Planet Ustinov
„We must build bridges to each other,
if we want to have a prospect of salvation in this insane world ...”
(Sir Peter Ustinov)
His own multi-cultural genealogy and his open and optimistic approach towards all things make Sir Peter suited like nobody else for the part of a bridge builder. Humanism - this is always clear for Sir Peter - is the key to a juster world. Every human being, every child, no matter on which continent and in which country of the world it is born, has a right to equal opportunities when the own future is concerned. It has a right to education and thus a right to the chance to feed itself and its family, and live a life in dignity.
Sir Peter never gets tired of pointing out this exigencies. Even high-aged and already sitting ill in a wheelchair, he wanted to be brought to public events in order to make his concerns heard, and to speak for those whom no one will listen to.
Planet Ustinov
In addition to the arts, there are other things that motivate Sir Peter and which he is dedicated to with particular passion: Since 1968, he has been travelling as a committed UNICEF ambassador for the United Nations Children's Fund to campaign for humanitarian help in order to improve the living conditions of children all over the world. He utilises his popularity in countless appearances for the good cause. As always in his life, he does an excellent job: People remember his wish and recognise him as "Mr. UNICEF" as soon as they catch sight of him.
On his numerous travels as UNICEF ambassador, Sir Peter repeatedly encounters situations where quick and substantial aid is necessary. In order to facilitate a pointed initiation of such aid projects, he brings his own foundation into being in 1999. The direction is clear: Objective is the improvement of the social, sanitary, mental, and psychological conditions for children and adolescents on the whole world.
And Sir Peter goes beyond that: He identifies prejudice as the "probably biggest villain in the history of mankind".
Consequently, he strives towards establishing an international university network for the research of prejudices. Children have no prejudices when they are born - so where do they get them from? How do prejudices emerge? What can be triggered by prejudices both in society and the individual?
In order to see through the secrets of this phenomenon, it is the wish of Sir Peter and his companions to establish Prejudice Research as an academic discipline – at as many universities and in as many countries as possible. Hitherto, there are two university institutes: At the Universities Vienna and Durham/England, where Sir Peter has been Chancellor for more than 10 years. Scientists from various fields cooperate on an interdisciplinary approach towards Prejudice Research. Finally, the Prejudice Institutes are supposed to focus on the cultural differences at numerous locations of the world and find a common perspective.
In 2003, Sir Peter's last book is published which is dedicated to this very subject: In "Achtung! Vorurteile" (Attention! Prejudices) he bears down every kind of prejudice which he has come across during his life. He says about this work: "More than most of the other arts I have tried in my life, this book on prejudices is my legacy."
Time does not even spare someone like Sir Peter who has always been vital and active. Despite his long illness, Peter maintains his zest for life until the end. Sir Peter Ustinov dies aged 82 on March 28, 2004.
For us, however, he will live on forever: Through his movies, his books and, above all, through his exemplary attitude towards the things in life which are to preserve and to promote - all this sums up to the heritage of a really great man and philanthropist.
