[Music] thank you very much it’s an honor to be
thank you very much it’s an honor to be
thank you very much it’s an honor to be here and be among friends and to share
here and be among friends and to share
here and be among friends and to share some thoughts about making the world
some thoughts about making the world
some thoughts about making the world more peaceful I was inspired in my youth
more peaceful I was inspired in my youth
more peaceful I was inspired in my youth by Albert Camus in his essay on the myth
by Albert Camus in his essay on the myth
by Albert Camus in his essay on the myth of Sisyphus which he began by quoting
of Sisyphus which he began by quoting
of Sisyphus which he began by quoting the Greek poet Pindar who said do not
the Greek poet Pindar who said do not
the Greek poet Pindar who said do not aspire to immortal life but exhaust the
aspire to immortal life but exhaust the
aspire to immortal life but exhaust the limits of the possible and George
limits of the possible and George
limits of the possible and George Bernard Shaw famously said some see the
Bernard Shaw famously said some see the
Bernard Shaw famously said some see the world as it is and say why I dream
world as it is and say why I dream
world as it is and say why I dream dreams that never were and say why not
dreams that never were and say why not
dreams that never were and say why not and I set out to exhaust my limits in
and I set out to exhaust my limits in
and I set out to exhaust my limits in the pursuit of peace why not why not
the pursuit of peace why not why not
the pursuit of peace why not why not peace let me start off here with a short
peace let me start off here with a short
peace let me start off here with a short quiz how many of you raise children or
quiz how many of you raise children or
quiz how many of you raise children or grew up with siblings never getting into
grew up with siblings never getting into
grew up with siblings never getting into fights and disputes with your siblings
fights and disputes with your siblings
fights and disputes with your siblings or your children did your parents give
or your children did your parents give
or your children did your parents give you a hand grenades to solve the problem
you a hand grenades to solve the problem
you a hand grenades to solve the problem no why not because it would be stupid
no why not because it would be stupid
no why not because it would be stupid wouldn’t it and what about neighbors you
wouldn’t it and what about neighbors you
wouldn’t it and what about neighbors you ever heard of neighbors getting into
ever heard of neighbors getting into
ever heard of neighbors getting into disputes with one another yeah it
disputes with one another yeah it
disputes with one another yeah it happens all the time they plant
happens all the time they plant
happens all the time they plant landmines to mark the borders to keep
landmines to mark the borders to keep
landmines to mark the borders to keep hostile neighbors away why not cause it
hostile neighbors away why not cause it
hostile neighbors away why not cause it would be stupid and what about the
would be stupid and what about the
would be stupid and what about the business world there we go
business world there we go
business world there we go corporate
corporate
corporate drop bombs on each other and oops there
drop bombs on each other and oops there
drop bombs on each other and oops there we go
we go
we go they drop bombs on each other when they
they drop bombs on each other when they
they drop bombs on each other when they get mad at each other do they fire
get mad at each other do they fire
get mad at each other do they fire rockets at each other why not
rockets at each other why not
rockets at each other why not because it would be stupid so if the use
because it would be stupid so if the use
because it would be stupid so if the use of violence is stupid in our homes and
of violence is stupid in our homes and
of violence is stupid in our homes and in our neighborhoods and in the business
in our neighborhoods and in the business
in our neighborhoods and in the business world why do we consider it to be
world why do we consider it to be
world why do we consider it to be honourable Noble and patriotic at the
honourable Noble and patriotic at the
honourable Noble and patriotic at the nation-state level about war is stupid
nation-state level about war is stupid
nation-state level about war is stupid and I like to take it from somebody who
and I like to take it from somebody who
and I like to take it from somebody who knows something about it
knows something about it
knows something about it general and President Dwight Eisenhower
general and President Dwight Eisenhower
general and President Dwight Eisenhower said I hate war its brutality its
said I hate war its brutality its
said I hate war its brutality its futility its stupidity so for a stupid
futility its stupidity so for a stupid
futility its stupidity so for a stupid why does it persist and I would say
why does it persist and I would say
why does it persist and I would say because we simply have not yet developed
because we simply have not yet developed
because we simply have not yet developed the alternatives to the use of violence
the alternatives to the use of violence
the alternatives to the use of violence at that level but the good news is that
at that level but the good news is that
at that level but the good news is that we are doing it we call it peace
we are doing it we call it peace
we are doing it we call it peace building for the first time in human
building for the first time in human
building for the first time in human history think about this for the first
history think about this for the first
history think about this for the first time in human history we are studying
time in human history we are studying
time in human history we are studying peace we’ve always studied war to figure
peace we’ve always studied war to figure
peace we’ve always studied war to figure out how to win the next one we are now
out how to win the next one we are now
out how to win the next one we are now studying war to figure out how to
studying war to figure out how to
studying war to figure out how to prevent the next one that never happened
prevent the next one that never happened
prevent the next one that never happened before in human history it’s happening
before in human history it’s happening
before in human history it’s happening now when I went to school fifty years
now when I went to school fifty years
now when I went to school fifty years ago to if I had wanted to study peace I
ago to if I had wanted to study peace I
ago to if I had wanted to study peace I couldn’t do it because there were no
couldn’t do it because there were no
couldn’t do it because there were no programs anywhere in the world where you
programs anywhere in the world where you
programs anywhere in the world where you could study peace conflict resolution
could study peace conflict resolution
could study peace conflict resolution didn’t exist now there are over 200
didn’t exist now there are over 200
didn’t exist now there are over 200 certified graduate programs in studying
certified graduate programs in studying
certified graduate programs in studying peace and conflict resolution that’s
peace and conflict resolution that’s
peace and conflict resolution that’s pretty amazing and we built the
pretty amazing and we built the
pretty amazing and we built the institutions that can make it happen
we’ve got books again if I went on
we’ve got books again if I went on Amazon 50 years ago I would not have
Amazon 50 years ago I would not have
Amazon 50 years ago I would not have found any books about peace I know
found any books about peace I know
found any books about peace I know that’s true because Amazon didn’t exist
that’s true because Amazon didn’t exist
that’s true because Amazon didn’t exist 50 years ago but if it did there would
50 years ago but if it did there would
50 years ago but if it did there would have been very few now there are nearly
have been very few now there are nearly
have been very few now there are nearly 2,000 if you put that term into Amazon
2,000 if you put that term into Amazon
2,000 if you put that term into Amazon and we’re putting in place the
and we’re putting in place the
and we’re putting in place the institutions to make it happen certainly
institutions to make it happen certainly
institutions to make it happen certainly the United Nations u.s. Institute of
the United Nations u.s. Institute of
the United Nations u.s. Institute of Peace those government related
Peace those government related
Peace those government related institutions
institutions
institutions but we also have the private sector
but we also have the private sector
but we also have the private sector nonprofit organizations private citizens
nonprofit organizations private citizens
nonprofit organizations private citizens coming together to work for toward for
coming together to work for toward for
coming together to work for toward for peace the Alliance for peace building in
peace the Alliance for peace building in
peace the Alliance for peace building in G PAC and so on and we measure things
G PAC and so on and we measure things
G PAC and so on and we measure things that we value and we are finally a
that we value and we are finally a
that we value and we are finally a measuring piece never happened before
measuring piece never happened before
measuring piece never happened before the Global Peace Index developed an
the Global Peace Index developed an
the Global Peace Index developed an analysis of the most peaceful countries
analysis of the most peaceful countries
analysis of the most peaceful countries of the world we now rank the most
of the world we now rank the most
of the world we now rank the most peaceful countries the world we know who
peaceful countries the world we know who
peaceful countries the world we know who the most peaceful countries in the world
the most peaceful countries in the world
the most peaceful countries in the world are and guess what they’re also the most
are and guess what they’re also the most
are and guess what they’re also the most prosperous and successful peace and
prosperous and successful peace and
prosperous and successful peace and prosperity go hand in hand this nonsense
prosperity go hand in hand this nonsense
prosperity go hand in hand this nonsense that war is good for the economy is
that war is good for the economy is
that war is good for the economy is absolute rubbish
absolute rubbish
absolute rubbish it is simply not true peace and
it is simply not true peace and
it is simply not true peace and prosperity are what go hand in hand we
prosperity are what go hand in hand we
prosperity are what go hand in hand we now know that and because of this
now know that and because of this
now know that and because of this research we now know the drivers of
research we now know the drivers of
research we now know the drivers of peace we know what factors that that we
peace we know what factors that that we
peace we know what factors that that we can develop in our societies to enable
can develop in our societies to enable
can develop in our societies to enable them to function in a more peaceful way
them to function in a more peaceful way
them to function in a more peaceful way that’s pretty darn remarkable nothing
that’s pretty darn remarkable nothing
that’s pretty darn remarkable nothing like this ever ever happened before in
like this ever ever happened before in
like this ever ever happened before in human history we’re doing it now it’s a
human history we’re doing it now it’s a
human history we’re doing it now it’s a pretty good deal and it’s working I know
pretty good deal and it’s working I know
pretty good deal and it’s working I know we have the impression that the world is
we have the impression that the world is
we have the impression that the world is falling apart it’s not I Got News for
falling apart it’s not I Got News for
falling apart it’s not I Got News for you it’s not in fact the level of
you it’s not in fact the level of
you it’s not in fact the level of violence going on right now is so small
violence going on right now is so small
violence going on right now is so small from a historical perspective that it
from a historical perspective that it
from a historical perspective that it doesn’t even show up on the chart
doesn’t even show up on the chart
doesn’t even show up on the chart doesn’t even make a blip on the chart
doesn’t even make a blip on the chart
doesn’t even make a blip on the chart compared with what it was decades ago
compared with what it was decades ago
compared with what it was decades ago and centuries ago think about that
and centuries ago think about that
and centuries ago think about that phenomenal progress now that’s not to
phenomenal progress now that’s not to
phenomenal progress now that’s not to say we’ve reached nirvana
say we’ve reached nirvana
say we’ve reached nirvana we haven’t still dreadful stuff we see
we haven’t still dreadful stuff we see
we haven’t still dreadful stuff we see about it on the news and we have a long
about it on the news and we have a long
about it on the news and we have a long ways to go but we are putting in place
ways to go but we are putting in place
ways to go but we are putting in place the systems and the mechanisms to
the systems and the mechanisms to
the systems and the mechanisms to resolve these violent conflicts without
resolve these violent conflicts without
resolve these violent conflicts without resorting to further violence that’s
resorting to further violence that’s
resorting to further violence that’s awfully awfully good news now I know
awfully awfully good news now I know
awfully awfully good news now I know peace is possible because I’ve had the
peace is possible because I’ve had the
peace is possible because I’ve had the opportunity to do something about it I
opportunity to do something about it I
opportunity to do something about it I joined the Peace Corps well I was a
joined the Peace Corps well I was a
joined the Peace Corps well I was a student activist first anti-war activist
student activist first anti-war activist
student activist first anti-war activist back in the 60s proud of it
back in the 60s proud of it
back in the 60s proud of it then join the Peace Corps lived in
then join the Peace Corps lived in
then join the Peace Corps lived in Colombia South
Colombia South
Colombia South America worked in a fishing village we
America worked in a fishing village we
America worked in a fishing village we organized a fishing co-op build a school
organized a fishing co-op build a school
organized a fishing co-op build a school and then years later I became president
and then years later I became president
and then years later I became president of the National Peace Corps Association
of the National Peace Corps Association
of the National Peace Corps Association the organization of returned Peace Corps
the organization of returned Peace Corps
the organization of returned Peace Corps volunteers and we started mobilizing
volunteers and we started mobilizing
volunteers and we started mobilizing people with that experience to deal with
people with that experience to deal with
people with that experience to deal with some of the toughest issues in the world
some of the toughest issues in the world
some of the toughest issues in the world we got directly involved in the genocide
we got directly involved in the genocide
we got directly involved in the genocide in Rwanda for example and made a
in Rwanda for example and made a
in Rwanda for example and made a significant difference then in the
significant difference then in the
significant difference then in the spring of 1999 I got a phone call from
spring of 1999 I got a phone call from
spring of 1999 I got a phone call from my friend John Garamendi Don had been
my friend John Garamendi Don had been
my friend John Garamendi Don had been Deputy Secretary of Interior in the
Deputy Secretary of Interior in the
Deputy Secretary of Interior in the Clinton administration he and his wife
Clinton administration he and his wife
Clinton administration he and his wife Patti had served in Ethiopia in the
Patti had served in Ethiopia in the
Patti had served in Ethiopia in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
Peace Corps and he called and said chick my friends
and he called and said chick my friends
and he called and said chick my friends are killing each other and we’ve got to
are killing each other and we’ve got to
are killing each other and we’ve got to do something about it
do something about it
do something about it I said John I don’t have a clue what we
I said John I don’t have a clue what we
I said John I don’t have a clue what we can do but let’s give it a try war had
can do but let’s give it a try war had
can do but let’s give it a try war had broken out between Ethiopia and Eritrea
so John and I contacted the embassies
so John and I contacted the embassies and said we would like to help if you
and said we would like to help if you
and said we would like to help if you want to stay up if you don’t want us
want to stay up if you don’t want us
want to stay up if you don’t want us we’re not going to get involved but if
we’re not going to get involved but if
we’re not going to get involved but if you want us to help we’ll help so we met
you want us to help we’ll help so we met
you want us to help we’ll help so we met with them and we built a trust
with them and we built a trust
with them and we built a trust relationship now I had just left the
relationship now I had just left the
relationship now I had just left the National Peace Corps Association John
National Peace Corps Association John
National Peace Corps Association John had left his position at the department
had left his position at the department
had left his position at the department here knew but neither of us had
here knew but neither of us had
here knew but neither of us had positions of any significance and yet
positions of any significance and yet
positions of any significance and yet they welcomed us in and they worked with
they welcomed us in and they worked with
they welcomed us in and they worked with us because we listened to them
us because we listened to them
us because we listened to them we built a trust relationship with them
we built a trust relationship with them
we built a trust relationship with them and they knew that our only motivation
and they knew that our only motivation
and they knew that our only motivation was to find peace we were not on
was to find peace we were not on
was to find peace we were not on anybody’s side we were Don Ethiopia side
anybody’s side we were Don Ethiopia side
anybody’s side we were Don Ethiopia side or Eritrea side our only motivation was
or Eritrea side our only motivation was
or Eritrea side our only motivation was trying to help them find a path to peace
trying to help them find a path to peace
trying to help them find a path to peace we were invited to the capitals of each
we were invited to the capitals of each
we were invited to the capitals of each country to meet with the heads of state
country to meet with the heads of state
country to meet with the heads of state of the countries and working with the
of the countries and working with the
of the countries and working with the African Union eventually we got down to
African Union eventually we got down to
African Union eventually we got down to the point where there was one last issue
the point where there was one last issue
the point where there was one last issue that had to be resolved and that was the
that had to be resolved and that was the
that had to be resolved and that was the sequence of the modalities to implement
sequence of the modalities to implement
sequence of the modalities to implement a ceasefire between the two countries
a ceasefire between the two countries
a ceasefire between the two countries one side and the other was going to have
one side and the other was going to have
one side and the other was going to have to make a concession John and I went to
to make a concession John and I went to
to make a concession John and I went to the office of Gabe merit Abbe have to be
the office of Gabe merit Abbe have to be
the office of Gabe merit Abbe have to be a very close friend of Eritrea president
a very close friend of Eritrea president
a very close friend of Eritrea president Issei
Issei
Issei and we urged him to consider making that
and we urged him to consider making that
and we urged him to consider making that last concession there was a long pause
last concession there was a long pause
last concession there was a long pause and finally he said okay he was willing
and finally he said okay he was willing
and finally he said okay he was willing to do it I jumped into a cab went
to do it I jumped into a cab went
to do it I jumped into a cab went straight to the Ethiopian embassy the
straight to the Ethiopian embassy the
straight to the Ethiopian embassy the Ambassador was not there but the deputy
Ambassador was not there but the deputy
Ambassador was not there but the deputy chief of mission Fiss AHA Doudna was
chief of mission Fiss AHA Doudna was
chief of mission Fiss AHA Doudna was there and he welcomed me into his office
there and he welcomed me into his office
there and he welcomed me into his office immediately we had become good friends I
immediately we had become good friends I
immediately we had become good friends I said let’s go over this one more time
said let’s go over this one more time
said let’s go over this one more time you tell me that if a say us is willing
you tell me that if a say us is willing
you tell me that if a say us is willing to make a concession on the sequence of
to make a concession on the sequence of
to make a concession on the sequence of the modalities the war will be over is
the modalities the war will be over is
the modalities the war will be over is that right yes that’s right but all he
that right yes that’s right but all he
that right yes that’s right but all he wants is war he’ll never do it
wants is war he’ll never do it
wants is war he’ll never do it I know how you feel but he just did I
I know how you feel but he just did I
I know how you feel but he just did I don’t believe you
don’t believe you
don’t believe you that if I ever steered you wrong says no
that if I ever steered you wrong says no
that if I ever steered you wrong says no but I can’t believe it I pulled out my
but I can’t believe it I pulled out my
but I can’t believe it I pulled out my cell phone and said we’ve got the
cell phone and said we’ve got the
cell phone and said we’ve got the embassy and speed I will call him right
embassy and speed I will call him right
embassy and speed I will call him right now
now
now you can’t do that he wouldn’t let me use
you can’t do that he wouldn’t let me use
you can’t do that he wouldn’t let me use my own phone to verify the end of the
my own phone to verify the end of the
my own phone to verify the end of the war and okay I know the rules but please
war and okay I know the rules but please
war and okay I know the rules but please tell the Prime Minister what I just told
tell the Prime Minister what I just told
tell the Prime Minister what I just told you few weeks later Brian Minister MELAS
you few weeks later Brian Minister MELAS
you few weeks later Brian Minister MELAS was in Washington he invited us to have
was in Washington he invited us to have
was in Washington he invited us to have breakfast with him and over breakfast he
breakfast with him and over breakfast he
breakfast with him and over breakfast he said I want you to know the war part of
said I want you to know the war part of
said I want you to know the war part of me I get emotional about this it was 15
me I get emotional about this it was 15
me I get emotional about this it was 15 years ago I still justö about it
he said I want you to know the war is
he said I want you to know the war is over now I want to thank you for your
over now I want to thank you for your
over now I want to thank you for your role in making it happen
role in making it happen
role in making it happen couple of guys doing what we could do we
couple of guys doing what we could do we
couple of guys doing what we could do we were invited to the treaty signing
were invited to the treaty signing
were invited to the treaty signing ceremony in Algiers pretty special
ceremony in Algiers pretty special
ceremony in Algiers pretty special experience and we got a letter from the
experience and we got a letter from the
experience and we got a letter from the Prime Minister thanking us for creating
Prime Minister thanking us for creating
Prime Minister thanking us for creating the momentum and the spirit it made this
the momentum and the spirit it made this
the momentum and the spirit it made this historic achievement possible now that
historic achievement possible now that
historic achievement possible now that meant an awful lot but far more
meant an awful lot but far more
meant an awful lot but far more important than that was that a couple of
important than that was that a couple of
important than that was that a couple of months after this tree signing ceremony
months after this tree signing ceremony
months after this tree signing ceremony in Algiers I stopped at a kiosk at the
in Algiers I stopped at a kiosk at the
in Algiers I stopped at a kiosk at the corner of 18th and L to buy a hot dog
corner of 18th and L to buy a hot dog
corner of 18th and L to buy a hot dog the woman in the kiosk was from Eritrea
the woman in the kiosk was from Eritrea
the woman in the kiosk was from Eritrea and so I mentioned to her that I knew
and so I mentioned to her that I knew
and so I mentioned to her that I knew her president is saying superkey and she
her president is saying superkey and she
her president is saying superkey and she kind of stared at me on how many people
kind of stared at me on how many people
kind of stared at me on how many people they were heard of Eritrea let alone
they were heard of Eritrea let alone
they were heard of Eritrea let alone know the president buy a hot dog here in
know the president buy a hot dog here in
know the president buy a hot dog here in Washington says who are you said I’m
Washington says who are you said I’m
Washington says who are you said I’m chick Don Bock said I know you I know
chick Don Bock said I know you I know
chick Don Bock said I know you I know who you are
who you are
who you are you brought peace to my country this was
you brought peace to my country this was
you brought peace to my country this was a hot dog vendor at 18th and L knew
a hot dog vendor at 18th and L knew
a hot dog vendor at 18th and L knew everything we had done she had followed
everything we had done she had followed
everything we had done she had followed the news she bound it out and gave me a
the news she bound it out and gave me a
the news she bound it out and gave me a big hug and yes you and I have been best
big hug and yes you and I have been best
big hug and yes you and I have been best friends ever since that’s what we did it
friends ever since that’s what we did it
friends ever since that’s what we did it for was for the people like yes you
for was for the people like yes you
for was for the people like yes you for the real people who are the victims
for the real people who are the victims
for the real people who are the victims of warfare so I tell that story because
of warfare so I tell that story because
of warfare so I tell that story because it indicates what private citizens who
it indicates what private citizens who
it indicates what private citizens who care and are willing to put in the time
care and are willing to put in the time
care and are willing to put in the time and effort can do to make a difference
and effort can do to make a difference
and effort can do to make a difference because of that I was given the
because of that I was given the
because of that I was given the opportunity to provide leadership for
opportunity to provide leadership for
opportunity to provide leadership for the Alliance for peace building the
the Alliance for peace building the
the Alliance for peace building the network of people and organizations that
network of people and organizations that
network of people and organizations that are dedicated there reducing the
are dedicated there reducing the
are dedicated there reducing the frequency and plaque and and severity of
frequency and plaque and and severity of
frequency and plaque and and severity of violent conflicts around the planet
violent conflicts around the planet
violent conflicts around the planet peace builders address the root causes
peace builders address the root causes
peace builders address the root causes of violence as well as the proximate
of violence as well as the proximate
of violence as well as the proximate factors that drive societies to resort
factors that drive societies to resort
factors that drive societies to resort to violence and we help develop
to violence and we help develop
to violence and we help develop alternative ways of resolving the
alternative ways of resolving the
alternative ways of resolving the differences without killing each other I
differences without killing each other I
differences without killing each other I retired a few years ago Melanie
retired a few years ago Melanie
retired a few years ago Melanie Greenberg has taken over she has
Greenberg has taken over she has
Greenberg has taken over she has elevated the organization the peace
elevated the organization the peace
elevated the organization the peace building community way beyond anything I
building community way beyond anything I
building community way beyond anything I was able to do so proud of her and
was able to do so proud of her and
was able to do so proud of her and and the work that she does and I am also
and the work that she does and I am also
and the work that she does and I am also very confident about the future of this
very confident about the future of this
very confident about the future of this whole concept of peace building and what
whole concept of peace building and what
whole concept of peace building and what can be done largely because of the young
can be done largely because of the young
can be done largely because of the young people that I get to know and work with
for example I got to meet about a decade
for example I got to meet about a decade ago a young lady who was studying here
ago a young lady who was studying here
ago a young lady who was studying here she’s from Sarajevo studied here at
she’s from Sarajevo studied here at
she’s from Sarajevo studied here at Hamilton College here in the US and she
Hamilton College here in the US and she
Hamilton College here in the US and she has become a well-known writer and
has become a well-known writer and
has become a well-known writer and lecturer on and building respect for an
lecturer on and building respect for an
lecturer on and building respect for an understanding of young Muslim women in
understanding of young Muslim women in
understanding of young Muslim women in the world and their role in the world as
the world and their role in the world as
the world and their role in the world as her husband said of hers we had dinner
her husband said of hers we had dinner
her husband said of hers we had dinner night before last
night before last
night before last she’s a Muslim feminist and she is she
she’s a Muslim feminist and she is she
she’s a Muslim feminist and she is she is changing the world and I am so proud
is changing the world and I am so proud
is changing the world and I am so proud of her she’s here Yallah proud to have
of her she’s here Yallah proud to have
of her she’s here Yallah proud to have her as a friend and I get to spend
her as a friend and I get to spend
her as a friend and I get to spend almost every day working with two of the
almost every day working with two of the
almost every day working with two of the most amazing young people in the world a
most amazing young people in the world a
most amazing young people in the world a young man from Egypt named Michael Nabil
Mike was part of the uprising in 2011
Mike was part of the uprising in 2011 was arrested five times and tortured and
was arrested five times and tortured and
was arrested five times and tortured and he went on a hunger strike for 130 days
he went on a hunger strike for 130 days
he went on a hunger strike for 130 days barely survived to draw attention to the
barely survived to draw attention to the
barely survived to draw attention to the cause
cause
cause now Michael and his colleagues didn’t
now Michael and his colleagues didn’t
now Michael and his colleagues didn’t succeed in the Arab Spring five years
succeed in the Arab Spring five years
succeed in the Arab Spring five years ago six years ago but the spirit and the
ago six years ago but the spirit and the
ago six years ago but the spirit and the concept of it is alive and well and they
concept of it is alive and well and they
concept of it is alive and well and they will prevail someday you can count on it
will prevail someday you can count on it
will prevail someday you can count on it I get to work with Michael and and it is
I get to work with Michael and and it is
I get to work with Michael and and it is such a privilege and because of people
such a privilege and because of people
such a privilege and because of people like him I know that we have a great
like him I know that we have a great
like him I know that we have a great future and I get to spend a lot of time
future and I get to spend a lot of time
future and I get to spend a lot of time with Viktor o Chen
with Viktor o Chen
with Viktor o Chen by the way Viktor and Michael the two
by the way Viktor and Michael the two
by the way Viktor and Michael the two youngest Africans ever nominated for the
youngest Africans ever nominated for the
youngest Africans ever nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize both of them nominated
Nobel Peace Prize both of them nominated
Nobel Peace Prize both of them nominated in their 20
in their 20
in their 20 amazing young people Victor was born and
amazing young people Victor was born and
amazing young people Victor was born and raised in an displaced persons camp in
raised in an displaced persons camp in
raised in an displaced persons camp in northern Uganda on one meal a day he was
northern Uganda on one meal a day he was
northern Uganda on one meal a day he was his family was attacked by Joseph Kony
his family was attacked by Joseph Kony
his family was attacked by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army and he
and the Lord’s Resistance Army and he
and the Lord’s Resistance Army and he lost his brother was tempted to take up
lost his brother was tempted to take up
lost his brother was tempted to take up arms and fight back but he said if I do
arms and fight back but he said if I do
arms and fight back but he said if I do that that just perpetuates the violence
that that just perpetuates the violence
that that just perpetuates the violence instead he started to mobilize a youth
instead he started to mobilize a youth
instead he started to mobilize a youth movement for peace in the displaced
movement for peace in the displaced
movement for peace in the displaced persons camp at age 12 he did this by
persons camp at age 12 he did this by
persons camp at age 12 he did this by age 30 he had accomplished so much that
age 30 he had accomplished so much that
age 30 he had accomplished so much that Forbes magazine just a year ago listened
Forbes magazine just a year ago listened
Forbes magazine just a year ago listened the 10 most powerful people in all of
the 10 most powerful people in all of
the 10 most powerful people in all of Africa one of the ten victory Chen and
Africa one of the ten victory Chen and
Africa one of the ten victory Chen and the United Nations has named Victor
the United Nations has named Victor
the United Nations has named Victor their official worldwide ambassador for
their official worldwide ambassador for
their official worldwide ambassador for peace and justice he’s still in his mid
peace and justice he’s still in his mid
peace and justice he’s still in his mid 30s amazing young man so I get to know
30s amazing young man so I get to know
30s amazing young man so I get to know and work with these extraordinary young
and work with these extraordinary young
and work with these extraordinary young people Rihanna
people Rihanna
people Rihanna Michael and and Victor and they just
Michael and and Victor and they just
Michael and and Victor and they just represent dozens hundreds thousands of
represent dozens hundreds thousands of
represent dozens hundreds thousands of young people all over the world who are
young people all over the world who are
young people all over the world who are aware of and embrace the value of
aware of and embrace the value of
aware of and embrace the value of building a more peaceful world because
building a more peaceful world because
building a more peaceful world because of that I’m convinced that we are on the
of that I’m convinced that we are on the
of that I’m convinced that we are on the right path that it will indeed happen I
right path that it will indeed happen I
right path that it will indeed happen I started with the reference to Sisyphus
started with the reference to Sisyphus
started with the reference to Sisyphus from canoes book and as you’ll probably
from canoes book and as you’ll probably
from canoes book and as you’ll probably recall Sisyphus was condemned to push a
recall Sisyphus was condemned to push a
recall Sisyphus was condemned to push a boulder up a hill order to see it roll
boulder up a hill order to see it roll
boulder up a hill order to see it roll back down to the bottom and we’ve
back down to the bottom and we’ve
back down to the bottom and we’ve traditionally interpreted that as a
traditionally interpreted that as a
traditionally interpreted that as a dreadful punishment Camus reinterpreted
dreadful punishment Camus reinterpreted
dreadful punishment Camus reinterpreted that and said well actually that’s
that and said well actually that’s
that and said well actually that’s pretty much the human condition isn’t it
pretty much the human condition isn’t it
pretty much the human condition isn’t it we push the rock up the hill in order to
we push the rock up the hill in order to
we push the rock up the hill in order to see it roll back down
see it roll back down
see it roll back down but Camus identified the boulder as
but Camus identified the boulder as
but Camus identified the boulder as being life’s purpose there’s a metaphor
being life’s purpose there’s a metaphor
being life’s purpose there’s a metaphor for life’s purpose and he said as long
for life’s purpose and he said as long
for life’s purpose and he said as long as we have a purpose as long as they
as we have a purpose as long as they
as we have a purpose as long as they have a boulder to push we have joined
have a boulder to push we have joined
have a boulder to push we have joined our lives and for those of us in the
our lives and for those of us in the
our lives and for those of us in the peace building world that Boulder is
peace building world that Boulder is
peace building world that Boulder is called peace and yes we push it up and
called peace and yes we push it up and
called peace and yes we push it up and yes it rolls back down we don’t always
yes it rolls back down we don’t always
yes it rolls back down we don’t always succeed violence comes up again but we
succeed violence comes up again but we
succeed violence comes up again but we go back to that Boulder and we put a
go back to that Boulder and we put a
go back to that Boulder and we put a shoulder to it and we
shoulder to it and we
shoulder to it and we push with joy knowing that we are
push with joy knowing that we are
push with joy knowing that we are getting a higher and higher every time
getting a higher and higher every time
getting a higher and higher every time and for that reason I remain confident
and for that reason I remain confident
and for that reason I remain confident that the world is indeed on the right
that the world is indeed on the right
that the world is indeed on the right path that the curve of history is toward
path that the curve of history is toward
path that the curve of history is toward peace and justice that we will never
peace and justice that we will never
peace and justice that we will never reach Nirvana will never reach total
reach Nirvana will never reach total
reach Nirvana will never reach total peace on earth but we do make it more
peace on earth but we do make it more
peace on earth but we do make it more peaceful as we continue to believe in
peaceful as we continue to believe in
peaceful as we continue to believe in and commit ourselves to doing what it
and commit ourselves to doing what it
and commit ourselves to doing what it takes to build a peaceful world we
takes to build a peaceful world we
takes to build a peaceful world we exhaust the limits for peace why not why
exhaust the limits for peace why not why
exhaust the limits for peace why not why not peace thank you very much
not peace thank you very much
not peace thank you very much [Applause]
”
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