Still Heroes

persistence of vision

some heroes are made in a moment; more often, though, heroes make their own moments by the force of their convictions and determination. Here are a dozen time heroes from years past who still inspire

anna politkovskaya

As an award-winning correspondent for the Moscow daily Novoya Gazeta, Politkovskaya has often straddled the thin line between reporting a story and becoming part of it. Her efforts to mediate at the besieged school in Beslan last September were thwarted when she fell seriously ill; the result, she claims, of poison slipped in her tea on the flight there. For her commitment to free speech and democracy, she was awarded the Olof Palme Prize in January.

Heroes 2003: Politkovskaya: Disquiet On The Chechen Front »

bono

After establishing himself as the world’s most effective advocate for the poor, Bono found time to return to the profession that made him famous: rock musician. U2’s first album since 2000, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, was greeted by fans last November as a return to artistic form. Then this summer, Bono got back to cajoling world leaders into committing themselves to debt relief for Africa and helping stage this summer’s Live 8 concerts. For the rest of the year, U2 is touring North America.

Heroes 2003: Found What He’s Looking For »

Vika & Olya Kallagova

Vika’s astonishing bravery in refusing to leave the Beslan school seized by Chechen terrorists in September 2004 without her little sister, Olya, was an act of light in the blackest of outrages. Olya’s injured arm is better and Vika’s shrapnel wounds are on the mend, but the emotional damage will take longer to heal. Still, after a year of therapy, both Vika, now 14, and Olya, 9, returned to school in Beslan last month.

Heroes 2004: Not Without My Sister »

ellen macarthur

On Nov. 28 last year, MacArthur set sail from Ushant, off the French coast, in her $2 million, state-of-the-art trimaran, returning 71 days 14 hr. 18 min. 33 sec. later—the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe. She was rewarded for her lonely, often fraught journey by being made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire at only 28. This year, she hopes to make the fastest west-to-east solo crossing of the Atlantic.

Heroes 2004: Setting Sail For Greatness »

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