From Al Jazeera:
"Supporters of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, have celebrated the anti-apartheid icon's 91st birthday with the launch of a special day in his name.
Mandela celebrated with his family and friends on "Mandela Day", which is being promoted as a day to do good and one his charity foundation hopes will become an annual event.
"Mandela Day is an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela's life and a global call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them," his foundation said.
The initiative has received UN backing and Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, described Mandela as "a living embodiment of the highest values of the United Nations".
"His commitment to a democratic, multi-racial South Africa, his steadfast pursuit of justice, his willingness to reconcile with those who persecuted him most - these are just some of the hallmarks of a remarkable man," Ban said.
"May we all continue to benefit from his wisdom, his good works and good humour for many years to come."
Read the rest of the article here.
That he survived Robbin Island is credit enough.