Londres inaugura estatua de Mandela

Nelson Mandela dedicó la estatua a los héroes que lucharon contra el 'apartheid'.

London unveils Mandela statue

A statue of Nelson Mandela is being unveiled in London's Parliament Square today. Mr Mandela, who is 89, and his wife Graca Machel are joined by the Mayor of London and anti-apartheid campaigners, as well as gospel singers and dancers.

This report from Emily Buchanan:

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The nine foot bronze shows Nelson Mandela standing and gesturing, as if making a speech. The idea for the monument was initiated by the anti-apartheid activist, Donald Woods. He chose the sculptor Ian Walters who began the work six years ago. Sadly, neither man lived to see today's ceremony.

The statue's fate has been dogged by arguments over where it should go, as well as its artistic merit. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, had wanted it to stand on the north side of Trafalgar Square. But in 2005 Westminster Council refused permission, saying it would clutter the space needed for large events. It was finally agreed it should face the Houses of Parliament and stand alongside other great leaders, such as Winston Churchill, Benjamin Disraeli and Abraham Lincoln.

Gordon Brown will attend the unveiling. Yesterday he described Mr Mandela as 'the most inspiring, the greatest and the most courageous leader of our generation'.

Emily Buchanan, BBC

 Listen to the words

gesturing
gesticulando

initiated by
fue iniciado o comenzado por

anti-apartheid activist
activista anti apartheid. El término apartheid en la lengua afrikaans quiere decir separación y describe la división que existía entre la minoría blanca gobernante y la mayoría no blanca en Sudáfrica

sculptor
escultor

Sadly, neither man lived to see
lamentablemente, ninguno de los dos están vivos para ver (la ceremonia de hoy)

fate
destino o sino

dogged
perseguido o acosado por

artistic merit
mérito artístico

clutter
alborotar o congestionar un espacio, en este caso se refieren a la Plaza de Trafalgar

unveiling
el acto de revelar la estatatua, inaugurarla

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