sylvie guillem

At an age when most prima ballerinas are getting ready to hang up their pointe shoes, 40-year-old Guillem, who has been thrilling audiences and inspiring young dancers with her elastic, gymnastic technique for over 20 years, continues to make daring leaps. Guillem has immersed herself in experimental dance and last October teamed up with British choreographer Russell Maliphant to present a series of new works.

Heroes 2004: Mademoiselle Non »

natasa kandic

Kandic’s dogged pursuit of proof of Serbian war crimes has earned her harassment at home. But the video she uncovered of Serb troops executing Bosnian prisoners at Srebrenica in 1995, which ran on television this spring, was stunning evidence in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic and a shock for doubters in Belgrade, where Serbian President Boris Tadic called it “proof of a monstrous crime committed … in the name of our nation.”

Heroes 2003: At War Against War Crimes »

zackie achmat

In late 2003, the AIDS activist and founder of the Treatment Action Campaign won his fight with the South African government for access to antiretroviral drugs. As a result, many of the country’s estimated five million HIV/AIDS sufferers can now get those drugs through employers and clinics at affordable prices. His courage and perseverance earned him a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. In March 2005, Achmat, who himself is HIV-positive, suffered a heart attack from which he is still recovering.

Heroes 2003: Dying To Get AIDS Drugs To All »

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