Global X speaks with Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a human rights activist and professor of sociology at the American University of Cairo. He founded in 1998 the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, a research and advocacy institute in Cairo, concerned with issues of democratization and political and social development.

Dr. Ibrahim and his associates have faced three trials and three imprisonments by Egyptian Security Courts and were sentenced twice to seven years imprisonment. Egypt’s High Court of Cassation later acquitted the defendants of all charges.

On September 11, he was in a Cairo jail. Listen to him as he describes what happened that day, as he remembered that his wife and daughter were in New York accepting an award on his behalf only a few blocks from the World Trade Center.

And listen to him as he talks about his vision for the Middle East and takes the European unification process as a model.

Global X recently interviewed Louise Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

A former lawyer and judge in her home country of Canada, then chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, she believes “in the law and the legal process.”

She told Global X about this woman who had lost her husband and two sons in the war, and who was still able to see beyond revenge: “She knew there was another way to settle grievances.”

She is optimistic for the long term, but quite realistic over the immediate future: “We don’t do a very good job at conflict resolution.” She adds, “We need to address the huge disparities in distribution of wealth, both between and within states.”

Global X asked Louise Arbour a surprise question: any advice to Social Edge members? “Don’t walk away because you think you can’t make a difference. Pick a cause! Be a citizen! Vote! Tell your governments what you want them to do and what you will not tolerate that they do on your behalf!”

Global X was in Atlanta recently, where he interviewed Jimmy Carter, who likes to describe himself as “a husband, the father of four children, grandfather of 11 and now great grandfather of one, head of the Carter Center for the past 25 years. And yes, former President of the United States!”

President Carter tells us what he saw in a small village in Ghana, and why he made the decision to eradicate the Guinea worm from our planet. Results so far: 99.7% accomplished!

He hopes that the US will become again the champion of peace (not of pre-emptive wars), the champion of human rights and preeminent in its dedication to justice. And he thinks that each of us can exemplify peace, justice, truth and humanity: “The most powerful people in a democracy are individuals.”

In this two-minute interview, David Lehr tells Global X what he accomplished as an Acumen Fund Fellow in rural India.

He found out how much patience and determination it takes to get impact at the bottom of the economic pyramid (a lot!) and tells Global X why he is not convinced about market research.

This is David Lehr's second interview with Global X. You may want to watch the first one here.

In this two-minute interview, Eric Berkowitz tells Global X that he is quite unique among all Acumen Fund Fellows: his wife Consuelo and their young son Alejandro joined him to China for a year!

There, he studied how to launch a chain of affordable and convenient primary care health clinics (the first one will be launched in 2008). He also reviewed Scojo's supply chain management strategy and looked into the shipping of glasses around the world.

His proudest moment: his 18 month-son is now more comfortable in Chinese than in English and Spanish!