2007年VOA标准英语-Mandela Asks Global Elders to Focus on World's

By Delia Robertson
Johannesburg
18 July 2007

To celebrate his 89th birthday, South Africa's elder statesman, Nelson Mandela, has launched a group of global elders to bring their collective experience to addressing some of the world's most pressing problems.  VOA's Delia Robertson attended the launch in Johannesburg and filed this report.

Nelson Mandela, celebrating 89th birthday, gives the thumb up as he launches, 18 Jul 2007

Combining hundreds of years of experience between them, the group of 10 of the world's leaders represent all corners of the globe.  Chaired by South African Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu the group, to be known as The Elders, includes former President Jimmy Carter, past U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus president of Bangladesh's Grameen Bank for the poor, and Ela Bhatt, India's pioneer in grassroots development.

Mr. Mandela, who said he is trying very hard to take his retirement¹ seriously, will act only to inspire and motivate the group, to which he hopes in time to add more people. 

The Elders has its genesis in a proposal put to Mr. Mandela in 2001 by musician Peter Gabriel and British entrepreneur Richard Branson that the so-called global village needed guidance and help from wise and independent leaders to solve seemingly intractable problems.

Nelson Mandela says the members of the group are not elders because of their age, but because of their individual and collective wisdom.  And, he said, they are free to put the needs of the world's people first.

"This group derives² its strength not from political, economic or military power, but from the independence and integrity of those who are here," he said.  "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."

Funded by a group of founders³ brought together by Branson and Gabriel, The Elders will use their skills and contacts to try and find and promote sustainable resolutions to long-standing conflicts.  They say their work will complement⁴ and not duplicate or compete with the efforts of other organizations. 

Mr. Mandela says they will use modern technology such as the Internet and mobile phones to draw in and connect people across the globe, to highlight problems, and potential solutions, at the community level.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela, flanked from left, by his wife Graca Machel, British singer Peter Gabriel, British entrepreneur Richard Branson and former US President Jimmy Carter, 18 July 2007

"They can help foster and introduce innovative⁵ ideas and little known solutions to connect those with real practical needs with those who have something to give," he added.

Former President Jimmy Carter said the leaders are no longer constrained⁶ in the way they were when they headed governments or large organizations with particular constituencies.

"The elders have only two basic things, one is the collective experience and knowledge and integrity that we bring to the deliberations, and the second is one that we did not have when we were in public office and that is complete freedom to escape from the restraints of political niceties and to be able to do as Nelson Mandela pointed⁷ out so vividly⁸ in his talk, we can talk to anyone and become involved in any issue and bring our collective knowledge to it," said Mr. Carter.

Richard Branson said the group of elder statesmen and women will bring hope and wisdom back into the world, and play a role in ending human suffering. 

Peter Gabriel, in an impromptu⁹ rendition of his hit song, "Biko", reminded those present that the eyes of the world will be watching The Elders from now on.

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

2 derives   

v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• English derives in the main from the common Germanic stock. 英语主要源于日耳曼语系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derives his income from freelance work. 他以自由职业获取收入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

4 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

5 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

6 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

9 impromptu   

adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地)

参考例句：

• The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
• The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。