience different from that assumed or from a change in an actuarial assumption, or the consequence of a decision to temporarily deviate from the substantive plan.

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The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.

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Expected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans).

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1) For defined benefit pension plans, the benefit obligation is the projected benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value as of a date of all benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered prior to that date. 2) For other postretirement defined benefit plans, the benefit obligation is the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, which is the actuarial present value of benefits attributed to employee service rendered to a particular date.

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The amount of payments made for which participants are entitled under a pension plan, including pension benefits, death benefits, and benefits due on termination of employment. Also includes payments made under a postretirement benefit plan, including prescription drug benefits, health care benefits, life insurance benefits, and legal, educational and advisory services. This item represents a periodic decrease to the plan obligations and a decrease to plan assets.

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The amount of contributions made by plan participants. This item represents a periodic increase to the plan obligation and an increase to plan assets.

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The amount of decrease that is related to an event that significantly reduces the expected years of future service of present employees or eliminates for a significant number of employees the accrual of defined benefits for some or all of their future services.

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The amount of increase or decrease in the benefit obligation attributed to foreign currency changes. The effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes that are to be disclosed are those applicable to plans of a foreign operation whose functional currency is not the reporting currency.

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The increase in a defined benefit pension plan's projected benefit obligation or a defined benefit postretirement plan's accumulated postretirement benefit obligation due to the passage of time.

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The amount of increase or decrease due to a change in the terms of an existing plan or the initiation of a new plan. A plan amendment may increase or decrease benefits, including those attributed to years of service already rendered.

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The actuarial present value of benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula to services rendered by employees during the period. The portion of the expected postretirement benefit obligation attributed to employee service during the period. The service cost component is a portion of the benefit obligation and is unaffected by the funded status of the plan.

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