Former South African president Nelson Mandela (4th R) and his wife Graca Machel (4th L) pose for photos with (R-L) Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing, former United States president Jimmy Carter, former United Nations (UN) secretary general Kofi Annan, former Irish president Mary Robinson and Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus at a launching ceremony of a humanitarian campaign in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 18, 2007. Mandela, who celebrated his 89th birthday on Wednesday, announced a new think tank formed by some of the world's most respected retired leaders who set to contribute their wisdom on alleviating global challenges.
On July 18th, international icon and former South African president Nelson Mandela announced the launching of "the Elders", a new think tank formed by some of the world's most respected retired leaders who set to contribute their wisdom on alleviating global challenges.
Mandela was joined at the launching ceremony by his wife Graca Machel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and a select group of world leaders. These include former United States president Jimmy Carter, former United Nations (UN) secretary general Kofi Annan, former Irish president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, former Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing, and renowned Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus. Five of them, namely Mandela, Tutu, Annan, Carter and Yunus, are laureates of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.