Clare Bronfman

Nelson Mandela

These are the heros of our age; people who are willing to hold their vision of a better world above the opposition of the norm.

- Keith Raniere

I remember watching the “Free Mandela” concert when I lived in England. I did not understand who Nelson Mandela was at the time, but I was amazed at the amount of people that came together in a cry for his freedom. It was a cry for humanity. Throughout his life, Nelson Mandela has exemplified courage and nobility in his endless pursuit for us to treat one another as humans regardless of the color of our skin: To put the fact that we are all human - first.

The transformation of a nation from fear and violence - lead by one man with tremendous courage - is an example to all of us. It changes what is possible for each and every one of us.

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela!

One of the most miraculous things in nature is the ability for a plant to blossom. As the plant is nourished and cared for, it develops into a radiant flower: As it opens its’ awesome beauty is revealed.

It is apropos to celebrate Nancy Salzman’s Birthday as the “Festival of Flowers”. She is an exceptional gardener. Nancy has touched the lives of so many of us, and helped us to blossom.

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.

- John Ruskin

Countless times she has helped me to be able to uphold myself; to be the kind of person I want to be, and I am one of many!!

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

~Ambrose Redmoon

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

~Mahatma Gandhi

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
~ Albert Einstein

Last year a group of people, who I am honored to say are some of my closest friends came to Keith Raniere for advice. Violence and Mexico are two words that have long been paired together; they decided that something needed to be done. It was time to reclaim their culture and put an end to the violence.

With Keith’s help, this group of committed humanitarians have developed the In Lak’ech movement, a non-violent movement, which seeks to “reduce fear and violence through community participation, expression, organization and community work”. With several projects already underway, and an ever growing number of followers - In Lak’ech is making strides towards change: bringing back a sense of community, a sense of pride in the beauty of the Mexican people. In Lak’ech is a noble cause both Sara and I’s foundation; The Ethical Humanitarian Foundation, are proud to wholeheartedly support.

www.inlakech.org.mx

“It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” 

Aung San Suu Kyi was born on June 19th, 1945 to Burma’s independence hero, Aung San, who was assassinated when she was only two years old.

She left Burma to study at the university of Oxford, UK. Returning to Burma in 1988 to nurse her dying mother, Aung San Suu Kyi was immediately plunged into the country’s nationwide democracy uprising. Joining the newly-formed National League for Democracy (NLD), Suu Kyi gave numerous speeches calling for freedom and democracy. The military regime responded to the uprising with brute force, killing up to 5,000 demonstrators. Unable to maintain its grip on power, the regime was forced to call a general election in 1990.

As Aung San Suu Kyi began to campaign for the NLD, she and many others were detained by the regime. Despite being held under house arrest, the NLD went on to win a staggering 82% of the seats in parliament. The regime never recognized the results of the election.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been in and out of arrest ever since. She was held under house arrest from 1989-1995, and again from 2000-2002. She was again arrested in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime’s militia. Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest in Rangoon. 

She has won numerous international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom. She has called on people around the world to join the struggle for freedom in Burma, saying “Please use your liberty to promote ours”.

Click here for a link to the Burma Campaign website where you can sign the petition demanding UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon make the release of Burma’s political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, his personal priority.