Latest work

Discussion Desmond Tutu, Sara Svensson, Pedro Telles, Esther Agbarakwe,

Is sustainable development a luxury we cannot afford?

"The great challenges we all face are very clear: poverty eating away at our social fabric; our dwindling ecosystems; the well-documented threat of climate change... And yet so many of our leaders tend to put these challenges right at the bottom of their agendas."

How can we reconcile the demand for economic growth with a fairer and more sustainable future? Archbishop Desmond Tutu asks the Youngers – who come from Sweden, Brazil, Nigeria and China – how they tackle the idea that progressive action on sustainable development is something only wealthy countries can afford.

Read more
Your messages
I believe that people around the world need to know more about how family's, especially children, suffer due to the lack of Peace around the world. Ignorance truly denies others of bliss.
Troy Davis
Cleveland, Ohio
Leave your own message
Cancel

1: Add your message

2: Upload your photo

Maximum file size: 1 MB
Allowed extensions: png jpg jpeg gif
Discussion Pedro Telles, Gro Brundtland, Esther Agbarakwe,

People, profit and the environment – can we balance them all?

"What we have today is an economy that simply hasn’t been able to guarantee that we all stay above a basic social foundation and below a safe environmental ceiling."

As the 'Elders+Youngers' online discussion begins, Pedro Telles of Brazil asks: Why is it so hard to make effective change a reality? What are the barriers to change? Where are we failing to deliver, and who is responsible? Gro Brundtland and Esther Agbarakwe offer some initial responses.

Read more
Elders blog Gro Brundtland,

We have always been impatient, but change is now urgent

“Economies are stalling. Ecosystems are under siege. Inequality – within and between countries – is soaring. I will make the point I always make: these afflictions are clearly rooted in political short-sightedness, where narrow interests triumph over common interests, common responsibilities – and common sense.”

Gro Brundtland begins the Elders+Youngers dialogue with a message to the 'Youngers'.

Read more
Photos

Promoting women’s rights worldwide

Equality for girls and women has been a core focus of The Elders’ work ever since the organisation was founded. To mark International Women’s Day 2012, we revisit some of their work with women in Sudan, the Middle East, Cyprus, Côte d’Ivoire and North Korea.

See photos

The Elders

Nelson Mandela

Founder and Honorary Elder

Former President of South Africa and Nobel Peace Laureate; a leader who has dedicated his life to the anti-apartheid struggle, democracy and equality; founder of The Elders.

More

Martti Ahtisaari

Former President of Finland; Nobel Peace Laureate and expert in international peace mediation, diplomacy and post-conflict state building.

More

Ela Bhatt

The ‘gentle revolutionary’; a pioneer in women’s empowerment and grassroots development, founder of the more than 1 million-strong Self-Employed Women’s Association in India.

More

Lakhdar Brahimi

Former Algerian freedom fighter, Foreign Minister, conflict mediator and UN diplomat; an expert in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction.

More

Gro Brundtland

First woman Prime Minister of Norway; a medical doctor who champions health as a human right; put sustainable development on the international agenda.

More

Fernando H Cardoso

Former President of Brazil; implemented major land reform programme, reduced poverty and significantly improved health and education; an acclaimed sociologist and global advocate for drug policy reform.

More

Jimmy Carter

Former President of the United States, Nobel Peace Laureate and veteran peace negotiator; dedicated to advancing peace, democracy and health worldwide.

More

Graça Machel

International advocate for women’s and children's rights; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique.

More

Mary Robinson

First woman President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; a passionate, forceful advocate for gender equality, women’s participation in peace-building and human dignity.

More

Desmond Tutu

Chair of The Elders

Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders; a veteran anti-apartheid activist and peace campaigner widely regarded as ‘South Africa’s moral conscience’.

More

Kofi Annan

Following his appointment as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, Kofi Annan has temporarily withdrawn from The Elders.

More