in August of 2012 I was in a tent very near the north/south border between
near the north/south border between
near the north/south border between Sudan’s it was the first time that I’d
Sudan’s it was the first time that I’d
Sudan’s it was the first time that I’d been in a refugee camp it was a bit past
been in a refugee camp it was a bit past
been in a refugee camp it was a bit past midnight and sitting just to the left of
midnight and sitting just to the left of
midnight and sitting just to the left of my computer screen was a half consumed
my computer screen was a half consumed
my computer screen was a half consumed bottle of very warm vodka and on the
bottle of very warm vodka and on the
bottle of very warm vodka and on the screen in front of me
screen in front of me
screen in front of me was this photograph this was the
was this photograph this was the
was this photograph this was the photograph that I had been sent here to
photograph that I had been sent here to
photograph that I had been sent here to take I’d climbed up onto a pole in order
take I’d climbed up onto a pole in order
take I’d climbed up onto a pole in order to get to a vantage point where you
to get to a vantage point where you
to get to a vantage point where you could see the queue of people extending
could see the queue of people extending
could see the queue of people extending towards the horizon thousands of faces
towards the horizon thousands of faces
towards the horizon thousands of faces waiting to take up mosquito nets peanut
waiting to take up mosquito nets peanut
waiting to take up mosquito nets peanut butter supplements dried lentils and
butter supplements dried lentils and
butter supplements dried lentils and looking at that photograph I began to
looking at that photograph I began to
looking at that photograph I began to feel nauseas I thought I might throw up
feel nauseas I thought I might throw up
feel nauseas I thought I might throw up into my screen and maybe it was the
into my screen and maybe it was the
into my screen and maybe it was the vodka but I think it was actually this
vodka but I think it was actually this
vodka but I think it was actually this vast gulf this huge disconnect between
vast gulf this huge disconnect between
vast gulf this huge disconnect between everything that I had seen and
everything that I had seen and
everything that I had seen and experienced over that past week and the
experienced over that past week and the
experienced over that past week and the picture that was staring back at me
picture that was staring back at me
picture that was staring back at me there’s a very specific kind of
there’s a very specific kind of
there’s a very specific kind of photograph that is a refugee photo
photograph that is a refugee photo
photograph that is a refugee photo you’ll know it if you’ve seen one and
you’ll know it if you’ve seen one and
you’ll know it if you’ve seen one and you’ll know as a photographer that
you’ll know as a photographer that
you’ll know as a photographer that you’ve succeeded in taking one if it
you’ve succeeded in taking one if it
you’ve succeeded in taking one if it looks exactly like every iconic refugee
looks exactly like every iconic refugee
looks exactly like every iconic refugee photograph that came before these
photograph that came before these
photograph that came before these pictures are quite clear you can usually
pictures are quite clear you can usually
pictures are quite clear you can usually tell one by the presence of either dust
tell one by the presence of either dust
tell one by the presence of either dust or rain they’re usually tired people
or rain they’re usually tired people
or rain they’re usually tired people carrying bundles sometimes there are
carrying bundles sometimes there are
carrying bundles sometimes there are leaky boats and there’s usually fences
leaky boats and there’s usually fences
leaky boats and there’s usually fences or coils of barbed wire
or coils of barbed wire
or coils of barbed wire now these photographs aren’t necessarily
now these photographs aren’t necessarily
now these photographs aren’t necessarily bad in fact they can be quite powerful
bad in fact they can be quite powerful
bad in fact they can be quite powerful problem is that these photographs are
problem is that these photographs are
problem is that these photographs are one-sided
there’s a reason that they exist these
there’s a reason that they exist these photographs can and do possess the power
photographs can and do possess the power
photographs can and do possess the power to shock us into attention to illuminate
to shock us into attention to illuminate
to shock us into attention to illuminate crises that might otherwise continue to
crises that might otherwise continue to
crises that might otherwise continue to be ignored but what they do not do is
be ignored but what they do not do is
be ignored but what they do not do is challenge our beliefs on our
challenge our beliefs on our
challenge our beliefs on our preconceptions if I were to look at
preconceptions if I were to look at
preconceptions if I were to look at these photographs these photographs that
these photographs these photographs that
these photographs these photographs that I’ve taken what I would be able to tell
I’ve taken what I would be able to tell
I’ve taken what I would be able to tell you about refugees is that they are
you about refugees is that they are
you about refugees is that they are generally hungry and tired and I don’t
generally hungry and tired and I don’t
generally hungry and tired and I don’t know if I could tell you much more than
know if I could tell you much more than
know if I could tell you much more than that I don’t know if I would have any
that I don’t know if I would have any
that I don’t know if I would have any idea that refugees also get married the
idea that refugees also get married the
idea that refugees also get married the refugees attend birthday parties and
refugees attend birthday parties and
refugees attend birthday parties and refugees yes refugees have Facebook
refugees yes refugees have Facebook
refugees yes refugees have Facebook accounts now the Western narrative of
accounts now the Western narrative of
accounts now the Western narrative of refugees which has become the dominant
refugees which has become the dominant
refugees which has become the dominant the only narrative of refugees has the
the only narrative of refugees has the
the only narrative of refugees has the effect of reducing people into victims
effect of reducing people into victims
effect of reducing people into victims and reducing stories into mere tales of
and reducing stories into mere tales of
and reducing stories into mere tales of one dimensional pity and sorrow where
one dimensional pity and sorrow where
one dimensional pity and sorrow where spoon-fed repetitious images that match
spoon-fed repetitious images that match
spoon-fed repetitious images that match the stereotypes and as the Nigerian
the stereotypes and as the Nigerian
the stereotypes and as the Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says
novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says
novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says the problem with stereotypes is not that
the problem with stereotypes is not that
the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue but that they are
they are untrue but that they are
they are untrue but that they are incomplete the United Nations various
incomplete the United Nations various
incomplete the United Nations various NGOs in the media also love statistics
NGOs in the media also love statistics
NGOs in the media also love statistics statistics exist for a reason they’re
statistics exist for a reason they’re
statistics exist for a reason they’re meant to give weight and gravity to
meant to give weight and gravity to
meant to give weight and gravity to crises to help us to understand but how
crises to help us to understand but how
crises to help us to understand but how often do we use statistics in order to
often do we use statistics in order to
often do we use statistics in order to describe the things or the people that
describe the things or the people that
describe the things or the people that we love now say we were in this horrible
we love now say we were in this horrible
we love now say we were in this horrible horrible parallel universe a universe in
horrible parallel universe a universe in
horrible parallel universe a universe in which you had no idea what a puppy is
which you had no idea what a puppy is
which you had no idea what a puppy is and I were to explain to you what a
and I were to explain to you what a
and I were to explain to you what a puppy is through statistics so you
puppy is through statistics so you
puppy is through statistics so you should know that a puppy has 17
should know that a puppy has 17
should know that a puppy has 17 vertebrae in its tail its shoulder
vertebrae in its tail its shoulder
vertebrae in its tail its shoulder height is roughly 28 centimeters in the
height is roughly 28 centimeters in the
height is roughly 28 centimeters in the circumference of its paws is thirty four
circumference of its paws is thirty four
circumference of its paws is thirty four point three two millimeters
point three two millimeters
point three two millimeters do you now know what a puppy is now
do you now know what a puppy is now
do you now know what a puppy is now compare that to just playing with a dog
compare that to just playing with a dog
compare that to just playing with a dog for 30 seconds or reading the account of
for 30 seconds or reading the account of
for 30 seconds or reading the account of a little girl who took her puppy to the
a little girl who took her puppy to the
a little girl who took her puppy to the park for the very first time or to the
park for the very first time or to the
park for the very first time or to the snow my point is this that we learned
snow my point is this that we learned
snow my point is this that we learned not so much from data or statistics as
not so much from data or statistics as
not so much from data or statistics as we do from stories and experiences and
we do from stories and experiences and
we do from stories and experiences and yeah in case you were wondering that’s
yeah in case you were wondering that’s
yeah in case you were wondering that’s my new puppy
my new puppy
my new puppy her name’s Cabot she’s great the other
her name’s Cabot she’s great the other
her name’s Cabot she’s great the other thing that you should know about
thing that you should know about
thing that you should know about statistics is that while they’re
statistics is that while they’re
statistics is that while they’re intended to quantify Humanity
intended to quantify Humanity
intended to quantify Humanity they usually dehumanize the people that
they usually dehumanize the people that
they usually dehumanize the people that they’re entrusted with in counting for
they’re entrusted with in counting for
they’re entrusted with in counting for say I were to tell you that 2.1 million
say I were to tell you that 2.1 million
say I were to tell you that 2.1 million people over the past year have fled from
people over the past year have fled from
people over the past year have fled from South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan across the border into Uganda 2.1
across the border into Uganda 2.1
across the border into Uganda 2.1 million now maybe your brain is bigger
million now maybe your brain is bigger
million now maybe your brain is bigger than mine and you can really conceive of
than mine and you can really conceive of
than mine and you can really conceive of those numbers but for me that number
those numbers but for me that number
those numbers but for me that number gets lost unless I can attach it to an
gets lost unless I can attach it to an
gets lost unless I can attach it to an actual flesh-and-blood human being it
actual flesh-and-blood human being it
actual flesh-and-blood human being it really doesn’t have any meaning that’s
really doesn’t have any meaning that’s
really doesn’t have any meaning that’s because there’s a big difference between
because there’s a big difference between
because there’s a big difference between knowledge and information and I think
knowledge and information and I think
knowledge and information and I think that what we need in order to understand
that what we need in order to understand
that what we need in order to understand something of this scale things like the
something of this scale things like the
something of this scale things like the refugee crisis are not statistics
refugee crisis are not statistics
refugee crisis are not statistics they’re not numbers but they’re stories
they’re not numbers but they’re stories
they’re not numbers but they’re stories stories of individual people so let’s go
stories of individual people so let’s go
stories of individual people so let’s go back to that tent it’s now 2 o’clock in
back to that tent it’s now 2 o’clock in
back to that tent it’s now 2 o’clock in the morning the vodka bottles down to
the morning the vodka bottles down to
the morning the vodka bottles down to about a third now and I’m sitting there
about a third now and I’m sitting there
about a third now and I’m sitting there plugging in captions to the really
plugging in captions to the really
plugging in captions to the really dramatic photograph that I’ve just
dramatic photograph that I’ve just
dramatic photograph that I’ve just captured and I’m saying there are two
captured and I’m saying there are two
captured and I’m saying there are two hundred and thirty four thousand people
hundred and thirty four thousand people
hundred and thirty four thousand people that have crossed that border and while
that have crossed that border and while
that have crossed that border and while that number is completely factual it’s
that number is completely factual it’s
that number is completely factual it’s completely true there’s something that
completely true there’s something that
completely true there’s something that rings within me is dishonest about what
rings within me is dishonest about what
rings within me is dishonest about what it is that I’m doing I think it’s
it is that I’m doing I think it’s
it is that I’m doing I think it’s because when I was there the thing that
because when I was there the thing that
because when I was there the thing that was not so impressive was the scale of
was not so impressive was the scale of
was not so impressive was the scale of the number of refugees it wasn’t how
the number of refugees it wasn’t how
the number of refugees it wasn’t how many there were it wasn’t how much they
many there were it wasn’t how much they
many there were it wasn’t how much they were suffering it was the fact that as I
were suffering it was the fact that as I
were suffering it was the fact that as I walked around photographing day in and
walked around photographing day in and
walked around photographing day in and day out
day out
day out followed by laughter and smiles in this
followed by laughter and smiles in this
followed by laughter and smiles in this place which I had no ability to a
place which I had no ability to a
place which I had no ability to a believe that would happen that there
believe that would happen that there
believe that would happen that there were children playing every hour I went
were children playing every hour I went
were children playing every hour I went just like anywhere else
just like anywhere else
just like anywhere else the kids were finding little bits of
the kids were finding little bits of
the kids were finding little bits of sandal and picking up sticks in order to
sandal and picking up sticks in order to
sandal and picking up sticks in order to make cars that they were driving around
make cars that they were driving around
make cars that they were driving around in the camps are collecting discarded
in the camps are collecting discarded
in the camps are collecting discarded bits of netting in order to make soccer
bits of netting in order to make soccer
bits of netting in order to make soccer balls in play and the emotion that
balls in play and the emotion that
balls in play and the emotion that welled up within me as I interacted with
welled up within me as I interacted with
welled up within me as I interacted with these people
these people
these people it wasn’t pity it wasn’t even sympathy
it wasn’t pity it wasn’t even sympathy
it wasn’t pity it wasn’t even sympathy it was respect I was amazed to find that
it was respect I was amazed to find that
it was respect I was amazed to find that this was not just a one-dimensional
this was not just a one-dimensional
this was not just a one-dimensional Horror Show and that these people were
Horror Show and that these people were
Horror Show and that these people were not just mere victims that they were
not just mere victims that they were
not just mere victims that they were actually dignified individuals I’d only
actually dignified individuals I’d only
actually dignified individuals I’d only been told one story about refugee camps
been told one story about refugee camps
been told one story about refugee camps beforehand and that was one of horror
beforehand and that was one of horror
beforehand and that was one of horror and it wasn’t true it wasn’t entirely
and it wasn’t true it wasn’t entirely
and it wasn’t true it wasn’t entirely true the greater thing is that in this
true the greater thing is that in this
true the greater thing is that in this place where people had lost so much
place where people had lost so much
place where people had lost so much people who had lost their children lost
people who had lost their children lost
people who had lost their children lost their homes lost their flocks lost their
their homes lost their flocks lost their
their homes lost their flocks lost their fields and were now living in tents in a
fields and were now living in tents in a
fields and were now living in tents in a foreign country surrounded by strangers
foreign country surrounded by strangers
foreign country surrounded by strangers that not only did they maintain their
that not only did they maintain their
that not only did they maintain their dignity the human heart is so big that
dignity the human heart is so big that
dignity the human heart is so big that these people had maintained the ability
these people had maintained the ability
these people had maintained the ability to love and at this point I was quite
to love and at this point I was quite
to love and at this point I was quite ashamed with myself I was ashamed of the
ashamed with myself I was ashamed of the
ashamed with myself I was ashamed of the the photographs that I was taking that
the photographs that I was taking that
the photographs that I was taking that were reducing these people to
were reducing these people to
were reducing these people to stereotypes that we’re turning them into
stereotypes that we’re turning them into
stereotypes that we’re turning them into the exact same things that had only
the exact same things that had only
the exact same things that had only evoke fear and pity and me so what did I
evoke fear and pity and me so what did I
evoke fear and pity and me so what did I do
do
do I changed I decided that rather than
I changed I decided that rather than
I changed I decided that rather than telling the story of two hundred and
telling the story of two hundred and
telling the story of two hundred and thirty four thousand nameless faceless
thirty four thousand nameless faceless
thirty four thousand nameless faceless refugees
refugees
refugees I would simply tell the story of one
I would simply tell the story of one
I would simply tell the story of one person
person
person I tell it in a way that audiences around
I tell it in a way that audiences around
I tell it in a way that audiences around the world regardless of what culture
the world regardless of what culture
the world regardless of what culture they might be from what the color of
they might be from what the color of
they might be from what the color of their skin was would be able to
their skin was would be able to
their skin was would be able to empathize with that person would
empathize with that person would
empathize with that person would hopefully be able to put themselves into
hopefully be able to put themselves into
hopefully be able to put themselves into the shoes of a refugee for just one
the shoes of a refugee for just one
the shoes of a refugee for just one moment and the idea was very very simple
moment and the idea was very very simple
moment and the idea was very very simple I just asked refugees to tell me their
I just asked refugees to tell me their
I just asked refugees to tell me their story and tell me what was the single
story and tell me what was the single
story and tell me what was the single most important object that they brought
most important object that they brought
most important object that they brought with them when they fled from their home
with them when they fled from their home
with them when they fled from their home in their country the project that
in their country the project that
in their country the project that evolved out of this is called the most
evolved out of this is called the most
evolved out of this is called the most important thing and I’d like to share
important thing and I’d like to share
important thing and I’d like to share some of the stories of the people that I
some of the stories of the people that I
some of the stories of the people that I met with you through it
this is dalla I met dalla in South Sudan
this is dalla I met dalla in South Sudan she fled several weeks before this from
she fled several weeks before this from
she fled several weeks before this from her home in the village of Gabon after
her home in the village of Gabon after
her home in the village of Gabon after her home was bombed that was the mother
her home was bombed that was the mother
her home was bombed that was the mother of six children and the most important
of six children and the most important
of six children and the most important thing that she brought with her is the
thing that she brought with her is the
thing that she brought with her is the pole that you can see draped across her
pole that you can see draped across her
pole that you can see draped across her shoulders with those two baskets
shoulders with those two baskets
shoulders with those two baskets sometimes she had to carry two children
sometimes she had to carry two children
sometimes she had to carry two children in each basket as she was walking with
in each basket as she was walking with
in each basket as she was walking with another one dangling from her back and
another one dangling from her back and
another one dangling from her back and he had another walking beside her as she
he had another walking beside her as she
he had another walking beside her as she made the 10-day journey by mountain
made the 10-day journey by mountain
made the 10-day journey by mountain trails
this is Leila
this is Leila I met Leila in northern Iraq just as
I met Leila in northern Iraq just as
I met Leila in northern Iraq just as winter was beginning to come in she her
winter was beginning to come in she her
winter was beginning to come in she her family and three other families were
family and three other families were
family and three other families were living in an roofless concrete structure
living in an roofless concrete structure
living in an roofless concrete structure and Leila told me that the scariest
and Leila told me that the scariest
and Leila told me that the scariest thing in Syria was the voice of the
thing in Syria was the voice of the
thing in Syria was the voice of the tanks it was even more scary than the
tanks it was even more scary than the
tanks it was even more scary than the sound of the planes because I felt like
sound of the planes because I felt like
sound of the planes because I felt like the tanks were coming specifically for
the tanks were coming specifically for
the tanks were coming specifically for me the most important thing that Leila
me the most important thing that Leila
me the most important thing that Leila brought with her are the jeans that
brought with her are the jeans that
brought with her are the jeans that she’s carrying here she says I went
she’s carrying here she says I went
she’s carrying here she says I went shopping with my parents and I looked
shopping with my parents and I looked
shopping with my parents and I looked for hours without finding anything that
for hours without finding anything that
for hours without finding anything that I liked but when I saw these jeans I
I liked but when I saw these jeans I
I liked but when I saw these jeans I instantly knew they were perfect because
instantly knew they were perfect because
instantly knew they were perfect because they have flowers and I love flowers
they have flowers and I love flowers
they have flowers and I love flowers she’d only worn them three times in her
she’d only worn them three times in her
she’d only worn them three times in her life all in Syria twice at weddings and
life all in Syria twice at weddings and
life all in Syria twice at weddings and one time when her grandfather came to
one time when her grandfather came to
one time when her grandfather came to visit she told me that she didn’t want
visit she told me that she didn’t want
visit she told me that she didn’t want to wear them again until she attended
to wear them again until she attended
to wear them again until she attended another wedding and she hoped that that
another wedding and she hoped that that
another wedding and she hoped that that one too would be in Syria
this is Sebastian Sebastian was seven
this is Sebastian Sebastian was seven when his family fled Engel is war of
when his family fled Engel is war of
when his family fled Engel is war of independence and they crossed into the
independence and they crossed into the
independence and they crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo that was
Democratic Republic of Congo that was
Democratic Republic of Congo that was more than 60 years ago Sebastian told me
more than 60 years ago Sebastian told me
more than 60 years ago Sebastian told me I remember that it was cold and that my
I remember that it was cold and that my
I remember that it was cold and that my father gave me his jacket to keep me
father gave me his jacket to keep me
father gave me his jacket to keep me warm I was wearing it as we crossed the
warm I was wearing it as we crossed the
warm I was wearing it as we crossed the border and every time that I see it even
border and every time that I see it even
border and every time that I see it even now as I’m telling you this story
now as I’m telling you this story
now as I’m telling you this story I’m reminded of a Macola the day that we
I’m reminded of a Macola the day that we
I’m reminded of a Macola the day that we crossed back into Angola I will have it
crossed back into Angola I will have it
crossed back into Angola I will have it with me and I will remember my father I
with me and I will remember my father I
with me and I will remember my father I will wear it because I am now a father
will wear it because I am now a father
will wear it because I am now a father myself
myself
myself two weeks later Sebastian went home to
two weeks later Sebastian went home to
two weeks later Sebastian went home to Angola but not everyone’s so lucky today
Angola but not everyone’s so lucky today
Angola but not everyone’s so lucky today there are sixty five-plus million people
there are sixty five-plus million people
there are sixty five-plus million people who’ve been forced from their homes by
who’ve been forced from their homes by
who’ve been forced from their homes by war sixty-five million people that’s
war sixty-five million people that’s
war sixty-five million people that’s more than during World War two it’s the
more than during World War two it’s the
more than during World War two it’s the greatest number at any point in recorded
greatest number at any point in recorded
greatest number at any point in recorded history put that in other terms that’s
history put that in other terms that’s
history put that in other terms that’s nearly one out of a hundred people on
nearly one out of a hundred people on
nearly one out of a hundred people on earth and I’d like to share one more
earth and I’d like to share one more
earth and I’d like to share one more story with you one more story of 65
story with you one more story of 65
story with you one more story of 65 million people this is the story of my
million people this is the story of my
million people this is the story of my friend phii’s why is a person who’s not
friend phii’s why is a person who’s not
friend phii’s why is a person who’s not very different from any other people in
very different from any other people in
very different from any other people in this room today and I think that rather
this room today and I think that rather
this room today and I think that rather than me telling you about Vice you
than me telling you about Vice you
than me telling you about Vice you should do so in his own words and his
should do so in his own words and his
should do so in his own words and his own voice
well the situation in Syria it was very
well the situation in Syria it was very complicated so they had killed kids so
complicated so they had killed kids so
complicated so they had killed kids so just imagining yourself coming to your
just imagining yourself coming to your
just imagining yourself coming to your house finding your kids I couldn’t sleep
house finding your kids I couldn’t sleep
house finding your kids I couldn’t sleep I left everything my name is faith I’m
I left everything my name is faith I’m
I left everything my name is faith I’m from a small village in Syria I’m an
from a small village in Syria I’m an
from a small village in Syria I’m an English teacher
I didn’t choose to be a refugee here in
I didn’t choose to be a refugee here in this camp I feel safe for my children
this camp I feel safe for my children
this camp I feel safe for my children because I know that no one will come and
because I know that no one will come and
because I know that no one will come and kill them before the conflict starts in
kill them before the conflict starts in
kill them before the conflict starts in Syria who were watching refugees around
Syria who were watching refugees around
Syria who were watching refugees around the world especially in Africa but I
the world especially in Africa but I
the world especially in Africa but I never thought that I will be a refugee
never thought that I will be a refugee
never thought that I will be a refugee refugees a person he’s not from here
refugees a person he’s not from here
refugees a person he’s not from here his tradition is different from us
his tradition is different from us
his tradition is different from us refugee also he is a human being he had
refugee also he is a human being he had
refugee also he is a human being he had friend has emotions have everything that
friend has emotions have everything that
friend has emotions have everything that God gives the human being refugees just
God gives the human being refugees just
God gives the human being refugees just a political name we are dreaming every
a political name we are dreaming every
a political name we are dreaming every day of our houses or their friends that
day of our houses or their friends that
day of our houses or their friends that we left the future is completely
we left the future is completely
we left the future is completely destroyed for me and my wife but my kids
destroyed for me and my wife but my kids
destroyed for me and my wife but my kids if five years maybe we can build a
if five years maybe we can build a
if five years maybe we can build a future for them and they have time to
future for them and they have time to
future for them and they have time to forget to prepare themselves to rebuild
forget to prepare themselves to rebuild
forget to prepare themselves to rebuild – you know repair so their dream is
– you know repair so their dream is
– you know repair so their dream is better to take care of their dreams the
better to take care of their dreams the
better to take care of their dreams the stories that you’ve heard tonight this
stories that you’ve heard tonight this
stories that you’ve heard tonight this afternoon have all been ones of war but
afternoon have all been ones of war but
afternoon have all been ones of war but war isn’t the only thing that drives
war isn’t the only thing that drives
war isn’t the only thing that drives people out of their homes many of the
people out of their homes many of the
people out of their homes many of the refugees around the world have fled
refugees around the world have fled
refugees around the world have fled because of who they love I’ve had to
because of who they love I’ve had to
because of who they love I’ve had to leave their homes in their countries
leave their homes in their countries
leave their homes in their countries because of the color of their skin or
because of the color of their skin or
because of the color of their skin or the ethnic group into which they were
the ethnic group into which they were
the ethnic group into which they were born so now in this age where fear and
born so now in this age where fear and
born so now in this age where fear and xenophobia can very quickly morph into
xenophobia can very quickly morph into
xenophobia can very quickly morph into policy it’s more important than ever
policy it’s more important than ever
policy it’s more important than ever that we remember that it’s not only
that we remember that it’s not only
that we remember that it’s not only tanks and bombs that can force us from
tanks and bombs that can force us from
tanks and bombs that can force us from our homes
so the next time that you see a
so the next time that you see a photograph a dramatic one of large
photograph a dramatic one of large
photograph a dramatic one of large numbers of people that are sad and
numbers of people that are sad and
numbers of people that are sad and carrying bundles or the next time you
carrying bundles or the next time you
carrying bundles or the next time you hear a story a very simple one full of
hear a story a very simple one full of
hear a story a very simple one full of shocking statistics about a group who
shocking statistics about a group who
shocking statistics about a group who you may not understand very well ask for
you may not understand very well ask for
you may not understand very well ask for more
more
more think of Lela and think of phii’s and
think of Lela and think of phii’s and
think of Lela and think of phii’s and remember that this isn’t numbers it’s
remember that this isn’t numbers it’s
remember that this isn’t numbers it’s people I’d like to leave you with a
people I’d like to leave you with a
people I’d like to leave you with a question if you had 30 seconds before
question if you had 30 seconds before
question if you had 30 seconds before you had to run carrying whatever you
you had to run carrying whatever you
you had to run carrying whatever you could climb out the window at the back
could climb out the window at the back
could climb out the window at the back of your house and go out into the night
of your house and go out into the night
of your house and go out into the night perhaps never to return what would you
perhaps never to return what would you
perhaps never to return what would you bring with you what’s your most
bring with you what’s your most
bring with you what’s your most important thing
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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