Great people born in the year of the Dragon and their influence on world peace

"King of football" Pele (October 23, 1940, or September 23, Canh Thin year)

Talking about the talent or the illustrious career of the “King of Football” is a bit redundant. Any football fan knows that. But there is another Pele in real life who is equally great. That is a Pele who is tirelessly working to end poverty and create peace in the world.

From his early days as a superstar until his later years, the “King of Football” always used his fame to promote charity work. During his playing days, Pele once brought about a temporary ceasefire between conflicting factions in Nigeria. The incident happened in 1969, when Pele and his Santos club played a friendly match in Nigeria against the local Super Eagles. At that time, Nigeria was in the midst of a civil war between the government and the self-proclaimed state of Biafra. Fighting broke out in many places, but on the day Pele and his teammates took to the field in the capital Lagos, the gunfire stopped because all sides needed to… rest and watch him play.

“King of football” Pele. Photo: GI

In 1978, Pele won the International Peace Prize for his work with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to help children around the world. He also became a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for environmental protection. Pele was also Brazil's Special Minister of Sports and in this position, he contributed a lot to helping the younger generation overcome temptations and vices with football. In 2018, he founded the Pele Foundation to help alleviate poverty for children around the world. To this day, when the "King of Football" has passed away, the foundation is still actively working to improve the lives of many teenagers.

Reverend Martin Luther King (January 15, 1929, December 5, Mau Thin)

In 1983, a federal law was passed by both houses of the US Congress, with the content of choosing the third Monday in January as a national holiday. That day is called Martin Luther King Jr Day, (MLK ​​Day) to commemorate the birthday of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr - America's most influential civil and human rights activist.

Reverend Martin Luther King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, to a family where both his parents were Protestant pastors. Growing up in a period of severe racial discrimination in America, he witnessed countless injustices and sufferings that black people had to endure. Martin Luther King himself and his family were also direct victims of discrimination many times.

Reverend Martin Luther King. Photo: Wiki

The campaigns initiated by Martin Luther King were extremely successful, leading to the US Supreme Court striking down a segregation law and pushing the US Congress to pass the country's first Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964. Thanks to his tireless efforts to fight for the rights of black people and against racial discrimination, Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, when he was only 35 years old.

Before his assassination and death in 1968, Martin Luther King traveled across America, inspiring millions of people to fight through thousands of speeches and lectures. His legacy is not only a better life for black people, but also immortal declarations that moved generations of people around the world about the ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin (October 7, 1952, August 19, Nham Thin)

Tough, decisive and straightforward, these characteristics easily lead to Vladimir Putin being misjudged. But for a leader who has brought Russia from a state of serious weakness back to a superpower, no assessment can describe President Putin's greatness and influence on humanity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AFP

Without President Putin’s talent and iron will, how would Russia have overcome the turbulent period, with so many divisions as well as economic and social difficulties after the collapse of the Soviet Union? And if a superpower with the world’s largest nuclear arsenal fell into chaos, would the planet be at peace?

To ask is to answer. It is no coincidence that in 2014 and 2021, President Putin was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. And no matter how controversial, Mr. Putin will play a decisive role in ending the war in Ukraine, restoring basic peace in the world. In addition, with his authority, influence and diplomatic talent, Mr. Putin can also promote many peace processes, prevent or end many other conflicts.

Famous singer John Lennon (October 9, 1940, or September 9, Canh Thin year)

Perhaps few musicians or singers have had as great an impact on 20th century popular culture as John Lennon. The legendary Beatles frontman only lived for 40 years (he was shot dead by a crazy fan in 1980) but left behind a great legacy for world music in particular and for world culture in general.

In the 60s and 70s, there was no Western youth who did not know The Beatles, and their immortal songs such as “Hey Jude”, “And I Love her”, “Yesterday” or “Let It Be”…, songs that still resonate in many auditoriums and are a beacon for many generations of singers and musicians to come.

Singer John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono. Photo: GI

Besides the halo of a world-class artist, there is another beautiful light in John Lennon. That is the great attraction and influence of the world's most prominent anti-war activist. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, John Lennon and his Japanese wife, Yoko Ono, initiated many campaigns to protest the US invasion of Vietnam, attracting the attention of the global press.

The immortal song “Imagine”, with lyrics encouraging listeners to imagine a peaceful world, was composed by John Lennon and his wife during those years, awakening the conscience of hundreds of millions of people and contributing to promoting the anti-war movement to spread around the world.

Former President of France, Francois Mitterrand (October 26, 1916, September 30, Binh Thin year)

He is the longest-serving President in French history, serving in this position for 14 years, from 1981 to 1995. He is considered by the French people to be the most successful President of the Fifth Republic, surpassing the legendary Charles de Gaulles in most elections.

Former French President Francois Mitterrand (left) met with General Vo Nguyen Giap during a previous visit to Vietnam. Photo: AFP

The late President Francois Mitterrand (who died in 1996) left a huge mark on the creation of France's image. The foreign policies of the late President Mitterrand also strengthened France's position in the international arena, supported many developing countries and helped the country erase many prejudices about being a colonial power. Regarding this, many Vietnamese people must remember that Mr. Mitterrand was the first President of France and the first Western leader to visit Vietnam after 1975.

Under Mitterrand, France was the pioneer in opening up relations between the West and Vietnam and supporting Vietnam in resolving and canceling debts with member countries of the Paris Club. Such valuable assistance was also a strong career mark of the late President Mitterrand, a famous person born in the year of the Dragon who made many contributions to world peace.

Nguyen Khanh

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/vi-nhan-tuoi-thin-tam-anh-huong-den-hoa-binh-the-gioi-post282086.html