Celebrating Mandela Day

Mandela Day is more and greater that South Africa; Mandela Day is about global values which grow more and more relevant as time passes, Mandela Day is about exporting the message of Madiba's 67 years of public service in creating global communities based on friendship, trust and sharing.

In the words of Nelson Mandela himself: "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".

Based upon these words, Nelson Mandela Day has been increasingly celebrated and participated in, around the world, since the initiative took shape in 2008 after the Mandela birthday celebrations in London, marking the occasion of his 90th birthday. It was decided then to celebrate his birthday each year, on July 18, with events dedicated to his work and charities.

The idea is that individuals give as many minutes to their communities and charities on this day as Nelson Mandela gave in years of public service - in this case 67 minutes to honour his 67 years of service as he and his family celebrate his 95th birthday.

Mandela Day calls upon the people of the world to come together to take responsibility for making a change, doing their part, however small, to make a difference. In doing so, the world remembers Mandela's struggle against injustice, against racism, against marginalization, against exclusion, in defeating an apartheid regime which was as inhuman as it was against common human values of the modern era.

Mandela Day recalls something far deeper than celebrating a beacon of peace, goodwill and reconciliation - Mandela Day recalls Nelson Mandela's stand to support what is right with humility, without rancor, without hatred, without revenge, with a smile in the eyes.

Mandela Day is about extending human values to all of humankind in a very human way, following in the footsteps of an icon of humanity.

How you can get involved: www.mandeladay.com

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda.Ru

 

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Author`s name Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
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