July 18th each year has been declared as Nelson Mandela Day by the United Nations - July 18th was Mandela's birthday.Nelson Mandela was a civil rights leader in South Africa. He fought against apartheid - a system where non-white citizens were segregated from, and did not have the same rights, as white people.
He was classified as a terrorist by the South African government and spent 27 years in prison. However, his imprisonment brought about greater international visibility of the anti-apartheid movement and, in 1990, he was finally released after growing international pressure.
In 1993 Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with F.W. de Klerk "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa."
In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first president of South Africa to be elected by a democratic system, and he became their first black president. He served as President from 1994-1999.
Mandela Day is an international day of humanitarian action and celebrates the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. It serves as a catalyst for each and every person to realise that they have the ability to change the world through action.
On this day people are encouraged to give 67 minutes in the service of others ... 1 minute for each of the 67 years Nelson Mandela served his people.
As Mandela has reminded us, “it’s in our hands” to create a better world.
“No one is born hating another person
because of the colour of his skin, or his
background, or his religion. People must
learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate,
they can be taught to love, for love
comes more naturally to the human
heart than its opposite.”
'A Long Walk to Freedom' by Nelson Mandela
Want to know more about Nelson Mandela?
Watch the film 'Invictus' or read his auto-biography
'Long Walk to Freedom'
No comments:
Post a Comment