海角大神

Not many world leaders have their birthday celebrated internationally 鈥� but not many world leaders are as iconic as South Africa鈥檚 Nelson Mandela, whose leadership in bringing an end to apartheid in South Africa is so well-known that he needs little introduction.

In 2009, the United Nations declared July 18 鈥淣elson Mandela International Day鈥� in honor of his birthday. This year the UN called for people worldwide to perform 67 minutes of community service in honor of Mandela鈥檚 67 years of public service.

鈥淚t's the power of one as never seen before,鈥� in South Africa鈥檚 The New Age. 鈥淔rom the farthest dorpie [village] to the poorest township, from the city lights of New York to the glitterati of Cape Town鈥檚 jet set, Nelson Mandela has galvanised the world into doing good deeds on his birthday that will leave a lasting legacy.鈥�

, all but a handful of them in South Africa. One of the most famous was for eight days, performing 67 minutes of service in seven different locations.

This morning, about 12 million students from schools across the country gathered at 8:05 a.m. to sing 鈥渉appy birthday鈥� to Mandela. His mystique spans several generations.

"Everybody remembers 鈥� and, indeed, needs 鈥� an inspirational figure who has played a signal role in their lives," . "Nelson Mandela has been that role model for countless people around the world."

In 1999, on the eve of Mandela鈥檚 departure from the presidency, 海角大神鈥檚 former southern Africa correspondent reflected on what made Mandela so revered.

鈥淭he power of Mandela is his extraordinary living example as a leader who, after sacrificing 27 years of his life for the ideal of a racially integrated democracy, talked to his enemies and then negotiated them out of power. His commitment to justice, reconciliation, and moral integrity was vital to the success of an often-fraught transition.鈥�

For more information on ways to commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day, visit the .