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A30 world news
Diamars 28 December 2021

Young South Africans learn of Tutu’s activism for equality

to promote national recon- Cathedral in Cape Town to
ciliation. Tutu also became honor him. The bells at “the In addition, an ecumenical
one of the world’s most people’s cathedral,” where and interfaith service will be
prominent religious leaders Tutu worked to unite South held for Tutu on Thursday in
to champion LGBTQ rights. Africans of all races against South Africa’s capital, Preto-
apartheid, will toll for 10 ria.
“As a gay person, it is rare to minutes at noon for five days
hear people from the church to mark Tutu’s life. South Africans are laying
speaking openly about gay is- flowers at the cathedral, in
sues, but I found out about “We ask all who hear the bells front of Tutu’s home in Cape
him through gay activ- to pause their busy schedules Town’s Milnerton area, and
ists who sometimes use his for a moment in tribute” to in front of his former home
quotes during campaigns,” Tutu, the current archbish- in Soweto.
said Lesley Morake, 25. “That op of Cape Town, Thabo
is how I knew about him, and Makgoba, said. Anglican President Cyril Ramaphosa
(AP) — Archbishop Des- the past day. that is what I will remember churches across South Africa visited Tutu’s home Monday
mond Tutu’s legacy is re- about him.” will also ring their bells at in Cape Town where he paid
verberating among young “At first I only knew that he noon this week, and the An- his respects to Tutu’s widow,
South Africans, many was an archbishop. I really Tshepo Nkatlo, 32, said he gelus prayer will be recited. Leah.
of whom were not born did not know much else,” is focusing on the positive
when the clergyman bat- Gamede said. things he hears about Tutu, Several services in South Af- “He knew in his soul that
tled apartheid and sought instead of some negative sen- rica were being planned to good would triumph over
full rights for the nation’s She said Tutu’s death had timents he saw on social me- honor Tutu’s life, as tributes evil, that justice would pre-
Black majority. inspired her to learn more dia. came in from around the vail over iniquity, and that
about South Africa’s history, world. reconciliation would prevail
Tutu, who died Sunday at the especially the struggle against “One of the things I picked over revenge and recrimina-
age of 90, was awarded the white minority rule. up on Facebook and Twit- Tutu’s coffin will be dis- tion. He knew that apartheid
Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 ter was that some people played Friday at the cathedral would end, that democracy
for those efforts. “I think that people who were criticizing him for the in Cape Town to allow the would come,” Ramaphosa
fought for our freedom are TRC (Truth and Reconcili- public to file past the casket, said Sunday night in a na-
Even though they did not great people. We are in a bet- ation Commission) because “which will reflect the sim- tionally broadcast address.
know much about him, ter place because of them. there are still many issues plicity with which he asked
some young South Africans Today I am living my life regarding the TRC,” Nkatlo to be buried,” Makgoba said “He knew that our people
told The Associated Press freely, unlike in the olden said, referring to some who in a statement. On Friday would be free. By the same
on Monday that they under- days where there was no free- say Tutu should have been night Tutu’s body will “lie measure, he was convinced,
stood his role as one of the dom,” she said. tougher on whites who per- alone in the cathedral which even to the end of his life,
most prominent figures to petrated abuses under apart- he loved.” that poverty, hunger and mis-
help their country become a Following the end of apart- heid and should have ordered ery can be defeated; that all
democracy. heid in 1994, when South that they be prosecuted. A requiem Mass will be held people can live together in
Africa became a democracy, Saturday and, according to peace, security and comfort,”
Zinhle Gamede, 16, said she Tutu chaired the Truth and South Africa is holding a Tutu’s wishes, he will be cre- said Ramaphosa who added
found out about Tutu’s pass- Reconciliation Commission week of mourning for Tutu. mated and his ashes placed in that South Africa’s flags will
ing on social media and has that documented atrocities Bells rang at midday Monday the cathedral’s mausoleum, be flown at half-staff this
learned more about him over during apartheid and sought from St. George’s Anglican church officials said Monday. week.

Spanish eruption’s end brings ‘emotional relief,’ rebuilding

(AP) — Authorities on curity, said the archipelago’s started on Sept. 19, previous
one of Spain’s Canary Is- Fiery molten rock flowing government valued the loss periods of reduced activity “We will continue working
lands declared a volcanic down toward the sea de- of buildings and infrastruc- were followed by reignitions. together, all institutions, to
eruption that started in stroyed around 3,000 build- ture at more than 900 million relaunch the marvelous is-
September officially fin- ings, entombed banana plan- euros ($1 billion). On the eve of Dec. 14, the land of La Palma and repair
ished Saturday following tations and vineyards, ruined volcano fell silent after flar- the damage,” he tweeted.
10 days of no lava flows, irrigation systems and cut Volcanologists said they ing for 85 days and 8 hours,
seismic activity or signifi- off roads. But no injuries or needed to certify that three making it La Palma’s longest Farming and tourism are the
cant sulfur dioxide emis- deaths were directly linked to key variables - gas, lava and eruption on record. main industries on the Ca-
sions. the eruption. tremors - had subsided in nary Islands, a popular des-
the Cumbre Vieja ridge for Spanish Prime Minister Pe- tination for many European
But the emergency in La Pérez, who is also the re- 10 days in order to declare dro Sánchez called the erup- vacationers due to their mild
Palma, the most northwest gion’s minister of public ad- the volcano’s apparent ex- tion’s end “the best Christ- climate.
island in the Atlantic Ocean ministration, justice and se- haustion. Since the eruption mas present.”
archipelago, is not over due
to the widespread damage the
eruption caused, the direc-
tor of the Canaries’ volcanic
emergency committee said in
announcing the much-antic-
ipated milestone.

“It’s not joy or satisfaction -
how we can define what we
feel? It’s an emotional relief.
And hope,” Pevolca director
Julio Pérez said. “Because
now, we can apply ourselves
and focus completely on the
reconstruction work.”