Post date: Sep 03, 2013 1:29:38 PM
The Pakistan school-girl who survived being shot by the Taliban heralds the power of books to defeat terrorism as she opens Europe's largest public library Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 3, 2013) (ITN) - Malala Yousafzai, the teenaged Pakistan girl who was shot by the Taliban last year, formally opened Europe's largest public library in Birmingham on Tuesday (September 3).
Yousafzai was targeted for killing by the Islamist Taliban in October last year because of her campaign against the group's efforts to deny women education.Yousafzai was flown to a hospital in Britain's second largest city for treatment following the attack and has since enrolled in a local school.
"It is a great honour for me to be here in Birmingham, the beating heart of England. Birmingham is very special for me, because it was here that I found myself alive seven days after I was shot. It is now my second home after my beloved Pakistan," said Yousafzai, after being presented with a membership card for the new library by Birmingham's Lord Mayor.
The 188 million pounds (293 U.S. dollars) building contains about a million books, access to a vast film and television archive belonging to the British Film Institute and is the new home of what is the second largest repository of Shakespeare's works in the world.
In her speech, Yousafzai stressed the importance of widening access to education around the world.
"I have challenged myself that I will read thousand of books. And I will empower myself with knowledge. Pens and books are the weapons that defeat terrorism. I truly believe the only way we can create global peace and to our peace and prosperity is only reading, knowledge and education."
In July Yousafzai celebrated her 16th birthday with a passionate speech at the United Nations in New York.
In Birmingham on Tuesday, she repeated her message that education can change the world.
"We must not forget that 57 million children are out of school. We must speak up for peace and development in Nigeria, Syria and Somalia. We must speak up for the children of Pakistan, Indiaand Afghanistan, who are suffering from terrorism poverty child labour and child trafficking. Let us help them through our wise action and charity. Let us help them to ready books and go to school. Let us not forget that even one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world. Thank you so much."
The ceremony ended with Yousafzai unveiling a commemorative plaque outside the library.