an exercise in compassion, health & hope
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
In 2007, Tutu joined former President Nelson Mandela, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, retired U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan, and former Irish President Mary Robinson to form The Elders, a private initiative mobilizing the experience of senior world leaders outside of the conventional diplomatic process. Tutu was named to chair the group. Subsequent to this, Carter and Tutu travelled together to Darfur, Gaza and Cyprus in an effort to resolve long-standing conflicts. Desmond Tutu's historic accomplishments -- and his continuing efforts to promote peace in the world -- were formally recognized by the United States in 2009, when President Barack Obama named him to receive the nation's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Tutu officially retired from public life on 7 October 2010. However, he continues with his involvement with the Elders and Nobel Laureate Group and his support of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre. He stepped down from his positions as Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape and as a representative on the UN's advisory committee on the prevention of genocide
Mimi Coertse, was born in Durban and matriculated at the Hoër Meisiesskool Helpmekaar in Johannesburg. In 1954 she began her studies at the Academy for Arts and Science in Vienna.
One year later she debuted in Napels, with the Vienna State Opera, as a Flower maiden in Wagner's Parsifal, under Karl Böhm. In 1956 she made her debut as Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte in the Vienna State Opera, and repeated at Covent Garden - London the same year. During 1956 she also sang in the Salzburg Festspiele as Konstanza in Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail.