Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu Endorses Anil Naidoo's NDP Election Bid for Ottawa Centre Ottawa

OTTAWA, Oct. 3, 2011 /CNW/ - It's unprecedented: a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate is backing an Ottawa candidate in this week's provincial election.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the celebrated humanitarian who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-apartheid work in 1984, is encouraging voters in Ottawa Centre to support NDP candidate Anil Naidoo.

Writing from his home in South Africa, Archbishop Tutu said, "Anil Naidoo has been an advocate for the human right to water, the rights of nature and progressive environmental causes. I share these values and support Mr. Naidoo so that he can continue this important work as an elected representative."

Archbishop Tutu, who turns 80 this week, has worked with Anil Naidoo on international issues. Naidoo, who was born in South Africa and whose family escaped apartheid to come to Canada, is a well-known organizer behind many international environmental causes, including the UN vote to recognize water as a human right.

"It's an immense personal honour to receive this endorsement from Archbishop Tutu," said Naidoo. "By his words and his deeds, his commitment to overcoming political and economic inequality has made him one of my political heroes."

Desmond Tutu joins other endorsements by international figures including former Nicaraguan Foreign Minister and President of the United National General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, Canadian author and filmmaker Naomi Klein, chair of Friends of the Earth International Nnimmo Bassey, and Indian activist and author Vandana Shiva.

"In this election, voters have a real choice. You can vote for a different kind of politics - and change that puts people first," added Naidoo.

For further information:

Anil Naidoo NDP Campaign for Ottawa Centre
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