“Do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision.”
— Nelson Mandela, Make Poverty History rally, Trafalgar Square, London (2005)
Nelson Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned for his fight against apartheid in South Africa, emerging to lead his nation’s peaceful transition to democracy and serve as its first Black president. His moral authority, earned through decades of sacrifice, made him one of the most respected voices on justice and human dignity worldwide.
Mandela delivered these words in 2005 at London’s Trafalgar Square during the Make Poverty History rally, part of a global campaign to address extreme poverty. By this time, he had long since left office but remained committed to humanitarian causes. The speech came at a critical moment when world leaders were gathering for the G8 summit, and millions were demanding concrete commitments rather than diplomatic rhetoric.
His call to action reflects a lifetime spent transforming conviction into change. Mandela understood that progress requires more than sympathy or good intentions. Having witnessed how sustained, courageous action dismantled an oppressive system, he knew that addressing global poverty demanded the same resolve. The phrase “the world is hungry for action” carries particular weight from someone who never merely spoke about justice but risked everything to achieve it.
His words remain a challenge to anyone who claims to care about inequality: Will we look away, or will we act?
