Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu signs pledge to HEAL OUR RAINBOW NATION

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu signs the Against Prejudice and Discrimination Pledge of the
Healing Our Rainbow Nation Campaign while APD/BB representatives Desiree Muller and Rachel Legasa look on

Well-known South African icon of peace and reconciliation, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, became the first signatory to a powerful pledge Against Prejudice & Discrimination, which is the focal point of a new initiative appropriately named the Healing Our Rainbow Nation Campaign, on 2 October.

Roman Emperor Augustus once said: “All it takes for evil to succeed, is for good men to do nothing…” We want to afford every South African the opportunity to publicly declare their opposition to recent horrific incidents – such as the xenophobic attacks and racial flare-ups at the University of the Free State and Springboks vs Australia rugby international in Johannesburg – which portray us as intolerant, racist and discriminatory to one another and the rest of the world,” says spokesperson for campaign organisers the Association for the Physically Disabled (APD) and Barrier Breakers (BB), Jeanette Maclean.

The Pledge of the Peaceful Silent Majority reads as follows:
§ I am proudly South African.
§ I publicly declare my opposition to any form of prejudice and discrimination.
§ I believe in the right of every individual to be treated with dignity and respect.
§ I will strive to build bridges and break down barriers between myself and my neighbour.
§ I will treat others as I want them to treat me.
§ I celebrate the unique role I play in ensuring a prosperous future for the diversity of peoples who make up our Rainbow Nation.
§ I endorse the vision of our great leader, Mr Nelson Mandela who said: “Never, never, never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.”
§ I will invest in our future: I undertake to instil these values in our children.

Commenting on the campaign, Archbishop Emeritus Tutu said: “I proudly put my name to this pledge that unites against prejudice and discrimination. I challenge every South African to do the same. Each of us is a unique creation of God. Each of us has a special purpose from God. Those of you who despise and harm others because of their differences work against God. They do not represent me. They should not represent you. We must unite in trust and love and heal our Rainbow Nation.”

The names of all signatories of the pledge, starting with Archbishop Emeritus Tutu, will appear on a Healing Our Rainbow Nation scroll which is being facilitated on the APD’s web site (www.apd.org.za).

“We feel deeply honoured that someone of the stature of Archbishop Emeritus Tutu is supporting the campaign and have incorporated his statement into the pledge, which is now available to all caring South Africans for a donation of only R1,” says Jeanette.

Asked about the money raised through the campaign, Jeanette explained: “There are obviously costs attached to the campaign which have to be met. Beneficiaries of the profit of the campaign will include our organisation, as well as other social benefit organisations and/or institutions and organisations which help victims of prejudice and discrimination. There are strict financial controls in place to ensure that every cent is accounted for. The whole process will be audited by KPMG.”

To lend public visibility to the campaign and take the Against Prejudice & Discrimination message into the streets, the organisers have developed a range of brightly-coloured and eye-catching merchandise which can incorporate the specific brand of any participating group/organisation. Bulk buyers will not only be able to donate their share of profit to a worthy cause, but will also be entitled to a vendor’s fee which they can apply as they see fit.

“The corporate sector and social structures (eg churches, community networks, schools, service clubs and associations) are obviously going to play a vital role in ensuring the success of the campaign,” says Jeanette. “We know that there are South Africans who will not be able to afford the R1 pledge. It is our fervent hope that their neighbours will step up and sponsor their pledges. Such participating organisations can then decide who they want to benefit from their share of profit.

“With the turbulence our country is currently experiencing – economic, social and political - this campaign comes at the perfect time. We need to unite as a nation to once again experience the joy and elation of 1994 when we first became a democracy. It is time to turn the country back to what was felt when Emeritus Tutu first referred to South Africa as the Rainbow Nation.”

For more information, contact Jeanette Maclean (jeanette@bb.org.za tel 082-401-0949) or Dave Fox (davidf@apdjhb.co.za tel 011-646-8331).