Time unveiled its list of the 100 most influential people of 2021: Cuban dissident Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is in the top 10

The magazine TIME published this Wednesday his Complete list of the 100 most influential people of 2021.

Between the the first twelve “Icons” named by the American media appear the prince harry and the duquesa Meghan Markle, the Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka, the leader of the Russian opposition Alexei Navalny, the american singer Britney spears, the American lawyer and activist Sherryn Ifill, the American country music superstar Dolly parton, the Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani, the Korean-American writer Cathy Park Hong, Cuban artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, Iranian lawyer and activist Nasrin Sotude, the founders of the anti-discrimination organization against Asian Americans “Stop AAPI Hate” Cynthia choi, Mandjousha Kulkarni and Russell and, and Palestinian activists Muna El-Kurd and Mohammed El-Kurd.

Otero Alcantara It is the only Latin American chosen from among the most influential “icons”. The artist was arrested by the regime on July 11 after posting a video in which he claimed he was going to join the massive protests against the Castro dictatorship. He is one of six Cubans classified by Amnesty International as “Prisoner of conscience”.

His grandiose fight for freedom of expression and his uncompromising stance against autocracy reveal the power of resistance. Otero Alcántara is a symbol and leader within the movement of San Isidro de Cuba, an influential group of artists and intellectuals who demanded greater freedoms as anti-government protests swept across the country this summer, ”wrote Chinese artist and dissident. Ai Weiwei.

“Although he has since been incarcerated, their life, behavior and expression as a whole are so powerful that they can resist the aesthetic and ethical degeneration of authoritarianism “, add magazine TIME.

“Art needs courage, something it has shown repeatedly. Its aesthetic needs a solid philosophical foundation and a strong sense of ethics, which has also manifested itself. It is through these struggles for freedom of expression that art transcends the condition of banality and mediocrity, ”he concludes.

In all, among the elected are 10 climate leaders, dozens of activists, political leaders and 54 women; the youngest chosen was the gymnast Sunisa Lee, 18, while the oldest person in this year’s edition is US President Joe biden, 78 years old.

In the “Pioneers” category TIME the singer underlined Billie Eilish and Mexican activist Olimpia Corail Melo.

The list of “Titans” was headed by the American gymnast Simone Bilès and the CEO of Apple, Tim cook.

The magazine named the rappers Lil Nas X and Bad bunnyas well as the actresses Kate winslet and Scarlett johansson among the most influential figures in the arts.

In the “Chefs” category, TIME underlined the head of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; also appear the current President of the United States, the Democrat Joe biden, as well as his predecessor, the Republican Donald trump. There is also the American Vice President Kamala Harris, chinese president Xi Jinping, and the leader of the Taliban movement Abdul Ghani Baradar and the president of the Chilean Constitutional Convention and defender of Mapuche rights Elisa Lonçon.

Among the “innovators”, TIME said the founder of Tesla and SpaceX Elon musk, the director of Nvidia Jensen Huang and the creator of the Ethereum cryptocurrency Vitalik Buterin.

TIME also launched its seven magazine covers from around the world, which include Harry and Meghan, Simone Biles, Kate Winslet, Billie Eilish, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Jensen Huang and Cathy Park Hong.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Britney and Simone Biles

Harry, who celebrates his 37th birthday this Wednesday, and his wife Meghan, who just turned 40, were chosen as the most influential personalities for “Take action” and use its powerful platform for positive ends.

“In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don’t know, the Duke and Duchess feel compassion for people they don’t know. They don’t just give their opinion. They get involved in the fight “wrote the chef José André in a profile of the couple.

Britney spears, who fought for months in a long battle for his guardianship, was also among the “Icons”, and Paris Hilton wrote about the reason.

“Britney embodies joy and shares the light of her beautiful heart, the superstar forever. So we support her as she turns pain into goal, her unwavering spirit stronger than ever.“, wrote.

Country music superstar Dolly parton, which helped fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine with a $ 1 million donation to researchers, is also on the list. His goddaughter, the singer and actress Miley Cyrus, paid tribute to him.

“There is a theory that you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but I wish everyone had the chance to meet Dolly Parton because she is even better than your brightest dreams.Cyrus wrote. “She might be my fairy godmother, but I think she is for everyone too. I am happy to share it with the world ”.

Another person named by TIME he was Simone Bilès, the world’s most decorated active gymnast and survivor of sexual abuse by former US gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. At this year’s Tokyo Olympics, Biles sparked widespread debate when he announced he was retiring from the team final and the individual all-around competition because he had to “Do what’s right for me and focus on my sanity.”

Tennis player Serena Williams wrote that Biles “It really reflects the endless potential of black women” and that I would like to have someone like Biles as a role model that I can learn from as a young man.

“Simone is a shining example of what success looks like when you let go of what the world is thinking and gather the strength of yourself … your soul.”added Guillaume.

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