In the spotlight: the memory of Desmond Tutu
Audio 05:04
Desmond Tutu died on December 26 at the age of 90.
REUTERS / Mark Wessels
By: Sébastien Duhamel Follow
5 mins
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Few of the deaths cause so many reactions and, above all, so many unanimous reactions. It's a real shower of praise that falls on newsstands around the world on Monday, December 27. And for good reason, as
Le Temps
en Suisse underlines: “
It is when an icon disappears that we measure the extent of its contribution.
"However,"
reading and hearing the tributes paid to Desmond Tutu is a reminder to what extent the former Archbishop of Cape Town, tireless denouncer of injustices, spokesperson for the oppressed and mocking of Western leaders lacking in courage, contributed to changing the course of History
”.
Tributes often tinged with poetry, like the editorial of the newspaper
Le Soir
, in Belgium.
Desmond Tutu, "
a man of fire and faith [...] went out like a candle on Boxing Day
, we read,
and everyone remembers the light that emitted this passionate little man who used the humor as a weapon as scathing as forgiveness or faith
.
"His face, his smile make the headlines of many newspapers, the
Frankfurter Allgemeine
or
Die Welt
in Germany,
El Pais
in Spain which also retains his"
laughing mood
"in a"
liberated South Africa that he helped to create
".
The champion of non-violence and human rights
His fight has indeed marked the history of his country and, with it, the spirits of the whole world. “
Tutu, the nonviolent hero who defeated apartheid,
” reads the front page of
Corriere della Sera.
No wonder the Italian newspaper shows us the Anglican Archbishop hand in hand with Nelson Mandela, a friend whose release he called for when he was in prison. He is also seen alongside Nelson Mandela on the front page of
La Repubblica
.
With his death, just weeks after that of Frederik De Klerk, the last white president of South Africa, "
the world is losing the champion of universal human rights,
" laments
The Guardian.
The British newspaper even speaks to us of a "
giant of the anti-apartheid struggle
", "
described by observers at home and abroad as the moral conscience" of his country
. It's an expression that comes up a lot. A "
moral leader
", a "
powerful force of non-violence which moreover won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984
", it is also in these terms that the
New-York Times describes it
, and "
a world celebrity too,
”the American newspaper tells us.
Other battles after apartheid
And he led other battles after apartheid, against poverty or corruption among others, recalls the
New York Times.
Desmond Tutu did not hesitate to severely tackle "
the leading figures of the African National Congress, the party which seized power under Nelson Mandela in the first fully democratic elections of 1994
". Until recently, he was speaking. This year, for example, "
as he approached his 90th birthday
, reports the American newspaper,
he embarked on a tense debate on disinformation concerning the vaccines against the coronavirus:
"
There is nothing to fear "
, he said then:
“Don't let Covid-19 continue to ravage our country, or our world.
Get vaccinated
"
"
,
he shouted.
The Covid and the Omicron variant still in the news
In the United States, "
the trip hits the wall of the Covid-19
", headlines the
Washington Post
.
Indeed, confirms the
Wall Street Journal
, "
the Omicron variant pushed the number of daily cases of Covid-19 in the United States to its highest level for almost a year
", which caused "
the cancellation more than 2,000 flights during the weekend of the holidays, for lack of personnel
”.
So far, data suggests that Omicron "
causes less severe disease than previous strains of the virus,
" the
Wall Street Journal
reports
.
Yes, but trip cancellations show "
how even a more benign, but rapidly spreading version can disrupt business activity and people's plans
."
At the same time, in California, the
Los Angeles Times
"
fears an upsurge of the virus in children
", it explains to us that the authorities are pressing in favor of vaccination, because in New York, there is "
an increase in the number of hospitalizations of children
”.
A variant and persistent uncertainties
However, for once, difficult to see really clearly with this variant. So much so that the
Guardian
in Britain wonders "
Omicron [portends] a grim new year or the beginning of the end for the pandemic?"
"The question arises, because"
the scientists are showing a cautious optimism, in thinking that this variant could be the sign that the virus is losing its potency
", and this"
despite the high figures of the infections
", notes the newspaper British.
In China, “
was it the last Christmas with the Covid-19?
“Asks the
Global Times
. "
Epidemiologists remain cautiously optimistic
," the newspaper also explains, but the increase in cases in the United States could lead to a shortage of screening tests at the start of the school year, to a strengthening of social conflicts and this could even "
influence the mid-term elections
”which arrive this year, analyzes the Chinese newspaper.
While in Australia,
The Australian
notes for its part the concern relating to China precisely: "
The cases of Covid have reached their highest level for 21 months
. "In the city of Xian in particular,"
where 13 million inhabitants are currently confined to their homes
", tightening of the restrictions was announced on Sunday. “
Each household, for example, can only send one of its members to buy basic necessities once every three days, compared to two days previously.
All businesses except supermarkets, convenience stores and medical facilities have been ordered to close. However, "
officially
", finally notes
The Australian
, China "
has only recorded two deaths in over a year
."
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