<h3 class="post-title subpt">Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu visit London
Three Elders are in London this week to further their work on some of the biggest issues facing the world today. They will be engaging with the public, meeting parliamentarians and, in the spirit of Mandela Day, visiting grassroots charities to promote volunteering and engagement with young people.</h3><div class="quoteblock"><div class="quotetext"></div></div><p>Three members of The Elders are visiting London from 2-4 July to discuss and advance their work on some of the world's most intractable problems – including the challenges of rising inequality and youth unemployment in developed countries.</p>
<p>During their visit, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu will meet UK Foreign Secretary William Hague and participate in a <a href="http://www.theelders.org/article/celebrating-five-years-elders"><strong… debate</strong></a> in the Barbican Hall, presented by Intelligence Squared. They will also meet UK parliamentarians and, in the spirit of <a href="http://www.theelders.org/article/celebrating-mandela-day-building-bette… Day</strong></a>, visit grassroots charities helping young people to promote and encourage volunteering.</p>
<p>This visit to London comes at the time of The Elders' fifth anniversary. In those five years, its members have worked to fulfil the vision set by their founder and Honorary Elder, Nelson Mandela, to become “a fiercely independent and robust force for good, tackling complex and intractable issues, especially those that are not popular.”</p>
<p>Together they have worked to promote peace in Sudan and South Sudan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories and on the Korean Peninsula, supported reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire and Cyprus and pressed for greater accountability in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. They have created <a href="http://www.girlsnotbrides.org"><strong>Girls Not Brides</strong></a>, a new global campaign to end child marriage and have been actively engaged in efforts to make sustainable development a reality.</p>
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<p><img src="http://theelders.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/elders_thumb/tutu-t…; alt="Desmond Tutu" align="left" height="55" width="55"></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.theelders.org/desmond-tutu"><strong>Desmond Tutu</strong></a>, Chair of The Elders, said:</p>
<p><em>“It is an honour to be Chair of this group and to work with my friends, my fellow Elders, as I have done these past five years. When I look around the table at our meetings I have to pinch myself sometimes!</em></p>
<p><em>“As Elders, we often travel to places of deep unrest and suffering. Here in the UK, we want to continue efforts to address the threats faced by the world's most vulnerable people. But we know that affluent countries are also in trouble, as inequity continues to erode the hopes and life chances of the young. I look forward to learning how London's young people are faring.”</em></p>
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<p><img src="http://theelders.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/elders_thumb/carter…; alt="Jimmy Carter" align="left" height="55" width="55"></p>
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<p>Former US President<a href="http://www.theelders.org/jimmy-carter"><strong&gt; Jimmy Carter</strong></a> said:</p>
<p><em>“We never forget what Nelson Mandela told us when he founded The Elders: be bold. We have always tried to do that, whether we are in Khartoum or Juba, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Gaza, Pyongyang or Seoul, or any of the troubled places where we collectively work, meet with leaders and listen to the people.</em></p>
<p><em>“Madiba's message continues to resonate with urgency. The popular revolutions of the Arab world only serve to convince us that we should continue to support those who call on their governments to uphold and strengthen the principles of justice and human rights, in the name of peace.”</em></p>
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<p><img src="http://theelders.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/elders_thumb/robins…; alt="Mary Robinson" align="left" height="55" width="55"></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.theelders.org/mary-robinson"><strong>Mary Robinson</strong></a>, former President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said:</p>
<p><em>“As our Chair Desmond Tutu says, we are still 'learning to Elder'. We live in a fast-changing world and must retain a sense of humility, as a self-selected group trying to bridge the gap between the grassroots and leaders, often in very difficult contexts.</em></p>
<p><em>“Our visit is a good example of how we work. We will be meeting the Foreign Secretary and parliamentarians, and, in observance of Mandela Day, will also spend time with charities supporting London's most vulnerable youth, to learn about their achievements and needs. Mandela Day stands for the idea that everyone can change their local communities for the better, and in turn change the world – we hope this message resonates with someone growing up in London today.”</em></p>
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<p><strong>PROGRAMME</strong></p>
<p><span>Monday 2 July 2012</span><br><a href="http://www.theelders.org/article/celebrating-five-years-elders"><strong… Elders in Conversation with Jon Snow</strong></a><br>Hosted by <a href="http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/intelligence-squared-presents… Squared</strong></a><br> 19:00-20:30, Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre<br> <em>Please contact Intelligence Squared for media access.</em></p>
<p><span>Tuesday 3 July 2012</span><br>Private meetings with Foreign Secretary William Hague and Members of Parliament and Peers</p>
<p><span>Wednesday 4 July 2012</span><br><a href="http://www.theelders.org/article/celebrating-mandela-day-building-bette… Day event</strong></a><br>Hosted by <a href="http://www.thefundingnetwork.org.uk/"><strong>The Funding Network</strong></a><br>12:00-14:00, CBI Conference Centre, Centre Point Tower, First Floor<br><em>Media must pre-register to attend and availability is very limited.<br>Please contact <strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></strong></em></p&gt;
<p><strong>MEDIA CONTACT</strong></p>
<p>Please note the Elders are not available for interview. (All time slots have been filled.)</p>
<p>For photos of the Elders' visit to local London youth charities on Wednesday 4 July, or for any further information, please contact <strong><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></strong></p&gt;
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<p><strong>About Mandela Day</strong></p>
<p>Taking place each year on 18 July, <strong><a href="http://www.mandeladay.com/">Mandela Day</a></strong> calls on people around the world to celebrate Nelson Mandela's life and legacy by serving their communities and taking action to build a better world.</p>
<p>Nelson Mandela devoted 67 years to combating injustice and fighting for human rights. Mandela Day calls on people to give 67 minutes of their time to make a difference in their communities.</p>
<p>As part of their visit to London, the Elders will mark Mandela Day and encourage volunteering and engagement to make a positive difference. Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu will be meeting grassroots organisations working with and for young people to celebrate our collective power to do good and inspire change.</p>