UN celebrates Mandela Day to build a better world

Havana, Jul 18 (RHC) The celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, established by the United Nations, today calls for building a better world to coincide with the anniversary of the African leader's birth.

The date, approved by the General Assembly in 2009, calls on humanity to contribute with small things in their own communities while paying tribute to one of the most recognized fighters for world peace.

“Every person has the capacity and the responsibility to forge a better world, and Mandela Day is a good occasion to undertake that change, to change and bring about change,” the organization said on the day.

For his part, UN Secretary General António Guterres called for a true transformation with the eradication of poverty, inequality, racism and the transformation of the economic and social system.

“Nelson Mandela showed us what an extraordinary difference one person can make in building a better world,” he wrote in his message for the International Day.

Guterres recalled that the richest one percent of the planet is responsible for the same amount of harmful greenhouse gases as two-thirds of humanity.

“These are not natural phenomena, they are the result of human choices. But we can decide to do things differently,” he said.

The agency's top official joined the Nelson Mandela Foundation's call to urge everyone to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to public service on Nelson Mandela International Day - one minute for every year he fought for justice.

“Let us together honor Madiba's legacy and put our hands to the work of building a better world for all,” he wrote. (Source: Prensa Latina)