International icon and former South African president Nelson Mandela on Wednesday announced a new think tank formed by some of the world's most respected retired leaders who set to contribute their wisdom on alleviating global humanitarian challenges.
Celebrating his 89th birthday on Wednesday, Mandela said the group, known as The Elders, would "speak freely and boldly on whatever actions need to be taken" to address the globe's most pressing problems such as conflicts, poverty and diseases.
"I know The Elders will support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair," he told a gathering of international political and business leaders in Johannesburg.
"The efforts of a small dedicated group of leaders ... without any vested personal interest in the outcome can help resolve what often seems like incredible problems," said Mandela.
The silver-haired octogenarian, much respected for his lifelong devotion to anti-apartheid struggles in South Africa, was joined at the launching ceremony by his wife Graca Machel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and a select group of world leaders.
These include former United States president Jimmy Carter, former United Nations (UN) secretary general Kofi Annan, former Irish president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, former Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing, and renowned Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus.
Five of them, namely Mandela, Tutu, Annan, Carter and Yunus, are laureates of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.
Two other members, Indian women rights leader Ela Bhatt and former head of the UN World Health Organization Gro Harlem Brundtland, did not attend the launching ceremony.
The independent group, chaired by Tutu, would be "free from political, economic or military pressures" and intends to "use their unique collective skills to catalyze peaceful resolutions to long-standing conflicts, articulate new approaches to global issues that are or may cause immense human suffering, and share wisdom by helping to connect voices all over the world," said the organization.
Mandela was approached by British businessman Richard Branson and rock star Peter Gabriel several years ago with the idea of the group.
Annan pointed out that the global village was facing "so many challenges that no one country can resolve alone," such as problems of poverty, environmental degradation, diseases, internationally organized crime, and weapons of mass destruction.
He said these problems should be dealt with by efforts of all, and "the elders can take the lead in asking questions on 'how we can do to move this situation forward."
Li Zhaoxing said the funding members have already held discussions on the Middle East situation, Darfur issues, and challenges of health and climate change.
The launching ceremony was held at Johannesburg's symbolic Constitution Hill, which used to be an apartheid-era prison to house political prisoners including Mahatma Ghandi and Mandela but now has been transformed as the seat of South Africa's Constitutional Court.
The activity also highlighted the week-long birthday celebrations for Mandela, who is fondly called by his clan name Madiba in South Africa.
More than 50 past and present international stars, including Brazilian soccer legend Pele and three-time African player of the year Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon, will take part in a "90 Minutes for Mandela" match in Cape Town on Wednesday night.
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton is expected to join Mandela to open an exhibition dedicated to Mandela on Thursday, and Kofi Annan is scheduled to deliver the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture Sunday in Johannesburg.
Source: Xinhua
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