The Triumph of Goodness

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, photograph by Frank Noon

On 19 February Desmond Tutu addressed an audience of more than 600 at the Royal geographical Society in London. He paid tribute to the British Council as an organisation that 'links people through cultural connections – a wonderful thing in a world where we frequently put up barriers to one another'.

Lord Neil Kinnock, Chair of the British Council, welcomed Tutu to the podium. Tutu looked back on the stricken years when South Africa was ruled under apartheid and spoke movingly about the 'great movement of freedom and goodness' that swept the world against apartheid. 'As a South African, I want to pay tribute to the British Council and also to all of you here in this country that supported us so magnifienctly in our struggle against apartheid.'

Relating an example of people to people diplomacy, Tutu explained that one of the beautiful things in the rise against the apartheid was that those championing change in South Africa could appeal over the heads of indifferent world leaders to the people themselves, ‘the people responded beautifully,’ he said.

Tutu appealed to the longing in us all to see goodness win through and challenged us to give more credit to 'the incredible . He spoke of the essence of being human and that the solitary human-being is a contradiction in terms: ‘my humanity is caught up in your humanity and when I dehumanise you, I am dehumanised.’

‘We live in a delicate network of interdependence’, he said to the hushed audience. ‘We have been created for goodness.’

Read the full transcript [Word document 81KB]

[PDF 46KB]

Listen to the speech:

Part 1 of 'Triumph of Goodness' [MP3 24.8 MB]

Part 2 of 'Triumph of Goodness' [MP3 26.8 MB]

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Photos

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Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is perhaps best known for his part in the struggle for freedom in apartheid South Africa, as a priest and bishop, for being a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and for chairing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). He is also a man of immense moral authority, a pioneer for peace and non-violent resolution to conflict, a champion against racism, and a remarkable leader.

Though his vigorous advocacy of social justice once rendered him a controversial figure, today Archbishop Tutu is regarded as an elder world statesman with a major role to play in reconciliation, and as a leading moral voice. He has become an icon of hope far beyond the Church and Southern Africa.

On 13 August 2009 Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was awarded America’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom. The medal is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

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Thanks to Henley Business School for their support to the lecture from Archbishop Tutu.

The Triumph of Goodness

Lecture Series: Talking without Borders

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75th Anniversary events