In 1984 Rob Geldof, music journalist turned punk rock frontman, was inspired by a news report about Africa’s famine epidemic and began his fight against world hunger.         Geldof organized the world’s first global charity concert “live aid” Performed by 100 artists around the world, were viewed by 1.5 billion people. “Live aid” raised 150 million pounds in one day.

In 1976 Betty Williams a receptionist and a mother of two witnessed three children killed during the political turmoil in Northern Ireland. Within two days of the tragic event Williams obtained 6000 signatures petitioning for peace. She led 10,000 people on a   peace march to the children’s graves. The peaceful march was disrupted by protesters. One week later Williams organized another march this time the march was 35,000 strong Betty Williams was awarded the Noble Peace Price in 1976.

In 1961 two students in Portugal raised their glasses in a toast for freedom, They   were imprisoned for 7 years. British lawyer Peter Benison was shocked
by the events. To rally support the students he wrote to the local newspaper The response   was so overwhelming that a committee was formed to organize a campaign, it quickly moved in to a world wide moment known today as the Amnesty intentional  
 
In 1920’s a boy from a small South African village dreamt of a day with equality would prevail over his country. After years of activism he was charged with political treason and sentenced to life imprisonment. His dream of equality never died. In 1990 after 27 years in prison nelson rolihlahla Mandela was finally released. Mandela then led South Africa to its first ever democratic presidential elections nearly 19 million people turned up nelson Mandela won the elections ending the racist apartheid regime that divided South Africa for 46 years.

YSP Concern about Criminal Candidates

Indian law does not allow those awaiting trial to vote but there is no bar on people fighting elections from jail if not yet convicted. The Election Commission has ordered all candidates to clearly state in an affidavit the number of cases pending against them. Close to 40 per cent of Lok Sabha candidates belonging to the leading political parties in face criminal charges that range from assault, extortion, rioting, attempt to murder and defamation. At least 18 people facing serious criminal charges, including the alleged mastermind behind the leak of papers for entrance tests to management institutes, are contesting the parliamentary elections from Bihar. The High Court has said that candidates with criminal records and lodged in jail have no right to contest the elections. The fact that the voting rights of prisoners with a criminal background are suspended under election laws gives additional support to this new ruling. While some of the political parties appreciate and support the High Court's stand, there are a few others who prefer to be silent on this ruling. The Indian Election Commission has in recent years tried to tackle the problem of criminal politicians by making it harder for candidates with criminal records to stand for election. But the trouble is that the cases against many candidates have not been proved. In fact, it is hard to find a single case of a politician being sent to jail for corruption in independent India. In 1997, the Election Commission issued an order requiring candidates to submit affidavits about their convictions for any of the above criminal offences. However there was no provision in the election law to make this information available to the voter. The Law Commission gave voice to the growing feeling among voters that it was not enough to disqualify criminals found guilty by a court. In the last general elections , it's estimated that around 1,000 candidates who were alleged to have committed a wide range of crimes stood for election. These varied from murder, theft and rape to extortion and banditry. Our Party has solutions to overcome this.