Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

Stéphane Hessel, a hero of the French Resistance, diplomat and activist (what a rare combination) died on Tuesday 27 February in Paris at the age of 95. His life and works are described in detail by the mainstream press, so I only single out here his strength of conviction that made him publish at a very advanced age – in October 2010 –  “Indignez-Vous!”, a short pamphlet that urged young people to revive the flame of resistance to injustice that burned in himself during World War II, this time in peaceful rebellion against what he termed the dictatorial forces of international capitalism, and to reassert the ideal that the privileged must help the less fortunate rise.In particular, Mr. Hessel’s diatribe took aim at France’s treatment of illegal immigrants, the influence on the news media by the rich, the shrinking social safety net and Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. It became a great success.