“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world” - Desmond Tutu
(Desmond Tutu)
Desmond Tutu was born on October 7th, 1931 in Klerksdorp, South Africa. When he was 12 he moved to Johannesburg. In 1951 Tutu studied at the Pretoria Bantu Normal College. In 1953 he taught at Johannesburg Bantu High School and at Munsienville High School in Mogale City. He then resigned due to the Bantu education act. In 1955 he married Nomalizo Leah Shenxane.
(Tutu (Left) and his wife Nomalizo Leah Shenxane (Right))
In 1961 he was ordained as a priest. In 1962 he studied at King’s college London. In 1966 he received a master’s degree in theology. In 1967 he returned to South Africa and became chaplain at the University of Fort Hare. In 1970 he lectured at the National University of Lesotho. In 1972 he went back to England and he was appointed vice director of the Theological Education Fund of the World Council of Churches. In 1975 he was appointed Dean of St Mary's Cathedral in Johannesburg.
(Tutu in 1975)
In 1976 he supported the economic boycott in South Africa. He organized peaceful marches to Cape Town. In 1978 he became Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches. Due to his fight against Apartheid his passport was revoked twice. In 1980 he was jailed after a march.
(Tutu in 1980)
In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel peace prize. In 1988 he was very critical of Israel and what it was doing to Palestine. In 1990 he founded the Desmond Tutu Educational Trust. In 1993 Tutu was a patron of the Cape Town Olympic Bid Committee. In 1994 he was appointed a patron of the World Campaign Against Military and Nuclear Collaboration.
(Tutu (Left) and Nelson Mandela (Right) in 1994)
In 1995 he was appointed a Chaplain and Sub-Prelate of the Venerable Order of Saint John by Queen Elizabeth II,and he became a patron of the American Harmony Child Foundation and the Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA) of South Africa. In 1996 he retired as Archbishop of Cape Town. In 2003 Tutu was elected to the board of directors of the International Criminal Court's Trust Fund for Victims. Also in 2003 the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre was founded.
(Tutu in 2003)
In 2005 Tutu called on world leaders to promote free trade with poorer countries. In 2006 Tutu launched a global campaign, organised by Plan, to ensure that all children are registered at birth. In 2007 Tutu, Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel convened the Elders. Tutu served as Chair of The Elders. The Elders work globally, on thematic as well as geographically specific subjects. Also in 2007 He criticised China for not doing more against the Darfur genocide.
(Tutu in 2007)
In 2008 Tutu spoke out against leader of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe. In 2009 he was awarded with an honorary doctorate. In 2011 he made his last public speech and entered retirement. In 2012 he came out of retirement. Also in 2012 Tutu was a member of the Advisory Board for Global March to Jerusalem.
(Tutu in 2012)
In 2013 Tutu said he would no longer be able to vote for the African National Congress, citing inequality, violence, and corruption. In 2014 Tutu came out in support of assisted dying.
(Tutu in 2014)
Today he turns 85 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Desmond Tutu.
Videos of Desmond Tutu
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtjTIS1NOJI “1983 Pretoria Terror Bomb Blast - Desmond Tutu”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N_k341gzzo “Archbishop Desmond Tutu - South Africa - Thames TV - Currents”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDz5BwiY8Es “The Truth and Reconciliation Commission what you need to know”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbna9i30yF0 “Desmond Tutu Blasts ANC South African Gov't as Worse Than Apartheid”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93bDk9itiww “Desmond Tutu's message for the International Day of Peace 2014”
(P.S. sorry for the late post)
No comments:
Post a Comment