Stéphane Frédéric Hessel (born 20 October 1917) is a diplomat, ambassador, writer, concentration camp survivor, former French Resistance fighter and BCRA agent. Born German, he became a naturalised French citizen in 1939. He participated in the editing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.
In October 2010, his essay, Time for Outrage! (original French title: Indignez-vous!), was published in an edition of 6,000 copies (ISBN-13: 978-1455509720 ). It has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide<11> and has been translated into Basque, Catalan,<12> Italian,<3> German.<2> Greek, Portuguese,<3> Slovenian,<13> Spanish<3>, Croatian, and Hebrew.<14> Translations into Korean, Japanese, Hungarian, Swedish and other languages are planned. In the United States, The Nation magazine's March 7–14, 2011 issue published the entire essay in English.<3><15>
Hessel's booklet argues that the French need to again become outraged, as were those who participated in the Resistance during World War II. Hessel's reasons for personal outrage include the growing gap between the very rich and the very poor, France's treatment of its illegal immigrants, the need to re-establish a free press, the need to protect the environment, importance of protecting the French welfare system,<3> and the plight of Palestinians, recommending that people read the September 2009 Goldstone Report.<16> He calls for peaceful and non-violent insurrection.<16>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_HesselThis is one AMAZING man.
I saw him on C-Span's Book TV yesterday.
94 years old and sharp as a tack.
Hell of a sense of humor, too.
You can probably find the video on their website.
I do believe the OWS movement should adopt his short (about 90 pages) but brilliant essay for their official handbook.
Can't wait to get a copy.