Kumi Naidoo: Difference between revisions
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After battling [[apartheid]] in South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s through the Helping Hands Youth Organisation, Naidoo led global campaigns to end poverty and protect human rights. He has served as the secretary-general of the [[Global Call to Action Against Poverty]]. He was Secretary General of Civicus, an international alliance for citizen participation, from 1998 to 2008.<ref>[http://www.civicus.org/content/kuminaidoobio.htm Kumi Naidoo bio | Civicus]. Retrieved 2013-05-24. </ref> |
After battling [[apartheid]] in South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s through the Helping Hands Youth Organisation, Naidoo led global campaigns to end poverty and protect human rights. He has served as the secretary-general of the [[Global Call to Action Against Poverty]]. He was Secretary General of Civicus, an international alliance for citizen participation, from 1998 to 2008.<ref>[http://www.civicus.org/content/kuminaidoobio.htm Kumi Naidoo bio | Civicus]. Retrieved 2013-05-24. </ref> |
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Recently, he has led the Global Call for Climate Action (Tcktcktck.org), which brings together environmental, aid, religious and human rights groups, labor unions, scientists and others and has organized mass demonstrations around climate negotiations.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} |
Recently, he has led the Global Call for Climate Action (Tcktcktck.org), which brings together environmental, aid, religious and human rights groups, labor unions, scientists and others and has organized mass demonstrations around climate negotiations.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} |
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Revision as of 13:46, 7 June 2013
Kumi Naidoo | |
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 Kumi Naidoo at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in 2011 | |
| Occupation | International Executive Director of Greenpeace |
Kumi Naidoo (born 1965) is a South African human rights activist and the International Executive Director of international environmentalist group Greenpeace.[1][2] He is the first African to head the organisation.[2]
After battling apartheid in South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s through the Helping Hands Youth Organisation, Naidoo led global campaigns to end poverty and protect human rights. He has served as the secretary-general of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. He was Secretary General of Civicus, an international alliance for citizen participation, from 1998 to 2008.[3]
Recently, he has led the Global Call for Climate Action (Tcktcktck.org), which brings together environmental, aid, religious and human rights groups, labor unions, scientists and others and has organized mass demonstrations around climate negotiations.[citation needed]
Naidoo has one 17-year-old daughter, Naomi Naidoo.[4]
In June 2011, Kumi Naidoo spent four days in a Greenlandic prison after scaling an oil platform owned by Cairn Energy, as part of Greenpeace's "Go Beyond Oil" campaign. He was deported to Denmark where he spent a short time in Danish custody before being released in Amsterdam, Netherlands.[5]
Early activism
Born in Durban, South Africa, Naidoo became involved in anti-apartheid activities when he was 15, resulting in his expulsion from high school.[6] He was involved in neighborhood organizing, youth work in his community, and mass mobilizations against the apartheid regime.
During the apartheid government, Naidoo was arrested several times and was charged for violating provisions against mass mobilisation, civil disobedience and for violating the state of emergency. This led him to having to go underground before finally deciding to live in exile in England. During this time he was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University and earned a doctorate (D.Phil.) in political sociology.
References
- ^ "New leadership at Greenpeace International". Greenpeace. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ a b "Anti-apartheid activist named Greenpeace head". Associated Press via CBC. 2009-11-16. Retrieved 2012-06-17.
- ^ Kumi Naidoo bio | Civicus. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
- ^ A Father's day letter for Kumi in jail | Greenpeace UK. Greenpeace.org.uk (2011-08-30). Retrieved on 2012-01-05.
- ^ Greenpeace's Naidoo freed, then deported. Times LIVE. (2011-06-21) Retrieved on 2012-01-05.
- ^ "Durban Living Legend - Kumi Naidoo". Ulwazi Programme, Durban Public Library. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
External links
- Annie Kelly interviews social justice campaigner Kumi Naidoo (Guardian)
- Kumi Naidoo of Greenpeace on Obama’s Peace Prize, Obama’s War, Copenhagen and Climate Debt – video report by Democracy Now!
- Naidoo: Climate Justice Movement Must Intensify Efforts Ahead of 2011 Climate Talks in South Africa
- Elements in the FBI and Pentagon consider climate change a great threat to world peace, Kumi Naidoo's Interview with OneWorld South Asia