Please provide list of people (10 minimum, more if possible) who
changed the world for a
better place (following the generally agreed upon version of
"better").

The people should satisfy the following conditions:

1) neither be rich or powerfull to begin with
2) the change they have made should not have been "profitable" to them
in any way. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. fought for rights of
black people, but himself was black so he cannot be part of the list. 
(I know what you think. Be assured that I also think this condition is
over the top!! :) )

Examples of names that can make the list are:

1) Baden Powell: was neither rich nor powerfull to begin with, and the
Scouting movement helped many young people. He didn't do this to help
himself nor to become famous.
2) Mother Teresa of Calcutta. 

Please provide 10 additionnal names.

The impact made by these people doesn't have to be huge, but should be
important and known. (That is, it cannot be your brother who once did
a nice thing).

Please provide a bit of background about the people (a simple link to
a good webpage about the person is sufficient)

Thanks.

---

Clarification of Question by klister-ga on 24 Jan 2005 17:26 PST

Yes, pinkfreud, "changed the world" is not easy to define. ( and I
didn't do a very good job of defining it).

Let me clarify with : "had a significative positive impact on a large
number of people lives, much more than an average person usually
does".

Hoping that is better.

I would put Albert Schweitzer on a list of great humanitarians. I
don't think he changed the world, but I don't think Mother Teresa
changed the world, either. They both helped many people and led
relatively selfless lives, but that is far from changing the world.

http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jan/schweitzer.html

Yes, Albert Schweitzer would be a good name for my list. Thanks pinkfreud!

How about Clara Barton?

http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95dec/barton.html

"How about Clara Barton?"  

Why not? "American Red Cross Founder" certainly fits the bill!

btw, this questions steems from a discussion with friends. A friend
claimed that it was not possible (hence I could find no examples of)
that people made a significative positive impact unless they are rich
and/or powerful and if they did they were motivated by self-interest.
I certainly believe this to not be the case, but I am somewhat lazy
and lack the time to build a list promised during the course of the
discussion. Thanks for the help!

Denis Rutovitz

http://www.edinburghdirectaid.org/

Neglecting personal risk and privation, trucking primary aid overland
to the Balkans. One volunteer was shot dead, Denis was shot in the
shoulder, atleast one truck was mortared off the road and many trucks
picked up bullet and shrapnel holes. I got off light by only being
shot at a couple of times. But nothing deterred Denis from inspiring
hundreds of volunteers to collect and donate, repair trucks and deal
with all the logistics of trucking into a war zone to provide succour
to neighbours who it was convenient to ignore.

Recently a trip to Palestine, and Israel too because those in need
have no names, faith or nationality as far as EDA is concerned. Only
that they are in need. The support to the Balkans is still expressed
in community assistance.

Also now also, tsunami relief.

It has been my humble honour to have assisted, laughed and argued with
Denis and Prof. Jeanne Bell (his wonderfully supportive wife).

Best

Your question puzzles me in that there are people like Hitler (
http://www.biography.com/search/article.jsp?aid=9340144&page=1&search=
)that actual changed the world for the better- despite the fact that
is was not his intent. Indeed he was not a rich man to start with, so
for that he fits your needs. Given the horrible acts committed by him
I know I may hear flcak on this one. But look at how his life did
change the world. Look at the millions who were so outraged at his
actions that they reacted, the thousands that willingly gave their
life to fight for the freedoms of others who were perfect strangers in
most cases. The hatred that he received for his actions was so strong
that the world took notice of what he was doing and acted out of love
and compassion for those that he persecuted, that it really did change
the lives and the thinking of millions in the free world.

His reign of power is credited for many of the great writings of the
time, and helped to inspire (out of disgust) incredible works of art.
Who has not read Anne Franks dairy and been better for it? The
millions of lives lost under his rule have in one way or another
touched everyone living today and the effects it had on enlighting
nation of the terrors of evil that are possible can not be overlooked.
Many people still today credit ww two with overwhelming advancement of
women and minorities.

And as for the "no self-interest" according to many documents on
Hitler, it was out of the belief that Jewish people were inferior to
"true germans" that he felt a need to "cleans" germany of them. His
envasion of Poland was also a "cleansing" in his eyes. This is
atributed to the Darwin threory of survival of the fittest, of which
Hitler was a firm believer.

For his effects on nations see http://www.iusb.edu/~journal/1999/Paper2.html  
"Ironically, Hitler is said to have been eligible for the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1940. This award is given to someone who has done the most
work to promote friendship and peace throughout the world.
Willingly or not, he has promoted friendship among the free nations by
confronting them with a common danger. He has caused Americans to feel
their kinship with the British, the Greeks and the Chinese, and with
the lovers of liberty in France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Norway.
He has waged war in such a way as to awaken that great part of the
world which is still free to a passionate determination to destroy, by
war or means short of war, the Nazi standing armies. He has given
impetus to movements for a peace congress which will unite earth?s
democracies against all systems and all rulers whose natural tendency
is toward war. He has raised peace from a benevolent aspiration to a
necessity for which men will lay down their lives.7"

******************
Unlike Pinkfreud's nonimation I would NOT put him on a list of even
bad humanitarians- may he burn in deep depths of hell, but I do think
he changed the world- not the way he most likely wanted to, but in the
end I think it became a better place, dispite for him united many
people in a way never seen before.

This book offers an interesting list.

http://www.skylightpaths.com/books/470.htm
Ten Amazing People And How They Changed the World

Black Elk 
Dorothy Day 
Malcolm X 
Mahatma Gandhi 
Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Janusz Korczak 
Mother Teresa of Calcutta 
Albert Schweitzer 
Thich Nhat Hanh 
Desmond Tutu