Life, Life to live! - An Audience with Denis Goldberg

Audience members asked Denis questions on the political struggle against apartheid in South Africa, on the new South Africa, and on political issues in general. A stimulating raconteur and a truly great storyteller, An Audience with Denis Goldberg was a fascinating event.

Why?
On being sentenced by an apartheid court in 1963, Denis famously shouted "life, life to live" as the state judge ordered he serve four life sentences for treason. His crime? To plan a campaign of resistance to undermine the racist state, and bring democracy, freedom and majority rule to all of South Africa s citizens. In all he spent 22 years in prison.

Upon his release, he was exiled to the UK where, amongst many other activities, he became the ANC s representative to the UN and established Community H.E.A.R.T. which strives to overcome apartheid's awful legacy. Working in partnership with local agencies in South Africa, Community H.E.A.R.T. supports initiatives that promote health, education, reconstruction and training projects, based on the principle of self-help. As Denis notes, "When we teach a person how to fish, his family will eat. The need is to teach communities to fish so they may eat for generations to come."

Denis Goldberg gave most of his life for South Africa, and now he's decided to go home. But that wasn't enough. He still has a struggle to fight, because his cause was more than the end of apartheid in South Africa. It was and still is a struggle against injustice and a burning desire to help people in need.

If you want more information about Community H.E.A.R.T. or want to make a donation, contact Isobel McVicar on 0161 254 7500, or donate using our online forms.

Video footage from the Audience with Denis Goldberg will be available for sale. Organisations who have contributed to Community H.E.A.R.T. will be credited in the title sequence. It is intended that the video will help raise funds and promote the ongoing work of Community H.E.A.R.T. As a piece of living history , the video will prove useful as an educational resource for schools, colleges and others teaching students about current affairs, issues facing the developing world and politics.

Other Events

• UNISON North West in conjunction with Community H.E.A.R.T. is organising an evening reception in Manchester for the South African athletes delegation to the Commonwealth Games. More details to follow.