The Global Elders

Frit is appalled, but not surprised, to learn that there exists a body with the pompous title of “The Global Elders”. At first, Frit mistakenly thought that this body had something to do with elven folk and dwarves in Lord of the Rings, but no, it is of the real world. It is "a group of public figures noted as elder statesmen, peace activists and human rights advocates. The goal of the group is . . . to work on solutions for seemingly insurmountable problems like climate change, HIV/AIDS and poverty".

Frit notes that this selfless initiative brings together some of the biggest egos ever to have been involved in fleecing the gullible and the young, such as ex-terrorist Nelson Mandela, Holy Kofi Annan, Irish botherer Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and, last but not pompously least, Sir Lancelot Branson. At the launch ceremony a chair was left empty on the stage for furry icon, Nobel Laureate and heavyweight media money-spinner Aung San Suu Kyi Who Mostly Stays At Home For Tea.

Frit supposes that all concerned will have singed a paper absolutely forbidding mention of any of this in their biographies and obituaries. He also notes that, despite the earnings and efforts of The Global Elders, those "seemingly insurmountable problems like climate change, HIV/AIDS and poverty" are surprisingly still with us.