July 14, 2010 – The Elders – a group of eminent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela – have joined the former president of South Africa in a special message of support for Nelson Mandela International Day.
In a new video message shot during the Elders’ last visit to South Africa in June 2010, they urge people everywhere to give 67 minutes of their time to reach out to others in their communities.
Former US President Jimmy Carter says: “Nelson Mandela has given us a wonderful opportunity – and duty – to do something positive and active on Mandela Day.”
“He gave 67 years of his life – now he’s saying it’s in our hands,” says former Irish president, Mary Robinson. “It’s not about him, he says, it’s about us.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu calls on all of us to “give only 67 minutes of your time, to change the world.”
Graça Machel, who is the wife of Mr Mandela and a respected advocate for the rights of women and children, says that “every action, big or small, will be a huge contribution to making our world more loving, caring and supportive.”
“We want to inspire the conviction that we all can make a difference,” says Gro Brundtland – former prime minister of Norway.
The Elders appearing in the video are:
- Jimmy Carter, former US president
- Mary Robinson, former Irish president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Ela Bhatt, founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), India
- Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland
- Gro Brundtland, former Norwegian prime minister and former director general of the World Health Organisation
- Graça Machel, president of the Foundation for Community Development and former first lady of South Africa
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Chair of the Elders
On Sunday, July 18, Nelson Mandela turns 92. Last November, the United Nations declared his birthday Nelson Mandela International Day, which is a call to action for people all around the world to make a difference in the places in which they live and work. It is the day that people across the globe band together to serve the communities around them and work toward a better tomorrow.
To view the video click here.