Today, July 18, 2013, the United Nations recognizes Nelson Mandela International Day. This day is meant to commemorate and celebrate the leader’s 95th birthday and to honor his dedication to social justice.
The UN and the Nelson Mandela Foundation are coming together to use this day to “Take Action, Inspire Change” and are volunteering 67 minutes to help others in a hospital, tutoring children, providing food for the homeless, etc.
This is recognized as the “67-minutes” campaign and its mission is to get people to devote one minute of their time for every year that Nelson Mandela devoted to public service.
The UN General Assembly in New York is meeting to mark this Day. “Speakers will include former United States President Bill Clinton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, singer, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte, and Andrew Mlangeni, a close friend of Mr. Mandela who was imprisoned with him” (UN Wire News).
“As we extend our best wishes to President Mandela on his 95th birthday, let us also give tangible meaning to our feelings of concern by taking action on behalf of others,” states Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (UN Wire News).
It only seems fitting that we commemorate this Day as we unite to admire this man who has done so much in his lifetime for the sake of humanity.
Story thanks to UN Wire News
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