The huge Memorial for the Abolition of Slavery, designed by Krzysztof
Wodiczko and Julian Bonder, was unveiled today at the Quai de la Fosse,
in Nantes (France).
http://www.nantes.fr/culture/actualites-culturelles/2012/memorial
http://memorial.nantes.fr/en/le-memorial/
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UN HONOURS HEROES AND SURVIVORS OF TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
New York, Mar 23 2012 4:05PM
The United Nations is hosting a series of events, beginning today, to pay
tribute to the men and women who bravely fought against the transatlantic
slave trade and those who continue to stand up against modern forms of
slavery.
"The transatlantic slave trade was a tragedy because of slavery's
fundamental barbarism and immense scope, and because of its organized,
systematic nature," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message to
mark the Day, which falls on Sunday.
The General Assembly in 2007 designated 25 March as the International Day
of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
to honour the 28 million estimated Africans who were violently removed and
cast into slavery, mainly in colonies in North America, South America and
the West Indies.
"One set of human beings - the traders, owners and others who participated
in and profited from this evil enterprise - elevated themselves above
another, assaulting their victims' very essence," Mr. Ban said in his
remarks.
He noted that this year's theme - "Honouring the Heroes, Resisters and
Survivors" - recognizes those who stood up against slavery when the trade
was at its height, and those who stand up now to protect against its
manifestations today.
The Day also serves as an opportunity to teach about the causes and
consequences of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance.
"New laws, institutions and mindsets have given us better tools for the
struggle against these ills," noted Mr. Ban. "Yet we must also recognize
that bias has increased in many parts of the world.
"We see discriminatory practices gaining political, moral and even legal
recognition, including through the platforms of some political parties and
organizations and the dissemination through modern communication
technologies of ideas based on the notion of racial superiority." He
stressed that the UN remains firmly committed to countering such hateful
acts and trends.
This year's commemoration features several events in New York. These
include a special meeting of the General Assembly on 26 March; an
exhibition that includes images of heroes and activists, original
documents, historical illustrated newspapers and artefacts; an evening of
cultural and culinary specialties of Africa; and a global student
videoconference.
In addition, plans are under way to erect a permanent memorial at UN
Headquarters to remind the world that millions of Africans were violently
removed from their homelands, abused and robbed of their dignity over the
course of four centuries during the transatlantic slave trade.
________________
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
--
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
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