The Elders : A group of international icons for peace and justice

A group of international icons for peace and justice, that will seek to impact positively on urgent world problems, was launched in Johannesburg in July, on the day of President Nelson Mandela’s 89th birthday. Its members include former presidents Mandela (South Africa), Jimmy Carter (United States) and Mary Robinson (Ireland), former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Among the organisers of the initiative have been rock star Peter Gabriel and British airline mogul Richard Branson, who hosted precursor meetings of the Elders at his Caribbean island and South African bush
properties.