let me start with a story about a grandfather forced to flee Turkey as a
grandfather forced to flee Turkey as a
grandfather forced to flee Turkey as a boy to escape the Armenian Genocide
boy to escape the Armenian Genocide
boy to escape the Armenian Genocide we became a refugee by settling here in
we became a refugee by settling here in
we became a refugee by settling here in neighboring Bulgaria then his son born
neighboring Bulgaria then his son born
neighboring Bulgaria then his son born at the end of the Second World War into
at the end of the Second World War into
at the end of the Second World War into communist ruling Society but he always
communist ruling Society but he always
communist ruling Society but he always dreamt of a life beyond the curtains of
dreamt of a life beyond the curtains of
dreamt of a life beyond the curtains of the East Bloc and in order to provide
the East Bloc and in order to provide
the East Bloc and in order to provide more opportunities and access to some of
more opportunities and access to some of
more opportunities and access to some of the best education in the world his
the best education in the world his
the best education in the world his family emigrated in Canada in the 90s
family emigrated in Canada in the 90s
family emigrated in Canada in the 90s then the story of the grandson a boy who
then the story of the grandson a boy who
then the story of the grandson a boy who saw with his own eyes the fall of the
saw with his own eyes the fall of the
saw with his own eyes the fall of the Berlin Wall the end of the communist
Berlin Wall the end of the communist
Berlin Wall the end of the communist regime but the boy who was lucky to live
regime but the boy who was lucky to live
regime but the boy who was lucky to live in two continents and travel across 15
in two continents and travel across 15
in two continents and travel across 15 countries every year now for many of you
countries every year now for many of you
countries every year now for many of you in this room you would remember
in this room you would remember
in this room you would remember traveling with a Bulgarian passport in
traveling with a Bulgarian passport in
traveling with a Bulgarian passport in the 80s was often challenging in a
the 80s was often challenging in a
the 80s was often challenging in a humiliating experience experience that
humiliating experience experience that
humiliating experience experience that marked this boy deeply at the very early
marked this boy deeply at the very early
marked this boy deeply at the very early age and defined his future I am that boy
age and defined his future I am that boy
age and defined his future I am that boy and this is the story of my family and
and this is the story of my family and
and this is the story of my family and my dream for human mobility continues
my dream for human mobility continues
my dream for human mobility continues I’m determined to ensure the only thing
I’m determined to ensure the only thing
I’m determined to ensure the only thing which is outside of our control yours or
which is outside of our control yours or
which is outside of our control yours or mine the place where we’re born will not
mine the place where we’re born will not
mine the place where we’re born will not dictate who we are where we can go or
dictate who we are where we can go or
dictate who we are where we can go or what we can become we live in the age of
what we can become we live in the age of
what we can become we live in the age of global citizens we live in one of the
global citizens we live in one of the
global citizens we live in one of the most incredible times of human history
most incredible times of human history
most incredible times of human history as well well we have today improvements
as well well we have today improvements
as well well we have today improvements in life expectancy increasing personal
in life expectancy increasing personal
in life expectancy increasing personal wealth advancing technology which is
wealth advancing technology which is
wealth advancing technology which is ready to make us populate to Mars but
ready to make us populate to Mars but
ready to make us populate to Mars but ladies and gentlemen we have a
ladies and gentlemen we have a
ladies and gentlemen we have a tremendous amount and uncertainty and
tremendous amount and uncertainty and
tremendous amount and uncertainty and planet Earth
planet Earth
planet Earth first and foremost climate change is
first and foremost climate change is
first and foremost climate change is having a devastating effect both on
having a devastating effect both on
having a devastating effect both on human and financial cost to our society
human and financial cost to our society
human and financial cost to our society just last year’s hurricane season ear ma
just last year’s hurricane season ear ma
just last year’s hurricane season ear ma harvey in Moorea destroyed thousands of
harvey in Moorea destroyed thousands of
harvey in Moorea destroyed thousands of homes in the caribbean destroying to
homes in the caribbean destroying to
homes in the caribbean destroying to economic countries which I’m a proud
economic countries which I’m a proud
economic countries which I’m a proud citizen Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda
citizen Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda
citizen Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda this devastation will cost our society
this devastation will cost our society
this devastation will cost our society hundreds of billions of dollars today we
hundreds of billions of dollars today we
hundreds of billions of dollars today we have 250 million people around the world
have 250 million people around the world
have 250 million people around the world who were migrants experts predict that
who were migrants experts predict that
who were migrants experts predict that by 2050 10% of the world’s population
by 2050 10% of the world’s population
by 2050 10% of the world’s population will have to migrate from their place of
will have to migrate from their place of
will have to migrate from their place of birth because of climate change climate
birth because of climate change climate
birth because of climate change climate change is real and this number will
change is real and this number will
change is real and this number will represent 750 million people this is
represent 750 million people this is
represent 750 million people this is three times of number of the migrants we
three times of number of the migrants we
three times of number of the migrants we have today just in the life span of one
have today just in the life span of one
have today just in the life span of one generation climate change will affect
generation climate change will affect
generation climate change will affect everybody’s life in this room it is not
everybody’s life in this room it is not
everybody’s life in this room it is not a question of if it’s a question of a
a question of if it’s a question of a
a question of if it’s a question of a one climate change doesn’t respect
one climate change doesn’t respect
one climate change doesn’t respect borders nationalities doesn’t care if
borders nationalities doesn’t care if
borders nationalities doesn’t care if you’re poor or rich terrorism is also on
you’re poor or rich terrorism is also on
you’re poor or rich terrorism is also on the rise political instability across
the rise political instability across
the rise political instability across the world is reaching a new social
the world is reaching a new social
the world is reaching a new social status toe of stress and anxiety and
status toe of stress and anxiety and
status toe of stress and anxiety and from all of this one thing is certain
uncertainty is hard to live with and the
uncertainty is hard to live with and the primary victims in living in this age of
primary victims in living in this age of
primary victims in living in this age of uncertainty are the migrants looking at
uncertainty are the migrants looking at
uncertainty are the migrants looking at countries like Canada Australia New
countries like Canada Australia New
countries like Canada Australia New Zealand one would have assumed that
Zealand one would have assumed that
Zealand one would have assumed that having strong robust immigration
having strong robust immigration
having strong robust immigration programs have obvious benefits but I see
programs have obvious benefits but I see
programs have obvious benefits but I see a disturbing trend populist views
a disturbing trend populist views
a disturbing trend populist views indicates that people feel differently
indicates that people feel differently
indicates that people feel differently and I think that there is something
and I think that there is something
and I think that there is something desperately wrong not with migration
desperately wrong not with migration
desperately wrong not with migration itself but with the way we see it this
itself but with the way we see it this
itself but with the way we see it this has affected me in a deep way so last
has affected me in a deep way so last
has affected me in a deep way so last year I started a personal quest engaging
year I started a personal quest engaging
year I started a personal quest engaging in a conversation with global citizens
in a conversation with global citizens
in a conversation with global citizens around the world trying to understand
around the world trying to understand
around the world trying to understand our society’s current
our society’s current
our society’s current perspective on migration had the
perspective on migration had the
perspective on migration had the privilege of meeting heads of state in
privilege of meeting heads of state in
privilege of meeting heads of state in the UN some of the victim of the wars in
the UN some of the victim of the wars in
the UN some of the victim of the wars in the refugee camps social activists
the refugee camps social activists
the refugee camps social activists Hollywood celebrities and from all my
Hollywood celebrities and from all my
Hollywood celebrities and from all my conversations I discovered one vital
conversations I discovered one vital
conversations I discovered one vital truth when will limit human mobility
truth when will limit human mobility
truth when will limit human mobility we’re restricting the use of one of the
we’re restricting the use of one of the
we’re restricting the use of one of the most important social growth tools we
most important social growth tools we
most important social growth tools we have human mobility is instrumental for
have human mobility is instrumental for
have human mobility is instrumental for encouraging innovation I like to see
encouraging innovation I like to see
encouraging innovation I like to see human mobility as a conductor of ideas
human mobility as a conductor of ideas
human mobility as a conductor of ideas it could represent tremendous investment
it could represent tremendous investment
it could represent tremendous investment opportunities a two-way exchange let me
opportunities a two-way exchange let me
opportunities a two-way exchange let me explain currently the World Bank’s
explain currently the World Bank’s
explain currently the World Bank’s reports clearly indicates that if we
reports clearly indicates that if we
reports clearly indicates that if we invest 1 euro in welcoming migrants this
invest 1 euro in welcoming migrants this
invest 1 euro in welcoming migrants this will bring us to euro of economic
will bring us to euro of economic
will bring us to euro of economic benefits in that economy within five
benefits in that economy within five
benefits in that economy within five years if these people are allowed to
years if these people are allowed to
years if these people are allowed to work currently 40% of the fortune 500
work currently 40% of the fortune 500
work currently 40% of the fortune 500 companies in the US are owned or managed
companies in the US are owned or managed
companies in the US are owned or managed by migrants while in China 30% of the
by migrants while in China 30% of the
by migrants while in China 30% of the Shanghai publicly traded company are
Shanghai publicly traded company are
Shanghai publicly traded company are owned or managed by Chinese who lived
owned or managed by Chinese who lived
owned or managed by Chinese who lived abroad and came back home so clearly it
abroad and came back home so clearly it
abroad and came back home so clearly it is a two-way flow an exchange of ideas
is a two-way flow an exchange of ideas
is a two-way flow an exchange of ideas emotions and investment opportunities
emotions and investment opportunities
emotions and investment opportunities are we forgetting as well who is Albert
are we forgetting as well who is Albert
are we forgetting as well who is Albert Einstein Sergey Brin immigrants Steve
Einstein Sergey Brin immigrants Steve
Einstein Sergey Brin immigrants Steve Jobs a son of a Syrian refugee the
Jobs a son of a Syrian refugee the
Jobs a son of a Syrian refugee the benefits of migration could be
benefits of migration could be
benefits of migration could be transformational
transformational
transformational if necessity is the mother of invention
if necessity is the mother of invention
if necessity is the mother of invention migration is truly the conductor of
migration is truly the conductor of
migration is truly the conductor of innovation let me repeat it I think it’s
innovation let me repeat it I think it’s
innovation let me repeat it I think it’s important if necessity is the mother of
important if necessity is the mother of
important if necessity is the mother of invention migration is truly the
invention migration is truly the
invention migration is truly the conductor of innovation and when we look
conductor of innovation and when we look
conductor of innovation and when we look at Earth from space we see ourselves as
at Earth from space we see ourselves as
at Earth from space we see ourselves as a one we see only land water an
a one we see only land water an
a one we see only land water an atmosphere a vast openness of unity no
atmosphere a vast openness of unity no
atmosphere a vast openness of unity no lines no divisions no borders no walls
lines no divisions no borders no walls
lines no divisions no borders no walls are only boundaries
are only boundaries
are only boundaries or the way we see ourselves and only
or the way we see ourselves and only
or the way we see ourselves and only borders the way we see each other if we
borders the way we see each other if we
borders the way we see each other if we look at migration as well as a capsule
look at migration as well as a capsule
look at migration as well as a capsule of time I would agree in the last 10
of time I would agree in the last 10
of time I would agree in the last 10 years
years
years we’ll see tremendous challenges in
we’ll see tremendous challenges in
we’ll see tremendous challenges in welcoming refugees around the world but
welcoming refugees around the world but
welcoming refugees around the world but if we look at migration for the last
if we look at migration for the last
if we look at migration for the last hundred years and a graphic like we do
hundred years and a graphic like we do
hundred years and a graphic like we do in a stock market performance we’ll see
in a stock market performance we’ll see
in a stock market performance we’ll see a consistent upward trajectory of adding
a consistent upward trajectory of adding
a consistent upward trajectory of adding value to society now the reality is that
value to society now the reality is that
value to society now the reality is that in the last 25 years we have seen
in the last 25 years we have seen
in the last 25 years we have seen tremendous changes walls have come down
tremendous changes walls have come down
tremendous changes walls have come down transparency in most part of the world
transparency in most part of the world
transparency in most part of the world and business and governments have become
and business and governments have become
and business and governments have become the norm as global citizens this is not
the norm as global citizens this is not
the norm as global citizens this is not a mindset this is a way of living it is
a mindset this is a way of living it is
a mindset this is a way of living it is giving back to society and making sure
giving back to society and making sure
giving back to society and making sure to improve it with every action we take
to improve it with every action we take
to improve it with every action we take last year the UN General Assembly
last year the UN General Assembly
last year the UN General Assembly I was listening carefully to
I was listening carefully to
I was listening carefully to secretary-general guitarist’s not to
secretary-general guitarist’s not to
secretary-general guitarist’s not to Trump who said that he sees migration as
Trump who said that he sees migration as
Trump who said that he sees migration as a challenge that can bring the world
a challenge that can bring the world
a challenge that can bring the world together and I quote each country has
together and I quote each country has
together and I quote each country has the right to control their own borders
the right to control their own borders
the right to control their own borders but this has to be done in a way to
but this has to be done in a way to
but this has to be done in a way to protect the people under move with a
protect the people under move with a
protect the people under move with a truly global sharing of responsibilities
truly global sharing of responsibilities
truly global sharing of responsibilities the number of refugee we face can be
the number of refugee we face can be
the number of refugee we face can be managed migration should be an option
managed migration should be an option
managed migration should be an option not a necessity and as global citizens
not a necessity and as global citizens
not a necessity and as global citizens you and I what can we do well first we
you and I what can we do well first we
you and I what can we do well first we must shift away from seeing migration as
must shift away from seeing migration as
must shift away from seeing migration as potential political tool – a tool of
potential political tool – a tool of
potential political tool – a tool of potentials too many politicians are
potentials too many politicians are
potentials too many politicians are still using human lives in tragedy to
still using human lives in tragedy to
still using human lives in tragedy to gain or retain power this has a negative
gain or retain power this has a negative
gain or retain power this has a negative impact in our society and it doesn’t
impact in our society and it doesn’t
impact in our society and it doesn’t have to be that way
have to be that way
have to be that way as global citizens we must as well shift
as global citizens we must as well shift
as global citizens we must as well shift away from seeing migration as a cost
away from seeing migration as a cost
away from seeing migration as a cost bear – an investment which bears fruit
bear – an investment which bears fruit
bear – an investment which bears fruit let me give an example a global citizen
let me give an example a global citizen
let me give an example a global citizen tax how would it work
tax how would it work
tax how would it work a percentage of the investment of the
a percentage of the investment of the
a percentage of the investment of the wealthy migrants around the world
wealthy migrants around the world
wealthy migrants around the world applying for second residence or
applying for second residence or
applying for second residence or citizenship would go towards funding the
citizenship would go towards funding the
citizenship would go towards funding the most urgent needs of welcoming and
most urgent needs of welcoming and
most urgent needs of welcoming and resettling refugees around the world a
resettling refugees around the world a
resettling refugees around the world a truly win win win solution win for the
truly win win win solution win for the
truly win win win solution win for the country a win for the wealthy and a win
country a win for the wealthy and a win
country a win for the wealthy and a win for those in needs finally as global
for those in needs finally as global
for those in needs finally as global citizens we must as well change our
citizens we must as well change our
citizens we must as well change our language when we talk about migrants
language when we talk about migrants
language when we talk about migrants from negative to positive
from negative to positive
from negative to positive we must stop labeling it as a
we must stop labeling it as a
we must stop labeling it as a destructive change and suggesting
destructive change and suggesting
destructive change and suggesting constructive innovation as global
constructive innovation as global
constructive innovation as global citizens we must look beyond the world’s
citizens we must look beyond the world’s
citizens we must look beyond the world’s borders and advocate for changes that
borders and advocate for changes that
borders and advocate for changes that will make this planet better for the
will make this planet better for the
will make this planet better for the next generation we must continue
next generation we must continue
next generation we must continue believing in behaviors that will make
believing in behaviors that will make
believing in behaviors that will make relief of global citizens around the
relief of global citizens around the
relief of global citizens around the world supporting the needs of those in
world supporting the needs of those in
world supporting the needs of those in needs with every action we take we’re
needs with every action we take we’re
needs with every action we take we’re part of a movement which is here to
part of a movement which is here to
part of a movement which is here to protect the planet for the future
protect the planet for the future
protect the planet for the future generation but as well by preparing them
generation but as well by preparing them
generation but as well by preparing them to take on the challenges that lie ahead
to take on the challenges that lie ahead
to take on the challenges that lie ahead when I look at my family for generations
when I look at my family for generations
when I look at my family for generations we have added value to every society
we have added value to every society
we have added value to every society that have welcomed us and I continue my
that have welcomed us and I continue my
that have welcomed us and I continue my quest to ensure that people will
quest to ensure that people will
quest to ensure that people will continue seeing migration as a positive
continue seeing migration as a positive
continue seeing migration as a positive element in every society for the next
element in every society for the next
element in every society for the next generation being political instability
generation being political instability
generation being political instability climate change terrorism security we
climate change terrorism security we
climate change terrorism security we don’t have the luxury of time to wait
don’t have the luxury of time to wait
don’t have the luxury of time to wait for our governments to get a line on
for our governments to get a line on
for our governments to get a line on these topics people need our help and
these topics people need our help and
these topics people need our help and they do need it urgently
they do need it urgently
they do need it urgently we must act together and act now let me
we must act together and act now let me
we must act together and act now let me leave you with one final thought from
leave you with one final thought from
leave you with one final thought from Kofi Annan at the last global citizen
Kofi Annan at the last global citizen
Kofi Annan at the last global citizen forum in Monaco if you want to go fast
forum in Monaco if you want to go fast
forum in Monaco if you want to go fast go alone
go alone
go alone if you want to go far go together ladies
if you want to go far go together ladies
if you want to go far go together ladies and gentlemen I know we have a long
and gentlemen I know we have a long
and gentlemen I know we have a long journey
journey
journey ahead but I know that we can only get
ahead but I know that we can only get
ahead but I know that we can only get there if we go together as global
there if we go together as global
there if we go together as global citizens the movement is waiting for you
citizens the movement is waiting for you
citizens the movement is waiting for you are you ready
are you ready
are you ready thank you
”
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