(Editors' note: As Pambazuka News 214 was sent early to coincide with
the start of the G8 meeting, we received this after the newsletter
was sent. We decided therefore to send it as an addendum to issue 214.)
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER ADDRESSES AFRICAN DIASPORA
'One of the worst outcomes of injustices is poverty,' says Wangari
Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner. 'It robs human beings of
their dignity.'
In one of those curiously poignant moments of history, Professor
Maathai spoke at the Africa Diaspora and Development Day in London on
2 July 2005 where thousands of Africans met to discuss their own
future, while across the other side of London in Hyde Park, a largely
white, apolitical roadshow known as Live8 was busy telling Africans
what they really needed.
'When people are poor and when they are reduced to beggars, they feel
weak, humiliated, disrespected and undignified,' said Maathai. ' They
hide alone in corners and dare not raise their voices. They are
therefore, neither heard nor seen. They do not organize but often
suffer in isolation and in desperation. Yet all human beings deserve
respect and dignity. Indeed it should be unacceptable to push other
human beings to such levels of indiginity. Even before any other
rights, perhaps it may be time to campaign for all human beings to
have the right to a life of dignity: a life devoid of poverty in the
midst of plenty because such poverty demonstrates gross inequalities.
As long as millions of people live in poverty and indignity, humanity
should feel diminished. A time such as this gives all of us, and
especially those in leadership, the opportunity to reduce poverty.
There is a lot of poverty in Africa. This is largely due to economic
injustices, which must be addressed not only by the rich
industrialized countries but also by leaders in Africa.'
For the full text of her speech, see http://www.pambazuka.org/
index.php?id=28870
EDITORS: Our thanks to AFFORD for arranging for Pambazuka News to
publish this article.
/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\/\/\//\
PAMBAZUKA NEWS IS PUBLISHED BY FAHAMU
Fahamu - Networks For Social Justice
UK: Frewin Court, 51 Cornmarket Street, Oxford OX1 3HA
South Africa: PO Box 70740, Overport, Durban, KwaZulu Natal 4067
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.fahamu.org
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.fahamu.org.za
