GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end. – Nelson Mandela, Robben Island 1975
Today is the 95th birth anniversary of Mr Rolihlahla Mandela better known as Nelson Mandela and fondly called ‘Madiba’ (the name of the clan he was born into) and ‘Tata’ (an isiXhosa word that means father). Revered around the world for his decades of untiring struggle for human rights and social justice, Mandela is today gravely ill, hospitalised and possibly could die at any time.
Today is also the third annual commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day. The United Nations, in November 2009, adopted a resolution designating that July 18 be observed each year as Mandela International Day beginning in July 2010. This came about following an international campaign by the Nelson Mandela Foundation for the great man to be thus recognised. The foundation had already been observing his birthday as Mandela Day but believed that this should be done on a global scale. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon threw his support behind the initiative and it was positively endorsed by heads of state and government of countries in the Non-Aligned Movement.