Mandela leaves retirement to condemn poverty ‘genocide’
-03/07/05
Legendary anti-apartheid activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela came out of retirement for one night only yesterday to call on the world’s most powerful leaders to prevent what he called the ëgenocideí of poverty in Africa.
He said that failure to do so would be a crime against humanity. Mandela used the huge concert in Johannesburg on Saturday – one of ten Live 8 performances aimed at highlighting debt relief, trade justice and better aid – to warn Western leaders that they would be judged by their actions.
“It is within your power to prevent a genocide against humanity,” said the frail ex-president, who was greeted with roars of delight and freedom songs from the crowd in central Johannesburg. “We stand tall and await your direction.”
Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations meet in Scotland next week to discuss how to tackle poverty in Africa and other developing countries.
Mandela, who was helped onto the stage by his wife Graca Michel, said world chiefs had a chance to make history by cancelling debt, scrapping unfair trade barriers and boosting aid to Africa.
“Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity,” said Mandela, who has campaigned extensively against poverty across the world.
“Overcoming poverty is not gesture of charity. It is an act of justice,” said Mandela, after waiting more than five minutes on stage for cheers and chants from the 8,000-strong crowd to subside.
“So much of our common future will depend on the actions and plans of these leaders … History and the generations to come will judge our leaders by the decision they make in the coming weeks.”
The African concert was added to the list of free performances at the last minute after critics charged Irish rocker Bob Geldof and other organisers with sidelining black artists in an event meant to highlight the problems of the world’s poorest continent.
Among those backing the Johannesburg concert and demonstration was the South African Council of Churches, which has been working especially on trade and labour issues.
At a march in the run up to Live 8 some weeks ago, Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane had made an impassioned plea for an end to poverty and unjust trade rules. Textile workers, whose jobs are being threatened by imports of cheap goods produced under sweatshop conditions in other parts of the world, also spoke movingly of their plight.
The German Live 8 concert yesterday attracted 100,000 people to an event at the Brandenburg Gate that some compared to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Meanwhile in Londonís Hyde Park Robbie Williams, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay were among those who performed in front of 200,000 people.
The 225,000 Make Poverty History marchers in Edinburgh constituted the biggest demonstration ever seen in Scotland.
ON BBC Radio 4 last night, Professor Noreena Hertz from the international business school at the University of Cambridge challenged cynics who tried to reduce the issue of Africaís poverty to the corruption of its leaders.
Citing examples from the US and Europe, she said that corruption was a world-wide issue, and that Western governments and the World Bank should accept responsibility for having bankrolled some of the worst regimes.
But this should not be used as an excuse to avoid taking steps that would free people in Africa to chart their own destiny economically and politically, she said.
Mandela leaves retirement to condemn poverty ‘genocide’
-03/07/05
Legendary anti-apartheid activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela came out of retirement for one night only yesterday to call on the world’s most powerful leaders to prevent what he called the ëgenocide’ of poverty in Africa.
He said that failure to do so would be a crime against humanity. Mandela used the huge concert in Johannesburg on Saturday – one of ten Live 8 performances aimed at highlighting debt relief, trade justice and better aid – to warn Western leaders that they would be judged by their actions.
“It is within your power to prevent a genocide against humanity,” said the frail ex-president, who was greeted with roars of delight and freedom songs from the crowd in central Johannesburg. “We stand tall and await your direction.”
Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations meet in Scotland next week to discuss how to tackle poverty in Africa and other developing countries.
Mandela, who was helped onto the stage by his wife Graca Michel, said world chiefs had a chance to make history by cancelling debt, scrapping unfair trade barriers and boosting aid to Africa.
“Of course the task will not be easy. But not to do this would be a crime against humanity,” said Mandela, who has campaigned extensively against poverty across the world.
“Overcoming poverty is not gesture of charity. It is an act of justice,” said Mandela, after waiting more than five minutes on stage for cheers and chants from the 8,000-strong crowd to subside.
“So much of our common future will depend on the actions and plans of these leaders … History and the generations to come will judge our leaders by the decision they make in the coming weeks.”
The African concert was added to the list of free performances at the last minute after critics charged Irish rocker Bob Geldof and other organisers with sidelining black artists in an event meant to highlight the problems of the world’s poorest continent.
Among those backing the Johannesburg concert and demonstration was the South African Council of Churches, which has been working especially on trade and labour issues.
At a march in the run up to Live 8 some weeks ago, Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane had made an impassioned plea for an end to poverty and unjust trade rules. Textile workers, whose jobs are being threatened by imports of cheap goods produced under sweatshop conditions in other parts of the world, also spoke movingly of their plight.
The German Live 8 concert yesterday attracted 100,000 people to an event at the Brandenburg Gate that some compared to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Meanwhile in London’s Hyde Park Robbie Williams, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay were among those who performed in front of 200,000 people.
The 225,000 Make Poverty History marchers in Edinburgh constituted the biggest demonstration ever seen in Scotland.
ON BBC Radio 4 last night, Professor Noreena Hertz from the international business school at the University of Cambridge challenged cynics who tried to reduce the issue of Africa’s poverty to the corruption of its leaders.
Citing examples from the US and Europe, she said that corruption was a world-wide issue, and that Western governments and the World Bank should accept responsibility for having bankrolled some of the worst regimes.
But this should not be used as an excuse to avoid taking steps that would free people in Africa to chart their own destiny economically and politically, she said.