Mandela International Day- 18th July

Nelson Mandela turned 92 years old on 18th July 2010. In spite of his age he hasn’t given up the fight. When he was younger he fought against racism and apartheid, which took him to prison for 27 years. Although he suffered a lot, he succeeded in changing the established values of his country. Now he is fighting against an epidemic that kills people all around the world, especially in Africa. He launched his global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign, 46664 in 2001 on his birthday and he hasn’t stopped ever since.

His life continues to be an inspiration for all of us. The Media concentrate too much on scandals and gossips. We are tired of all that, we want to hear about true stories of courage and dedication. Each of us can make a difference.


Below you can read a text I found about Mandela’s Day.

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/07/17/south-africa-67-minutes-of-change-%e2%80%93-mandela-day/

Many people know that Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in a prison on Robben Island in South Africa. What most people don’t know is that Madiba (as he is affectionately known in South Africa) spent 67 years in the fight against racism and poverty. South Africa’s former President will turn 92 on Sunday, 18 July 2010. For the past 16 years, South Africans have been celebrating Madiba’s birthday with fervor and enthusiasm. In 2002, however, Nelson Mandela himself used this day to launch his global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign, 46664.
In 2009, the success of the 46664 campaigns and celebrations evolved to what is now known as “Mandela Day”, a day in which people around the world dedicate 67 minutes to making the world a better place for all. The organisers explained:
It was decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate Madiba’s birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organisations and to ensure his legacy continues forever.
2009’s Mandela Day was a roaring success in South Africa. So much so that 2010 will be the first Nelson Mandela International Day as Joburg reports:
It will be the first Nelson Mandela International Day, as the United Nations passed a resolution on the day in November 2009, declaring 18 July an international day set aside for humanitarian activities. It is the first time the organisation has dedicated an international day to an individual, recognising him as a symbol of hope for those who are oppressed and marginalised.
Although the day will be celebrated worldwide, Madrid, in Spain has been chosen as the host of the first official Nelson Mandela International Day celebration concert, at which BB King is billed to perform.
New Yorkers will also host its own celebration concert. Staying with New York, an installation celebrating the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela was put on display in Grand Central Terminal in New York in honour of Mandela Day 46664. The installation features six illuminated 3-D action words: act, listen, lead, unite, learn and speak. The front of each word shows key messages that reveal Nelson Mandela’s values and inspire visitors to act.