Dear friends,

I write to you energised and inspired
after returning from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where my fellow Elder Fernando Henrique Cardoso welcomed us for The Elders' twice-yearly meeting.

As always, it was a good opportunity to step back and consider the work we are doing. What should our priorities be?
How best can we make a difference?

I was especially encouraged by our wonderful meeting with young people from all across Brazil, and was glad that, as Elders, we were able to help convey their concerns and recommendations to decision-makers.

We always emphasise that leaders must listen to their people – I believe that amplifying the voices of those who are not often heard is one of our most important activities as a group.

Like my country, India, Brazil is developing rapidly. The young people we met insisted that this growth must be sustainable – not only in terms of environmental impact of development, but also its social impact.

They shared our concerns about the growing gap between rich and poor. I strongly reject the idea that poverty is inevitable: to me, poverty is violence that is happening with society's consent.

In Brazil, India and elsewhere – we need to bridge this gap between the haves and the have-nots. We must recognise that our actions directly impact others, and take personal responsibility for the inequality we see.

In the spirit of Ubuntu – the philosophy of interconnectedness, and the reason I joined The Elders – we will continue to strive to make this vision a reality.

I wish you all the best,

Ela Bhatt