As a collective humanity, it is unbelievable that we are allowing thousands of people to die every day from preventable and treatable diseases, and allowing people to kill their brothers and sisters due to lack of natural resources and blindly waiting and doing almost nothing as the perils of climate change are rapidly approaching.
Yet we do have the power to change all of these things. Hopefully, this group of Elders, with Mandela and Graça at the helm, can bring some hope and wisdom back into the world to play a role in bringing us together to stop unnecessary human suffering and to celebrate the wonderful world that we are so privileged to be a part of.
After a short introduction by Archbishop Tutu, Nelson Mandela opened the historic meeting by saying:
In today’s world many of the problems we face are global in nature; these include climate change; pandemics such as AIDS, malaria and TB; and of course that entirely human-created affliction, violent conflict. Destructions we have to deal with. These problems are often tied down by political, economic or geographical constraints.
As institutions of government grapple, often unequally, with challenges they face, the efforts of a small dedicated group of leaders, working objectively and without any vested personal interest in the outcome, can help resolve what often seem like intractable problems.
Gathered here today we have the makings of such a group. Using their experience, their moral courage, and their ability to rise above the parochial concerns of a nation, race and creed, they can help make our planet a more peaceful, healthy and equitable place to live.
Let us call them Global Elders, not because of their age, but because of their individual and collective wisdom. This group derives its strength not from political, economic or military power, but from the independence and integrity of those who are here. They do not have careers to build, elections to win, constituencies to please. They can talk to anyone they please and are free to follow paths they deem right, even if hugely unpopular.
It is now several years since Richard and Peter came to me with their idea for the Elders. Since then I have watched the concept grow, gain structure and strength, and become a real viable and pragmatic initiative. I believe that with your experience and your energy and your profound commitment to building a better world, the Elders can become a fiercely independent and robust force for good. Tackling complex and intractable issues, especially those that are not popular. However, I know that this group will not become arbitrary and arrogant, and that it will seek advice from expert organisations and work co-operatively with them.
What’s more, you will not take the easy short-term route, but support the long-term sustainable approaches, that address the root causes of the problems you tackle. Wherever possible you will work with local and indigenous knowledge, you will listen, bringing together antagonists and protagonists, working with anyone who is motivated to resolve a problem, and giving them support and the determination to do so. You can help foster and introduce innovative ideas and little-known solutions to connect to those who have real practical needs with those who have something to give.
Through our friends in business we can mobilise up-to-date technology. And raise not only awareness of forgotten issues, but also help and locate the resources to address them. But whatever techniques you use, I believe that in the end it is kindness and generous accommodation that are the catalysts for real change. And I expect that if my friend the Archbishop has anything to do with it, you will insist on assuming the essential interdependence of all humankind. We call this the spirit of Ubuntu, that profound African sense that we are human only through the humanity of other human beings. You should be conscious that you will often disagree with each other, and that you will have detractors.
Who are these self-appointed saviours?, people will ask. Respond to this internal disagreement and outside critics with openness, in fact reach out to those detractors, convert them to this way of thinking. The Elders can become real role models, leading, guiding and supporting all sorts of initiatives. Both your own and those of many others. The Elders can speak freely and boldly. Working both publicly and behind the scenes, on whatever actions need to be taken. And remember, who needs your help the most? It is those that have the least, that suffer the most. It is they that are rarely heard. This group of Elders can help them and make sure they are not ignored.
I know that you will support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair. This initiative cannot have come at a more appropriate time, it will bring together an extraordinary collection of people with the skills and resources to undertake what is now required. I am proud to be here, at this groundbreaking first meeting of the Global Elders. As I have said, I am trying to take my retirement seriously, and though I will not be able to participate in the really exciting part of the work, analysing problems, seeking solutions, searching out partners, I will be with you in spirit. I thank you.
Index
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.
A&M Records 143, 144
Abbott, Trevor 210, 211, 232, 234, 235, 250–1, 252, 253, 255, 256, 262, 264, 315, 333, 335, 336, 343, 346, 349, 363, 378, 382
Abdul, Paula 316
Abunalla, Mike 460
Airbus 399, 440, 472–3, 474
Air Europe 315, 318, 329, 367, 395
Air New Zealand 443–3
Alberta 90, 91, 94–5, 96, 98, 121, 131
Aldridge, Alan 54
Ali, Tariq 59–60, 62
Allen, Paul 467, 468, 528
American Airlines 449, 450
An Inconvenient Truth 491, 564
Angus, Sir Michael 358, 361, 387
Annan, Kofi 459, 462, 522
Ansett 441, 443, 444
Arista Records 169
Armitt, John 539
Attenborough, Stephen 516
Australian Mutual Provident (AMP) 405
Ayeroff, Jeff 332
Ayers, Kevin 114, 153
Ayling, Robert 386, 390
Azoulay, André 7
BAA 387
Bader, Douglas 26–7, 33
Barrow, Tom 238, 242, 267, 268, 279
Basham, Brian 351, 352, 354, 355, 368, 373, 386, 389, 393
Basham, Eileen 351
Batchelor, Robin 237
Bayliss, Josh 529
Beatles, The 53–4, 55, 58, 120, 146, 233, 253
Bedford, Dave 114, 137, 139
Bell Canada 463
Bell, Tim 351, 352
Bermuda Agreement 249
Bernard, Prince 554
Berry, Ken 137–8, 155, 158, 170, 173, 192, 193, 194, 199, 208, 210, 211, 230, 232, 233, 234, 256, 264, 316, 333, 343, 376, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382–3, 411
Berry, Nancy 274
Bhubezi Community Health Centre 513–14
Bin Laden, Osama 449
Bingham, Brian 352
Binnie, Brian 566
Birk, Lady 73, 74
Bishop, Sir Michael 341
Blackwell, Chris 127, 154
Blair, Cherie 506
Blair, Tony 423, 430, 431, 472
Blake, Peter 51, 64
Bletcher, Taddy 479, 480, 483, 520
Bloxam, Tom 484
Blue Riband 213, 528
Blyth, Chay 215, 218, 219, 220–1, 223, 224, 225, 226
Boeing 192, 193, 201, 472, 562, 563
Boomtown Rats 140
Borne, Marcia 362
Botham, Ian 206
Bowie, David 110, 120
Bowker, Richard 439, 442
Boy George 184, 185–6, 201, 232, 261
BP 216, 222, 229
Branson School of Entrepreneurship 484–5
Branson, Clare (daughter) 180–1, 182
Branson, Eve (mother) 15, 16, 20–2, 23–4, 25, 26, 29–30, 32–3, 37, 38, 50–1, 59, 67, 70, 101, 103, 11
8, 125, 179, 240, 272, 274, 296, 313, 330, 539–40
Branson, Holly (daughter) 1–2, 4, 5, 182, 198, 199, 205, 217, 245, 268, 270, 271–2, 274, 275, 278, 279, 306, 335, 337, 413, 414, 460, 470, 473, 487, 558–9, 567
Branson, Jim (great uncle) 19, 20, 25
Branson, Joan (wife) 1, 4, 5, 150–4, 160–3, 164, 171, 179, 180, 181–3, 198, 205, 216, 217, 268–9, 274, 277, 278, 279, 296, 306, 381–2, 413, 442, 460, 470,474, 487, 491, 511, 527, 529, 530, 566
Branson, Joyce (aunt) 16, 17, 18, 86–7, 103
Branson, Lindi (sister) 22, 23, 24, 59, 67, 70, 71, 86, 88, 274
Branson, Sam (son) 1–2, 4, 5, 7, 219, 220, 245, 274, 275, 278, 279, 282, 335, 337,413, 414, 470, 473, 474, 485–7, 556, 558, 560, 567
Branson, Ted (father) 16, 18–19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29–30, 38, 59, 67, 101,118, 125, 179–80, 268, 272, 273, 274, 296, 313, 330, 392, 474, 475–6, 558
Branson, Vanessa (sister) 15, 22–3, 64, 70, 71, 86, 188, 189, 210, 274
Brink, Dr Brian 512–13, 548
British Airways 195, 196, 229, 249, 250, 261, 267, 276, 281–2, 294, 315, 320, 321–2, 323–5, 326–31, 333, 339, 340–1, 343, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353–64, 367–75, 384–95, 397, 439, 449, 450, 457, 465, 466, 473, 563, 564
British Caledonian 197, 248–9, 250, 261, 315, 321, 328, 329, 384, 395
British Midland 326, 341, 536
British Rail 349
Brooks, Elkie 120
Brown, Gordon 547
Bucknall, Matthew 447
Burke, Simon 258, 336
Burns, Terry 456
Burnside, David 370, 389, 393
Burridge, Brian 461
Burridge, Simon 454, 455
Burrows, Geoff 542
Camelot 451, 453, 454–5, 456
Campbell, Joseph 350
Cannes Music Festival 168
Caplan, Leo 484
Carman, George 388, 391, 392, 393, 394–5, 453
Carter Center 521, 522
Carter, President 520, 521–3
Casino Royale 564
Cathay Pacific 423
CBS 128
Chalker, Lynda 281
Chambers, Alan 316
Charles, Paul 562, 564
Cheong, Dr 443–4
China Crisis 187
Christian Aid 281–2
Chrysalis Records 167, 210
CIDA 479, 480, 483
Cilion 491
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 195, 196, 197, 202, 203, 204, 320, 322, 324, 333, 357
Clerc, Julien 169
Cliff View House 33
Climate Group 491, 529
Climate Initiative 527
Climate Prize 530
Clinton Global Initiative 493, 530
Clinton, Bill 490, 493, 494, 527
Coca-Cola 401, 402, 406
Cochran, Sir Charles 21
Cohn-Bendit, Danny 59, 60
Collins, Phil 133, 174–5, 176, 182, 184, 187, 207, 231, 232, 253, 256, 261, 364,376, 381
Collins, Tony 534, 535, 536, 542
Colour By Numbers 186
Conduit, Phil 399
Constantine, Philippe 168
Corrigan, Chris 445
Cott Corporation, The 401
Cow, Henry 140
Crowley, Tom 390
Cruickshank, Don 209–10, 211, 231, 253, 254–5
Culture Club 83, 184–6, 193, 207, 376
Dalai Lama 462–3
Dan Air 315, 318, 367, 395
Dandelion 121
Dare 133, 183
Davis, Jeannie 387
Davis, Michael 359, 387, 385–6, 388
Day, Jeff 384, 385
DeJoria, John Paul 503
Del Rosso, Nick 390
Denny, Sandy 116
Department of Transport 322, 324, 340, 443, 449
Department of Transportation (DOT) (US) 501, 502, 561
Detchon, Reid 490
Devereux, Robert 188–9, 190, 210, 211, 261, 274, 335, 338, 343
Diamandis, Peter 549
Diana, Princess 430–1
Diana, The Last Days 465
‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?’ 185
Dobson, Frank 324
Downie, Pete 218, 221
Draper, Simon 102, 104–5, 106–7, 108, 112–13, 115, 116, 119–20, 122, 125, 127, 132, 136, 137, 138, 141, 151, 155, 158, 165, 173, 174, 175, 184, 187, 192, 193–4, 210, 211, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 259, 262, 274, 277, 333, 342–3, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380–1, 382–3
Driberg, Tom 73
Duende 153, 154, 168, 171, 189, 194, 195, 198, 210, 230, 251
Duffell, Ian 256, 263, 266
Duffy, Simon 551
Dylan, Bob 58, 76, 84, 105, 122, 136
easyGroup 448–9
Eberhart, Dick 370
Eddington, Rod 439, 450
Egan, Sir John 387
Electra 349
Electric Dreams 204
11 September 2001 434–40, 443, 445, 447, 448, 449, 456, 457, 458, 463, 464
Ellis, Mundy 90, 91, 119
EMI 97, 136, 141–2, 143, 144, 233, 234–5, 250, 252, 377, 411
Energis 454
Energy Future Coalition 490
Enron 446
Ertegun, Ahmet 131–2
Esso 215, 216, 222, 223, 224
Event 183–4
Exorcist, The 132
Face Value 184
Fairport Convention 116
Faithfull, Marianne 52
Farrow, Frances 437–8
Faust 120
Faust Tapes, The 122
Ferry, Bryan 232, 316, 381
Fields, Randolph 190, 191, 194, 196–7, 198, 199, 200, 204, 205
Flannery, Tim 495, 499, 529, 531
Fleming, Peter 330–1, 353, 354, 368, 369
Flying Lizards, The 171
Flying Teapot 120, 122
Forbes, Bryan 63, 64
Fossett, Steve 420, 427, 470–2, 562
Fowley, Brendan 89–90
Free 127
Freeman, Roger 349
Frost, David 47, 339
Fujisankei 262, 380, 382
Gabriel, Peter 133, 376, 377, 379, 381, 409, 460, 518, 520, 524, 570
Gaia Theory 488, 493, 494, 530
Gardner, Roy 196, 203, 205
Garland, Nicholas 64
Gates, Bill 432, 489
Geffen, David 365
Geldof, Bob 229
Geller, Uri 205
Gems, Jonny 39–40, 41, 42, 45, 46, 49, 50, 53, 55–6, 57, 65, 66, 67, 74–6
Genesis 107, 133, 136, 174, 175
Gillan, Ian 172
Gisby, Robin 539
Glitter, Gary 110, 120, 121
Global Elders 519–24, 569–73
GNER 545
‘God Save The Queen’ 145, 158
Godfrey, Brett 443, 444
Gold, Caroline 90
Gold, Rob 90
Goldcrest Films 210
Gong 120, 136, 140–1, 144
Goodman, Harry 315
Gore, Al 491–4, 530, 531, 564
Gormley, Rowan 349, 404, 405–6, 446
Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way Page 52
