Article

2007-07-18 International-UN-NGOs

Mandela, Carter form "Council of Elders" to save world

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Mike 2007-07-18 06:53|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 I highly recommend they take an immediate five year sabbatical to Robben Island. The sea air is therapeutic and the solitude and privacy will enable bonding and a free exchange of ideas. Madidba can organize birding walks, ostrich on the braai and sundowners.

Posted by Besoeker 2007-07-18 08:18|| 2007-07-18 08:18|| Front Page Top

#2 God save us from do-gooders, especially bad, stupid, corrupt ones. What part of "who asked you?" do they not understand?

Posted by Spot">Spot 2007-07-18 08:20|| 2007-07-18 08:20|| Front Page Top

#3 Seriously, I just saw the headline and thought "God, please let this be The Onion." Someone wake me when they solve that armed conflict thingy (even in 1 country, like Darfur/Sudan).

Posted by BA 2007-07-18 09:42|| 2007-07-18 09:42|| Front Page Top

#4 The usual suspects doing the usual things...

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Melding statesmanship and a large slug of audacity, the former South African president Nelson Mandela and a clutch of world-famous figures plan to announce today a private alliance to launch diplomatic assaults on the globe's most intractable problems.

Start simple. How about "Flaming tire necklaces", Nellie? Maybe you could start there?

The alliance, to be unveiled today during events marking Mandela's 89th birthday, is to be called "The Elders." Among others, it includes the retired Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu; Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president; the retired U.N. secretary-general Kofi Annan, and Mary Robinson, the former president of Ireland.

First order of business...expense accounts. Money is no object, of course? Kofi, why don't you head up that committee?

Many, including Mandela, have been early and harsh critics of President Bush and American foreign policy, particularly toward Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The group's members and backers insisted however, that they are guided neither by ideology nor by geopolitical bent.

We are as pure as the driven snow. Bushitler will be given every opportunity to grovel before us before he is villified.

Mandela states in remarks prepared for today that the fact that none of The Elders holds public office allows them to work for the common good, not for outside interests.

We're taking on THE MAN!

"This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken," the remarks state. "Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair."

..."spout empty cliched slogans when results are demanded".

One of the group's founders and principal sponsors, the British tycoon Richard Branson, said that while "there will always be skeptics," government leaders he had briefed "very much support the initiative."

Excuse me, sir. That rich old hippie guy is here.
Oh. Ummmmmmm...send him right in. I guess.

"Most individuals in the world would welcome a group of people who are above ego, who, in the last 12 or 15 years of their lives, are above partisan politics," Branson said.

Yeah, no egos here. Right, Sir Richard?

Precisely what problems The Elders will tackle is unclear; none have yet been selected.

Well, I'm sure they know what's best, so we'd better just do what they say...

Posted by tu3031 2007-07-18 09:55|| 2007-07-18 09:55|| Front Page Top

#5 Sounds like a wonderful high value ~~target~~ meeting.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-07-18 09:57|| 2007-07-18 09:57|| Front Page Top

#6 Never trust anyone over the age of thirty, is my motto. Gah.

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2007-07-18 10:36|| 2007-07-18 10:36|| Front Page Top

#7 Clinton should join them. He could be their chief of staff, you know, interns and such.

Posted by wxjames 2007-07-18 11:12|| 2007-07-18 11:12|| Front Page Top

#8 Why isn't Norman Borlaug on this panel? What, you've never heard of Norman Borlaug? "All" he did was save the lives of hundreds of millions of people, possibly billions by leading the "Green Revolution". He (deservedly) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. Unlike Carter, Mandela, and Clinton and the others on this list, he has actually done something with his life.

Posted by Rambler">Rambler 2007-07-18 11:25|| 2007-07-18 11:25|| Front Page Top

#9 Elders of ~~Not~~Zion

Posted by Skunky Glins5285">Skunky Glins5285 2007-07-18 11:42|| http://john-smokegetsinmyeyes.blogspot.com/]">[http://john-smokegetsinmyeyes.blogspot.com/] 2007-07-18 11:42|| Front Page Top

#10 Who else should be on the Council? How about Maggie Thatcher? I figure she'd eat and excrete the rest of the councillors before lunch the first day. So, no.

Instead, we'll probably have more Mary Robinson types. Who's that Bush-death-lusting Nobel Peace Prize winner? She's sure to be on it. Also Harold Pinter and Noam Chomsky. If Fidel retired, they'd welcome him with open arms. Oh, and Gorby -- he ended the Cold War, you know.

An article in today's Houston Chronicle (originally from the NYT) quotes Richard Branson as saying, "Most individuals in the world would welcome a group of people who are above ego, who...are above partisan politics." I had a good hearty laugh at that.

This is going to be comedy gold, unless anyone actually listens to them.

Posted by Angie Schultz 2007-07-18 12:14|| 2007-07-18 12:14|| Front Page Top

#11 If you don't mind Jimmy would you and Mandela not save me? You screwed up the Presidency during your one term.

Posted by JohnQC 2007-07-18 12:15|| 2007-07-18 12:15|| Front Page Top

#12 Norman and Maggie are not intersted in bribes and such so Kofi will not want their company. This is a group of "we know better than you" talkers, not a group of doers.

Posted by rjschwarz 2007-07-18 12:42|| 2007-07-18 12:42|| Front Page Top

#13 Conceived by entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel, this new assemblage will tackle (and presumably attempt to eradicate) armed conflict, AIDS, and global warming.

Don't quit your day job, Peter. Your music was good with moments of greatness before you decided to anoint yourself savior - since then: meh. Same goes for Bono, IMHO.

Posted by xbalanke 2007-07-18 13:16|| 2007-07-18 13:16|| Front Page Top

#14 Can we nail the doors and windows shut and slide food in for the next 12-15 years?

Posted by Oldcat 2007-07-18 13:39|| 2007-07-18 13:39|| Front Page Top

#15 Mark Steyn comments on the Council's "junior auxilliary":

But wait: What about all those elders who are too old and have already died? No problem: Meet the world council of elders offspring! Theyre the Teen Titans to the council of elders Superfriends. Nick Clooney father of George and brother of Rosie reports:

Martin Luther King III is, today and tomorrow, hosting the sons and daughters of world leaders for global peace initiatives.

But these are not the sons and daughters of just any world leaders. They are sons and daughters of men who risked everything, including their lives, for the cause of non-violence in the world. Their descendants have decided - collectively - to hold aloft the torch of peace lit by their parents. In the shorthand of communications, they are called the "Gen II Peace Team."

Who are they..?

Christine Chavez-Delgado, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, the tireless leader for labor justice

Arun Gandhi, grandson of the legendary spiritual leader Mohandas Gandhi...

Kerry Kennedy, daughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy

Justin Trudeau, son of former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau

It is the intention of the Gen II Peace Team to build on the cumulative moral authority of their parents and grandparents to focus the current generation on non-violent ways to solve problems that now seem insoluble Tonight there will be a dinner. Tomorrow, a morning group discussion of peace initiatives at the House of Lords.

The venue seems appropriate. As for the moral authority of Pierre Trudeau, dont get me started

Posted by Mike 2007-07-18 13:46|| 2007-07-18 13:46|| Front Page Top

#16 Too bad Anton Szandor LaVey isn't still around. He would fit right in. Or he could at least add the "responsible adult viewpoint" to these whineholes.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-07-18 14:28|| 2007-07-18 14:28|| Front Page Top

#17 The bit about the kids reminds me of the start of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy were the construction worker charged with demolishing Arthur Dent's house was a distant relative of Ghengis Khan and had a penchant for little furry hats and axes for decorations but didn't really know why.

Posted by rjschwarz 2007-07-18 15:56|| 2007-07-18 15:56|| Front Page Top

#18 Put 'em in a rest home and let 'em talk all they want.

Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-07-18 15:58|| 2007-07-18 15:58|| Front Page Top

#19 Make it that home from "Bubba Hotep", then they can shoot the shit with JFK and the King...

Posted by mojo">mojo 2007-07-18 16:41|| 2007-07-18 16:41|| Front Page Top

#20 They never called. A pox on them...

Posted by Al Gore 2007-07-18 16:42|| 2007-07-18 16:42|| Front Page Top

#21 The Elders from Hell.

Posted by AT 2007-07-18 16:51|| 2007-07-18 16:51|| Front Page Top

#22 The two wise ~~guys~~ men have entered. We shall rise and sing our song...

Click for music

Posted by Ogeretla 2007 2007-07-18 19:18|| 2007-07-18 19:18|| Front Page Top

#23 Where's Madeline ~~Half~~Albright? Henry Kissinger? Ward Chamberlain? Hugo Chavez? Kim Il Jung? Bashir Assad? Robert Mugabe? Etc., etc.

I mean, if you're putting together a learned council of elders you're forgetting some of the folks who've done the world so much good lately.

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2007-07-18 19:29|| www.fire-on-the-suns.com]">[www.fire-on-the-suns.com] 2007-07-18 19:29|| Front Page Top

#24 will be a United Nations of the great, the good and the rich.

Oh, God, how that phrase must get their hearts pumping.

Granted, their hearts pump bile and acid, but...

Mandela states in remarks prepared for today that the fact that none of The Elders holds public office allows them to work for the common good, not for outside interests.

Because nobody outside of elected (and accountable) office is on the take or just plain twisted.

God, I hate the tranzis. They're not even bothering to hide their intent anymore, are they?

Posted by Rob Crawford">Rob Crawford 2007-07-18 19:43|| 2007-07-18 19:43|| Front Page Top

#25 "Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair."

Isn't that a ripoff of the Prayer of St. Francis, perhaps most commonly recited these days in AA and other 12 step groups, where genuine people are trying to get over themselves and be of selfless service to others? These old hoots are not quite in the league of selfless people. Shame on them for hijacking a prayer genuinely about doing service to others to serve their selfish ends. Did they think no one would notice? Did they think anyone would really let them sit next to St. Francis and steal his words?

Posted by Beau 2007-07-18 21:43|| 2007-07-18 21:43|| Front Page Top

23:59 Eric Jablow
23:55 Mark E.
23:48 Super Hose
23:48 USN, ret.
23:36 Cromert
23:33 Barbara Skolaut
23:32 USN, ret.
23:27 Barbara Skolaut
23:25 Barbara Skolaut
23:22 RD
23:16 Super Hose
23:07 RD
23:06 Super Hose
23:04 RD
23:04 Super Hose
23:03 Super Hose
22:55 Super Hose
22:53 trailing wife
22:52 DarthVader
22:50 Anonymoose
22:48 Super Hose
22:47 DarthVader
22:47 Anonymoose
22:43 DarthVader