last summer I landed one of those rare gems an internship that truly changed
gems an internship that truly changed
gems an internship that truly changed the way I think about what I do I’m an
the way I think about what I do I’m an
the way I think about what I do I’m an international studies and political
international studies and political
international studies and political science major and I’m interested in
science major and I’m interested in
science major and I’m interested in international politics and governance my
international politics and governance my
international politics and governance my internship was at the nonprofit called
internship was at the nonprofit called
internship was at the nonprofit called global Minnesota which works to connect
global Minnesota which works to connect
global Minnesota which works to connect the local to the international and my
the local to the international and my
the local to the international and my experience I mean thinking about the
experience I mean thinking about the
experience I mean thinking about the ways that local organizations
ways that local organizations
ways that local organizations particularly local and state governments
particularly local and state governments
particularly local and state governments can play a role on the world stage as it
can play a role on the world stage as it
can play a role on the world stage as it turns out that can do a lot
turns out that can do a lot
turns out that can do a lot take a loo Minnesota as an example they
take a loo Minnesota as an example they
take a loo Minnesota as an example they enlist experts to give speeches and lead
enlist experts to give speeches and lead
enlist experts to give speeches and lead panels on certain topics they host forms
panels on certain topics they host forms
panels on certain topics they host forms between members of the community to
between members of the community to
between members of the community to discuss those topics and they do
discuss those topics and they do
discuss those topics and they do educational outreach so the kids can
educational outreach so the kids can
educational outreach so the kids can grow up with a sense of the
grow up with a sense of the
grow up with a sense of the international and a deeper understanding
international and a deeper understanding
international and a deeper understanding of the world outside their communities
of the world outside their communities
of the world outside their communities the program that I worked on
the program that I worked on
the program that I worked on specifically was called the
specifically was called the
specifically was called the international visitors Leadership
international visitors Leadership
international visitors Leadership Program or IVLP IVLP is partially funded
Program or IVLP IVLP is partially funded
Program or IVLP IVLP is partially funded and administered by the State Department
and administered by the State Department
and administered by the State Department but it wouldn’t be possible without the
but it wouldn’t be possible without the
but it wouldn’t be possible without the day-to-day operations run by local
day-to-day operations run by local
day-to-day operations run by local nonprofits in a way you might think of
nonprofits in a way you might think of
nonprofits in a way you might think of IVLP as study abroad for adults u.s.
IVLP as study abroad for adults u.s.
IVLP as study abroad for adults u.s. embassies abroad identify local leaders
embassies abroad identify local leaders
embassies abroad identify local leaders in government and the private sector and
in government and the private sector and
in government and the private sector and they bring them to the u.s. to go to
they bring them to the u.s. to go to
they bring them to the u.s. to go to different cities I mean with
different cities I mean with
different cities I mean with professionals of a similar background
professionals of a similar background
professionals of a similar background the trips are in the US for two to three
the trips are in the US for two to three
the trips are in the US for two to three weeks and they’re in each city for three
weeks and they’re in each city for three
weeks and they’re in each city for three or four days what I found particularly
or four days what I found particularly
or four days what I found particularly interesting about IVLP
interesting about IVLP
interesting about IVLP is that this isn’t just for political
is that this isn’t just for political
is that this isn’t just for political leaders and business owners I worked
leaders and business owners I worked
leaders and business owners I worked with artists from Tunisia with minority
with artists from Tunisia with minority
with artists from Tunisia with minority rights activists from Eastern Europe
rights activists from Eastern Europe
rights activists from Eastern Europe journalists from Bangladesh these are
journalists from Bangladesh these are
journalists from Bangladesh these are all different types of people from all
all different types of people from all
all different types of people from all different walks of life participating in
different walks of life participating in
different walks of life participating in all different kinds of careers IVLP is
all different kinds of careers IVLP is
all different kinds of careers IVLP is about building personal connections and
about building personal connections and
about building personal connections and what is the sort of local to local
what is the sort of local to local
what is the sort of local to local internationalism and has this concept of
internationalism and has this concept of
internationalism and has this concept of local to local internationalism that I
local to local internationalism that I
local to local internationalism that I became so interested in traditional
became so interested in traditional
became so interested in traditional conceptions of international politics
conceptions of international politics
conceptions of international politics tend to look at the big actors we look
tend to look at the big actors we look
tend to look at the big actors we look at nation-states and multinational
at nation-states and multinational
at nation-states and multinational corporations and multinational NGOs but
corporations and multinational NGOs but
corporations and multinational NGOs but when we look at the world through this
when we look at the world through this
when we look at the world through this lens we miss out on a whole other
lens we miss out on a whole other
lens we miss out on a whole other spectrum of political activity between
spectrum of political activity between
spectrum of political activity between smaller actors and it’s often the
smaller actors and it’s often the
smaller actors and it’s often the activity among these smaller actors
activity among these smaller actors
activity among these smaller actors which has more direct impact on our
which has more direct impact on our
which has more direct impact on our lives in which we as individuals have
lives in which we as individuals have
lives in which we as individuals have more ability to influence IVLP works on
more ability to influence IVLP works on
more ability to influence IVLP works on the social and professional side
the social and professional side
the social and professional side this there’s also a more concrete legal
this there’s also a more concrete legal
this there’s also a more concrete legal political and economic side to it as
political and economic side to it as
political and economic side to it as well and across the u.s. cities and
well and across the u.s. cities and
well and across the u.s. cities and state governments are realizing this and
state governments are realizing this and
state governments are realizing this and there’s a growing network of global
there’s a growing network of global
there’s a growing network of global governance based on this concept of
governance based on this concept of
governance based on this concept of local to local internationalism and
local to local internationalism and
local to local internationalism and today I want to share with you a few
today I want to share with you a few
today I want to share with you a few areas in which state and local
areas in which state and local
areas in which state and local governments are transforming the way
governments are transforming the way
governments are transforming the way that we talk about and we address global
that we talk about and we address global
that we talk about and we address global political issues those areas are
political issues those areas are
political issues those areas are international trade combative climate
international trade combative climate
international trade combative climate change diplomacy and international human
change diplomacy and international human
change diplomacy and international human rights for state governments their main
rights for state governments their main
rights for state governments their main focus is international trade they’re
focus is international trade they’re
focus is international trade they’re currently fifteen states would have
currently fifteen states would have
currently fifteen states would have opened their own foreign trade offices
opened their own foreign trade offices
opened their own foreign trade offices abroad to facilitate trade relationships
abroad to facilitate trade relationships
abroad to facilitate trade relationships these officers serve two purposes first
these officers serve two purposes first
these officers serve two purposes first they attract foreign investment to the
they attract foreign investment to the
they attract foreign investment to the home state by building relationships and
home state by building relationships and
home state by building relationships and hosting informational forums the second
hosting informational forums the second
hosting informational forums the second they help small businesses from their
they help small businesses from their
they help small businesses from their home state begin and expand exporting by
home state begin and expand exporting by
home state begin and expand exporting by identifying potential markets abroad
identifying potential markets abroad
identifying potential markets abroad across the states though the program
across the states though the program
across the states though the program serve similar ends there’s varying
serve similar ends there’s varying
serve similar ends there’s varying levels of commitment and methodology of
levels of commitment and methodology of
levels of commitment and methodology of course some states don’t participate in
course some states don’t participate in
course some states don’t participate in this at all others are small for
this at all others are small for
this at all others are small for instance Texas has so offices are in
instance Texas has so offices are in
instance Texas has so offices are in Mexico City Minnesota’s only offices are
Mexico City Minnesota’s only offices are
Mexico City Minnesota’s only offices are in China but compare that to a state
in China but compare that to a state
in China but compare that to a state like Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has open
like Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has open
like Pennsylvania Pennsylvania has open almost 20 offices worldwide spending all
almost 20 offices worldwide spending all
almost 20 offices worldwide spending all six inhabited continents and employing
six inhabited continents and employing
six inhabited continents and employing hundreds of people in terms of
hundreds of people in terms of
hundreds of people in terms of methodology New York’s global and why
methodology New York’s global and why
methodology New York’s global and why program gives out thirty five million
program gives out thirty five million
program gives out thirty five million dollars in grants and loans every year
dollars in grants and loans every year
dollars in grants and loans every year to help small businesses from New York
to help small businesses from New York
to help small businesses from New York begin in international markets other
begin in international markets other
begin in international markets other states take a more hands-on approach
states take a more hands-on approach
states take a more hands-on approach like Kentucky Kentucky doesn’t give out
like Kentucky Kentucky doesn’t give out
like Kentucky Kentucky doesn’t give out money but they offer direct hands-on
money but they offer direct hands-on
money but they offer direct hands-on assistance to businesses to help them
assistance to businesses to help them
assistance to businesses to help them grow and these state policies affecting
grow and these state policies affecting
grow and these state policies affecting the national business all over the world
the national business all over the world
the national business all over the world some states realize that they have this
some states realize that they have this
some states realize that they have this influence and they’re leveraging it to
influence and they’re leveraging it to
influence and they’re leveraging it to fight climate change you may have heard
fight climate change you may have heard
fight climate change you may have heard about state and local governments
about state and local governments
about state and local governments publicly declaring their commitment to
publicly declaring their commitment to
publicly declaring their commitment to the Paris climate agreement but some
the Paris climate agreement but some
the Paris climate agreement but some states are going even further and
states are going even further and
states are going even further and they’re building their own agreements
they’re building their own agreements
they’re building their own agreements their own initiatives rather than just
their own initiatives rather than just
their own initiatives rather than just setting policies within their own
setting policies within their own
setting policies within their own jurisdictions they’re actually building
jurisdictions they’re actually building
jurisdictions they’re actually building international coalition’s and reaching
international coalition’s and reaching
international coalition’s and reaching across international borders to involve
across international borders to involve
across international borders to involve every government at every level in the
every government at every level in the
every government at every level in the collective fight against climate change
collective fight against climate change
collective fight against climate change for example California is currently
for example California is currently
for example California is currently working with Mexico to integrate their
working with Mexico to integrate their
working with Mexico to integrate their electric grids
electric grids
electric grids so the Californians can buy renewable
so the Californians can buy renewable
so the Californians can buy renewable energy from Mexican windmills California
energy from Mexican windmills California
energy from Mexican windmills California is also a signatory to the under two
is also a signatory to the under two
is also a signatory to the under two coalition of state local and national
coalition of state local and national
coalition of state local and national governments other signatories include
governments other signatories include
governments other signatories include Oregon and Washington
Oregon and Washington
Oregon and Washington citron Province in China Germany and
citron Province in China Germany and
citron Province in China Germany and Santiago Chile the under two coalition
Santiago Chile the under two coalition
Santiago Chile the under two coalition is set up similar to the Paris agreement
is set up similar to the Paris agreement
is set up similar to the Paris agreement signatories develop their own policies
signatories develop their own policies
signatories develop their own policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hold other states accountable when they
hold other states accountable when they
hold other states accountable when they don’t meet their goals as to find
don’t meet their goals as to find
don’t meet their goals as to find another common agreement another
another common agreement another
another common agreement another approach is the Regional Greenhouse Gas
approach is the Regional Greenhouse Gas
approach is the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative here in North America the
Initiative here in North America the
Initiative here in North America the initiative invites all provinces and
initiative invites all provinces and
initiative invites all provinces and states in Mexico Canada and the US to
states in Mexico Canada and the US to
states in Mexico Canada and the US to participate in a common carbon market so
participate in a common carbon market so
participate in a common carbon market so far the market has raised over a billion
far the market has raised over a billion
far the market has raised over a billion dollars and invested that money in
dollars and invested that money in
dollars and invested that money in renewable energy projects u.s. states
renewable energy projects u.s. states
renewable energy projects u.s. states would participate in the market have
would participate in the market have
would participate in the market have seen an increase in economic activity at
seen an increase in economic activity at
seen an increase in economic activity at the same time they have seen a decrease
the same time they have seen a decrease
the same time they have seen a decrease in co2 emissions cities on their own
in co2 emissions cities on their own
in co2 emissions cities on their own have developed the global Covenant of
have developed the global Covenant of
have developed the global Covenant of Mayors for climate and energy which
Mayors for climate and energy which
Mayors for climate and energy which involves over 7,000 cities worldwide
involves over 7,000 cities worldwide
involves over 7,000 cities worldwide the Covenant helps cities implement
the Covenant helps cities implement
the Covenant helps cities implement policies on climate change and sets
policies on climate change and sets
policies on climate change and sets goals for all the participants similar
goals for all the participants similar
goals for all the participants similar to the Global Covenant is global
to the Global Covenant is global
to the Global Covenant is global Parliament on mayors but whereas the
Parliament on mayors but whereas the
Parliament on mayors but whereas the Global Covenant focuses specifically on
Global Covenant focuses specifically on
Global Covenant focuses specifically on climate change the goal of parliament
climate change the goal of parliament
climate change the goal of parliament addresses all issues where cities around
addresses all issues where cities around
addresses all issues where cities around the world face they open up lines of
the world face they open up lines of
the world face they open up lines of communication between city governments
communication between city governments
communication between city governments and bring local and urban concerns to
and bring local and urban concerns to
and bring local and urban concerns to international policymaking forums that’s
international policymaking forums that’s
international policymaking forums that’s representative of a third way that state
representative of a third way that state
representative of a third way that state and local governments are influencing
and local governments are influencing
and local governments are influencing the world stage and that’s managing
the world stage and that’s managing
the world stage and that’s managing relationships abroad by building
relationships abroad by building
relationships abroad by building political connections these governments
political connections these governments
political connections these governments are creating political capital which
are creating political capital which
are creating political capital which could be used on a wide range of issues
could be used on a wide range of issues
could be used on a wide range of issues for another example take a look at
for another example take a look at
for another example take a look at Canada’s efforts to connect with every
Canada’s efforts to connect with every
Canada’s efforts to connect with every level of US politics within the first
level of US politics within the first
level of US politics within the first few months of the Trump administration
few months of the Trump administration
few months of the Trump administration Canadian emissaries held meetings with
Canadian emissaries held meetings with
Canadian emissaries held meetings with 35 state governors and lieutenant
35 state governors and lieutenant
35 state governors and lieutenant governor’s as well as congressmen and
governor’s as well as congressmen and
governor’s as well as congressmen and mayor’s to supplement their channels
mayor’s to supplement their channels
mayor’s to supplement their channels through the US State Department this
through the US State Department this
through the US State Department this shows the extent to which state and
shows the extent to which state and
shows the extent to which state and local governments can conduct an
local governments can conduct an
local governments can conduct an influence international diplomacy so
influence international diplomacy so
influence international diplomacy so he’s on their own have also work towards
he’s on their own have also work towards
he’s on their own have also work towards realizing the world which recognizes
realizing the world which recognizes
realizing the world which recognizes human rights cities all around the world
human rights cities all around the world
human rights cities all around the world have declared themselves human rights
have declared themselves human rights
have declared themselves human rights cities and vowed to structure their
cities and vowed to structure their
cities and vowed to structure their policies around
policies around
policies around international norms and agreements like
international norms and agreements like
international norms and agreements like the Universal Declaration on Human
the Universal Declaration on Human
the Universal Declaration on Human Rights a few examples from the US
Rights a few examples from the US
Rights a few examples from the US include Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Seattle
include Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Seattle
include Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Seattle Washington and Jackson Mississippi is
Washington and Jackson Mississippi is
Washington and Jackson Mississippi is important for two reasons first
important for two reasons first
important for two reasons first political recognition is incredibly
political recognition is incredibly
political recognition is incredibly important for moving Human Rights
important for moving Human Rights
important for moving Human Rights forward and that’s exactly what these
forward and that’s exactly what these
forward and that’s exactly what these cities are doing by grounding their
cities are doing by grounding their
cities are doing by grounding their policies in international human rights
policies in international human rights
policies in international human rights norms these governments are picking up
norms these governments are picking up
norms these governments are picking up the mantle of human rights and leading
the mantle of human rights and leading
the mantle of human rights and leading their communities forward even when
their communities forward even when
their communities forward even when national governments can’t or won’t
national governments can’t or won’t
national governments can’t or won’t second it’s important because state and
second it’s important because state and
second it’s important because state and local governments have a lot of power to
local governments have a lot of power to
local governments have a lot of power to make human rights happen policies
make human rights happen policies
make human rights happen policies related to legal rights policing
related to legal rights policing
related to legal rights policing economic equality after on it’s set at
economic equality after on it’s set at
economic equality after on it’s set at the federal level they’re set at the
the federal level they’re set at the
the federal level they’re set at the state and local level and that means
state and local level and that means
state and local level and that means that the real and immediate decisions
that the real and immediate decisions
that the real and immediate decisions affecting human rights aren’t made by
affecting human rights aren’t made by
affecting human rights aren’t made by national governments they’re made by
national governments they’re made by
national governments they’re made by state local governments when we think
state local governments when we think
state local governments when we think about international political issues we
about international political issues we
about international political issues we should think big we should come up with
should think big we should come up with
should think big we should come up with grand ideas and hold even grander ideals
grand ideas and hold even grander ideals
grand ideas and hold even grander ideals we shouldn’t make that big thinking they
we shouldn’t make that big thinking they
we shouldn’t make that big thinking they could focus only on the big actors
could focus only on the big actors
could focus only on the big actors states and cities have an incredibly
states and cities have an incredibly
states and cities have an incredibly important role to play in international
important role to play in international
important role to play in international politics and that role is only going to
politics and that role is only going to
politics and that role is only going to grow as we move forward into a more
grow as we move forward into a more
grow as we move forward into a more interconnected world thank you
interconnected world thank you
interconnected world thank you [Applause]
”
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