Being Nobel

B E I N G N O B E L
Livia Malcangio
"If you want to make peace with your enemy,
you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
Nelson Mandela
Written by Livia Malcangio
Renato Roncagli Miceli, graphic design
Ashley Woods, picture research
Louis Venturelli & Sara Wilson, proofreading
Alex Di Gregorio, illustrations
First published in Italy in August 2013 by Livia Malcangio
Special Limited Edition: 300 copies
ISBN 978-88-909199-0-9
info@beingnobel.org - www.beingnobel.org
We kindly thank Hewlett Packard, Mohwak and Elanders Germany
for their advice and generous support in the printing of this book.
Printed on a HP Indigo Digital Press using Mohawk loop i-tone:
Super Smooth Eco White' 118g/qm at Elanders Germany GmbH
WORLD
SUMMIT
of Nobel
Peace
Laureates
Under the High Patronage of
We offer the worlds youth our support and
our experience as they pursue a better future.
We urge them to achieve change through
peaceful and moral means. We need your
enthusiasm and we want you to join us in
our continued quest for peace and justice.
Mikhail Gorbachev, Dalai Lama, Shirin Ebadi, Muhammad Yunus,
Jody Williams, Fredrick W. De Klerk, Lech Walesa
Nobel Peace Laureates
and the Courageous Pursuit of Peace
B E I N G N O B E L
This is an ongoing project that will constantly be updated each year.
This is why some of the contents, although mentioned in the book, are not yet presented.
The contents that are presented in the book are showed in bold text, while that in light text has yet
to be included.
4
CONTENTS
PREFACE
by Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Nobel Peace Laureate
INTRODUCTION
by Ekaterina Zagladina, President of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOBEL PRIZE
NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES
AND THE COURAGEOUS PURSUIT OF PEACE
AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA - Constitutional Democracy VS Apartheid
1984 Desmond Tutu 29
+ Carlos Santana
1993 Nelson Mandela 37
+ Annie Lennox
1993 Frederik Willem de Klerk 47
+ Peter Gabriel
KENYA - Green Belt Movement VS Deforestation
2004 Wangari Maathai 59
+ Bob Geldolf
EGYPT - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
2005 Mohamed ElBaradei & International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
+ Michael Douglas
GHANA - The United Nations Organization (UNO)
2001 Kofi Annan & The United Nations Organization (UNO)
+ Ted Turner + George Clooney + Don Cheadle
LIBERIA - Women's Participation in Peace-Building Work
2011 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf & Leymah Gbowee
5
CONTENTS
AMERICA
ARGENTINA - Nonviolent Search for Human Rights VS Repressive Military Regime
1980 Adolfo Perez Esquivel
+ Pope Francis
COSTA RICA - Disarmament VS Military Dictatorships
1987 Oscar Arias Snchez 73
GUATEMALA - Promotion of the Mayan Culture VS Ethnic Cleansing of Aborigines
1992 Rigoberta Mench Tum
+ Salma Hayek
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2009 Barack Obama
International Diplomacy and Nuclear Disarmament
+ Oprah Winfrey
2007 Al Gore & Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 82
Global Warming and Global Climate Change
+ Robert Redford
2002 Jimmy Carter 90
Camp David Accords
+ Brad Pitt
1997 Jody Williams & International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) 96
Banning and Cleaning VS Landmines
+ Queen Noor al-Hussein
1996 Elie Wiesel 106
Memory of the Righteous VS Jews History of Deportations and the Holocaust
+ Steven Spielberg
1973 Henry Kissinger 114
The Vietnam War
+ Joan Baez
6
CONTENTS
ASIA
TIBET (China) - Non-violent Struggle of Tibets Freedom VS Chinese Occupation
1989 Tenzin Gyatso, XIV Dalai Lama 129
+ Richard Gere
RUSSIA (Former Soviet Union) - Fall of the Berlin Wall VS Cold War
1990 Mikhail Gorbachev 143
+ Leonardo DiCaprio
MYANMAR (former Burma) - Civil Courage for Democracy VS Oppression
1991 Aung San Suu Kyi
+ Bono Vox
IRAN - Mothers Responsibility VS Patriarchal Culture and Womens Lower Position in Society
2003 Shirin Ebadi 161
BANGLADESH - Microcredit and Social Business VS Extreme Poverty
2006 Muhammad Yunus & The Grameen Bank 171
+ Ravi Shankar
CHINA - Freedom of Expression VS Prisoners of Conscience
2010 Liu Xiaobao
+ Ai Wei Wei
EAST TIMOR - Self-Determination of Peoples VS Islamic Indonesia Invasion
1996 Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
1996 Jos Ramos Horta
ISRAEL - The Conclusion of the Oslo Accords for the Search of Fraternity in the Middle East VS War and Hate
1994 Shimon Peres
+ Barbra Streisand
YEMEN - Non-Violent Struggle for the Safety of Women and for Women's Rights
2011 Tawakkol Karman
7
CONTENTS
EUROPE
POLAND - Autonomous Trade Unions VS Communist Repression
1983 Lech Walesa 185
+ Pope John Paul II
NORTHERN IRELAND (Great Britain) - Good Friday Agreement VS Repression in Northern Ireland
1976 Betty Williams 197
+ Bob Geldolf
1976 Mairead Corrigan Maguire 207
1998 John Hume 215
+ Bono Vox
1998 David Trimble 221
FINLAND - Resolution of Conflicts
2008 Martti Ahtisaari
8
CONTENTS
THE CHILDRENS PEACE PRIZE AND THE WINNERS
SOUTH AFRICA - For a more dignified life of people with HIV/AIDS
2005 Nkosi Johnson 230
INDIA - Combating child labour
2006 Om Prakash Gurjar 232
ZAMBIA - For the right to education
2007 Thandiwe Chama 233
BRAZIL - Against violence in favelas
2008 Mayra Avellar Neves 234
TANZANIA - In support of refugee children
2009 Baruani Ndume 235
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - For official childrens registration
2010 Francia Simon 236
SOUTH AFRICA - For her commitment to the rights of children with disabilities
2011 Chaeli Mycroft 237
PHILIPPINES - For his effort to improve the rights of street children
2012 Kesz Valdez 238
PAKISTAN - For advocating that all girls in Pakistan should have the right to go to school
2013 Malala Yousafzai 239
AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR: LIVIA MALCANGIO 240
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 244
CHARTER FOR A WORLD WITHOUT VIOLENCE 245
9
Dear students and friends from all over the world,
Receiving the Nobel Prize is, of
course, recognition of an indivi-
dual or organisations outstanding
contribution to the advancement of
mankind in the fields of physics,
chemistry, medicine, literature,
economics or world peace.
The title of this book is Being
Nobel and the play on words in
the title is quite thought-provoking
because in order to effect positive
change in this world, you should
aspire to have a noble spirit. The
winners of the Nobel Peace Prize have shown themselves to possess qualities
of the highest moral character such as courage, generosity and compassion.
I have had the privilege of meeting many of the recipients of the Nobel Peace
Prize. They are wonderful, selfless people who have spared no effort in their
campaigns to end violent conflict and to foster peace and respect among peo-
ple all over the world.
Achieving peace has never been easy. It is just as difficult as discovering a com-
plex physics formula to explain how the universe works or solving a challenging
medical problem to save thousands of future lives. And it is just as important to
the future of mankind.
Some Nobel Peace Prize winners, like Martin Luther King, Jr., or Yitzhak Rabin,
paid with their lives for their fearless dedication to their causes. Others have had
their lives taken in different ways, like Nelson Mandela, who sacrificed decades
of his life in South Africa to the fight against apartheid. Even 27 years in prison
could not shake his belief. There is also the example of Aung San Suu Kyi, who
spent two decades under house arrest in Burma, hoping that one day democracy
could flourish in her beloved nation. The countrys military dictators offered her
a chance to leave the state to join her ailing husband and two sons in England.
She refused, knowing that if she left, she would never be allowed to go back to
her motherland and to her people, for whom she remained a beacon of hope.
P
R
E
F
A
C
E
Being noble also means having the capacity to learn from our mistakes - something we
should also try to do. A great example is the Nobel Peace Laureate, my compatriot, Andrei
Sakharov. He was originally a physicist who helped to create nuclear weapons of enormous
destructive power but later became one of the toughest and most uncompromising advoca-
tes of nuclear disarmament, risking his own health and freedom in the process. Another
example is Frederik Willem de Klerk of South Africa, the last President of the apartheid re-
gime, who initiated the dismantling of that system of segregation while he was in office.
In my case, I understood that war and violence were no longer acceptable methods in mo-
dern world politics and that no nation should live in fear of anothers power. So I worked to
transform my ideas into policy and once I was elected leader of the Soviet Union, I began a
fresh round of Soviet-American negotiations, in the hope of seeing noble deeds as a result.
The lesson I learned in those years was that whoever brings peace to others also receives it.
Only after we had stopped threatening each other did we no longer feel threatened oursel-
ves. Then, as leaders, we could begin to bring the interests of our own people in line with
those of the world. My policy of Perestroika, which means restructuring, constituted real
changes in attitudes, in ideas and in practices that entail a radical alternation of both dome-
stic and foreign policy.
I wish the best of success to this inspiring and educational book. I hope that the stories of
these extraordinary people, their dedication and sacrifice, their suffering and their triumphs,
will motivate you to perform noble deeds of your own. I also invite all students around the
world to participate in our annual conference, the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laurea-
tes, where curiosity is a must and faith in humanity is always on the agenda and every ac-
tion is driven by solidarity.
Livia Malcangio started to work with Green Cross in 2001. Since then, she has never aban-
doned the values and the spirit with which our initiatives are brought forward. She is a
woman of outstanding talent and curiosity, driven by a strong passion for international poli-
tics and human rights. During her time with the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit
of Nobel Peace Laureates, I have come to appreciate her professionalism and her smart sense
of humour.
I wish all the best to the development of the legacy programs of which this book is an inte-
gral part, and I hope it will continue to bring the stories of Nobel Peace Laureates to cla-
ssrooms across the world with our present and future partners centered on peace, social
justice and activism.
Mikhail S. Gorbachev
Nobel Peace Laureate
11
In a world where the path to the future is constantly threatened by poverty, war,
disease, inequality and injustice, each of us has a vitally important role to play
in furthering the cause of peace. This is especially true of the young.
That is why the mission of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates is to en-
gage young minds on issues with global implications like non-violence, envi-
ronment, disarmament, social responsibility, rule of law, ethics, universal
humanitarian ideas, spirituality, compassion and many others.
While organizing the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, we place spe-
cial emphasis on encouraging young people to take an action in their com-
munities and on a global level. We have partnered with schools and
universities across Asia, Europe and the United States. In 2012, almost 6,000
students attended the Summit in Chicago and we hope that number will grow
with each Summit.
Our goal is to give young people all over the world access to the Nobel Peace
Laureates experience and knowledge. We believe the moral principles and cou-
rage of these heroic individuals will change the attitude of each young indivi-
dual and they will take an inspiration back to their daily lives, spread and
practice the culture of peace as a means for the sustainable global change to-
wards the world peace.
With this philosophy in mind, for more than six years we have worked to lay the
foundations for this unique annual event by building partnerships among edu-
cators, civil society and socially responsible organizations. We see every Sum-
mit of Nobel Peace Laureates not as the culmination of our efforts, but as another
milestone along the road of our ongoing commitment to inform and empower.
As part of this commitment, we develop programs commemorating the legacies
of the Nobel Peace Laureates and we bring their stories to classrooms all over
the world through material we create with our partners to impart to our students
the knowledge, the values, the tools and the skills needed to be able to achieve
peaceful coexistence with others and to live in harmony with the natural envi-
ronment.
I
N
T
R
O
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
As part of our education program,
we are extremely pleased to pre-
sent the book Being Nobel by our
friend and colleague Livia Malcan-
gio. This fascinating and informa-
tive book recounts the gripping
stories of a selection of Nobel
Peace Prize winners and other ce-
lebrities from around the globe
who have used their fame to bring
about a future in which equality
and freedom from oppression are
the rule rather than the exception.
Each of these featured stars has
been chosen because of a connec-
tion to a Nobel Peace Laureate,
whether that connection is a shared geographical origin or a common field of interest or
cause. In emotional and uplifting interviews by Ms Malcangio, in which these heroes elo-
quently discuss their motivations, their lives and work, the reader will find true inspiration
and several common traits: courage, dedication, and selflessness.
This book will be a digital reference tool for schools. The online version will continue to
grow with every World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and will therefore be more than
just a publication but more of an encyclopedia with links to additional information, lectu-
res and videos. There will also be a special annual printed edition, a kind of yearbook, with
a cover and jacket that changes with every Summit.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has iden-
tified peace education as essential in ensuring a future without war and free of the mistakes
and problems of the past. The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates vows to continue to
play its part in bringing peace education to as many students in as many countries as possi-
ble through projects like Being Nobel.
Ekaterina Zagladina
President of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
13
THE NOBEL PRIZE
Awarded yearly since 1901, the Nobel Prize was established by Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), a Swedish chemist, inven-
tor, and industrialist who received over three hundred patents in his lifetime and made a fortune from his most famous
invention, dynamite. As stipulated in his last will, most of Nobels estate was used to establish a fund from which pri-
zes would be awarded in his name for those who had done the most or best work for peace, as well as for those
achievements in physiology or medicine, chemistry, physics, and literature had conferred the greatest benefit on man-
kind. A prize for economics was added in 1969.
ALFRED NOBEL
Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 21 October 1833, to a wealthy family. Trained as a chemical engi-
neer, he was passionate about chemistry and related sciences. He was able to combine his passion with strong en-
trepreneurial instincts to make a fortune by first inventing and patenting dynamite production at the age of 30 and then
developing this into a business empire. An extremely wealthy industrialist by the time of his death in 1896, he was the
first person in the world to create an international holding company.
Nobels close relationship with Baroness Bertha von Suttner, who later won a Nobel Peace Prize herself, greatly in-
fluenced his thinking. Von Suttner was a driving force in the international peace movement that was establishing itself
in Europe towards the end of the 19th century. Such was her influence on Nobel that he became a member of the Au-
strian Peace Association and supported it financially. Besides his passion for chemistry and social issues, he wrote his
own poetry and plays, and had a great interest in literature.
The whole of my remaining realizable estate shall be dealt with the following way: the capital, in-
vested in safe Securities by my executors, shall consist in a fund, the interest of which shall be an-
nually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have
conferred the greatest benefit to mankind. The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts,
which shall be apportioned as follows: one part to the person who shall have made the most impor-
tant discovery or invention within the field of physics; one part to the person who shall have made
the most important chemical discovery or improvement; one part to the person who shall have made
the most important discovery within the domain of physiology or medicine; one part to the person
who shall have produced in the field of literature of the most outstanding work of an idealistic ten-
dency; and one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity
between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and
promotion of peace congresses. The prizes for physics and chemistry shall be awarded by the Swe-
dish Academy of Sciences; that for physiological or medical works by the Karolinska Institutet in
Stockholm; and that for champions of peace by a committee of five persons to be elected by the Nor-
vegian Storting. It is my express wish that in awarding the prizes no consideration whatever shall be
given to the nationality of candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he
be a Scandinavian or not.
Alfred Nobel
Paris, 27 November 1895
Copyright The Nobel Foundation (2013)
INTRODUCTION TO
The Testament
14
THE NOBEL PRIZE
SELECTIONS
All proposals for candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, to be awarded December 10th in Oslo, must be presented to
the Norwegian Nobel Committee before February 1st. In order to be accepted, proposals must be submitted from
qualified persons from the following categories:
Members and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee as well as the advisers appointed at the Norwe-
gian Nobel Institute;
Members of the National Assembly and Members of the Government in the respective States, as well as Members of
the Interparliamentary Union;
Members of the International Arbitration Court and the International Court of Justice at the Hague;
Members and Associates of the Institute of International Law;
Members of the executive committee of the International Peace Bureau;
University professors of Political Science and of Law, of History and of Philosophy; and Persons who have received
the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Prize can be awarded to an individual or to an association or organization. Submitted proposals cannot be pu-
blished.
THE CEREMONY
The Nobel Peace Prize is presented at a stately ceremony held each year
on December 10th, the date its Swedish benefactor Alfred Nobel died
in 1896. The event is held in the auditorium of Oslo City Hall, that hou-
ses the city council and the most impressive art in Norway. Traditio-
nally, the chairman of the Nobel Committee presents the diploma and
gold medal to the laureates, who are seated on the podium with the
five members of the Nobel Committee and its permanent secre-
tary. Invitations are sent to the cultural and political leaders of the
country and to members of diplomatic corps. The ceremony is
scheduled to last 95 minutes, a little longer when the prize is
shared, and each laureate is given a limit of 20 minutes for
the acceptance and Nobel Lecture. In early evening there
is a torchlight procession honouring the laureate and
as an opportunity to greet the people of Oslo, who
can demonstrate their support and, on occasion,
their protest. The event concludes with a formal
banquet in the Grand Hotel, where the laurea-
tes are accommodated.
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49
53
17
66
WHERE DO THEY
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9 14
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35 51 54 57
62
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69 70
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68 71 74
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2
40 55
59 60 67
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83 84
85 86 88
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6
ALL COME FROM?
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63
17
NOBEL PEACE
1 2013
2 2012 European Union (EU)
"for over six decades having contributed to the advancement of peace
and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe"
3-4-5 2011 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia),
Tawakkol Karman (Yemen)
"for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for womens
rights to full participation in peace-building work"
6 2010 Liu Xiaobao (China)
for his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human
rights in China
7 2009 Barack Obama (USA)
for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy
and cooperation between peoples
8 2008 Martti Ahtisaari (Finland)
for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than
three decades, to resolve international conflicts
9 2007 Al Gore (USA), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about
man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures
that are needed to counteract such change
10 2006 Muhammad Yunus (Bangladesh), Grameen Bank
for advancing economic and social opportunities for the poor,
especially women, through their pioneering microcredit work
11 2005 Mohamed ElBaradei (Egypt), International Atomic Energy Agency
for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military
purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used
in the safest possible way
12 2004 Wangari Maathai (Kenya)
for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace
18
PRIZE WINNERS
13 2003 Shirin Ebadi (Iran)
for her efforts for democracy and human rights. She has focused
especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children
14 2002 Jimmy Carter (USA)
for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions
to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights,
and to promote economic and social development
15 2001 Kofi Annan (Ghana), United Nations
for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world
16 2000 Kim Dae-jung (South Korea)
17 1999 Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF)
18-19 1998 John Hume (Great Britain), David Trimble (Great Britain)
for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict
in Northern Ireland
20 1997 Jody Williams (USA), International Campaign to Ban Landmines
for their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines
21-22 1996 Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo (East Timor), Jos Ramos-Horta (East Timor)
for their work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict
in East Timor
23 1995 Joseph Rotblat (Great Britain),
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
24-25-26 1994 Yasser Arafat (Palestinian National Authority), Shimon Peres (Israel),
Yitzhak Rabin (Israel)
for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East
27-28 1993 Nelson Mandela (South Africa), F.W. de Klerk (South Africa)
for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime,
and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa
29 1992 Rigoberta Mench Tum (Guatemala)
in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural
reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples
19
NOBEL PEACE
30 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar, former Burma)
for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights
31 1990 Mikhail Gorbachev (Russia, former Soviet Union)
for his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes
important parts of the international community
32 1989 Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama (Tibet, China)
for his consistent resistance to the use of violence
in his people's struggle to regain their freedom
33 1987 Oscar Arias Snchez (Costa Rica)
for his work for peace in Central America, efforts which led
to the accord signed in Guatemala on August 7 this year
34 1986 Elie Wiesel (USA)
with his message and through his practical work in the case
of peace, is a convincing spokesman for the view of mankind
and for the unlimited humanitarianism which are at all times necessary
for a lasting and just peace
35 1985 International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)
36 1984 Desmond Tutu (South Africa)
role as a unifying leader in the campaign to resolve the problem
of apartheid in South Africa
37 1983 Lech Walesa (Poland)
contribution, made with considerable personal sacrifice, to ensure
the workers right to establish their own organizations
38-39 1982 Alva Myrdal (Sweden), Alfonso Garca Robles (Mexico)
40 1981 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) (Switzerland)
41 1980 Adolfo Prez Esquivel (Argentina)
he champions a solution of Argentinas grievous problems that dispenses
with the use of violence, and is spokesman of a revival of respect
for human rights
20
PRIZE WINNERS
42 1979 Mother Teresa (India)
43-44 1978 Anwar al-Sadat (Egitto), Menachem Begin (Israel)
45 1977 Amnesty International (AI)
46-47 1976 Betty Williams (Northern Ireland, Great Britain),
Mairead Corrigan (Northern Ireland, Great Britain)
their initiative paved the way for the strong resistance against violence
and misuse of power
48 1975 Andrei Sakharov (Former Soviet Union)
49-50 1974 Sen MacBride (Ireland), Eisaku Sato (Japan)
51-52 1973 Henry Kissinger (USA), Le Duc Tho (Northern Vietnam)
whose joint efforts brought the ceasefire accord on January 23
of this year
1972
53 1971 Willy Brandt (Germany)
54 1970 Norman Borlaug (USA)
55 1969 International Labour Organization (ILO), (Switzerland)
56 1968 Ren Cassin (France)
1967
1966
57 1965 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
58 1964 Martin Luther King Jr. (USA)
59-60 1963 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), (Switzerland),
League of Red Cross Societies (LRCS), (Switzerland)
61 1962 Linus Pauling (USA)
62 1961 Dag Hammarskjld (Sweden)
63 1960 Albert Luthuli (South Africa)
64 1959 Philip Noel-Baker (Great Britain)
65 1958 Georges Pire (Belgium)
66 1957 Lester Bowles Pearson (Canada)
21
NOBEL PEACE
1956
1955
67 1954 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), (Switzerland)
68 1953 George C. Marshall (USA)
69 1952 Albert Schweitzer (France)
70 1951 Lon Jouhaux (France)
71 1950 Ralph Bunche (USA)
72 1949 Lord Boyd Orr (Great Britain)
1948
73-74 1947 Friends Service Council (FSC), (Great Britain)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), (USA)
75-76 1946 Emily Greene Balch (USA), John R. Mott (USA)
77 1945 Cordell Hull (USA)
78 1944 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), (Switzerland)
1943
1942
1941
1940
1939
79 1938 Nansen International Office for Refugees (Switzerland)
80 1937 Robert Cecil (Great Britain)
81 1936 Carlos Saavedra Lamas (Argentina)
82 1935 Carl von Ossietzky (Germany)
83 1934 Arthur Henderson (Great Britain)
84 1933 Sir Norman Angell (Great Britain)
1932
85-86 1931 Jane Addams (USA), Nicholas Murray Butler (USA)
87 1930 Nathan Sderblom (Sweden)
22
PRIZE WINNERS
88 1929 Frank B. Kellogg (USA)
1928
89-90 1927 Ferdinand Buisson (France), Ludwig Quidde (Germany)
91-92 1926 Aristide Briand (France), Gustav Stresemann (Germany)
93-94 1925 Sir Austen Chamberlain (Great Britain), Charles G. Dawes (USA)
1924
1923
95 1922 Fridtjof Nansen (Norway)
96-97 1921 Hjalmar Branting (Sweden), Christian Lange (Norway)
98 1920 Lon Bourgeois (France)
99 1919 Woodrow Wilson (USA)
1918
100 1917 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), (Switzerland)
1916
1915
1914
101 1913 Henri La Fontaine (Belgium)
102 1912 Elihu Root (USA)
103-104 1911 Tobias Asser (Netherlands), Alfred Fried (Austria)
105 1910 Permanent International Peace Bureau (IPB)
106-107 1909 Auguste Beernaert (Belgium), Paul Henri d'Estournelles de Constant (France)
108-109 1908 Klas Pontus Arnoldson (Sweden), Fredrik Bajer (Denmark)
110-111 1907 Ernesto Teodoro Moneta (Italy), Louis Renault (France)
112 1906 Theodore Roosevelt (USA)
113 1905 Bertha von Suttner (Austria)
114 1904 Institute of International Law (IDI)
115 1903 Randal Cremer (Great Britain)
116-117 1902 lie Ducommun (Switzerland), Albert Gobat (Switzerland)
118-119 1901 Henry Dunant (France), Frdric Passy (France)
23
BACKGROUND
The borders of modern South Africa were established only in
1910 when the Boer Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange
Free State, conquered by the British in 1902, were united with the
British colonies of the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. The new
Union encompassed a wide variety of peoples and territories in-
cluding descendants of British settlers known as Afrikaners,
Coloureds, Indians and nine African peoples including Zulus,
Xhosas, Swazis, Ndebeles, Tswanas, Southern and Northern
Sothos, Vendas and Tsongas. This was the era of colonialism in
Africa and as was the case throughout the rest of the continent
at that time, political rights were, in practice, granted only to
those who classified as white in the new Union.
South African politics during the first half of the 20th century
were dominated by the continuing struggle between Afrikaner nationalists who wished to re-establish their own re-
public and those who supported closer ties with Britain. Most black South Africans continued to live in the rural ho-
melands under tribal rule supervised by the government. The increasing number of blacks who had migrated to the
cities were often subjected to discrimination, exploitation and appalling living conditions. In 1948, the newly elected
National Party government codified existing discrimination into the pervasive system of segregation and white do-
mination known as apartheid. Social facilities, schools and communities were rigidly segregated and severe restric-
tions were placed on black employment, the rights to own property and on the ability of black people to move freely
within South Africa.
From 1958 onward, the National Party implemented a policy of separate development in which it extended political
rights to blacks in their traditional homelands. However, these rights were only extended to a population comprised
of 13.7% of the country and no provision was made for the political rights of blacks in the rest of the land. Those not
covered under separate development were continuously subject to the harsh discrimination of apartheid. Indeed, apar-
theid was vehemently rejected by most of the black, coloured and Indian populations and was increasingly condem-
ned by the international community.
Beginning in 1978, the National Party government under the leadership of President PW Botha endeavored to reform
apartheid starting with trade union reforms. In 1983, it adopted a new constitution which extended greater political
rights to coloured and Indian South Africans and, by 1986, it had repealed more than 100 apartheid laws. However,
Botha refused to accept the principle of one-man-one-vote because of his fear that this would lead to the kind of
chaos experienced by most other post-independence African countries. He was also deeply concerned about the gro-
wing Soviet threat in continental south Africa and the influence of the South African Communist Party within the
Abolition
of slavery
1833
Formation of the Union of
South Africa and entrance into
the Commonwealth. First ra-
cist laws enacted
1910
Full independence
from England
1931
Banning of the ANC and
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to
the ANC President
Albert Luthuli
1960 1902
End of Anglo-Boer
wars
1912
Birth of the Native
National Congress which later
became the African National
Congress (ANC)
1948
The National Party takes
power and apartheid officially
introduced
1961
The UN declares
apartheid a crime
against humanity
SOUTH AFRICA
24
BACKGROUND
African National Congress (ANC). Additionally, Botha was also reluctant to surrender the Afrikaners right to natio-
nal self-determination for which they had struggled for more than 150 years.
PW Bothas reforms simply intensified black demands for full political rights. Consequently, widespread protests and
civilian unrest led to greater isolation amongst the peoples of South Africa and to intensified sanctions from the inter-
national community.
By 1987, all major political parties accepted the idea that there could be neither a military nor a revolutionary solution
and secret talks began between Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid revolutionary, and the South African government.
In 1988, an agreement was reached on the withdrawal of 50,000 Cuban troops from Angola and in 1989, Namibia, which
had been ruled by South Africa since 1915, moved towards independence under UN supervision. In November 1989,
the international community witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolizing the collapse of Soviet communism.
FW de Klerk was elected leader of South Africas National Party in February 1989 and would eventually go on to serve
as South Africas state president. In some of his first acts as president, de Klerk immediately began with democratic
reforms calling for the end of racism in his country. Sticking to his beliefs, de Klerk permitted peaceful demonstrations
led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and released prominent African Natio-
nal Congress prisoners. On 2 February 1990, he announced the release of
Nelson Mandela, the unbanning of all political parties, and his governments
decision to start negotiations on a new non-racial constitution.
The negotiations at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, com-
monly referred to as CODESA, and the National Negotiating Forum la-
sted for the next three years and were marred by ongoing violence,
walkouts and boycotts. However, despite these ongoing challenges, the
negotiations culminated successfully in December 1993 with the adop-
tion of an interim constitution and South Africas first universal non-ra-
cial election on 27 April 1994.
As a result of the election, the African National Congress won 62.6%
of the vote and the National Party followed with the second highest
amount of votes at 20.6%. In May 1994, Nelson Mandela was inau-
gurated as president and head of the newly established Government
of National Unity (GNU). FW de Klerk was elected as one of two exe-
cutive deputy presidents and served in that capacity until he wi-
thdrew the National Party from the GNU in June 1996.
Mandela was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki in 1999, Kgalema Motlanthe in 2008,
and Jacob Zuma in 2009.
Nelson Mandela
arrested
1963
Nobel Peace Prize
awarded to Desmond Tutu
1984
Release
of Nelson Mandela
1990
First democratic elections ex-
tended to all citizens, Mandela
elected president of South
Africa
1994 1976
Soweto Uprising.
More than 600 people
killed in subsequent
incident
1989
Election of FW de Klerk
as president of South Africa
and beginning of abolition of
racial laws
1993
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to
Nelson Mandela
and FW de Klerk
1999
Thabo Mbeki
president of the
government
after Mandelas
withdrawal
Keyw
ord: Segregation Apartheid m
eans separateness
in the Afrikaans language. It
w
as the policy of racial segre-
gation im
posed by the post-
w
ar w
hite governm
ent of
South Africas National Party,
w
hich held pow
er from
1948
until 1994. South Africa also
applied a system
of apartheid
in Nam
ibia, w
hich it adm
ini-
stered until 1990.
25
CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
VS APARTHEID
Apartheid is the Afrikaans word for separateness. The
idea behind the system that characterised South Africa throu-
ghout much of the 20th century was to maintain white mino-
rity rule in the country by dividing the non-white population
and displacing them to different parts of the country. In 1958,
blacks were stripped of their South African citizenship and
categorised, sometimes at random, according to tribe. The
intention was to relocate them to one of ten separate tribal
territories or Bantustans, a designated territory for blacks. Under the new system, blacks were deprived of material
assets and civil rights, including the right to vote. Each black South African was given citizenship of their new tribal ho-
meland and relocated there, often by force. During this time, the South African government claimed that their goal was
for each of these Bantustans to eventually go on to develop as self-governing and independent cities. In reality, they
remained under white rule.
Those displaced individuals who came back to the cities were forced to live in segregated urban areas or townships.
In fact, almost every aspect of life in South Africa was segregated. Non-whites were forbidden to use public facilities
assigned to whites. Furthermore, whites and non-whites had separate restrooms, drinking fountains, hospitals, scho-
ols, beaches and public transportation. Even the cemeteries were segregated. Of course, the facilities afforded to the
white population were also far superior to those of the non-whites. At one point, the governments spending on black
education fell to one tenth of its spending on whites. Overall, Whites, who made up 20% of the population, domina-
ted 87% of the resources, and virtually all political power.
A non-white person entering what was considered a white area, even if they worked there, required an official pass or
permit or they could be arrested on the spot. Non-white visitors to South Africa were granted Honorary White sta-
tus to give them the rights and privileges denied to the non-white population of the country. Interracial marriage and
sexual relations were criminal offences. Torture and imprisonment were everyday occurrences for critics of the regime.
This system, which became the law of the land
when the National Party came to power in the
1948 elections, persisted right up until the fall of
President PW Botha in 1989. Under the leadership
of FW de Klerk, a new era began.
In 1998, the true extent of the horrors of apartheid
finally came to light thanks to the Commission for
Truth and National Reconciliation chaired by Ar-
chbishop Desmond Tutu.
26
Mandela and de Klerk hold their hands high as they address a huge crowd of people in front of the Union Building
after the first presidential inauguration on May 10, 1994.
DESMOND TUTU
A spiritual, social, and political leader in South Africa, Desmond Tutu campaigned for racial justice and equality without
ever submitting to hatred or violence. Born in 1931 in Transvaal, Tutu moved to Johannesburg with his family at an early
age, where his mother became a cook in a missionary school for the blind. His first jobs were selling peanuts at the
railway stations and caddying on a golf course. As a young man, he wanted to become a doctor but his family had no
money for medical training and so, following in his fathers footsteps, he became a teacher.
In 1953, after the Nationalist government ratified the Bantu Education Act fully segregating the school system ulti-
mately subjecting blacks to a second-class education, Tutu resigned his teaching job and took to protest. It was then
that Tutu decided to become a priest, although he later admitted his motivation was not religious. I was not moved
by very high ideals. It just seemed that if the church would accept me, this might be a likely means of service, he said.
Tutu spent seven years in England furthering his theological education and working after being ordained in the Angli-
can Church in 1961. He later returned to South Africa in 1967 and became the chaplain at the University of Fort Hare,
which was at the time a hotbed of racial and political dissent. Tutu went on to become the Bishop of Lesotho, the first
black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, the Bishop of Johannesburg and eventually the Ar-
chbishop of Cape Town. Along the way, he focussed on the stark racial inequalities in his home nation.
Unlike many of his fellow anti-apartheid activists, Tutu was able to negotiate directly with Afrikaner politicians such as
PW Botha over many key issues. Through boycotts, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations, he pressured for reform
on civil rights, segregated schools, passport laws, and forced deportation.
The Soweto Uprising of June 1976 was a turning point in South Africas history. The world could no longer ignore what
was happening. It was after the tragic events of that year that Tutu truly began to emerge as one of the leading voices
in the anti-apartheid movement.
For his role in the fight against apartheid, Tutu was awarded the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize.
The recognition came at a crucial time, as certain influential world leaders were actively promoting policies of con-
structive engagement, which aimed to ease economic sanctions placed on South Africa while attempting to effect
change by offering incentives instead. Winning the Nobel Peace Prize raised Tutus international profile. It effectively
made him the spokesperson for the anti-apartheid cause and lent greater weight to his insistence on maintaining eco-
nomic and political sanctions against South Africa until apartheid was dissolved.
Tutu established a scholarship programme enabling blacks from South Africa to study in the United States with the mo-
nies awarded through his Nobel Prize.
For his role as a unifying leader in the campaign to resolve
the problem of apartheid in South Africa.
29
Speaking at the KidsRights Millennium Development Goals Conference in Johannesburg in July, 2010, F.W. De Klerk
said of Desmond Tutu, Tutu is the symbol of hope for South Africans. He is the conscience of South Africa. Fearless
in speaking up when needed, the role he played in our country was fundamental. Please carry on with the important
work you are doing! Nelson Mandela once said of Tutu, The signature quality of Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a rea-
diness to take unpopular stands without fear. Preaching amid tear gas and police dogs, rallying a people against apar-
theid, Tutus motto was Be nice to whites; they need you to rediscover their humanity. When apartheid was dismantled
and South Africa needed a heart big enough to forgive its sins, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was called by the first de-
mocratically elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, to serve his country once more, as chairman of the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission. Fifteen years into the era of the new, free South Africa, Bishop Tutu continues to coun-
cil the government and to work towards a more just nation and world. (July 2010)
Good morning Father Tutu,
What has the 2010 World Cup meant for the future of
South Africa?
It inspired us all. We want this euphoria and patriotism to be
beneficial to all South Africans, especially the children. It just
lifted us all, giving us self confidence and made us proud to
be South Africans. We have shown ourselves to be hospita-
ble, thankful, and while supporting the Ghana team, it reuni-
ted us all as Africans. We should never go back to what
happened in 2008. The spirit prevailing in our country today
is priceless, you cannot buy it. They say its been the most
profitable World Cup ever organized.
What has this last month done for South Africa? Did you expect it?
I could have never predicted it! Its been more than what we experienced when Mandela was released in 1990, more
than when we won the Rugby World Cup in 1995. People are proud to be South Africans. We have proved to be fan-
tastic hosts and foreigners felt welcome, we simply surprised ourselves!
So FIFA has been a unifying force?
To Black, White, Indian, Coloured people, we offered state-of-the-art stadiums, infrastructures: we just showed the
world we can do it! The world has been amazed! The negative publicity that was given before on TV has changed. We
should become more aware that we are a nation. We are a rainbow nation. When I see cars on the streets with South
African flags I am so happy! President Zuma said, We should harvest this spirit.
Is there any specific policy in place to ensure that?
If I was in the Government I would make sure to build 50,000 houses, because you need to show you are doing so-
mething practical for the people.
The people who came here, including the soccer players, were so nice. A few of the teams were even carrying out soccer
This amiable Anglican cleric
became the leader and spoke-
sman of the non-violent strug-
gle for racial equality in South
Africa. His determination and
compassion were crucial in the
fight for justice and the South
Africas peaceful transforma-
tion into what he calls a Rain-
bow Nation.
1931
Born October 7
in Klerksdorp,
South Africa
1948
The National Party
wins the general
elections
1955
Marries Leah Noma-
lizo Shenxane
1958
Enters St Peters
Theological College
1961
Ordained in the
Anglican Church
1962
Studies Theology
at Kings College,
London
with Desmond Tutu
INTERVIEW
30
1965
Obtains Bachelor
of Divinity, London
1966
Obtains Masters
Degree in Theology,
London
1968
Returns to South
Africa to teach at St
Peters College, Ea-
stern Cape
1970
Lectures at the
University of Bot-
swana, Lesotho and
Swaziland
1972
Appointed Associate
Director of the
Theological Educa-
tion Fund, London
1975
Appointed Dean
of Johannesburg
clinics for the kids in
the townships! 22
children were escor-
ting each soccer team into the stadiums...this is something they will never forget! Of course we need programmes to
ensure the benefits of 2010 such as health programmes, such as building clinics near the townships. We need to do
more but certainly we have better policies with regard to AIDS with this President.
We want to make our country a success story. If we were able to make the most successful World Cup ever, then for
God sake, providing efficient schools, vaccinations, clinics should not be difficult! From July 12 on I want to see peo-
ple going to work on time, traffic flowing as smoothly as now, I want to see as many
policemen on the street as now.
What does the World Cup mean for the children?
Excitement! And participation! Just think about the soccer clinics in the townships or
the kids escorting the teams into the stadiums. I hope this country will be able to har-
vest this for the benefit of young people and I really hope the government will conti-
nue to build clinics in rural areas.
In terms of education, we should ensure that all children go to school, but not just
going to school to play, but to attend good schools, especially in rural areas.
What do you think of the situation of children in Africa?
I think that we need to eradicate poverty. If we cant, it means many kids will be im-
prisoned by preventable diseases, wont go to school, and we would end up with kid-
napped, trafficked, abused kids, and child soldiers.
What is the message you would like to send to fellow Laureate Mandela?
Thank you Madiba, for reminding us that the children are not just our future; they are
our present.
What does poverty mean to South Africa?
Poverty first of all reduces your dignity as a human being. It limits your choices. Ima-
gine a mother saying to her son, sorry baby, theres no food today. We shall say NO
to this injustice. If we want to live peacefully in this country, we need to make justice
and equity happen for EVERYONE. Children have done nothing but they are penalized
with no access to water or education.
Today we can predict what 75 million kids in the world will not be or become. These
75 million kids still dont have access to education, and thats terrible. Education is
not a privilege. It is a right. Apartheid was a massive, powerful system, but it has
ended. Politicians are our servants, they get into their position because we vote for
them, and we must have accountable politicians.
Legacy Legacy
At a time when many anti-
apartheid leaders had
been murdered, exiled or
imprisoned, Tutu quickly
became the voice of the
day-to-day struggle of
the South African people.
The force of his persona-
lity, indignant but un-
threatening, steadfast but
hopeful, exuding love for
his country and his coun-
trymen regardless of race
was instrumental in the
effort to end apartheid
and in his countrys pea-
ceful transition to demo-
cracy. Tutus unwavering
message of unity and for-
giveness made him the
logical choice to chair
the Truth and Reconcilia-
tion Commission. It is no
wonder why he is consi-
dered one of the most re-
spected voices in the
world. And he did it all
with a smile on his face.
31
Abominations such as Apartheid do not start with an entire population suddenly becoming inhumane.
How could Apartheid begin?
Abominations such as Apartheid start with generalizing unwanted characteristics across an entire segment of a po-
pulation. They start with trying to solve a problem by asserting superior force over a population. They start with strip-
ping people of rights and dignity, such as the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, that you yourself enjoy.
When you strip a man or a woman of their basic human rights, you strip them of their dignity in the eyes of their family
and their community, and even in their own eyes. An immigrant who is charged with the crime of trespassing for sim-
ply being in a community without his papers on him is being told he is committing a crime by simply being. He or she
feels degraded and feels they are of less worth than others of a different skin colour. These are the seeds of resentment,
hostility and in extreme cases, conflict.
1976
Consecrated Bishop
of Lesotho
1977
Appointed General
Secretary of the
South African Coun-
cil of Churches
1984
Receives Nobel
Peace Prize
1985
Installed as Bishop
of Johannesburg
1986
Consecrated as Ar-
chbishop of Cape
Town, head of the
Anglican Church in
South Africa
1990
Mandela is released
Sense of Humour
Desmond Tutus sense of hu-
mour and infectious laugh are
legendary and he would often
use jokes to draw attention to
serious issues.
Once a Zambian boasted about
their Minister of Naval Affairs. The
South African asked, But you have
no navy, no access to the sea. How
then can you have a Minister of
Naval Affairs? The Zambian retor-
ted, Well, in South Africa you have
a Minister of Justice, dont you?
Most of Gods best collaborators and partners
have been young people.
If you are neutral in situations of injustice,
you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse
and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not
appreciate your neutrality.
Be nice to whites; they need you to rediscover their humanity.(1980s)
32
When the missionaries came to
Africa they had the Bible and we
had the land. They said. Let us
pray. We closed our eyes. When we
opened them, we had the Bible and
they had the land.
THE CONNECTION
DESMOND TUTU AND CARLOS SANTANA
CARLOS SANTANA HAS DONE OUTSTANDING WORK BRIN-
GING GLOBAL ATTENTION TO AIDS IN AFRICA. IN PARTICU-
LAR, CARLOS AND HIS WIFE DONATED THE PROCEEDS OF
HIS 2003 TOUR TO SEVERAL SOUTH AFRICAN ORGANIZA-
TIONS BATTLING AIDS. FATHER TUTU WAS SO PROUD AND
THANKFUL, THAT HE FLEW TO LOS ANGELES TO ATTEND
THE CONCERT THERE.
Presentation Speech by the Chairman of the
Norwegian Nobel Committee (selected excerpts)
Recalling the Nobel Peace Award to South African Albert
Luthuli in 1960, the Committee said this was a renewed
recognition of the courage and heroism shown by black
South Africans in their use of peaceful methods in the
struggle against apartheid.
Racial discrimination in South Africa is rightly regarded
as a threat to peace and as an outrageous violation of
basic human rights. Fortunately, a peaceful alternative
exists. On a broad front a campaign is being fought with
the weapons of the spirit and reason a campaign for
truth, freedom and justice. In recognition of the fact that it
is this alternative which must succeed, the South African
bishop, Desmond Tutu, has been selected as this years
Peace Prize laureate.
Desmond Tutu has shown that to campaign for the
cause of peace is not a question of silent acceptance,
but rather of arousing consciences and a sense of in-
dignation, strengthening the will and inspiring the
human spirit so that it recognizes both its own value
and its power of victory. To this fight for peace we give
our affirmative yes today.
It is depressing to think of the list of depts. Which is writ-
ten with the Africans suffering, tears and blood. Think of
the humiliation and exploitation which human beings from
this continent have had to endure from the first slave
traffic, through centuries of colonialism to todays di-
scrimination. On a day like this our memories are indeed
painful not only account of what the white man has done
and still does, but also on account of what he, to this day,
has neglected to do.
Kunta Kinte was right. Negro slavery was incompatible
with American civilization in the same way as the apar-
theid system is in reality incompatible with South Africa.
Desmond Tutu's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
I come from a beautiful land, richly endowed by God
with wonderful shining stars out of blue skies, with radiant
sunshine, golden sunshine. There is enough of the good
things that come from Gods bounty, there is enough for
everyone, but apartheid has confirmed some in their sel-
fishness, causing, them to grasp greedily a disproportio-
nate share, the lions share, because of their power. They
have taken 87% of the land, though being only about
20% of our population. The rest have had to male do
with the remaining 13%. Apartheid has decreed the poli-
tics of exclusion. 73% of the population is excluded from
any meaningful participation in the political decision-ma-
king processes of the land of their birth. The new consti-
tution, making provision of three chambers, for whites,
coloureds, and Indians, mentions blacks only once, and
thereafter ignores them completely. Blacks are systema-
tically being stripped of their South African citizenship
and being turned into aliens in the land of their birth.
This is apartheids final solution, just as Nazism had its
final solution for the Jews in Hitlers Aryan madness.
Violence is not being introduced into the South African si-
tuation de novo from outside by those who are called ter-
rorists or freedom fighters, depending on whether you are
oppressed or an oppressor. The South African situation is
violent already, and the primary violence is that of apar-
theid, the violence of forced population removals, of in-
ferior education, of detention without trial, of the
migratory labour system.
Because there is global insecurity, nations are engaged in
a mad arms race, spending billions of dollars wastefully
on instruments of destruction, when millions are starving.
And yet, just a fraction of what is expected so obscenely
on defence budgets would make the difference in ena-
bling Gods children to fill their stomachs, be educated,
and given the chance to lead fulfilled and happy lives. We
have the capacity to feed ourselves several times over,
but we are daily haunted by the spectacle of the gaunt
dregs of humanity shuffling along in endless queues, with
bowls to collect what the charity of the world has provi-
ded, too little too late.
1994
Mandela elected Presi-
dent of South Africa
1995
Mandela appoints Tutu
as Chairperson of the
Truth and Reconciliation
Commission
1996
Retires as Archbishop
1998
Establishes Desmond
Tutu Peace Trust
2007
Presented with the
International Gandhi
Peace Prize
33
CARLOS SANTANA
Blending many different musical influences, guitarist and composer Carlos Santana has become an icon of a modern
multicultural America. Born in 1947 in Mexico, he began playing music at an early age, following in the footsteps of his
father, a mariachi. He started playing the violin at the age of 5, but soon developed a love for the guitar. While still a
child, he moved to California with his family, where he continued to play as he completed his education and where he
was exposed to a wide range of musical styles.
After a few years of performing and working odd jobs, Santana formed his first band and quickly started to develop a
cult flowing. His big break came in 1969, when his band appeared at Woodstock before they had even released a re-
cord. It was at this point that Carlos Santana was introduced to the world.
His first album came out later that year but it was with the 1970 release of his second album, Abraxas, that his career
skyrocketed. He never looked back. Santana went on to release more than 20 more albums and his name eventually
became synonymous with all-time greatness when it comes to rock guitarists.
His 1999 album, Supernatural, released 30 years after his first album, sold over 27 million copies worldwide, won 9
Grammy Awards and 3 Latin Grammy Awards. Even today, forty years after his big debut, musicians from all genres
are still lining up to collaborate with him.
As a world-renowned musician, Santana has always put his talent at the service of humanitarian causes. In 1985, he
took part in the Live Aid concert series. In 1998, he created with his then-wife Deborah, the Milagro Foundation,
an organization for abandoned children. In an attempt to call global attention to the catastrophic AIDS pandemic in
Africa, Carlos and Deborah Santana donated the entire net proceeds from Santana's 2003 Shaman tour to support
South African organizations battling AIDS on the frontlines. This marks the first time that an artist ever donated the en-
tire net proceeds from an extended concert tour to charity. In response of this historic call to action, 1984 Nobel Peace
Prize recipient and South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu made a special trip to his concert in Los Ange-
les to participate.
In 2005, Santana participated in the Peace Concert Tour, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the detonation
of the atomic bomb in Japan.
With six multiplatinum disks and countless other awards, Santana proves to be one of the most acclaimed and endu-
ring artists of all time. Santana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the World Music
Awards Legend Award in 2005.
The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart.
The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.
If I never got an award, that would be fine with me, because the company that I keep is
very inspiring and stimulating. I love hanging around vibrant people, people who dont
walk around with a tag. You can never put a tag on a Mandela or a Desmond Tutu or a
Harry Belafonte. You cannot buy these people, and once they set out to do something, you
cant bribe them. Those are the kinds of people that Id like to be center stage with.
35
Mandela, with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, leaving jail after twenty-seven years imprisonment (1990)
NELSON MANDELA
For nearly half a century, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has been South Africas voice of justice. Born the son of a tribal
chief in 1918 in Transkei, South Africa, Mandela studied law at the Universities of Fort Hare and Witwatersrand. While
still a student, Mandela became involved in student protests aimed at the white colonial administration of the school.
Soon after graduating, he joined the African National Congress which was the largest body promoting unity and justice
for black South Africans in a nation fiercely divided by racism.
Inspired by another lawyer who had once struggled against discrimination in South Africa, Mohandas Gandhi, Man-
dela was initially committed to non-violent protest through the Defiance Campaign (1952) and the Congress of the
People (1955). However, even these peaceful initiatives provoked a hardline response from the government. In 1956,
Mandela and 155 other anti-apartheid activists were charged with treason and tried in a court case that dragged on
for five years. By 1960 the government was more determined than ever to crush any resistance to their increasingly
extreme segregationist policies. After the Sharpeville Massacre, in which scores of protesters were killed by police
and the subsequent banning of the African National Congress, Mandela and some of his colleagues felt they had no
choice but to take more drastic action, so they established Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the ANCs mi-
litary wing, and launched a campaign of sabotage against the government.
Mandela lived as an outlaw for the next year and a half and was eventually arrested and sentenced to life in prison.
While in prison, he wrote extensively and continued to establish himself as an inspirational figure to the South African
people as he refused to renounce his principles or his fellow freedom fighters to bargain for his release. Because
of this, Mandela went on to become one of the most famous prisoners on earth. In the minds of people across the
world, his imprisonment epitomised the oppression of the South African people and Free Nelson Mandela became
the mantra of the anti-apartheid movement.
When he was finally released by President FW de Klerk in 1990, Mandela committed himself to building a new South
Africa, leading the negotiations with the ruling National Party for the dismantling of apartheid and the drafting of a new,
inclusive constitution. For their work, Mandela and de Klerk received the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected President of South Africa in the nations first free elections. During his five-year
presidency, he advocated national and international forgiveness and reconciliation, uniting a nation so deeply divided
for so long.
Even after his retirement from politics, Mandela remained one of the worlds most influential statesmen, and continued
to campaign against poverty, AIDS, and discrimination.
Though now completely retired from public life, Mandela still represents a powerful, fascinating and influential pre-
sence on the world stage.
For their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime and for laying the
foundations for a new democratic South Africa.
37
1918
Born Rolihlahla Mandela
in Mvezo, South Africa.
The English name Nel-
son is given to him later
by one of his teachers
1939
Enrols at University of
Fort Hare, from which he
is expelled for protesting
the schools policies
1942
Earns his BA via corre-
spondence from the Uni-
versity of South Africa;
joins the ANC
1944
Marries Evelyn Ntoko
Mase. Forms the ANC
Youth League with Walter
Sisulu and Oliver Tambo
1946
Son, Thembekile, born
38
1947
Daughter, Maka-
ziwe, is born and
dies aged nine
months
1950
Son, Makgatho,
born
1952
Opens South Africas
first black legal firm
with Oliver Tambo;
elected deputy natio-
nal president of ANC
1953
Daughter, also cal-
led Makaziwe, is
born
1956
Start of
Treason Trial
1958
Marries Winnie Ma-
dikizela; daughter,
Zenani, born
39
1960
ANC banned;
daughter, Zindi-
swa, born
1962
Jailed for five
years; start of Ri-
vonia Trial
1964
Sentenced to life
imprisonment
1969
Son Thembekile
dies in car acci-
dent. He is not
permitted to at-
tend the funeral
1980
International
campaign laun-
ched for his re-
lease by an exiled
Oliver Tambo
1990
ANC unbanned;
released from
prison
1991
Elected president
of ANC
Legacy Legacy
Nelson Mandela is commonly referred to as South Africas most famous son.
He is a living legend who has dedicated and sacrificed most of his life to the
fight against human injustice. Ironically, Mandelas imprisonment did not iso-
late him from the world causing him to be forgotten as the apartheid gover-
nment had hoped; rather it gave protesters a face and a name to rally around.
Demonstrators all over the world waved decades-old photos of Mandelas de-
termined face and the slogan Free Nelson Mandela became synonymous
with Free South Africa.
Released from prison after 27 years, his 71-year-old face, barely recognisable
as the same one that once adorned over a million picket signs of posters wor-
ldwide, it was clear that the weight of expectation on his shoulders was mas-
sive. Undoubtedly, Mandela managed to live up to these expectations,
immediately accepting his role as a national leader steering his country pea-
cefully towards democracy and quickly helping turn South Africa from a glo-
bal outcast into a flourishing and influential player on the world stage.
A crusading lawyer who
struggled against apar-
theid until his 27-year
imprisonment made him
a global icon and even-
tually the first democrati-
cally elected President of
South Africa.
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this
struggle of the African people, I have fought against
white domination, and I have fought against black do-
mination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and
free society in which all persons live together in har-
mony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which
I hope to live for and to achieve. But if it needs be it
is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
(Rivonia Trial)
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave
man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background,
or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught
to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
40
This is the third time the Nobel Committee has awar-
ded the prize to human rights advocates who have acti-
vely participated in the struggle against the apartheid
regime in South Africa. There are many reasons why
South Africa has attracted so much attention. After the
Second World War and the fall of the Hitler regime, ra-
cism as a system was thoroughly discredited. The gene-
ral trend was to remove institutionalised racial barriers at
the same time as the old colonial empires were being di-
smantled. But just when this was the general trend, South
Africa chose to move in the opposite direction. From
1948 onwards the apartheid regime was consolidated
and systematically, through legislation and organisatio-
nal forms, developed into a brutal regime of oppression
based on criteria of race alone. Thus it also became the
symbol of particularly debasing form of oppression. The
apartheid regime gave racism a face.
The two Prize-Winners, from their highly disparate
points of departure, the one from the side of the oppres-
sors and the other from the side of the oppressed, have
taken initiatives to break the vicious circle that their coun-
try was caught up in.
Eminent statesmanship has been demonstrated in
South Africa, and it is astonishing what has been achie-
ved since Mandela was released in 1990. The institutio-
nalized apartheid regime has been dismantled, a
provisional constitution has been adopted, a broadly
based Transitional Executive Council has been establi-
shed. The date for fully democratic elections has been
set. There can be no doubt that the main credit for these
highly significant steps towards a peaceful transition to a
democratic South Africa is due to these two Prize-Win-
ners.
It is the conviction of the committee that Nelson R.
Mandela and Frederick Willem de Klerk have made a bril-
liant contribution and attained astonishing results with
their policy of peace and reconciliation. They have given
peace a chance. Whether peace will prevail, time will
have to show
Nelson Mandela's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
(With State President FW de Klerk,) we join two distin-
guished South Africans, the late Chief Albert Luthuli and
His Grace Archbishop Desmond Tutu, to whose seminal
contributions to the peaceful struggle against the evil sy-
stem of apartheid you paid well-deserved tribute by
awarding them the Nobel Peace Prize. It will not be pre-
sumptuous of us if we also add, among our predeces-
sors, the name of another outstanding Nobel Peace Prize
winner, the late Rev Martin Luther King Jr. He, too, grap-
pled with and died in the effort to make a contribution to
the just solution of the same great issues of the day which
we have had to face as South Africans.
I am also here today as a representative of the millions
of people across the globe, the anti-apartheid movement,
the governments and organizations that joined with us,
not to fight against South Africa as a country or any of its
people, but to oppose an inhuman system and sue for a
speedy end to the apartheid crime against humanity.
These countless human beings, both inside and outside
our country, had the nobility to stand in the path of ty-
ranny and injustice, without seeking selfish gain. They re-
cognized that an injury to one is an injury to all and
therefore acted together in defence of justice and a com-
mon human decency. Because of their courage and per-
sistence for many years, we can, today, even set the
dates when all humanity will join together to celebrate
one of the outstanding human victories of our century.
When that moment comes, we shall, together, rejoice in
a common victory over racism, apartheid and white mi-
nority rule. That triumph will finally bring to a close a hi-
story of five hundred years of African colonization that
began with the establishment of the Portuguese empire.
I would like to take this opportunity to join the Norwe-
gian Nobel Committee and pay tribute to my join laureate.
Mr. F.W. de Klerk. He had the courage to admit that a ter-
rible wrong had been done to our country and people
through the imposition of the system of apartheid. He had
the foresight to understand and accept that all the peo-
ple of South Africa must through negotiations and as
equal participants in the process, together determine
what they want t make of their future.
1993
Awarded Nobel
Peace Prize with
FW de Klerk
1994
Elected President
of South Africa
1996
Divorces Win-
nie; steps down
as ANC presi-
dent
1998
Marries Graa
Machel; steps
down as presi-
dent of South
Africa
2004
Announces reti-
rement from pu-
blic life
2005
Named on Times
List of 100 In-
fluential People.
Son, Makgatho
dies from AIDS
2009
The UNGA decla-
res July 18 'Man-
dela Day for his
contribution to
world freedom
41
THE CONNECTION
NELSON MANDELA AND ANNIE LENNOX
ANNIE LENNOX HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY TO FIGHT THE SPREAD OF AIDS IN AFRICA, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA.
SHE HAS ALSO WORKED FOR NELSON MANDELAS 46664 FOUNDATION, HELPING TO PROVIDE SOUTH AFRICANS WITH
TREATMENT AND TESTING, HIV EDUCATION, AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMES.
PAIRED NOBELS
In October 1993, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced a joint award to Nelson R. Mandela, President of
the African National Congress (ANC), and Frederick Willem de Klerk, President of South Africa. The Committee
noted that it had previously recognised the efforts to attain racial equality in South Africa through its prizes for Al-
bert Luthuli (1960) and Desmond Tutu (1984). It said that it hoped that Mandela and de Klerk would now carry the
work for equality and democracy to completion and that their policies of peace and reconciliation might serve as
an example for the resolution of similar ethnic conflicts elsewhere in the world. It was the first time that a head of
government and the leader of the opposition forces had been awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, in the
effort to achieve the peaceful resolution of a civil conflict.
The history of paired Nobels has not always been a happy one. Henry Kissinger of the United States and Le Duc
Tho of North Vietnam shared the 1973 prize for negotiating an armistice that was already being broken. Le Duc Tho
refused his prize and after the North Vietnamese conquered the South, Kissinger offered to return his, which the
rules do not permit. This award has attracted the most worldwide criticism.
In 1978, Egypts Anwar El Sadat and Israels Menachem Begin shared the prize for the Camp David Accords. The
resulting peace treaty between the two countries did hold, but Begin went on to unleash war on Lebanon and there
were calls in the Norwegian parliament for his prize to be rescinded. On each occasion, the Nobel Committee re-
warded past efforts, encouraged the prize winners to go further, and took a chance on the future.
42
ANNIE LENNOX
Famous for her flamboyant personal style, singer-songwriter Annie Lennox uses her unmistakable voice with its four-
octave range to hit all the right notes, both in her singing career and in her political and social activism. Born in 1954
in Scotland, Lennox displayed a very early gift for singing and the flute. After high school, she attended Londons
Royal Academy of Music, where she gave up the flute to concentrate on vocal training and songwriting,
all the while working odd jobs to stay financially afloat.
Along with Dave Stewart, Lennox formed the band Eurythmics, which combined modern synthe-
sized arrangements with the smooth soul flavour of Lennoxs vocals to form the most successful
New Wave synthpop sound of the 1980s. After their 1983 megahit Sweet Dreams (Are Made
of This), the peripatetic duo produced seven albums, giving us a wide range of classic songs
from the plaintive and haunting Whos That Girl to the pizzicato urgency of Here Comes
the Rain Again. As a solo artist, Lennox released hit albums Diva and Medusa, among
others.
When not singing solo or collaborating with Stewart, Lennox devotes her time to a variety
of causes with particular emphasis on the fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty in Africa.
She has worked extensively with UNICEF, Nelson Mandelas 46664 Foundation,
and Witness.
In 2007, she wrote the song Sing to raise money and awareness for the glo-
bal HIV/AIDS pandemic. She recorded this song along with 23 of the
worlds most acclaimed female vocalists and since its release,
Sing has raised over $2 million. Through its partnership with the
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), monies raised by Sing has
helped to provide South Africans with AIDS treatment and te-
sting, HIV education, and prevention programmes.
In 2008, the British Red Cross presented Annie Lennox with
their Services to Humanity Award. In 2009, she received the
Peace Summit Award from several Nobel Peace
Laureates attending the 10th World Summit of Nobel Peace
Laureates in Berlin for her efforts in raising awareness on the
impact of AIDS on women and children, especially in South
Africa.
"The daily brutality faced by millions of women and girls is unacceptable.
If we are to end the cycle of human devastation triggered by the AIDS epidemic,
we must address the rights of women and girls and challenge their second class
citizen status, which puts them at greater risk of HIV.
44
Sing, my sister, sing
Let your voice be heard
What wont kill you will make you strong
You dont need to disrespect yourself again
Don't hide your light behind your fear
Now women can be strong
Youve known it all along
What you need is what you havent found
So
Women are the mothers of the world, my friend
I tell you womankind is strong
Take your beautiful self up to the heights again
(Ooh)
Back to the place where you belong
So
Sing out
Sing loud
Sing proud
SING

This is a call for the national implementation of mother to child transmission prevention programme in all the ma-
ternity hospitals in South Africa.
Written by: Ann Lennox
Published by: Universal Music - MGB Songs (ASCAP)
45
FREDERIK WILLEM DE KLERK
During his presidency, Frederik Willem de Klerk ended apartheid and initiated the process that led to the granting of
full political and constitutional rights to all people of South Africa regardless of skin colour. Born in 1936 in Johanne-
sburg, he was the son of Jan de Klerk, a leading politician who became a minister in the South African government and
president of the senate. His brother Willem was a newspaperman and one of the founders of the liberal Democratic
Party. F.W. de Klerk studied at Potchefstroom University and became a lawyer. He followed his father into politics,
joining the National Party and he was eventually elected to parliament in 1969. He earned his first cabinet post in 1978
and went on to serve variously as minister of telecommunications and social welfare, energy and environmental
planning, internal affairs, and education.
For much of his time within government, de Klerk was regarded as a centrist in the National Party even though he had
initiated some of the most significant early reforms of the apartheid system. Nevertheless, there was little outward
indication that he was fated to become the greatest reformer his country had ever seen. De Klerk made it clear in
his first speech after becoming leader of the National Party in February 1989, following the resignation of P.W. Botha
as party leader, that he wanted a totally changed South Africa. He became acting state president after P.W. Bothas
resignation as president in August 1989 and was inaugurated state president in September 1989.
As state president, de Klerk initiated the process that led to the transformation of South Africa. He permitted the first
legal anti-government demonstrations and ordered the release of leading African National Congress prisoners.
On 2 February 1990, he opened the way to negotiations by announcing the release of Nelson Mandela and the
unbanning of political organizations such as the ANC. He subsequently lifted the 5-year-old State of Emergency and
ordered the dismantling of South Africas clandestine nuclear weapons programme. Over his five-year term as presi-
dent, de Klerk and his National Party removed all remaining vestiges of apartheid and entered into negotiations with
the ANC and other significant political parties. Together they drafted a new and inclusive constitution which extended
political, economic, and civil rights to all South Africans.
In 1993, the Nobel Peace Prize was presented jointly to Frederik Willem de Klerk and Nelson Mandela for ending
apartheid and for establishing an inclusive and non-racial constitutional democracy. The following year, the nations
first free elections named Mandela president and de Klerk as one of two executive deputy presidents elected to serve
the country.
De Klerk stepped down as deputy president in 1996 and retired from politics in 1997. Just two years later, he publi-
shed his autobiography and established the FW de Klerk Foundation. In 2004 he established the Global Leadership
Foundation in London and continues to campaign for peace and justice worldwide.
For their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime and for laying the
foundations for a new democratic South Africa.
47
1936
Born in Johanne-
sburg, South Africa
1958
Graduates with LLB
degree, Potchef-
stroom University
1969
Marries Marike
Willemse. Elected
to parliament
1978
Becomes a cabinet
minister
1989
Assumes the leader-
ship of the National
Party and becomes
State President
1990
Orders the release
of Mandela, the un-
banning of the ANC
and the lifting of the
State of Emergency
Soon after he became President, FW de Klerk sent clear signals that he intended to implement the mandate for change
that he had received in the election. After meeting with Archbishop Tutu and other leaders of United Democratic Front,
he permitted peaceful protests in South Africa's major cities. He also announced that the government would release
some of the most prominent prisoners who had been convicted with Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia trial in 1964.
Listening to the wise words of the man who launched a new era in a divided country, it is always educational for me,
as it has been this time in Johannesburg. (July 2010)
Good afternoon Mr. de Klerk,
What factors led to your decision to initiate constitutional negotiations in February, 1990?
By the end of the eighties all of the major parties had reached the conclusion that there could be no armed solution
to the escalating conflict in South Africa. There was general acceptance that we would only be able to solve our com-
plex inter-racial problems by accepting the establishment of a new constitutional system based on equality and the con-
stitutional protection of the rights of all South African citizens and communities. Our efforts were helped by the
successful implementation of the UN independence process in Namibia. One of the main factors was, however, the
collapse of international communism because of the threat that Soviet involvement in southern Africa had posed since
the mid-1970s and because of the influence of the pro-Soviet South African Communist Party within the ANC.
How did you manage to persuade your followers to support such far-reaching transformation?
My party fought the 1986 and 1989 elections on an unambiguous platform of fundamental reform. Although we lost
some support, the majority of white South Africans voted for us. In 1992, when it appeared that white support for the
constitutional negotiations might be waning, I called a referendum in which almost 70% of whites voted for the conti-
nuation of the reform process. We succeeded in persuading most whites that their long term interests could be best
protected by peaceful negotiations and the constitutional protection of the rights of all South Africans.
What role did the international community play in helping you to come to your decision?
Our constitutional transformation process was a purely South African initiative. We did not want or need international
facilitators or mediation. At the same time - the international community and leading countries like the United States,
Britain, France and Germany played an important role on the sidelines by providing encouragement and moral sup-
port for the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
How were you able to establish constructive relations with the ANC - an organization that had until the end of
the 1980s been your governments mortal enemy?
There had been some exploratory contacts between the ANC and the government during the late eighties that helped
to build confidence in the possibility of a negotiated solution. When we finally met one another in formal negotiations
all sides discovered that the other parties were not quite so bad as they had depicted them in their propaganda. They
also discovered that they shared important common interests and important common goals for the future.
with Frederik Willem De Klerk
INTERVIEW
48
1993
Receives Nobel
Peace Prize with
Nelson Mandela
1994
Democratic elec-
tions; appointed as
one of two executive
deputy presidents of
president Mandela
1996
National Party wi-
thdraws from Gover-
nment of National
Unity
1997
Retires from active
politics
1998
Divorces Marike;
marries Elita Geor-
giades
2000
Establishes the FW
de Klerk Foundation
How did your relationship with Mr Nelson Mandela develop and what role did
it play in the search for a negotiated solution?
I first met Nelson Mandela in December 1989, while he was still in prison. We both
concluded that we would be able to work together. However, we remained politi-
cal opponents and our relationship during the following six years was often stormy.
However, when the situation required it - such as after the ANCs withdrawal from
the negotiations in June 1992 and the assassination of Chris Hani - we were always
able to come together to get the process back on the tracks. After we both reti-
red from politics we became friends.
What were the main problems that you encountered during the negotiations?
The most serious problems that we encountered during the negotiations came pri-
marily from the threat posed by continuing violence. The main source of the con-
flict was ongoing low-level warfare between the ANC and the Zulu-based Inkatha
Freedom Party. At various stages, renegade elements within the security forces
and the ANC were responsible for instigating violence. We also experienced diffi-
culties in keeping all the main parties within the negotiations. In June, 1992 the
ANC decided to boycott them, and as soon as they returned to the talks in Sep-
tember that year, the IFP and some right wing parties pulled out. The IFP returned
to the process only a few days before the elections on 27 April 1994.
The last President of segrega-
tion-era South Africa who cal-
led an end to apartheid and
dismantled decades of institu-
tionalised racism in a few
short years.
Legacy Legacy
Disproving the conventional philosophy that those
who hold power over others never willingly relin-
quish it, FW de Klerk had no sooner reached the peak
of his political career than when he declared his in-
tention to hand power over to the people. A fourth-
generation Afrikaaner politician from a prominent
family who seemingly had everything to lose, de
Klerk still took a stand for what he believed to be the
right path forward for his country, knowing that he
would very likely be sacrificing his and his partys
political influence in the process.
Legacy
De Klerks leap of faith also serves the purpose of de-
monstrating that many white South Africans also wan-
ted an end to apartheid, a system that was
dehumanising to all races. The fact that change was
initiated from within the white establishment instead
of being purely a reaction to outside influence was
crucial to the peaceful transition to democracy, the
reconciliation of the people and the redemption of
South Africa as a nation.
49
What benefits has South Africa derived from the peaceful transition to constitutional democracy?
South Africa has derived enormous benefits. We are once again a respected member of the international community
and are playing a leading role in Africa. Until the global downturn in 2008 we had seventeen years of uninterrupted
economic growth. There has been a massive increase in tourism - which now contributes significantly more to our eco-
nomy than mining. We manufacture 600,000 cars a year and export 170,000. Perhaps, the best symbol of all of this
if the very successful FIFA World Cup that we hosted earlier this year.
Do you have any regrets? Are there any decisions in retrospect that you would like to change?
There are a few things that I would have done differently. However, I have no regrets about any of the major decisions
that I took - and, with all the knowledge of hindsight, would take them all again.
What qualities do leaders need to manage a complex process of historic change?
They must have a vision of a better future and must be able to persuade their followers to make that vision a reality.
They require good communication skills, resilience to overcome the inevitable setbacks, and perseverance to conti-
nue to pursue their vision regardless of all the problems and crises that historic change always involves.
Is the new South Africa today what you had in mind when you launched the transformation process twenty
years ago?
Naturally, there are many elements in the new South Africa that are disappointing - particularly our failure to improve
education, to create jobs and promote equality. However, I am happy with the fundamentals. We have a strong con-
stitution; we have had consistent economic growth; we are a re-
spected member of the international community; and relations
between South Africans from our different communities are good
and getting better. This is, indeed, what I had in mind and what I
hoped for.
What is the most important lesson to teach a child?
Honour. If you are honourable you will have integrity; you will behave
correctly; you will treat everyone with consideration; and you will
have respect for yourself.
Who is the international figure that inspired you most in stren-
gthening your democratic values?
Bismark during the nineteenth century and Margaret Thatcher in my
own time.
Which is your favourite movie? And your favourite actor?
Alfred Hitchcock movies and my favourite actor is Paul Newman.
Which is the book that inspired your policy most?
The Bible.
Your favourite singer and song?
Luciano Pavarotti - and Ave Maria.
50
...Mr Nelson Mandela could play
an important part. The Government
has noted that he has declared
himself to be willing to make a
constructive contribution to the
peaceful political process in South
Africa. I wish to put it plainly that
the Government has taken a firm
decision to release Mr Mandela un-
conditionally (1990)
THE CONNECTION
FREDERIK WILLEM DE KLERK AND PETER GABRIEL
WHILE GABRIEL WAS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF ESTABLI-
SHING HIMSELF AS A SOLO ARTIST, HE RELEASED BIKO
- A SONG ABOUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN ANTI-APARTHEID
LEADER STEVE BIKO, WHO WAS KILLED IN PRISON IN 1977.
THIS WAS A BOLD MOVE, AS IN 1980 THE ANTI-APARTHEID
MOVEMENT WAS NOT YET THE CAUSE CLBRE AMONG
WESTERN ARTISTS THAT IT WOULD LATER BECOME AND
POP STARS WERE NOT YET SINGING OR SPEAKING ABOUT
SOUTH AFRICA. AT THE SAME TIME, FW DE KLERK WAS
GRADUALLY CLIMBING THE POLITICAL LADDER. EVEN-
TUALLY, THIS CLIMB WOULD TAKE HIM TO A HEIGHT
WHERE HE WAS IN A POSITION TO EFFECT MASSIVE
CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND IMMEDIATELY STATED HIS
DETERMINATION TO DO SO, EVEN THOUGH HE COULD NOT
POSSIBLY HAVE PREDICTED HOW THIS WOULD BE RECEI-
VED BY HIS POLITICAL PEERS OR BY MANY OF THE PEO-
PLE. IN THE END, HIS FAITH IN HIS COUNTRYMEN WAS
WELL-PLACED.
I think that it reflects an element of justice that we (whites) who began this long chapter
in our history, should have been called to close the book on apartheid.
18 March 1992
Mr Mandela has walked a long road and now stands at the top of the hill..As he con-
templates the next hill, I hold out my hand to Mr Mandela - in friendship and in co-opera-
tion.
4 May 1994
Today I look back and I say with great humility: It was a privilege to lead our country
and my party in that period. God Almighty created windows of opportunity for us. We are
thankful that He also gave us the strength and courage to use them.
9 September 1997
FW de Klerk's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
Five years ago people would have seriously
questioned the sanity of anyone who would have
predicted that Mr Mandela and I would be joint re-
cipients of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. And yet
both of us are here before you today. We are political
opponents. We disagree strongly on key issues and
we will soon fight a strenuous election campaign
against one another. But we will do so, I believe, in
the frame of mind and within the framework of peace
which has already been established.
The coming election will not be about the past. It
will be about the future. It will not be about Blacks
and Whites, or Afrikaners and Xhosas. It will be
about the best solutions for the future in the interests
of all our people. It will not be about apartheid or
armed struggle. It will be about the future peace and
stability, about progress and prosperity, about na-
tion-building
51
PETER GABRIEL
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and winner of multiple Grammy Awards, Peter Gabriel has pushed the boun-
daries of technology for the music industry since he got his start with the band Genesis while still a student. Since
leaving Genesis in 1975, he has released seven solo albums, and is widely recognised as an innovator who helped give
rise to the music video as a form of art. His 1986 Sledgehammer video, created by then-unknown Aardman Animation
Studios, was recently named by MTV as the most played video of all time. He founded and owns Real World Studios
in Wiltshire, England, which houses both a cutting edge studio used by leading artists from around the world, as well
as a record label uniquely dedicated to recording and promoting a broad spectrum of international artists.
Gabriel first made his mark in the human rights arena in 1980 with the release of Biko, a song about the South African
anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko, who was killed while in police custody in 1977. Biko was the first popular song that
hit international airwaves to directly address the anti-apartheid struggle. That same year, Gabriel also founded WOMAD
(World of Music, Arts and Dance) to unite traditional and modern forms of music, art and dance from around the world
through international music festivals, fostering multicultural understanding and communication through the arts. This
is the only multicultural arts festival to have been successfully exported to a total of 26 countries.
Gabriel has had a long-standing relationship with Amnesty International and graciously participated in all of their
acclaimed benefit tours of the 1980s including the Secret Policemans Ball and A Conspiracy of Hope. In 1988, he
participated in the Human Rights Now! Tour, that toured the world to promote the 40th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Gabriel shared the stage with Youssou NDour, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman and
Sting. This tour resulted in a doubling of Amnesty Internationals worldwide membership and brought international
attention to many unpublicized human rights struggles.
In 1992 Gabriel founded Witness, to arm human rights activists around the world with hand-held video cameras,
computers and communication technology so they can document and subsequently put an end to human rights
abuses in their local communities. Founded in conjunction with the Reebok Human Rights Foundation and the
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, Witness has supplied hundreds of cameras to individuals and organizations
in over fifty countries, provided video testimony to human rights commissions and international peace-keeping agen-
cies and had its work shown on television stations around the world. While continuing to write, produce and tour,
Gabriel is one of the most socially responsible and active celebrities in the world today. While continuing to guide the
growth and development of Witness, he has supported the Nelson Mandela Foundations concerts for AIDS, spoken
before the United States Congress on human rights abuses in Burma, and campaigned internationally against the
death penalty, torture and juvenile incarceration.
In the year 2006, Peter Gabriel received the Peace Summit Award from several Nobel Peace Laureates attending the
7th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome for his extensive contribution and work on behalf of human rights
and peace.
"To receive this recognition from the Nobel Peace Laureates who have inspired me and
countless others with their extraordinary lives, means more than any of the other awards
I have been given.
Music speaks about emotions and reaches everybody.
As singers, we can be the instruments to build a world without violence.
53
September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead
When I try and sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
-The man is dead
You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
-The man is dead
And the eyes of the world are
watching now
watching now
STEVEN BANTU BIKO
Steven Bantu Biko (1946-1977) was an anti-apartheid
activist in South Africa. His death in police custody
when he was only 30 years old was instrumental in uni-
fying black Africans in the struggle against the coun-
trys government. In 1970, he founded the Black
Consciousness Movement, an organization born of the
anguish and frustration of educated Africans who saw
themselves deprived of any kind of freedom and ability
to prosper under apartheid. From 1973 onward, he was
forbidden to make speeches in public, publish his wri-
tings or travel.
On the 6th of September 1977, the South African police
arrested Biko at a roadblock in Port Elizabeth. After se-
veral days in prison, during which he was interrogated
and tortured, Biko suffered a massive head injury and
died after being driven over 1,000 kilometres naked and
handcuffed to another prison in Pretoria for medical tre-
atment. He left behind a wife and two young children.
According to the official police report, his death was
due to the effects of an extended hunger strike. Bikos
death made him a symbol for black South Africans who
saw him as a martyr and a hero of the resistance
against the Afrikaner regime. His funeral provided the
occasion for a huge mass demonstration and his death
unleashed an international protest and an arms em-
bargo imposed by the United Nations. An inquiry at the
end of the 1980s still failed to find anyone responsible
for his death. However in 1997, five former policemen
admitted to complicity in the incident.
In 1980, Peter Gabriel recorded a tremendously succes-
sful song entitled Biko, which was
banned from the South African radio
airwaves. The song was covered by
the group Simple Minds on their 1989
album Street Fighting Years, which
also included tracks dedicated to
other figures such as Nelson Mandela
and Victor Jara. In 1987, the English
filmmaker Richard Attenborough di-
rected the movie Cry Freedom, chro-
nicling Bikos final days. The film
starred Denzel Washington as Biko
and was based on the writings of a
white South African journalist and anti-
apartheid activist, Donald Woods.
BIKO

Written by: Peter Gabriel
Published by: Real World
Music Ltd, EMI Music
Publishing
54
Apartheid Legislation
As soon as the party assumed power in 1948, the Nationalist Government of South Africa began to enact laws to
define and enforce racial and ethnic segregation. What makes South Africa's apartheid era different from periods
of segregation and institutional racism that have occurred in other countries is the systematic way in which the
National Party formalised it through law. Key apartheid laws are described below.
1949 - Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act, prohibited marriage between Whites and other races.
1957 - Immorality Amendment Act, prohibited adultery, fornication or related immoral acts (extra-marital sex)
between Whites and other races.
1950 - Population Registration Act, led to the creation of a national register in which every person's race was
recorded. All South Africans were classified as White, Black, Coloured or Indian. A Race Classification
Board took the final decision on what a person's race was in disputed cases.
1950 - Group Areas Act, forced physical separation between races by creating different residential areas for dif-
ferent races. Led to forced removals of people living in "wrong" areas, for example, non-whites living in District
Six in Cape Town.
1950 - Suppression of Communism Act, outlawed communism and the Communist Party in South Africa. Under
the act, Communism was defined so broadly that it covered almost any call for radical change in the country.
Communists could be banned from participating in all political activities and were restricted to particular areas.
1951 - Bantu Building Workers Act, allowed black people to be trained as artisans in the building trade, some-
thing previously reserved for whites only but they had to work within an area designated for blacks. This law made
it a criminal offence for a black person to perform any skilled work in urban areas except in those sections desi-
gnated for black occupation.
1951 - Separate Representation of Voters Act, together with the 1956 amendment, this act led to the removal
of non-whites from the common voters' roll.
1951 - Prevention of Illegal Squatting Act, gave the Minister of Native Affairs the power to remove Blacks from
public or privately owned land, destroying their homes if deemed necessary, and to establish resettlement camps
to house these displaced people.
1951 - Bantu Authorities Act, provided for the establishment of black homelands and regional authorities and,
with the aim of creating greater self-government in the homelands, abolished the Native Representative Council.
1952 - Natives Laws Amendment Act, narrowed the definition of the category of blacks who had the right to per-
manent residence in towns. Section 10 limited this to those who had been born in a town and had lived there con-
tinuously for not less than 15 years, or who had been employed there continuously for at least 15 years, or who
had worked continuously for the same employer for at least 10 years.
1952 - Natives (Abolition of Passes and Co-ordination of Documents) Act, commonly known as the Pass
Laws, this ironically named act forced black people to carry identification with them at all times. No black person
could leave a rural area for an urban one without a permit from the local authorities.
1953 - Native Labour (Settlement of Disputes) Act, prohibited strike action by blacks.
1953 - Bantu Education Act, established a Black Education Department in the Department of Native Affairs which
would compile a curriculum that suited the "nature and requirements of the black people". Its aim was to prevent
Africans receiving an education that would lead them to aspire to positions in society that they would not be allo-
wed to hold.
1953 - Reservation of Separate Amenities Act, forced segregation in all public amenities, public buildings, and
public transport with the aim of eliminating contact between whites and other races. "Europeans Only" and "Non-
Europeans Only" signs were put up. The act stated that facilities provided for different races need not be equal.
1959 - Promotion of Bantu Self-Government Act, allowed the creation of independent Bantustans" which all
Blacks would be relocated to according to their ethnic categorization.
55
BACKGROUND
In 1895, the British Government established the East African Pro-
tectorate and soon opened the land to white settlers who grew
rich from farming the vast, fertile highlands. British East Africa,
as it was called, officially became a crown colony in 1920.
As the settlers became wealthier and more important to the re-
gions market economy, they began to have increasing influence
in government. Meanwhile, the local Africans, who were mostly
Kikuyu, a regional ethnic group, were prohibited from direct po-
litical participation until 1944 when the formation of the Kenyan
African Union (KAU) was created to voice the concerns of the
African population and to campaign for African Independence. In
1947, the London-educated Kikuyu academic and nationalist
Jomo Kenyatta became KAU president.
Aside from minor concessions by the colonial government, the African population continued to be marginalised and
was allowed only a fraction of the land and resources that were given to the European settlers. In 1952, a Kikuyu guer-
rilla group known as the Mau Mau began a campaign of violence against white settlers and Africans who were seen
as sympathetic to colonial rule. A state of emergency was declared and the Mau Mau Rebellion, as it came to be
known, raged on for four years, claiming thousands of lives.
Kenya became an independent nation in 1963 and Jomo Kenyatta, who was now the head of the African National
Union (KANU) party, became its first President. The following year, Kenya became a member of the Commonwealth.
Kenyatta held the presidency until 1978 having banned any opposition parties and when he died in August of that
year, Kenya was considered one of the most prosperous and stable countries in Africa. Following his death, Kenyat-
tas Vice President, Daniel Arap Moi, assumed the presidency and amended the constitution, effectively making Kenya
a one-party state until 1992, when international pressure over human rights abuses and political oppression forced
Kenya to reinstate a multiparty system. Moi maintained the presidency for yet another decade, however, through a num-
ber of widely-criticised elections. He was eventually ousted after a landslide victory by Mwai Kibaki in 2002, ending
almost 40 years of KANU rule.
A highly disputed and uncharacteristically violent election in 2007 saw the formation of a coalition between Kibaki and
opposition leader Raila Odinga. Under this uneasy coalition, with Kibaki as President and Odinga as Prime Minister,
Kenya is now beginning to move forward with modern democracy.
The protectorate becomes
Kenya and gets status of British
Crown Colony governed by a
British administrator
1921
Mau Mau rebellion is put
down after the loss of thou-
sands of lives, mostly of
Africans seen as loyal to
the British
1956
Jomo Kenyatta become inde-
pendent Kenya's first president
1961
Jomo Kenyatta is re-elected.
Kiswahili becomes the official
language of the government
1974 1952
Kikuyu guerrilla group known
as Mau Mau begins violent
campaign against white
settlers. State of emergency
declared
1960
State of emergency ends.
KANU formed. Archaeologists
Mary and Louis Leakey find 1.8
million-year-old skull of Homo
Habilis near Lake Turkana
1964
The Republic of Kenya is for-
med with Kenyatta as presi-
dent
1978
Kenyatta dies, leaving behind
thriving and stable nation. Ara
Moi president. He soon starts
cracking down on political op
ponents, banning tribal socie-
ties and closing universities
KENYA
56
GREEN BELT MOVEMENT VS DEFORESTATION
In much of Africa, women are the primary
caretakers, holding significant responsibility
for working the land and feeding their families.
As a result, they are often the first to become
aware of environmental damage when resour-
ces become scarce and incapable of sustaining
their families. This is particularly true among
rural communities where deforestation and
erosion can have a devastating effect on lives
and livelihoods.
The Green Belt Movement, founded by Professor Wangari
Maathai, started out as a tree-planting initiative to address the
challenges of deforestation, soil erosion and lack of water, but
has, in recent years, developed into a vehicle for empowering
women, advocating for human rights, and supporting good
governance and peaceful democratic change through the
protection of the environment.
a
ap
p-
President Moi is re-elected
after introducing a complica-
ted and highly-criticised vo-
ting system. Opposition
leaders are jailed
1987
Kenya's first multiparty elec-
tion is held. Moi is controver-
sially re-elected
1992
Moi forms the first coalition
government in Kenya
2001
Dr Wangari Maathai receives
the Nobel Peace Prize
2004 1991
Moi finally gives in to interna-
tional pressure and the consti-
tution is changed to allow
registration of opposition
parties
1997
Daniel Arap Moi wins his 5th
term as president in widely-
criticised elections
2002
Mwai Kibaki wins a landslide
election victory, ending Daniel
Arap Moi's 24-year presidency
and four decades of Kanu rule
Keyw
ord: Sustainable developm
ent
Sustainable developm
ent is often
described as developm
ent that m
eets
the needs of the present w
ithout
com
prom
ising the ability of future
generations to m
eet their ow
n needs.
It is a forw
ard-thinking approach
to addressing the challenges facing
hum
anity w
hile respecting the car-
rying capacity of natural system
s
and aim
s to m
eet hum
an needs in
an environm
entally, socially and
financially responsible m
anner that
preserves existing resources and
creates new
ones for the future.
57
WANGARI MAATHAI
Wangari Muta Maathai was born in 1940 in the village of Ihithe in the green and fertile, Nyeri District of Kenya. From
an early age she showed an aptitude and an enthusiasm for education and, thanks to her academic brilliance, was
awarded a scholarship to attend university in the United States. She earned a degree in Biological Sciences from
Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas in 1964 and, subsequently, earned a Master of Science degree
from the University of Pittsburgh. She then went on to pursue her doctoral studies in Germany and Kenya, obtaining
a Ph.D. in Anatomy in 1971 from the University of Nairobi. This accomplishment made her the first East and Central
African woman to earn a Ph.D.
Dr Maathai went on to become chair of the Universitys Department of Veterinary Anatomy and an associate profes-
sor in 1976 and 1977 respectively. In both instances, she was the first woman to hold those positions in the region.
As an adult, Professor Maathai realised that her homeland was no longer as fertile and green as it was when she was
a girl, when she used to drink water straight from the streams near her house, streams that had since dried up. She
recognized that one of the major problems was deforestation and that the government was directly contributing to
this deforestation. The desert was closing in, encroaching on the fields where crops and trees once flourished. This im-
pacted the daily lives of many people especially rural women and led to widespread problems such as a firewood
shortage, soil degradation, erosion and a lack of clean drinking water, a balanced diet, shelter and income.
In 1977, while serving on the National Council of Women of Kenya, Dr Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, a
grassroots organization whose main focus was to replant trees with womens groups in order to fight deforestation, thus
conserving the environment while improving their quality of life. In 1986, the Movement established a Pan African
Green Belt Network, which has launched successful initiatives in several other African countries.
Since its inception, the Movement has assisted in the planting of more than 40 million trees, has employed thousands
of people, mostly women, and trained thousands of others in beekeeping, food-processing, forestry and other envi-
ronmentally-sustainable trades.
Dr Maathai and the Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards worldwide and she has received honorary
doctoral degrees from several institutions. In 1997, she was elected by Earth Times as one of 100 persons in the world
who have made a difference in the environmental arena. In December 2002, Dr Maathai was elected to the Kenyan par-
liament with an overwhelming 98% of the vote and was appointed Assistant Minister for Environment, Natural Re-
sources and Wildlife.
Dr Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her efforts to protect the environment through sustainable develop-
ment and raise awareness about its link to democracy and peace. She was the first African woman to win the award.
In her 60s, Dr Maathai showed no signs of stopping her environmental activism and human rights advocacy as she
continued to empower the people of Africa to conserve and protect the environment. She has addressed the United
Nations on several occasions, served on the boards of many international organisations and has become a spoke-
sperson for a number of vital initiatives, including the Nobel Womens Initiative with fellow Nobel Peace Laureates
Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Jody Williams, Rigoberta Mench Tum, and Shirin Ebadi.
Wangari Muta Maathai dies in 2011 at the age of 71.
for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.
59
Dearest Mama Maathai,
What precipitated your moving beyond environmental issues to dealing with issues such as human rights and
democracy?
When I first started, it was really an innocent response to the needs of women in rural areas. When we started plan-
ting trees to meet their needs, there was nothing beyond that. I did not see all the issues that I have to come to deal
with. For me, one of the major reasons to move beyond just the planting of trees was that I have tendency to look at
the causes of a problem. We often preoccupy ourselves with the symptoms, whereas if we went to the root cause of
the problems, we would be able to overcome the problems once and for all. For instance, I tried to understand why
we didn't have clean drinking water, which I had when I was a child. The link between the rural population, the land,
and natural resources is very direct. But when you have bad governance, of course, these resources are destroyed:
The forests are deforested, there is illegal logging, there is
soil erosion. I got pulled deeper and deeper and saw how
these issues become linked to governance, to corruption,
to dictatorship.
When you raised these issues, you became persona
non grata with the government. Do you think you were
seen as more or less of a threat because you were a
woman?
I think that because I was a woman, I was vulnerable. It
was easy to persecute me without people feeling asha-
med. It was easy to vilify me and project me as a woman
who was not following the tradition of a "good African
woman" and as a highly educated elitist who was trying to show innocent African women ways of doing things that
were not acceptable to African men. It was easy for me to be ridiculed and for both men and women to perceive that
maybe I'm a bit crazy because I'm educated in the West and I have lost some of my basic decency as an African
womanas if being educated was something bad. That is something I had seen for a very long time: When people
can't use you, they ridicule what you represent. I was lucky that I understood that, because when one does not
understand that, it is very easy to be broken and to be subdued.
At times, you had to go underground; you were arrested and beaten by the police. Why did this type of intimi-
dation not work on you?
I knew that I was not doing anything wrong, and I knew in my mind I was doing the right thing. I knew that the people
who were going against me were not going against me for a good purpose. I knew that they were trying to justify their
corruption and misgovernance.
1940
Born in Ihithe, Nyeri
District, Kenya
1964
Obtains degree in
Biological Sciences
from Mount St.
Scholastica College
in Kansas, USA
1966
Master of Science
degree from the
University in Pitt-
sburgh
1971
Obtains Ph.D. in
Anatomy from Uni-
versity of Nairobi
and starts teaching
Veterinary Anatomy
1973-1980
Director of Kenya
Red Cross
1977
Professor at Univer-
sity of Nairobi.
Founds Green Belt
with Wangari Maathai
INTERVIEW
Academic, environmentalist,
activist, parliamentarian, Foun-
der of the Green Belt Move-
ment. Her approach to
sustainable development
through conservation of the en-
vironment and the empower-
ment of women has already
started to bear fruit for the land
and the people of Africa.
60
1981-1987
President of the Na-
tional Council of
Women of Kenya.
Pan African Green
Belt Network
1998
Co-chair of the Jubi-
lee 2000 Africa
Campaign seeking
debt cancellation
for African countries
2002
Elected as Member
of Parliament for the
Tetu Constituency
with 98% of the
vote
2003-2007
Assistant Minister of
Environment, Natural
Resources & Wildlife.
In 2004, receives the
Nobel Peace Prize
2005
Presiding Officer of
the Economic, So-
cial and Cultural
Council of the Afri-
can Union
2006
Receives the Legion
dHonneur. She
founds the Nobel
Womens Initiative
with sister Laureates
Do you think there are any lessons other countries might learn from
Kenya's democratization?
One very good thing was the fact that the civil society in Kenya worked
hard to educate the public on the need to change the government pea-
cefully, on the need to demonstrate to the leaders that if they did not go-
vern properly they can be removednot by a gun, but through the vote.
So I hope that's a lesson that many African governments will learn. For
us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the peo-
ple and ignore our own egos and personal interests so that we can re-
ally demonstrate to other African states that it is possible to share power
without going to war. It is so much more difficult to rebuild once you
have destroyed. We are seeing how difficult it is to resume normalcy in
Somalia; we are seeing how difficult it is to bring the conflict to an end
in the Sudan.
You have been traveling around the US and around the world tal-
king about the issue of climate change. What insights do you
have on the state of the environment looking at it from a global
perspective?
We can say that we have great environmental awareness as compared to, for example, the seventies when the world
started really serious global mobilization of environmental awareness with the United Nations Conference on Human
Environment in Stockholm in 1972. Since that time there has been a lot of awareness, not only among governments
and experts, but also among ordinary citizens - almost everybody now understands. And that is a great accompli-
shment that has been made. And as we know, most governments in the world now have a minister of environment, so
at least politically you can say most governments have accepted the principle of taking care of the environment. But
I must say, especially in Africa, I haven't seen sufficient prioritization of the environment, mostly through cuts to the na-
tional budget, you can see that the government will spend more money in the ministry of defense rather than the mi-
nistry of the environment. And yet, a lot of conflicts are brought about by environmental degradation. So you would
expect that the government would invest in the environment in the hope that we can preempt conflicts as people fight
over diminishing resources, especially water, and land. But they don't. So I still have a lot of apprehension about the
level of political commitment, especially in Africa.
Legacy Legacy
Wangari Maathai is internationally re-
cognised as a champion of human
rights, good governance and environ-
mental conservation. The Green Belt
Movement that she founded has plan-
ted millions of trees across the conti-
nent, while at the same time educating
and empowering thousands of women.
This not only fosters development from
a grassroots level but also ensures that
future generations will inherit a land
that will be able to sustain and nourish
them. A trailblazer and a role model in
Africa in the fields of academics, poli-
tics and ecology, she has addressed the
UN on several occasions, speaking on
behalf of women at special sessions of
the General Assembly and she is the
first African woman to win the Nobel
Peace Prize.
61
LIST OF MOST OF THE AWARDS TO DR MAATHAI
Royal Institute of British Architects, Honorary Fellowship (2007)
Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights (2007)
Jawarhalal Nehru Award (2007)
World Citizenship Award (2006)
The Disney Conservation Fund Award (2006)
Paul Harris Fellowship (2005)
The Sophie Prize (2004)
The Petra Kelly Prize (2004)
The Conservation Scientist Award (2004)
The J. Sterling Morton Award (2004)
The WANGO Environment Award (2003)
Outstanding Vision and Commitment Award (2002)
The Excellence Award from the Kenyan Community Abroad (2001)
The Juliet Hollister Award (2001)
The Golden Ark Award (1994)
The Jane Addams Leadership Award (1993)
The Edinburgh Medal (1993)
The Hunger Projects Africa Prize for Leadership (1991)
The Goldman Environmental Prize (1991)
Women of the World Award (1989)
The Windstar Award for the Environment (1988)
The Better World Society Award (1986)
The Right Livelihood Award (1984)
The Woman of the Year Award (1983)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member, United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament, USA
Member, UN Commission on Global Governance, USA
Member, Advisory Board, Democracy Coalition Project, USA
Member, Earth Charter Commission, USA
Selection Committee, Sasakawa Environmental Prize, UNEP, KENYA
Board Member, Women and Environment Development Organization (WEDO), USA
Board Member, World Learning for International Development, USA
Board Member, Green Cross International
Board Member, Environment Liaison Center International, KENYA
Board Member, the WorldWIDE Network of Women in Environmental Work, USA
Board Member, National Council of Women of Kenya, KENYA
62
In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources and conflict may
seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy
and peace.
The planting of trees is the planting of ideas.
By starting with the simple step of digging a hole
and planting a tree, we plant hope for ourselves and for future generations.
They (Bob Geldof and Bono) are wonderful people but as far as I am concerned I know
there has been a lot of bashing of them. The truth of the matter is that
I can talk all day long but when a celebrity talks, the world listens. These people play
an extremely
important role and it is important to appreciate and not trivialise what they do.
Africans, especially, should re-discover positive aspects of their culture. In accepting
them, they would give themselves a sense of belonging, identity and
self-confidence.
Culture plays a
central role in the
political, economic
and social life of
communities. In-
deed, culture may
be the missing
link in the deve-
lopment of Africa.
Culture is dynamic
and evolves over
time, consciously
discarding retro-
gressive traditions,
like female genital
mutilation (FGM),
and embracing
aspects that are
good and useful.
63
Dear mama Wangari Maathai,
You have shown what it means to be a true African mother
and a true African woman. Kenya admires you! Africa admi-
res you! The world admires you! May your unceasing fight for
the right always remain a source of inspiration for mankind.
As a biologist, she saw the problems that deforestation and
soil erosion were causing in rural areas, especially for the
women who do most of the physical work. Grazing areas for
livestock were being destroyed. The women were having to
go further and further in search of wood for cooking. In 1977
Maathai took an important decision. She resigned from her
chair, and on the 5th of June, World Environment Day, she
planted nine trees in her backyard and founded the Green
Belt Movement. Its aim was to restore Africa's forests and put
an end to the poverty that deforestation was causing.
In the 1980s, Maathai became the Chairperson of the Natio-
nal Council of Women, and her successes with tree-planting
and political campaigning for women brought her into con-
flict with the authorities. She thus also became one of the lea-
ders of the pro-democracy movement. When the government
wanted to build a 62-storey skyscraper in Uhuru Park, the
only park in the centre of Nairobi, Maathai organized the pro-
tests thanks to which the building plans were abandoned.
The struggles for the environment, for democracy and for wo-
men's rights all came together to form a whole. In due course
many men also joined her movement. Maathai's many initia-
tives exposed her to harassment. She was repeatedly sent to
prison; she was attacked with tear gas and clubbed. The go-
vernment met with little success in its efforts to curb this awk-
ward woman. Maathai became internationally known, and
won numerous prizes for her work.
You combine science, commitment, active politics, and
faith in God. Beyond simply preserving the existing environ-
ment, your strategy is to safeguard and strengthen the foun-
dations for sustainable development. Your goal is to protect
God's creation "so that this earth can become the Garden of
Eden that God created.
This year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has evidently
broadened its definition of peace still further. Environmental
protection has become yet another path to peace.
What is so impressive about Maathai's work is its compre-
hensiveness. But it was the Committee's own decision to em-
phasise its environmental dimension. So what in fact is the
relationship between the environment and peace?
Most people would probably agree that there are connections
between peace on the one hand and an environment on the
other in which scarce resources such as oil, water, minerals
or timber are quarrelled over. The Middle East is full of dispu-
tes relating to oil and water. Clearly, not everyone outside the
region has appreciated the importance to Arab-Israeli rela-
tions of the conflicts over the waters of the Jordan, Litani,
Orontes and other rivers. Competition for minerals has been
an important element of several conflicts in Africa in recent
years. Competition for timber has figured prominently in Li-
beria, in Indonesia and in Brazil. Present-day wars and con-
flicts take place not so much between as within states.
But where does tree-planting come in? When we analyse
local conflicts, we tend to focus on their ethnic and religious
aspects. But it is often the underlying ecological circumstan-
ces that bring the more readily visible factors to the fla-
shpoint. Consider the conflict in Darfur in the Sudan. What
catches the eye is that this is a conflict between Arabs and
Africans, between the government, various armed militia
groups, and civilians. Below this surface, however, lies the
desertification that has taken place in the last few decades,
especially in northern Darfur. The desert has spread sou-
thwards, forcing Arab nomads further and further south year
by year, bringing them into conflict with African farmers. In
the Philippines, uncontrolled deforestation has helped to pro-
voke a rising against the authorities. In Mexico, soil erosion
and deforestation have been factors in the revolt in Chiapas
against the central government. In Haiti, in Amazonas, and in
the Himalayas, deforestation and the resulting soil erosion
have contributed to deteriorating living conditions and caused
tension between population groups and countries. In many
countries deforestation, often together with other problems,
leads to migration to the big cities, where the lack of infra-
structure is another source of further conflict.
Wangari Maathai's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
I am immensely privileged to join my fellow African
Peace laureates, Presidents Nelson Mandela and F.W. de
Klerk, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the late Chief Albert Lu-
thuli, the late Anwar el-Sadat and the UN Secretary Ge-
neral, Kofi Annan.
In this year's prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has
placed the critical issue of environment and its linkage to de-
mocracy and peace before the world. For their visionary ac-
tion, I am profoundly grateful. Recognizing that sustainable
development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an
idea whose time has come. Our work over the past 30 years
has always appreciated and engaged these linkages.
My inspiration partly comes from my childhood experiences
and observations of Nature in rural Kenya. It has been in-
fluenced and nurtured by the formal education I was privile-
ged to receive in Kenya, the United States and Germany. As
I was growing up, I witnessed forests being cleared and
replaced by commercial plantations, which destroyed
local biodiversity and the capacity of the forests to con-
serve water.
The women we worked with recounted that unlike in the
past, they were unable to meet their basic needs. This was
due to the degradation of their immediate environment as well
as the introduction of commercial farming, which replaced
the growing of household food crops. But international trade
controlled the price of the exports from these small-scale far-
mers and a reasonable and just income could not be gua-
ranteed. I came to understand that when the environment
64
is destroyed, plundered or mismanaged, we undermine
our quality of life and that of future generations.
Tree planting became a natural choice to address some of
the initial basic needs identified by women. Also, tree planting
is simple, attainable and guarantees quick, successful results
within a reasonable amount time. This sustains interest and
commitment.
...So, together, we have planted over 30 million trees that-
provide fuel, food, shelter, and income to support theirchil-
dren's education and household needs. The activity also
creates employment and improves soils and watersheds.
Through their involvement, women gain some degree of
power over their lives, especially their social and econo-
mic position and relevance in the family.
This work continues.
Initially, the work was difficult because historically our peo-
ple have been persuaded to believe that because they are
poor, they lack not only capital, but also knowledge and
skills to address their challenges. Instead they are condi-
tioned to believe that solutions to their problems must
come from outside'. Further, women did not realize that
meeting their needs depended on their environment being
healthy and well managed. They were also unaware that a
degraded environment leads to a scramble for scarce re-
sources and may culminate in poverty and even conflict.
They were also unaware of the injustices of international
economic arrangements.
In order to assist communities to understand these linkages,
we developed a citizen education program, during which
people identify their problems, the causes and possible solu-
tions. They then make connections between their own per-
sonal actions and the problems they witness in the
environment and in society. They learn that our world is con-
fronted with a litany of woes: corruption, violence against
women and children, disruption and breakdown of families,
and disintegration of cultures and communities. They also
identify the abuse of drugs and chemical substances, espe-
cially among young people. There are also devastating di-
seases that are defying cures or occurring in epidemic
proportions. Of particular concern are HIV/AIDS, malaria and
diseases associated with malnutrition.
On the environment front, they are exposed to many human
activities that are devastating to the environment and socie-
ties. These include widespread destruction of ecosystems,
especially through deforestation, climatic instability, and con-
tamination in the soils and waters that all contribute to ex-
cruciating poverty.
In the process, the participants discover that they must be
part of the solutions. They realize their hidden potential and
are empowered to overcome inertia and take action. They
come to recognize that they are the primary custodians and
beneficiaries of the environment that sustains them.
Entire communities also come to understand that while it is
necessary to hold their governments accountable, it is equally
important that in their own relationships with each other, they
exemplify the leadership values they wish to see in their own
leaders, namely justice, integrity and trust.
Although initially the Green Belt Movement's tree planting ac-
tivities did not address issues of democracy and peace, it
soon became clear that responsible governance of the envi-
ronment was impossible without democratic space. There-
fore, the tree became a symbol for the democratic struggle in
Kenya. Citizens were mobilised to challenge widespread abu-
ses of power, corruption and environmental mismanagement.
In Nairobi 's Uhuru Park, at Freedom Corner, and in many
parts of the country, trees of peace were planted to demand
the release of prisoners of conscience and a peaceful transi-
tion to democracy.
Through the Green Belt Movement, thousands of ordinary ci-
tizens were mobilized and empowered to take action and ef-
fect change. They learned to overcome fear and a sense of
helplessness and moved to defend democratic rights.
In 2002, the courage, resilience, patience and commitment
of members of the Green Belt Movement, other civil society
organizations, and the Kenyan public culminated in the pea-
ceful transition to a democratic government and laid the foun-
dation for a more stable society.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has challenged the world
to broaden the understanding of peace: there can be no
peace without equitable development; and there can be no
development without sustainable management of the envi-
ronment in a democratic and peaceful space. This shift is an
idea whose time has come.
THE CONNECTION
WANGARI MAATHAI AND BOB GELDOF
WANGARI MAATHAI AND BOB GELDOF HAVE BOTH CREATED MASSIVE, AMBITIOUS PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF DEVELOP-
MENT IN AFRICA, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE COME AT THE ISSUE FROM VERY DIFFERENT POSITIONS. MAATHAI WAS AN ACA-
DEMIC WHO DECIDED TO EFFECT CHANGE FROM A GRASSROOTS LEVEL BY PLANTING MILLIONS OF TREES ACROSS THE
CONTINENT AND EMPOWERING RURAL WOMEN. GELDOF WAS A MUSICIAN WHO HAS INSPIRED SOME THE BIGGEST STARS
IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC TO DONATE THEIR TALENT AND WHO TALKED AND SOMETIMES SHAMED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
ACROSS THE WORLD INTO DONATING THEIR MONEY. BOTH OF THEM ARE FIRM BELIEVERS THAT THE ROAD TO RECO-
VERY FOR AFRICA LIES IN THE CANCELLATION OF CRIPPLING FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS AND DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENT
APPROACHES, THEIR SHARED GOALS HAVE CAUSED THEIR PATHS TO CROSS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS IN WITH
MAATHAI EVEN APPEARING AS A PRESENTER AT THE LIVE 8 CONCERT IN EDINBURGH IN 2005.
65
BOB GELDOF
Creative, driven, and always direct, Robert Geldof
has gone from singer to activist, and has become
the driving force and link between music and po-
litics. Bob was born in Dun Laghaire, Ireland in
1951, and attended Blackrock College before mo-
ving to Vancouver, Canada.
Frustrated with the strict Catholic structure of his
school, and the subsequent doldrums of working
life, he formed the group The Boomtown Rats,
which helped to pioneer the "New Wave" move-
ment. The band produced hit songs ranging from
the hypnotic Banana Republic to the gritty I Don't
Like Mondays. He went solo in the mid 80s, and
has continued to sing and write.
Moved by a news report on the poverty in Ethiopia,
Geldof organized several pop music forces toge-
ther under the name Band Aid. He wrote the song
Do They Know it's Christmas? and organized the
Live Aid concert to raise awareness of African po-
verty. In 2005 he created the largest concert series
in history, Live 8, an eight venue concert series in-
tended to rouse the G8 nations into action. The
concerts drew together the diverse star power of
U2, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, The
Who, Linkin Park, Green Day, Madonna, and Jay-
Z. With an uncompromising and charismatic drive,
Sir Bob continues to work for Africa and to pro-
mote activism among his fellow musicians.
In 2005 in Rome, he received the Peace Summit
Award from Nobel Peace Laureates attending the
World Summit for his efforts to end world poverty.
Geldof has received many awards and honours for
his charity work. He was awarded an honorary kni-
ghthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986 and has
twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"Music is something I must do,
business is something I need to do,
and Africa is something I have to do."
DO THEY KNOW
IT'S CHRISTMAS?
It's Christmas time; there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time
But say a prayer to pray for the other ones
At Christmas time
It's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Oh, where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Here's to you, raise a glass for ev'ryone
Here's to them, underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
Feed the world
Feed the world
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Written by: Robert Geldof, Midge Ure

Published by: Warner Chappell Music International Ltd
(PRS)
67
BACKGROUND
Costa Rica was not considered a valuable territory by Spanish
colonists. There were no deposits of silver or gold to be exploi-
ted and the indigenous population was not large enough to pro-
vide the forced labour necessary for the establishment of
profitable land holdings. The Spanish Crown lost interest and
Costa Rica was largely left to develop on its own, meaning that
unlike many countries of the New World, it was able to emerge
from the colonial period without a significant history of violence
and slavery or an oppressive class system. The population was
homogeneous both culturally and economically and it develo-
ped a strong and resilient attitude towards egalitarianism and
independence. After gaining independence from Spain in 1821,
Costa Rica spent a short period of time as a province of the Fe-
deral Republic of Central America before becoming an independent republic in 1838.
After a disputed election in 1948, Costa Rica underwent a brief but bloody Civil War that deeply shocked the histori-
cally peaceful nation. Upon becoming president, the victorious leader Jose Figueres made a visionary pronouncement:
The Government hereby declares the National Army officially abolished. Resources that were previously alloca-
ted to the military were then redirected into infrastructure, education, health, housing and building a viable society
based on peace and democracy.
During the second half of the 20th century, Latin America was a showcase of dictatorial horrors fed by an omnipresent
military apparatus and the imposition of Cold War power politics between the United States of America and the So-
viet Union. These two opposing countries were in a race to carve out spheres of influence throughout the continent.
Influenced by millions of US and Soviet dollars in military support, the Sandinistas governed Nicaragua backed by the
Soviets, right-wing military governments backed by the US fought against rebel cells in El Salvador and Guatemala,
and tensions in Honduras were on the rise. Guerrilla armies were used to carry out coup dtats, oppressing ordinary
citizens and limiting their liberties under the guise of making these countries more secure, thus depriving entire gene-
rations of Central Americans their most basic right to a secure and dignified existence.
Oscar Arias Sanchez, President of Costa Rica from 1986 until 1990, and then again from 2006 to 2010, lobbied for
peace in Central America in the face of the powerful interests of the Cold War and created the Arias Peace Plan, hel-
ping to bring an end to all civil wars in the region.
COSTA RICA
Central America gains
independence from Spain
1821
Costa Rica becomes
an independent republic
1838
Election of President Rafael Cal-
dern, who introduces several
reforms, including healthcare,
minimum wages and a Work
Code to protect workers rights
1940 1823
Costa Rica becomes a province
of the Federal Republic of Cen-
tral America, which also com-
prises El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua
1870s
Costa Rica receives extensive
foreign investment, particu-
larly in its railways and fruit
production
1948
A disputed presidential elec-
tion result sparks a 44-day
civil war in which around
2,000 people are killed. Jos
Figueres is elected President
68
BACKGROUND
He sought to bring an end to the Reagan administrations use of his coun-
try as a staging area for its campaign against the Sandinista government
of neighbouring Nicaragua in the early 1980s, banning the Contras and
their US trainers from Costa Rica and resisting the immense pressure on
his nation to remilitarise. The Reagan administration threatened to cut
off aid, but Arias held his ground. Costa Rica is still Central America's
only country that does not rely on military might to ensure its security.
Costa Rica, with the highest standard of living in Central and South
America, stands as a shining example of the close link between wise
resource allocation and social investment and healthy and sustainable
development. Today, more than 95% of its electricity comes from
water or wind, from the depths of the Earth or from the rays of the
sun and it has declared its intention of becoming the worlds first carbon
neutral country by the year 2021.
DISARMAMENT VS MILITARY DICTATORSHIP
In May of 1986, just days into his presidency, Oscar Arias met with the presidents of four other Central American coun-
tries to try to come up with a way of peacefully settling the armed conflicts that had destabilised the region for years
most of them being exacerbated, or directly caused, by the Cold War between the United States of America and the
Soviet Union. This meeting took place in the city of Esquipulas in Guatemala, a country which was itself in the middle
of a bloody, 36-year civil war.
In 1987, based on discussions in the Esquipulas summit, Arias submitted a Peace Plan for the region. The five coun-
tries entered a series of discussions that led to them forging an agreement based on the principles of economic coo-
peration between the nations and a system for peaceful conflict resolution. The Esquipulas II agreement was signed
by the five presidents on August 7, 1987.
The Esquipulas Peace Plan, commonly referred to as The Arias Plan," called on the leaders of Central America to limit
the size of their armies, assure freedom of the press, and to hold free and open elections. Because of his tireless work
in the creation of this historical and lifesaving accord, Oscar Arias Sanchez garnered worldwide acclaim as a peace-
maker and a defender of personal freedoms.
New constitution gives the vote to
women, the illiterate and people of Afri-
can descent; a welfare system is introdu-
ced; the army is abolished
1949
Oscar Arias Snchez elected President
of Costa Rica
1986
Oscar Arias re-elected President of Costa
Rica; the Costa Rica Consensus presented
to the UN
2006 1982
Costa Rica comes under US pressure to
take sides against the Sandinista regime in
Nicaragua
1987
Presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua sign Arias
Peace Plan; Arias awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize
2010
Costa Rica elects
first female president,
Laura Chinchilla
Keyw
ord: Disarm
am
ent Disarm
am
ent is the act of redu-
cing, lim
iting, or abolishing w
ea-
pons. Disarm
am
ent generally refers
to a country's m
ilitary or to a
specific type of w
eaponry. The
m
ost high-profile form
of disarm
a-
m
ent is the abolishm
ent of w
ea-
pons of m
ass destruction, such as
nuclear arm
s. General and Com
-
plete Disarm
am
ent refers to the
rem
oval of all w
eaponry, including
conventional arm
s.
69
DEVELOPMENT AND DISARMAMENT: LOOK TO COSTA RICA
WHEN A SCHOOL OPENS, A JAIL CLOSES
Its a matter of priorities.
Must we starve our children to increase our defence expenditures? When our children cry for milk in the middle of the
night, shall we give them guns instead? While half the human community lives on less than $2 per day, is it then not
shameful that global military spending now exceeds 1.3 trillion dollars per year? This sum represents nearly 10
times the annual investment necessary to achieve in a decade all the Millennium Development Goals in every country
on Earth The late Mahbub ul-Haq, a veteran of the World Bank and chief architect of the UNDP Human Development
Report, squarely stated this challenge.
Industrialized countries account for 85% of global military spending, which represents 10 times the resources dedicated
to official development assistance. Yet, there is not a single indicator suggesting that these enormous expenditures are
making the world more secure or human rights more widely enjoyed. On the contrary, in most countries of the deve-
loping world, the armed forces themselves pose a challenge to peace, security and democratisation. To most people,
the concept of security lies in simple things, such as access to potable water and primary education for their children.
A gradual and progressive reduction of military spending is not only a good strategy for allocating resources but also
a moral imperative for developing countries. The abundance and relative ease of acquisition of weapons in regions of
conflict has only served to exacerbate existing conditions of poverty, social violence, and insecurity, ultimately hinde-
ring development and the well-being of their citizens.
It is all a matter of priorities that need to be addressed in each governments agenda. 3.3 billion dollars are spent every
single day in arms and military personnel, while 75 million children worldwide still do not attend school and 143 mil-
lion children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition. It is a deliberate choice. As long as leaders continue to
make war their priority, their countries cannot prosper economically and their democracies will not be consolidated.
The money invested in a Sukhoi Su-30k aircraft, which cost 34 million dollars apiece, could buy 200,000 MIT Media
Lab computers for schools. The money invested in a Black Hawk helicopter, which cost US$6 million apiece, could pay
a US$100 monthly educational grant for 5,000 students for an entire year. This trade-off between investing in arms and
investing in people is a matter of national priorities.
Unlike its neighbours, Costa Rica has avoided the brutality of poverty, human rights deprivations, guerrilla movements,
and foreign interventions. 14 countries have subsequently demilitarized through Constitutional amendments and 28
have no national armies. Panama made the wise choice to follow its neighbours example. The positive consequen-
ces in terms of security and development stand in stark relief for all to see.
Some figures: Since the end of the Cold War in 1990, 150 billion dollars in weapons have been transferred to develo-
ping nations. The USA alone accounts for over 45% of this sum. 84% of that went to governments described by the
USAs own State Department as not permitting citizens to change their government by peaceful, democratic means.
70
THE COSTA RICA CONSENSUS
In 2006, during his second stint as President, Arias presented to the United Nations the Costa Rica Consensus, which
sought to establish new criteria for extending credit to developing nations and forgiving debt. It asks donor nations to
consider not only a countrys finances but also how it spends money. It is an initiative to encourage financial stimuli
for developing countries that invest more in environmental protection, education, health, housing and sustainable de-
velopment for their people and less in their militaries. This new approach could end the vicious circle in which existing
aid structures encourage leaders of the Latin Americas poorest states as is the case of other developing countries,
such as those of sub-Saharan Africa to invest scarce resources in arming themselves against nonexistent enemies.
The rationale of the Costa Rica Consensus can be clearly explained by the words of US President and Dwight D.
Eisenhower, a man who was no stranger to war, having served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Troops in Eu-
rope during World War II: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final
sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is
not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its labourers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its chil-
dren. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power
plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some fifty miles of con-
crete pavement. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with
new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This is, I repeat, the best way of life to be found on the
road the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it
is humanity hanging from a cross of iron. ... Is there no other way the world may live?
ARMS TRADE TREATY
The Arms Trade Treaty seeks to regulate the international trade of arms, prohibiting the transfer of weapons to sta-
tes, groups or individuals if there is reason to believe those weapons will be used to violate human rights or existing
international law or if there is clear indication that they will be used to disrupt regional stability and sustainable deve-
lopment. Costa Rica was one of the Treatys seven co-author states and has been a driving force of the initiative since
it was first proposed to the UN by a group of Nobel Peace Laureates led by Oscar Arias.
As of the October 2009 vote, the ATT has garnered the support of 153 countries. However, the ATT continues to face
resistance from some states, particularly regarding the range of conventional weapons and types of arms transfers that
should be included in its scope. In order to be effective, it is imperative that the ATT be universal, legally binding, and
include all conventional arms, together with small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition.
The Treaty will continue to be negotiated in the hope of reaching a final agreement at the proposed United Nations Con-
ference on the Arms Trade Treaty in 2012.
71
OSCAR ARIAS SNCHEZ
Oscar Arias Sanchez was just 8 years old when Costa Rica made history by becoming the first country in the world to
abolish its standing army. Convinced that spending on arms not only deprives the people of economic resources but
more importantly, of human capital, disarmament has always been a crucial part of his political philosophy. A tireless
peacemaker, Oscar Arias Sanchez was born in 1940 in Heredia, Costa Rica, to a prominent coffee bean growing fa-
mily. He studied in the nations capital of San Jos and travelled to the United States, intending to take up medicine
at Boston University before returning home and enrolling in the University of Costa Rica to pursue degrees in law and
economics. In 1967, he relocated to England to study at the London School of Economics and in 1974 received a
PhD in political science from the University of Essex.
In 1970 he entered politics as an assistant to National Liberation Party (PLN) leader and former President, Jose Figueres.
After Figueres was reelected, he made Arias Minister of National Planning and Political Economy. After years of wor-
king on the government's social programs and gradually rising to the leadership of his party, Arias was elected Presi-
dent himself in 1986.
From the day he took office as president, Arias made it his mission to create a culture of peace, not just for Costa Rica,
but throughout the region. At his inauguration, the presidents of nine Latin American countries heard his plea for sta-
bility and democracy in the region. He put forth a plan to remove Central America from the throes of the Cold War in
which the two superpowers supported various governments and armies, creating civil wars such as the one that kil-
led more than 100,000 people in Guatemala, in addition to armed conflicts in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Around this
time, the Soviets and the United States also increased border tensions between Nicaragua and its neighbouring sta-
tes, Honduras and Costa Rica.
A few weeks later, Arias met with the other Central American leaders in Esquipulas, Guatemala, and called for natio-
nal reconciliation, free elections, democratisation, and mutual peace across the region. They also agreed upon issues
of self-policing, arms control, and refugee protection and established the foundation for the Oslo Accord, which even-
tually ended the 36-year Guatemalan Civil War.
Arias charisma and dedication has elevated him to the status of national hero in the eyes of his people. He has spent
his whole career working to improve their lives in every possible way and the world recognised the fruit of his coura-
geous efforts in the Central American peace process in 1987, when all the Central American presidents signed the Pro-
cedure to Establish a Firm and Lasting Peace in Central America. This monumental breakthrough won Arias the 1987
Nobel Peace Prize. Oscar Arias has also done great work in the battle to end poverty and improve education for the
people of the region. With the money awarded through his Nobel Peace Prize, President Arias formed the Arias Foun-
dation for Peace & Human Progress to promote peace, justice and equality throughout the Americas. Arias has wor-
ked with many international organisations, such as the International Center for Human Rights and the InterAction
Council. In 1997, along with seven other fellow Nobel Peace Laureates, he drafted the International Code of Con-
duct on Arms Transfers, which proposes stronger arms control mechanisms in international law. It states that coun-
tries must not transfer weapons if there is reason to believe the weapons will be used to violate human rights. The Code
laid the foundations of the Arms Trade Treaty, which has been promoted by Arias since its inception. Arias concluded
his second term as president in May of 2010, uniting the nation once again. He continues to shift the minds and he-
arts of the people of the world to see that true security is not based on having a larger than life army but on providing
people with human rights associated with education, jobs and health.
for his work for peace in Central America, efforts which led to the accord
signed in Guatemala on 7 August this year.
The Committee attaches importance to the fact that the accord is the result of
responsible cooperation between the five signatory states. As such, it lays solid
foundations for the further development of democracy and for open cooperation
between peoples and states.
73
1940
Born September 13
in Heredia,
Costa Rica
1967
Earns Masters de-
gree in political
science
1970
Enters politics as an
assistant to National
Liberation Party
(PLN) leader and
former president
Jos Figueres
1972
Appointed Minister
of National Plan-
ning and Political
Economy
1974
Receives a doctorate
in political science
from the University
of Essex
Oscar was a very accessible president, often mingling in the streets without the security of bodyguards. Unlike most
world leaders, President Arias often dined in public restaurants and drove his own car. Oscar felt safe in Costa Rica, a
country whose stability was measured not by military power but by success in the areas of education, health care, and
peaceful democratic elections. The importance of disarmament has always been a major measure of his political view-
point. On his inauguration day, the presidents of nine Latin American countries came together to hear Oscar's plea for
democracy and liberty. What soon became known as "The Arias Plan" called on the leaders of Central America to limit
the size of their armies, assure freedom of the press, and to hold free and open elections. In 1987, all Central American
presidents signed the Procedure to Establish a Firm and Lasting Peace in Central America. President Arias was awar-
ded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his courageous efforts in the coordination of the Central American peace process.
Arias then formed the Arias Foundation for Peace & Human Progress which aims to promote peace, justice, and equa-
lity in Central America and serves as a model in
these areas for the rest of the world. It has become
one of the leading peace and human rights organi-
zations in Central America. Oscar Arias won the
presidential election again in January 2006 serving
as the President of Costa Rica until May 2010.
(September 2010)
Dear President Oscar Arias Sanchez,
What difficulties did you have to overcome, in
order to negotiate the Peace Plan, one of the
best examples of work for fraternity between
nations, as Alfred Nobel would have certainly
defined it?
Reaching an agreement was not the only challenge to negotiating the Peace Plan; for that discussion to take place re-
quired that the leaders of the region come together to engage in a meaningful dialogue with one another, which was so-
mething of a feat in itself. Diplomacy was also threatened by continued pressure behind the military actions of the Contras,
which came not only from the outside but also from vested military interests in many Central American countries at that
time. But we were determined to take charge and seek a multilateral solution to our regional conflicts: one that would pro-
mise a better future rather than prolonging the violence that had for too long plagued our countries. We wanted to show
the world and ourselves that peace is possible if we are willing to work at it. We wanted to show that the nations of Cen-
tral America, as small as we are, could deal with our differences and not leave our interests to be controlled by others.
Which regions of the world should adopt a similar peace accord nowadays?
When promoting peace, one of the most important considerations should always be the risk of conflict escalation and
harm to the population. It is crucial that countries and regions take charge of their futures by rejecting violence and avoid
relying solely upon military solutions to their shared problems. The Middle East has a history full of violence, in which
military approaches have only served to amplify tensions and distract leaders and their populations from the goal of
living peacefully. In Latin America, given the continued escalation of conflict in Colombia, a solution will likely require
Studied law and economics in Costa Rica,
USA and England. President of Costa Rica
both in 1986-1990 and in 2006-2010, and
immediately set about working for peace
in Central America, bringing the leaders of
Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and
Nicaragua together for negotiations. Ad-
vocate for disarmament and education as
keywords for human progress and demo-
cratization.
with Oscar Arias Snchez
INTERVIEW
74
1978
Elected to Congress
1979
Becomes General
Secretary of the PLN
1986
Elected President of
Costa Rica
1987
Creates Peace Plan
adopted by the whole
region of Central
America; receives the
Nobel Peace Prize
2003
Arms Trade Treaty
first conceived by
group of Nobel Lau-
reates led by Arias
2006
Re-elected President
of Costa Rica
the commitment of the region. The Caribbean nations have been
moving toward cooperation in confronting armed violence. On a
much broader scale, the continent of Africa is mired in several di-
stinct conflicts, in which civil wars spill over and continue to di-
splace countless victims. One commonality shared by many of
these countries is that military expenditure has taken precedence
over social investments such as health and education. A reo-
rientation of government spending in order to better provide for
the basic needs of the population is a crucial first step toward eli-
minating conflict. Peace remains a perennial challenge. The cur-
rent situation in the Middle East, as in many other regions around
the world, provides living proof that military-based approaches
have not and will not lead to peace. Peace can only come when
the worlds governments reduce their unnecessary and compe-
titive military spending, and commit to invest their resources in
human development.
What has characterized your political passion and your social sensitivity?
My political passion has always been that of promoting the cause of disarmament, which ties very closely with what I
consider to be the most important social issuethe eradication of poverty. Disarmament not only reduces the risks of
devastation, but it also allows governments to focus on investing in the wellbeing of their populations.
What is your greatest achievement? Regret?
My greatest achievement is the trust and confidence that I have earned through my consistency in public life. By being ac-
countable to others and standing strongly by my values, I have been honored with the opportunity to promote the cause
of peace in the world. The thing I most regret is not having achieved as much as I hoped in terms of alleviating poverty and
social unrest in my country. There is still great work that needs to be done within my country with respect to social inequality,
social unrest and the alleviation of poverty. I would have hoped to have made greater strides in reducing this divide.
On 10th December 1987, the day you received the Nobel Peace Prize, your son Oscar Felipe turned eight, what
an encouraging coincidence! In your opinion, what is the most important lesson to teach a child, as a President
of a Republic?
The most important lesson to teach a child is to stand by your principles and never cease improving your abilities to
promote what you believe in.
Your fellow Laureate Muhammad Yunus stated that Poverty is a threat to peace and desperately poor coun-
tries have fertile soil for terrorism. If you agree, what is your personal recipe to reduce this threat?
I agree completely with the urgent need to deal with global poverty by investing in human development. Demilitariza-
tion and the reduction in military expenditure are the important goals to which I have dedicated myself and for which
Legacy Legacy
Oscar Arias Snchez served two terms as Pre-
sident of Costa Rica, each of which brought
about major developments for his country and
for Central America as a whole.
During his first term, he negotiated the Esqui-
pulas Agreement with Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua and El Salvador, helping to bring
peace to a region long ravaged by conflicts that
had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
In his second term, two decades later, he made
history again, by setting Costa Rica on the path to
becoming the worlds first carbon neutral nation.
Even after his official retirement, Arias remains
one of the most respected statesmen in Cen-
tral America and is still called upon to mediate
in constitutional and political issues.
75
the Arias Foundation works. The world s governments spend nearly $1.5 trillion dollars on arms every year.
A mere 10% of the money spent on military expenditure each year could support the eradication of extreme poverty
and hunger around the world, which is one of the Millennium Development Goals. By advancing the cause of disar-
mament, I hope to redirect resources currently spent on weapons that destroy human lives, to be invested in educa-
tion, healthcare, and other social programs that promote human flourishing both.
I feel encouraged to know that I am not alone in the belief that reducing military expenditure will improve the liveliho-
ods of people throughout the world. Last year, the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress hosted the inau-
guration of the Religions for Peace Global Youth Campaign on Disarmament for Shared Security, and I am honored to
have been among the first to sign their petition calling for a reduction of military budgets by 10% and reinvestment of
that money in development in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Each and every one of us
can participate in this effort by raising awareness, joining campaigns, and pushing governments to reverse their out-
of-control military spending.
The aim of the Peace Accord was to bring peace in Central America, in order to defeat once for all problems
such as insecurity, repression, lack of freedom and poverty. After more than 20 years, how is the situation in
Central America? Was the peace accord signed on February 7th 1987 by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, able to bring democracy to these countries?
Peace is not simply the lack of war; it is a state of coexistence that requires constant dedication and hard work to main-
tain. As part of a larger effort to put an end to the terrible violence gripping Central America at the end of the 20th cen-
tury, Esquipulas gave the region an opportunity to move forward. But the countries in the region, Costa Rica included,
continue to be threatened by poverty and social violence. We must rededicate ourselves to improving and promoting
our democratic institutions and fostering the engagement of citizens in the activities and decisions of their gover-
nments. Last year in Honduras, we saw new evidence that there is still much work to be done. The region and world
must stand behind Honduras democracy by working with the countrys newly elected President.
Costa Rica is a country of teachers, education is compulsory and free, health care extended to every citi-
zen. A model for the rest of the world. Can we say that education is the solution of every conflict, that it is
the opposite of violence, also referring to one of the Arias Foundations key schemes Safe School, Safe
Community?
Education is a powerful antidote to conflict, and the responsibility to prevent violence and promote dialogue is one that
must be shared. Safe School, Safe Community seeks to prevent violence on the local level by working with schools
and municipalities. It is an intervention methodology that allows local governments, communities and schools to work
on the issue of violence prevention through the identification of needs and the development of strategic action plans
for the prevention of social violence. Through seminars in schools, it promotes a climate of peaceful coexistence, re-
spect for others, communication, and informed and engaged participation in ones community. The project also hi-
ghlights that it is everyones responsibility to fight, by peaceful means, against violence and encourage dialogue and
respect for all. It uses education as a key component in promoting a culture of opportunity, equality, and peace, but
these efforts must continue to reach far beyond the school gates into homes and communities.
When you accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, you firmly said, during your speech, referring to the international
community: Let Central America decide the future of Central America. Leave the interpretation of our
peace plan to us. Support the effort of peace instead of the forces of war in our region. Send our people
ploughshares instead of swords. You were obviously referring to the US and the USSR pressures, it was
a time when Cold War was at the highest. Which pressures are disturbing the democratic dream in Cen-
tral America nowadays?
Central America continues to suffer deeply from the internal challenges of poverty and inequality. The growing social
violence and the spread of organized crime throughout Central America are rooted in these social injustices; confron-
ting the root causes of poverty and inequality are essential if we are to restore peace to the region. The transnational
scourges of drug and arms trafficking feed off of and intensify poverty and inequality. The entire continent must take
responsibility for this predicament and dedicate itself to working cooperatively toward solutions, encompassing sup-
ply, demand and all of the many intermediaries in between.
76
This years Peace Prize, [], is primarily a homage and
an expression of thanks to Oscar Arias Sanchez for the
praiseworthy work he has done in the cause of attaining
a lasting peace in Central America.
Few regions of the world have had worse experiences of
civil war and conflict during recent years. Insecurity, re-
pression, lack of freedom and poverty have long been a
part of everyday life for the majority of the 25 million peo-
ple who live in the area.
For these people there is now hope. On the 7th of August
this year the presidents of Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guate-
mala, Honduras and Costa Rica signed a peace plan for
Central America. The Norwegian Nobel Committee belie-
ves that this plan opens the way for a development which
can replace bloody conflict with an open, trusting society
It has been said that Costa Rica has more school teachers
than soldiers. The civil authorities in Costa Rica have tra-
ditionally given priority to investment in the education sy-
stem, health and economic development. The result is
that Costa Rica is exceptional in the area also with regard
to economic growth and social equality.
Presentation by the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel
Committee (selected excerpts)
A positive turn in this work occurred in 1983 when the
so-called Contadora group presented its 21-point preli-
minary agenda for a peace plan. The group was compo-
sed of Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, and the
plan included Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hon-
duras and Costa Ricabut the plan became a political
blackwater, while the military activity in the area grew.
When Oscar Arias became President of Costa Rica, he
immediately began working on the completion of the Con-
tadora groups intention. Together with the presidents of
Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras he wor-
ked on a new peace plan which was finally signed in Au-
gust this year. In principle, this plan is based on the same
ideas as the Contadora plan, but the proposals are more
definite. They are based on, among other things, a con-
curred ceasefire in the civil war in Nicaragua, El Salvador
and Guatemala, an amnesty for all guerrilla soldiers, the
abolition of the state of emergency, the release of political
prisoners and the establishment of freedom of the press
and a democratic form of government.
Nuclear arms kill many people all at once, but other weapons kill many people,
little by little, every day, everywhere in the world.
It is time that the international financial community reward not only those whose
spending is orderly, as it had done till now, but also those whose spending is ethical.
"War, and the preparation of war, are the two greatest obstacles to human progress.
The poor of the world are crying out for schools and doctors, not guns and generals."
History has not been made by the men who pre-
dicted failure, who renounced their dreams, who
abandoned their principles, who allowed laziness to
stultify their intelligence. Those who at times have
fought for human triumphs in solitude have always
been accompanied by the spirit of their peoples, by
the faith and destiny of many generations.
77
Oscar Arias Sanchez's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
Peace consists, very largely, in the fact of desiring it with
all ones soul. The inhabitants of my small country, Costa
Rica, have realised those words by Erasmus. Mine is an
unarmed people, whose children have never seen a fighter
or a tank or a warship. One of my guests at this award,
here with us today, is Jos Figueres Ferrer, the man with
the vision to abolish my countrys armed forces in 1948,
and thus set our history on a new course.
I receive this prize as one of the 400 million Latin Ame-
ricans who, in the return to liberty, in the exercise of de-
mocracy, are seeking the way to overcome so much
misery and so much injustice. I come from that Latin Ame-
rica whose face is deeply marked with pain, the record of
the exile, torture, imprisonment and death of many of its
men and its women. I come from that Latin American re-
gion where totalitarian regimes still exist which put the
whole of humanity to shame.
I accept this prize as one of the 27 million Central Ame-
ricans. Behind the democratic awakening in Central Ame-
rica lies over a century of merciless dictatorships and
general injustice and poverty. The choice before my little
America is whether to suffer another century of violence,
or to achieve peace by overcoming the fear of liberty. Only
peace can write the new history.
We in Central America will not lose faith. We shall set hi-
story right. How sad that they would have us believe that
peace is a dream, justice utopian, shared well-being im-
possible! How sad that there should be people in the world
who cannot understand that in the former plantations of
Central America, nations are asserting themselves and stri-
ving, with every right, for better destinies for their people!
How sad that some cannot see that Central America does
not want to prolong its past, but to create a new future,
with hope for the young and dignity for the old!
...My country is a country of teachers...we closed the army
camps, and our children go with books under their arms,
not with rifles on their shoulders. We believe in dialogue, in
agreement, in reaching consensus. We reject violence...we
believe in convincing our opponents, not defeating them.
We prefer raising the fallen to crushing them, because we
believe that no one possesses the absolute truth.
Oscar Arias Sanchez's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
...Education in my country has been compulsory and
free for 118 years. Health care now extends to every ci-
tizen, and housing for the people is a basic aim of my
Government.
...In these years of bitterness in Central America, many
people in my country are afraid that, driven by minds di-
seased and blinded by fanaticism, the violence in the re-
gion may spread to Costa Rica. Some have given way to
the fear that we would have to establish an army to keep
violence away from our borders. What senseless weak-
ness! Such ideas are worth less than the thirty pieces of
silver handed to Judas. Costa Ricas fortress, the
strength which makes it invincible by force, which
makes it stronger than a thousand armies, is the power
of liberty, of its principles, of the great ideals of our civi-
lization. When one honestly lives up to ones ideas,
when one is not afraid of liberty, one is invulnerable to
totalitarian blows.
...I receive this award as one of the five presidents who
have pledged to the world the will of their peoples to ex-
change a history of oppression for a future of freedom; a
history of hunger for a destiny of progress; the cry of mo-
thers and the violent death of youths for a hope, a path of
peace which we wish to take together.
...Fear of nuclear war, the horrors of what we have heard
about the nuclear end of the world, seems to have made
us uncaring about conventional war. Memories of Hiro-
shima are stronger than memories of Vietnam! How wel-
come it would be if conventional weapons were treated
with the same awe as the atom bomb! How welcome it
would be if the killing of many little by little, everyday, was
considered just as outrageous as the killing of many all at
once! Do we really live in such an irrational world that we
would be more reluctant to use conventional weapons if
every country had the bomb, and the fate of the world
depended on a single madman? Would that make uni-
versal peace more secure? Have we any right to forget
that 78 million human beings killed in the wars of the
twentieth century?
78
BACKGROUND
When 13 colonies in the continent of North America broke from
the British Empire in 1776, a new vision for humanity that conti-
nues to resonate compellingly today was expressed in The De-
claration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain una-
lienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are in-
stituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed.
The people of the colonies succeeded in their revolution against
the British monarchy and in 1787 formed the United States of
America. This became the first nation ever created through a
legal instrument, the Constitution. It created a new model of governance which derives its authority, in principle, from
the governed, and divides duties into three branches: the Executive branch which executes laws and is led by the Pre-
sident, the Judiciary which administers justice and determines whether laws are in accordance with the Constitution,
and the Legislative branch made up of elected officials of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It even affirms
semi-autonomous powers in the various states that make up the unified country, now numbering 50, which also claim
significant power. Significantly, the Constitution attempts to create checks and balances of power so that no branch
can become too strong. In addition to ensuring checks on power, the system attempts to balance a diverse array of
interests that may vary across country. This might appear inefficient at times, but these checks have helped shape a
creative, free and exceptionally wealthy society.
The USAs history has proven to be rocky road starting with a burst of revolutionary inspiration to the present day. For
when it began, slavery was accepted and women only dreamed of political enfranchisement. A bloody Civil War was
fought in the 1860s to end slavery but Civil Rights Laws that ensured full political participation for all were only enac-
ted in the 1960s. America has still not had a woman head of state and the indigenous peoples who were there when
the Europeans began populating the North American continent in the 16th century could hardly perceive the creation
of America as a blessing of liberty.
The USA is unique in being a nation of immigrants and thus has been called a melting pot where diverse cultures and
races must learn to live in harmony. Everyones ancestors came from far away places and except for those brought in
Women given the right to vote
under the 19th Amendment;
Prohibition era begins
1920
Japanese planes attack naval
base at Pearl Harbor in Ha-
waii, forcing the US to enter
World War II and changing the
course of the war
1941
Racial segregation of schools de-
clared unconstitutional; civil rights
demonstrations begin; Senator
McCarthy is discredited and for-
mally reprimanded by the Senate
1954
Civil Rights Act passes, outla-
wing discrimination against
African-Americans and
women
1964 1929
Stock Market Crash leads to
the Great Depression which
affects the entire world and
lasts over a decade
1945
United Nations Charter signed
in San Francisco, California
1963
March on Washington and Dr
Martin Luther King Jrs I have
a dream speech; President
John F Kennedy assassinated
1968
USA signs Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty;
Robert Kennedy and
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
assassinatedy
THE UNITED STATE
80
BACKGROUND
chains as slaves from Africa, whose offspring constitute about 14 percent of the population of about 315 million, they
came intentionally seeking greater economic, political or religious freedom. More than 15 percent of its current popu-
lation is of Hispanic origin and about 6 percent of its population is Asian American. The Asian Americans community
in particular has the highest educational attainment level and median household income of any group. One need only
look at President Barack Obama and his cabinet to conclude that America looks very much like the entire world. This
might be the countrys greatest strength. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt articulated Americas highest vision for
the world when he committed the USA to full engagement in World War II based on seeking a world founded on four
essential human freedoms. These are freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want,
and freedom from fear. Based on these principles the USA was instrumental in the creation of the United Nations sy-
stem and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It has become the indispensable nation for any major world decision even though it represents less than 5 percent of the
worlds population. Its economic dynamism has demonstrated the value of free markets and its principle of limited ac-
countable government has served as a model for the modern state. Thus it has helped stimulate democratic gover-
nment the world over and brought numerous scientific, cultural, and technological innovations into the modern world.
The spread of television, the Internet, movies, and even the automobile have been led by innovators belonging to the USA.
When America is untrue to its own vision it fails the world. Examples of this include the bloody and domestically
unpopular Vietnam War, the subversion of democratically elected left leaning leaders during the Cold War, the invasion
of Iraq, dehumanizing abuse of prisoners captured in the current war on terrorism, excessive burning of fossil fuels har-
ming the climate, and the continued reliance on the threat to use nuclear weapons.
America continues to demonstrate the industry and enterprise of an emerging nation, combined with a superpowers
willingness to assert its muscle to protect and advance its national interests, sometimes engaging in overreach and ar-
rogance. This combination of qualities has caused the USA to be admired by many for its remarkable accomplishments
and its famous pioneer spirit, while at the same time criticized for the same relentless ambition and unshakeable sense
of entitlement. What US policy of the previous century used to refer to as Manifest Destiny led to its expansive in-
fluence and in many ways made it successful in the first place.
Americas vision of freedom and the principles of a democratic government, by the people and for the people, serve
as an inspiration to people everywhere. Accordingly, America has produced several Nobel Laureates whose notewor-
thy contributions continue to inspire us today.
Paris Peace Accords signed,
ending US involvement in the
Vietnam War
1973
The United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum opens to
the public with Elie Weisel gi-
ving the address
1993
The September 11 terrorist at-
tacks occur, killing thousands
and leading to the War on
Terror; US military forces in-
vade Afghanistan
2001
An Inconvenient Truth is relea-
sed and becomes the highest
grossing documentary in history
2006 1976
Jimmy Carter elected president
1997
The Ottawa Treaty to ban lan-
dmines is opened for signing;
Jody Williams and the Interna-
tional Campaign to Ban Lan-
dmines are awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize
2003
US military forces invade Iraq
2008
Worst financial
crisis since Great
Depression; Obama
becomes President
for two mandates
S OF AMERICA
81
GLOBAL WARMING AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
The terms Global Warming and Global Climate Change refer to the rise in temperature of the planets atmosphere
and oceans. While global climate change can be caused by slight variations in the heat produced by the sun, it
is widely believed that present-day global warming is being caused by the collection of greenhouse gases in the
Earths atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases are the gases produced by human acti-
vities such as pollution, deforestation and the burning of
fossil fuels like petroleum. High concentrations of these
gases create a greenhouse effect by trapping heat underne-
ath the atmosphere instead of allowing it to escape. Al-
though some people still disagree on the cause of the
current global warming, research shows that the rate of
temperature increase over the last 50 years was almost
double the rate of the previous 50.
Global Warming can lead to extreme weather conditions,
rising sea levels, the melting of the polar ice caps, da-
mage to the Earths natural ecosystems and the ex-
tinction of animal and plant species. Some small
island nations are already being affected. In 1988, the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) establi-
shed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), a scientific body that reviews and analyzes the
most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic
information gathered all over the world, relevant to the
understanding of climate change.
At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, The United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was opened for signature. The UNFCCC is an interna-
tional treaty designed to address the "changes in the physical environment or biota resulting from climate
change which have significant deleterious effects on the composition, resilience or productivity of natural and mana-
ged ecosystems or on the operation of socio-economic systems or on human health and welfare.
194 countries are now parties to the Convention although many of its actions are aimed at the larger, industrialized na-
tions, who make a greater contribution to global warming. The United States alone is responsible for 25% of the wor-
lds greenhouse gases. The parties have met every year since 1995 to examine what progress is being made on global
warming and in 1997, they established the Kyoto Protocol, to devise a legally-binding strategy to address the issues
of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. 191 countries have now accepted the Kyoto Protocol. The United
States signed the Protocol in 1998, but the US congress still has refused to accept it.
In 2007, the Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to the IPCC and former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore,
for their work to raise awareness on global climate change. It was the first time the Nobel Prize had been given for work
on an environmental issue and helped to show the world that global warming was just as serious a threat to mankin-
ds safety as poverty or war.
82
Keyw
ord: GREENHOUSE GASES
Any of the atm
ospheric gases that
contribute to the greenhouse effect by
absorbing infrared radiation produced
by solar w
arm
ing of the Earth's sur-
face. They include carbon dioxide
(CO2), m
ethane (CH4), nitrous oxide
(NO2), and w
ater vapor. Although gre-
enhouse gases occur naturally in the
atm
osphere, the elevated levels espe-
cially of carbon dioxide and m
ethane
that have been observed in recent de-
cades are directly related, at least in
part, to hum
an activities such as the
burning of fossil fuels and the defore-
station of tropical forests.
ALBERT ARNOLD GORE, JR.
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. was born on 31 March 1948 in Washington DC to Albert Gore Sr., a U.S. Representative who
later became a Senator from Tennessee and Pauline LaFon Gore, one of the first women to graduate from the presti-
gious Vanderbilt University Law School. Growing up, he would spend part of the year attending school in the capi-
tal and during the holidays, he worked on his family farm in Tennessee.
In 1965, Gore enrolled in Harvard University where he immediately became involved in student government and also
developed an interest in the topic of climate change after taking a course with Professor Roger Revelle, one of the
first scientists to study Global Warming and to measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. After graduating Harvard
with a degree in Government, Al Gore enrolled in the Army and served in the Vietnam War. Despite being morally op-
posed to the conflict, Gore enlisted because he thought it was the best way to help his father, one of the most vocal
anti-war campaigners of the day, in his bid for re-election to the Senate. He served for two years and upon his return
to the States, worked as an investigative journalist before attending Vanderbilt Law School, which he eventually left in
1976 to enter politics. He served as a Representative until 1986 and as a Senator until 1993 when he became Vice
President under Bill Clinton.
Gore was one of the most proactive and outspoken Vice Presidents in US history. He was actively involved in Presi-
dent Clintons decision-making and was the face of many of the administrations efforts to prepare America for the 21st
Century. One of his most famous campaigns was to encourage the use of information technology and he actively pro-
moted legislation to fund an expansion of the Internet and to increase public access to it.
Throughout his political career, Gore spoke out against unjust and unsustainable energy and ecological policies and
practices. One of the first US politicians to make environmental issues a priority, he spearheaded many initiati-
ves to address these issues on a national and global level. In 1992, he published Earth in the Balance, a book ad-
dressing the ecological crises facing the planet and proposing a number of policies to address them. After highly
controversial 2000 presidential election, in which he lost to George W. Bush despite having won the popular vote, Gore
withdrew from active politics and began a new career as a full-time environmental activist.
In the years that followed, Al Gore became one of the worlds most prominent environmental campaigners. He crea-
ted a multimedia slideshow from material he had been compiling for years and embarked on a worldwide speaking tour
to raise awareness about global climate change.
In the year 2006, the world saw the release of An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about Gores ongoing campaign
to bring awareness to the dangerous effects of climate change. The documentary, released in conjunction with a be-
stselling book, sparked renewed discussion all over the world about global climate change and went on to win an
Academy Award for best Documentary Feature. All of the films profits were dedicated to a new campaign to spread
the message about global warming.
The following year, Gore and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change were awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize. The same year, he organised Live Earth, a series of concerts featuring some of the biggest musical acts
in the world, taking place in London, Sydney, Johannesburg, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hamburg and New York to raise global
awareness on climate change.
For their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made
climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed
to counteract such change.
85
1948
Albert Arnold Gore born at Co-
lumbia Hospital for Women in
Washington DC
1965
Meets future wife Mary Eliza-
beth "Tipper" Aitcheson at a
school dance. Enrolls in Har-
vard University
1969
Graduates with honors from
Harvard. Enlists in the US Army
1970
Marries Tipper at Washington's
National Cathedral
Our world faces a true planetary emer-
gency. I know the phrase sounds shrill,
and I know it's a challenge to the moral
imagination.
The scientists are virtually screaming
from the rooftops now. The debate is over! There's no longer any debate in the scientific
community about this. But the political systems around the world have held this at arm's
length because it's an inconvenient truth, because they don't want to accept that it's a
moral imperative.
We sometimes emphasize the danger in a crisis without focusing on the opportunities that
are there. We should feel a great sense of urgency because it is the most dangerous crisis we
have ever faced, by far. But it also provides us with opportunities to do a lot of things we
ought to be doing for other reasons anyway. And to solve this crisis we can develop
a shared sense of moral purpose.
The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the
struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just
as we have only ourselves as allies.
1987
Announces his in-
tention to run for
the presidency
1988
Drops out of the
presidential race
and returns to the
Senate
1992
Reelected to the Se-
nate. Publishes Earth
in the Balance. Be-
comes vice-president
under Bill Clinton
1993
As president of the
Senate, Gore casts
the tie-breaking vote
to pass Clinton's
major economic plan
1996
Clinton and Gore
are reelected
1999
Announces his can-
didacy for the De-
mocratic presidential
nomination
Although he never be-
came President of the
United States, through
his ongoing campaign
to fight global war-
ming, Al Gore may yet
make an impact on the
world that few heads of
state could hope to
match.
86
1971
Sent to Vietnam as an
army journalist
1975
Attends Vanderbilt Uni-
versity Law School
1976
Elected to congress for
the first of four terms
1982
Introduces a comprehen-
sive arms control propo-
sal in Congress. Declares
his Senate candidacy
1984
Elected to the Senate
Legacy Legacy
Despite a lifetime spent serving his country, in the military and in the political arena, the legacy of Albert Arnold
Gore Jr is now starting to be measured on a more global scale.
Al Gore was one of the first US politicians to show an active concern on the matter of Global Climate Change, even
before it became a popular topic of discussion. Throughout his adult life, he has researched the subject and tried
to bring it to the attention of his colleagues, his fellow Americans and the world at large.
Through his books, his international speaking tour and his documentary An Inconvenient Truth, Gore has cam-
paigned relentlessly to raise awareness of a problem that affects everyone on earth yet, before his involvement,
received surprisingly little attention.
Though many people have disagreed with his findings, Al Gore has still succeeded in bringing Global Climate
Change to the forefront of the international agenda, where it belongs, and he may one day be remembered as the
face of the movement that helped to save the planet.
THE CONNECTION
AL GORE & ROBERT REDFORD
AL GORE BECAME INTERESTED IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHILE STUDYING AT UNIVERSITY AND DURING HIS TIME IN PO-
LITICAL OFFICE, FOUGHT TO PUSH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS TO THE FRONT OF THE POLITICAL AGENDA. AFTER RE-
TIRING FROM POLITICS, GORE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO RAISING GLOBAL AWARENESS OF SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES, ESPECIALLY GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.
ROBERT REDFORD WAS FIGHTING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT LONG BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR FOR HOLLYWOOD STARS TO
DO SO. AND UNLIKE MANY WHO CAME AFTER HIM, HE DID MOST OF HIS CAMPAIGNING WITHOUT THE CAMERAS ROLLING.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW MUCH REDFORD HAS ACHIEVED IN HIS YEARS AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTIVIST BUT THE ESTEEM IN WHICH HE IS HELD BY ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS ALL
OVER THE WORLD AND THE MULTITUDE OF AWARDS AND HONORS HE HAS WON FOR HIS WORK ARE AN INDICATION. AND
THEN, OF COURSE, THERE IS THE 1.7-MILLION-ACRE (7,571 SQ KM) GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT
IN UTAH, WHICH REDFORD FOUGHT FOR OVER TWO DECADES TO KEEP OUT OF COMMERCIAL HANDS.
DESPITE THEIR VERY DIFFERENT STYLES OF ACTIVISM, ONE WITH HIS EYE-CATCHING MULTIMEDIA SPECTACLE AND
ONE WITH HIS TENACIOUS, GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY, THE TWO MEN ARE TWO OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL ENVI-
RONMENTALISTS THE UNITED STATES HAS EVER PRODUCED AND THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN
THE FUTURE OF OUR PLANET.
2000
Gore loses one of the closest
and most disputed elections in
US history
2002
Announces he will not run in
2004. He criticizes Bush for the
war in Iraq. Begins his global
speaking tour on Climate Change
2006
An Inconvenient Truth is released;
the following year it wins the Oscar
for best documentary and the Sir
David Attenborough award for ex-
cellence in nature filmmaking
2007
Gore organizes Live Earth con-
certs; he is awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize
87
ROBERT REDFORD
Charles Robert Redford Jr was born on 18 August 1936 in Santa Monica, California. He attended Van Nuys High
School and the University of Colorado. After a trip to Europe as a young man sparked his interest in the arts, he went
on to study painting at the Pratt Institute and took classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York
City. While living in New York, Redford embarked on his acting career, appearing in several popular TV shows and on
the Broadway stage in plays like Norman Krasnas Sunday in New York (1961) and Neil Simons Barefoot in the Park
(1963). His success on Broadway launched his film career as he landed starring roles in movies like Inside Daisy Clo-
ver (1965) and Sydney Pollacks This Property is Condemned (1966) opposite Natalie Wood and, reprising his most fa-
mous stage role, in the 1967 film version of Barefoot in the Park with Jane Fonda.
Despite his success, Redford felt that he was being typecast because of looks and began to choose his films very ca-
refully, waiting for the right role. He knew he had found the part he was looking for when he was offered the chance to
star in 1969s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with acting legend Paul Newman. The movie was a huge financial
success and helped secure Redfords status as one of the top leading men of his day. Redford went on to star in some
of the most iconic films of the next two decades, including The Candidate (1972), The Way We Were (1973), The Sting
(1973), again with Paul Newman, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and saw Redford nominated for Best
Actor. Redford also starred in The Great Gatsby (1974), The Great Waldo Pepper (1975), Three Days of the Condor
(1975), All the President's Men (1976), A Bridge Too Far (1970), The Natural (1984) and Out of Africa (1985), another
Best Picture winner. Redford also began a successful career behind the camera. He co-produced All The Presidents
Men, the true story about how journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein exposed the Watergate Scandal. In 1980,
his first effort as a director, Ordinary People, won him the Academy Award for Best Director. He went on to direct se-
veral successful and critically acclaimed films like The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), A River Runs Through It (1992), Quiz
Show(1994), The Horse Whisperer (1998) and The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000). He also produced independent films
all over the world, like Brazils Central Station (2000) and the Che Guevara biopic, The Motorcycle Diaries (2004).
Redfords commitment to independent cinema led him to create the Sundance Film Festival. This annual event is
now the most important independent film festival in the world, allowing independent filmmakers to show their work at
a high-profile event. Sundance has helped to launch the careers of award-winning directors like Quentin Tarantino, Paul
Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, Darren Aronofsky, and Jim Jarmusch.
Redford is also known for his political activism and has campaigned for years for the rights of Native Americans, the
arts and especially environmentalism. Although generally liberal in his politics, he has lent his support to both demo-
cratic and republican politicians whose policies match his own personal convictions, particularly on environmental issues.
He won many awards for his film and environmental work, including the 1989 Audubon Medal Award, the 1987 United
Nations Global 500 Award, the 1993 Earth Day International Award and the 1994 Nature Conservancy Award. He
was awarded the 1997 National Medal for the Arts by President Clinton and the 2001 Freedom in Film Award. In
2001 he also received an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2004 he received the Forces for Nature Li-
fetime Achievement Award from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In 2005, Redford was presented with
the Kennedy Center Honors for distinguished achievement in the performing arts and in recognition of his extraordinary
contributions to the life of his country. In 2007, Time magazine named Redford a Hero of the Environment and in
2009, Redford was awarded the Duke LEAF Award for his contribution to environmental issues through fine arts.
"I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of
our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?"
I am not a left-wing person. I'm just a person interested in the sustainability of my country.
Political activism has been a part of my life and part of the films I try to make. But we
don't focus on any one theme or another. We don't take any ideological stance. I'm anti-ideo-
logy. Our work tries to transcend politics. Whatever side you're on, we try to show stories
from every part of the country, and so 'red state, blue state' doesn't mean a whole lot to us.
89
THE CAMP DAVID PEACE ACCORDS
When he entered the White House in January 1977,
Jimmy Carter began to revive the Middle East peace
process which had started in 1973 after the Yom Kippur
War. He decided to take a multilateral approach to the
process, meeting with the leaders of Egypt, Israel, Jor-
dan and Syria all within the first year of his presidency.
In November of that year, Egyptian President Anwar
El Sadat surprised the world by flying to Jerusalem to
meet with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. At
the time, this was a monumental act as no leader of
an Arab nation had ever paid a visit to Israel before,
since they all refused to recognize it as a nation. It
also marked the first peace process ever having
been established between Israel and an Arab nation.
In September 1978, Begin and Sadat flew to the
United States to engage in secret peace talks. For
13 days, the two leaders and their representatives
held intense negotiations at Camp David, the
country retreat of the President of the United Sta-
tes. President Carter helped to mediate the politi-
cal process and his determination that neither
side would leave until an agreement was reached
was a major reason for the success of the talks.
The Camp David Peace Accords were signed on
September 17, 1978 by President Sadat and Prime Minister
Begin in Washington, DC and witnessed by President Carter. The Ac-
cords won Sadat and Begin the 1978 Nobel Peace Prize and led to the 1979 Egypt-
Israel Peace Treaty. Unfortunately, they also made Sadat a very unpopular figure at home and
around the Arab nations, resulting in his assassination in October 1981 by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad.
Keyw
ord: CAM
P DAVID Cam
p David is the country retreat of the presi-
dent of the United States. It is located in w
oo-
ded hills about 62 m
iles (100 km
)
north-northw
est of W
ashington, DC, in Catoctin
M
ountain Park near Thurm
ont, M
aryland. It w
as
originally built during the 1930s as a cam
p for
federal governm
ent agents and their fam
ilies. In
1942, it w
as converted to a presidential retreat
by Franklin D. Roosevelt and renam
ed "Shangri-
La" (for the fictional Him
alayan paradise). Cam
p
David received its present nam
e from
Dw
ight D.
Eisenhow
er, in honor of his father and grandson,
both nam
ed David. Cam
p David is not open to
the general public. Catoctin M
ountain Park does
not indicate the location of Cam
p David on its
official park m
aps due to privacy and security
concerns. Every president since Franklin Roosevelt
has m
ade use of Cam
p David.
JAMES EARL (JIMMY) CARTER
James Earl Carter Jr was born on 1
st
October 1924 in the farming town of Plains, Georgia to Lillian Gordy Carter, a re-
gistered nurse and James Carter Sr, a peanut farmer who also served in the Georgia House of Representatives. He was
a gifted student and, after finishing High School in Plains, attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia In-
stitute of Technology. He was later accepted into the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
After graduating from Annapolis in 1946, Carter married Rosalynn Smith and began his navy service. He rose to the
rank of lieutenant and was chosen for the nuclear submarine program. He studied reactor technology and nuclear
physics and served as senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew of the Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine.
When his father died in 1953, Carter resigned his commission and returned to Georgia, where he and Rosalynn ran the
Carter farms and farm supply company. He also served on various county boards. In 1962, he was elected to the Ge-
orgia Senate and served as a state senator until 1966, when he left to run for Governor. After one unsuccessful attempt,
he was elected Governor of Georgia in 1970. Carter was one of the "New Southern Governors", who were far more
moderate than their predecessors, campaigning against racial segregation and the death penalty.
In 1974, Carter announced his candidacy for President of the United States. He won his party's nomination at the 1976
Democratic National Convention and was elected president on November 2, 1976. Despite the serious problems he
inherited with the office, he introduced many bold policies, including a comprehensive energy program, deregu-
lation in energy, transportation and communications, education programs, and major environmental protection
legislation. He is best remembered, however, for his championing of global human rights and his work in resolving con-
flict between nations, especially in the Middle East.
He negotiated the Camp David Peace Accords between Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister
Menachem Begin. He also signed the second Strategic Arms Limitation treaty with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev,
as well as the Panama Canal treaties. His presidency also saw the establishment of diplomatic relations with the
People's Republic of China.
Carter was defeated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election and he returned home to Georgia where he
taught at Emory University and became a prolific author, writing a wide range of books about government, foreign po-
licy, faith, history and even childrens books. In 1982, he and Rosalynn founded the Carter Center, a non-profit orga-
nisation dedicated to the advancement of human rights and the alleviation of unnecessary human suffering. The Carter
Center has done extensive work around the world in the fields of human rights, democracy, conflict resolution and di-
sease eradication. The Carters are also two of the key figures in Habitat for Humanity, a charitable organisation that
builds houses for low-income families.
Carter has also remained very active in international diplomacy, helping the US and the United Nations negotiate with
North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Africa and, of course, the Middle East. Still a man of strong convictions, he has also
openly criticized successive administrations on their practices and policies.
In 2002, Jimi Carter received the Nobel Peace. He still lives in Georgia and remains one of the worlds most respected
voices on diplomacy and human rights.
"for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to
advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.
93
William Bradley Pitt was born on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Jane Etta Hillhouse, a high school
counselor and William Alvin Pitt, who ran a trucking company.
Soon after his birth, the Pitt family moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Brad spent his childhood and teenaged years.
He attended Kickapoo High School, where aside from playing for a number of the schools sports teams, he also de-
bated and acted in school productions. After graduating high school in 1982, Pitt enrolled in the University of Mis-
souri, majoring in journalism. Through his time at university, he maintained his interest in acting, appearing in several
fraternity shows.
In 1986, motivated by his lifelong love of movies and needing only two credits to earn his degree, Pitt dropped out of
University and drove to Los Angeles to try to become an actor. He took acting lessons from the well-known acting
coach Roy London, which he paid for by working odd jobs, like driving a limousine and dressing in a chicken costume
to advertise a chain of Mexican restaurants.
Despite some early struggles and many failed auditions, it was not long before Pitt began to land acting roles. After a
few minor roles in movies, he landed a recurring role in the popular TV drama Dallas. His big break came in 1991 with
a scene-stealing part in the Academy Award-winning Thelma & Louise. This role turned Pitt from a good-looking fill-in
into a rising star. Over the next two decades, he had steadily turned himself into one of Hollywoods most popular and
versatile leading men with dozens of starring roles in a wide range of movies like Kalifornia, Interview With the Vam-
pire, Seven, 12 Monkeys, Fight Club, Snatch, Oceans 11, Mr & Mrs Smith, Babel, The Curious Case of Benjamin But-
ton, Inglorious Basterds and The Tree of Life.
Pitt is also extremely active in humanitarian work. In 2006, Pitt and his partner, the actress Angelina Jolie, established
the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, to help humanitarian causes around the world. The Foundation made donations of $1 mil-
lion each to Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders. In 2007, Pitt and Jolie donated $1 million to
three organisations in the countries of Chad and Sudan dedicated to helping those affected by the crisis in the Darfur
region. In 2009, the Foundation donated $1 million to help Pakistanis displaced by the battle against the Taliban. In 2010
the foundation donated another $1 million to Doctors Without Borders for emergency medical assistance for the vic-
tims of the Haiti earthquake.
Along with his friends and Oceans 11 co-stars George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, and producer Jerry Wein-
traub, Pitt co-founded "Not On Our Watch", an organisation that works to raise awareness and resources to prevent
genocide.
Pitt is also keenly interested in architecture and is involved in several programs building environmentally friendly, low-
cost housing for the poor. In 2006, he founded the Make It Right Foundation, which brought together housing pro-
fessionals in New Orleans to finance and construct 150 sustainable, affordable new homes in New Orleans's Ninth Ward
following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. In 2009, Pitt met with President Barack Obama to discuss the
concept of green housing as a national model and to discuss the possibility of federal backing.
BRAD PITT
THE CONNECTION
JIMMY CARTER & BRAD PITT
SINCE 1984, JIMMY AND ROSALYNN CARTER HAVE BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, BUILDING
HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. EVERY YEAR, THEY LEAD A WORK PROJECT THAT BUILDS HOUSES IN AN AREA THAT
NEEDS THEIR SUPPORT. WITH THE HELP OF VOLUNTEERS, THE JIMMY AND ROSALYNN CARTER WORK PROJECT HAS
BUILT HOUSES IN THE USA, INDIA, SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, SOUTHEAST ASIA AND HAITI.
BRAD PITT IS ALSO INVOLVED IN BUILDING ECO-FRIENDLY, LOW-COST HOUSING. HE FOUNDED THE MAKE IT RIGHT FOUN-
DATION WHICH STARTED A MISSION TO BUILD HOUSES IN NEW ORLEANS FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA. IN 2006,
HE JOINED JIMMY AND ROSALYNN CARTER AS A VOLUNTEER ON THEIR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILDING PROJECT IN
LONAVALA, INDIA.
95
THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN
TO BAN LANDMINES
Unlike most other weapons of war, landmines continue to destroy lives
long after the conflicts of war have ended. Antipersonnel mines and clu-
ster munitions are indiscriminate weapons that injure and kill civilians in
every corner of the globe, every day. They don't recognize ceasefires
and often claim the lives of innocent civilians. They instill fear in com-
munities and are a lethal barrier to development.
Because landmines are designed to be hidden and buried, they are
often untracked and left behind in fields and villages in large numbers.
Landmines can remain active for decades and do not go away until
they are deactivated, cleared, or in the worst-case scenario, detona-
ted by human contact. Landmines deployed as far back as World
Keyw
ord: ANTIPERSONNEL M
INES
A form
of land m
ine designed
for use against hum
ans to in-
jure, not kill, victim
s in order
to increase the logistical (m
o-
stly m
edical) support required
by enem
y forces that encounter
them
. W
hat m
akes them
diffe-
rent from
m
ost anti-tank m
ines
is they are sm
aller size, w
hich
enables large num
bers to be si-
m
ultaneously deployed over a
large area.
Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
96
THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN
TO BAN LANDMINES
War I are still causing death and destruction in parts of Europe and North Africa.
Landmines continue to kill over 20,000 people every year. Around 80 percent of the victims are civilians and most
of them in countries that are no longer at war.
In 1992, six non-governmental organisations including the Human Rights Watch, Medico International, Handicap
International, Physicians for Human Rights, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation and the Mines Advisory
Group, came together to form the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). American educator and aid wor-
ker Jody Williams was the ICBL's founding coordinator and went on to become its heart and its voice. Today, the ICBL
is a global network made up of over 1,400 organisations covering more than 90 countries.
In 1997, Williams and the ICBL were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to bring about the Ottawa Mine
Ban Treaty.
97
JODY WILLIAMS
Jody Williams was born on 9 October 1950 in Brattleboro, Vermont. She spent her school years in Brattleboro, a no-
tably liberal town, where her instincts to protect others was developed by protecting her older brother, who was deaf
and also suffered from schizophrenia, from bullies. She was also involved from an early age with anti-war causes, pro-
testing vocally against the unpopular Vietnam War.
She attended the University of Vermont, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972. In 1976, she earned a Master's De-
gree in Teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language from the School for International Training and then a se-
cond Masters degree in 1984 in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International
Studies in Washington DC.
Williams taught ESL in Mexico, the United Kingdom and Washington DC, before becoming a grocery worker in the Ni-
caragua-Honduras Education Project from 1984 to 1986. She was then appointed deputy director of the Los Angeles-
based "Medical Aid for El Salvador" and held that position until 1992.
During her years of work in Central America, Williams saw firsthand the lasting and devastating effects of landmines
on a country, and in 1991, she began working towards an international effort to clear existing mines and outlaw their
future use. The following year, she became the founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines
(ICBL) and served as its lead spokesperson.
Through her pioneering use of new technologies like the fax machine and eventually email to coordinate and raise
awareness of the campaign, the ICBL grew rapidly from a founding group of just six non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) to a worldwide network of more than 1,400 working together as a single movement.
In 1997, the campaign gained a higher level of recognition through the support of Diana, the Princess of Wales and
later that same year, the organisation achieved one of its main goals with the signing of the Ottawa Treaty, banning an-
tipersonnel landmines. For their monumental work, Williams and the ICBL were awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.
Since 1997, over 150 countries have joined the Ottawa Treaty with only 37 countries, the United States, China
and Russia among them, not yet agreeing to sign.
In 2006, Williams cofounded the Nobel Women's Initiative along with Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta Mench Tum, Shi-
rin Ebadi, Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Betty Williams to use their collective experience to promote peace, justice
and equality. She also led the Human Rights Councils mission to report on human rights abuses in Darfur and assess
how to address them. The resulting report, now known as the Jody Williams Report, was issued in 2007.
Williams now teaches at the University of Houston and continues to serve the ICBL as its Campaign Ambassador.
Today, the organisation continues to lobby for the remaining non-participatory nations to sign the treaty, so that it may
achieve a total worldwide ban on the use of landmines.
"For their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines.
99
Dear Jody,
How did you get started as an activist?
I was in college during the Vietnam War. I was concerned about what was happening in Vietnam so I began to learn
that I could ask questions about foreign policy and try to take action to make a difference.
What is your job relating to landmines?
I actually was one of the people who started the International Campaign to Ban Landmines; in November of 1991 two
organisations asked me if I thought I could bring together non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to do something
about the landmine problem. One of them was in the U.S., the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, and the other
was Medico International, out of Germany. So we were obviously able to call it the International Campaign to Ban Lan-
dmines because we had one in the U.S. and one in
Europe. There was a staff of one; that was me. And
from that rather inauspicious beginning, we've grown
to a global movement that won the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1997.
Has your life changed since winning the Nobel
Peace Prize?
In many ways, yes, and in many ways, no. I don't
believe that I am any more or less important than I
was before. It isn't about me personally, it's about
the amazing work that many of us around the world
have done together to help mine victims. So in that
way, it doesn't affect me. In other ways, obviously,
it gives the campaign and me much higher profiles,
much more credibility, and high access to gover-
nments, which helps us achieve our goals.
Why are landmines so dangerous?
Because no human being monitors their action. The soldier plants the landmine and walks away, and that weapon just
sits and waits for someone to step on it or touch it. It has been called "the perfect soldier". You don't have to feed it,
you don't have to put a uniform on it, you don't have to keep monitoring its activities. It sits and waits for its victims
for up to 100 years. Landmines from World War I and World War II still claim victims from Europe and North Africa today.
Obviously, after the end of the war, every victim is a civilian, a man, a woman, a child trying to live a normal life; instead
they live with daily terror.
1950
Born in in Brattleboro,
Vermont
1972
Graduates from the
University of Vermont
1984
Earns Masters degree in
International Relations
from the Johns Hopkins
School of Advanced In-
ternational Studies; starts
work with the Nicara-
gua-Honduras Education
Project
1992
Becomes the founding
coordinator of the Inter-
national Campaign to
Ban Landmines (ICBL)
with Jody Williams
INTERVIEW
A schoolteacher from a
small town in Vermont,
she became an interna-
tional humanitarian ac-
tivist and, through the
foundation of the Inter-
national Campaign to
Ban Landmines, the dri-
ving force behind the
movement towards a
worldwide ban on anti-
personnel mines.
100
1993
The ICBL holds its First
International NGO
Conference in London
1995
Co-authors After the
Guns Fall Silent:
The Enduring Legacy
of Landmines
1997
Ottawa Treaty is signed,
banning antipersonnel
landmines; Williams and
the ICBL are awarded
1998
Steps down as ICBL
coordinator
1999
Mine Ban Treaty beco-
mes binding internatio-
nal law
What areas in the world are in the most critical need of atten-
tion, in terms of unexploded landmines?
The most mined continent in the world is Africa. The three countries
that are considered to be the most mine contaminated in the world
are Angola, Afghanistan, and Cambodia. Some 70 to 80 countries
in the world today have landmines in them.
How do you clear landmines?
Mine by mine. It's a labour-intensive effort; it's very dangerous in
essence. Mine clearers poke the ground with sticks or a prodder to
try and touch the side of the landmine. And then they dig around it
to reveal what kind of landmine it is, then they either blow it up in
place or sometimes take it to a central place where they blow up
many at the same time.
Has anyone ever objected to your campaign to end landmines?
Yes, when we started every country in the world essentially thought
it was a lovely, crazy, utopian dream. But we captured the public
conscience and generated enough political will by government to
create the mine-ban treaty. It is the first time in history that a con-
ventional weapon used by almost all militaries in the world for a
100 years has been banned.
Why doesn't every government just sign the treaty? Isn't it in
their best interests?
One would think so; 142 countries in the world do think so.
Every country in the Western Hemisphere, except the U.S. and
Cuba, has signed the treaty. All of our NATO allies have signed
the treaty, except the U.S. and Turkey. In Africa, 41 out of [I
think] 47 of the countries on the continent have signed the
treaty. Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and the Philip-
pines have signed the treaty. Countries that have not signed in-
clude the U.S., Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Libya,
Russia, and China.
Legacy Legacy
Jody Williams, as is the case with so many
Nobel Laureates, is proof that one person
can make a difference in the world. A tea-
cher by trade, she has dedicated her life to
helping others. Through education, aid pro-
jects and humanitarian work. She also foun-
ded the International Campaign to Ban
Landmines, an organization that has done
more than any other to establish an interna-
tional ban on the use of anti-personnel lan-
dmines, which not only destroy lives in
wartime but often long after the conflicts
they were intended for have ended.
101
Once they have signed the treaty, what do governments need to do?
The first step is signing; the next step is ratification. So far 122 have ratified. When they ratify, it means that it is legal
in their country, they have to obey it. They have to stop production of the weapon, they have to destroy their stockpi-
les, and obviously they can't use it or export it. And if they are contaminated they need to demine the country.
Why do you think the U.S. hasn't signed?
One of the reasons that they say is it's needed of the Korean peninsula. I don't believe that is the real reason. They are
afraid that it is the beginning of a slide down a slippery slope and maybe others will want to take away other weapons.
But the campaign to ban landmines is about landmines; it is not the campaign to eliminate all weapons in war, which
would be a nice thing, but that is not our goal.
2006
Co-founds the Nobel
Women's Initiative with
fellow female Peace Lau-
reates
2007
Leads the Human Rights
Councils mission to re-
port on human rights
abuses in Darfur; beco-
mes Professor in Peace
and Social Justice at the
University of Houston
2008
Banning Landmines:
Disarmament, Citizen
Diplomacy and Human
Security published
2013
My Name is Jody
Williams: A Vermont
Girls Winding Path to
published
Polite women dont change history.
Militarists say that to gain peace we must prepare for war. I think we get what we prepare
for. If we want a world where peace is valued, we must teach ourselves to believe that
peace is not a utopian vision but a real responsibility that must be worked for each and
every day in small and large ways. Any one of us can contribute to building a world where
peace and justice prevail.
The landmine cannot tell the difference between a soldier or a civilian - a woman, a child,
a grandmother going out to collect firewood to make the family meal
once peace is declared the landmine does not recognize that peace.
The landmine is eternally prepared to take victims.
102
THE CONNECTION
JODY WILLIAMS AND QUEEN NOOR OF JORDAN
HER MAJESTY QUEEN NOOR AL HUSSEIN, DOWAGER QUEEN OF JORDAN AND WIDOW OF ONE OF THE MIDDLE EASTS
MOST PROGRESSIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING RULERS, HAS BECOME, LIKE JODY WILLIAMS, ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST
ACTIVE AND WELL-RESPECTED HUMANITARIAN CAMPAIGNERS. HER ADVOCACY OF THE ICBL IN PARTICULAR HAS PLAYED
AN INVALUABLE PART IN THE RAISING THE CAMPAIGNS PROFILE AND MAKING SURE IT IS INCLUDED IN THE PEACE-BUIL-
DING PROCESS IN REGIONS THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE USE OF LANDMINES IN ARMED CONFLICT. THESE TWO
AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE BECOME THE TWO LOUDEST VOICES IN THE CAMPAIGN TO OUTLAW THESE CRUEL AND INDI-
SCRIMINATE WEAPONS THAT DESTROY MORE LIVES IN PEACETIME THAN IN WAR.
103
Jody Williams with former US President Bill Clinton
HER MAJESTY QUEEN
NOOR OF JORDAN
Queen Noor of Jordan was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby on 23 August 1951 in Washington DC. She is the daughter of Na-
jeeb Halaby, a Syrian-American airline executive and government official, and great-granddaughter of Elias Halaby, one
of the first Syrian immigrants to the United States. She grew up attending prestigious private schools in Washington
DC, New York and Massachusetts, before entering Princeton University in 1969 as a member of its very first coedu-
cational freshman class. She graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urban Planning.
After graduating, Halaby worked on a series of jobs relating to planning and development in the Middle East. In 1977,
while working for Royal Jordanian Airlines as the Director of Facilities Planning and Design, she became friends with
King Hussein of Jordan, who she had first met on a trip to Amman with her father the previous year. Their friendship
developed into a romantic relationship and on June 15, 1978, they were married and Halaby, who converted to Islam
for the marriage, became known as Her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein. The couple had four children together and
remained married until King Hussein died of cancer in 1999.
Queen Noor is a tireless international public servant and activist on issues such as relations between the Middle East
and the West, conflict prevention, refugees, missing persons, poverty and disarmament. Since 1979, the initiatives of
her Noor Al Hussein Foundation have sparked development in Jordan and the Middle East through pioneering pro-
grams in the areas of poverty eradication, sustainable development, women's empowerment, microfinance, he-
alth, environmental conservation, and the arts as a medium for social development and cross-cultural exchange.
She chairs the King Hussein Foundation and the King Hussein Foundation International, founded in 1999 to carry out
her late husband's humanitarian spirit and is also a commissioner of the International Commission on Missing Per-
sons. Queen Noor has assumed a major advocacy role in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and has
traveled to Central and Southeast Asia, the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America to campaign, support
local NGOs and visit with landmine survivors. She has been invited to Colombia on several occasions to try to nego-
tiate a series of humanitarian agreements on landmines, child soldiers and kidnappings with the leaders of the coun-
try's guerilla insurgency and to oversee the destruction of Colombia's arsenal of anti-personnel mines.
She is a founding leader of Global Zero, an international effort to ban nuclear weapons, an advisor to the Nuclear Age
Peace Foundation, Seeds of Peace, the Council of Women World Leaders, Women Waging Peace and the Inter-
national Patron and Honorary Chair of Survivor Corps. She is a board member of Refugees International, President
of the United World Colleges, a board member of the Aspen Institute, Refugees International, America Near East
Refugee Aid and Conservation International, the patron of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and
a Patron of the SOS Children's Villages in Jordan.
Queen Noor has been presented with numerous awards and honorary doctorates in international relations, law, and
humane letters. She received the United Nations Environment Program Global 500 Award for her activism in environ-
mental protection and advocacy and was honoured with the 2009 Global Environmental Citizen Award by Harvard
University's Center for Health and Global Environment. In June 2009, Physicians for Social Responsibility honoured her
with its Healing the Planet Award.
"The sheer folly of trying to defend a nation by destroying all life on the planet must be
apparent to anyone capable of rational thought. Nuclear capability must be reduced to
zero, globally, permanently. There is no other option.
105
MEMORY OF THE RIGHTEOUS VS
A HISTORY OF JEWS DEPORTATIONS AND THE HOLOCAUST
Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in the 1930s by promising to bring glory back to a nation that had been seve-
rely weakened and humiliated by its defeat in World War I. According to Hitler, making Germany strong involved get-
ting rid of those who were weakening it, such as Roma Gypsies, homosexuals, leftists and most of all, the Jews.
106
This was, of course, not an original idea but merely the inevi-
table result of centuries of anti-Semitism in Europe. Ever
since the time of the First Crusade in the 11th Century, Euro-
pean Jews had been subjected to oppression, forced depor-
tations and pogroms. The more marginalised Jewish
communities became, the more they were mistrusted and
feared. Anti-Semitism became ingrained in European culture
and consequently spread across the world. Hitlers political
manifesto, Mein Kampf was heavily influenced by the anti-
Jewish philosophies of revered figures like the German re-
formation leader Martin Luther and the American
industrialist Henry Ford.
After Hitler seized power, Jews, in Germany and later
across Nazi-occupied Europe were confined to ghettoes
and then deported to extermination camps like Au-
schwitz, Treblinka and Belzecand, where they would
be killed in the gas chambers, forced into labour or used
for medical experimentation. Anything of value that they
possessed from the art in their homes down to the
gold in their teeth would be stolen by the Nazis and
their bodies would then be incinerated or dumped into unmarked mass
graves. The intention was not just to kill them but also to completely erase any trace
of their existence.
During the same time, the Nazis were also using the death industry they had built to kill non-Jews. Many of the peo-
ple that Hitler had declared as undesirable as well as Poles, Soviet prisoners of war, Serbs, Slavs, Freemasons, Je-
hovahs Witnesses, the mentally or physically disabled and non-Europeans, also died in the camps.
Almost six million Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust and another 5 million non-Jews were also estima-
ted to have died.
We are still counting the human cost of the Holocaust and several organisations around the world are working to give
names and faces to the staggering numbers of victims and to preserve the memory of those who lost their lives.
Yad Vashem, established in Jerusalem as the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, archives
photographs, documents, personal testimony and audio and video recordings to recognise and commemorate the
lives of as many of them as it can. It also honours the actions of non-Jews who risked their lives or freedom to
save others.
Projects like the one started by Steven Spielbergs Shoah Foundation record the testimony of survivors, providing
invaluable first-hand accounts of the events and showing their lasting effects, even on those who managed to escape
with their lives.
Scores of other museums, institutions and memorials around the world are each doing their part to foster awareness,
understanding and tolerance, which is essential in ensuring that the legacy of the millions of victims will prevent so-
mething as evil as this from ever occurring again.
Keyw
ord: THE HOLOCAUST
The Holocaust represents a period of
tim
e in w
hich the system
atic killing
of Jew
s by the Nazi regim
e during
W
orld W
ar II occurred. M
illions of
Jew
ish m
en, w
om
en and children
from
all over Europe w
ere m
urdered
in Adolf Hitlers attem
pt to elim
i-
nate anyone that didnt fit his vi-
sion of a New
Order. It is one of
the w
orst genocides in history and
the first tim
e a w
hole industry w
as
created w
ith the sole purpose of
annihilating a people.
107
ELIE WIESEL
Eliezer Wiesel was born on 30 September 1928 in Sighet, Romania to a Hasidic Jewish family. As a child, Wiesel stu-
died literature with his father Shlomo and religion with his mother Sarah.
In 1940, Romania lost Sighet to Hungary as part of the Second Vienna Award, orchestrated by the Nazis and in May
of 1944, Hungarian authorities allowed the Nazi deportation of the entire Jewish community, including Wiesel, his pa-
rents and his three sisters, Hilda, Beatrice and Tzipora, to the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland.
Sarah and Tzipora were immediately killed in the gas chambers but Eliezer and his father were transferred to Buna, the
work camp. Eliezer and Shlomo managed to stay together for eight months, even as the two were moved between other
various concentration camps. Finally, in January of 1945 they were marched to the Buchenwald camp in Germany,
where Shlomo eventually died. Eliezer was freed when Buchenwald was liberated by the US Army in April and was reu-
nited with his two surviving sisters at an orphanage in France.
After the war, Wiesel remained in France and after studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, worked as a teacher before be-
coming a professional journalist, writing for newspapers in Israel and France. For ten years, he refused to write or
speak about what had happened to him and his family during the Holocaust. He had lost his faith in God and in man-
kind and needed time to come to terms with his experiences. In 1954, he wrote a 900-page memoir, in Yiddish, about
his time in the camps with his father, which he called And the World Remained Silent. The manuscript was eventually
edited to 245 pages and released by a small publisher in Buenos Aires in 1955.
His friend Francois Mauriac, the 1952 Nobel Laureate in Literature, eventually convinced him to try to rewrite the book
for a wider audience. Finding a publisher proved very difficult, as many people were still very much in denial about the
atrocities of the war but the rewritten book, now just 178 pages, was eventually published in France in 1958 as La Nuit.
Two years later, an even shorter version was published in the USA entitled Night.
Night sold very slowly at first but attracted the attention of reviewers and other authors. It has gained more acceptance
over the years and has now sold over six million copies in the Unites States alone, has been translated into over 30
languages and is regarded as one of the most important works of Holocaust Literature, along with Anne Frank's
Diary of a Young Girl and Primo Levi's If This Is a Man.
In 1955, Wiesel moved to the United States for work and became a naturalized American. He continued to write and
published Dawn in 1961 and Day in 1962. Both novels told of experiences in World War II, life in the post war, and drew
heavily on his original writings in And the World Remained Silent.
Wiesel went on to publish more than 40 books, many of them either autobiographical or semi-autobiographical, about
his life, his political activism, his extensive travels and the Jewish people. Among these books include The Jews of Si-
lence (1965), highlighting the oppression he found in the Soviet Union after traveling there, and A Beggar in Jerusalem
(1970), which highlights the Six-Day War between Israel and the Arab Nations. Despite being considered by some as
a controversial figure, all of Wiesel's writings carry with them an underlying message of peace, freedom and equality.
He also kept his passion for teaching and in 1972, became the Professor of Humanities at the City University of New
York. In 1976, he was appointed Professor of Humanities at Boston University, a position he holds to this day.
These days, Wiesel is known as much as a political activist as he is as a writer. Together with his wife, Marion, he star-
ted the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. He served as chairman for the US Holocaust Memorial Council from
1978 to 1986, and campaigned for the creation of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.
Over the years, he has spoken out on Holocaust denial, oppression of Soviet and Ethiopian Jews, Apartheid in South
109
Africa, the Desaparecidos
in Argentina and the crisis
in Darfur. He has been par-
ticularly vocal on the sub-
ject of genocide, not just of
the Jews during World War
II but also of Miskito In-
dians in Nicaragua, Bo-
snians in the former
Yugoslavia, the Kurds and
the Armenian Genocide of
World War I.
In 1986, Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "practical work in
the cause of peace" and his lifelong campaign against violence, repression,
and racism. He has also been honored with numerous prizes including The
1985 Congressional Gold Medal and The International Center in New York's
Award of Excellence. In 1996, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts
and Letters. In 2006, he received an honorary knighthood in recognition of his
work in promoting Holocaust education in the United Kingdom. He has also
received over 100 honorary degrees from universities all over the world. Now
in his 80s, he continues to travel, write and speak, warning the world of the
horrors of persecution.
"with his message and through his practical work in the case of peace, is a convincing spo-
kesman for the view of mankind and for the unlimited humanitarianism which are at all
times necessary for a lasting and just peace.
A "messenger to
mankind," Elie
Wiesel has spent
the last fifty years
giving voice to
the oppressed
and working for
peace and justice
throughout the
world.
1928
Born in Sighet, Romania
1940
The Wiesel family be-
come residents of Hun-
gary after the Second
Vienna Award
1944
The Wiesel family, along
with 440,000 Hungarian
Jews, are deported to
concentration camps.
Elie Wiesels mother and
two sisters are killed in
the gas chambers
1945
His father Shlomo dies in
Buchenwald, Elie Wiesel
is freed when US forces
liberate the camp
Legacy Legacy
As a writer, educator and politi-
cal activist, Elie Wiesels work
has been instrumental in tea-
ching the world about the perils
of oppression and persecution.
A survivor of the Nazi death
camps of World War II, his trilogy
of books, Night, Dawn and Day,
helped to give a voice to a
human tragedy too large for
many people to comprehend
and too horrific for many to ac-
cept. His first-hand experience
of the monstrosity of the Holo-
caust has lent weight to his cam-
paign for peace and freedom for
all people.
Wiesel has dedicated the rest of
his life to speaking out against
oppression, discrimination and
violence wherever it occurs, len-
ding his voice and his pen to the
millions of victims who are not
allowed to speak for themselves.
1960
Night published in the
United States
1965
Wiesel traveled to the
USSR and writes The
Jews of Silence
1969
Marries Marion Erster
Rose, another Holocaust
survivor
1972
Appointed professor of
Humanity at City Univer-
sity of New York
1976
Appointed professor of
Humanity at Boston Uni-
versity
110
I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe so-
mething to the dead. And anyone who does not remember betrays them again.
I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and hu-
miliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Si-
lence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are
wrong. Only racists make them.
The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death,
it's indifference.
1948
Attends the Sorbonne in
Paris
1949
Visits Jerusalem for the
first time
1954
Wiesel writes And The
World Remained Silent
1955
Moves to New York.
And The World Remai-
ned Silent published in
Argentina
1958
La Nuit published in
France
THE CONNECTION
ELIE WIESEL & STEVEN SPIELBERG
ELIE WIESEL DREW UPON HIS OWN EXPERIENCES TO WRITE ONE OF THE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNTS OF THE HORRORS OF THE
HOLOCAUST AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE WORLD STANDS BY AND DOES NOTHING. SEVEN SPIELBERG USED HIS
STATUS AS THE WORLDS MOST POPULAR FILMMAKER TO TELL THE STORY OF THE HOLOCAUST TO A NEW GENERATION
AND SHOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE CAN BE MADE WHEN JUST ONE PERSON CHOOSES TO TAKE ACTION. THESE TWO STO-
RYTELLERS SHARE THE LEGACY OF ENSURING THE WORLD NEVER FORGETS ONE OF THE SADDEST CHAPTERS IN ITS HI-
STORY IN THE HOPE THAT NOTHING LIKE IT EVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
1978
Chairman of the US Holocaust
Memorial Council
1985
Wins the Congressional Gold
Medal
1986
Receives Nobel Peace Prize.
Establishes the Elie Wiesel
Foundation
1993
Speaks at the opening of the
United States Holocaust Memo-
rial Museum
111
STEVEN SPIELBERG
Considered the most popular and influential filmmaker of the 20th century and celebrated as both an artist and a hu-
manitarian, Steven Spielberg is a director, producer, and screenwriter who can captivate an audience like nobody else
while telling them stories of adventure, imagination, tragedy and hope.
Steven Allan Spielberg was born December 18, 1946 in Cincinnati, Ohio to an Orthodox Jewish family. Ever since he
was a child, Spielberg knew that all he wanted to do is make movies. At the age of 12 he made an 8mm short film cal-
led The Last Gunfight. At 13, he won a prize for a 40-minute war film set in East Africa entitled Escape to Nowhere. At
16, he wrote and directed his first feature-length film, Firelight, a science-fiction adventure which he made on a bud-
get of $500. The film was shown at a local cinema and made back its budget, plus a profit of $1.
After directing several episodes of TV shows, Spielberg signed a deal to direct made-for-TV movies for Universal Stu-
dios. The first of these was the tense thriller Duel in 1971, which was so well received that it went on to be released in
cinemas. After directing 1974s The Sugarland Express, Spielberg was offered the chance to direct the movie adapta-
tion of a bestselling novel about a killer shark. Jaws (1975) was Spielbergs first big-budget project and went on to be
a huge hit, setting the domestic box-office record and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Spielbergs next project was Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This 1977 science fiction classic, partially inspired by
Spielbergs childhood short film Firelight, was another enormous financial success and Spielberg was officially the hot-
test talent in Hollywood.
Over the following years, Spielberg went on to make some of the most successful and iconic films in history, including
Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Jurassic Park. Despite his success, the popular appeal of his early
movies led some critics to question his status as a serious filmmaker. Spielberg proved his critics wrong by directing films
like The Color Purple (1985) and Schindler's List (1993), Amistad (1997) and Saving Private Ryan (1998), winning two Aca-
demy Awards for Best Director and one for Best Picture along the way. DreamWorks, the company he co-created, has
also produced many award-winning films, such as American Beauty, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind and Shrek.
Spielberg is also an active supporter of certain political and humanitarian causes. He used the profits from Schin-
dlers List to set up the Shoah Foundation, a non-profit organisation that archives filmed testimony of Holocaust sur-
vivors. He is a longtime advocate of gay rights, resigning as a member of the national advisory board of the Boy Scouts
of America in 2001 over its policy of barring homosexuals and supporting the campaign against the banning of same-
sex marriage in California in 2008. Spielberg also quit as an advisor to the Beijing Olympics in protest at the Chinas
role in Darfur.
Spielberg has received numerous awards for his body of work. Aside from his three Academy Awards, he was awar-
ded the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award in 1995 and has been given honorary knighthoods by the
United Kingdom, Italy and France. In 1998 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit with Ribbon of the Federal Re-
public of Germany.
I've always been very hopeful which I guess isn't strange coming from me. I don't want to
call myself an optimist. I want to say that I've always been full of hope. I've never lost that.
I have a lot of hope for this country and for the entire world.
I don't think any movie or any book or any work of art can solve the stalemate in the
Middle East today. But it's certainly worth a try.
113
Kim Phuc is today married with two children and lives with her husband in Toronto. Having become a UNESCO
Goodwill Ambassador she encourages youth worldwide to get involved in peace making activities.
VIETNAM WAR
Of all the Cold War-era conflicts the United States was involved in, none had a more profound effect on the na-
tion than the Vietnam War. It was perhaps the first war that the US Government was unable to present to its peo-
ple as necessary to protect American interests and, in spite of its great human and economic cost, it was the first
war that America had lost in its young history.
The Vietnam War started in the pattern of many global conflicts of the late 20th Century, with the United States
and the Communist Bloc exercising their influence behind the scenes to influence the affairs of a third country.
What made the Vietnam War different from most other conflicts is the fact that the USA committed hundreds of
thousands of its own troops to a war effort that was doomed to failure from the start.
Ho Chi Minh founded the Communist Party in Vietnam in 1930 and was a popular and influential leader, having
battled invasions by Japan during World War II and France afterwards. After years of internal conflict, Vietnam was
divided into North and South at the 1954 Geneva Conference. North Vietnam remained the communist Democratic
Republic of Vietnam, recognized by the USSR and China, and South Vietnam became a separate republic and an
ally of the Western countries.
A few years later, North Vietnam began an insurgency in the South, with the clear intention of unifying Vietnam
under communist rule. Eventually, the South Vietnamese government was overthrown and the USA, with the me-
mory of the Korean War still fairly fresh and desperate not to lose another Asian country to communism, soon
changed its strategy from just sending economic aid to committing hundreds of thousands of American combat
troops to fight another countrys civil war.
The US authorities thought they would be able to overwhelm the Vietnamese with superior force and weaponry,
but American soldiers soon found themselves not only battling the advancing North Vietnamese Army but also
engaged in a brutal ground war in an unfamiliar environment with Southern Vietnamese communist guerillas, who
came to be known as the Viet Cong.
The Vietnam War was extremely unpopular in the United States and generated a level of national debate the coun-
try had never seen before. Many Americans, especially the generation of young people who had grown up after
World War II, were beginning to question the actions of their leaders and were demanding to know why they were
forced to fight and die for a country on the other side of the planet with no connection to America. Not only was
the Government unable to convince them that the war was justified but for the first time in its history, it didnt even
seem that the USA was the good guy in the conflict. There were mass demonstrations in streets and school cam-
puses all across the country and many prominent artists, writers and musicians lent their voices to the cause. The
Government met the anti-war protests the same way it met many of the Civil Rights protests with force. Police
and National Guardsmen crushed demonstrations with batons and tear gas and fire hoses and in some tragic
cases, with bullets.
American authorities tried to downplay the protests as the actions of a few unpatriotic hippies and communist
sympathizers but what they could not hide from the public was the news coming back from the battlefields. The
Vietnam War was the first conflict the US had been involved in that had extensive media coverage and the horri-
fic images sent back of wounded and dead Americans and Vietnamese shocked the public and gave the prote-
sters added motivation.
After several years of bloody conflict, which claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American soldiers and mil-
lions of Vietnamese combatants and civilians, a cease fire between the USA and North Vietnamese forces was
negotiated by American National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho of the Hanoi government in a
series of meetings in Paris in 1973. For their efforts, they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, making them two
of the most controversial winners in the awards history.
If there was one photograph that captured the horrific nature of the Vietnam war, it was the picture taken in 1972 of nine year
old girl Kim Phuc, running naked down a road, screaming in agony after her village in the Central Highlands of Vietnamwas
sprayed with the chemical weapon napalm. Although the photographer Nick Ut helped save Kim Phucs life by taking
her to hospital, it would take many years and several operations before she would be able to get on with life.
HENRY ALFRED KISSINGER
Heinz Alfred Kissinger was born to a Jewish family on May 27, 1923 in Furth, Germany. In 1938, the family moved to
New York, fleeing Nazi persecution. His school years were spent in Washington Heights in Manhattan, the site of one
of New Yorks most notable Jewish immigrant communities. He settled quickly into his new life as an American citizen
although he never lost his famous accent, which became his trademark for the rest of his life.
After finishing high school, which he attended at night because he worked in a factory all day, Kissinger attended City
College of New York, where he studied accounting. In 1943, Kissinger was drafted into the army, temporarily interrupting
his studies. Because of his obvious intellect and his background, Kissinger was soon transferred to the military intel-
ligence division. Many of his assignments involved the de-Nazification of German cities and the restoration of ci-
vilian rule during the American militarys advancement into the country. Because of his outstanding service, Kissinger
was awarded a Bronze Star.
When he returned to the United States, he continued his education, enrolling in Harvard University where he excel-
led, earning his BA, MA and PhD in foreign relations and eventually joining the faculty as a professor in the Department
of Government. During his time at Harvard, Kissinger developed a reputation as one of Americas foremost authorities
on international affairs. He published many books and papers on the subject and was made a consultant to many go-
vernment advisory committees, including the US State Department and the National Security Council.
Eventually, he left Harvard to have more of an influence on US foreign policy and in 1969, President Richard Nixon
appointed him as his National Security Adviser and later, Secretary of State, a position he also held under President
Gerald Ford.
As the face of US foreign policy from 1969 to 1977, Kissingers legacy remains the subject of much debate because
of the events that occurred in that period. Many people regard him as the man who approved the US bombings of Cam-
bodia during the Vietnam War, which may have worsened a costly civil war in that country which ended up costing mil-
lions of lives. Further, his critics site him as the leading authority on the US support of Indonesias invasion of East Timor,
which led to the death of hundreds of thousand of civilians. During his time in office, the US was also involved in bloody
revolutions in places such as Chile, Argentina and Mozambique.
At the same time, many of Kissingers policies were very moderate and progressive. He negotiated an end to the Yom
Kippur War and was instrumental in reduction of hostilities between Egypt and Israel. He also oversaw the US policy
of detente, which eased the tensions between the US and the communist powers, which had been threatening to
erupt into war a few years before his appointment. He also negotiated the opening of China to the West and pushed
trough the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks I agreements with the Soviet Union. In 1973, along with North Vietna-
mese foreign minister Le Duc Tho, Kissinger engineered the Vietnam Peace Accord, which led to the US withdrawal
from that country, for which they were awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize.
Despite having withdrawn from an active role in government, Kissinger still works as a high-level consultant and re-
mains one of the most experienced and respected minds on the subject of international affairs.
Kissinger has received many national and international awards. In 1977, he was presented with the Presidential Medal
of Freedomby President Gerald Ford. In 1995, he received an honorary knighthood by the United Kingdom. In 2000,
he was awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. In 2005, Kissin-
ger was awarded a Gold Medal at the annual Queen Sofia Spanish Institute Gold Medal Gala. In 2006, Kissinger re-
ceived the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from the Woodrow Wilson Center of the Smithsonian Institution.
In 2007, he received the Hopkins-Nanjing Award for his contributions towards reestablishing ChineseAmerican re-
lations and in 2011, he was honored by the American Council on Germany with a McCloy Lifetime Achievement
Award for his contribution to transatlantic relations.
Whose joint efforts brought the ceasefire accord on January 23 of this year.
117
1969
Served as Assistant to
President Nixon for Na-
tional Security Affairs
and became the head of
the National Security
Council. Helped plan
the US bombing of Cam-
bodia and opened d-
tente with Soviet Union
1972
Helped negotiate the
SALT I agreements with
the Soviet Union and de-
veloped rapprochement
with China
1973
Sworn in as the 56th Se-
cretary of State. Initiated
Vietnam cease-fire pact
which lead to the US wi-
thdrawal. He was awarded
Nobel Peace Prize join-
tly with North Vietna-
mese foreign minister L
c Th for negotiating
the Vietnamese truce
1923
Born in Frth, Germany
1938
Moves to the US with family to
escape Nazi persecution
1943
Becomes a naturalized US citi-
zen. Joins the Army Counter-In-
telligence Corps
1946
Attends Harvard University
Legacy Legacy
Dr Henry Kissinger is, in may ways, the embodiment of the American Dream. A poor immigrant whose family
fled to the United States for a better life, he worked his way through school to become one of the most promi-
nent and respected experts in his field and one of the most influential people of the 20th century.
Working mainly behind the scenes, Kissinger was a major influence on US policy during a period when they were
establishing themselves as the most powerful nation the world has ever seen.
Although his legacy is a controversial one, Henry Kissinger has made an undeniable impact on the world and he
remains one of the most important voices in international affairs.
118
1977
Leaves office after Carter's
election and becomes
professor of diplomacy at
Georgetown University's
School of Foreign Service
1978
Started Kissinger Asso-
ciates, a consulting
firm, to continue his
work on international
affairs
1980
Won the American Book
Award for White House
Years, his first memoir
1983
Appointed by President
Reagan to chair the Na-
tional Bipartisan Com-
mission on Central
America
1984
Appointed to the Presi-
dent's Foreign Intelli-
gence Advisory Board
Despite never holding
elected office, scholar,
political scientist and di-
plomat Henry Kissinger
is one of the most in-
fluential figures in US
politics of the last cen-
tury and has had a pro-
found influence over the
direction of world affairs.
No foreign policy - no matter how ingenious - has any
chance of success if it is born in the minds of a few and
carried in the hearts of none.
We live today in a world so complex that even only to
endure, man must prevail - over an accelerating technology
that threatens to escape his control and over the habits of
conflict that have obscured his peaceful nature.
1954
Receives Ph.D. in Inter-
national Relations from
Harvard University and
joins the faculty
1957
Publishes Nuclear Wea-
pons and Foreign Policy,
which wins the Woo-
drow Wilson Prize for
the best book in the
fields of government, po-
litics and international
affairs
1961
Named consultant to
National Security
Council
1965
Made a consultant to the
US State Department
THE CONNECTION
HENRY KISSINGER & JOAN BAEZ
HENRY KISSINGER, DESPITE BEING REGARDED BY MANY AS ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS OF THE VIETNAM WAR, WILL ALSO
GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS ONE OF THE MEN WHO ENDED IT, WINNING THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN THE PROCESS. JOAN
BAEZ, A WELL KNOWN MUSICIAN, WAS ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL OPPONENTS OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM AND WAS A HIGH
PROFILE FIGURE AT MANY ANTI-WAR PROTESTS, GETTING ARRESTED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. SHE WAS EVEN A
MEMBER OF THE FAMOUS 1972 PEACE DELEGATION THAT TRAVELED TO HANOI IN NORTH VIETNAM TO ADDRESS HUMA-
NITARIAN ISSUES AND TO DELIVER LETTERS TO AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR. THE DELEGATION WAS STILL IN HANOI DU-
RING THE CHRISTMAS BOMBING OF THE CITY BY U.S. FORCES. BAEZ MENTIONS KISSINGER BY NAME ON HER 1973
ALBUM WHERE ARE YOU NOW, MY SON? INSPIRED BY HER EXPERIENCES IN HANOI.
119
Where Are You Now, My Son? is an album by Joan Baez, released in early 1973. One side of the album featured
recordings Baez made during a US bombing raid on Hanoi over Christmas 1972. Included on the recording are
the voices of Barry Romo, Michael Allen and human rights attorney Telford Taylor, with whom Baez made her fa-
mous 1972 visit to North Vietnam.
Its walking to the battleground that always makes me cry
Ive met so few folks in my time who werent afraid to die
But dawn bleeds with the people here and morning skies are red
As young girls load up bicycles with flowers for the dead
An aging woman picks along the craters and the rubble
A piece of cloth, a bit of shoe, a whole lifetime of trouble
A sobbing chant comes from her throat and splits the morning air
The single son she had last night is buried under her
They say that the war is done
Where are you now, my son?
An old man with unsteady gait and beard of ancient white
Bent to the ground with arms outstretched faltering in his plight
I took his hand to steady him, he stood and did not turn
But smiled and wept and bowed and mumbled softly, Danke schoen
The children on the roadsides of the villages and towns
Would stand around us laughing as we stood like giant clowns
The mourning bands told whom theyd lost by last nights phantom messenger
And they spoke their only words in English, Johnson, Nixon, Kissinger
Now that the wars being won
The siren gives a running break to those who live in town
Take the children and the blankets to the concrete underground
Sometimes wed sing and joke and paint bright pictures on the wall
And wonder if we would die well and if wed loved at all
The helmetless defiant ones sit on the curb and stare
At tracers flashing through the sky and planes bursting in air
But way out in the villages no warning comes before a blast
That means a sleeping child will never make it to the door
The days of our youth were fun
WHERE ARE YOU NOW,
MY SON?

120
From the distant cabins in the sky where no man hears the sound
Of death on earth from his own bombs, six pilots were shot down
Next day six hulking bandaged men were dazzled by a room
Of newsmen. Sally keep the faith, lets hope this war ends soon
In a damaged prison camp where they no longer had command
They shook their heads, what irony, we thought peace was at hand
The preacher read a Christmas prayer and the men kneeled on the ground
Then sheepishly asked me to sing They Drove Old Dixie Down
Yours was the righteous gun
We gathered in the lobby celebrating Christmas Eve
The French, the Poles, the Indians, Cubans and Vietnamese
The tiny tree our host had fixed sweetened familiar psalms
But the most sacred of Christmas prayers was shattered by the bombs
So back into the shelter where two lovely women rose
And with a brilliance and a fierceness and a gentleness which froze
The rest of us to silence as their voices soared with joy
Outshining every bomb that fell that night upon Hanoi
With bravery we have sung
But where are you now, my son?
Oh people of the shelters what a gift youve given me
To smile at me and quietly let me share your agony
And I can only bow in utter humbleness and ask
Forgiveness and forgiveness for the things weve brought to pass
The black pyjamad culture that we tried to kill with pellet holes
And rows of tiny coffins weve paid for with our souls
Have built a spirit seldom seen in women and in men
And the white flower of Bac Mai will surely blossom once again
Ive heard that the war is done
Then where are you now, my son?
Written by: Joan C Baez
Published by: Chandos Music Company (ASCAP)
121
JOAN BAEZ
As well as managing to have a successful music career lasting over 50 years, Joan Baez is equally well known for
being one of the most committed and prolific social activists the world has ever seen.
Joan Baez was born on 9 January 1941 in Staten Island, New York. Her mother, Joan Bridge Baez, was the daughter
of a Scottish priest and her father, Albert Baez, himself the son of a minister of religion, was a prominent Mexican-
American physicist who co-invented the x-ray microscope. Albert Baez also did extensive international humanitarian
work and by the time his daughter was teenager, Joan had lived all around the world. The Baez family converted to
Quakerismwhen Joan was just a child. Inspired by her religious beliefs, Quakerism helped lay the foundation for Joa-
ns lifetime commitment to pacifism and social justice. She took an interest in music at an early age when a family friend
gave her a ukulele. When she was 8, Joan saw a performance by the legendary folk musician Pete Seeger and began
to teach herself to play his songs, sometimes performing for her classmates. By the time she was 16, Joan knew that
music was her destiny and bought herself a Gibson acoustic guitar.
In 1958, her father accepted a position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Joan began to perform on
and around Bostons growing folk music scene. She also held her first concert that year to an audience consisting
mainly of family and friends for which she was paid $10. A few months later, she and two friends recorded an album
in the basement of a friends house.
Joans big break came when she met another famous folk singer, Bob Gibson, who invited Joan to perform with him
at the inaugural Newport Folk Festival in 1959. The audience loved Joans radiant stage presence and angelic voice
and her professional career was truly underway. Four years later, at the 1963 Festival, Joan herself invited an unknown
singer to perform with her. The young mans name was Bob Dylan.
Following her appearance at Newport, Joans recording career started to take off. Her first album Joan Baez, released
in 1960, was a moderate success but the following three albums, Joan Baez, Vol. 2 (1961), Joan Baez in Concert, Part
1 (1962) and Joan Baez in Concert, Part 2 (1963) all went gold. By 1963, Joan was regarded as one of the most im-
portant figures in the American folk music revival, which played such a key part in Americas cultural and social deve-
lopment in the sixties and seventies. Remarkably, Joan launched the careers of legendary artists such as Simon and
Garfunkel and the man who Joan introduced to the world at the 1963 Newport Festival, Bob Dylan.
Even before her career as a musician began, Joan had always had a passion for social justice. This passion went on
to influence her art and her life and Joan has been a notable presence during many of the key moments of social pro-
test of the past fifty years. She involved herself in the US Civil Rights Movement from its early stages and demonstrated
on several occasions with Martin Luther King Jr. Joan even sang at the 1963 March on Washington, where King
delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech. She stood with Cesar Chavez as he campaigned for fair wages and
safe working conditions for migrant farm workers. Joan was one of the most vocal opponents of the Vietnam War,
even travelling to Hanoi on humanitarian missions and organising several protests, for which she was arrested more
than once. She helped to set up the US chapter of Amnesty International and fought against human rights abuses in
Latin America, China and Iran. She has fought for gay rights and environmental causes and campaigned fiercely against
poverty, the death penalty and the War in Iraq.
Now in her 70s, Joan continues to perform and continues to campaign tirelessly for social justice. In March of 2011,
Amnesty International created the Joan Baez Award for Outstanding Inspirational Service in the Global Fight for
Human Rights. The first recipient was, of course, Joan Baez.
"That was a good way for me to do my first action, because I knew it to my bones that it
was the right thing to do."
"When you look around the world, there is such tremendous suffering."
I don't think any movie or any book or any work of art can solve the stalemate in the
Middle East today. But it's certainly worth a try.
123
BACKGROUND
The beginning of the 20th century saw Tibet already coping with
regular attempts at occupation by outside forces. Britain tried se-
veral times to seize control of Tibet, as part of its race with Rus-
sia for control of Central Asia. Chinas presence and its suzerainty
over Tibet prevented this from happening. China itself, however,
under its final Imperial Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, was also trying
to increase its control over its Himalayan neighbour, sending tro-
ops into Lhasa in 1910 to take control of the government led by
the 13th Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso.
After the Xinhai Revolution resulted in the overthrow of the Qing
Dynasty in 1912, the newly founded Republic of China apologised
to Tibet and the following year, Tibet declared its independence.
In 1933, the 13th Dalai Lama prophesied that Tibet would soon face
a serious threat to its existence. He predicted, "our political system, developed by the Three Great Dharma Kings will vanish
without anything remaining. The property of all people, high and low, will be seized and the people forced to become slaves. All
living beings will have to endure endless days of suffering and will be stricken with fear. Such a time will come". He also said that
he would die early, so that his successor would be old enough to lead the Tibetan people when the invasion came. His Holiness
Thupten Gyatso passed away a few months later.
In 1949, the Civil War between Chinese Nationalists and the Communists, which had been going on since 1927 with
a break for both sides to fight the Japanese during World War II, ended with the Communists claiming victory. Their
leader, Mao Zedong, declared the Peoples Republic of China. Mao immediately announced his intention to liberate
Tibet and incorporate it into the PRC.
In 1951, Tibetan representatives were forced to sign a treaty with China, known as the 17-Point Agreement for the Peace-
ful Liberation of Tibet, giving China sovereignty over Tibet. The Chinese claimed the treaty would respect the Buddhist reli-
gion and guarantee Tibetan autonomy but at the same time, it allowed the establishment of Chinese military headquarters
at Lhasa. Throughout the 1950s, there were outbreaks of armed resistance against the Chinese around Tibet. The 14th
Dalai Lama continuously pursued peace talks with Chinese leaders who refused to honour the terms of their own agreement.
In March of 1959, there was a full-blown uprising in Lhasa, which was brutally crushed by the Chinese military, resul-
ting in thousands of deaths. The Dalai Lama formally repudiated the 17-Point Agreement and, under fire from the Chi-
nese Army, he escaped into exile in Dharamsala, India. Around 80,000 other Tibetans followed him into exile and there
he set up the Central Tibetan Administration, more commonly known as the Tibetan Government in Exile, or TGIE.
In 1965, the Chinese government reclassified Tibet as The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), giving it the same legal sta-
tus as a Chinese province. This cleared the way for large-scale resettlement of Chinese citizens in Tibet, endangering
the future of the Tibetan culture in the process.
Tibet declares its indepen-
dence in response to years of
repeated attempts by China
and Great Britain to control it
1913
Chinese Civil War ends with
Mao Zedong proclaiming the
founding of the People's Repu-
blic of China and his intention
to liberate Tibet
1949
Tibetan representatives are for-
ced to sign the 17-Point
Agreement, basically giving
China complete control of the
country
1951
China establishes Tibetan Au-
tonomous Region (TAR), ma-
king Tibet, for all practical
purposes, a province of China
1965 1935
Lhamo Thondrup, the child
who will become the 14th
Dalai Lama is born in north-
eastern Tibet
1950
China enforces a historical
claim to Tibet; the 15-year-old
Dalai Lama officially becomes
head of state
1959
Uprising breaks out in Lhasa,
which is brutally crushed by
the Chinese authorities, killing
thousands; the Dalai Lama
escapes to northern India, fol-
lowed by 80,000 other Tibetans
1987
The Dalai Lama pursues dialo
gue with China and presents
his Five Point Peace Plan
TIBET (PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA)
124
NON-VIOLENT STRUGGLE OF TIBETS FREEDOMVSCHINESE OCCUPATION
Tibet has been under Chinese control since
1951 when Tibetan representatives were
pressured into signing the 17-Point Agree-
ment for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. His
Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped into exile
in 1959 after repudiating the agreement and
has continued to serve as a spiritual and po-
litical leader to his people as well as a sym-
bol of the hope for a Tibet that will one day
be free again.
After years of working to create a home for
the tens of thousands of Tibetans who fol-
lowed him into exile, the Dalai Lama began
to travel the world to raise awareness of Ti-
bets plight. These efforts, and his new-
found visibility on the world stage, helped
him to reestablish contact with China in
1979, twenty years after going into exile.
Unfortunately, negotiations broke down
again in 1993. Discussions began again
in 2002, but The Dalai Lama said six
years later that he had lost hope of rea-
ching an agreement with China over the
future of Tibet. Nevertheless, talks re-
sumed once more in 2010.
Despite the occupation of his home-
land and the oppression of his people,
the Dalai Lama has always insisted on seeking a pea-
ceful resolution and encouraged his fellow Tibetans to follow the
same path. This, of course, was in accordance with the teachings of Tibetan
Buddhism, his own beliefs and his position as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. As
a political leader, he is also protecting his people as he knows that neither the Tibetans in exile, nor
o-
The Chinese government im-
poses martial law in response
to pro-independence protests
1988
The Dalai Lama names a six-
year-old boy, Gedhun Choekyi
Nyima, as the reincarnation of
the Panchen Lama, the second
most important figure in Tibe-
tan Buddhism. China imme-
diately places Nyima under
house arrest and appoints ano-
ther six-year-old as their
choice for Panchen Lama
2008
1993
Negotiations between China
and the Tibetan Government
in Exile collapse
2002
Talks between the Dalai Lama
and Beijing resume
2006
The railway linking Lhasa and
the Chinese city of Golmud
opens, allowing a major in-
crease in Chinese relocation to
Tibet
Keyw
ord: DALAI LAM
A The Dalai Lam
a is the high lam
a, or teacher, of
the Yellow
Hat order of Tibetan Buddhism
and
until 1959, the spiritual and tem
poral leader of
Tibet. His follow
ers also believe him
to be the
em
bodim
ent of Avalokitevara, the Bodhisattva of
com
passion and the reincarnation of all of the
previous Dalai Lam
as. The first in this line w
as
Dge-dun-grub-pa (13911475), founder and abbot
of the Tashilhunpo m
onastery. The current Dalai
Lam
a (born 1935) is the fourteenth.
His birth nam
e w
as Lham
o Thondrup but w
hen he
becam
e the Dalai Lam
a, it w
as changed to Jetsun
Jam
phel Ngaw
ang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso,
w
hich m
eans Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Com
passio-
nate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of W
isdom
.
The title Dalai Lam
a itself m
eans Ocean of W
i-
sdom
. Tibetans norm
ally refer to him
as Yeshin
Norbu, the W
ish-fulfilling Gem
or Kundun, m
eaning
The Presence.
125
The run-up to the Beijing Olympics causes
a sharp increase in Anti-China protests,
sparking the worst violence since 1988;
2008
the Dalai Lama says he has given up hope
of reaching an agreement with the Chi-
nese authorities over Tibet
2011
US President receives the Dalai Lama in
Washington and pledges support for
human rights in Tibet; Xi Jinping vows to
"smash" Tibetan separatism; the Dalai
Lama hands over political responsibilities
to new Prime Minister, Lobsang Sangay
those who are still in Tibet, could hope to free Tibet by force. China
possesses one of the largest militaries in the world and successive
Chinese leaders have already indicated, through their words and their
actions, that they are prepared to crush any uprising.
In 1987, at the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in Washington,
DC, His Holiness presented what came to be known as his Five Point
Peace Plan for Tibet. He later expanded on the plan when he pre-
sented it to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France the follo-
wing year. The Five points are:
1. Transformation of the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace;
2. Abandonment of China's population transfer policy which
threatens the very existence of the Tibetans as a people;
3. Respect for the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights
and democratic freedoms;
4. Restoration and protection of Tibet's natural environment
and the abandonment of China's use of Tibet for the
production of nuclear weapons and dumping of
nuclear waste;
5. Commencement of earnest negotiations on the future
status of Tibet and of relations between the Tibetan and
Chinese peoples.
In 2011, the Dalai Lama formally handed over his political responsibi-
lities to former Harvard academic Lobsang Sangay before stepping
down as head of the TGIE, ending the tradition of Dalai Lamas holding
both spiritual and temporal power, which dated back to the 5th Dalai
Lama in 1642.
Today, the situation in Tibet seems no closer to a resolution. With Tibet
only autonomous in name, many Tibetans continue to protest Chinese
rule, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. Still, Chinese authorities
vow to smash future Tibetan separatism.
LITTLE LHASA
The Central Tibetan Administration,
also called the Tibetan Government
in Exile is still run from Dharamsala,
which is also known as Little
Lhasa. They have set up a Tibetan
education system to teach the chil-
dren about Tibet and to preserve Ti-
betan culture and heritage, which
decades of mass exile and Chinese
occupation have threatened to
erase, particularly during Maos Cul-
tural Revolution, when a large num-
ber of Tibets monasteries and
cultural artifacts were systematically
destroyed.
In addition to the Library of Tibetan
Works and Archives, there is Tibetan
Institute of Performing Arts, establi-
shed in 1959 and the Central Insti-
tute of Higher Tibetan Studies,
which is the primary university for Ti-
betans in India. The Dalai Lama also
supported the refounding of 200
monasteries and nunneries in an at-
tempt to preserve Tibetan Buddhist
teachings.
126
127
HIS HOLINESS THE 14
TH
DALAI LAMA
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born Lhamo Thondrup (Dondrub) on July 6, 1935 in northeastern
Tibet in the town of Taktser, which has now been absorbed into the Chinese province of Qinghai. Born into a family of
farmers and horse traders, he was recognised at the age of two as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten
Gyatso, who had passed away in 1933. His move from Taktser to Lhasa was delayed by the regions Chinese warlord,
who did not want the child to assume his throne and demanded to be paid to allow him to pass through his territory.
Thondrup was finally able to leave Taktser in July of 1939 to make the three month journey to Lhasa and was enthroned
in February of 1940 as the 14th Dalai Lama. He was given the name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin
Gyatso, which means Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith, Ocean of Wisdom. Because of his
young age, Gyatso did not officially assume his duties as the temporal or political head of Tibet until the age of fifteen.
To prepare him for his role as the spiritual leader of his people, Gyatso began his monastic education at the age of six,
studying under some of the foremost Buddhist scholars of the time. At 24, he took the preliminary examination at Dre-
pung, Sera and Ganden, the three monastic universities. His final examination was held in the Jokhang, Lhasa, during
the annual Monlam Festival of Prayer. In the morning, he was examined by 30 scholars on the principles of logic. In
the afternoon, he debated with 15 scholars on the subject of the Middle Path, and in the evening, 35 scholars tested
his knowledge of the canon of monastic discipline and the study of metaphysics. His Holiness passed the examina-
tions with honours. Immediately after assuming the temporal leadership of Tibet, the Dalai Lama had to deal with the
newly-declared Peoples Republic of China who, under Mao Zedong, had made it one of their priorities to incorpo-
rate Tibet into the PRC by whatever means necessary.
Even after Tibetan delegates were pressured into signing the 17-Point Agreement in 1951, giving China sovereignty
over Tibet, His Holiness actively pursued dialogue with Chinese Authorities while acting as a representative in the Chi-
nese Congress. In March of 1959, as an uprising by the Tibetan people was crushed by the Chinese Army, the gover-
nment of Tibet formally repudiated the 17-Point Agreement and The Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet into exile in
Dharamsala, India. More than 120,000 Tibetans have since followed.
In his half-century in exile, the Dalai Lama has continued to work for Tibetan freedom and a peaceful resolution to the con-
flict. In the early years, he appealed to the United Nations, resulting in the General Assembly adopting resolutions in 1959,
1961 and 1965 calling for the protection of the Tibetan people. In 1963, His Holiness also promoted a democratic con-
stitution, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, creating an elected parliament and an administration to
further the Tibetan cause. In 1987, he delivered his historic Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet to members of the US Con-
gress in Washington DC and the following year, the Strasbourg Proposal to members of the European Parliament.
His Holiness has also devoted his life to the preservation of Tibetan culture and heritage. In 1970, he opened the Li-
brary of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala which houses over 80,000 manuscripts and other information
resources related to Tibetan history, politics and culture. It is widely regarded as one of the worlds most important Ti-
betology centres. His Holiness has continued to set up educational, cultural and religious institutions that have been
instrumental in saving Tibets heritage.
After decades of travelling the world, not only campaigning for Tibet but also spreading a message of peace, tolerance
and freedom, the Dalai Lama has become a spiritual leader to people around the world, regardless of their faith.
He has been a vocal advocate of interfaith dialogue, democracy, religious harmony, human rights and the environ-
ment. Since 1959, his Holiness has received over 90 awards, honorary doctorates and prizes, in recognition of
his message of peace, nonviolence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His
Holiness has also authored more than 70 books.
His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.
For his consistent resistance to the use of violence
in his people's struggle to regain their freedom.
129
He calls himself "a simple Buddhist monk" - a man who rises at 4 A.M. and spends hours each day in prayer and me-
ditation. Yet his nonviolent efforts to free his country, Tibet, have made His Holiness the Dalai Lama an international sym-
bol of peace during the past five decades. In the more than 50 countries the Dalai Lama has been invited to visit,
thousands of people have flocked to hear him speak on what he believes is his most meaningful message - that com-
passion toward others is the surest path to happiness.
I had the privilege to meet and hear His Holiness several times, from Rome to Hiroshima, at universities and at the
world Summits of Nobel Peace Laureates, and it always enlightens me the way he describes how every person can find
the secret to a joyful life, why material things can't satisfy the soul and why compassion can, and the startlingly simple
secret to having no regrets. (April 2012)
His Holiness, what is the most important trait to teach a child, and can
values be taught or are our children born with them?
You should teach them affection for everybody, the kind of affection that
comes from our mothers. I believe that the most powerful experience,
which we receive at the beginning of our life, is a mother's affection through
a mothers milk. That experience really absorbs every part of our body. I be-
lieve that those persons who received that unique experience have recei-
ved maximum affection at that period, and deep inside are much happier
than those people who missed that period. I believe that deep inside they
have some sense of insecurities. So therefore I feel human affection, love,
compassion, are the key factors to build a healthy family and hence a he-
althy society. Then, this biological affection that is taken as a seed, can
be developed with our intelligence, and can be promoted through our
common sense. Not through religious feeling but using our common sense. The latest scientific findings show evi-
dence that there is a more compassionate heart here. More physical the better, and socializing with other people be-
comes much easier. So these findings are telling us that physical health is better and so are social circles, socializing
with other people now is much easier.
What about education?
The 20th century has experienced immense violence in which 200 million people died. We have to work through edu-
cation and awareness. From childhood we must teach dialogue, understanding and nonviolence at the family
level, community level, national level and the international level. So a peaceful world does not mean a world without
problems. We need spirit. Whenever we face conflict, in our mind we automatically have to think 'how do we solve this
problem?' Through dialogue. Otherwise its too late. We must cultivate dialogue, not the use of force. So this century
must be a century of dialogue, through education from kindergarten until university. We should not act like animals, but
like human beings, using intelligence from the holistic point of view. The only way is dialogue. Any solution through dia-
logue is genuine. When you use force the solution is unpredictable. It may create more problems. This is what I think.
1933
The 13th Dalai Lama
passes away in Lhasa
1935
Lhamo Thondrup born in
Taktser in Northeastern
Tibet
1940
Enthroned as the 14th
Dalai Lama; Name chan-
ged to Tenzin Gyatso;
Begins monastic studies
1950
Assumes temporal (poli-
tical) power
1954
Receives Gelong Ordina-
tion; Visits China to meet
with Chinese leaders
Exiled spiritual and
temporal leader of
the people of Tibet,
whose lifelong
campaign through
nonviolent means
has made him a
global icon of
peace during the
past 5 decades.
with His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama
INTERVIEW
130
1959
Receives Geshe Lha-
rampa, the highest de-
gree of scholarship in
Tibetan Bhuddism;
Repudiates 17-Point
Agreement; Escapes into
exile in India
1960
Arrives in Dharamsala to
take up residence at
Swarg Ashram
1963
Presents a draft demo-
cratic constitution for
Tibet; First exile Tibetan
Parliament convened
1967
Visits Japan and Thai-
land, his first travels
abroad since going into
exile
Would you tell us about your expectation that the mo-
vement for independence from China in Tibet, largely
a nonviolent one thanks to your influence and lea-
dership from outside, will still be nonviolent once you
are gone?
In 1949-50 I was fifteen years old, and the Chinese army
violently marched and occupied Lhasa, which had been
free for 400 years. We opted for a peaceful liberation
through dialogue with the attempt to regain autonomy;
we accepted the 'one country, two systems' concept.
But this system failed and in 1959 Mao Tse-tung's Com-
munist troops killed thousands of my countrymen and
occupied the whole nation. We tried to prevent violent
outbreaks but we failed, so we were forced to flee across
the Himalayan Mountains into neighboring India. More
than 120,000 Tibetans have since followed. It took de-
cades to restore education on the fled community. In
1978 and 1979 some delegations went to Peching to
seek for a resolution, not independence but autonomy
status for the region. But no change. Now things are get-
ting worse and worse in Tibet. Totalitarian regimes have
no ears, they have only a mouth. If feelings are different,
they just suppress them.
In the 1987 crises, an observer came to see me in Dha-
ramsala and asked me 'why is the Chinese government
disliking you?' 'Because I am not acting like a YES Mi-
nister'. In any case, our approach failed to bring some
concrete results. But educated Chinese, who studied
outside China, have had the opportunity to see the
situation from outside and fully support our cause.
That is a significant and positive result for me. And a
nonviolent one.
With Desmond Tutu, we often expressed 'it is sad that Aun San Suu Kyi is not in our room, discussing with us..'. Now
she is free. With no violent acts.
Now there is Lu Xiaobo. We must show him our solidarity and desire to wait for him.
According to my own experience and also to what really happened in South Africa, the release of Nelson Mandela
happened mainly without violence. It can be done without violence also in Tibet. Also when I will be gone.
Legacy Legacy
His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, brought
Tibet, which was once thought of as a remote and al-
most mythical mountain kingdom, to the worlds at-
tention as a real country with real people and real
concerns. His nations struggle has also forced him to
redefine the role of the Dalai Lama, as he strives to ba-
lance the spiritual and temporal sides of his calling:
the humble Buddhist monk and the commanding sta-
tesman, pleading for his people not to be forgotten.
An exile from the land to which he has been both ser-
vant and master since childhood, he campaigns for its
freedom and works to preserve its identity, while stic-
king faithfully to his message of peace and to the Mid-
dle Path.
131
We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly
resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder.
We always have the choice.
Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire
for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as communist systems have assumed, merely
to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. Human nature needs to breathe
the precious air of liberty.
Non-violence means dialogue, using our language, the human language. Dialogue means
compromise; respecting each others rights; in the spirit of reconciliation there is a real
solution to conflict and disagreement. There is no hundred percent winner, no hundred
percent loser; not that way but half-and-half. That is the practical way, the only way.
1973
In his first visits to the
West, he travels to Italy,
Switzerland, The Nether-
lands, Belgium, Ireland,
Norway, Sweden, Den-
mark, the United Kin-
gdom, West Germany
and Austria
1979
Establishes contact with
the Chinese government
for the first time since
1959
1987
Delivers historic Five
Point Peace Plan for
Tibet to members of the
US Congress
1989
Wins the Nobel Peace
Prize
It is my belief that whereas the twentieth cen-
tury has been a century of war and untold suf-
fering, the twenty-first century should be one of
peace and dialogue. As the continued advances in
information technology make our world a truly
global village, I believe there will come a time
when war and armed conflict will be considered
an outdated and obsolete method of settling dif-
ferences among nations and communities.
We all want to be happy. How can we teach our children, to become happy persons?
Many people believe that they have achieved happiness once they are rich or famous or have as much power as pos-
sible. But they often realize later on that life, even with lots of money and luxury, is still just as meaningless and empty
as before. Buddha's recipe for happiness is stunningly simple: Try to become a good person. It all starts in your own
head, you have to change your attitude, trying to do right and avoid wrong. We were not born into the world to harm
others. Only by meeting every person with a warm heart and in friendship does our life have meaning. Compassion and
empathy are key elements to reach happiness. To me, the most effective method is to put yourself into the other per-
son's place, to imagine what he thinks and how he feels. How he suffers. That's why we monks have daily practiced
to develop and strengthen our capacity to feel as others do.
132
2011
Hands over political re-
sponsibilities to the de-
mocratically elected
Prime Minister, Lobsang
Sangay
...Ever since 1959 the Dalai Lama, together with some one
hundred thousand of his countrymen, has lived in an or-
ganised community in exile in India. This is by no means
the first community of exiles in the world, but it is assure-
dly the first and only one that has not set up any militant
liberation movement. This policy of nonviolence is all the
more remarkable when it is considered in relation to the
sufferings inflicted on the Tibetan people during the oc-
cupation of their country. The Dalai Lama's response has
been to propose a peaceful solution which would go a
long way to satisfying Chinese interests.
...Throughout its history Tibet has been a closed country,
with little contact with the outside world. This is also true of
modern times, and maybe explains why its leaders failed
to attach due importance to formal de jure recognition of
their country as an autonomous state. This, too, may be
one of the reasons why the outside world did not feel any
obligation to support Tibet, when the country in 1950 and
the years that followed was gradually occupied by the Chi-
nese, who - in direct opposition to the Tibetans' own inter-
pretation - claimed that Tibet has always been a part of
China. In occupying the country the Chinese have, accor-
ding to the conclusion reached by the International Com-
mission of Jurists, been guilty of "the most pernicious
crime that any individual or nation can be accused of,
viz., a wilful attempt to annihilate an entire people".
...In accordance with this he made several attempts du-
ring the 1950s to negotiate with the Chinese. His aim was
to arrive at a solution of the conflict that would be accep-
table to both parties to the dispute, based on mutual re-
spect and tolerance. To achieve this he staked all his
authority as Dalai Lama to prevent any use of violence on
the part of the Tibetans; and his authority proved decisive,
for as the Dalai Lama he is, according to the Buddhist
faith, more than a leader in the traditional sense: he sym-
bolises the whole nation. His very person is imbued with
some of the attributes of a deity, which doubtless explains
why his people, despite gross indignities and acute pro-
vocation, have to such a marked degree obeyed his wi-
shes and abstained from the use of violence.
...The Dalai Lama's negotiating policy has received the
support of a number of national assemblies and interna-
tional bodies, such as the United States Senate, the West
German Bundestag, the Parliament of Europe, the United
States Congress, eighty-six members of the Australian
Parliament and the Swiss National Assembly.
...In 1987 the Dalai Lama submitted a peace plan for Tibet,
the gist of which was that Tibet should be given the sta-
tus of a "peace zone" on a par with what had been pro-
posed for Nepal, a proposal which the Chinese in fact
have supported. The plan also envisaged a halt to Chi-
nese immigration to Tibet. This has proceeded on such a
scale that there is a risk of the Tibetans becoming a mi-
nority in their own country. Not least interesting is the fact
that the plan also contains measures for the conservation
of Tibet's unique natural environment. Wholesale logging
operations in the forests on the slopes of the Himalayas
have resulted in catastrophic soil erosion, and are one of
the causes of the flood disasters suffered by India and
Bangladesh. The peace plan failed to initiate any negotia-
tions with the Chinese, even though the discrepancies
between the two sides were not particularly profound.
...The Dalai Lama's willingness to compromise was ex-
pressed still more clearly in his to the European Parlia-
ment on June 15th last year, where he stated his
readiness to abandon claims for full Tibetan indepen-
dence. He acknowledged that China, as an Asian super-
power, had strategic interests in Tibet, and was prepared
to accept a Chinese military presence, at any rate until
such time as a regional peace plan could be adopted. He
also expressed his willingness to leave foreign policy and
defence in the hands of the Chinese. In return the Tibe-
tans should be granted the right to full internal autonomy.
In his efforts to promote peace the Dalai Lama has shown
that what he aims to achieve is not a power base at the
expense of others. He claims no more for his people than
what everybody - no doubt the Chinese themselves - re-
cognises as elementary human rights. In a world in which
suspicion and aggression have all too long characterised
relations between peoples and nations, and where the
only realistic policy has been reliance on the use of
power, a new confession of faith is emerging, namely that
the least realistic of all solutions to conflict is the consi-
stent use of force. Modern weapons have in fact exclu-
ded such solutions.
133
The Dalai Lama's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
...Thinking over what I might say today, I decided to share
with you some of my thoughts concerning the common
problems all of us face as members of the human family.
Because we all share this small planet earth, we have to
learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and
with nature. That is not just a dream, but a necessity. We
are dependent on each other in so many ways, that we
can no longer live in isolated communities and ignore what
is happening outside those communities, and we must
share the good fortune that we enjoy. I speak to you as
just another human being; as a simple monk. If you find
what I say useful, then I hope you will try to practise it.
I also wish to share with you today my feelings concerning
the plight and aspirations of the people of Tibet. The Nobel
Prize is a prize they well deserve for their courage and un-
failing determination during the past forty years of foreign
occupation. As a free spokesman for my captive country-
men and -women, I feel it is my duty to speak out on their
behalf. I speak not with a feeling of anger or hatred towards
those who are responsible for the immense suffering of our
people and the destruction of our land, homes and culture.
They too are human beings who struggle to find happiness
and deserve our compassion. I speak to inform you of the
sad situation in my country today and of the aspirations of
my people, because in our struggle for freedom, truth is
the only weapon we possess.
The realisation that we are all basically the same human
beings, who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering, is
very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and si-
sterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for
others. This, in turn, is essential if we are to survive in this
ever shrinking world we live in. For if we each selfishly pur-
sue only what we believe to be in our own interest, without
caring about the needs of others, we not only may end up
harming others but also ourselves. This fact has become
very clear during the course of this century. We know that
to wage a nuclear war today, for example, would be a form
of suicide; or that by polluting the air or the oceans, in
order to achieve some short-term benefit, we are destro-
ying the very basis for our survival. As interdependents,
therefore, we have no other choice than to develop what
I call a sense of universal responsibility.
The Dalai Lama's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
...Material progress is of course important for human
advancement. In Tibet, we paid much too little atten-
tion to technological and economic development, and
today we realise that this was a mistake. At the same
time, material development without spiritual develop-
ment can also cause serious problems, In some coun-
tries too much attention is paid to external things and
very little importance is given to inner development. I
believe both are important and must be developed side
by side so as to achieve a good balance between them.
Tibetans are always described by foreign visitors as
being a happy, jovial people. This is part of our national
character, formed by cultural and religious values that
stress the importance of mental peace through the ge-
neration of love and kindness to all other living sentient
beings, both human and animal. Inner peace is the key:
if you have inner peace, the external problems do not
affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that
state of mind you can deal with situations with cal-
mness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness.
That is very important. Without this inner peace, no
matter how comfortable your life is materially, you may
still be worried, disturbed or unhappy because of cir-
cumstances.
...The awarding of the Nobel Prize to me, a simple monk
from faraway Tibet, here in Norway, also fills us Tibetans
with hope. It means, despite the fact that we have not
drawn attention to our plight by means of violence, we
have not been forgotten. It also means that the values we
cherish, in particular our respect for all forms of life and
the belief in the power of truth, are today recognised and
encouraged. It is also a tribute to my mentor, Mahatma
Gandhi, whose example is an inspiration to so many of
us. This year's award is an indication that this sense of
universal responsibility is developing. I am deeply touched
by the sincere concern shown by so many people in this
part of the world for the suffering of the people of Tibet.
That is a source of hope not only for us Tibetans, but for
all oppressed people.
134
THE CONNECTION
HIS HOLINESS THE 14TH DALAI LAMA AND RICHARD GERE
HIS HOLINESS THE 14TH DALAI LAMA IS THE FORMER HEAD OF STATE OF TIBET AND IS THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE TI-
BETAN PEOPLE SINCE HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. ALTHOUGH FORCED FROM HIS HOME OVER HALF A CENTURY AGO BY VIO-
LENCE AND AGGRESSION, HE HAS PEACEFULLY CAMPAIGNED FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE AND FOR
THEIR RIGHT TO CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY.
RICHARD GERE IS THE MOVIE STAR AND HUMANITARIAN WHO HAS BEEN A DEVOTEE OF THE DALAI LAMA AND A VOCAL
SUPPORTER OF THE TIBETAN CAUSE FOR DECADES.
GERE HAS BEEN A FRIEND AND STUDENT OF THE DALAI LAMA FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND IS A COMMITTED PRACTITIONER
OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM. GERE ALSO VISITS HIS HOLINESS IN DHARMASALA 2-3 TIMES EVERY YEAR.
135
RICHARD GERE
Richard Tiffany Gere was born on August 31, 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of the USA. He was the second of five
children born to Homer Gere, an insurance agent and Doris Tiffany Gere. When Richard was still a child, Homer moved
the family to New York to run his own insurance company. Richard attended North Syracuse High School, where he
took an interest in music, learning to play several instruments. After graduating from High School in 1967, he attended
the University of Massachusetts on a gymnastics scholarship, where he majored in philosophy. After two years, he drop-
ped out to become an actor.
In 1971, after acting in small local theatres, Gere got a job as an understudy in the original Broadway production of
the musical Grease. His big break came in 1973, when he was chosen to play the lead in the shows first London
run. This led to more high-profile stage roles, as well as small parts in Hollywood movies. Another break came in
1978, when he starred in Terrence Malicks Days of Heaven, which received international critical acclaim but was not
a big hit in the USA. Two years later, he played the lead in Paul Schraders American Gigolo, which was a financial
success that made him a star. After An Officer and A Gentleman in 1982, Gere was regarded as one of the industrys
top leading men.
Gere has worked steadily over the next three decades, starring in a variety of projects in every possible genre.
Some of his more memorable films include The Cotton Club, Internal Affairs, Pretty Woman, And the Band Played
On, Primal Fear, The Jackal, Unfaithful, Chicago (which won the Best Picture Academy Award), Im Not There and
The Hunting Party.
Gere is also one of the Hollywoods most active and prominent humanitarians, especially known for his support for the
Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Independence Movement. He has been interested in Tibet since traveling there for the first
time in 1978 and famously converted to Buddhism in 1993. He is a founding member of Tibet House, an organization
dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture. He is also a vocal critic of the Peoples Republic of China, even denouncing
the Chinese government on live television at the 1993 Academy Awards which, along with his support for Tibet, has
earned him a permanent ban from that country.
In addition to his work for Tibet, Gere is also a major supporter of Survival International, an international orga-
nization that campaigns for the rights of indigenous tribal peoples all over the world. Gere has acted as one of their
celebrity spokespersons in their charity advertising campaigns and has donated tens of thousands of dollars to
the organization.
"China is a very difficult place to live if you are a free thinker, if you are an artist, if you
are a religious person, but especially in Tibet. I think they have so wrongly gauged the
Tibetan people, thinking they could subvert the deep, deep, deep religious beliefs and
make them true communists. It's never going to happen.
In saving Tibet, you save the possibility that we are all brothers, sisters.
When His Holiness won the Nobel Peace Prize, there was a quantum leap. He is not seen
as solely a Tibetan anymore; he belongs to the world.
137
BACKGROUND
From 1881 to 1917, many socio-economic conflicts were ag-
gravated during the reign of Tsar Alexander III and then conti-
nued under his son, Nicholas II, who would come to be the last
Tsar of Russia. Harsh conditions in the factories strengthened
popular support for the revolutionary socialist movement. Pea-
ceful strikes were put down with force, the Russian-Japanese
War ended in defeat, and the overall discontent led to the Re-
volution of 1905.
Nicholas II was forced to concede major reforms (freedom of
speech and assembly, legalisation of political parties and the
creation of an elected legislative assembly, the Duma), yet pro-
mises of basic improvements for industrial workers were unful-
filled. In 1914 Russia entered World War I. Rising costs of war,
casualties, and corruption in the Tsarist government led to the October Revolution of 1917.
Uprisings were organized by workers, peasants, and soldiers throughout the country; many of which were led by de-
mocratically elected councils called Soviets. The revolution overthrew the monarchy and Nicholas and his family were
executed. With the October Revolution, led by Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, the worlds first socialist state, the So-
viet Union, was created.
After Lenin's death, power was assumed by Josef Stalin who, with his central command economy and brutal methods,
took the country through a large-scale industrialisation. The Soviet Union adopted an aggressive, expansionist foreign
policy and attacked a number of neighbouring countries. In 1939-1940 it invaded Poland, Finland and several of the
Baltic States, but in 1941 it was attacked by Germany.
At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union emerged as one of the world's two superpowers, and occupied most of
Eastern Europe where it installed totalitarian Soviet-loyal dictatorships. It conducted extensive abuse against its own
citizens in both Soviet Russia and the occupied countries. Millions were sent to concentration camps under the Gulag,
a Soviet Union government agency overseeing the camps at the time, and were executed.
The postwar period was marked by the Cold War, an ideological and political struggle between the USSR (Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics) and the communist countries on one side, and the United States and the West on the other.
As time passed, the Soviet bloc lost its way, mired in a hopeless war in Afghanistan, locked in a costly arms race with
the United States, occupying half of Europe but unable to supply the basic needs of its own people. Throughout the
1980s it became increasingly apparent that its position was unsustainable and when Mikhail Gorbachev took power
in 1985, he initiated democratic reforms in the countrys political and social structure. By allowing each nation of
the Soviet Union to set its own course, he unleashed a string of counterrevolutions, most of them being peaceful.
Reign of Tsar
Alexander III
1881-1894
Start of Russian-Japanese War
1904
Russian Constitution, known
as the Fundamental Laws
ratified
1906
Russia enters World War I
1914 1894-1917
Reign of Tsar
Nicholas II
1905
End of Russian-Japanese War.
Striking workers demonstrate
for reforms. Revolution and
creation of Duma
1912
Russian army kills 150 striking
workers in the Lena Massacre
(FORMER SOVIET UNION)
RUSSIA
138
BACKGROUND
These popular uprisings culminated in the fall of the Berlin
Wall, long a symbol of the Cold War divide between East and
West, on 9 November 1989. The Cold War ended after the
Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, leaving the United States as
the dominant military power and Russia possessing most of
the former Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal.
FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL VS
COLD WAR
The Cold War (1946-1991) was the continuing state of po-
litical conflict, military tension, and economic competition
that existed after World War II (19391945), primarily bet-
ween the Soviet Union and its satellite states and the po-
wers of the Western world, particularly the United States
of America.
Although Soviet and US military forces never (officially) clashed
directly, they expressed the conflict through military coalitions, strategic con-
ventional force deployments, extensive aid to states deemed vulnerable or valuable, proxy
wars, espionage, propaganda, a nuclear arms race, and economic and technological competition, such
as the Space Race.
Despite being allies in the fight against the Axis powers, the USSR and the USA, while occupying most of Europe, di-
sagreed about the configuration and direction of the post-war world. The Communist Soviet Union created the Eastern
Bloc with the eastern European countries it occupied, annexing many as Soviet Socialist Republics and maintaining
others as satellite states, some of which were later consolidated through the Warsaw Pact (19551991). Through the
Marshall Plan, which the Soviet Union opposed, the USA consolidated its influence in Western Europe, particularly in
West Germany while East Germany remained a socialist state under the influence of the Soviets. The exact geogra-
phical point at which the two Germanys were divided came when a massive wall was built in the city of Berlin. The Ber-
lin Wall was for decades the physical embodiment of the Cold War.
Revolution, the monarchy is
overthrown; Lenin creates the
worlds first socialist state
1917
Soviet Union invades Poland,
Finland and the Baltic States
1939
The Soviet Union, as one of
the victors of World War II,
occupies most of Eastern
Europe and installs puppet
governments
1945
Warsaw Pact formed
1955 1924
Lenin dies. Stalins brutal re-
gime begins
1941
Germany attacks the Soviet
Union
1953
Stalin dies. Nikita
Khrushchev becomes
Premier
Keyw
ord: USSR
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,
15 in num
ber after 1956 M
oscow
as
the capital, had a political system
do-
m
inated by the Com
m
unist Party. Ope-
rating as one highly centralised state
w
ith a planned econom
y, the security
agency, KGB, actively oversaw
m
uch of
Soviet society. Over its history, the
USSR saw
extensive hum
an rights abu-
ses against its ow
n people, the w
orst
of w
hich w
ere the purges carried out
by Stalin throughout his regim
e, w
hich
took the lives of an estim
ated 20 m
il-
lion people.
139
With this metaphorical Iron Curtain dividing the East and the West, both sides began to adapt their respective foreign
policies accordingly. The United States prioritised the containment of communism as a political and defensive policy,
establishing alliances such as NATO to that end.
Although a direct military attack would have assured mutual destruction thanks to the countries massive nuclear ar-
senals, the Cold War was waged on a smaller scale in theatres all around the world. In Latin America and Southeast
Asia, the USSR helped foster communist revolutions which were then opposed by the Western countries and their re-
gional allies. Even today, many countries have still not fully recovered from the manipulation they endured by the East
and West during the Cold War years.
The Cold War featured periods of relative calm and of international high tension. Some examples include the Berlin
Blockade (1948-1949), the Korean War (1950-1953), the Berlin Crisis (1961), the Vietnam War (1959-1975), the
Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), and the Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979-1989).
During the 1980s, the United States increased diplomatic, military, and economic pressure on the USSR, which was
already suffering severe economic stagnation. Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev introduced several reforms to de-
mocratise the political system, to allow the people greater personal freedoms and to move from a centralized command
economy towards a free market economy.
These reforms were accompanied by a radical shift in Soviet foreign policy. In 1989, when many Communist regimes
across Eastern Europe began to collapse as a result of peaceful resistance by the people, the Soviet Union declined
to intervene to save any of those regimes, much to the worlds surprise. When the Berlin Wall came down that same
year and Germany, so long divided, began the process of reconciliation, people finally felt that fundamental global
change was in the air.
Gorbachev believed that the reforms he had implemented in Moscow would also work to modernise the other na-
tions that made up the Union. But as widespread reforms were put in place, Turmoil rocked the Baltics, Central
Asia, and the Caucasus, as each of the nations sought greater independence from Moscow. As they grew increa-
singly fractious and defiant, it became clear that what they wanted was to go forward on their own as individual sta-
tes. Starting in 1990, Moscow offered them the chance to hold referenda to decide their futures. They each chose
the path to independence.
The Cold War ended after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. At this time, most of its satellite states started down the
hard path towards democracy.
Soviet war
in Afghanistan
1979-1989
Fall of the Berlin Wall
on 9th November
1989
Vladimir Putin becomes
President of Russia
2000 1985
Gorbachev takes command
and starts structural reforms
and opens international dialogue
1991
Dissolution of the Soviet Union;
Boris Yeltsin becomes
President of Russia
2008
Dmitry Medvedev
becomes President
of Russia and nominates
Putin as Prime Minister
140
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
1989
January Nationalist tension stirs in Estonia and Latvia; in Poland, round table discussions held with
representatives of the government, Solidarnosc and the Church
March Yeltsin is elected President of the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union
April-May Withdrawal of Soviet troops from the German Democratic Republic, Czechoslovakia and Hungary
June Solidarnosc scores a landslide victory at Polish elections
November Czech leaders Vaclav Havel and Alexander Dubcek lead a massive popular protest that forces
the Communist Party leaders to resign. Fall of the Communist regimes of Hungary, Bulgaria, East
Germany and Romania, (where dictator Nicolae Ceausescu is executed)
1990
March Latvia and Estonia declare their independence; the CDU wins the first free elections in the German
Democratic Republic
May Negotiations for Germanys reunification begin. Latvia proclaims its independence; popular revolts
in Albania
October Germany reunified
December Lech Walesa elected President of Poland
1991
June Slovenia and Croatia proclaim their independence; beginning of the Serbo-Croat civil war.
Boris Yeltsin is elected President of Russia
July Dissolution of the Pact of Warsaw is ratified in Prague
August Attempted communist coup in the Soviet Union. A state of emergency is declared, on the 21st,
Boris Yeltsin announces the arrest of the coup plotters. Mikhail Gorbachev retires from the political
scene and the Soviet Federation disappears
December The Community of Independent States is founded, officially putting an end to the Soviet Union.
Croatia and Slovenia are recognized as sovereign states by Germany
1992
February Signature of the Maastricht agreements for the creation of the European Union. The Community
of Independent States is founded, officially putting an end to the Soviet Union
141
MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
Mikhail Gorbachev was born on March 2, 1931 in the village of Privolnoye, Krasnogvardeisky District, Stavropol Terri-
tory, in the south of the Russian republic into a Russian and Ukrainian peasant family who moved to the Stavropol Ter-
ritory from the Russian Voronezh Region and from the Chernigov Province in the Ukraine. A bright student, Mikhail
Gorbachev did extremely well at school. In his early school years he developed a passion for knowledge and an inte-
rest in everything new that was presented to him. He kept these same qualities for the rest of his life. Gorbachevs hob-
bies included participating in a drama club at school where he performed regularly on stage.
In 1950 Gorbachev graduated from high school with a silver medal. Due to his glowing academic record in high school,
he enrolled at Moscow State University without having to take entrance exams and even more impressively, without
having to participate in an interview. Gorbachev recalls, My years at the university were not just extremely interesting
but also a period of hard work. I had a lot of catching up to do. I knew I had knowledge gaps from my village school.
The gaps showed eventually themselves, especially at first when I came to the university. But, frankly, I always had a
lot of ambition. Gorbachev recounts, ...Moscow University gave me the fundamental knowledge and an intellectual
potential that determined my career. It was here that the long process of reassessing my countrys history, its present
and its future began and continued over so many years.
While studying at Moscow University, Gorbachev met his future wife Raisa Titarenko. She was also a student of the
University. She was one year younger than Mikhail but enrolled at the college one year before him. They married on
September 25, 1953.
Having received his law degree with cum laude honors in 1955, Gorbachev returned to Stavropol.
On 10 April 1970, Gorbachev was approved as the First Secretary of the Stavropol. During his years there, Mikhail
Gorbachev elaborated and implemented a long-term program of the regions development.
On 6 January 1957, Irina Gorbachev, Mikhail and Raisas daughter, was brought into this world.
On 27 November 1978, the plenary session of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) Central Committee
elected Gorbachev Central Committee Secretary. On 6 December 1978, he and his family moved to Moscow.
His first assignment was overseeing the countrys agriculture. He traveled extensively within the USSR and made of-
ficial visits abroad.
Early in his political career, Mikhail Gorbachev displayed himself as a responsible, efficient and principled political fi-
gure. Two years after he moved to Moscow he became member of the CPSU Central Committee Politburo, the supreme
body of the Soviet Communist Party.
In March 1985 Gorbachev was elected General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee.
Gorbachev initiated a process of change in the Soviet Union that was later called perestroika (1985-1991). Transpa-
rency and openness, otherwise known as glasnost, became perestroikas driving force. A program of reforms was
planned to put the nations economy on track to a socially oriented market economy. This policy put an end to the to-
talitarian regime in the USSR: in 1990 state power in the USSR moved from the communist party to the Congress of
Peoples Deputies of the USSR, the first parliament in Soviet history. On 5 March 1990, the Congress of Peoples De-
puties elected Gorbachev President of the USSR.
143
A big shift in international affairs soon came into effect. Gorbachev launched an active policy of detente based on the
new thinking associated with his name and became a key figure in world politics. The period of time between the years
19851991 was a time of a fundamental change in the USSRs relations with the West. There was a move from the
image of an enemy, an evil empire to an image of partnership. Gorbachevs activity played a prominent role in en-
ding the Cold War, stopping the arms race and unifying a divided Germany.
In recognition of his outstanding services as a great reformer and a stand out world leader who greatly contributed to
the positive development of world governments, Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
Destructive processes that the emerging Soviet democracy was unable to curb eventually led to the disintegration of
the multinational Union of republics that Gorbachev led. In his attempts to prevent such an outcome, Mikhail Gorba-
chev exhibited maximum efforts to avoid the use of force, which would have been against his inner principles of poli-
tical vision and morality.
On 25 December 1991, Gorbachev stepped down as Head of State.
Since January 1992, Mikhail Gorbachev has been President of the International Non-Governmental Foundation for
Socio-Economic and Political Studies (The Gorbachev Foundation). Apart from being a research center and di-
scussion platform, the Gorbachev Foundation also carries out humanitarian charity projects.
In 1993, at the initiative of representatives of 108 countries, Gorbachev established an organization by the name of
Green Cross International, a non-governmental environmental organization.
In 1999, Mikhail Gorbachev was the mastermind of setting up the World Summits of Nobel Peace Laureates. Annual
meetings of the Summit have sparked conversation on global problems of concern for mankind as a whole including
topics pertaining to violence, wars, poverty, and the ecological crisis.
Through 20012003, Gorbachev was the co-chairman of the St. Petersburg Dialogue, a series of regular meetings
between Russia and Germany, held in both countries. The St. Petersburg Dialogue is regularly attended by represen-
tatives of political structures, the business community as well as by young people.
In May 2010, the New Policy Forummet in Luxembourg to hold its first meeting of the Academic Advisory Council at
which Mikhail Gorbachev served as chairman to the Board of Founders.
Gorbachev formulates his mission and his political article of faith as he states, ... I was doing my best in bringing forth
values of morality and responsibility to people. Its a matter of principle for me. It was high time to put an end to the
rulers wild cravings and to their highhandedness. There were a few things I have not succeeded in, but I dont think I
was wrong in my approach. Unless this is done, one can hardly expect that policy can play its unique part, especially
now that we have entered the new century and are facing dramatic challenges.
Between the years 1992-2013, M.S. Gorbachev made nearly 300 visits abroad and visited more than 50 countries.
Since 1992 Gorbachev published several dozen books printed in ten different languages.
For his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes
important parts of the international community.
144
Mikhail Gorbachev and Raisa Titarenko Gorbacheva
Dear President Gorbachev,
Twenty-five years after the beginning of perestroika, what is your analysis of it?
Three events in Russias history during the 20th century were of paramount importance for Russia itself and for the rest
of the world. These include the 1917 Revolution, victory over Nazism in the Second World War our Great Patriotic
War and Perestroika in the centurys final quarter. Starting in 1982, three General Secretaries of the Communist Party
Central Committee died one after another Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, and Konstantin Chernenko. The need for
a generational change at the top of the power hierarchy was obvious to everyone. Society wanted change. The recur-
ring theme in the assessment of the situation in the USSR was that we could no longer live like this.
Indeed, a country that was immensely rich in both intellectual and natural resources was unable to provide proper li-
ving conditions for its citizens. An unwieldy economy and the stranglehold of bureaucracy at all levels of government
were impeding necessary changes. Lack of freedom was stifling the
country. Stalinism and the system it created were being rejected at
the level of the culture.
On top of that, the increasingly stagnant economy was lagging be-
hind in international competition. Growth rates were down. Produc-
tivity was less than one third of western levels in industry, and
one-fifth in agriculture. The Soviet economy was wasteful and cost-
heavy. The quality of its products was up to world standards only in
the military-industrial complex.
The negative socio-economic, political and cultural processes af-
fecting the Soviet Union were weakening its foreign policy posi-
tion. Changes were long overdue; postponing them was not an
option.
The rest of the world, too, needed major changes at a time when military alliances were at loggerheads and confron-
tation resulted in a dangerous arms race, particularly the nuclear weapons buildup; when regional conflicts were ra-
ging throughout the world; when the worlds most urgent problems such as backwardness, poverty and the global
threat to the environment remained unaddressed; and when centrifugal tendencies were affecting the world socialist
community. This confluence of external and internal factors objectively dictated the need for change. The policy of Pe-
restroika and its philosophical foundation the new political thinking were a response to the problems facing not only
the USSR but the rest of the world as well.
So the idea was to overcome totalitarianism and move forward toward freedom and democracy?
We started with the illusory hope of improving socialism within the existing system. But toward the end of 1986, it had
already become clear to me and my associates that renewal could not be achieved by hewing to the old approaches.
We chose an evolutionary approach to reforming Soviet society on the principles of freedom, democracy and market
economics. Its implementation was the result in harmonizing private and public interests, placing human being at the
centre of our societys development. The years of Perestroika brought about:
- transition from totalitarianism to democracy;
- pluralism in politics and economics;
1931
March 2 born in
Stavropol, North
Caucasus, to a pea-
sant family
1950
Enrolled in Faculty
of Law, Moscow
University
1952
Joined the Commu-
nist Party of the So-
viet Union (CPSU)
1955
Marries Raisa Maxi-
movna Titorenko,
philosophy student.
Receives degree in
law
1956
Daughter Irina born
1961
Delegate from
Stavropol to 22nd
Communist Party
Congress in
Moscow
with Mikhail Gorbachev
INTERVIEW
The 7th and last
leader of the So-
viet Union,
whose extraordi-
nary term of of-
fice led to of the
triumph of demo-
cracy in Russia
and the end of
the Cold War.
146
1962
Appointed to key
position in Stavro-
pol Communist
Party
1967
Received second
degree in Agricultu-
ral Economy
1970
Appointed First Se-
cretary for Stavropol
territory
1971-1991
Member CPSU
Central Committee
1978-1985
Moves to Moscow
as Secretary of Agri-
culture in Central
Committee
1980
Becomes youngest
full member
of Politburo
- affirmation of the principles of freedom of choice and
freedom of conscience and religion;
- acceptance of dissent;
- our country opened up to the world by adopting a law on
freedom of movement, including freedom to leave;
- the republics, working together, drafted and prepared
for signing a new Union Treaty.
But then what happened in the 1990s?
The attempted coup in August 1991, followed later by the
agreement to dissolve the Union, broke off the process of
Perestroika. What happened subsequently was based on
a different strategy and different methods. Central to Boris
Yeltsins plan was the idea of destruction: the breakup of the Union, shock therapy, the kind of privatization that
amounted to plundering the nations wealth, etc. The result was wildcat capitalism, chaos, and division of society.
In any case, Perestroika won even though it was interrupted, and it brought great changes in its foreign po-
licy, which is probably the main reason why you received the Nobel Peace Prize?
It was not easy to accomplish it, but we had enough patience, and the situation began to evolve for the better. Dialo-
gue resumed and relations began to improve with the United States. A treaty was signed eliminating a whole class of
nuclear weapons. It was the first such treaty in history and a first step toward ultimately abolishing nuclear weapons,
as I proposed on January 15, 1986.
Hostility with China came to an end, and friendship with the great nation of India flourished. Arms reductions were
agreed in the European continent. Under the influence of Perestroika profound democratic reforms started in the coun-
tries of Central and Eastern Europe. The USSR took a firm stand of non-interference. We remained faithful to the prin-
ciple of freedom of choice for all without exception.
Eventually, this made possible peaceful unification of Germany in the interest of Germans themselves and of the world.
At the Malta Summit in 1989 the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States declared that we no longer regar-
ded our countries as enemies. A conference of all European nations in Paris adopted a Charter for a New Europe,
whose main ideas are still valid. The doctrines of the military alliances began to change.
As a young student, I started to admire your worldwide commitment in ecological issues. So eventually I star-
ted to collaborate with your organization, Green Cross, which today is present in more than 50 countries. When
was it established and what is its goal?
When I went to the United Nations on 1988, I brought a package of environmental initiatives. One of them called for
creating a global non-governmental organization to help save the environment. Named the International Green Cross,
at my suggestion, it is based near Geneva and has affiliates in dozens of countries. Our main goal is to help set in
motion a value shift in peoples minds. Our environmental education programs, in cooperation with the UN Educatio-
nal, Scientific and Cultural Organization and several governments, aim at helping people understand a simple truth: man
147
is not the master of nature but just part of it. After all, the environment has existed for billions of years without man and
could, in extremis, do so again. So this is the challenge: we need environmentally sustainable development if new ge-
nerations are to succeed us on earth.
What is the human impact on the scourge of global warming?
The impact and forecasts of global warming are worsening; desertification is advancing; deforestation and pollution
are endangering our ecosystem; and more than 1.2 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. We have
seen environmental disasters with untold destruction of both human lives and nature. There have been devastating flo-
ods across much of Europe and South Asia, wreck of tankers off natural treasures, and so on.
So what can be done at international level?
I consider 5 points to be vital in this respect:
1. Reform the UN system in order to give more power for actions and the enforcement of UN decisions for peace and
stability;
2. International Agreements, Conventions and Protocols relevant to disarmament, climate change, biodiversity, de-
sertification, international watercourses, and others should be ratified without delay, and implemented with courage and
determination.
3. Environmental objectives should be integrated from the beginning into development planning and any form of eco-
nomic activity;
4. Political leaders and businesses should acknowledge and act on their responsibility to turn rhetoric into action and
achieve environmental compliance;
5. Reverse the decline of international development, allowing developing nations to reduce their crippling debt, cover
basic human needs, and access technologies to use materials and energy efficiently, with a minimum of waste.
If nothing is done to achieve sustainability in the first part of this new century, the prospects for humankinds survival
will diminish.
What has arms race to do with environmental degradation?
The environment has been greatly damaged by the nuclear arms race. Models made by Russian and American scien-
tists showed that a nuclear war would result in a nuclear winter that would be extremely destructive to all life on earth;
the knowledge of that was a great stimulus to us, to people of honor and morality, to act in that situation. Similarly re-
garding the environment, a great deal has changed in the world during the twentieth century. Imagine, in the beginning
of this century, the annual gross product created by all countries was worth sixty billion dollars. Today, sixty billion dol-
lars is produced in one day. Imagine the kind of overload that creates on the environment, the kind of heat and waste
that is created. All of that has damaged the environment already. We see that species are disappearing. We see that
many areas of the world are no longer fit for human living. We see the death of forests, desertification, pollution of the
oceans with nuclear waste and other kinds of waste. This is really overload.
In 1992, right after the Earth Summit, more than a hundred scientists from throughout the world, including dozens of
Nobel Laureates, met in Washington to discuss the earth and the Earth Summit. Their verdict was very definite and mer-
ciless; they said that if the destructive trends continued, then within thirty or forty years, and now twenty years have
already passed, irreversible changes would begin to happen in the biosphere. That's a real threat.
If current technological processes continue without change, the environment will change and we, the human species,
will either have to mutate or even die, to disappear, as many species have disappeared. So this is a real danger. This
is a serious danger.
1985
Elected by Central
Committee as Gene-
ral Secretary of
CPSU
1989
Elected by new Con-
gress of Peoples De-
legates (parliament)
as Executive Presi-
dent of Soviet Union
1991-2008
Abortive coup of
hardliners, resigns
as General Secretary
of CPSU, dissolves
Central Committee
1991-2012
Resigns as President
when Soviet Union
disintegrates
1992
Forms the Gorba-
chev Foundation
1993
Forms Green Cross
International
148
Yet, not so many politicians are so sensitive to respecting the environment. When did you start realizing that
our environment was seriously threatened by human beings?
My experience with the environment began many years ago when I was a small child. I grew up in a family of peasants,
and it was there that I saw the way that, for example, our wheat fields suffered as a result of dust storms, water ero-
sion and wind erosion. I saw the effect of that on life, on human life. As I evolved during my career, I saw many other
things that set me thinking. When I began to work in Moscow on the Central Committee, I saw a really terrible picture
of the consequences of what we had done to the environment and a certain view of nature took shape for me, which
was very important. Then I had to go through many other experiences, including Chernobyl.
Today, I think some progress has been made with respect to the consciousness of mankind about the importance of
the environment and the environmental threats we face. There are countries where a lot has changed in very practical
termsin environmental legislation, in the behaviour of businesses, in the responsible behaviour of people. I include
here countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium. I believe that over the past years, a lot has been done in the
United States, too, even though there's still a lot of pollution there. In Russia, which is going through a very difficult tran-
sformation, the possibility of environmental action is rather limited. Nevertheless, there is an environmental movement
in Russia. During perestroika, when people had a chance to speak out for the first time in a democratic situation, the
first thing they spoke for was the environment. The most massive rallies were for the environment. It was also very im-
portant that the government began to respond to the demands of the people. During perestroika, we closed down 1,300
factories because of the damage that they did to the environment.
This is a problem that cannot be postponed. I think the environmental problem will be the number one item on
the agenda of the twenty-first century. If we just hope that we'll make it somehow, that nature will cope with these
problems somehow through its own resources, and we can just do what we've been doing, we could face an
even graver situation.
149
What values are important to you?
As a young man, I really took to heart the Communist
ideals. A young soul certainly cannot reject things like
justice and equality. These were the goals proclaimed
by the Communists. But in reality that terrible Com-
munist experiment brought about repression of
human dignity. Violence was used in order to impose
that model on society. In the name of Communism,
we abandoned basic human values. So when I came
to power in Russia I started to restore those values;
values of 'openness' and freedom.
Life has value in itself. Even if some methods are
claimed to be progressive, if they result in destruc-
tion of life, then they are unacceptable. I believe that
the twenty-first century must be the century of human
beings living in harmony with nature, rather than being
enslaved to technology.
Values such as solidarity, a socially-orientated eco-
nomy, and the need to harmonize relations between
humankind and the rest of nature are equally important.
The future will depend on whether we will be able to
find a synthesis, to find a fusion of ecological, liberal
and social values. These I call the perennial values.
Humankind should become more modest in terms of
its needs and more respectful of the environment of
which we are just a part. If we do not learn to live in
harmony with nature, we shall make our own lives ho-
peless and we shall eventually jeopardize our own exi-
stence. In that sense I believe that we should go back to a new kind of renaissance. This new renaissance should be
based on the idea that people should live more naturally.
What is the philosophy of your life?
My philosophy is a philosophy based on common sense. Common sense refers to a sense of measure, a sense of mo-
deration. If, for example, freedom is not linked to morality, it is not freedom. It is permissiveness. It is just self-seeking,
rather than freedom.
Which are the most important things to teach a child?
Well, what I learned from my parents was common sense, which is so typical of rural people. They have a feeling for
nature, for the cosmos, for the world, for real life. I also learned modesty and humility. In rural communities there is a
lot of very hard work which brings tolerance and solidarity and this is something I saw in my family and in my village.
This has remained with me throughout my life. I have never forgotten where I come from.
What are your spiritual beliefs?
Well, I believe in the cosmos. All of us are linked to the cosmos. Look at the sun. If there is no sun, then we cannot exist.
So nature is my god. To me, nature is sacred. Trees are my temples and forests are my cathedrals.
What does the word "love" mean to you?
Love is a mystery of nature. I think it is good that it will remain a mystery. Of course, there has been a lot of comment
on love. First of all, love for me is what unites man and woman. Love also unites humans and nature. I believe that we
are dealing here with a mystery that is too big for us. Once you try to define it, it is the end of love. It dies once you
think you know its secret.
Legacy Legacy
When Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985, the
world seemed hopelessly and permanently divided by
the Cold War and global nuclear conflict was considered
by most to be an inevitability.
In just a few years, Gorbachev changed all that, ushering
in a new era of peace and, perhaps more importantly,
hope.
The changes across Eastern Europe could not have taken
place without Gorbachevs leadership and his absolute
commitment to peace and democracy.
150
Lenin, Stalin, Krushev, Bresniev, Gorbachev
Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity,
in the comparison and conciliation of differences.
I did not get drunk on my own power; instead I began to transform it.
... I found in an old Russian encyclopaedia a definition of peace as a commune,
the traditional cell of peasant life. I saw in that definition the peoples profound
understanding of peace as harmony, concord, mutual help, and cooperation.
In this nuclear age it also means a condition for the survival of the human race.
Today, peace means the ascent from simple coexistence to cooperation and common
creativity among countries and nations.
151
Presentation Speech by the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel
Committee (selected excerpts)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has made this award in recognition of the
leading role he has played in the radical changes that have taken place in
East-West relations.
East and West, the two mighty power blocs, have managed to abandon
their life-threatening confrontation and have, instead, embarked on the long
and patient road to cooperation on the basis of negotiation.
Ancient European nations, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and
now East Germany too, have regained their freedom and have, for better or
for worse, assumed responsibility for their own national destiny.
In mistrust and fear this race has been going on for close on half a century.
The result has been a waste of intellectual and material resources on both
sides of the Iron Curtain.
The award this year of the Peace Prize to the President of the Soviet Union,
Mikhail Gorbachev, is an historic event not least because some of the pre-
vious awards made by our Committee for example to the great champion
of human rights Andrei Sakharov in 1975, and to the trade union leader Lech
Walesa in 1983 were received with cool hostility in the Soviet Union and in
Poland at the time, involving the rejection, in these countries, of all that the
Norwegian Nobel Committee stood for. On these grounds too the award con-
stitutes a landmark. The Norwegian Nobel Committee considers that there is
thus a historical link between todays event and December 10th, 1975, and
1983, which augurs well for the future.
The award this year is very much in line with Alfred Nobels own wishes and
desires. Nobel wanted the prize to be awarded to someone who had worked
to promote fraternity between nations. That was the expression generally
used in his day to denote the substitution of international cooperation for con-
flict. Nobel also wished his prize to be given to someone who had actively pro-
moted a reduction in standing armies and worked for the holding of peace
congresses, what we today would call disarmament and negotiation. Seldom
has our Committee felt more in tune with Alfred Nobels wishes than this year.
Once Reagan criticized Gorba-
chev that there was no demo-
cracy in the Soviet Union and
Reagan added: For example
anyone can come to the White
House and cry: Reagan go
away!. Gorbachev replied: This
is not true about my country.
It is also possible in my coun-
try that anyone comes to the
Red Square and cries: Reagan
go away!
152
Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
When I agreed to assume the office of the General Se-
cretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Cen-
tral Committee, in effect the highest State office at that
time, I realised that we could no longer live as before and
that I would not want to remain in that office unless I got
support in undertaking major reforms.
Those who were then governing the country knew what
was really happening to it and what we later called za-
stoi, roughly translated as stagnation. They saw that
our society was marking time, that it was running the risk
of falling hopelessly behind the technologically advanced
part of the world. Total domination of centrally-managed
state property, the pervasive authoritarian-bureaucratic
system, ideologys grip on politics, monopoly in social
thought and sciences, militarised industries that siphoned
off our best, including the best intellectual resources, the
unbearable burden of military expenditures that suffoca-
ted civilian industries and undermined the social achieve-
ments of the period since the Revolution which were real
and of which we used to be proud such was the actual
situation in the country. As a result, one of the richest
countries in the world, endowed with immense overall po-
tential, was already sliding downwards. Our society was
declining, both economically and intellectually.
This was the domestic aspect of the dilemma then be-
fore us. As for the foreign policy aspect, there was the
East-West confrontation, a rigid division into friends and
foes, the two hostile camps with a corresponding set of
Cold War attributes. Both the East and the West were con-
strained by the logic of military confrontation, wearing
themselves down more and more by the arms race. The
mere thought of dismantling the existing structures did
not come easily. However, the realisation that we faced
Nobel Lecture (selected excerpts)
Mikhail Gorbachev's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
inevitable disaster, both domestically and internationally,
gave us the strength to make a historic choice, which I
have never since regretted.
...We can already see many obstacles and dangers on the
road to a lasting peace, including:
- Increased nationalism, separatism, and disintegrational
processes in a number of countries and regions;
- The growing gap in the level and quality of socio-eco-
nomic development between rich and poor countries;
dire consequences of the poverty of hundreds of millions
of people, to whom informational transparency makes it
possible to see how people live in developed countries.
Hence, the unprecedented passions and brutality and
even fanaticism of mass protests. Poverty is also the bree-
ding ground for the spread of terrorism and the emer-
gence and persistence of dictatorial regimes with their
unpredictable behaviour in relations among States;
- The dangerously rapid accumulation of the costs of
previous forms of progress, such as the threat of envi-
ronmental catastrophe and of the depletion of energy and
primary resources, uncontrollable overpopulation, pan-
demics, drug abuse, and so on;
- The gap between basically peaceful policies and sel-
fish economies bent on achieving a kind of technologi-
cal hegemony. Unless those two vectors are brought
together, civilisation will tend to break down into in-
compatible sectors;
- Further improvements in modern weaponry, even if
under the pretext of strengthening security. This may re-
sult not only in a new spiral of the arms race and a peri-
lous overabundance of arms in many States, but also in a
final divorce between the process of disarmament and de-
velopment, and what is more, in an erosion of the foun-
dations and criteria of the emerging new world politics.
THE CONNECTION
MIKHAIL GORBACHEV AND LEONARDO DICAPRIO
AS TWO OF THE MOST PROMINENT GREEN ACTIVISTS IN THE WORLD, GORBACHEV AND DICAPRIO HAVE MET AND WOR-
KED TOGETHER ON MANY OCCASIONS. IN SPITE OF THE HUGE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR BACKGROUNDS PLUS A LANGUAGE
BARRIER, THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A FRIENDSHIP BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT, A SHARED PASSION FOR THE ENVIRON-
MENT AND THEIR TIRELESS PURSUIT OF A CLEANER, GREENER PLANET.
IN 2007, GORBACHEV APPEARED IN DICAPRIOS DOCUMENTARY ON GLOBAL WARMING, THE 11TH HOUR. THAT SAME YEAR,
DICAPRIO WROTE THE INTRODUCTION FOR THE BOOK ANTARCTICA: THE GLOBAL WARNING, PUBLISHED BY GORBACHE-
VS ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION, GREEN CROSS INTERNATIONAL. IN 2009, WHEN DICAPRIO WAS CHOSEN TO RECEIVE
THE CINEMA FOR PEACE AWARD FROM THE CINEMA FOR PEACE FOUNDATION IN BERLIN, GORBACHEV MADE THE PRESEN-
TATION AND IN 2010, THE TWO RETURNED TO THE CITY TO PRESENT THE INTERNATIONAL GREEN FILM AWARD TOGETHER.
153
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born on November 11, 1974 in Los Angeles, California to German-born Irmelin In-
denbirken, a former legal secretary and George DiCaprio, an underground comic book artist and distributor. Growing
up in the Hollywood area, DiCaprio began acting at a very young age, appearing in several television commercials.
Within a few years, he was landing regular roles on TV series as well as a few small parts in movies. Unsurprisingly,
DiCaprio was developing a reputation in the industry as an extremely gifted young actor.
His big break came in 1993 when he was selected by Robert DeNiro to star opposite him in the film This Boys Life.
DiCaprio held his own onscreen with the legendary actor and consequently cemented his reputation as a star of the
future. His very next film role was in director Lasse Hallstroms critically-acclaimed film, Whats Eating Gilbert Grape
with Johnny Depp. His performance as the title characters mentally challenged brother was a career-making one,
earning the teenaged DiCaprio nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards.
Over the following years, DiCaprio continued to impress filmgoers and critics with his performances in movies like
The Basketball Diaries (1995), Baz Luhrmanns Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Marvins Room (1996). In 1997, he star-
red in James Camerons epic Titanic. That movie, which became one of the highest grossing films of all time and
won the Academy Award for Best Picture, made DiCaprio one of the top movie stars in the world. The success of
Titanic gave DiCaprio the luxury of picking his roles carefully. He has worked with many of the top directors in the
industry: Woody Allen (Celebrity, 1998), Danny Boyle (The Beach, 2000), Steven Spielberg (Catch Me If You Can,
2002), Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road, 2008), Ridley Scott (Body of Lies, 2008), Christopher Nolan (Inception,
2010), Clint Eastwood (J. Edgar, 2011) and Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained, 2012). He has also developed a
very fruitful working relationship with the great Martin Scorsese, with whom he has made four movies: Gangs of
New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006) and Shutter Island (2010). He has received dozens of in-
ternational accolades for his work, including three Oscar nominations and eight Golden Globe nominations.
Besides being an international movie star, Leonardo DiCaprio is also well known as a philanthropist and one of the
most dedicated and outspoken environmentalists in Hollywood. He was one of the first high-profile celebrities
to drive a hybrid automobile and now owns several hybrid and electric models. In 2007, he produced and wrote the
feature length documentary, The 11th Hour. The film, which DiCaprio also narrates, features 50 politicians, scien-
tists, and environmental activists, including physicist Professor Stephen Hawking and Nobel Peace Prize winner
Wangari Maathai, examines the problem of Global Warming which DiCaprio has called the number one environ-
mental challenge we face today and one of the most important issues facing all of humanity. That same year, he
was a presenter at the Live Earth benefit concert and spoke at the Academy Awards with former Vice President and
Nobel Peace Prize winner, Al Gore.
DiCaprio has also donated millions of dollars to various organizations and causes, including the Wildlife Conser-
vation Society and the Haitian Earthquake Relief Fund.
In 2013, DiCaprio has started producing a movie on Mikhail Gorbachev along with actor Tom Hanks.
We must set an example now and move environmentalism from being the philosophy
of a passionate minorityto a way of life that automatically integrates ecology
into governmental policy and normal living standards.
We've been given this gift, our planet, and we've found no other place in the universe
that we can inhabit. I want to do something to create radical change to help save it.
It's our responsibility.
LEONARDO DICAPRIO
BACKGROUND
At the beginning of the 20th century, the competition between
the Russian and British empires to seize control of Central Asia
was still raging. No country was more affected by this so-called
Great Game than Iran, or Persia, as it was still called.
Persia had lost much of its territory to Britain and Russia in wars
and was also undergoing severe economic difficulties, stemming
from the policies of the 19th century shahs. Popular discontent
led to the Constitutional Revolution, from 1905 to 1907, which
established Persias first parliament, or Majles, in an effort to
limit royal power.
The next Shah, Mohammad Ali, rescinded the new constitution
in 1908 and dissolved the parliament with support from Russia
and Britain. Pro-constitution forces overthrew him in 1909, rein-
stating the parliament and installing his 11-year-old son, Ahmad as Shah. Ahmad Shah Qajars 16-year rule was a tur-
bulent one. In spite of Persias neutrality in World War I, Russia and Britain used it as a base to wage war against the
Ottoman Turks. In 1921, Ahmad Shah was removed in a bloodless coup led by military leader Reza Khan, ending the
Qajar dynasty. Khan immediately instigated a number of political moves to reclaim Persias sovereignty from Russia
and Britain and in 1925, the parliament named him Shah.
Despite his dictatorial style, Reza Shah Pahlavi launched many programmes to modernize Persia. The Trans-Iranian
Railway was built and the countrys highway network grew seven times longer. The health and education systems were
overhauled and the University of Tehran was established. He was also responsible for the official name of the country
being changed to Iran in 1935. It was also during his rule that Irans first organized womens rights movement occur-
red. When World War II broke out, Reza Shah claimed neutrality, refusing to let the countrys railroad be used to tran-
sport supplies for the Allies. Because of this and his strong ties with Germany, the British and Soviets occupied Iran
and forced Reza Shah to abdicate in favour of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran.
Mohammad Reza Shah continued the efforts to modernize Iran but also maintained close ties to Britain and the Uni-
ted States. Hardline Muslim opposition to the regime began to emerge. In 1951, Prime Minister Ali Razmara was as-
sassinated by terrorists tied to this growing radical resistance. Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh was chosen by the Ma-jles,
the Iranian government, as the new Prime Minister and was a popular leader, nationalising the oil industry. Britain and
the United States, who were used to the lucrative concessions given to them under previous administrations, organi-
zed a military coup in 1953. Mosaddegh was overthrown and imprisoned, and virtually the entire petroleum industry
was handed over to British and American companies.
After the coup, the situation became increasingly volatile. The Shah was now seen as a puppet and his modernization
programmes were interpreted as attempts to emulate the West. In the early 1960s, he initiated a series of social reforms
Countrys name changed
from Persia to Iran
1935
Britain and the United States
stage a coup to oust democra-
tically-elected government of
Mohammad Mosaddegh
1953
Iran-Iraq war starts with Iraqi
army's invasion of Khuzestan
1980
Iran-Iraq war ends
1988 1941
Reza Shah Pahlavi forced to
abdicate; Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi installed as Shah;
Anglo-Russian occupation
1979
Iranian Revolution; the Shah
flees into exile; the country
becomes an Islamist theocracy
1981
American hostages captured
during the revolution freed
after 444 days in captivity
IRAN
156
BACKGROUND
aimed at alleviating poverty, particularly in the rural areas. These changes ange-
red the Shiite clergy as it took away much of their power in the areas of law and
education and granted greater rights to women and non-Muslims.
The Shah met the growing discontent with force. He used his secret police, the
SAVAK, to imprison and torture dissidents. Others, like the outspoken Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini, were forced into exile. Tensions mounted steadily until Ja-
nuary 1978, when massive demonstrations broke out across Iran. This was the
beginning of the series of events that came to be known as the Iranian Revo-
lution. By the end of 1979, the Shah had fled the country and Iran had become
an Islamic theocracy with the returning Khomeni as its Supreme Leader.
The following year, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, seeing Irans post-re-
volution disorganization, invaded the region of Khuzestan, starting the Iran-Iraq War.
Iraq received strong support from other Gulf States, who feared revolutions of their own. It also re-
ceived financial and military aid from the West, including chemical weapons. The war raged on until a truce was
negotiated by the United Nations in 1988. Iranian casualties were estimated at between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people.
After the war and Khomenis death, President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani attempted to repair Irans economy and re-
build relations with the rest of the world. His successor, Mohammad Khatami, known for his proposal of "Dialogue
Among Civilizations" and elected in 1997, took an even more moderate line but despite his good intentions, he failed
to effect much change in the face of resistance from the resurgent conservatives.
In 2005, former Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected, defeating Rafsanjani. Ahmadinejad was a har-
dline conservative with a strong, grassroots support base because of his working class background, ties to the clergy
and promises of more equal distribution of the nations oil wealth. He has gained international attention by railing
against the West and Israel and by his defiant stance on Irans nuclear programme. Ahmedinejad was reelected in
2009 amid accusations of intimidation and fraud. The resulting protests, known as Green Movement, made interna-
tional headlines, drawing attention to the growing discontent in Iran, especially among the youth.
The second term of Ahmadinejads presidency was overflowed with numerous political, social, and economic diffi-
culties and hardship like increasing international sanctions, house arresting competing presidency candidates, im-
prisoning many of Green Movement and opposition proponents, growing political disaffection, high inflation and
economic depression. Eventually, in the previous election, held in June 2013, Hassan Rouhani was elected as se-
venth and current president of Iran. Mr. Rouhanis centrist views and his close ties with Iran reformist leaders, Kha-
tami and Rafsanjani, and broad support by the Green Movement are considered as of major grounds of his victory in
the decisive election. His slogan, "Government of Prudence and Hope" has been locally and globally recognized very
substantive and encouraging and his moderate policy has raised hope for resolution of many internal and internatio-
nal political issues.
Ayatollah Khomeni dies; Ali
Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani
elected president
1989
Moderate reformist
Mohammad Khatami
elected president
1997
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
elected president
2005
Ahmadinejad reelected amid
allegations of intimidation
and fraud; widespread
demonstrations and riots
rage for over 7 months
2009
1988
1990
A massive earthquake in the
southeast of the country kills
40,000 people
1999
Over a 1,000 students arrested
during demonstrations follo-
wing the closing of a reformist
newspaper and killing of a stu-
dent by security forces
2006
Iran announces it has succes-
sfully enriched Uranium for its
nuclear programme; UN votes
to impose sanctions
Keyw
ord: ISLAM
IC FEM
INISM
Islam
ic Fem
inism
addresses
issues specific to M
uslim
w
om
en. Islam
ic Fem
inists
believe that discrim
ination
in M
uslim
countries is roo-
ted in culture rather than
religion and that the equality of all people is
the true w
ill of God.
157
MOTHERS RESPONSIBILITY VS
PATRIARCHAL CULTURE AND WOMENS LOWER POSITION IN SOCIETY
As a lifelong defender of equality and justice who is also a Muslim woman, one of the issues that most concerns
Shirin Ebadi is the condition of women in countries like Iran.
Because many Muslim nations have poor records on womens rights, many have accused the religion of Islam of being
misogynistic. Dr Ebadi has often stated the belief that certain governments and rulers have exploited Islam and misu-
sed it as a tool of oppression, particularly against women.
Dr Ebadi believes that the treatment of women in many Muslim countries has its roots in the historically patriarchal cul-
tures of the countries themselves, and not in the religion of Islam. She has also said that the cultures who do not be-
lieve that women should be liberated from male domination also do not believe in freedom and democracy, as they
would threaten the historical power of the guardians of those cultures. She points out that the attitudes towards women
in these societies are self-perpetuating and that women themselves, particularly mothers, have a serious responsibility
158
MOTHERS RESPONSIBILITY VS
PATRIARCHAL CULTURE AND WOMENS LOWER POSITION IN SOCIETY
to help to bring about change.
One of the major contradictions in patriarchal cultures is the fact that the raising of children, both boys and girls,
is left to the mothers. So, even though women are regarded as inferior, the future of these countries is placed
in their hands. Therefore, it must be assumed that, in these places, the belief in womens inequality is being passed
from generation to generation by women. Dr Ebadi has called women both the victims and the conveyors of what she
calls a sickness and feels that education is the best way to break this cycle.
Dr Ebadi has also framed womens rights as a developmental issue, pointing out that a nation that marginalises half of
its population cannot realise its full potential. When she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, Ebadi expressed
her hope that her selection would inspire women in Iran and throughout the region to believe in themselves and reclaim
the rights that have been denied them.
159
SHIRIN EBADI
Shirin Ebadi was born on June 21, 1947 in Hamedan in northwestern Iran. Her father, Mohammad, was a law profes-
sor. Her mother, Minu Yamini, devoted her time to raising Shirin, her two sisters and her brother.
After completing primary and secondary school in Tehran, she sat the Tehran University entrance exams and earned
her place at the Faculty of Law in 1965. After receiving her degree, she sat the Department of Justice exams and, in
1969, became Irans first female judge. She rose through the ranks, becoming the youngest Chief Magistrate of the
26th Divisional Court in Tehran. After the Islamic Revolution, all women were forbidden to hold positions of authority.
Ebadi was demoted to working as a clerk of the same court over which she had presided. Recognising that the situa-
tion was not going to improve, she put in a request for early retirement.
After being rejected for years, Ebadi was finally granted a lawyers license in 1992 and set up her practice, concentra-
ting on cases involving human rights and freedom of speech, as well as the rights of women and children. She has been
involved in some of Irans most high-profile and contentious cases. She has been arrested several times and spent 25
days in solitary confinement in 2000, after going on trial for distributing the recorded confession of a hard-line enfor-
cer who was ordered by conservative leaders to attack pro-reform figures and meetings. She was sentenced to one
and a half years imprisonment and a five year professional ban. Through the appeals process and international pres-
sure, her sentence was reduced to a suspended sentence and a fine.
In 2003, the Nobel Committee awarded her the Nobel Peace Prize, citing that "as a lawyer, judge, lecturer, writer and
activist, she has spoken out clearly and strongly in her country, Iran, and far beyond". She used the prize money to
create the Center for Defenders of Human Rights.
Dr Ebadi left Iran for a conference in Spain the day before the 2009 presidential election. She did not return, after hea-
ring of the arrests and killings of several colleagues. The Iranian government filed a case against her in the Revolutio-
nary Court and, citing unpaid taxes, seized all of her assets, including the offices of the CDHR and her Nobel Prize.
This was the first time a Nobel Prize has been confiscated by a government. Her sister and husband were also arre-
sted as part of the campaign of intimidation. They have been barred from leaving Iran.
Dr Ebadi has continued her work in de facto exile. She has published more than 70 articles and 13 books dedicated
to various aspects of human rights. The most famous, Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope, was publi-
shed by Random House in May 2006. Her latest book, The Golden Cage, was published in 2011.
"for her efforts for democracy and human rights. she has focused especially
on the struggle for the rights of women and children."
161
Good morning Dr Ebadi, it is an honor to spend time with you here in Rome at the Senate. Can you give us an
update on the situation in Iran?
Every day is a difficult day in Iran. The other day a young blogger died in prison. We all think that the Iranian regime
can and must strengthen its dialogue with the international community, but this dialogue cannot be limited to nuclear
energy. There's a need to talk to them about human rights. For example, if the regime stopped enriching uranium in
accordance with Europes demands, Europe would just shake hands with them, even though women are still being sto-
ned, young people under the age of 18 are executed and an increasing number of bloggers are imprisoned. Talk to them
about human rights. This would facilitate the journey towards democracy. Our people are the victims of a silent war.
Iran is at war with its own people. Five million people have been forced to leave their country.
How did you win the Nobel Peace Prize?
I worked for human rights in my country, both as an academic and
as a human rights activist. I was a university lecturer and I spent 14
years exploring the subject of human rights. I also worked in various
fields including womens rights, the rights of the child, the rights of
refugees, and I compared what I found to Irans existing laws to see
where we are. I also set up three NGOs with my colleagues and
friends: one supported childrens rights, the other one was a center
for human rights that provided proper medical care to political pri-
soners and assistance for their families. Our third NGO campaigns
against land mines. Iran has the second-largest number of mines in
the world. On average, two people are injured or killed by mines
every day. We try to provide training for the people who live in the areas where mines are so they know what to do. We
also give assistance to those injured by land mines. So, this is a summary of my activities.
Is there hope for womens rights in Iran?
Yes, a lot of hope. Over 65% of our university students are female. In some areas, such as law, it is even higher. Se-
venty percent of law students are female. A lot of our university professors are women. Iranian women gained the right
to vote about 50 years ago and have become members of parliament since then. In fact, they gained the right to vote
before women in Switzerland did. Iranian women have held very prestigious and senior positions in all areas of society.
These discriminatory laws only began after the Iranian Revolution. That is why Iranian women are opposed to the Ira-
nian government and they use any opportunity they can find to show it. In the protests after the 2009 presidential elec-
tions, millions of people took to the streets and the role of women was very prominent; they were leading the protests.
And yet?
And yet there is still a law stating that if a husband finds his wife in bed with another man, he can kill both his wife and
her lover and he wont be punished. This encourages violence against women because men take advantage of this law
and use it as an alibi.
1947
Born in Hamedan,
northwestern Iran
1969
Becomes Irans first
and only female judge
1971
Receives doctorate in
private law from Tehran
University
1979
Forced to step down after
the Islamic Revolution
outlaws female judges
1994
Co-founds the Society
for Protecting the Rights
of the Child
Lawyer, author and activist
Dr Shirin Ebadi spent deca-
des fighting against the sy-
stem in Iran from the
inside. Now, trapped on
the outside, she continues
to speak out against ine-
quality and injustice in the
country she loves and has
served all her life.
with Shirin Ebadi
INTERVIEW
162
1999
Helps reveal complicity
by religious authorities
in attacks on university
students
2000
Charged with distribu-
ting the videotaped con-
fession of a hardline
Islamic enforcer. Spends
three weeks in prison
2001
Wins the Thorolf Rafto
Memorial Prize for com-
mitment to human rights
2002
Authors landmark legi-
slation outlawing physi-
cal abuse of children
2003
Wins the Nobel Peace
Prize for her campaign
for democracy and the
rights of women and
children
What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is the fear I have of people with prejudices; peo-
ple who choose to close their eyes in the face of the changes
and developments around them; people who think that they are
the only ones who are right or think that they are the only ones
who know whats going on. These are people to fear.
What is your greatest achievement?
I think my greatest achievement was talking about human rights
at the beginning of the revolution when it was taboo. In those
days, when the government papers wanted to attack me they
would label me a feminist or a human rights activist, as if
those were bad things. As a result of my activism, and that of
many others in Iran as well, human rights became an important
issue in our society. So defending human rights and working in
the field of human rights is an honour and a virtue in Iran.
What can an individual do for peace?
Everything begins with the individual. Peace is a culture. We
must build it inside ourselves, and then we must transfer it to our
families and from the families, on to our communities and our
society. We know that the hardest fight we have in life is with our-
selves. Therefore, we must achieve inner peace because inner
peace brings outer peace.
What about feminism?
Feminism is a different concept in the East and the West. Complete equality of men and women is what we are wor-
king towards, but Muslim women cannot be feminists yet. Children have to have the right education, otherwise nothing
will change. We need to focus on education. In my house, boys and girls were treated as equals. The feminist move-
ment in Iran is the strongest in the Middle East because over 65% of university students are women. Also, there are
more female professors than male. Educating young people and children is very important and its the right start. But
we have to rewrite the history of war and transform it into a history of peace. We should not provide our kids with toys
that kill. In shops, there are numerous computer games that teach kids how to attack Iran. All these toys should be re-
moved from the market.
When did you realise you had the power to make a change and how did that make you feel?
When I was little, I was quite sensitive to injustice. If I saw kids fighting in the street, I would help one being beaten up.
After the 1979 revolution, the women of Iran were set back by centuries. I thought Im a grown woman, why should I
Legacy Legacy
Dr Shirin Ebadi has dedicated her entire adult
life to justice in her home country, as a scholar,
as a judge, as an author, as a lawyer and as ac-
tivist fighting for the basic rights of all of her
fellow Iranians. A devout Muslim woman who
speaks out against the use of her faith as a tool
of oppression and division, Dr Ebadi steadfa-
stly pursues justice within a legal rigged to
work against her. For over 30 years, Dr Ebadi
has shown her countrymen and the world that
being braver and smarter than your antago-
nists can make all the difference even in the
most difficult circumstances.
163
live like we are in ancient times? I shouted this to everyone and my voice resul-
ted in hundreds of women shouting for the same rights. Some men believe that
women are weaker; even the UN is only 3% women! But the men who think like
that have been raised by their mothers! We have to change patriarchal culture.
Women are the victims of this culture but women themselves are the conveyors of
this culture, which I call a sickness. In fact, I try to explain to them that this is a di-
sease. I insist on the education of women so that they know who their enemy is:
not men, but cultures that do not accept the equality of all human beings.
Are you optimistic about your countrys future?
Yes, because over 65% of the population are young and they want democracy and
I know that day is not far away.
Do you have a message for Muslim women?
Yes, keep on fighting. Don't believe that you are meant to occupy a lower posi-
tion in society. Get yourself an education! Do your best and compete in all areas
of life. God created us all as equals. By fighting for equal status, we are doing
what Gods will.
2004
Co-founds the Nobel Womens
Initiative with other female
peace Laureates
2007
Represents imprisoned Ameri-
can academic Haleh Esfandiari,
who was arrested on charges of
espionage
2008
Defends a group of Bah' who
were arrested as part of the on-
going persecution of that mi-
nority
2009
Leaves Iran the day before pre-
sidential elections and has not
returned
"It is not religion that binds women, but the selective dictates
of those who wish them cloistered. That belief, along with the
conviction that change in Iran must come peacefully and from
within, has underpinned my work."
My aim is to show that those governments that violate the
rights of people by invoking the name of Islam have been
misusing Islam.
From the day I was
stripped of my judgeship to
the years of doing battle
in the revolutionary courts
of Tehran, I had repeated
one refrain: an interpreta-
tion of Islam that is in
harmony with equality and
democracy is an authentic
expression of faith.
...Not everyone knew your name, but the world under-
stood immediately what the Committee meant: All people
are entitled to fundamental rights, and at a time when
Islam is being demonized in many quarters of the western
world, it was the Norwegian Nobel Committee's wish to
underline how important and how valuable it is to foster
dialogue between peoples and between civilizations. This
is a wish that most people share and that is why the re-
actions to this year's award have been so positive, even
though we understand if you had perhaps hoped for a few
more congratulations from the authorities of your own
home country and region.
...It is indeed a great pleasure for the Norwegian Nobel
Committee to award for the first time in history the
164
Nobel Peace Prize to a woman from the Muslim world - a
woman that the world can be proud of, as can all other
champions of human rights around the world.
...Shirin Ebadi has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
for her efforts for democracy and human rights and, in
particular, for her fight for the rights of women and chil-
dren. She has been very clear in her opposition to pa-
triarchal cultures that deny equal rights to women, who
represent half of the population. But mothers must also
be aware of their responsibilities. They are the ones who
bring up young boys to be men and who raise daughters
to become strong women. Shirin Ebadi is the founder
and leader of the Association for Support of Children's
Rights in Iran, which has some 5,000 members. The cen-
tre is located in Teheran and it produces information ma-
terial for use in schools and operates an emergency hot
line for children.
...Many are those who have drawn benefit from Shirin
Ebadi's commitment and capacity for work. She has plea-
ded the cause of refugees in a region where they are in
such great numbers and so desperately need help. Fur-
thermore, she has called attention to the rights of all citi-
zens also their right to freedom of expression -
irrespective of religion, ethnic origin or political opinion.
As a lawyer, judge, lecturer, author and activist, her voice
has sounded clearly and powerfully in her native country
Iran, and also far beyond its national borders. She has
come forward with professional force and unflagging cou-
rage, and she has defied any danger to her own safety.
She is truly a woman of the people!
Shirin Ebadi's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
...Undoubtedly, my selection will be an inspiration to the
masses of women who are striving to realize their rights,
not only in Iran but throughout the region - rights taken
away from them through the passage of history. This se-
lection will make women in Iran, and much further afield,
believe in themselves. Women constitute half of the po-
pulation of every country. To disregard women and bar
them from active participation in political, social, econo-
mic and cultural life would in fact be tantamount to depri-
ving the entire population of every society of half its
capability. The patriarchal culture and the discrimination
against women, particularly in the Islamic countries, can-
not continue for ever.
...At the same time, in the past two years, some states
have violated the universal principles and laws of human
rights by using the events of 11 September and the war on
international terrorism as a pretext. The United Nations
General Assembly Resolution 57/219, of 18 December
2002, the United Nations Security Council Resolution
1456, of 20 January 2003, and the United Nations Com-
mission on Human Rights Resolution 2003/68, of 25 April
2003, set out and underline that all states must ensure
that any measures taken to combat terrorism must com-
ply with all their obligations under international law, in par-
ticular international human rights and humanitarian law.
However, regulations restricting human rights and basic
freedoms, special bodies and extraordinary courts, which
make fair adjudication difficult and at times impossible,
have been justified and given legitimacy under the cloak
of the war on terrorism.
...Some Muslims, under the pretext that democracy and
human rights are not compatible with Islamic teachings
and the traditional structure of Islamic societies, have ju-
stified despotic governments, and continue to do so. In
fact, it is not so easy to rule over a people who are aware
of their rights, using traditional, patriarchal and paternali-
stic methods.
...The discriminatory plight of women in Islamic states,
too, whether in the sphere of civil law or in the realm of
social, political and cultural justice, has its roots in the
patriarchal and male-dominated culture prevailing in
these societies, not in Islam. This culture does not to-
lerate freedom and democracy, just as it does not be-
lieve in the equal rights of men and women, and the
liberation of women from male domination (fathers, hu-
sbands, brothers ...), because it would threaten the hi-
storical and traditional position of the rulers and
guardians of that culture.
...In the introduction to my speech, I spoke of human rights
as a guarantor of freedom, justice and peace. If human
rights fail to be manifested in codified laws or put into effect
by states, then, as rendered in the preamble of the Univer-
sal Declaration of Human Rights, human beings will be left
with no choice other than staging a "rebellion against ty-
ranny and oppression". A human being divested of all di-
gnity, a human being deprived of human rights, a
human being gripped by starvation, a human being
beaten by famine, war and illness, a humiliated human
being and a plundered human being is not in any posi-
tion or state to recover the rights he or she has lost.
165
BACKGROUND
The borders of what is now the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh
were established in the partition of India in 1947. The Bengal
region was divided along religious lines and the partitioned sec-
tion became the eastern portion of Pakistan. This area was se-
parated from the western part of the newly-formed country by
1600 km, with the entire width of India in between them. The re-
gion was called East Bengal but was later renamed East Paki-
stan. Although they were supposed to be one country, most of
the political power lay with West Pakistan and the obvious ine-
qualities and ongoing linguistic, political and economic discrimi-
nation led to unrest in East Pakistan. In 1966, the President of the
East Pakistan Awami League political party, Sheikh Mujibur Rah-
man, presented a six-point plan for self-government entitled Our
Charter of Survival; he was immediately accused of sedition and was jailed for over two years.
West Pakistan continued to block any attempts at self-government in the East and events came to a head in 1971 when
Pakistani President General Yahya Khan launched a series of deadly military attacks called Operation Searchlight. This
marked the beginning of what is now known as the Bangladesh Liberation War. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had
been prevented from taking office after a landslide election victory the previous year, was again arrested and tran-
sported to West Pakistan. Other Awami League leaders were forced to flee to India and formed a government in exile
known as the Mujibnagar Government. Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly civilians, were killed, and millions of
refugees poured into India.
The violence raged on for nine intense months with West Pakistan on one side of the conflict and East Pakistan, sup-
ported by India, on the other. On December 16
th
, East Pakistan prevailed and the government-in-exile became an in-
dependent state under the name Bangladesh.
Nationhood came with its own challenges and the countrys first decades were filled with natural disasters, famine
and poverty, as well as political turmoil and multiple military coups.
In 1991, democracy was successfully restored and has been followed by a period of relative stability and economic
progress. Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world (around 153 million people in an
area of 144,000 km
2
). The country is located on the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, which makes it extremely fertile but
also makes it greatly susceptible to floods and cyclones.
Bangladesh has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organization of 54 member
states, since 1974. According to the World Bank survey of July 2005, the country has made significant progress in terms
of human development in the fields of literacy, educational parity and population reduction.
The British East India Com-
pany gains the control of Ben-
gal, after the Battle of Plassey
1757
Failed attempts to divide the
province of Bengal into two re-
gions, with Dhaka named the
capital of the eastern region
1905-1911
India is partitioned and Bengal
is divided according to reli-
gion. The western section re-
mains part of India and the
rest becomes East Pakistan
1947
dissatisfaction among Bengalis;
the President of the East Pakistan
Awami League, Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman, presents his 6-point
plan; he is arrested for over 2 years
1966 1857
A bloody rebellion results in
the transfer of authority to the
Crown, through a British vi-
ceroy
1943
Great Bengal famine kills
more than 3 million people
1952
The Bengali Language Move-
ment, an effort to get Bengali
recognised as an official lan-
guage in Pakistan, is the first
sign of friction between the
two Pakistani regions
1970
A cyclone
devastates the coast
of East Pakistan,
killing up to half
a million people
BANGLADESH
166
MICROCREDIT AND SOCIAL BUSINESS VS EXTREME POVERTY
Bangladesh is a very young country, having only gained
its independence in 1971, but its short history has been
fraught with adversity.
Even before its independence, as East Pakistan, Ban-
gladesh was at a significant disadvantage due to the un-
balance political and economic power of West Pakistan.
The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh emerged from
the Liberation War of 1971, which took a heavy toll in
terms of loss of life, destruction of property, and di-
splacement of the population, ensuring that, from the
moment of its birth, the nation has had to work con-
stantly to rebuild itself.
The country has also been plagued by natural disa-
sters. Cyclones, floods and famines have resulted in
millions of deaths and millions of people made ho-
meless. In 1973 and 1974, as Bangladesh was still
taking its first steps as a sovereign state, it was hit
by nationwide famine; in 1991, a cyclone caused
the death of 150,000 people; another in 1998 left
30 million Bangladeshis homeless and two-thirds
of the country under water. In addition to its geo-
graphic vulnerability, Bangladesh is also one of
the countries that will be most severely affected
by global climate change, meaning that their situation will
only worsen in the future.
Disasters like these greatly contribute to the already crippling structural poverty
of Bangladesh. It has an extremely high population density (around 830 people/km
2
), and
40% of its population cannot meet its minimum daily food needs. Malnutrition is a common problem and,
as a result, a large percentage of children are undersized and underweight for their ages. In some of the poorer re-
gions, illiteracy rates reach as high as 90%.
Health issues are widespread, largely due to the lack of access to clean water. Its climate and geography lead to a
high risk of malaria and other water borne diseases and much of the groundwater is contaminated by the soils high
arsenic content.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is ar-
rested; constitution of a Gover-
nment-in-exile in Kolkata; the
Bangladesh Liberation War
followed by Independence
1971
Ziaur Rahma is assassinated
and succeeded by Abdus Sattar
1981
Ershad becomes President as
political activity resumes
1983
Islam becomes state religion;
millions left homeless after flo-
ods cover over 60% of the
country
1988 1975
Sheik Mujib, elected President
in 1972, is assassinated in a mi-
litary coup; General Ziaur
Rahma takes power and funds
the Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP); Martial Law imposed
1982
General Hossain Mohammad
Ershad seizes power in a coup
1986
General elections are held and
Ershad is elected to a five-year
term. He lifts martial law
1990
Ershad steps
down after
widespread
protests
Keyw
ord: M
ICROCREDIT M
icrocredit is an instrum
ent of econom
ic deve-
lopm
ent that allow
s even the poorest and
m
ost m
arginalized sectors of a society access
to financial services denied to them
by m
ain-
stream
financial institutions.
By acknow
ledging the im
portance of the infor-
m
al econom
y, m
icrocredit elim
inates the nor-
m
al difficulties of securing a bank loan
because of the borrow
ers lack of traditional
collateral. M
icrocredit program
s disburse sm
all
loans to m
icroentrepeneurs w
ho can then use
the resources to set up sm
all businesses w
i-
thout the fear of the prohibitive repaym
ent
conditions and harsh penalties.
In recognition of the phenom
enal success rate
of these initiatives, the United Nations declared
2005 as the International Year of M
icrocredit.
167
As a result of these challenges, despite having
received over 30 billion dollars worth of inter-
national aid since gaining its independence,
extreme poverty remains a major problem in
Bangladesh.
Still, Bangladesh is a resilient nation and, in
spite of its problems, it has experienced
slow but steady economic growth over the
past two decades. One of the major factors
in this growth is the rise of microcredit in-
stitutions like Prof Muhammad Yunus Gra-
meen Bank. By addressing the individual
financial concerns of Bangladeshs poo-
rest citizens, Grameen has created a
trickle-up effect that has begun to be-
nefit the nation as a whole.
Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of President Zia Rahman, becomes
prime minister.
A cyclone causes the deaths of 150,000 people
1991
Worst flooding in the countrys history;
30 million people left homeless
1998 1996
The Awami League returns to power after elections; Sheikh Ha-
sina Wajed, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, becomes Prime
Minister
2006
Dr Muhammad Yunus
is awarded the Peace
Nobel Prize
Keyw
ord: SOCIAL BUSINESS
A social business is a sustainable com
m
ercial en-
terprise operated to achieve a social objective.
The com
pany is designed to cover its ow
n costs and
to generate profit but those profits are channelled
back into the business to expand and im
prove the
services it provides. Any investors in the business
w
ill be repaid the funds they put in but are not
allow
ed to take any further dividend or profits.
Dr M
uham
m
ad Yunus is one of the m
ain creators
of the m
odel of m
odern social business and the
Gram
een Fam
ily of Enterprises, w
hich is involved
in such diverse areas as banking, textiles, fishe-
ries, agriculture, energy and telecom
m
unications,
consisting entirely of profitable and sustainable
social businesses.
168
WOMEN'S EMANCIPATION VS EARLY MARRIAGE, DOWRY,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MISUSE OF FATWA
Finance is but one aspect of Prof Yunus' work. No financial institution before Grameen Bank placed women in the
centre of its work. For Bangladesh it had revolutionary consequences. Yunus gave rural Bangladeshi women un-
precedented access to income and banking services. They proved to be judicious and incisive investors and re-
markably dependable borrowers with 99% return rate. With money in their hands, women gained confidence,
self respect, and a say in the affairs of the family which had been monopolised by men. They invested well
and changed the face of participation of women in rural economy.
While women's movements may have brought gender issues to the fore, it is the work of Grameen Bank, follo-
wed by others, that transformed the lives of Bangladeshi rural women, changing forever their mindset, worldview
and leadership ability. If money speaks loud, especially in a setting of poverty, then the financial empowerment
of women that Grameen Bank brought about gave louder and louder voices to women. This led to their greater
participation in national and local elections and demanding quota in local bodies.
With women in the centre of all its activities, Grameen led the fight against early marriage, dowry, domestic vio-
lence, misuse of fatwa, etc. Through the formation of borrowers' group Grameen launched a socialization process
that created a fraternity among women who, by standing by each other in times of societal and male oppression,
created a type of collective resistance that led to the erosion of rural power structure.
Women's emancipation lies at the heart of Bangladesh's future and Grameens role in it needs to be fully appreciated.
169
MUHAMMAD YUNUS
Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, the worlds largest and most successful microcredit insti-
tute, was born in one of the worlds poorest countries: Bangladesh. After earning a Ph.D. in economics from Van-
derbilt University in Tennessee, the alma mater of seven Nobel Prize Laureates, Prof Yunus returned his country,
where he was deeply shocked by the discrepancy between the elegant theoretical economics taught in his classes and
the extreme poverty surrounding him.
In 1974, while a professor at Chittagong University, he met a poor woman who made bamboo stools for a living. The
woman had to borrow small amounts of money to buy the bamboo and once she had finished repaying her creditors,
who charged her as much as 10% interest, she was making less than a penny of profit per stool, just enough to sur-
vive. Yunus saw that if the woman had the opportunity to borrow money at a more reasonable rate of interest, she would
be able to make more of a profit and eventually create an economic cushion and raise herself above subsistence level.
This encounter helped him to realise that poor people would remain poor as long as they were denied access to
capital and to any means of securing loans. Their impoverished position made it disadvantageous for traditional
banks to lend to them and forced them to seek loans elsewhere, often from individuals who charged obscene interest
rates, knowing that no other options existed. Testing out his theory, Yunus began granting small, low-interest loans to
poor individuals without the threat of asset seizure.
In 1983, he founded the Grameen Bank, or Village Bank, which offered small loans, starting at about $10, at a 20%
declining interest rate, allowing micro-entrepreneurs to implement initiatives free from crippling interest rates and fear
of seizures. Repaying the loan on time allowed the borrower access to loans of larger amounts.
In the thirty years since its founding, this revolutionary bank, based on trust and solidarity, has disbursed more than
six billion dollars in loans to seven million disadvantaged people, mostly women, and has more than 1,000 branches
employing 12,500 people. Of its participating members, 65% have managed to escape from extreme poverty.
Similar microcredit institutes have been created in more than 100 countries. Proving all formerly held assumptions
wrong, 99% of the people financed by Grameen Bank fully pay back their debts; a percentage much higher than the
rate boasted by traditional banks.
By believing in the potential of people, Yunus has helped them to emerge from extreme poverty while giving them
back their dignity and helping them become self-sufficient. The real transformation will be evident in the next genera-
tion: a better fed, healthy, educated and successful generation, thanks to the foresight, creativity and trust of the Ban-
ker to the Poor.
Prof Yunus serves on the boards of many national and international organizations. Since the creation of the Grameen
Bank, Yunus has established 54 social business companies in Bangladesh, all aimed at improving the lives of poor peo-
ple. In his latest book, Yunus explains how Social Business can help to create a world without poverty.
In April 2013, the US Congress bestowed the countrys top civilian award on the microfinance pioneer, in a rousing show
of support to a man who is under fire in his native Bangladesh. I am receiving it not for me but for all these women
who have worked so hard to make you convinced they can take care of themselves, given the financial institutional sup-
portnot charity, he said.
Yunus has dedicated the Congressional Gold Medal to the Yunus Center in Dhaka.
He has become the seventh person to have received the Nobel Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom(2009) and
the Congressional Gold Medal. Yunus is the first Muslim and the first Bengali to have received all these three awards.
for their efforts [Yunus and Grameen Bank] to create economic and social development
from below. Lasting peace can not be achieved unless large population groups find ways
in which to break out of poverty. Micro-credit is one such means.
Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights.
171
It all started with 27 dollars. That was the amount of money Muhammad Yunus, a professor at Chittagong University in
Bangladesh, lent to 42 poor villagers in the village of Jobra so they could repay their debts to local money lenders and
start small businesses. This small experiment had a big effect. The money was paid back and new loans soon followed.
Life in Jobra changed. Inspired by this experience, Yunus founded the Grameen Bank to provide microfinance loans for
the poorest people in Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank has enabled a large number of Bangladeshis to escape poverty.
The microfinance business model soon spread beyond Bangladesh to the world and the Grameen Trust has helped
other organisations to replicate their model. Grameen is constantly devising new social business solutions dedicated
to helping people all over the world rise out of poverty by addressing key issues like access to capital, health, edu-
cation, clean water, nutrition and access to electricity. Grameen has also created an entirely new business model
that contrasts strongly with traditional profit-maximizing models. The Grameen Social Business model uses traditional
business know-how in combination with the goal of solving critical
social problems. Yunus has already proven the effectiveness of this
new type of business, creating and co-creating numerous models
for enterprises that have a clear focus on eradicating extreme po-
verty while maintaining their economic sustainability and incredible
growth potential. (April 2007)
Professor Yunus, what does banking have to do with peace?
Poverty is a threat to peace. When you are desperate you become
a threat to peace, as you have nothing to lose. Desperately poor
countries are fertile soil for terrorism. Thats why it is so important to
offer opportunities to poor people through bank loans. This way you
can actually reduce global terrorism, which cannot be overcome by
military means. Institutions should use their money to help people
get out of poverty. 94% of the worlds wealth belongs to only 40% of the population, while the other 60% of the po-
pulation live on just 6% of the world wealth. Half of the worlds population lives on $2 a day and over a billion people
live on less than a $1 a day. This is not a fertile soil for peace. Creating opportunities for the poor has been the main
goal of our bank for the last 30 years.
Why are you so focused on offering loans to poor women?
My professional experience is that women make an enormous difference in a society once they are offered the chance
to participate in the life of a nation. By lending money to women, you are absolutely sure that the money reaches the
entire family, that it is used to feed the children and to start up an initiative. Also, women always pay their debts! So whe-
reas conventional banks tend to reject female borrowers, in Bangladesh our banks make sure that at least 50% of the
borrowers are women. It took some years to reach this goal, as women were quite reluctant in the beginning. No, no,
give this money to my husband, he knows better how to manage money, they would say. But once we managed to con-
vince them, we found that money going to a family through a woman would generate much more wealth than the same
amount managed by a man. The women were more disciplined and more interested in their childrens education as a
way to escape poverty. The men wanted to use the money straight away, without thinking of tomorrow. The women were
looking at the future for themselves, for their children and for their families. Today, 97% of our loans go to women.
1940
Born in Chittagong,
Bangladesh
1957-1961
Studies economics at
Dhaka University, ear-
ning BA and MA
1965
Awarded Fulbright
Scholarship
1970
Earns Ph.D. in Econo-
mics from Vanderbilt
University, USA
1969-1972
Professor of economics
at the Middle Tennessee
University
Bengali economist
and pioneer of mi-
crocredit, he foun-
ded the Grameen
Bank, as well as 25
similar institutions,
which have helped
to provide a way
out of poverty for
millions of people.
with Muhammad Yunus
INTERVIEW
172
1972
Returns to Bangladesh
and joins the Univer-
sity of Chittagong as
Head of the Econo-
mics Department
1976
Starts the Grameen
Bank Project
1983
Transforms the Gra-
meen Bank into a for-
mal bank, offering small
loans for self-employ-
ment for the rural poor
2006
Awarded Nobel
Peace Prize
2010
Grameen Bank has
8.28ml borrowers
(97% are women).
With 2,564 bran-
ches, it provides
services in 81,362
villages (97% of
the villages in
Bangladesh)
What criteria does Grameen Bank use to decide on loans?
Grameen Bank only offers loans to poor people. In general, the less you have, the
more youll receive. On our website you can find our list of ten indicators. The fewer
indicators you have, the easier it will be for you to get a loan.
Has your three-decade career as the Banker to the Poor given you more hope in
what you are doing?
Of course. What we have done in Bangladesh with the Grameen Bank can be done
globally. It is not just theoretical, it is practical. Poor people are not asking for charity;
charity is not the solution to poverty. Poor people are asking for opportunities and tha-
t's what we provide.
So what can the rest of us do to help?
Two things: one is to support microcredit in any part of the world. We can give you all
the necessary tools. The other one is to invest in social enterprises that earn money
by achieving social objectives, such as, improving education, health care program-
mes and the empowerment of women. A social business aims to solve specific pro-
blems, such as a lack of clean water, but as a business it generates its own money. SB
investors will get back the money they invested but wont receive dividends. The pro-
fit will be reinvested in the company to expand and enhance the quality of the product
or service. SB will create a new kind of capital market, and young people from richer
countries should find this business concept extremely interesting, as it will chal-
lenge them to make a difference in the world using their own creative talent.
Which was one of the first businesses that decided to become "social"?
By chance, I had the opportunity to talk to the chairman of Danone. I told him, Why dont we create a company cal-
led Grameen Danone in Bangladesh? It will be a social business. He said, What is a social business? I explained to
him that you invest money for a cause and you will get your investment money back, but not a single penny more than
that because the entire enterprise is a selfless investment. You concentrate on achieving the goals that you set for
yourself, which must be solving a specific social problem. He agreed, so we created this company, producing a spe-
cial kind of yogurt.
Bangladesh has 150 million people but half of the population is under the age of 20. Its a very young population with
millions and millions of children and many of those children are severely malnourished. In fact, 46% of the population
of Bangladesh is malnourished. That is our companys cause. So what we did was to produce a yogurt with all the mi-
cronutrients the childrens diets are lacking: vitamins, iron, zinc, iodine they are all in there. The magic of Danone is
that it doesnt taste like medicine. It is delicious. They put their expertise into it and the children love it. We made it very
cheap because once you are in social business, you avoid certain things. For example, you dont need a fancy con-
tainer anymore; you are not trying to catch peoples eye and divert attention from other companies, so the price comes
down. You dont need a big here we come marketing splash, so you save a lot of money there. So, it becomes very
cheap, we sell it and if a child eats two cups of this yogurt a week for eight or nine months, the child regains all the
Legacy Legacy
Professor Muhammad
Yunus, Banker to the
Poor, pioneered the con-
cept of using microfi-
nance on a grassroots
level to improve the life
of a nation at large. He
also disproved the notion
that the only way busi-
ness can help to eradi-
cate poverty is through
charity by creating the
model of the Social Busi-
ness, an enterprise that
can be self-sustaining
and even grow while at
the same time addres-
sing key social issues
and improving the lives
of millions of people.
173
missing micronutrients and becomes a very healthy and playful child. Parents love it, we love it, everybody loves it. The
more children we see saved from malnutrition, the more excited we get about the company.
If this yogurt company was a profit-making company, at the end of the year we would be asking the CEO, How much
money did we make this year? He would give us an exciting report: We made good money, a good return. We will
give you a good dividend. Not in the case of social business. We will be asking our CEO, How many children did we
feed this year? That was the purpose of the company. You have to show us that children are being cured of malnu-
trition and ask, How many children will be cured next year? What is our plan? This social business must be self-su-
staining, that is the number one condition, but at the same time it will be solving a problem.
How exciting. Any other examples?
We have created a lot of other such social businesses. We created one with Veolia, a water company, because Ban-
gladesh has a severe water problem. Our water is contaminated with arsenic. Millions of people drink poison every day
and there is no solution. It is getting worse and worse. So we created this tiny little company in a village as a proto-
type, to serve about 100,000 people and produce Veolia-quality, world standard drinking water and to make it very
cheap. It costs about 2.5 cents for ten litres. People can afford it, they can drink it and they dont have to drink the other
one. We also signed a contract with Adidas, the German shoe company. The CEO invited me to visit him in his office
and expressed an interest in starting a social business with us. We started with the mission statement: nobody in the
world should be without shoes. This is number one. The second statement would be: as a shoe company, it is our re-
sponsibility to make sure that we produce shoes at a price that even the poorest people can afford. He said, What
would that price be? I said, How about under one Euro, with the Adidas name on it and a guarantee of quality?
I am not talking about shoes because of comfort. Shoes are a big healthcare issue. Many of the diseases in poor coun-
tries come from walking barefoot particularly parasitic diseases. If you see poor children in Bangladesh and other
countries, you see bloated stomachs because they are carrying millions of parasites inside. Even if you feed them
what are you feeding? You are just feeding the parasites and the children stay skinny. If they have affordable footwear,
they wont have to suffer from this.
Going back to the Grameen Bank, or Village Bank, how did you do it? How does an economist become a social banker?
Well, it was very simple for me. I didnt know anything about banking so I looked at the conventional banks, and what
they do. Once I learned about it, I just did the opposite - and it works! That is what the Grameen bank is! Conventio-
nal banks go to the rich; I go to the poor. Conventional banks love the city centres; I go to the remote villages. We dont
work in the city at all. Conventional banks like to lend money to men; we lend to women. They want collateral. Con-
ventional banks want you to have a lot of something concrete so they can lend you money against that particular pro-
perty. We said no collateral because we are working for the poor. They have nothing to offer, so no collateral, no
guarantee. That is fun, because then we dont need any lawyers. We dont have any lawyers in our bank. We have 8
million borrowers; we deal with 100 million dollars a month. No lawyers, no papers and it works! So, people are puz-
zled. How do you do it? We have all this collateral, all these lawyers and the banks are collapsing. Yours seems to
work. I said, This is not only working in Bangladesh, this works all over the world. Even in New York City we have a
program called Grameen America and lend money to the absolutely lowest income families in the neighbourhood. We
have 800 branches in NYC and we have 99.3% repayment.
How can economics apply to this mission?
Today we train so much to make money, it is an obsession. We are becoming money-making robots. Human beings
are much more than robots, we are multi-dimensional and multi-functional. We can make money but at the same time
we can use business to solve problems. We put all human creativity, technology and ability on one side, and on the
other side all the problems of the world, fighting each other without connecting, that's the problem. We just leave it to
the governments and that's not the right approach. Poverty is a scourge on the whole world.
"Speed is irrelevant if you are going to the wrong direction," so we need to redirect technology. Today it is used just
to make more money. I have tremendous expectations for young people because they are growing up with access to
technology, they have creative power. They can start designing a new system in which there is no unemployment. One
day they will create museums where students will visit to learn about poverty, with the promise that we will never go
back to those days again.
174
GRAMEEN BANK
Rather than granting loans to the rich, Grameen Bank lends small amounts of money to poor individuals, mainly
poor women.
Thirty-five years ago, Dr Muhammad Yunus, a professor of economics, was shocked by the inconsistency between
the theories he taught at university and the extreme poverty surrounding him in his home country of Bangladesh.
Determined to make a difference, Yunus travelled to a nearby village, where he found that with only $27, he could
change the lives of dozens of craftsmen, sellers and rickshaw drivers. Acting as the guarantor, he paid their debts
and went on to found Grameen Bank, which has disbursed more than 8 billion dollars, which has saved millions of
people from poverty and social exclusion by the granting of microcredit loans. Yunus set out to help one village but
in the process, he managed to change the world.
With his firm belief in the importance of self-sufficiency, the village banker has altered the face of finance and en-
terprise. Striving for an alternative way to address extreme poverty, Yunus has revolutionized the banking system
by granting low-income workers access to credit. Through this process, he has allowed many citizens of develo-
ping countries to start up businesses, to make a living for themselves and their families and to create sustaina-
ble societies.
Muhammad Yunus has given new impetus to creativity and has allowed millions of people to realize their potential.
His influence has seen the creation of Grameen Phone (a mobile telephone company), Grameen Cybernet (Internet
Service Provider), Grameen Communications (Rural Internet Service Provider), Grameen Software, Grameen Infor-
mation Technology Park, Grameen Fund (Social Venture Capital), Grameen Capital Management, Grameen Textile
Mills, Grameen Knitwear, Grameen Renewable Energy, Grameen Healthcare, Grameen Education, Grameen Agri-
culture Foundation, Grameen Fisheries and Livestock and Grameen Business Promotion and Services.
In addition to the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Yunus has received numerous international awards and many honorary
doctorate degrees from institutions around the world.
175
To me poor people are like bonsai trees. When you
plant the best seed of the tallest tree in a flower-
pot, you get a replica of the tallest tree, only in-
ches tall. There is nothing wrong with the seed you
planted, only the soil-base that is too inadequate.
Poor people are bonsai people. There is nothing
wrong in their seeds. Simply, society never gave
them the base to grow on. All it needs to get the
poor people out of poverty for us to create an ena-
bling environment for them. Once the poor can un-
leash their energy and creativity, poverty will
disappear very quickly.
Each individual person is very important. Each person has tremendous potential. She or
he alone can influence the lives of others within the communities, nations,
within and beyond her or his own time.
Poverty in the world is an artificial creation, it doesn't
belong to human civilization. We can make people going out of poverty, we need to rede-
sign our policies.
One day our grandchildren will go to museums to see what poverty was like.
I went to the bank and proposed that they lend money to the poor people. The bankers
almost fell over. (1970s)
Muhammad Yunus has shown himself to be a leader who
has managed to translate visions into practical action for
the benefit of millions of people, not only in Bangladesh,
but also in many other countries. Loans to poor people
without any financial security had appeared to be an im-
possible idea. From modest beginnings three decades
ago, Yunus has, first and foremost through Grameen
Bank, developed micro-credit into an ever more important
instrument in the struggle against poverty. Grameen Bank
has been a source of ideas and models for the many in-
stitutions in the field of micro-credit that have sprung up
around the world.
Every single individual on earth has both the potential and
the right to live a decent life. Across cultures and civiliza-
tions, Yunus and Grameen Bank have shown that even the
poorest of the poor can work to bring about their own de-
velopment. Micro-credit has proved to be an important li-
berating force in societies where women in particular
have to struggle against repressive social and economic
176
THE CONNECTION
MUHAMMAD YUNUS AND RAVI SHANKAR
MUHAMMAD YUNUS AND RAVI SHANKAR HAVE USED THEIR TALENTS TO HELP PEOPLE IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.
IN 1971, SHANKAR HARNESSED HIS WORLDWIDE FAME TO ORGANISE THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH. THIS STAR-STUD-
DED EVENT RAISED FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR THE MILLIONS OF BANGLADESHI REFUGEES CREATED BY THE BAN-
GLADESHI LIBERATION WAR OF 1971. THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH ALSO SET THE PRECEDENT OF FAMOUS ARTISTS
ORGANISING HIGH-PROFILE CHARITY CONCERTS FOR HUMANITARIAN CAUSES.
MUHAMMAD YUNUS PUT HIS TOP-LEVEL EDUCATION TO THE BEST POSSIBLE USE BY CREATING GRAMEEN BANK, A FI-
NANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT HAS HELPED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR LIVES BY GIVING THEM THE OPPORTU-
NITY TO ACCESS LOANS OF AMOUNTS THAT WOULD SEEM TINY TO ANYONE WHO WAS NOT BORN INTO EXTREME POVERTY.
THESE TWO PROUD BENGALIS HAVE, BETWEEN THEM, HELPED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND SET TRENDS THAT WILL HELP
MILLIONS MORE ACROSS THE WORLD IN FUTURE GENERATIONS.
conditions. Economic growth and political democracy can
not achieve their full potential unless the female half of hu-
manity participates on an equal footing with the male.
Yunus' long-term vision is to eliminate poverty in the
world. That vision can not be realised by means of micro-
credit alone. But Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank
have shown that, in the continuing efforts to achieve it,
micro-credit must play a major part.
Muhammed Yunus' Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
...Nine elected representatives of the 7 million borrowers-
cum-owners of Grameen Bank have accompanied me all
the way to Oslo to receive the prize.
...All borrowers of Grameen Bank are celebrating this day
as the greatest day of their lives.
This years prize gives highest honour and dignity to the
hundreds of millions of women all around the world who
struggle every day to make a living and bring hope for a
better life for their children.
World's income distribution gives a very telling story. 94
percent of the world income goes to 40 percent of the po-
pulation while sixty percent of people live on only 6 per
cent of world income. Half of the world population lives
on 2 dollars a day. Over one billion people live on less than
a dollar a day. This is no formula for peace.
...Peace should be understood in a human way in a
broad social, political and economic way. Peace is threa-
tened by unjust economic, social and political order, ab-
sence of democracy, environmental degradation and
absence of human rights.
...Poverty is the absence of all human rights. The fru-
strations, hostility and anger generated by abject po-
verty cannot sustain peace in any society. For building
stable peace we must find ways to provide opportuni-
ties for people to live decent lives.
...I was shocked to discover a woman in the village, bor-
rowing less than a dollar from the money-lender, on the
condition that he would have the exclusive right to buy all
she produces at the price he decides. This, to me, was a
way of recruiting slave labour. I decided to make a list of
the victims of this money-lending "business" in the village
next door to our campus. When my list was done, it had
the names of 42 victims who borrowed a total amount of
US $27. I offered US $27 from my own pocket to get these
victims out of the clutches of those money-lenders. The
excitement that was created among the people by this
small action got me further involved in it. If I could make
so many people so happy with such a tiny amount of
money, why not do more of it? That is what I have been
trying to do ever since.
...Today, Grameen Bank gives loans to nearly 7.0 million
poor people, 97 per cent of whom are women, in 73,000
villages in Bangladesh. Grameen Bank gives collateral-
free income generating, housing, student and micro-en-
terprise loans to the poor families and offers a host of
attractive savings, pension funds and insurance products
for its members. Since it introduced them in 1984, hou-
sing loans have been used to construct 640,000 houses.
The legal ownership of these houses belongs to the
women themselves. We focused on women because we
found giving loans to women always brought more be-
nefits to the family.
...The women who are our borrowers always gave top-
most priority to the children. One of the Sixteen Decisions
developed and followed by them was to send children to
school. Grameen Bank encouraged them, and before long
all the children were going to school. Many of these chil-
dren made it to the top of their class. We wanted to cele-
brate that, so we introduced scholarships for talented
students. Grameen Bank now gives 30,000 scholarships
every year.
177
RAVI SHANKAR
The legendary sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar is best known for introducing Indian classical music to the world.
Shankar was born in Varanasi, India in 1920 to a prominent Bengali family, but moved to Paris at an early age with his
brothers dance group. He soon became a performer with the group, learning to play various traditional Indian musi-
cal instruments and touring the world, which exposed him to many different music forms. This experience, in addition
to his natural talent and passion for music, gave Shankar the foundation he needed to go on to build an illustrious in-
ternational career in music. He was the first person to perform Indian classical music on American television and in the
1950s, he composed the music for the famous Apu Trilogy by the legendary Indian film director Satyajit Ray.
In 1966, Shankar, who was already one of the most important figures in the history of Indian music, agreed to take on
George Harrison of the Beatles as a student. Their association made an immediate impact on the Beatles sound and
elevated Shankar to even greater international fame.
Because of the close friendship the two developed, Shankar was able to approach Harrison a few years later about
a charity effort he had in mind. Shankar was deeply moved by the plight of the eight million refugees who flooded
into India during the Bangladeshi struggle for freedom from Pakistan and he wanted to find a way to help on a large
scale. Together with Harrison, Shankar was able to organise the famous Concert for Bangladesh, which featu-
red performances by Shankar and Harrison as well as other legendary musicians like Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton,
Billy Preston and Ringo Starr.
This charitable effort was groundbreaking for the music industry at the time, and was one of the very first examples of
prominent artists lending their talents to raise funds for the causes they believe in. Charity concerts are now one of the
most successful tools in raising awareness and funds for humanitarian causes.
Shankar has received countless international music awards, including three Grammies and in 1999 was awarded In-
dia's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.
George Harrison called Ravi Shankar the "Godfather of World Music," and no other artist commands such admira-
tion and acclaim in both the East and the West.
A composer, trained in both Eastern and Western musical traditions and who died at the age of 92 in 2012, Shankar
helped foster a worldwide appreciation of Indias traditional music.
"In our culture we have such respect for musical instruments, they are like part of God."
"Pop changes week to week, month to month. But great music is like literature."
179
BACKGROUND
For much of its history, Poland has been a nation plagued by fo-
reign invasions and interference. Centuries of almost-constant
armed conflict severely diminished the countrys ability to defend
itself as it was constantly being invaded and repartitioned by nei-
ghbouring territories such as Russia and Prussia.
The early 20th century saw mass migration from Poland to Ame-
rica, although Poles had been in America since the earliest years
of European settlement. Despite gaining independence, Polands
situation worsened following the First World War. Not too long
after, with the onset of the Second World War, the country had to
endure new invasions from both Soviets and Nazis. Free Polish
troops fought bravely against the Nazis but suffered enormous
casualties.
The Red Army intervened only to occupy other areas of the country for itself. By the end of the Second World War,
more than 3 millions Jewish people had been exterminated by Nazis and another 3 million civilians and soldiers had
also been killed. In all, Poland lost nearly one-fifth of its total population to the Second World War. In the Yalta Con-
ference of 1945, the United States and Great Britain agreed to leave Poland under Soviet supervision.
Stalin had already set up a provisional Communist government in Poland after falling out with the Polish government
in exile, which had been based in London and had been universally recognized until that point. Stalin promised that
he would preserve Polish sovereignty and ensure that free elections were held. Instead, the elections that were orga-
nized were controlled by the Communist regime that had previously been installed and only served to consolidate So-
viet dominance of the country. Although Poland was not the most repressive of the Eastern Bloc nations, dissidents
and anti-Communist activists were constantly persecuted and frequently imprisoned.
Meanwhile, mismanagement and corruption in the Government saw the economy deteriorate to a dangerous degree
and consequently the standard of living for the Polish people deteriorated with it. A historical turning point in Polands
history came in 1978 when Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His offi-
cial visit to Poland the following year reawakened a sense of pride and hope in the country.
In 1980, widespread labour unrest led to the founding of Solidarnos c , or Solidarity. This trade union evolved into a po-
litical movement and its leader, Lech Walesa, became the countrys most influential voice of opposition to the Com-
munist regime. With the trade unions gaining an unprecedented public mandate, the Communist government
introduced martial law in 1981 in an attempt to reassert its power over the people.
POLAND
First World War
1914-18
End of the
Polish Republic
1926
Insurrection
in Warsaw Ghetto
1943
Conference of Yalta: United Sta-
tes, Great Britain and the Soviet
Union, the victors of the War,
give Poland to the Soviet Block
1945 1921
Poland becomes
a Republic
1939
Invasion by the Nazis
and beginning of the
Second World War
1944
Insurrection in Warsaw against
Nazi occupation. The Red
Army retakes Poland but War-
saw is razed to the ground
1955
Warsaw Pact
established
180
BACKGROUND
Solidarnosc was specifically targeted by Soviet authorities. The organization was made illegal and many of its leaders
and high profile supporters were arrested. In 1989, further deterioration of the economy and escalating strikes and
other industrial action within the country forced the government to sit down and negotiate with its opposition. These
negotiations, led by Solidarnosc, which the government had by that point been forced to recognise, led to the hol-
ding of partially free elections later that year. This, in turn, immediately set off a series of revolutions across the Ea-
stern Bloc countries and soon led to the collapse of Communism in Europe. Lech Walesa was awarded the 1983
Nobel Peace Prize and was elected President of Poland in 1990. In 1999, Poland became a member of NATO and in
2004 a member of the European Union.
AUTONOMOUS TRADE UNIONS VS COMMUNIST REPRESSION
In the partition of territories following the end of the Second World War, the
Allies decided to leave Poland in Soviet hands and therefore under the re-
pressive dictatorship of the Stalin regime.
The Soviet Union tried hard to make Poland the central piece of its brother-
hood of Communist nations but Poland, for its part, showed little regard for
Stalinism. Poland was always a country with a strong trade union move-
ment and the Nazis targeted the unions and its leaders after their invasion.
During the years of Soviet occupation and the resulting Communist regime,
the unions began to reform. The government repeatedly tried to incorpo-
rate the unions into the Communist party in an attempt to control them
but the unions firmly resisted. Growing dissatisfaction with the Commu-
nist government saw union activity, such as protests and illegal strikes, in-
crease steadily over the years. The most famous of these strikes occurred
in 1970 at the Gdansk Shipyards and was organized by a young electri-
cian named Lech Walesa to protest the governments latest attempt to
raise the prices of essential items.
The situation began to change after the official visit by the newly elec-
ted Pope John Paul II in 1979. The Polish Popes open opposition to Communism
strengthened the resolve of the mostly-Catholic population.
Keyw
ord: Solidarno Lech W
alesa ensured that the
term
Solidarno becam
e an
expression of unity for a group
w
orking tow
ards a com
m
on
goal. Solidarnosc (Solidarity)
represents the determ
ination to
resolve conflicts and disagree-
m
ents through peaceful nego-
tiations, in w
hich all parties
com
e from
a position of m
u-
tual respect.
Workers demonstrations
in Poznan repressed with
violence
1956
Repression of the workers
movements in Ursus
and Radom
1976
Pope John Paul II makes first
official visit to Poland
1979
General Jaruzelski declares
martial law. Solidarno is
banned and its leaders arrested
1981 1970
Massive illegal strikes by the
harbour workers on the Baltic
coast, dozens of workers killed
1978
Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyla
becomes Pope John Paul II
1980
Strike in Gdansk organized by
Walesa. It spreads all over Po-
land. Solidarno is founded.
Gdansk Agreements: Solidar-
no is legally recognized and
recognition of workers rights
1983
Lech Walesa
wins Nobel
Peace Prize
181
The power and in-
fluence of the trade
unions had been gro-
wing throughout the
1970s and this momen-
tum reached its peak
when in 1980, several
unions came together
to form Solidarnos c , an
independent and self-
governing trade union
with millions of mem-
bers, under the leader-
ship of Lech Walesa.
Solidarnosc became
the voice of the Polish
people, calling for in-
creased salaries and a
better standard of living.
On the surface it was a
trade union but its pro-
tests also represented
the peoples desire for
greater social justice and freedom in all areas of their lives.
Industrial action had been legal in Poland since the end of the
Nazi occupation but the Communist government, fearing Soli-
darnoscs influence, declared martial law in 1981 and attem-
pted to crush the organization. The trade union movement
carried on and eventually, thanks to tireless pressure from the
Polish people and the international community, the Communist
government was forced to back down. Solidarnos c , which had
evolved into the de facto opposition political party, was offi-
cially recognised by the Communist government in 1988. In
1989, the two parties engaged in negotiations that would
eventually lead to the end of Communism in Poland and, by
extension, the rest of Europe.
Lech Walesa was elected President of Poland in 1990 and
several other Solidarnosc leaders were also elected to the
countrys parliament. The trade unions of Poland remain
very active to this day.
Keyw
ord: Trade Union An organization of w
orkers w
ho have
banded together to achieve com
m
on
goals such as protecting the integrity
of its trade, achieving higher pay, in-
creasing the num
ber of em
ployees an
em
ployer hires, and better w
orking
conditions. Through its leadership, it
bargains w
ith the em
ployer on behalf
of union m
em
bers and negotiates labour
contracts w
ith em
ployers. The m
ost
com
m
on purpose of these associations
or unions is "m
aintaining or im
proving
the conditions of their em
ploym
ent".
Free elections and victory
of Solidarno candidates
1989
Dissolution of the Warsaw Pact
and end of the Cold War
1991
Poland enters
the European Union
2004 1990
Wasa democratically elected
as President of Poland
1999
Poland enters NATO
2005
Lech Kaczyski,
a politician from the
centre-right wing, former
mayor of Warsaw,
wins the elections
182
LECH WASA
The peoples spokesman, Lech Waesa campaigned for free trade unions and workers rights in Communist-era Po-
land. He was born in 1943, in Popowo, Poland. His father, Boleslaw, was a carpenter who was sent to a prison camp
after refusing to work for the Nazis. After finishing his vocational training and the mandatory military service, he went
to work as an electrician in the Gdansk Shipyard, which was then still called the Lenin Shipyard.
A natural leader with a deep interest in workers rights, he was one of the organizers of the famous 1970 strike at the
shipyard, which provoked a violent reaction from the Communist military. More than 80 workers were killed and the in-
cident led to the resignation of the Communist Party leader Wadysaw Gomuka.
The deaths of his colleagues made Waesa even more determined to continue campaigning for workers rights and the
formation of free trade unions. After continuing his activism, he was sacked from the shipyard and from several jobs
after that. The government kept him under constant surveillance at home and at work.
In 1980, Waesa was one of the coordinators of another illegal strike at the Gdansk Shipyard, despite the fact that he
was no longer working there and had to climb over a fence to get inside. That strike inspired other organised strikes
across the region and Waesa headed the Inter-Plant Strike Committee, coordinating the activities of striking workers
in over 20 different locations. This widespread, highly organized industrial action crippled the industry and forced the
government to sign an accord with the organizers of the strike. The Gdansk Agreement granted the Lenin Shipyard
workers the right to strike and allowed them to form their own independent trade union. Meanwhile, the strikes coor-
dinating committee became the National Coordinating Committee of the Solidarnos c Free Trade Union and Wae sa was
made its chairman. In addition to better pay and working conditions, Solidarnos c also campaigned for political free-
dom and the end of Communist rule in Poland.
Walesa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983. The prize was collected in Oslo by his wife Danuta and his son
Bogdan as he feared he wouldnt be allowed to re-enter Poland if he left. Walesa gave the prize money to the Soli-
darnosc headquarters, which was temporarily located in Brussels due to the declaration of martial law in Poland and
the outlawing of the union.
The awarding of the Nobel Prize had drawn attention to the situation in Poland and with his win Waesa had essentially
become the leader of the opposition in what was supposed to be a one-party state. World leaders such as Ronald Rea-
gan, Margaret Thatcher and, of course, Pope John Paul II, supported Waesa in his efforts.
Waesa continued to fight for justice while organizing industrial action throughout the 1980s. In 1990, in the first de-
mocratic elections in half a century and running with the campaign slogan "Nie chcem, ale muszem (I don't want to,
but I have no choice), he was elected President of Poland.
His presidential term saw Poland undergo sweeping changes. From a communist country manipulated by the Soviet
Union with a collapsing economy, it became an independent and democratic country with a rapidly growing free mar-
ket economy.
Time magazine named him as one of the 100 Most Influential Personalities of the 20
th
Century and he has received sco-
res of other international awards and accolades.
Lech Waesa has been married to Danuta since 1968 and they have 8 children. In 1995, he founded The Lech Walesa
Institute, whose mission is to support democracy and local governments in Poland and throughout the world. Today,
Lech Waesa continues his mission of the propagator of solidarity. While traveling the globe, he reminds the whole
world of the example set by the Polish people and the non-violent struggle for peace and democracy in their country.
The Committee has taken into account Wasas contribution, made with considerable
personal sacrifice, to ensure the workers right to establish their own organizations.
This contribution is of vital importance in the wider campaign to secure the universal
freedom to organize a human right as defined by the United Nations.
185
Crusading unionist and President of Poland from 1990 to 1995, his role in the downfall of Communism in Europe and
the end of the Cold War stands beside that of Pope John Paul II and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Lech Wasa is the definition of a living legend and the embodiment of the revolutionary dream: a worker who fought for
his fellow workers' rights to decent conditions and a fair wage. Raised in a small village on the basic principles of hone-
sty and hard work and armed with a firm belief in God, he founded the Solidarity Trade Union, led Poland to democracy,
toppled the first domino of European Communism and then became the President. If I were one of his eight children, I
would be enormously proud of my father, whose work has been rewarded with a Nobel Peace Prize, dozens of top in-
ternational awards and accolades and even having the international airport in Gdansk named after him. (April 2012)
Dear President,
What made you decide to become an electrician?
This profession allows you to find out how things work, to be
in control, to satisfy your natural curiosity. A good electrician
should be able to put seemingly incompatible things together,
make sure they work and keep them in order. Just like a good
politician. I think these skills have been very useful in my po-
litical life. I still do all the electrical repairs at home myself.
Is that true that you were on your way to get a job in Gdy-
nia after finishing vocational school but got off the train
in Gdansk to have a beer and stayed there? The power of coincidence. What would have happened had you not
missed that train?
It could all have been very different but God wanted me in Gdansk. Who knows? Had I not missed that train, Com-
munists might still be in power in Poland! It was destiny that placed me at the heart the struggle against Communism.
Solidarity became a massive movement but you are just one man. What was the moment that made you say, I
can be the one to make a difference?
I never planned to be a leader or to fight. I didnt have that kind of background. I was brought up in a small village with
simple principles. I was taught that the truth is the truth and a lie is a lie. I came to realise that the further I travelled
from my village, the less I saw these principles applied.
The significance of Solidarity is, if you are not able to carry your burden alone, Solidarity can help you. I consulted eve-
ryone when we started and not even one thought that we had any chance of bringing down communism. But look what
happened. Just when we were starting to get depressed, a Pole was elected Pope. Even the Communists in Poland
learned how to make the sign of the cross.
Pope John Paul II was the one who told me not to be afraid to change the face of the world. So there are values that
can defeat evil: faith in God and belief in your cause.
The Solidarity movement changed the course of history. What kind of movements do we need today to improve
peoples lives?
In the 20th century, the world was divided. In the USA, maybe it was not as evident, but in Europe the borders were
The Polish electrician
who became the
worlds most famous
trade union leader
and one of the key
players in the dow-
nfall of Communism
in Europe.
1943
Wasa born in Papowo
1967
Works as an electri-
cian/technician in the
Lenin Shipyard, later
known as the Gdansk
Shipyard
1970
Organizes a massive ille-
gal strike in Gdansk Shi-
pyard. Some people are
killed
1976
Sacked from Gdansk Shi-
pyard for collecting si-
gnatures to build a
monument dedicated to
the slain workers
1980
Leads the strike and oc-
cupation in Gdansk Shi-
pyard. Similar
demonstrations all
around Poland
with Lech Wasa
INTERVIEW
186
1980
He organises the
Strike Committee and
the government signs
an agreement with it.
Solidarno formed
1981
Received in Rome
by Pope John Paul II
1983
Receives the Nobel
Peace Prize
1989
Becomes only the
third foreigner in
history, after the
Marquis of Lafayette
and Winston Chur
chill, to address a
joint session of the
United States Con-
gress
1990
Wins presidential
elections and beco-
mes President of Po-
land for the next 5
years
clearly defined. The big issues of today are not as obvious but as re-
volutionaries, there are three questions that we need to ask ourselves:
1. Capitalism, the way it is practised now, doesn't work anymore.
How can we give equal opportunities to all and prevent economic
waste?
2. What should be the foundation of any democracy? I would say it is
accountability.
3. What foundations should be in place to ensure long-term stability?
Today's generation has the chance to find the answers to these questions because the older political leaders are lac-
king in fresh vision. In the past you just had to have one strong leader but today, you need combined voices and stron-
ger ties with civil society.
What does being a leader mean to you?
When we were young, in order to be a leader, you had to be more courageous than everyone else. Now you have to
be wiser because we need to be organized to meet challenges. As far as I was concerned, being a good leader meant
having faith in God but if I wanted to be a union leader today, I would take a slightly different approach. All conflicts
would be solved through meetings and a triangular dialogue process with the trade union representatives on one side,
the business owners on another side and public administration on the third.
What advice would you give those young people who want to fight injustice in the world?
I would tell them that we must all take responsibility. We must ensure that laws are observed and that conditions are
right for democracy to thrive. I would tell them that values should be at the heart of any negotiation. Moreover, we
should always protect fundamental rights such as the freedom of speech, freedom of association and the right to pro-
test. This is a great responsibility.
I think every government now understands the importance of the younger generation. All young people ask of us is to
tell them the truth. They should not be controlled and we will never succeed if we simply expect them to do our bid-
ding. This gives rise to extreme tendencies, like fascism. So we have to improve the platforms of discussion and even
out any disproportions. If we fail to do that, revolutions will start.
On the subject of extremism, Al-Qaeda is the most serious recent threat. Do you think terrorism is less of a
threat today than it was in the first decade of the 2000s?
We should start with an appropriate diagnosis of what terrorism is today. The terrorism we face today is the legacy of
a past era. During the Cold War, we armed two hostile camps to fight for us. When the Berlin Wall collapsed, we left
them alone and they continued to have their own armed conflicts. Now it is a global conflict.
What do you think about being compared to Nelson Mandela?
For me, just like for Mandela, it was natural to be a rebel because we were both outsiders, unlike F.W. de Klerk, who
was himself part of the old system. I admire de Klerk for being courageous enough to break with history.
Legacy Legacy
An electrician from a small village in Po-
land went on to become one of the sin-
gle most important figures in the fall of
Communism and the peaceful end of the
Cold War.
His courage, leadership and tenacity
proved that the will of the people can ef-
fect change not only within one country
but it can reshape the world.
And it all came about from his determi-
nation to stand up for the rights of his
fellow workers ironically, one of the
core tenets of Socialism.
187
We can effectively oppose to violence only if we dont use it.
Nobody should be put in prison because of his beliefs.
Europe is at short with ideas and far-sighting programmes, thats why we cant solve
serious problems, such as hunger in the world.
Difficulties make people stronger. I think its the lack
of problems that makes people weak and soulless.
I had conversations with all the most po-
werful men in the world: presidents, prime mi-
nisters, chancellors and even kings. Not one of
them believed that there was any chance for
us to make the Communism collapse before
the year 2000. Not one of this people I met
believed that this was possible. Not even a
single person in the world
THE CONNECTION
LECH WASA AND POPE JOHN PAUL II
TWO MEN FROM SMALL TOWNS IN POLAND WHO WENT ON
TO CHANGE THE WORLD. POPE JOHN PAUL II REACHED
OUT TO LECH WASA MANY TIMES AND GAVE HIM THE IN-
SPIRATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO CARRY ON HIS
STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN THE COUNTRY THEY BOTH
LOVED SO MUCH AGAINST WHAT SEEMED AT THE TIME LIKE
IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.
The campaign for human rights is, necessarily, an in-
separable part of the struggle for peace. The selection of
a Peace Prize winner on these grounds is not new: lau-
reates such as the South African Albert Luthuli, Martin
Luther King from the U.S.A., Andrei Sakharov from the
U.S.S.R., and the Argentinean Adolfo Prez Esquivel re-
ceived their awards on just these grounds. The Commit-
tee believes that this years Peace Prize can justly take
his place among this gathering of campaigners for
human rights.
We believe that it is in the spirit of Alfred Nobels legacy
that the Peace Prize should be a gesture of solidarity with
those who, in the service of peace, campaign for humani-
tys highest ideals.
Lech Wasas contribution is more than a domestic Polish
concern; the solidarity for which he is spokesman is an
expression of precisely the concept of being at one with
humanity; therefore he belongs to us all. The world has
heard his voice and understood his message; the Nobel
Peace Prize is merely a confirmation of this.
Lech Walesa's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
I regard it (the Prize) as a sign of recognition that the mo-
vement to which I gave all my strength has served well the
community of men.
I was 13 years old when, in June 1956, the desperate
struggle of the workers of Poznan for bread and freedom
was suppressed in blood. Thirteen also was the boy
Romek Strzalkowski who was killed in the struggle. It
was the Solidarity union which 25 years later demanded
that tribute be paid to his memory. In December 1970
when workers protest demonstrations engulfed the towns
of the Baltic coast, I was a worker in the Gdansk Shipyard
and one of the organizers of the strikes. The memory of
my fellow workers who then lost their lives, the bitter me-
mory of violence and despair has become for me the les-
son never to be forgotten.
Few years later, in June 1976, the strike of the workers
at Ursus and Radom was a new experience which not
only strengthened my belief in the justness of the working
peoples demands and aspirations, but has also indicated
the urgent need for their solidarity. This conviction brought
me, in the summer of 1978, to the Free Trade Unions
formed by a group of courageous and dedicated people
who came out in the defence of the workers rights and di-
gnity. In July and August 1980 a wave of strikes swept
throughout Poland. The issue at stake was then some-
thing much bigger than only material conditions of exi-
stence. My road of life has, at the time of the struggle,
brought me back to the shipyard of Gdansk. The whole
country has joined forces with the workers of Gdansk,
Szczecin and Jastrzebie were eventually signed and the
Solidarity union has thus come into being.
Our firm conviction that ours is a just cause and that we
must find a peaceful way to attain our goals gave us the
strength and the awareness of the limits beyond which we
must not go. What until then seemed impossible to
achieve has become a fact of life. We have won the right
to association in the trade unions independent from the
authorities, founded and shaped by the working people
themselves.
"Don't be afraid. Change the face of this world." (The Pope to young Wasa)
189
POPE JOHN PAUL II (KAROL WOJTYLA)
Pope John Paul II was installed in 1978 as the 264th pope and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. The second longest-
serving pontiff in history, he is perhaps best remembered for his compassion toward disadvantaged children and his at-
tempts to humanise the Vatican by emphasising the value and worth of the individual, regardless of background, race, or
religious beliefs. His 26-year papacy was marked by his unprecedented ability, and willingness, to connect with people.
The son of a Polish soldier, Karol Wojtyla, born in 1920 in Wadowice, was no stranger to suffering. He lost his mother
and brother while he was still a child and by the time he was 21, his entire immediate family had died. He was just a
teenager when the Nazi tanks rolled in, and his town was an hours journey from the infamous concentration camp at
Auschwitz. After the war, the Holocaust and the death of many Jewish friends, he found another terror sweeping his
country: atheistic communism.
Pope John Paul II played a key role in the tearing down of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Both
Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev credited him as an influential figure in the ending of the Cold War.
He was considered to be one of the most well travelled world leaders, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate in-
cluding communist Cuba, Muslim Syria, India and Bosnia, travelling more miles than all the previous Pontiffs combi-
ned. The Pope also made sixteen visits to Africa, visiting forty-two nations of that continent out of love and concern
for the African people. He also succeeded in establishing the first diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Israel.
In 2000 he made a historic trip to the Middle East that tore down age-old religious barriers, satisfied his ongoing quest to
reconcile Christians and Jews, and toured the Holy Land, fulfilling his lifelong dream of retracing the steps of Jesus Christ.
Another notable aspect of John Pauls papacy was his ongoing efforts to make amends with those that had been
wronged in the past by Roman Catholics or by the Vatican itself. During his years as Pope, he issued over 100 official
apologies, including ones for the silence and inactivity of many Catholics during the Holocaust, for the role Catholics
played in the African slave trade and for Muslims killed in the Crusades.
In 1994, he was named Time magazine's "Man of the Year." He also received countless other honours, including being
nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, at the age of 84. The depth of his spiritual guidance and the extent of his hu-
manitarian impact made him one of the most influential leaders of the 20
th
century.
Why do the working people in Poland and everywhere else for that matter have the right to
such a dialogue? It is because the working man is not a mere tool of production, but he is the sub-
ject which throughout the process of production takes precedence over the capital. By the fact of his
labour, the man becomes the true master of his workshop, of the process of labour, of the fruits of
his toil and of their distribution. He is also ready for sacrifices if he feels that he is a real partner
and has a say in the just division of what has been produced by common effort.
(During a visit to Poland in the 1980s)
"An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded."
The main error of the Socialism is of anthropological kind. Indeed, it considers the single man as a
simple element and a molecule of the social organism, so that the individuals good is totally subordi-
nated to the functioning of the socio-economic mechanism, while it considers, on the other hand, that
that very same good can be attained independently from their autonomous choice, from their only
and exclusive assumption of responsibility in front of the good or the evilThe man, indeed, depri-
ved of something that he can consider as his and of the opportunity to gain a living by his own ini-
tiative, depends on the social machine and on those who control it. This makes it more difficult to
recognize his personal dignity and hinders the road to building an authentic human community.
(from Centesimus Annus, 1991)
191
BACKGROUND
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries that make up the
United Kingdom. It is the smallest of what the British refer to as
the Home Nations, with a population of just 1.8 million. Unlike
the Republic of Ireland, where Roman Catholics represent a large
majority, in Northern Ireland, they are a minority at just 40% of
the population while Protestants of various denominations are
slightly in the majority at just over 45%.
Religion is a major issue in Northern Ireland, as it is a key fac-
tor in the political, economic and social history of the country.
Catholicism and Protestantism are seen to represent the two op-
posing sides of the debate on Northern Irish freedom, with the
Catholic community being primarily made up of those whose an-
cestors are native of Ireland and the protestant community lar-
gely descending from the English and Scottish settlers who colonized Ireland after the English Reformation. Within
those two groups are the Nationalists or Republicans, who want to see Northern Ireland free of British rule and reu-
nited with the Republic of Ireland, and the Unionists or Loyalists, who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the Uni-
ted Kingdom. The two factions are very much divided along religious lines.
Although tensions between the English and Irish date back to the English invasion of Ireland in 1171, the Catholic-
Protestant conflict began in earnest in the 16th century when, after the English Reformation, the Catholic Irish were
persecuted and displaced and much of their land was seized. This continued during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I
when 23 new settlements were built in Ireland for Scottish Protestants. Later, King James I started the Plantation
of Ulster, a systematic colonization of Northern Ireland, which saw around 20,000 Protestant settlers arrive from En-
gland and Scotland. Dispossessed from their land, many Irish Catholics rebelled against the settlers, leading to de-
cades of fighting which ran until 1690 when the Protestants led by William III crushed an uprising by James II and his
mostly Catholic supporters.
The next major uprising was the Irish rebellion of 1798 when France sent troops to fight alongside their Irish comra-
des against the British. The Irish were again defeated and two years later, the Act of Union passed, which removed
the Irish Parliament and decreed that Ireland was to be ruled directly by the Westminster Parliament in London.
This lasted until Partition in 1921 when 26 counties of Ireland became an independent Republic, leaving the remai-
ning six counties of Northern Ireland under British rule, with a parliament based in Stormont (Belfast). The boundaries
of this new state were drawn so that the Protestant community would be a permanent majority with a greater share of
the countrys economic and political power.
Easter Rising. Irish Nationalists
declare Ireland an Indepen-
dent Republic. The rebellion is
crushed by the English and all
of its leaders executed
1916
The Republic of Ireland is
founded and leaves the British
Commonwealth; Northern Ire-
land remains part of the Uni-
ted Kingdom
1949
The British government sends
troops into Northern Ireland;
The Troubles begin
1969
Bloody Sunday in London-
derry, when 14 unarmed pro-
testers are shot and killed by
the British Army
1972 1921
Anglo-Irish Peace Treaty brings
an end to the 3-year Irish War
of Independence and parti-
tions Ireland
1955
The Republic of Ireland beco-
mes a member of the United
Nations
1971
Internment without trial intro-
duced for suspected nationa-
list militants
NORTHERN IRELAND
(GREAT BRITAIN)
192
BACKGROUND
Fast forward towards the end of the 1960s, a Catholic civil rights mo-
vement emerged. This, in turn, led to violent clashes between Natio-
nalist- and Loyalist-Protestants. Militant groups emerged on both
sides and began to stage paramilitary-style and terrorist attacks on
military and civilian targets. Nationalist organizations such as the
Real Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Provisional IRA and Loyalist
organizations such as the Ulster Defence Association and the Ul-
ster Volunteer Force waged a bloody civil war, killing people in pubs,
hotels, metro stations and the streets of Northern Ireland, the Re-
public of Ireland and England. The police and the British military
personnel that were sent as reinforcements responded with force
and the situation eventually deteriorated. In the violence that la-
sted for more than 30 years, approximately 3,500 people were kil-
led and around 45,000 were injured.
After years of continued conflict, new leadership began to emerge
in these troubled areas; in Dublin (Albert Reynolds and then Bertie
Ahern), in London (John Major and then Tony Blair later) and in the Unionist party
(David Trimble). The contact initiated by John Hume, Catholic leader of the Social Democratic and
Labour Party with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, resulted in negotiations that involved
all parties and produced the Belfast Agreement of April 10 1998, better known as the Good Friday Agreement. The
Agreement was overwhelmingly supported and eventually approved the following month in simultaneous referenda by
voters in both parts of Ireland. The Constitution of the Republic of Ireland was amended to accommodate the terms
of the Agreement and the claim for Northern Ireland territories dissolved. Additionally, the recognition of the right of
being for Northern Ireland was made explicit and the Northern Ireland Parliament was reintroduced with all the main
parties represented. The Unionist leader David Trimble led the first Government of Northern Ireland, becoming the
countrys First Minister.
Despite some dissatisfaction with the Agreement from the Protestant Unionists who feel abandoned by the British Go-
vernment and the Nationalists who feel the struggle has not concluded because the process did not result in a unified
Ireland, for the most part, the people of Northern Ireland now live in peace. To alleviate such concerns, a great deal of
groundbreaking work is being done at the grassroots level to promote reconciliation.
The British government abolishes the Par-
liament of Northern Ireland
1973
Bobby Sands and nine others Irish natio-
nalists die in prison as the result of hunger
strikes
1981
Good Friday Agreement and Nobel Peace
Prize co-awarded to the Protestant Unio-
nist David Trimble and to the Catholic
Nationalist John Hume
1998 1976
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Betty
Williams and Mairead Corrigan
1985
Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed, giving
the Republic of Ireland a role in the
government of Northern Ireland
Keyw
ord: TERRORISM Is the system
atic use of
terror, especially as a
m
eans of coercion, w
hich
deliberately targets or di-
sregards the safety of non-
com
batants (civilians). Such
violent acts are intended to
create fear and are perpe-
trated for a religious, poli-
tical or, ideological goal.
193
GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT VS
REPRESSION IN NORTHERN IRELAND
After years of fighting, the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 granted independence to 26 counties in the South of Ireland. In
the six predominantly Protestant counties of Ulster, a Parliament of Northern Ireland was established. However, di-
scrimination against Catholics in that part of the country soon led to a widening of political divisions between the two
religious factions.
In 1949, Eire (the old Celtic name for Ireland) became a Republic but the six northern counties of Ulster remained part
of the United Kingdom. For the Catholic minority, jobs were difficult to find, they were excluded from the allocation of
council (public) housing and from the control of civic councils. Towards the end of the 1960s, a Civil Rights movement
began to take shape. In 1968, a peaceful demonstration to protest discrimination against Catholics was brutally qua-
shed by police in Derry. Within the Catholic community, support increased for Republican groups like the Irish Repu-
blican Army, along with several other factions on both sides of the political spectrum who took up arms and began to
conduct acts of paramilitary warfare, and even terrorism, against each other, the military and civilians.
In 1972, during a protest against the policy of internment without trial for those accused of paramilitary activities, Bri-
tish soldiers fired on demonstrators killing 13 people, including 6 teenagers. This incident, notoriously known as
Bloody Sunday, marked the beginning of a true civil war.
Parliament decided to adopt some very harsh measures, many of which were highly criticized by the international
community. One of these measures was to strip paramilitary detainees of their political prisoner status. At the time, pri-
sons were filling up with Republicans who began a series of protests to show their dissatisfaction of being treated like
common criminals. They refused to wear prison uniforms, covering themselves with blankets instead (the Blanket
Protest). In an effort to protest attacks carried out by prison officers, inmates refused to wash themselves or leave their
cells in what would come to be known as the Dirty Protests. The most famous of the protests, however, was the hun-
ger strike, which resulted in the death of Bobby Sands and nine other young people, shocking the world.
Paramilitary groups on both sides continued their violent and bloody attacks, both in Ireland and England, and thou-
sands of people were killed with half of them being innocent civilians. Gerry Adams from Sinn Fein, the political wing
of the IRA, and John Hume of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, began a process of dialogue that led to a cea-
sefire in 1994 and resulted in the start of a much-needed peace process. On the 10th of April 1998, the Good Friday
Agreement was ratified. The agreement envisaged the release of many political prisoners and established that the Nor-
thern government representatives, both Catholic and Protestant, receive a number of seats proportional to election re-
sults. The disarmament process is still underway and, despite many remaining difficulties, all parties seem willing to
compromise in order to avoid falling back to those tense years commonly referred to as The Troubles.
GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
Upon awarding the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize to John Hume, leader of the Catholics Social Democratic and La-
bour Party, and David Trimble, leader of the Protestants Ulster Unionist Party, the Norwegian Nobel Commit-
tee expressed its hope that the agreement that had been reached on Good Friday in April of that year had laid
the constitutional foundation for a lasting and sustainable peace. The agreement proposed replacing direct
British rule with self-ruled institutions in the Northern Ireland Assembly and its executive power. The following
month, a majority of voters in Northern Ireland approved the agreement in a referendum and in the autumn of
that year, the newly constituted Assembly with representation from both sides of the political spectrum met for
the first time.
Positive contributions to the peace process were consistently offered by various Northern Irish leaders and by
the governments of Ireland, Britain and the United States. Former US Senator George Mitchell, sent to the ne-
gotiations by President Bill Clinton, later remarked, Without Hume there wouldnt have been any peace pro-
cess, without Trimble any agreement.
194
IRELAND: A TROUBLED HISTORY
In 1171, England invaded and colonized Ireland. Over the centuries, the Irish rebelled against the English colonial, po-
litical and military presence. The situation intensified when the Catholic Irish refused to change their faith during the
sweeping English Reformation in spite of religious persecution. Under English rule, lands belonging to the Irish Ca-
tholics were often confiscated and given to the Protestant English colonists. This caused revolts against the En-
glish and started a history of conflicts between native Irish Catholics and Protestant settlers. Tensions were exacerbated
under Queen Elizabeth I when 23 new towns were built in Northern Ireland for Protestant settlers from Scotland. A cen-
tury later, as part of Oliver Cromwells brutal Irish campaign, a new wave of British and Scottish settlers were given
land vehemently taken from the Irish. The Protestant settlers became a powerful minority in Ireland as a whole and a
majority in Ulster. The Catholics had no right to vote or hold political office until Catholic Emancipation granted in 1829.
Great Britain controlled Irelands civil service and military. With the Act of Union of 1801, the Irish Parliament was
abolished and Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. The worst disaster in Irish history was the potato fa-
mine of the 1840s. About half the population lived on small farms and potatoes were their main staple physical nou-
rishment. When the potato crop failed for four consecutive years, nearly one million people died of starvation and
disease and another million were forced to emigrate, mainly to the USA. In 1905, a political movement that would be
known as Sinn Fein was founded with the purpose of overthrowing British rule and obtaining independence. In 1916,
they organised an uprising in Dublin known as the Easter Rising. For seven days straight, a few hundred poorly armed
Irish patriots fought British forces to a standstill. But they were finally overwhelmed by superior numbers and weapons.
Sinn Fein became the symbol of the fight for Irish freedom and Irelands most important political party. They won the
general elections in 1918 and the newly elected Members of Parliament refused to go to London, setting up a Parlia-
ment in Dublin instead. After a long and violent struggle between the powers that be in Britain and the Irish nationa-
lists, Ireland was partitioned in 1921. The six predominantly Protestant counties in the North remained part of the
United Kingdom while the remaining 26 counties in the South became the Irish Free State. At this time, the self-go-
verned Irish Free State was still partially controlled by Britain. In 1937, however, the Irish Free State became the inde-
pendent country of Eire and in 1949 Eire became the Republic of Ireland.
BETTY WILLIAMS
Elizabeth Betty Smyth was born in Belfast on May 22, 1943. She was baptized as a Catholic although two of her
grandparents were Protestant and one was Jewish. Betty grew up amid the division and sectarian violence that bli-
ghted Belfast at the time. Members of her family were killed by both Catholic and Protestant extremists.
Betty married her first husband, Ralph Williams in 1961 and they went on to have two children. Betty worked as a re-
ceptionist and lived the life of a normal wife and mother until an incident in 1976 changed her life.
On August 10 of that year, Anne Maguire and three of her children were hit by a car while out for a walk. The car was
being driven by Danny Lennon, a Provisional Irish Republican Army fugitive who had been shot by the police. The
three children, Joanne, John and Andrew, were killed. Williams, who had been driving home from her mothers house,
was the first to arrive on the scene.
In that life changing moment, Betty knew something had to be done. Within days of the accident, she had managed
to get 6,000 signatures on a petition for peace and had already gained considerable attention from the public and the
media. Together with Mairead Corrigan, Anne Maguires sister, she organised a march to the Maguire childrens grave.
They were joined by 10,000 women, both Catholic and Protestant. The marchers would come to be physically attac-
ked by members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army but Williams and Maguire did not give up. The following
week, they organized another march. This time they were joined by an unprecedented 35,000 people.
Williams and Corrigan co-founded Women for Peace which later, with the participation of journalist Ciaran McKeown,
became The Community of Peace People, an organization dedicated to finding a peaceful resolution to the troubles
in Northern Ireland. The following year, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Since 1976, Betty has worked with several childrens rights organizations, such as the World Centers of Compassion
for Children International, the Global Childrens Foundation, and the Institute of Asian Democracy. She co-created
the Nobel Womens Initiative with fellow Laureates Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Rigoberta Mench Tum, Shirin Ebadi,
Jody Williams and Wangari Maathai.
She has lectured extensively in the United States. She has participated in international initiatives for peace and, in 1993,
travelled with other Nobel Peace Laureates to Thailand, attempting to enter Burma to protest against the detention of fel-
low Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2002, two months before USAs invasion of Iraq, she led an Alitalia humanitarian flight
to Baghdad in order to protest against the embargo inflicted on children, the most innocent victims of any war. They tran-
sported 15 tons of basic necessities for Iraqi children and drugs for two childrens hospitals in Baghdad. This was the first
time that a European airplane broke the UN embargo, flying over the no-fly zone skies. In 2003, she started founding the
City of Peace in Scanzano Jonico, Italy: a revolutionary project to welcome minors coming from conflict zones.
She has won several awards, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Award, the Peoples Peace Prize of Norway, the Schweit-
zer Medallion for Courage, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award and the Carl von Ossietzky Courage Medal. She has also
received an honorary law degree from Yale University.
Betty Williams transformed a heartbreaking tragedy into a message of hope and commitment for future generations
and proved that every individual has a part to play in the global peace process.
Their initiative paved the way for the strong resistance against violence and misuse
of power which was present in broad circles of people.
[They] acted from a profound conviction that the individual can make a meaningful
contribution through constructive reconciliation.
197
1943
Born in Belfast, Northern
Ireland
1961
Marries Ralph Williams
1963
Her son Paul is born
1971
Her daughter Deborah
is born
1976
Co-founds the Commu-
nity of Peace People and
wins the Nobel Peace
Prize with Mairead Cor-
rigan
Dearest Betty,
Respect for all life, cultures and religions is the most important lesson to teach any child.
What qualities are necessary to become a peace maker?
Experience has taught me that there are many ingredients required to become a peace maker. The first and most
important ingredient is yourself. I cannot preach peace unless I commit to practicing peace in every facet of my life
(not easy with my Irish temper). Being human, sometimes I fail miserably but I keep on trying to improve my peace-
loving self and each trial makes me stronger and I have learned from the many mistakes I have made both in my life
and in my work.
How do you cultivate wisdom? Compassion?
Some people would believe that wisdom comes with age. Not al-
ways! I have met some children who are much wiser than adults.
Children do not declare war. Children do not invade countries
and destroy human life. Compassion I have learned from being
witness to the savagery perpetrated on the worlds most inno-
cent and defenceless. Instead of treasuring the worlds greatest
resource, the children, we sit back as upwards of 40,000 chil-
dren die every day in our world from conditions of malnutrition.
No amount of excuses is acceptable from any government any-
where for allowing children to suffer as we do. It must stop.
What is the meaning of peace to you?
I travel so much that peace for me is cooking a meal for my family, sleeping in my own bed, soaking in my own
bath, waking up in my own home.
By far the greatest personal achievement will always be my children. My daughter, Deborah, and son, Paul, are both
fine human beings and fabulous parents. Being a parent is no easy task. The world is full of temptations. Keeping our
children on the right path is very difficult and demands all our love and devotion. If we get parenting right and our chil-
dren turn out to be decent, kind people, we have a right to be proud and feel a sense of achievement. Because of the
work my only regret is having had to travel so much when my children were younger. I missed them terribly and although
I had a live-in nanny and fabulous back up from my family, the missing of my children travelled with me wherever I went.
What is your motto?
I expect I would have several mottos. The impossible takes a little longer is one of my favourites. Or, There are peo-
ple who make things happen, people who watch things happen and people who wonder what the hell happened. I
think Lee Iacocca of Chrysler fame said the latter; I love it.
Co-founder of The
Community of Peace
People, a grassroots
movement for peace in
Northern Ireland and
the Nobel Womens
Initiative and creator
of the World Centers
of Compassion for Chil-
dren International.
with Betty Williams
INTERVIEW
198
1982
Marries James
Perkins
1984
Receives the
Eleanor Roosevelt
Award
1993
She participates in
the Peace Nobel
groups mission to
Burma
2002
She leads an Italian
humanitarian mis-
sion to Iraq
2003
Decides to create
the City of Peace
in Scanzano Jonico
2006
Co-creates the
Nobel Womens Ini-
tiative
What talent would you most like to possess?
I would love to play piano. Oh, I dont mean I want to be Rachmaninoff.
Just to play a tune or two would be fabulous.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
My quick temper. I can explode in a second, blast everyone around me
and then ten minutes later wonder why no one is speaking to me.
Where do you find inspiration?
Although I know I can point to many famous examples of inspirational
role models in modern history, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma
Gandhi, Nelson Mandela. It is in ordinary everyday people struggling to
exist I find my inspiration. People like Rudy a once tough gang leader
transformed after meeting my sister Laureate, Rigoberta Menchu Tum,
when she led a PeaceJam in Denver.
I watch Rudy now as he builds warriors for
peace among many hundreds of young men
and women he touches and inspires. They pro-
gress from knives to olive branches in one
huge step. Rudy inspires me.
What's the secret for a lasting relationship?
All relationships whether it be boy, girl, man,
woman, mother, daughter, husband, wife, etc.
need the two basic ingredients that will carry
the relationship through any crisis respect
and love. Hold true to these values and your
relationships will last forever.
Who is your hero in real life? Living or dead
famous person you most admire?
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of Burma whose freedom from a brutal illegal ruling military
junta in her country must be secured. Suu Kyi is simply one of the bravest women ever born. I have so much love and
respect for her and the moral courage it has taken to have suffered as she has for over a decade and still she remains
strong and committed to leading the Burmese into true democracy and freedom. God bless her, she is a shining exam-
ple of courage and non-violence. His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I adore His Holiness. In a packed to capacity room his
spiritual depth is so powerful it touches everyone. His sense of humour is lovely to be around. Its infectious and makes
all around him smile. Yet, it is his profound wisdom and message of non-violence, justice, peace and freedom that makes
him my hero. The Chinese who invaded and removed Tibet from His Holiness have much to learn from this great man.
Legacy Legacy
After witnessing a horrific accident that
claimed the lives of three young chil-
dren, Betty Williams decided that her
country had seen too much loss of life
and set out to do something about it
herself. This decision took her on a
journey which led her from being an
office receptionist to an activist to a
Nobel Peace Prize winner in the space
of only fourteen months. She never loo-
ked back, devoting the rest of her life
to promoting the cause of peace, not
just in Northern Ireland, but all over the
world. Betty Williams is a great exam-
ple of how much - and how quickly
one individual can make a difference in
the world once they put their mind to it.
199
What gave you the strength to overcome even the hardest moments of your life?
The pain on the faces of the many thousands of women and children I have witnessed as I have travelled the world.
The eyes that without words ask you why? Why am I starving? Why am I sick? These are brutally hard moments. As
a woman and a mother my heart aches to see their suffering.
Is there a single issue that makes you fuming with indignation? And the latest thing?
The amounts of money, trillions, spent on arms and ammunition and bigger and better ways to destroy humankind. Su-
rely we all know this is insane and we have allowed science and scientists to become monsters in our midst. We must
begin the process of challenging those in science who use their incredible brains to create death and destruction. We
must also challenge governments and demand an end to the insane amount of money going into military budgets.
And the latest, Haiti, of course. Why did it take the deaths of over 300,000 people to make the world look at the suf-
fering of Haiti and her people? When those of us working to try and help that tortured nation have been asking for help
for decades? Haiti now will probably get the help needed to rebuild a shattered nation. But God what a price to pay
for that help.
Which is the book that inspired you most? And your favourite book?
This one is impossible! Im an avid reader and have read dozens of books that are inspirational and dozens that I love,
would and have read again.
Your favourite song or singer?
I like a cross section of songs and singers. The wonderful magic of Charles Aznavour when he sang, She. The high
Cs held so beautifully by Maria Callas as she performed in the great operas. The smooth tones of Barry White and the
absolute beauty of the Vienna Boys Choir to name just a few. There are many more. The violin playing of Yehudi Me-
nuhin, the piano of Rachmaninoff, etc. Last but not least, Mario Frangoulis, the famous Greek tenor and our Ambas-
sador of Peace.
Your favourite movie or actor/actress?
Meryl Streep for her superb acting ability. Shes a fabulous mimic. Richard Gere (Ive met Richard; hes a lovely human
being) is a committed Buddhist. He does much for the Freedom of Tibet Campaign. And, of course, theres the lo-
vely George Clooney trying his best to help Darfur. These men come immediately to mind as Ive met them. But I love
the classically trained actors. Sir John Gielgud, Richard Burton, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren. They are
all fabulous.
Your favourite dish/cuisine?
My top favourite dish is very simple. Roast beef, lots of fresh veggies, savoury Yorkshire pudding and rich beef sauce.
I love Italian food and cook pasta frequently. The family say my pomodoro and bolognese sauces taste authentically
Italian. (They should, they are Italian recipes, dont tell!). And now we are all part of the European Union I can find won-
derful prosciutto, Roma tomatoes, fresh pasta, good olive oil and, of course, bread ciabatta and panini in my local
grocery shop.
The voice of women has a special role and a special soul force in the struggle for a non-
violent world.
Wishing is not enough, no matter how heartfelt the wish. What is required is dedication,
hard work and courage.
Nonviolence is the weapon of the strong.
200
In 2002 you managed to break the embargo imposed to Iraq by leading an Alitalia humanitarian flight for ho-
spitalized children to Bagdad, showing the world that children shall never be part of any war imposed by adults.
You met with the Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz, in prison since 2004, whose physical conditions cannot be
checked by any third party. What is your opinion about the conditions of war criminals in jail? How should they
be treated? And do you think that by killing Saddam Hussein, without allowing him a regular process, they
made sure that many international political secrets remained undisclosed for ever?
In 2002 many parts of Bagdad lay in ruins. The question of weapons of mass destruction, although refuted by many,
was still being touted. The governments of America and Great Britain were poising for an invasion. I talked to many
people, including Tariq Aziz, three months before the US attack to Iraq. I found him to be quite subdued, almost as if
he knew Iraq would fall.
Please do not misunderstand me. I detested Saddam Hussein and all his henchman, Tariq Aziz included. However, the
way they were and continue to be treated goes against the Geneva Convention and the basic human rights of priso-
ners. There are those who would argue they are getting what they deserve. Yet, we who preach the rule of law can bend
or break the law without challenge reducing our laws to mere rules to be broken. The so-called upholders of the rule
of law in any democracy should hang their heads in shame at the debacle in Iraq; particularly at the behaviour of the
Bush administration and Tony Blair. Shock and awe! It was shock and awe all right. The world will pay for these terri-
ble acts as the years go by. Before the invasion, half the population was under the age of 15. Those who survived will
remember shock and awe and whatever international political secrets they try to bury will only be buried for a little while.
One day we may all learn the political underworld that was Iraq and America.
Thirty years in the
field has convinced
me of one thing, the
obvious fact that
there are no answers
from the top down.
Governments do not
have the answers.
Indeed quite the re-
versal. A lot of
times they not only
do not have the an-
swers, they themsel-
ves are the problem.
If we are committed
to helping our wor-
lds children, then
we must begin to
create solutions from
the bottom up.
201
You managed to create, in Basilicata Region, a free zone area for minors and their families coming from war
areas, offering them that refugee status which is frequently denied. In 2003, the Italian government had doo-
med the same land as a European Nuclear waste plant. Yet, you managed to transform the destiny of that area
into a shelter for foreign families whose future would otherwise be compromised by the implication of war. Can
you tell us more about the City of Peace?
When Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi tried to take the land in Basilicata for the dumping of nuclear waste the
people of the region became incensed that such a hideous thing should happen to their land. Basilicata is one of the
most breathtakingly beautiful regions in Italy. Its people had developed a certain kind of courage that allowed them to
grow strong in the fact of poverty and despair. The land was their mother, the provider of the food in their bellies and
good wine with their meals.
Enraged, they took to the streets in their hundreds of thousands. They showed a courage born of many years of suf-
fering. That courage drew me to join them and together we fought to gain the land and build the first City of Peace in
the world for children. What a turnaround! A City of Peace instead of a nuclear waste dump.
We are finalizing the renovations in existing structures so that we can house at least 29 children and families quickly.
Then will follow the beginning of construction of the actual City.
Our peace education program there, was launched last year and is a resounding success with more courses being
scheduled this year.
Betty Williams humanitarian mission to Baghdad, December 2002
202
WOMEN AND THE NOBEL PRIZE: A GENDER IMBALANCE
Although the Nobel Peace Prize had already existed for 75 years by 1976, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan were
only the fourth and fifth women to win it after Bertha von Suttner (1905), Jane Addams (1931) and Emily Greene Balch
(1946). They were to be followed by Mother Teresa (1979), Alva Myrdal (1982), Aung San Suu Kyi (1991), Rigoberta Men-
ch Tum (1992), Jody Williams (1997), Shirin Ebadi (2003) and Wangari Maathai (2004), and the trio of Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakel Karman (2011).
There have been comparatively few female awardees in any of the 5 Nobel Prize categories; only about 5% of all the
Nobel Prize winners in history are women. This imbalance reflects womens struggle for respect and recognition throu-
ghout all sectors of society. However, in the last 50 years, things have gradually changed. A particularly strong candi-
date was the activist, diplomat and former First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, who chaired the United
Nations Commission for Human Rights from its foundation in 1946 until 1953. In 1947, she received another nomina-
tion, together with Alexandra Kollontai, particularly renowned in Scandinavia as the Soviet envoy to Sweden and Nor-
way and as having played a major role in peace negotiations between Soviet Union and Finland. Recognition for these
two women would have had great symbolic importance in a period when the Cold War was becoming more and more
intense and would have offered some hope that the two world superpowers might one day be able to reach a mutual
understanding. However, in1947 the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Quakers, and in 1948, to nobody. Jane Ad-
dams, the American social and political activist, was nominated an astonishing 91 times between 1916 and 1931, when
she was finally awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in pacifism and with the International Congress of Women.
Jody Williams, Rigoberta Mench Tum, Betty Williams
203
On August 10 1976, a remarkable incident occurred in
one of the streets of Belfast in Northern Ireland. A man, in
an attempted getaway, comes tearing down the street in
his car, trying to shake off his pursuers. Suddenly a shot
rings out, and with a mortally wounded driver slumped
over the steering-wheel, the vehicle swerves into a fence,
knocking down a mother and her three children. The mo-
ther, though badly injured, survived, while her three chil-
dren were killed on the spot.
Incidents of this kind are merely a logical result of the
mindless brutality of war. We have seen and heard this
so often that we are in danger of forfeiting the ability to
react in horror. Worse still, every single act of violence
merely nurtures hatred, fostering in turn more and more
violence.
The event in Belfast on that August day in 1976, however,
gave rise to something entirely different, and it is for this
reason that it was so remarkable. In the area where the
three children were killed lived a housewife: she heard the
thud as the car crashed into the fence, and as she hurried
to the spot she took in the whole horror of the scene. At
that moment something happened in that womans mind:
it was like the bursting of a dam.
She started to go from door to door in the actual street
where the tragedy had occurred. The cup of horrors had
now run over: the time had come when the ordinary man
and woman must rise in protest against this senseless use
of violence. It was no longer a question of political attitu-
des or religious convictions: there was only one remedy:
the people themselves must cry halt. Radio and television
showed a certain amount of interest in the housewifes
campaign, and she was given an opportunity of making a
broadcast appeal to the Irish people not to capitulate in
terror. Peace must not be allowed to sit idly on the tou-
chlines: now, for once, peace must march!
Her appeal found a ready response. More and more peo-
ple rallied to her call. One of the first to do so was an aunt
of the three children, and these two women now marched
boldly out into the no-mans land of war, proclaiming their
simple, heartening message of reconciliation. From these
small beginnings sprang what today, the world over, is
known as the Peace Movement of Northern Ireland.
Today, the housewife and the aunt of those three children
are with us, and today these two, Betty Williams and Mai-
read Corrigan, have come to receive the Nobel Peace
Prize for 1976.
One of the main reasons why the women proved so suc-
cessful in their campaign is that on both sides of the front
line a desperate yearning for peace had taken root. What
Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan said re-echoed the
thoughts of tens of thousands, and in this way they be-
came the spokespersons of the desire of a commonsense
approach that filled the average men and women de-
spite their feeling of helplessness in the face of violence.
They did so in the name of humanity and love of their
neighbour: someone had to start forgiving.
Betty Williams' Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
...As we think of Carl von Ossietsky, and those who lan-
guish in prison, we think of those now in jail in Northern
Ireland, young men and women misled by tradition into
violence, and whose early release into a nonviolent so-
ciety we seek. And we think of men like Adolfo Prez
Esquivel, imprisoned without trial in Argentina, we think of
so many similarly incarcerated throughout the world,
whose only crime is their unswerving dedication to
create just relationships by nonviolent methods throu-
ghout the human family.
War has traditionally been a mans work, although we
know that often women were the cause of violence. But
the voice of women, the voice of those most closely in-
volved in bringing forth new life, has not always been li-
stened to when it pleaded and implored against the waste
of life in war after war.
Because of the role of women over so many centuries
in so many different cultures, they have been excluded
from what have been called public affairs; for that very
reason they have concentrated much more on things
close to homeand they have kept far more in touch with
the true realitiesthe realities of giving birth and love. The
moment has perhaps come in human history when, for
very survival, those realities must be given pride of place
over the vainglorious adventures that lead to war.
I am angry, the Peace People are angry that war at
home dribbles on, and around the world we see the
same stupidity gathering momentum for far worse wars
that the little one which the little population of Northern
Ireland, has had to endure. We are angry at the waste
of resources that goes on everyday for militarism
while human beings live in misery and sometimes
even live in the hope of a quick death to release them
from their hopelessness. We rage as 500,000 dollars
are spent every minute of every day on war and the pre-
paration of war; while in every one of those minutes,
human beings, more than eight people, die of neglect.
Every day 12,000 people die of neglect and malnutrition
204
and misery; yet every day, 720 million dollars are spent
on armaments.
Just think of those insane priorities: after all, we have time
to think while others die.
Think of it this way: If the expenditure for one minute on
armaments 500,000 dollars could somehow be stopped
for that one single minute, and shared out among the
12,000 that will die in that way each of the doomed
would get more that forty dollars enough to live in lu-
xury instead of dying in misery. If the expenditure on ar-
maments could be transferred for one whole day, then
720,000 dollars could be shared among those twelve
thousand doomed: in other words, each of the doomed
would receive 60,000 dollars on that day. What makes
these insane priorities the sicker is that this obscene
amount of money is spent in the name of defending either
freedom or socialismno doubt the dead and dying are
relieved that freedom and socialism are being so effi-
ciently defended!
A 'Women for Peace' rally led by Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan brings together Protestants and Catholics.
Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1976
205
MAIREAD CORRIGAN MAGUIRE
Mairead Corrigan was born in a Catholic community in Belfast on the 27th of January 1944. She grew up with her pa-
rents and her seven brothers and sisters. When Mairead was 14 years old, her parents could no longer afford to pay for
her schooling. Displaying the determination that would later become her trademark feature, Mairead worked hard and
saved her money and was able to put herself through business classes, which then enabled her to get a job as an ac-
counting clerk at a local factory and later at the Guinness Brewery. At night and on weekends, she regularly did volunteer
work with children while also volunteering at the infamous Maze Prison, where many Republican militants were held.
In 1976, her life changed completely after her sister Annes three children were killed after being hit by a car driven by
a Provisional Irish Republican Army fugitive who had been shot by the police. Anne would later take her own life, una-
ble to deal with the grief. Mairead, together with Betty Williams, who had witnessed the tragic accident, created the
Community of Peace People. Within days of the accident, they had collected over 6,000 names on a petition for peace
and within a few weeks, they had organised a march of over 35,000 people, both catholic and protestant, who wan-
ted to lend their support to bring a peaceful end to the violence.
The movement they created gave a new hope for peace and civility to the people of Northern Ireland. For their
courageous efforts, Mairead and Betty Williams were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. At just 32 years
of age, Corrigan was the youngest winner in the history of the Prize.
Through the Community of Peace People, Corrigan continued to pursue a peaceful resolution to the troubles in Nor-
thern Ireland and organised several meetings between Catholics and Protestants. She also provided support for families
of prisoners from both sides.
Mairead has travelled extensively and lectured in more than 25 countries. In 1993, she was one of the Nobel Peace Prize
Laureates who attempted to enter Burma to protest the detention of fellow Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
A fierce opponent of nuclear weapons, she travelled to Israel in 2004 to request the release of Mordechai Vanunu, who
was sentenced to 18 years in prison for having disclosed Israels nuclear secrets. She is a member of the organisation
Consistent Life, which campaigns against capital punishment and euthanasia. Corrigan has been a vocal critic of
Israeli treatment of Palestinians and has travelled to the region many times to participate in protests and humanitarian
missions. In 2007, while taking part in a demonstration against the construction of the fence between Israel and the
occupied territories, the 66-year-old was tear-gassed and shot with rubber bullets by Israeli security forces. In June
2009, she was arrested at sea by Israeli authorities while on her eighth humanitarian mission to Gaza. The mission, co-
ordinated by the Free Gaza Movement, included Corrigan and activists from 11 countries, as well as journalists and
academics, and was bringing medicine and other humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population of Gaza.
Since 2007, she has acted as the coordinator for the Charter for a World Without Violence, endorsed by more than
20 Nobel Peace Laureates and several prominent international personalities.
In 1981, she married Jackie Maguire, Annes widower. Together they have raised Annes three other children, Mark, Jo-
anne, and Marie Louise, and are the parents of John and Luke, who they raised outside Belfast in the comparative tran-
quility of Strangford.
Mairead Maguire campaigns for an end to war and to replace wars with equality, compassionate human rights and in-
ternational law.
Their initiative paved the way for the strong resistance against
violence and misuse of power.
207
1944
Born in Belfast, Northern
Ireland
1976
A clash between the Bri-
tish Army and IRA pro-
voked killing of her sister
Anne's three children;
she co-founds the
Community of Peace
People and wins the
Nobel Peace Prize, toge-
ther with Betty Williams
1980
Her sister Anne commits
suicide
1981
Marries Anne's widower,
Jackie Maguire, who was
left with three children
Mark, Joan, and Marie
Louise
Dearest Mairead,
I think the most important lessons to teach children is an awareness of their own emotions and ego, also for adults to
listen to them and be fully present when they need to talk about their journey. (The opposite to the old maxim chil-
dren should be seen and not heard!)
Self acceptance and kindness and service to others.
I believe wisdom can be cultivated through practising li-
ving in the moment and becoming aware rather than
being stuck in thinking. Compassion. I believe compas-
sion can come about through suffering as it burns out
the ego and we become aware that all beings suffer too,
and we are interconnected and need each other. Howe-
ver, if we get stuck in our suffering we can destroy our
empathy with others, our imagination and creativity. Also
compassion can be developed through prayer, medita-
tion, and service to others, all of which can bring us into
a new consciousness.
The meaning of peace to me is a sense of joy and happi-
ness which comes from deep down inside and is not disturbed no matter what the outer circumstances of ones life. It
is a positive attitude to life seeing the good in all and recognizing that all life and the creation is sacred and its source
of being comes from God (Love).
It is an inner state of loving care for oneself, humanity and the whole of creation.
My greatest achievement I believe is my deep personal relationships with my husband and family and very many
friends, all of whom I treasure and am deeply grateful for their presence in my life.
Regrets: I have made many mistakes in my life. (I believe we are all mistake people!) but I dont believe in dwelling in
the past. When I have hurt others, through my mistakes, or bad choices, I have asked for their forgiveness and then
let go and moved on. I believe forgiveness is very important as it helps us move towards inner freedom which is
the most important freedom of all. Also forgiving oneself (and others) for ones mistakes helps us not get stuck in
the past, with damaging and negative recriminations going over and over in the mind.
Forgiveness, of ourselves and others, is a key to inner peace.
Founder of one of the
most influential grassro-
ots organizations wor-
king for peace in
Northern Ireland, and a
steadfast campaigner
against nuclear weapons,
capital punishment and
human rights abuses all
over the world.
with Mairead Corrigan Maguire
INTERVIEW
208
1982
Her son John Fran-
cis is born
1984
Her son Luke is
born
1993
She participates in
the Peace Nobel
groups mission to
Burma
2006
Co-founds the
Nobel Womens Ini-
tiative
2007
She is shot by the
Israeli authorities
during a protest
2009
She is arrested
by the Israeli
government during
a humanitarian
mission to Gaza
Fear is an idea we get in our
mind and we can let go of it. If
we feed the idea of fear or think
of things we might be fearful of
this is a waste of energy and
part of a fantasy mindset. The
ego loves the attention and will,
if we are not aware of it, keep
feeding fear, anger, and negative
emotions. Being aware of the
ego and how it operates trying
to lead us into illusion and fan-
tasy, will help us move beyond
ego and into a new consciou-
sness.
What is your motto?
Be kind to all you meet.
What talent would you most
like to possess?
Regarding talents I would like to
possess. I have so many gifts
and talents (as all human beings
have) I am very grateful for
them, and have no desire for
anything else.
If you could change one thing
about yourself what would it
be?
If I could change one thing
about myself, it would be to
have more patience.
Legacy Legacy
When The Troubles in Northern Ireland brought tragedy upon her family in
1976, Mairead Corrigan, who was then working as a secretary at the Guinness
brewery, used her characteristic determination to start a movement through
which normal citizens could express their opposition with the division and vio-
lence plaguing their country. Mairead had found her true calling, beginning a
new life as an international political activist, becoming the youngest Nobel
Peace Prize winner in history in the process.
An outspoken and tenacious campaigner, even for a Nobel Peace Laureate,
Maguire is known for her passion, her willingness to criticise world lea-
ders openly and her willingness to put herself in harms way for her prin-
ciples. In the course of her protests, she has been arrested, teargassed
and even shot.
The path of Mairead Corrigan Maguires life was forever changed by a
terrible tragedy. With her determination, her spirituality and her positive
attitude, she has worked every day to make sure that path leads in the
right direction.
209
My sources of inspiration come from inside my being where I believe the Spirit of God and Love. Also I get inspiration
from my family, people, and nature.
What's the secret for a lasting relationship?
The secret of a lasing relationship is, I believe, building it on love and truth.
Who is your hero in real life? Living or dead famous person you most admire?
I dont really have heroes as I believe everyone is special and no one is more important than another. I believe no one
is superior and no one is inferior to other human beings.
What gave you the strength to overcome even the hardest moments of your life?
My believe in Gods love for me and the love of my family and friends.
I get angry about injustice, and I believe that we humans are born with a deep sense of what is rights and what is
wrong, and can get angry when we see - or experience - injustice upon ourselves or others. However, I have learned
that anger is a dangerous emotion and so when I am aware of this negative emotion arising I practise transforming it
into love and practical work to try to do something positive about the problem.
I take inspiration from the Christian scriptures and the life of Jesus, whom I believe was totally non-violent, and my fa-
vourite book is Imitation of Christ By Thomas Kempis.
Your favourite song or singer?
I love Beethoven and Chopin Piano (played piano when I was young and it is my favourite musical instrument).
Your favourite movie or actor/actress?
Liam Neeson - Actor.
Your favourite dish/cuisine?
Home made vegetable soup.
Can we save our environment?
I believe there is still time to save the environment but we each as individuals have to take personal responsibility and
out of a new consciousness change our life styles. Living simply so others may simply live, taking care of each other
and the creation and moving away from consumerism and materialism. We also need to campaign with all Political lea-
ders for an International commitment to effective global action and work for sustainable development that will enable
us all to live in harmony and build ethical personal and global policies which will ensure the resources for present and
future generations.
Is there hope for peace in the Middle East?
Yes, I believe there is hope for peace in the Middle East. believe the key to peace in the Middle east is Palestine, and
I take hope from the many Palestinians and Israelis whom I have met who are working to remove the physical and men-
tal walls and working together to uphold their common humanity, proclaiming they can and wish to live together. The
daily life of the Palestinian people living under Siege and occupation, is one of deep suffering and injustice (there are
6 million Palestinian refugees living around the world). This is a political problem with a political solution, and the In-
ternational Community (especially USA) must persuade the Israeli Government to end its policy of siege, Occupation,
apartheid, and move to real peace policies to solve this problem. Peace is needed by all, Palestinians and Israelis, and
peace will come with Justice and implementation of International Law.
210
THE CONNECTION
BETTY WILLIAMS, MAIREAD CORRIGAN MAGUIRE AND BOB GELDOF
BETTY WILLIAMS AND MAIREAD CORRIGAN MAGUIRE WERE LEADING ORDINARY LIVES IN BELFAST WHEN AN AWFUL TRA-
GEDY CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LIVES FOREVER. THE ORGANIZATION THEY FOUNDED TOGETHER, THE COM-
MUNITY FOR PEACE PEOPLE, HELPED GIVE A VOICE TO THE MILLIONS OF OTHER ORDINARY PEOPLE IN NORTHERN
IRELAND WHO WERE ALSO TIRED OF THE HATRED AND BLOODSHED TEARING THEIR COUNTRY APART AND WILLIAMS AND
MAGUIRE WENT ON TO BECOME NOBEL LAUREATES AND GLOBAL AMBASSADORS FOR PEACE.
BOB GELDOF HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A ROCK STAR BEFORE A BBC NEWS REPORT ON FAMINE IN ETHIO-
PIA ALSO CHANGED HIS LIFE AND THE WAY HE WILL BE REMEMBERED. ALTHOUGH BEST KNOWN FOR HIS WORK FOR
AFRICA THROUGH PROJECTS LIKE BAND AID AND LIVE AID, GELDOF SUPPORTS CAUSES ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLU-
DING NORTHERN IRELAND. IN 2002, HE LED A CAMPAIGN TO RAISE 1 MILLION TOWARDS A CIVIL ACTION LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE REAL IRA BY FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE 1998 OMAGH BOMBING. IN 2010, GELDOF'S MEDIA COMPANY,
TEN ALPS, LAUNCHED THE DETAIL, A BELFAST-BASED INVESTIGATIVE NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS WEBSITE.
WILLIAMS, MAGUIRE AND GELDOF ARE ALL KNOWN FOR BEING OUTSPOKEN AND BRUTALLY FRANK ABOUT ANY INJU-
STICES THEY SEE AND THIS MAKES THEM VERY POPULAR SPEAKERS AT SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES, WHERE THEIR
PATHS HAVE CROSSED MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
May the power of
explosives be replaced
by the constructive power of
love.
"If we want to reap the
harvest of peace and
justice in the future, we will
have to sow seeds of
nonviolence, here and now,
in the present."
Mairead with her husband Jackie Maguire
211
BOB GELDOF
Creative, driven, and always outspoken, Bob Geldof has gone from singer to activist, and has become the strongest
and most visible link between music and politics.
Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof was born in Dun Laghaire, Ireland in 1951 and attended Blackrock College. Frustrated
with the strict Catholic structure of this exclusive private school and the subsequent tedium of working life, he moved
to Vancouver, Canada to write for the music magazine Georgia Straight.
When he returned to Ireland in 1975, he joined five other young men from his hometown to form The Boomtown Rats,
a band that helped to pioneer the "New Wave" movement. The band produced hit songs ranging from the hypnotic
"Banana Republic" to the gritty "I Don't Like Mondays." When the band broke up in 1986, he became a successful solo
artist.
Despite a career in music that has spanned four decades, Geldof is perhaps better known for his charity work. In 1984,
moved by a news report on the famine in Ethiopia, Geldof wrote the song "Do They Know it's Christmas?" and ar-
ranged for it to be performed by some of the biggest names in pop music, under the name Band Aid.
The following year, on the 13th of July, Geldof organised the legendary Live Aid concert held in London and Philadelphia.
This event, the largest charity concert ever held, was seen by 2 billion people in 60 countries and raised over 140 mil-
lion for famine relief in Ethiopia. Live Aid also made Geldof a household name, not only for the success of the event but
for his passionate, profound speech which aired on live television, urging viewers to send money to support the cause.
In 2005 he once again created the largest concert series in history, Live 8. Live 8 was organised to support the UK's
Make Poverty History campaign and the Global Call for Action Against Poverty. Ten simultaneous concerts featuring
more than 1,000 of the worlds most famous musicians were held on July 2 in venues throughout all eight of the G8
countries, plus Johannesburg, South Africa. The final Live 8 concert was held on July 6 in Edinburgh, to coincide with
the start of the G8 Summit. When that Summit ended two days later, the G8 leaders had pledged to increase aid to
developing countries by US$50 billion overall by 2010 with an increase of US$25 billion in aid for Africa.
Geldof continues to write and record music promoting support for Africa while simultaneously encouraging activism
and social responsibility among his fellow musicians. Geldof has received many awards and honours for his charity
work. He was awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1986 and has twice been nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize.
In a time of weak world leadership, when the WTO negotiators are failing so miserably, let
us remind their bosses...that we agree with them when they argue that, long term, "aid isn't
the answer", and that the continent of Africa and its people must trade its way into the glo-
bal market and sit where it rightfully belongs, negotiating as equals with the rest of us.
Bob Geldof outside SARM Studios in Notting Hill, London, during the recording of the Band Aid single
Do They Know It's Christmas?, part of the Feed The World campaign, raising money for famine-stricken
Ethiopia, on November 25, 1984.
213
JOHN HUME
By setting a new tone valuing the principles of direct communication, John Hume led the Catholics of Northern Ireland
on a sustainable path to peace.
Born on January 18, 1937 in Derry, Northern Ireland, Hume took full advantage of the then newly introduced public edu-
cation system to escape poverty, earning degrees from the National University of Ireland and St. Patricks college.
After completing his education, he returned to Derry, teaching at local schools and helping to build his community by
founding Northern Irelands first credit union and local housing association. Motivated by the stiff government oppo-
sition to his projects, he began to take a leading role in Northern Irelands Civil Rights movement and was elected to
Parliament in 1969.
In 1971, Hume became a founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, which he went on to lead
from 1979 until 2001. He was also a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1973 and in 1974, he served as the
Minister of Commerce in the first power-sharing government and in 1975, he served as a delegate to the 1975 Nor-
thern Ireland Constitutional Convention. In 1979, Hume was elected to the European Parliament. He went on to be re-
elected in 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1997.
Throughout the tense years during the struggle for civil rights, Hume remained vehemently opposed to the violence that
was tearing Northern Ireland apart. In 1988, he provoked the anger of critics on all sides by initiating secret talks
between the British government, the Irish government and the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein. Through direct
discussion and negotiation, Hume and his colleagues drafted the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985, the 1994 IRA cease-
fire, and the multi-party arrangement that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Credited with much of the recent political consensus, Hume and Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble were
jointly awarded the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize. Now officially retired from politics, Hume, together with his wife Pa-
tricia, continues to be active in his support for European integration, the Credit Union movement and the fight
against global poverty.
Hume has received many Awards and honorary doctorates, including the 1999 Martin Luther King Peace Award and
the 2001 International Gandhi Peace Prize. In 2010, in a public poll conducted by RTE, Irelands national broadcasting
corporation, Hume was voted Irelands greatest person.
for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Over the past thirty years, the national, religious and social conflict in Northern Ireland
has cost over 3,500 people their lives. John Hume has throughout been the clearest and
most consistent of Northern Irelands political leaders in his work for a peaceful solution.
The foundations of the peace agreement signed on Good Friday 1998 reflect
principles which he has stood for.
215
1937
Born in Derry, Northern
Ireland
1973-1974
Member of the Northern
Ireland Assembly
1975
Member of the Constitu-
tional Convention
1979
Becomes a founding
member of the Social
Democratic and Labour
Party (SDLP)
1979-1997
Member of European
Parliament
Dear Mr Hume,
Respect and belief in himself and respect for all others.
The ability to closely examine the causes of the conflict and to work out a positive vision which with some compro-
mise should be acceptable to both sides in the conflict. It is important to use every forum to promote your vision and
you need perseverance to continue in spite of the many setbacks which will probably come your way.
Wisdom comes with age, experience and an appreciation of
how history repeats itself. Compassion is a gift which some
people have naturally, but it also comes with the trials and ups
and downs of your life when you learn to empathise and relate
to other people's problems and difficulties.
Peace to me is a world where people of all races and creeds
can live together in harmony with all having the right to a house
and work.
My greatest achievement is that I had a part in ending this very old conflict in Northern Ireland. My greatest regret is
that it took such a long time and so many people lost their lives.
My greatest fear is that young people who have not experienced the horrors of conflict and war could attempt to restart.
What is your motto?
My motto is: Difference is an accident of birth. None of us chose to be born into any race, religion or nationality. The
fundamental principle of peace is - respect for diversity.
What talent would you most like to possess?
Logical communicative skills and the ability to persuade people if I feel my position is just and right.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
I would like to become (even at this late stage!) more efficient.
Leader of the non-violent
Civil Rights Movement;
Leader of the Social De-
mocratic and Labour
Party, has brought Nor-
thern Ireland to the
Good Friday agreement;
MEP for almost twenty
years, he lobbies for Eu-
ropean integration.
with John Hume
INTERVIEW
216
From some of the people who will be doing this questionnaire who have taken great personal risks for peace, from Mar-
tin Luther King and Gandhi, and from people who live locally who do wonderful work for others voluntarily and without
any recognition.
What is the secret of a lasting relationship?
Communication and unselfishness.
Who is your hero in real life? Living or dead famous person you admire?
My long suffering wife!! Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.
What gave you the strength to overcome the hardest moments of your life?
A belief that what I was trying to achieve was a solution which didn't mean victory for either side in the conflict, but a
healing process which would enable both sides to work together in their common interests (housing and jobs) and in
so doing learning to trust each other.
Drug dealers who wreck the lives of young people.
Ancient Wisdom by the Dalai Lama.
Legacy Legacy
Born in 1937 in the heart of Northern Irelands minority Catholic Commu-
nity, John Hume has spent his entire life serving his country, as an educa-
tor, as a community leader, as a politician and eventually, as the driving
force behind the Northern Ireland peace process.
Hume was always a staunch nationalist, as well as a key figure in the civil
rights movement but he also distanced himself from the division and vio-
lence in the country, believing that peaceful solution could be found. In
1988, putting his career and perhaps even his life at risk, Hume initiated the
secret multilateral talks between the British and Irish governments that led
to the Good Friday agreement and eventually to peace.
John Hume always embraced peoples political and religious differences
and never viewed them as an obstacle to peace. The people of Ireland sho-
wed their appreciation for his faith in them and his work by voting him Ire-
lands greatest person in a public poll conducted by the countrys national
broadcasting corporation.
1979-2001
Leader of SDLP
1985
Directly involved in the
talks leading to the
Anglo-Irish Agreement
1994
Facilitates the IRA cease-
fire
1998
Plays a key role in bro-
kering the Good Friday
Agreement with UUP
leader David Trimble
1998
Receives the Nobel
Peace Prize with David
Trimble
217
Your favourite song? Singer?
Danny Boy, also known as The Derry Air.
Your favourite movie? Actor?
Shadowlands.
Favourite dish?
Seafood Platter and Crme Brul.
Can we save the environment?
We could help enormously if all governments give incentives and encouragement to a big reduction of non-renewable
fuels and carbon footprints, and if each and every one of us takes responsibility for the wellbeing of the planet.
Is there hope for peace in the Middle East?
Yes, I think if peace was declared to enable both sides to come to the negotiating table, examine the roots of the con-
flict, both sides to appreciate that each has to give on some demands, the U.S. to facilitate but be transparently neu-
tral. The agreement should then be put to the population on both sides in a referendum. If the agreement gets a majority
vote from the people, it negates any legitimacy that rebels claim subsequently and hopefully is the basis for peace.
All conflict is about difference, whether the dif-
ference is race, religion or nationality. The Euro-
pean visionaries decided that difference is not a
threat, difference is natural. Difference is of the
essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of
birth and it should therefore never be the source
of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is
to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental prin-
ciple of peace respect for diversity.
When people are divided, the
only solution is agreement.
I want to see Ireland as an
example to men and women
everywhere of what can be
achieved by living for ideals, ra-
ther than fighting for them.
Gerry Adams, John Hume, Bill Clinton, David Trimble
218
Without Hume there wouldnt
have been any peace process,
without Trimble any agreement.
...John Hume and David Trimble are both from Northern Ire-
land, where they have lived with and in the conflict. They are
both prominent politicians, leaders, respectively, of the two
largest political parties in Northern Ireland, parties which re-
present the two groups in a divided population. They have
both committed themselves to the course that the Good Fri-
day agreement represents: that conflicts must be solved by
peaceful means. The strong support for the agreement in
the referendum shows that they made the right choice.
But there are differences between them. In 1970, at a time
of spiralling violence, John Hume played a part in the foun-
dation of the party of which he became the unquestioned
leader, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). It is
a nationalist party, but it has stood firmly throughout for the
principle that only peaceful means must be used. More than
anyone else, Hume is the architect behind the peace pro-
cess and the solution chosen in the Good Friday agreement.
He has held unwaveringly to the line that discussions and in-
stitutional solutions have to be inclusive. Even those who
had chosen violent means in their political struggle had to be
given opportunities to participate in the peace process, to
change their strategy, and to be taken at their word when
they did so. Especially during periods of escalating violence,
Hume has had to swallow sometimes very harsh criticism,
from within his own ranks as well as from others, for his gen-
tle approach to the hard-liners. But with his personal inte-
grity, Hume has stood firm, and his policy has won through.
When he was elected leader of Northern Irelands tradi-
tionally largest party, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Trim-
ble was a relative newcomer to top-level politics. He was
known as an uncompromising unionist, but soon showed
that he had other political sides to him, and clearly felt that
the situation demanded more flexible attitudes on the part
of the unionists. Under his leadership, enough fear and
suspicion was overcome to enable a majority of unionists
to rally behind the Good Friday agreement.
Unionists are still unionists and nationalists are still na-
tionalists. What they have acquired are institutions for the
peaceful resolution of conflicts.
In 1977, The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the
Peace Prize for 1976 to Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams,
Northern Irelands Peace People. It has since been said that
the time was not ripe. This time, too, we have heard that our
choice may be premature, that lasting peace is still far to
seek. The argument is easy to understand, and nothing could
have pleased us more than to have been able to say today
that peace was certain. But in connection with these awards,
as with a number of others, the Committee bore in mind No-
bels clear intention that the Prize could reflect current affairs,
and that it should advance the cause of peace. We know that
a peace process may be long and difficult and suffer frequent
reverses. In such processes, it is important to focus on the
advances, made perhaps against the odds, and on the per-
sons brave enough to stand up in a good cause.
John Hume's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
Today also we commemorate and the world comme-
morates the adoption 50 years ago of the Universal De-
claration of Human Rights and it is right and proper, that
today is also a day that is associated internationally with
the support of peace and work for peace because the
basis of peace and stability, in any society, has to be the
fullest respect for the human rights of all its people. It is
right and proper that the European Convention of Human
Rights is to be incorporated into the domestic law of our
land as an element of the Good Friday agreement.
In my own work for peace, I was strongly inspired by my
European experience. I always tell this story, and I do so
because it is so simple yet so profound and so applicable
to conflict resolution anywhere in the world.
On my first visit to Strasbourg in 1979 as a member of the Eu-
ropean Parliament, I went for a walk across the bridge from
Strasbourg to Kehl. Strasbourg is in France. Kehl is in Ger-
many. They are very close. I stopped in the middle of the
bridge and I meditated. There is Germany. There is France. If
I had stood on this bridge 30 years ago after the end of the
Second World War when 25 million people lay dead across
our continent for the second time in this century and I had
said: Dont worry. In 30 years time we will all be together in
a new Europe, our conflicts and wars will be ended and we
will be working together in our common interests, I would
have been sent to a psychiatrist. But it has happened and it
is now clear that European Union is the best example in the
history of the world of conflict resolution to study how it was
done and to apply its principles to their own conflict resolution.
We should recall too on this formal occasion that our
Springtime of peace and hope in Ireland owes an over-
whelming debt to several others who devoted their passio-
nate intensity and all of their skills to this enterprise: to the
Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, to the Presi-
dent of the United States of America, Bill Clinton and the
European President, Jacques Delors and Jacques Santer
and to the three men who so clearly facilitated the negotia-
tion, Senator George Mitchell former Leader of the Senate
of the United States of America, Harri Holkerri of Finland
and General John de Chastelain of Canada. And, of
course, to our outstanding Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam.
219
WILLIAM DAVID TRIMBLE
By facilitating dialogue between his fellow Unio-
nists and their Republican counterparts, David
Trimble has played a leading role in the delicate
Northern Ireland peace process for decades. Born
on October 15, 1944 in Bangor, Northern Ireland,
Trimble grew up to study law at the Queens Uni-
versity of Belfast, and went on to serve as a law
professor there.
Trimble became politically active in the early
1970s, first joining the Vanguard Progressive
Unionist Party and then, in 1978, the Ulster Unio-
nist Party. In 1990 he was elected a member of parliament for the Ulster Unio-
nist Party at Westminster (UUP) for the constituency of Upper Bann. In 1995 he
took over the leadership of the UUP. In the 1997 general election, under his
leadership, the UUP gained over 33% of the vote in Northern Ireland, holding
10 of the 18 seats in Parliament.
During the years of disharmony and violence surrounding the Northern Irish Trou-
bles, Trimble joined Social Democratic and Labour Party head John Hume in
talks with the British government and Sinn Fein to establish the peace process
that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. In July of that same year, he became
the first man to be elected First Minister of Northern Ireland by the New Northern Ireland Assembly. In December
1998, Trimble and Hume received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to put an end to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Since winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Trimble has served two terms as First Minister of Northern Ireland. He was also
in charge of implementing the Good Friday Agreement, which involved creating an executive committee that would an-
swer to the Assembly. Trimble was insistent that the Irish Republican Army would have to start to decommission ille-
gally held weapons before Sinn Fein was included in the committee. He was also jointly charged with establishing a
North-South Ministerial Council, linking Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland, and a British-Irish Council, linking
the two governments and other administrations throughout the British Isles. He has succeeded in championing the Ul-
ster Unionist cause internationally, helping to establish a UUP office in Washington, DC in 1995. He was also President
of the Unionist Information Office established in London in 1996.
David Trimble continues to advocate for peace in Northern Ireland.
for their effort to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland
Over the past thirty years, the national, religious and social conflict in Northern Ireland
has cost over 3,500 people their lives.
As the leader of the traditionally predominant party in Northern Ireland, David Trimble
showed great political courage when, at a critical stage of the process, he advocated
solutions which led to the peace agreement. As the head of the Northern Ireland
government, he has taken the first steps towards building up the mutual confidence
on which a lasting peace must be based.
Legacy Legacy
A lifelong unionist activist and
politician, David Trimble was
but still a committed Irish patriot
and helped prove to the country
and the world that patriotism did
indeed exist on both sides of the
religious and political divide.
Trimble provided a vital and au-
thoritative unionist presence in
the Northern Ireland peace pro-
cess. The Good Friday agree-
ment could not have been
forged without his cooperation.
After the agreement, he was
handed the responsibility and
the honour of becoming the first
man to hold the position of First
Minister of Northern Ireland.
Leader of the Ulster
Unionist Party, First Mi-
nister (Designate) in the
Northern Ireland As-
sembly, he reaches the
Good Friday Agree-
ment with opposition
leader John Hume, lea-
ding the Northern Ire-
land conflict to an end.
221
1944
Born in Bangor, Nor-
thern Ireland
1968
Earns law degree from
Queen's University of
Belfast
1969
Enters the Bar and beco-
mes professor of Law at
QUB
1975
Enters politics in the
Vanguard Unionist Party
1978
Marries Daphne Eliza-
beth Orr; Joins the Ulster
Unionist Party
David Trimble's Nobel Lecture in Peace
(selected excerpts)
I [wish to] refer, to the eminent eighteenth century Irish
political philosopher, and brilliant British parliamentarian,
Edmund Burke.
He was the most powerful and prophetic political intellect
of that century. He anticipated and welcomed the Ameri-
can Revolution. He anticipated the dark side of the French
revolution. He delved into the roots of that political vio-
lence, based on the false notion of the perfectibility of
man, which has plagued us since the French revolution.
..Burke, the son of a protestant father and a catholic mo-
ther, was a man who in word and in deed honoured both
religious traditions, recognised and respected his Irish
roots and the British Parliamentary system which nursed
him to the full flowering of his genius.
Today as we seek to decommission not only arms and am-
munition, but also hearts and minds, Burke provides us not
only with a powerful role model of the pluralist Irishman, but
also with a powerful role model for politicians everywhere.
Burke is the best model for what might be called politi-
cians of the possible. Politicians who seek to make a wor-
king peace, not in some perfect world, that never was, but
in this, the flawed world, which is our only workshop.
Burke challenged the Platonic perfectibility doctrine
whose principal protagonist was Rousseau. Rousseau re-
garded man as perfect and society was redemptive. The
Revolution tested these theories and it was Burkes that
proved the most progressive in terms of practical politics.
At the end of Rousseaus road, Burke predicted, we
would find not the perfectibility of man but the gibbet and
the guillotine. And so it proved. And so it proved when
Stalin set out to perfect the new Soviet man. So it proved
with Mao in China and Pol Pot in Cambodia.
Amoz Oz has also arrived at the same conclusion.
A political fanatic is someone who is more interested in
you than in himself. At first that might make him seem to
be an altruist, but look closer and you will see the terrorist.
A political fanatic is not someone who wants to perfect
himself. No, he wants to perfect you. He wants to perfect
you personally, to perfect you politically, to perfect you re-
ligiously, or racially, or geographically.
He wants you to change your mind, your government,
your borders. He may not be able to change your race, so
he will eliminate you from the perfect equation in his mind
by eliminating you from the earth.
Thus each reformist group has a moral obligation to deal
with its own fanatics. The Serbian democrats must take on
the Serbian fascists. The PLO must take on Hammas. In
Northern Ireland, constitutional nationalists must take on
Republican dissident terrorists and constitutional Unio-
nists must confront protestant terrorists.
In Ulster, what I have looked for is peace within the re-
alms of the possible. We could only have started from
where we actually were, not from where we would have
liked to be.
What we democratic politicians want in Northern Ire-
land is not some Utopian society but a normal society. The
best way to secure that normalcy is the tried and trusted
method of parliamentary democracy. So the Northern Ire-
land Assembly is the primary institutional instrument for
the development of a normal society in Northern Ireland.
None of us are entirely innocent. But thanks to our
strong sense of civil society, thanks to our religious reco-
gnition that none of us are perfect, thanks to the thou-
sands of people from both sides who made countless acts
of good authority, thanks to a tradition of parliamentary
democracy which meant that paramilitarism never displa-
ced politics, thanks to all these specific, concrete circum-
stances we, thank God, stopped short of that abyss that
engulfed Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia and Rwanda.
There are two traditions in Northern Ireland. There are two main religious denominations.
But there is only one true moral denomination. And it wants peace.
In Ulster, what I have looked for is a peace within the realms
of the possible. We could only have started from where we ac-
tually were, not from we would have liked to be.
222
1990
Elected MP at Westminster Par-
liament for the Upper Bann
Constituency
1995
Elected Leader of the Ulster
Unionist Party
1998
Helps to bring about the Good
Friday Agreement with SDLP
leader John Hume; Elected First
Minister of the new Assembly of
Northern Ireland
1998
Receives the Nobel Peace Prize
with John Hume
THE CONNECTION
JOHN HUME, DAVID TRIMBLE AND BONO
DAVID TRIMBLE AND JOHN HUME, ONE A PROTESTANT UNIONIST, ONE A CATHOLIC REPUBLICAN, BOTH IRISH PATRIOTS
WHO WERE ABLE TO PUT ASIDE THEIR RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AND COME TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD
OF THEIR COUNTRY TO CREATE A PLAN FOR PEACE.
ANOTHER PATRIOTIC IRISHMAN, PAUL DAVID HEWSON, KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS U2 LEAD SINGER BONO, IS ALSO PASSIO-
NATE ABOUT ENDING THE VIOLENCE IN HIS COUNTRY. U2S 1983 SONG, SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY, HAS BECOME AN ANTI-
WAR ANTHEM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE COVER OF THEIR 1997 SINGLE PLEASE, WHICH ALSO SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE
TROUBLES, FEATURED PHOTOS OF FOUR KEY NORTHERN IRELAND POLITICIANS: HUME, TRIMBLE, SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY
ADAMS AND DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY LEADER IAN PAISLEY, IMPLORING THEM TO FIND THE COURAGE TO SEEK PEACE.
ON MAY 19 1998, BONO ONCE AGAIN SHOWED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE PEACE PROCESS BY BRINGING HUME AND TRIM-
BLE ONSTAGE AT U2S CONCERT IN BELFAST TO APPEAL TO YOUNG VOTERS TO VOTE YES ON THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREE-
MENT AT THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM.
223
Bono holds up the arms of David Trimble and John Hume during a U2 concert in Belfast
BONO VOX
Bono Vox is the stage name of Paul David Hewson, the Irish singer and front man of the legendary rock band of U2.
Hewson was born on the 10th of May, 1960 to Brendan Robert Hewson, a Catholic, and Iris Rankin Hewson, who was
a Protestant. Hewson grew up in Dublin, attending a multidenominational school in Clontarf. As a teenager, he and his
friends formed a surrealist gang called Lypton Village. It was during this time that Hewson was given the nickname
Bono Vox, which has stayed with him for the rest of his life, becoming not only his stage name, but the name by which
his family and friends still refer to him.
In 1976, while still in high school, Bono, along with schoolmates David Evans (known to his Lypton Village friends as
The Edge) and Adam Clayton answered an advertisement on the school bulletin board by fellow student Larry Mul-
len Jr, who was trying to start a rock band. After starting up as Feedback, the band went through several name chan-
ges before settling on the name U2 in 1978. U2 has gone on to become one of the most successful bands in history,
selling over 150 million records, winning nearly two dozen Grammy Awards and being inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. Bono, The Edge, Clayton and Mullen are still together.
These days, Bono is known as much for his charity work and political activism as he is for his music. Over the years,
he has put his fame to good use, raising awareness and money for humanitarian efforts, particularly ones involving
Africa. This became apparent in 1984, when he and his band sang on the first of the all-star charity singles Do They
Know it's Christmas? produced by Bob Geldof. U2 as a band have also performed and recorded in support of many
humanitarian causes and groups like Greenpeace, Amnesty International and the Chernobyl Children's Project.
They also lent public support to the Good Friday Agreement, bringing John Hume and David Trimble onstage at their
concert in Belfast, just a few days before the agreement was signed.
Bonos commitment to Africa grew over the years and by the end of the 1990s, he had become the leader of the Ju-
bilee Drop the Debt movement, campaigning for third-world debt relief. In 2002, he co-created with Bobby Shriver an
organization called DATA, (Debt, Aids, Trade in Africa), which aims to increase public awareness and influence for the
G8 governments regarding Africas massive foreign debt, the uncontrollable spread of AIDS and trade laws stifling na-
tional development across Africa and keeping entire countries in poverty.
In 2004, in association with DATA and other NGOs, Bono launched the ONE campaign, an organization of more than
2 million people united in the fight against world poverty and the elimination of preventable diseases.
In 2006, Bono and Shriver launched another initiative in the fight against AIDS in Africa, creating Product Red, a non-
profit brand that would soon partner with other world-renowned brands like Nike, Apple, Armani, Penguin Classics and
Gap, with profits donated to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. In its first three years, RED ge-
nerated more than $111 million. Bono has received numerous awards and honors for his humanitarian work. In 2002,
he was named one of the 100 Greatest Britons, in a public poll organized by the BBC. The list of prominent British
and Irish figures also included Sir Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Diana Princess of Wales, William Shakespeare,
John Lennon, Charlie Chaplin, musician and activist Bob Geldof and the football player David Beckham. In 2003, Bono
received the Legion d Honneur from the French government in recognition of his efforts. In 2005, he was named Time
Magazines Person of the Year, together with Bill and Melinda Gates and was on the initial list of candidates for the
Nobel Peace Prize. That same year, along with the other members of U2 and their manager Paul McGuinness, he was
awarded Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for promoting human rights.
In 2007, he was named an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 2008 he received the
Peace Summit Award by the Nobel Peace laureates present at their 9th World Summit for his contribution to the fight
against poverty and hunger in the world, his commitment to international activities aimed at cancelling the debt of
poor countries and his support for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals campaign.
"I am an over-awarded, over-rewarded rock star.
You are [Nobel Peace Laureates] the people who do the real work."
"One life with each other, sisters, brothers."
225
SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
Sunday Bloody Sunday is a song from U2s 1983 album War, the bands first openly political album and their first to reach
#1 on the charts. The song has become one of the bands most important tracks.
With its famous lament How long must we sing this song, Sunday Bloody Sunday speaks of the horror and disbelief
felt by a young person growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The title refers to the Bloody Sunday mas-
sacre in Derry on January 30, 1972. On that day, 14 unarmed protesters were killed and a dozen more wounded when
British soldiers fired on a march by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to protest the recently introduced po-
licy of internment without trial for those suspected of involvement in paramilitary activities. While by no means the
bloodiest episode of the Troubles in terms of loss of life, Bloody Sunday was particularly memorable as the shooting
continued for nearly half an hour and took place in full view of the press and the public. The incident was the culmi-
nation of months of escalating tensions and violence between the different factions and signaled the start of a full-scale
civil war. The members of the band have said the song also refers to the Bloody Sunday during the Irish War of Inde-
pendence, which took place on November 21, 1920. On that day, 14 Irish civilians, 14 British officers and intelligence
agents and 3 republican prisoners were killed in various incidents around Dublin.
The members of U2 have carefully made it very clear that the song is not intended to be sectarian or to glorify the events
of those two historical days, like many of the Irish rebel songs that were popular among Republicans have in the past.
This clarification was particularly important in 1983 when it was originally released, when someone misinterpreting
their intention could put their lives at risk. Although they were very nervous about performing the song at first, their bra-
very paid off as they found that the public response to the song was overwhelmingly positive. The song, Sunday Bloody
Sunday, went on to become not only a staple of their live performances but an anthem for the vast majority of people
of Northern Ireland, both Catholic and Protestant, who were tired of the division and violence that had come to define
their country. In 2010, Rolling Stone Magazine named Sunday Bloody Sunday on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of
All Time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selected it as one of 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and Time Ma-
gazine named it one of the Top 10 Protest Songs along with classics like Bob Dylans Blowin in the Wind and John
Lennons Give Peace a Chance.
I cant believe the news today,
I cant close my eyes and make it go away.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long? Tonight we can be as one.
Broken bottles under childrens feet,
Bodies strewn across a dead end street,
But wont heed the battle call,
It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall.
Sunday, bloody Sunday.
And the battles just begun,
Theres many lost, but tell me who has won?
The trenches dug through our hearts,
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart.
How long, how long must we sing this song?
How long? Tonight we can be as one.
Tonight, tonight.
Wipe the tears from your eyes,
Wipe your tears away,
Wipe your bloodshot eyes.
And its true we are immune,
When fact is fiction and TV is reality.
And today the millions cry,
We eat and drink while tomorrow they die.
The real battle just begun
To claim the victory Jesus won,
On a Sunday, bloody Sunday.
Sunday, bloody Sunday
SUNDAY,
BLOODY SUNDAY
Written by: Adam Clayton, David Evans (The Edge),

Laurence Mullen, Paul David Hewson (Bono)
Published by: Universal Music Publishing Limited
227
The International Children's Peace Prize is annually pre-
sented to one outstanding and very courageous child. A
child who has made a difference by his or her dedication
to children's rights through action in his or her own envi-
ronment and beyond.
The children's rights addressed by the prize-winning chil-
dren affect many children around the world. The actions of
these winners have made a true and remarkable difference.
The International Children's Peace Prize was launched by
KidsRights during the 2005 World Summit of Nobel Peace
Laureates chaired by Mikhail Gorbachev. Since then, the
prize has been presented every year by a Nobel Peace
Prize Winner.
This important prize has been brought to life because KidsRights feels that children who
make a difference should be recognised, awarded and motivated in their incredible efforts
to improve children's rights.
Their efforts not only improve their own circumstances, but also those of other children in
their surroundings and even the world.
With each year, the impact of the International Children's Peace Prize has become greater
and it is still growing in significance.
We are proud that the prize gathers attention for specific children's rights issues on a global
level.
Each year the winner shows us, that a child really can "move the world", as the Children's
Peace Prize statuette expresses.
Each year one child will win the prize...in the name of, and for the benefit of millions of
others.
Yours sincerely,
Marc Dullaert
Founder of the International Children's Peace Prize
and founder of the KidsRights Foundation
THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S
228
THE PRIZE
The winner receives the statuette Nkosi, which is
especially designed for each years ceremony by
Inge Ikink, financial support for his or her educa-
tion and a worldwide platform to promote his or
her ideals and cause to the benefit of childrens
rights. The Children's Peace prize is accompanied
by an award of 100,000 Euro which is invested in
projects closely connected to the winner's area of
dedication.
NOMINATION PROCESS
Each year the International Childrens Peace Prize
winner is selected from nominations from all over
the world. An Expert Committee assesses the
candidates, comprises a selected list of nominees and then selects the winner. Every year, KidsRights tries to reach
a wider range of organisations and therewith children to be nominated for the International Childrens Peace Prize.
KidsRights is of the opinion that the more children will be nominated and thus recognized in their work, the bigger
the platform becomes for children to reach their full potential in changing the world.
A PLATFORM FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
Not only is the prize a sign of recognition for the young win-
ners. Having won the award also offers the winners a plat-
form to promote their ideals and further their work. With the
newfound attention, these young heroes messages have
more impact, and reach a larger audience. The intention of
KidsRights is to create international attention for the rights
that the winners are advocating. This global attention will ge-
nerate a higher level of cooperation and structural improve-
ment for the respective subjects.
As Nobel Peace Prize winner and patron of KidsRights,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu says: KidsRights seeks to
give a voice to the voiceless.
PEACE PRIZE AND THE WINNERS
229
NKOSI JOHNSON from South Africa
2005 Children's Peace Prize Winner
South Africas famous child Aids activist, Nkosi Johnson, was born with HIV and
died at the age of 12 in 2001. At the time of his death, he was the longest-survi-
ving child born with HIV in the country. He was posthumously awarded the first
KidsRights Foundations International Childrens Peace Prize, for his efforts in
support of the rights of children with HIV/Aids, and his legacy continues to live
on through Nkosis Haven, which houses and supports HIV-positive mothers
and children.
Nkosi rose to international prominence in July 2000 when he delivered his self-
written address, televised worldwide, to 10,000 delegates at the 13th International
Aids Conference in Durban.
Hi, my name is Nkosi Johnson, he began. I am 11 years old and I have full-
blown Aids. I was born HIV-positive.
More than a statistic
Nkosi was born Xolani Nkosi on 4 February 1989 in a township east of Johanne-
sburg. His mother, Nonthlanthla Daphne Nkosi, was HIV-positive and passed the
virus on to her unborn child. He became a statistic: one of more than 70,000 chil-
dren born HIV-positive in South Africa every year. Xolani was a fighter. He survived
beyond his second birthday, unusual in HIV- infected babies. As the disease began
to take its toll on Daphne, she and Nkosi were admitted to an Aids care centre in
Johannesburg. It was there that Gail Johnson, a volunteer worker, first saw the baby boy and his ailing mother.
It was a very personal and mutual understanding, Johnson said. I had a graphic encounter with an Aids death close
to my family, and I wanted to do something more than just talk about it. And there was Nkosi. All I had to do was to
reach out to him. Daphne readily agreed for Gail to become Nkosis foster mother.
I know she loved me very much and would visit me when she could, Nkosi said of his mother in his July 2000
speech.
And then the care centre had to close down because they didnt have any funds. So my foster mother, Gail Johnson,
who was a director of the care centre and had taken me home for weekends, said at a board meeting she would take
me home. She took me home with her and I have been living with her for eight years now.
Daphne Nkosi died of an Aids-related illness in 1997.
She went on holiday to Newcastle she died in her sleep, Nkosi said.
And mommy Gail got a phone call and I answered and my aunty said, please can I speak to Gail? Mommy Gail told
me almost immediately my mommy had died and I burst into tears.
Fighting for school
Also in 1997, Gail Johnson attempted to enrol Nkosi then eight years old at a school in the Johannesburg suburb
of Melville. When the boys HIV status was discovered, there was immediate opposition from teachers and parents.
Mommy Gail went to the school, Melpark Primary, and she had to fill in a form for my admission and it said does your
child suffer from anything, so she said yes: Aids, Nkosi said. My mommy Gail and I have always been open about
me having Aids. Then she phoned the school, who said we will call you and then they had a meeting about me.
Of the parents and the teachers at the meeting, 50% said yes and 50% said no.
Gail went public with a complaint and won her case. Nkosi went to school.
The Aids workshops were done at the school for parents and teachers to teach them not to be scared of a child with
Aids, Nkosi said. I am very proud to say that there is now a policy for all HIV-infected children to be allowed to go
into schools and not be discriminated against.
230
Nkosi soon became a national figure in the campaign to de-stigma-
tise Aids, with provincial education departments across South Africa
moving to draw up new policies.
Speaking to the world
His big moment came in July 2000, when he addressed delegates at
the 13th International Aids Conference in Durban.
A tiny figure in a shiny dark suit and sneakers, 11-year-old Nkosi
Johnson held an audience of 10,000 delegates in occasionally tear-
ful silence as he told his story.
Care for us and accept us we are all human beings, he said
at the conclusion of his speech. We are normal. We have hands.
We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like
everyone else. Dont be afraid of us we are all the same.
In October 2000 he took the same message to an Aids conference
in Atlanta, Georgia.
But Nkosi was not well when he returned from the US. He had a
quiet Christmas, and then collapsed. Diagnosed with brain da-
mage, he had several seizures and became semi-comatose. Yet
he hung on.
Nkosi died at 5.40am on Friday 1 June 2001.
He was given a heros burial in Johannesburg in a funeral attended
by thousands of mourners.
Its a great pity that this young man has departed, Nelson Man-
dela told reporters. He was exemplary in showing how one should
handle a disaster of this nature. He was very bold about it and he
touched many hearts.
For all the misery Nkosi had to suffer, he was one of the lucky ones,
according to Gail Johnson. He was accepted, he was loved.
Our greatest challenge today is to help vulnerable
children. If we provide education and protection to
children, then we take our responsibility as adults.
Mikhail S. Gorbachev
Nkosi's step brother receiving the Prize from
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mairead Maguire congratulates Nkosi's step brother
and step mother Gail Johnson
231
OM PRAKASH GURJAR from India
Om Prakash was awarded the prize for his unceasing
work to combat child labour and liberate child slaves
in India. Om Prakash was liberated from slavery after
having worked for years under grueling circumstan-
ces. After his liberation, Om Prakash started advoca-
ting and fighting for childrens rights to freedom and
education. Through his work, he has helped 500 chil-
dren to receive a birth certificate, entitling them to
free education.
Om Prakash received the International Childrens
Peace Prize, at the age of 14, from Nobel Peace Lau-
reate F.W. De Klerk.
If a bonded child labourer like me, could see a
dream of a world free from every type of exploita-
tion, every child in school, so why not you? Om Prakash
Om Prakash is already adding stature to the International Childrens Peace Prize.
F.W. De Klerk
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Om Prakash receiving the Prize from F.W. De Klerk
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THANDIWE CHAMA from Zambia
Thandiwe recei-
ved the Childre-
ns Peace Prize
for her devotion
to the rights of
children in her
country, espe-
cially their right
to education.
T h a n d i w e s
school was clo-
sed when she
was only 8 years
old because of a
lack of teachers.
However, Than-
diwe did not accept this and demanded education for
her and her 60 schoolmates. The CECUP School took
them in. After having seen the extent to which she
could influence her environment, Thandiwe went to a
government official to plead for a new building, so that
the children did not have to study outside in the hot
sun anymore. Ever since, Thandiwe has been fighting
for the right to education for all children, including the
poor and the ill.
Thandiwe has seen the devastating effects of hiv/aids
in her direct environment. Children dying of the di-
sease, children not going to school and lacking the
right nutrition. Taking action on behalf of children with
hiv/aids and calling upon others to do their share is
one of her great drives in daily life. She gets the com-
munity involved to provide fruits to sick children in the
nearby hospital. She advises children and parents on
testing for hiv, and has even taken children herself to do the test.
Thandiwe received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 16, from Nobel Peace Laureate Betty Williams
and from Sir Bob Geldof.
Do not forget that we are the leaders of the next and near generation. If not you, then who? If not me, then
who? If not now, then when? Thandiwe
"The children of the world must live with justice, with peace and
freedom, but above all, with the dignity they deserve.
Betty Williams
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Thandiwe with Bono, Mayra Avellar Neves and Marc Dullaert
Thandiwe receiving the Prize from Betty Williams
and Bob Geldof
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MAYRA AVELLAR NEVES from Brazil
Mayra Avellar Neves received the prize for her
ongoing fight against the violence in the favelas
(slums) in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil and her own fa-
vela, Vila Cruzeiro, in particular.
When Mayra was only 11 years old, her favela was
closed off by so many checkpoints that schools
and clinics had to be closed because doctors and
teachers could not reach them. She, however, re-
fused to accept this and found another school
outside the favela and demanded her right to edu-
cation. When Mayra was 15 years old, she mobi-
lized hundreds of youths to participate in a
community march against violence. Their direct
demand was that the police should stop patrolling around schools during the times that children walk to and from
school. This took great courage, as the march passed by many of these armed police patrols. More than 300 children
participated in the Walk for Peace. As a result of this action the police agreed to the demands and children started
coming back to school again a great achievement with far-reaching implications for life in the favela.
Mayra received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 17, from Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu.
I believe that we must have hope. But, I speak of hope in the best sense of the word. Hope is not the same
as expectation. We must not expect things to happen. Hope must be added up to the will to change and to act.
Mayra
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"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good
put together that overwhelm the world."
Desmond Tutu
Mayra receiving the Prize from Desmond Tutu
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BARUANI NDUME from DR Congo
Baruani received the International Childrens
Peace Prize for his proactive role in pro-
moting a hopeful life for his fellow peers living in a refugee camp. Baruani has lived in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in
Tanzania since he fled the DR Congo at the age of 7. He tries to convert this life experience into positive action, by ac-
tively helping fellow refugee children. His radio show is one of the key ways in which he tries to help his peers. The radio
show, called Sisi kwa Sisi (Children for Children), airs on Radio Kwizera in Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
In his radio show, Baruani discusses the problems and challenges refugee children face in the camp. For many chil-
dren it is already a big help to talk to someone and to be able to share the problems they experience. Baruani also leads
a childrens parliament in the camp which is an alternative child voicing out tool. Furthermore, through his radio show
Baruani contributes to reuniting children with their parents. The children use the radio show to call upon people fami-
liar with them or their family.
Baruani received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 16, from Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari
Maathai.
May I call upon your collaboration to ensure we eliminate children abuse and denial of their rights. I would love
to see the world that has love, which has no violence and abuse to children. Baruani
Universal childrens rights are intensely important, because being born should not be a
lottery ticket. Whether a child will grow up happy and healthy should not be a matter of
where a child is born. The meaning of the Childrens Rights treaty is that wherever you are
born, your country has solemnly promised to cherish and protect your right to be treated
equally with all children and allow everyone the same rights.
Wangari Maathai
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Baruani receiving the Prize from Wangari Maathai
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FRANCIA SIMONfrom the Dominican Republic
Francia Simon received the prize
for her fight for the right of children
to name and nationality both for
children born in the Dominican Re-
public as for refugee children from
Haiti. It is only after official registra-
tion that children can gain access
to essential rights such as health
care and education.
Francia found herself faced with possible exclusion from school because she did not have a birth certificate. In re-
sponse, she carried out extensive research and showed great perseverance in pursuing her own registration. She suc-
ceeded and gained lasting access to secondary education. Since then, Francia has been using the knowledge and
strength she acquired during the complicated registration process to help other children without birth certificates to ob-
tain state recognition. She has already helped over 130 children to receive an official name and nationality. By doing this,
Francia increases the childrens own self-esteem and gives them the chance to lead a more secure and fulfilling life.
After the earthquake that took place in the beginning of 2010 on Haiti, Francia helped children who, often without their
parents, fled from Haiti to the Domanican Republic. She supported these children by finding shelter, among other
things. Together with others, Francia organized sport and other games for these children.
Francia received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 15, from Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta
Mench Tum.
It is my wish to go around the world looking for children without a birth certificate, to help them get it, so that
they can achieve their goals of becoming engineers, architects, etc. I hope my story spreads around the world
so that all families can get their birth certificates. I want to fight for children because I am an advocate for their
rights. Francia
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"It's important to not get caught up to think it's all going to be better someday, tomorrow;
it's important to say it's going to be better today. If I can help a person today, that will help
me live more fully. Consequently, you then realize that to help someone is not a dream out
there but is something that is very do-able".
Rigoberta Mench Tum
236
Francia receiving the Prize from Rigoberta Mench
CHAELI MYCROFT from South Africa
Michaela Mycroft, also
called Chaeli, received
the prize for her commit-
ment to the rights of chil-
dren with disabilities in
South Africa, through
her project: the Chaeli
Campaign.
Chaeli was born with
Cerebral Palsy, through
which the function of her
arms and legs is limited.
But where others see li-
mitations, she sees pos-
sibilities; with her positive attitude, she is an inspiration to many. At the
age of 9, Chaeli and her friends and sister started a project to raise
money for a motorized wheelchair for Chaeli. In just seven weeks they
raised more than enough money, so Chaeli decided to help more disa-
bled children. This project has become the Chaeli Campaign: a profes-
sional organisation that annually helps more than 3,000 children with
disabilities in South Africa with equipment and physical therapy, and
that promotes the rights, inclusion and acceptance of disabled children.
Chaeli inspires other children to start projects and for that she has de-
veloped an ambassadors programme.
Chaeli received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 17,
from Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire.
In 2012, Chaeli received the first Medal for Social Activism during the
World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago. The medal was
presented by Nobel Peace Prize winner F.W. de Klerk, on behalf of all
Nobel Peace Laureates.
I think we need to make a conscious decision to see the light in
every person we meet. I think we need to be more positive about
each other and see each others potential. If we see the light in
each other, I believe we would live in a much brighter world. Chaeli
In recognizing the life and work of Michaela Mycroft with the 2011 International
Childrens Peace Prize, the KidsRights Foundation elevates a great young woman whose
life is dedicated to the service of others and is an inspiration to us all.
Mairead Maguire
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Chaeli receiving the Prize from Mairead Maguire
Jimi Carter congratulates Chaeli
Jody Williams congratulates Chaeli
KESZ VALDEZ from the Philippines
Kesz received the prize for his achievements
in helping street children in his country. As a
little boy, Kesz lived on the streets and the
dumpsite of Cavite City. By living there, Kesz
was constantly in danger of attracting disea-
ses or injury. At the age of five, after he was
severely burned on the dumpsite, a social worker took Kesz into his home and began to give him a loving and safe life.
However, Kesz did not forget about the street children he left behind. For his seventh birthday, he wanted no presents
for himself, but instead asked to share slippers with his former companions, so that they would no longer cut their feet
open on the streets. Kesz organisation, Championing Community Children (C3), became a fact. In the mean time,
many people have joined Kesz, and C3 has become a great success. Furthermore, through the Wealthy Healthy Ou-
treach project, C3 gives training about hygiene, childrens rights en healthy food. During the outreach project, the chil-
dren learn how to brush their teeth and how to wash themselves (among other things). The children also learn how they
can pass the information on to the other children on the street. The organisation has helped over 10,500 children in 48
different communities. The team has taken care of more than 3,000 wounds and more than 4,000 toothbrushes have
been distributed.
Kesz received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 13, from Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu.
Looking back, the fire that burned my skin and flesh is the same fire that started a flame in my soul. A flame
that would warm cold hearts, a flame that would shed light to the path of the lost, a flame that would spark
hope, lighting an entire sea of darkness and desperation. Kesz
Hey you oldies, listen to the children, listen to the children and act!
Desmond Tutu
238
Kesz receiving the Prize from Desmond Tutu
MALALA YOUSAFZAI from Pakistan
Malala won the prize be-
cause she stands up for
every childs right to an
education and especially
girls. When Malala was 11
years old, she wrote under
a pseudonym, about her
passion for learning and
the oppression of the Tali-
ban. Hundreds of girls
schools had already been
torched or bombed, and on
15
th
January 2009, the Tali-
bans declared that girls
were no longer allowed to
go to school at all. Malala
told the world what it felt
like to be trapped at home,
longing to go to school, but
with no school to go to.
Undeterred, Malala conti-
nued her campaign. And in
2010, she became chair of The District Child Assembly of Swat: a
child-only forum to protect childrens rights, based on the Conven-
tion on the Rights of the Child.
On 9 October 2012, Malala was sitting in a school bus waiting to go
home when it was boarded by Taliban gunmen. They singled out the
15-year old girl, and shot her in the head and neck. The Talibans im-
mediately claimed responsibility, declaring Malalas campaign to be
an obscenity. Malala survived. She was rushed to the UK for treat-
ment, where, with her family by her side, she made a steady recovery.
The world was shocked at her story, and support flooded in from political leaders, movie stars and school children.
Malala received the International Childrens Peace Prize, at the age of 16, from Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman.
"Let us stand up and let us move the world with our voice and with our pens. I will continue my struggle as I
did in the past, and I am never going to stop it until every child, every girl and boy will be able to go to school
and getting their education. Malala
Education is the key to to the empowerment of girls and women. It is very important for
all children to go to school so that they have access to the information that will enable
them to be active participants in the world. The International Childrens Peace Prize shows
that empowered girls can make a difference by raising their voice.
Tawakkol Karman
Malala receiving the Prize from
Tawakkol Karman
Malala with Ban Ki-moon at the UN
239
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THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE, AN ETHICAL NORTH STAR
Each of us in our own life needs to find our own ethi-
cally correct reference points. The Nobel Peace Price
honors many of the bearers of guiding values whose
words and actions are inspirational.
History is all too often a story emphasizing the pursuit
of war and power, while their stories illuminate ano-
ther historical perspective -- the nonviolent pursuit
of peace. This is important, as understanding is key to
learning to act in the right way. We can respond our
own call of conscience, but this is not enough. We
also need discernment or repeating past mistakes will
lead to repeated tragedies. We should honor the successes of peace and not for-
get the failures of violence. "...Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are ac-
complices..." Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel always remarks.
Many have criticised Alfred Nobel for not extending the prize to other important
fields of knowledge such as mathematics, philosophy or theology. One might
also criticise the Norwegian Committee for never giving Mahatma Ghandi the
Nobel Peace Price, despite his receiving 12 nominations between 1937 and
1948. One could accuse the same panel of racism for not giving the prize to an
African in the first fifty years of its creation. Or, for only awarding the prize to
three women in the first 76 years. However, the Nobel Peace Prize, widely con-
sidered the most prestigious recognition in the world, has encouraged many of
the winners to persevere in their noble aims, and has brought to the internatio-
nal spotlight countless hidden conflicts and ignored abuses.
As in the case of the 1984, the Nobel Prize was awarded to Desmond Tutu for his
work against apartheid which immediately gained the attention of the internatio-
nal community. This quickly and significantly helped support for the ongoing po-
litical and economic sanctions placed on South Africa that pressured and helped
overthrow the apartheid regime. Standing against the injustices of "inferior" edu-
cation, Tutu used his prize money to establish a bursary program for non-white
South African students to attend school and study in the United States.
The 1996 prize serves as an example of how the Nobel Prize can make a signi-
ficant contribution to international peace. In the year 1975, while the whole
world was asleep, a Muslim-governed Indonesia invaded their small Catholic
Livia with Mikhail Gorbachev
(2001)
neighbor, East Timor, which
had recently liberated itself
from Portuguese colonisation.
For years, the island of East
Timor was brutalised by the
new invaders, or at least until
the Nobel Committee decided
to award the prize to Jos
Ramos-Horta, its exiled foreign
minister who later became pre-
sident of the island, and Carlos
Filipe Ximenes Belo, the islan-
d's spiritual leader, who over
the years survived numerous
assassination attempts on his
life for having sheltered entire
families. "In the hope that this
Prize will spur efforts to find a
diplomatic solution based on
the people's right to self-deter-
mination", the prize managed to turn the spotlight on a just cause ignored by the media.
Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams from Northern Ireland, and the Guatemalan Rigoberta
Mench were young women when they received the Nobel Peace Prize. They particularly
inspire me with many examples of courage in action.
They all suffered terrible abuses, in Ireland the killing of family members by the Irish Repu-
blican Army and the British forces, and in Guatemala the dictatorship tortured and killed
loved ones. These women never wavered in their selfless commitment to fight for justice and
human rights and were able to lead hundreds of thousands of people in peaceful protests.
They challenged those who love power with the unflinching power of caring and love. I
hope their examples inspire young people, because, as Nelson Mandela reminds us, "they
are not our future, they are our present".
Every generation must walk its own journey but it is necessary to see the footsteps of those
who have walked with dignity, wisdom, success, and virtue before us. Young people must be
heard no doubt, but they must also be given meaningful information and not just superfi-
ciality and entertainment.
241
Livia with Muhammad Yunus (2006)
In Italy, my country, there are good reasons for re-
vived civil and social engagement of youth. They
are challenged by rising unemployment rates
which are now up to 40 percent, with greater di-
sparities between the North and the South. In a Eu-
ropean context, which has imposed increasing
sacrifices on our own families, the cultural level
of young people born in the last twenty years has
plateaued, made evident by economic and finan-
cial cuts to the arts, education and research and
by the rise of demoralizing and trivial television
programmes. The children of the Italian and Euro-
pean financial crisis are now young adults. They
deserve examples of leadership that bring hope.
It has become increasingly difficult to explain to
them what democracy is and the extraordinary ad-
vantages it brings, and in this context looking back to the past to understand the present be-
comes indispensable. For this reason, and beyond any form of political rhetoric, I often
remind them of the extraordinary gestures of solidarity from Ernesto Teodoro Moneta from
Milan, born in 1833, who, in 1907, became the first and only Italian to have won the Nobel
Peace Prize.
In the mid nineteenth century, Lombardy was under the rule of Austria, and inspired by
Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the greatest political thinkers of the 1800s, Moneta created the
Italian Peace Movement, involving hundreds of Italians in the noble aim of unifying the Na-
tion. The uprising of 1848 in Milan and the bloody consequences of those events left an in-
delible mark on him. He was then 15 years old and was already fighting on the front line with
his father and brothers. One day he saw three Austrian soldiers fatally wounded. "This sight
froze the blood in my veins, and I was overcome by a great compassion. In these three sol-
diers I no longer saw enemies but men like myself... In that instant I felt all the cruelty and
inhumanity of war", Moneta related when awarded the prize in Oslo. After fighting alon-
gside Giuseppe Garibaldi, his passion for truth and information led him to journalism, and
as editor he prompted Il Secolo di Milano [The Century of Milan] to be the most widely read
daily newspaper in Italy for almost thirty years.
This book intentionally includes the solidarity actions of celebrities of the entertainment
world so that we may bring to light their inspiring and ever-important humanitarian efforts.
242
Livia with Mayra Avellar Neves (2008)
The aim is to encourage young people to go be-
yond mere images and to understand that eve-
ryone can be a messenger of peace. Bono, the
leader of the U2 rock-band, is known as much for
his charity work and political activism as he is for
his music. Over the years, he has put his fame to
good use, raising awareness and money for hu-
manitarian efforts, particularly ones involving
Africa, starting in 1984, when he sang on the first
of the all-star charity singles Do They Know it's
Christmas?, produced by Bob Geldof. The U2 band
also lent public support to the "Good Friday Agree-
ment", bringing John Hume and David Trimble on-
stage at their concert in Belfast, just a few days
before the historic peace agreement in Northern
Ireland was signed. "...When a celebrity like Bono
and Bob Geldof talks, the world listens. These people play an extremely important role and it
is important to appreciate and not trivialise what they do", remarked Wangari Maathai.
The chapter on the International Children's Peace Prize Winners is designed to show young
readers that you do not need to be an experienced adult to change the world. Already as a
teenager you can make a great difference in your own community. It all starts with an idea
and a little courage to take some action.
This book does not exhaust the many acts, deeds and heroic gestures of its protagonists. But
from many examples one can see a common message: peace is an absolute value to be pur-
sued with persistence. Achieving peace through dialogue and non-violence is a necessary on-
going activity that needs our hands, hearts and commitment. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said,
Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.
I dedicate this book to Rosa Parks, the queen mother of a movement whose single act of he-
roism sparked a movement for freedom, justice and equality. Her greatest contribution is
that she told us a regular person can make a difference.
I also dedicate this book to all kids of the world, including my two boys Nicola and Giovanni.
243
Livia with Herbie Hancock (2005)
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I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this book a reality. Without the
enthusiastic support of the following friends, it would have been impossible to fina-
lize this first edition of "Being Nobel":
David Steward from FW de Klerk Foundation, Piotr Gulczynski from Lech Walesa
Institute, Lamiya Moshed from Yunus Centre, Vladimir Polyakov from Gorbachev
Foundation, Ashley Woods and the International Peace Bureau, Jonathan Granoff
from Middle Power Initiative, David Ives and Louis Venturelli from the Albert
Schweitzer Institute, Louis Alberto Cordero from Arias Foundation, Sonia Neto
from the European Commission, Gensei Ito from ASCA, Didi Mills from Hong
Kong, Ekaterina Zagladina, Enzo Cursio, Matteo Rebesani, Silvia Manco, Manfredo
Fraccola, Paula Mancini, Peter Kolbe, Luca D'Alessio, and Flaminia Spadone from
the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Sara
Wilson from The Hunger Project, Marc Dullaert, Roland Van der Hoek, Cindy De
Visser, Sjierly Rodrigues Pereira and Ellen Vroonhof from KidsRights Foundation,
Mauro Aparo from Ugo La Malfa Foundation, Renato Roncagli Miceli, Alessandro
di Gregorio, Rima Akkad, Anna Maria Callisto, Lorenzo Attolico, Alessandra
Pugliese, Filippo Aparo and Shahram Azizi.
Cover photo of Nelson Mandela by Hans Gedda.
Photographs from Corbis, Getty Images, AFP and Keystone/AP,
Archive of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates.
Sean Sutton/Mines Advisory Group, page 96.
Maps from National Geographic Education.
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"Violence is a preventable disease.
No state or individual can be secure in an insecure world. The values of non-
violence in intention, thought, and practice have grown from an option to a
necessity. These values are expressed in their application between states,
groups and individuals.
We are convinced that adherence to the values of nonviolence will usher in
a more peaceful, civilized world order in which more effective and fair go-
vernance, respectful of human dignity and the sanctity of life itself, may be-
come a reality.
Our cultures, our histories, and our individual lives are interconnected and
our actions are interdependent. Especially today as never before, we believe, a truth lies before us:
our destiny is a common destiny. That destiny will be defined by our intentions, decisions and actions
today.
We are further convinced that creating a culture of peace and nonviolence, while a difficult and long
process, is both necessary and noble. Affirmation of the values contained in this Charter is a vital step
to ensuring the survival and development of humanity and the achievement of a world without violence.
We, Nobel Peace Laureates and Laureate Organizations,
Reaffirming our commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Moved by concern for the need to end the spread of violence at all levels of society and especially
the threats posed on a global scale that jeopardize the very existence of humankind;
Reaffirming that freedom of thought and expression is at the root of democracy and creativity;
Recognizing that violence manifests in many ways, such as armed conflict, military occupation, po-
verty, economic exploitation, environmental destruction, corruption and prejudice based on race, re-
ligion, gender, or sexual orientation;
Realizing that the glorification of violence as expressed through commercial entertainment can con-
tribute to the acceptance of violence as a normal and acceptable condition;
In the knowledge that those most harmed by violence are the weakest and vulnerable;
Remembering that peace is not only the absence of violence but that it is the presence of justice and
the well-being of people;
Realizing that the failure of States to sufficiently accommodate ethnic, cultural and religious diver-
sity is at the root of much of the violence in the world;
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Recognizing the urgent need to develop an alternative approach to collective security based on a sy-
stem in which no country, or group of countries, relies on nuclear weapons for its security;
Being aware that the world is in need of effective global mechanisms and approaches for nonviolent
conflict prevention and resolution, and that they are most successful when applied at the earliest
possible moment;
Affirming that persons invested with power carry the greatest responsibility to end violence where it
is occurring and to prevent violence whenever possible;
Asserting that the values of nonviolence must triumph at all levels of society as well as in relations
between States and peoples;
Beseech the global community to advance the following principles:
First: In an interdependent world, the prevention and cessation of armed conflict between and wi-
thin States can require the collective action of the international community. The security of individual
states can best be achieved by advancing global human security. This requires strengthening the im-
plementation capacity of the UN system as well as regional cooperative organizations.
Second: To achieve a world without violence, States must abide by the rule of law and honor their
legal commitments at all times.
Third: It is essential to move without further delay towards the universal and verifiable elimination
of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. States possessing such weapons must take con-
crete steps towards disarmament, and a security system that does not rely on nuclear deterrence. At
the same time, States must sustain their efforts to consolidate the nuclear non-proliferation regime,
by taking such measures as strengthening multilateral verification, protecting nuclear material and
advancing disarmament.
Fourth: To help eliminate violence in society, the production and sale of small arms and light wea-
pons must be reduced and strictly controlled at international, regional, state and local levels. In ad-
dition there should be full and universal enforcement of international disarmament agreements, such
as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, and support for new efforts aimed at the eradication of the impact of
victim-activated and indiscriminate weapons, such as cluster munitions. A comprehensive and ef-
fective Arms Trade Treaty needs to be enacted.
Fifth: Terrorism can never be justified because violence begets violence and because no acts of ter-
ror against the civilian population of any country can be carried out in the name of any cause. The
struggle against terrorism cannot, however, justify violation of human rights, international humani-
tarian law, civilized norms, and democracy.
Sixth: Ending domestic and family violence requires unconditional respect for the equality, freedom,
dignity, and rights of women, men and children by all individuals, institutions of the state, religion
and civil society. Such protections must be embodied in laws and conventions at local and interna-
tional levels.
247
Seventh: Every individual and state shares responsibility to prevent violence against children and
youth, our common future and most precious gift. All have a right to quality education, effective pri-
mary health care, personal safety, social protection, full participation in society and an enabling en-
vironment that reinforces non-violence as a way of life. Peace education, promoting non-violence and
emphasizing the innate human quality of compassion, must be an essential part of the curriculum of
educational institutions at all levels.
Eighth: Preventing conflicts arising from the depletion of natural resources, in particular sources of
energy and water, requires States to affirmatively and, through creation of legal mechanisms and
standards, provide for the protection of the environment and to encourage people to adjust their con-
sumption on the basis of resource availability and real human needs.
Ninth: We beseech the UN and its member states to promote appreciation of ethnic, cultural and re-
ligious diversity. The golden rule of a non-violent world: Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Tenth: The principal political tools for bringing into being a non-violent world are functioning de-
mocratic institutions and dialogue based on dignity, knowledge, and compromise, conducted on the
basis of balance between the interests of the parties involved, and, when appropriate, including con-
cerns relating to the entirety of humanity and the natural environment.
Eleventh: All states, institutions and individuals must support efforts to address the inequalities in the
distribution of economic resources, and resolve gross inequities which create a fertile ground for vio-
lence. The imbalance in living conditions inevitably leads to lack of opportunity and, in many cases,
loss of hope.
Twelfth: Civil society, including human rights defenders, peace and environmental activists must be
recognized and protected as essential to building a nonviolent world as all governments must serve
the needs of their people, not the reverse. Conditions should be created to enable and encourage civil
society participation, especially that of women, in political processes at the global, regional, natio-
nal and local levels.
Thirteenth: In implementing the principles of this Charter we call upon all to work together towards
a just, killing-free world in which everyone has the right not to be killed and responsibility not to
kill others.
To address all forms of violence we encourage scientific research in the fields of human interaction
and dialogue, and we invite participation from the academic, scientific and religious communities
to aid us in the transition to non-violent, and non-killing societies."
Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa, F.W. De Klerk, Desmond
Tutu, Jody Williams, Mohamed ElBaradei, John Hume, Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, Betty Williams,
Muhammad Yunus, Wangari Maathai, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War,
International Committee of the Red Cross, International Atomic Energy Agency, American Friends
Service Committee, International Peace Bureau.
Peace is not unity in similarity but unity in diversity,
in the comparison and conciliation of differences.
Mikhail Gorbachev
Those of us who have been privileged to receive education,
skills and experiences and even power must be role models for the next
generation of leadership.
Wangari Maathai
If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side
of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse
and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your
neutrality.
Desmond Tutu
Wishing is not enough, no matter how heartfelt the wish.
What is required is dedication, hard work and courage.
Betty Williams
When people are divided, the only solution is agreement.
John Hume
Education is the most powerful weapon we have to change the world.
Nelson Mandela
We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become
increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us, and
make us kinder. We always have the choice.
Dalai Lama
Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those
who love war.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Being Nobel

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