HOW TO PROMOTE MANDELA ’ S LEGACY
World leaders could help establish a global institute for human rights
NELSON Mandela’s exceptional and exemplary life can produce worldwide celebrations.
To truly memorialise his contributions, however, requires grand actions.
Taking immediate recognition of the deep wellsprings of respect, affection and sorrow over the loss of his leadership to the people of South Africa and the world, leaders from various nations can come together to establish the Nelson Mandela Institute for Global Human Rights with an endowment of $1-billion (R10-billion).
The founders must be possessed of a vision that includes posterity’s rights to peace and justice, to freedom and opportunity compatible with the survival of the planet.
To be perceived as impeccable for this specific noble mission, the founders must select themselves so as to define a unanimity of purpose, resolve and expeditiousness.
To turn the powerful spirit of Mandela into a powerful vision and proliferate his ideals and actions, his courage and humanity, his sense of what it takes to move the immovable and inspire the shameless to higher levels of human possibilities, a combination of seasoned knowledge and material resources will be required.
The founders need not be angels, need not be pure in background or without “baggage ”.
They need only to be lawful and capable in creating a well-funded institute and engaging with substantive experienced and innovative people in human rights, research, communication andadvocacy to carry forward Mandela’s work.
Most immediately, the founders need to come together with all deliberate speed. At the outset they need not be representative of the world. That will come later. The immediate need is for a critical mass of individuals with foresight who can create the Mandela Institute.
By way of non-exclusive suggestion, suppose a quartet of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, US congressman John Lewis, the world’s third wealthiest person Warren Buffett and former president Bill Clinton initiated a conversation between themselves. Here is what could happen.
Tutu brings his friendship and alliance with Mandela, together with the respect of his country’s people and human rights advocates around the world with whom he has worked tirelessly.
Lewis brings his ground-level valour in the US civil rights movement of the 1960s and the widespread, nonpartisan high regard for his undeterred principles and moral values.
Buffett brings a core of multibillionaires, who have pledged to give at least half their estate to good works and are looking for good, collaborative ideas.
Clinton brings his unrivalled portfolio of establishment achievers and leaders, who come to his annual conference, to discuss commercial and charitable ways to improve the world.
Beside the memorial vision, nothing gathers attentive support more than the availability of material resources.
Buffett, who modestly tells friends that at least he gets his calls returned, can draw on over 100 (and growing) pledgers from the US and other countries. Their combined reported net worth is $504-billion (R5.05-trillion).
An average of $10-million from each pledger for this grand institution would take the fundraising over the R1-billion level.
This can occur before major foundations decide on significant founding contributions.
The fine details of the institute’s leadership and activities, so as to maximise its great potential, are, of course, important but not immediate. For now, it is the guiding light, work and principles of Mandela that can assure that he lives through the coming generations in both deeds and grassroots leaders who reflect his courage and humanity.
Founders need not be angels