I’m going to take you on a trip I’m going to take you to one of the most
going to take you to one of the most
going to take you to one of the most amazing places in the world that very
amazing places in the world that very
amazing places in the world that very few people have been to I’m going to
few people have been to I’m going to
few people have been to I’m going to hopefully make you cry I want to do that
hopefully make you cry I want to do that
hopefully make you cry I want to do that I want to upset you I want to start you
I want to upset you I want to start you
I want to upset you I want to start you with sadness and I want to end this with
with sadness and I want to end this with
with sadness and I want to end this with hope but I’m going to share something
hope but I’m going to share something
hope but I’m going to share something with you that I know a lot of it I’ve
with you that I know a lot of it I’ve
with you that I know a lot of it I’ve been to the place I’m going to take you
been to the place I’m going to take you
been to the place I’m going to take you all to 12 times in the last nine years
all to 12 times in the last nine years
all to 12 times in the last nine years fewer people go to this place then who
fewer people go to this place then who
fewer people go to this place then who go up Everest every year that’s how far
go up Everest every year that’s how far
go up Everest every year that’s how far away it is
away it is
away it is that’s how remote it is it’s the hottest
that’s how remote it is it’s the hottest
that’s how remote it is it’s the hottest place that’s inhabited on planet Earth
place that’s inhabited on planet Earth
place that’s inhabited on planet Earth it gets to be 60 degrees very desolate
it gets to be 60 degrees very desolate
it gets to be 60 degrees very desolate and people live there some of them by
and people live there some of them by
and people live there some of them by choice many others not by choice so who
choice many others not by choice so who
choice many others not by choice so who wants to go on the trip let’s do it
wants to go on the trip let’s do it
wants to go on the trip let’s do it together at the end you saw a refugee
together at the end you saw a refugee
together at the end you saw a refugee camp operated by the UNHCR those people
camp operated by the UNHCR those people
camp operated by the UNHCR those people are there in those desperate
are there in those desperate
are there in those desperate circumstances in this area here okay
circumstances in this area here okay
circumstances in this area here okay we’re in what’s called the afar triangle
we’re in what’s called the afar triangle
we’re in what’s called the afar triangle it’s the lowest place on continental
it’s the lowest place on continental
it’s the lowest place on continental Africa it’s the beginning of the Great
Africa it’s the beginning of the Great
Africa it’s the beginning of the Great Rift Valley it is the hottest inhabited
Rift Valley it is the hottest inhabited
Rift Valley it is the hottest inhabited place on planet Earth
place on planet Earth
place on planet Earth and we’re responsible for helping people
and we’re responsible for helping people
and we’re responsible for helping people there I’m here to talk about refugees
there I’m here to talk about refugees
there I’m here to talk about refugees I’m here to talk about political
I’m here to talk about political
I’m here to talk about political refugees and environmental refugees so
refugees and environmental refugees so
refugees and environmental refugees so the afar people are about three million
the afar people are about three million
the afar people are about three million in number 94 percent illiterate 90
in number 94 percent illiterate 90
in number 94 percent illiterate 90 percent still nomadic just as you see
percent still nomadic just as you see
percent still nomadic just as you see this young man
this young man
this young man this picture they are roaming in this
this picture they are roaming in this
this picture they are roaming in this landscape eking out an existence there
landscape eking out an existence there
landscape eking out an existence there are very few of them outside of this
are very few of them outside of this
are very few of them outside of this area in the world most of them don’t
area in the world most of them don’t
area in the world most of them don’t have birth certificates and yet they’re
have birth certificates and yet they’re
have birth certificates and yet they’re being troubled by the governments that
being troubled by the governments that
being troubled by the governments that have colonial eyes their land we’ve done
have colonial eyes their land we’ve done
have colonial eyes their land we’ve done some work with them this is a list of
some work with them this is a list of
some work with them this is a list of some of the projects we’ve done and when
some of the projects we’ve done and when
some of the projects we’ve done and when we go there once a year for two weeks
we go there once a year for two weeks
we go there once a year for two weeks sometimes a little longer we sleep under
sometimes a little longer we sleep under
sometimes a little longer we sleep under the stars and we listen to their stories
the stars and we listen to their stories
the stars and we listen to their stories and their stories are chilling for the
and their stories are chilling for the
and their stories are chilling for the most part most of them that you’ve seen
most part most of them that you’ve seen
most part most of them that you’ve seen and will hear about today have come from
and will hear about today have come from
and will hear about today have come from Eritrea so this is really a case study
Eritrea so this is really a case study
Eritrea so this is really a case study the topic is changing wind that I’m
the topic is changing wind that I’m
the topic is changing wind that I’m presenting to you and it’s a topic about
presenting to you and it’s a topic about
presenting to you and it’s a topic about what we’re facing in the world now
what we’re facing in the world now
what we’re facing in the world now caused by political unrest religious
caused by political unrest religious
caused by political unrest religious intolerance tribalism ethnic cleansing
intolerance tribalism ethnic cleansing
intolerance tribalism ethnic cleansing genocide but also by what we’re doing to
genocide but also by what we’re doing to
genocide but also by what we’re doing to the world that we inhabit as we make it
the world that we inhabit as we make it
the world that we inhabit as we make it more difficult for others because of
more difficult for others because of
more difficult for others because of climate change we are compliant with the
climate change we are compliant with the
climate change we are compliant with the UN millennial goals this is a list of
UN millennial goals this is a list of
UN millennial goals this is a list of them I’m not going to spend much time on
them I’m not going to spend much time on
them I’m not going to spend much time on this this is what I care about this is
this this is what I care about this is
this this is what I care about this is out of what I want to share with you
out of what I want to share with you
out of what I want to share with you this is the trip I want to take you one
this is the trip I want to take you one
this is the trip I want to take you one this is the place that we need to think
this is the place that we need to think
this is the place that we need to think of them it’s not in our backyard it’s
of them it’s not in our backyard it’s
of them it’s not in our backyard it’s not even on our continent it’s in a
not even on our continent it’s in a
not even on our continent it’s in a place very very far from here but like
place very very far from here but like
place very very far from here but like you throw a stone in a pond and it has
you throw a stone in a pond and it has
you throw a stone in a pond and it has ripples what’s going on there is having
ripples what’s going on there is having
ripples what’s going on there is having a ripple effect all over the world so
a ripple effect all over the world so
a ripple effect all over the world so there are right now about 43 million
there are right now about 43 million
there are right now about 43 million refugees who the UN describes as being
refugees who the UN describes as being
refugees who the UN describes as being persecuted by one of five things
persecuted by one of five things
persecuted by one of five things religious intolerance political opinions
religious intolerance political opinions
religious intolerance political opinions their ethnicity their membership in a
their ethnicity their membership in a
their ethnicity their membership in a particular social group and so forth
particular social group and so forth
particular social group and so forth those are the refugees that the UN is
those are the refugees that the UN is
those are the refugees that the UN is tasked with it’s
tasked with it’s
tasked with it’s and a UNHCR to protect on top of those
and a UNHCR to protect on top of those
and a UNHCR to protect on top of those 43 million there about another 50 or 60
43 million there about another 50 or 60
43 million there about another 50 or 60 million estimates by academics of empire
million estimates by academics of empire
million estimates by academics of empire what’s called environmental refugees
what’s called environmental refugees
what’s called environmental refugees people are being displaced by climate
people are being displaced by climate
people are being displaced by climate change by rising ocean levels by soil
change by rising ocean levels by soil
change by rising ocean levels by soil erosion by deforestation and degradation
erosion by deforestation and degradation
erosion by deforestation and degradation why do these things happen and what
why do these things happen and what
why do these things happen and what effect are they having some of these
effect are they having some of these
effect are they having some of these acts same experts who estimate this
acts same experts who estimate this
acts same experts who estimate this population about 50 million say by the
population about 50 million say by the
population about 50 million say by the year 2050 that population will be 200
year 2050 that population will be 200
year 2050 that population will be 200 million what is this going to do it’s
million what is this going to do it’s
million what is this going to do it’s causing stress on resources it will
causing stress on resources it will
causing stress on resources it will result in conflict competition for fewer
result in conflict competition for fewer
result in conflict competition for fewer and fewer resources and we need to think
and fewer resources and we need to think
and fewer resources and we need to think about what we’re going to do and what is
about what we’re going to do and what is
about what we’re going to do and what is the world’s responsibility to protect to
the world’s responsibility to protect to
the world’s responsibility to protect to house to educate to provide health care
house to educate to provide health care
house to educate to provide health care to provide food sanctuary protection
to provide food sanctuary protection
to provide food sanctuary protection freedom what is the world’s
freedom what is the world’s
freedom what is the world’s responsibility well in the case of Syria
responsibility well in the case of Syria
responsibility well in the case of Syria we have seen and continue to see that
we have seen and continue to see that
we have seen and continue to see that the world has done very little about it
the world has done very little about it
the world has done very little about it it’s caused massive problems in the
it’s caused massive problems in the
it’s caused massive problems in the neighboring countries and Canada rose up
neighboring countries and Canada rose up
neighboring countries and Canada rose up and is accepted 35,000 such refugees
and is accepted 35,000 such refugees
and is accepted 35,000 such refugees from Syria may be there they came from
from Syria may be there they came from
from Syria may be there they came from an unlucky background maybe now they
an unlucky background maybe now they
an unlucky background maybe now they have some hope but these people really
have some hope but these people really
have some hope but these people really have none they don’t have birth
have none they don’t have birth
have none they don’t have birth certificates with a person is they’re
certificates with a person is they’re
certificates with a person is they’re not going to get passports so they’re
not going to get passports so they’re
not going to get passports so they’re really on the outer limit they’re out
really on the outer limit they’re out
really on the outer limit they’re out there from the edge of our stratosphere
there from the edge of our stratosphere
there from the edge of our stratosphere in what’s what they’re entitled to and
in what’s what they’re entitled to and
in what’s what they’re entitled to and what they’re receiving I’ve been to that
what they’re receiving I’ve been to that
what they’re receiving I’ve been to that very place I might have been the one who
very place I might have been the one who
very place I might have been the one who took that picture
took that picture
took that picture it is a UNHCR refugee camp it is the
it is a UNHCR refugee camp it is the
it is a UNHCR refugee camp it is the bleakest thing I’ve seen in my life
bleakest thing I’ve seen in my life
bleakest thing I’ve seen in my life I’m glib travel to work in 50 countries
I’m glib travel to work in 50 countries
I’m glib travel to work in 50 countries and I’ve not seen something as bleak and
and I’ve not seen something as bleak and
and I’ve not seen something as bleak and as desperate as this but what I want to
as desperate as this but what I want to
as desperate as this but what I want to introduce you to also is the concept of
introduce you to also is the concept of
introduce you to also is the concept of hope these people although they have
hope these people although they have
hope these people although they have very little or
very little or
very little or most beautiful caring sharing people you
most beautiful caring sharing people you
most beautiful caring sharing people you would ever want to meet their indigenous
would ever want to meet their indigenous
would ever want to meet their indigenous their Aboriginal that means they share
their Aboriginal that means they share
their Aboriginal that means they share their resources and the welcome mat is
their resources and the welcome mat is
their resources and the welcome mat is there for us when we go it’s incredible
there for us when we go it’s incredible
there for us when we go it’s incredible from so little they give so much so
from so little they give so much so
from so little they give so much so that’s part of the story
that’s part of the story
that’s part of the story the part of the story is that Kash who
the part of the story is that Kash who
the part of the story is that Kash who almost died out there in the desert at
almost died out there in the desert at
almost died out there in the desert at the beginning that video got up it had
the beginning that video got up it had
the beginning that video got up it had the courage to keep going these are
the courage to keep going these are
the courage to keep going these are environmental refugees I was there in
environmental refugees I was there in
environmental refugees I was there in July we took that photograph inside this
July we took that photograph inside this
July we took that photograph inside this stone house really on the edge of planet
stone house really on the edge of planet
stone house really on the edge of planet Earth it was 54 degrees these people had
Earth it was 54 degrees these people had
Earth it was 54 degrees these people had nothing they had fled from a common
nothing they had fled from a common
nothing they had fled from a common combination of drought in the Horn of
combination of drought in the Horn of
combination of drought in the Horn of Africa in this peace place of Ethiopia
Africa in this peace place of Ethiopia
Africa in this peace place of Ethiopia they have had the worst drought in the
they have had the worst drought in the
they have had the worst drought in the last 50 years
last 50 years
last 50 years drought is being caused as you know by
drought is being caused as you know by
drought is being caused as you know by global warming and El Nino we talked
global warming and El Nino we talked
global warming and El Nino we talked with that we listened to them they fled
with that we listened to them they fled
with that we listened to them they fled also a volcano that had happened across
also a volcano that had happened across
also a volcano that had happened across the border in Eritrea the old volcano of
the border in Eritrea the old volcano of
the border in Eritrea the old volcano of course had a lot of sulfur to it the
course had a lot of sulfur to it the
course had a lot of sulfur to it the sulfur was spread and it destroyed what
sulfur was spread and it destroyed what
sulfur was spread and it destroyed what little hope they had for any crops at
little hope they had for any crops at
little hope they had for any crops at all so a combined effect of the volcano
all so a combined effect of the volcano
all so a combined effect of the volcano and the drought has caused them to move
and the drought has caused them to move
and the drought has caused them to move in large numbers to places they don’t
in large numbers to places they don’t
in large numbers to places they don’t belong places they don’t want to be in
belong places they don’t want to be in
belong places they don’t want to be in and to put pressure on the local
and to put pressure on the local
and to put pressure on the local community which can barely afford to
community which can barely afford to
community which can barely afford to look after them so what is the words
look after them so what is the words
look after them so what is the words obligation what’s the UN’s obligation a
obligation what’s the UN’s obligation a
obligation what’s the UN’s obligation a canada’s obligation to contribute to the
canada’s obligation to contribute to the
canada’s obligation to contribute to the UN so the UN can fulfill its mandate
UN so the UN can fulfill its mandate
UN so the UN can fulfill its mandate think about
the tribe gave me an honorary title you
the tribe gave me an honorary title you saw it on the video you’ve heard it in
saw it on the video you’ve heard it in
saw it on the video you’ve heard it in the introduction of the name is wadi and
the introduction of the name is wadi and
the introduction of the name is wadi and it translates from the afar language to
it translates from the afar language to
it translates from the afar language to the English word Savior it’s a tough one
the English word Savior it’s a tough one
the English word Savior it’s a tough one it’s hard it’s hard to be a savior for
it’s hard it’s hard to be a savior for
it’s hard it’s hard to be a savior for anybody for one person let alone three
anybody for one person let alone three
anybody for one person let alone three million I try every day to do that and I
million I try every day to do that and I
million I try every day to do that and I want you to think about what you can do
want you to think about what you can do
want you to think about what you can do to do that as well there’s a rising
to do that as well there’s a rising
to do that as well there’s a rising xenophobia in the world we’ve seen it in
xenophobia in the world we’ve seen it in
xenophobia in the world we’ve seen it in Europe we see it in the country as south
Europe we see it in the country as south
Europe we see it in the country as south of us with what’s happened in the
of us with what’s happened in the
of us with what’s happened in the election just recently it’s troublesome
election just recently it’s troublesome
election just recently it’s troublesome nationalism is in patriotism
nationalism is in patriotism
nationalism is in patriotism now the extreme end is very troublesome
now the extreme end is very troublesome
now the extreme end is very troublesome I need you to get the word end we’re all
I need you to get the word end we’re all
I need you to get the word end we’re all part of this planet Earth we need to
part of this planet Earth we need to
part of this planet Earth we need to share it we’re born here to love we only
share it we’re born here to love we only
share it we’re born here to love we only learn to hate whether you will hit
learn to hate whether you will hit
learn to hate whether you will hit whether we help through immigration or
whether we help through immigration or
whether we help through immigration or deploying aid it’s important to stay
deploying aid it’s important to stay
deploying aid it’s important to stay connected as people who wants in this
connected as people who wants in this
connected as people who wants in this room and beyond who wants to come with
room and beyond who wants to come with
room and beyond who wants to come with me to join me to be part of this journey
me to join me to be part of this journey
me to join me to be part of this journey to rescue and safe
to rescue and safe
to rescue and safe who’s going to rewrite history you saw
who’s going to rewrite history you saw
who’s going to rewrite history you saw Lucy in the video 42 years ago today
Lucy in the video 42 years ago today
Lucy in the video 42 years ago today Lucy was discovered by an American
Lucy was discovered by an American
Lucy was discovered by an American paleontologist Lucy was the first
paleontologist Lucy was the first
paleontologist Lucy was the first upright-walking hominid about that big
upright-walking hominid about that big
upright-walking hominid about that big okay if you know Lucy if you don’t know
okay if you know Lucy if you don’t know
okay if you know Lucy if you don’t know Lucy look around
Lucy look around
Lucy look around okay she’s our grandmother and our knee
okay she’s our grandmother and our knee
okay she’s our grandmother and our knee is our great-grandmother who wants to be
is our great-grandmother who wants to be
is our great-grandmother who wants to be the next body
”
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