Mikhail Gorbachev honours 'world changers' at his 80th birthday

Mikhail Gorbachev celebrated his 80th birthday at a star-studded charity gala in London, where he honoured Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the internet as a "man who changed the world".

The former Soviet leader personally chose Sir Tim, CNN founder Ted Turner, and Kenyan engineer Evans Wadongo, as the winners of the inaugural Gorbachev Awards.

The Mikhail Gorbachev - The Man Who Changed The World gala at the Royal Albert Hall was hosted by Kevin Spacey and Sharon Stone.

It featured performances from Dame Shirley Bassey, Katherine Jenkins, Bryan Ferry, Paul Anka, Melanie C, Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the former governor of California, Lech Walesa, the former Polish president, and actresses Goldie Hawn and Milla Jovovich were among stars who made a red-carpet entrance to the event.

Also due to attend were Israeli president Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister Sir John Major and England football manager Fabio Capello.

Proceeds from the evening were to be donated to the Raisa Gorbachev Children's Institute for Transplantology and Haematology in St Petersburg, and to Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Gorbachev Awards were presented in three categories, intended to reflect the former Soviet leader's own achievements in the world. Mr Gorbachev, who turned 80 earlier this month, is widely credited with ending the Cold War. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1992.

The three Man Who Changed the World awards were:
:: Glasnost, awarded to Mr Turner for his "contribution to the development of the culture of an open world". Mr Turner, 72, is known not only for founding CNN but also as a philanthropist who donated one billion dollars to the United Nations.

:: Uskorenie, awarded to Mr Wadongo for his "contribution to the development of modern science and technology". Mr Wadongo, 25, from Kenya, invented a solar-powered LED lantern at 18.

:: Perestroika, awarded to Sir Tim for his "contribution to the development of global civilisation". Sir Tim invented the World Wide Web in 1989.

Mr Gorbachev said: "These three people have each, in their own way, changed the world for their fellow men and women in ways which affect all our lives. "Each and every one possesses the ability to make a difference and the Gorbachev Awards have been established to those people who achieve this and to provide inspiration to all of us to try."

The evening's finale was due to be the debut performance of a song called Changing The World For Us All, written by Paul Anka and Andrey Makarevich and performed by the two men alongside Katherine Jenkins and the Turetsky Choir.

London Evening Standard, 31.03.2011