‘Global Citizen’ honours Mandela as NZ movement gathers steam

The Global Poverty Project (GPP) calls on all New Zealanders to celebrate International Nelson Mandela Day on Thursday. GPP cites Mandela as an example of someone who transcends national loyalties.

"Mandela is a model for all of us," said Will Watterson, NZ Country Director of GPP. "He fought against injustice around the world because he recognised that we're all connected."

For Watterson, the chance to honour Mandela comes as GPP's 'Global Citizen' project gathers momentum for the NZ launch of an innovative online platform and a concert at the Auckland Town Hall next month. The Global Citizen Concert will feature Kiwi musicians like Tiki Taane, Anika Moa, Seth Haapu and Jamie McDell in a unique political concert to encourage global citizenship.

"We've had tremendous support from some incredible artists, particularly Maori artists" said Watterson. "They are deeply moved by the legacy of the Springbok tour and the symbolic importance of a leader like Nelson Mandela. For me, seeing all these strands come together is extremely exciting."

Tiki Taane is one of the high-profile NZ musicians who have joined the Global Citizen movement.

“It’s about every one of us making positive change to the way we live and care for each other,” Taane said. “We all have a part to play in making the world a better place: doing nothing is the biggest problem of all.”

The Global Citizen Concert will feature the work of 8 leading anti poverty organisations and showcase the role that Kiwis can play on the world stage. With Mayor Len Brown lined up to speak and an expanding line up with the recent addition of the Auckland Gospel Choir, Thomas Oliver and Louis Baker, tickets for the event are selling quickly.

"We wanted to bring all these inspirational people together in one place," Watterson said. "Mandela is hero for us all, but the work is not done. There are still over 1 billion people living in extreme poverty and we all have a moral obligation to get involved and look for positive solutions."

The Concert will be on August 4th at the Auckland Town Hall. Oxfam, Unicef, TEAR Fund, World Vision, P3, VSA, ChildFund and other charities will showcase how their work is helping people in extreme poverty.

International Mandela Day is on Thursday the 18th of July. It was established in 2009 by Ban Ki Moon and the United Nations. The goal of Mandela day is “to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good.”

Watterson encourages all Kiwis to take part in Mandela Day by looking for positive things they can do in their own communities to help others. He urged New Zealanders to get involved with Global Citizen as a way of standing together to amplify efforts to catalyse change.

Most of the tickets to the Global Citizen Concert have already been given away for free to people who take action on the website globalcitizen.org. Others can purchase tickets from The Edge at www.the-edge.co.nz/globalcitizen

ENDS

© Scoop Media