(Leagan Gaeilge) The Literary and Debating Society, NUI Galway, will host a public address by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, at 5pm on Sunday, 15 February, in Áras na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway. The Nobel Peace Prize winner will speak about the global legacy of aid, justice and charity. Originally from the Transvaal region of South Africa, Desmond Tutu was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in 1961, became Bishop of Lesotho in 1976, and by 1986 was his country s highest Anglican official as Archbishop of Cape Town. In 1984, Archbishop Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-apartheid work in South Africa. As part of the struggle against apartheid, he championed economic sanctions throughout the 1970s and 1980s. When the apartheid regime fell in the 1990s, he was appointed as head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Nelson Mandela s new government. Speaking about Archbishop Tutu, Nelson Mandela has said he is: "Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu s voice will always be the voice of the voiceless". Dr Vinodh Jaichand, a national of South Africa, is a lecturer with the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway: "For South Africans, Archbishop Tutu continues to be the voice of conscience in South Africa, reminding us of things we so easily forget. His stance on controversial topics has always made us think twice". Archbishop Tutu will receive the Literary and Debating Society's President's Medal, the society's highest accolade. This award has been accepted in the past by philosopher and linguist Noam Chomsky, US Senator Mike Gravel, Congressman Bruce Morrison, and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Dan Colley, Auditor of Literary and Debating Society at NUI Galway, says: "Recipients of the President's Medal are those who we feel have made a significant contribution to the Society's first principal, freedom of speech; as well as made a significant contribution to wider society. Archbishop Tutu, as one of the world's foremost human rights activists and a leader who spoke out against totalitarianism, embodies the spirit of the award. We look forward to welcoming him as our honoured guest". Tutu retired as archbishop in 1996 but has remained active on the international scene, most recently as part of a group called 'The Elders', which comprise high profile public figures drawn from across the globe. The mission of the group is to 'contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity to tackling some of the world s toughest problems and committed to working on pressing issues confronting society today'. Other members of The Elders who have previously visited NUI Galway include Mary Robinson and Nelson Mandela. Priced at €5 each, proceeds from ticket sales for the event will go to a charity of Archbishop Tutu's choosing. Tickets can be purchased from Monday, 2 February from the Socs Box on campus (Tel: 091 492852), as well as from Zhivago Records on Shop Street, Galway.

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Cuairt ar OÉ Gaillimh á Beartú ag an Ardeaspag Desmond Tutu (View in English) Tá caint phoiblí leis an Ardeaspag Desmond Tutu á heagrú ag Cumann Liteartha agus Díospóireachta OÉ Gaillimh in Áras na Mac Léinn, OÉ Gaillimh Dé Domhnaigh, 15 Feabhra ag 5pm. Labhróidh Buaiteoir Dhuais Síochána Nobel faoi oidhreacht dhomhanda an chúnaimh, an cheartais agus na carthanachta. Is as ceantar Transvaal na hAfraice Theas Desmond Tutu. Oirníodh ina shagart de chuid na hEaglaise Anglacánaí é i 1961, agus coisriceadh ina Easpag ar Leosóta é i 1976. Faoi 1986 bhí sé ina cheann feadhna Anglacánach ar a thír dhúchais nuair a ceapadh ina Ardeaspag ar Cape Town é. I 1984, bronnadh Duais Síochána Nobel ar an Ardeaspag Tutu as a chuid oibre frith-apartheid san Afraic Theas. Mar chuid den choimhlint in éadan apartheid, throid sé ar son smachtbhannaí eacnamaíocha i rith na 1970í agus na 1980í. Nuair a chlis ar réimeas an apartheid sna 1990í, ceapadh é ina cheannasaí ar an gCoimisiún Fírinne agus Athmhuintearais faoi rialtas nua Nelson Mandela. Ag labhairt dó faoin Ardeaspag Tutu, dúirt Nelson Mandela: "Sometimes strident, often tender, never afraid and seldom without humour, Desmond Tutu s voice will always be the voice of the voiceless". Is léachtóir san Ionad Éireannach um Chearta an Duine in OÉ Gaillimh é an Dr Vinodh Jaichand, arb as an Afraic Theas é. "Do phobal na hAfraice Theas is é an tArdeaspag Tutu guth choinsias na hAfraice Theas go fóill, agus bíonn sé de shíor ag cur nithe ar furasta dúinn dearmad a dhéanamh orthu ar ár súile dúinn arís. Chuir an seasamh a ghlac sé faoi ábhair chonspóideacha orainn smaoineamh orainn féin i gcónaí." Bronnfar Bonn Uachtarán an Chumainn Liteartha agus Díospóireachta, buaicghradam an chumainn, ar an Ardeaspag Tutu. I measc na ndaoine ar bronnadh an gradam seo orthu san am a chuaigh thart bhí an fealsamh agus an teangeolaí Noam Chomsky, an Seanadóir Meiriceánach Mike Gravel, an Feisire Meiriceánach Bruce Morrisson, agus an t-iar-Thaoiseach Bertie Ahern. Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Dan Colley, Reachtaire an Chumainn Liteartha agus Díospóireachta in OÉ Gaillimh: "Bronnaimid Bonn an Uachtaráin ar dhaoine a mbraithimid go bhfuil curtha go suntasach acu le príomhphrionsabal an Chumainn, an tsaoirse cainte; agus ar dhaoine a bhfuil obair mhór déanta acu ar son an phobail i gcoitinne. Is duine de na mórghníomhaithe ar son chearta an duine é an tArdeaspag Tutu agus is ceannaire é a cháin an t-ollsmachtachas; is é spiorad an ghradaim seo féin ina steillbheatha é. Táimid ag súil le fáiltiú roimhe mar aoi onórach." Chuaigh Desmond Tutu ar scor ón bpost mar ardeaspag i 1996 ach tá sé ag gníomhú leis go hidirnáisiúnta, agus chonacthas le fíordheireanaí é ag feidhmiú mar bhall den ghrúpa 'The Elders' ina bhfuil pearsana clúiteacha poiblí as gach cearn den domhan. Is é misean an ghrúpa 'a ngaois, a gceannaireacht neamhspleách agus a n-ionracas a úsáid le dul i ngleic le cuid de na fadhbanna is measa ar domhan agus tá siad tugtha go hiomlán do shaothrú ar son na ndeacrachtaí tromchúiseacha atá le sárú ag an tsochaí sa lá atá inniu ann'. I measc na gcomhaltaí eile de 'The Elders' a thug cuairt ar OÉ Gaillimh bhí Mary Robinson agus Nelson Mandela. Rachaidh luach na dticéad don ócáid, atá ar díol ar €5 an ceann, chuig carthanas a roghnóidh an tArdeaspag Tutu. Is féidir ticéid a cheannach ón Luan, 2 Feabhra ón Socs Box ar an gcampas (Teil: 091 492852), agus ó Zhivago Records ar Shráid na Siopaí i nGaillimh. -críoch-