Here at Rio + Social in Brazil one of the most fascinating panels all day has been the Elders + Youngers panel where, as its name suggests, was a conversation between the younger and older generation. What is extremely fascinating about this is both groups have equal voices in the conversation. The elders can learn from the younger people and vice versa.

Chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The Elders is an independent group of global leaders who work together for peace and human rights. They were brought together in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, who is not an active member of the group but remains an Honorary Elder. The Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is also an Honorary Elder.

Along with this group of thinkers who have been charged to make headway in the global conversation about pressing issues is the all-important idea that this small panel should be scaled. As Mary Robinson, the first woman president of Ireland mentioned during the panel she commended Rio + 20 for bringing in the voices of the young to the conference. Unfortunately as Robinson pointed out the youth have not been invited to the important tables.

Visit The Elders at www.theelders.org and on Twitter at @theelders.