Mikhail Gorbachev: Prophet of Change

From the Cold War to a Sustainable World
Compiled and edited by Green Cross International

11th March 2011 - 4789 days ago

'Mikhail Gorbachev is a truly great man whose achievements extend well beyond the political arena; a man who has indisputably changed the course of history.' - Giorgio Armani
'Gorbachev emerges as a leader in his own class, with the authority to call his peers – the leaders of the 21st Century – to action, and face the challenges that must be addressed on a global scale. Today, his actions continue to remove barriers, exactly as they did 25 years ago.' - Ricardo Lagos

Mikhail Gorbachev is living proof that the word is mightier than the sword; that ideas, not armies, change the world. Dedicated to ridding humanity of the threat of nuclear annihilation, Gorbachev called for multilateral action to forge a common future at a time when the superpowers were at loggerheads. Two key words, Perestroika and Glasnost, characterised his philosophy - words that came to represent change and freedom in the universal consciousness. Gorbachev's radical thought ignited sweeping reforms in the Soviet Union, inspired liberation movements across Eastern Europe, and thawed decades of Cold War enmity.

For Gorbachev, environmental matters have always been inextricably bound up with peace, security and social justice. The transition from head of state of the USSR to president of a non-governmental organisation, Green Cross International, was therefore a natural one.

Mikhail Gorbachev: Prophet for Change traces the evolution of his vision, in particular the origins and outcomes of his environmental agenda, which belong to the important legacy of the changes Gorbachev initiated in the Soviet Union and the world. Without these critical initiatives, the many advances of today's global environmental movement would not have been possible.

This anthology, featuring select speeches and writings, as well as tributes from political contemporaries and partners in the environmental and peace movements, has been compiled by Green Cross International to celebrate Gorbachev's 80th birthday. The tributes from colleagues and friends - ranging from political heavyweights George Bush and Margaret Thatcher to renowned champions of sustainability Maurice Strong and Achim Steiner - reflect the esteem in which Mikhail Gorbachev is held, and the special place he occupies in the history of our times.