Spirit of Justice, Power of Words

Last Saturday, I was in Salisbury to talk about my book: From Here to Prosperity. Also I was excited to see the Magna Carta, yes, the best preserved of four surviving copies, housed in a special exhibition in Salisbury Cathedral. The Magna Carta has left fundamentally important legal legacies. It has also become a larger symbol of the general quest for freedoms, rights and justice. (the photo on left is a facsimile as not photos of original document allowed)

The Charter of Liberties as it was originally called was signed on 15th June 1215 at Runnymede by the River Thames near Windsor; I remember this particularly because as a child we used to have picnics there! A revised shorter version was produced in 1217 so the original became known as the Magna Carta, or Great Charter.

It was fascinating to think that in 1215 that King John and his barons would have looked at this same document which went on to be the basis of the laws of many countries.

It is just as relevant today. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) derived several rights from the Magna Carta including protection from degrading treatment and right to a fair trial.

I always travel with a copy of the UDHR, so I can be reminded the quest for respect and social justice continues and we must never give up