i was born in tanzania educated in switzerland United Kingdom Canada and
switzerland United Kingdom Canada and
switzerland United Kingdom Canada and the United States I have lived in eight
the United States I have lived in eight
the United States I have lived in eight countries spanning three I have lived
countries spanning three I have lived
countries spanning three I have lived and worked in eight countries spanning
and worked in eight countries spanning
and worked in eight countries spanning three continents and in my lifetime as
three continents and in my lifetime as
three continents and in my lifetime as you heard i visited 83 countries for
you heard i visited 83 countries for
you heard i visited 83 countries for work and leisure for the last 22 years i
work and leisure for the last 22 years i
work and leisure for the last 22 years i have been working with the agua con
have been working with the agua con
have been working with the agua con development network also known as the AK
development network also known as the AK
development network also known as the AK DN many of the countries that have
DN many of the countries that have
DN many of the countries that have worked in and lived in were ravaged by
worked in and lived in were ravaged by
worked in and lived in were ravaged by natural and man-made disasters and
natural and man-made disasters and
natural and man-made disasters and political unrest on a voluntary capacity
political unrest on a voluntary capacity
political unrest on a voluntary capacity I am the interim chair on the board of
I am the interim chair on the board of
I am the interim chair on the board of fair trade international being involved
fair trade international being involved
fair trade international being involved in social enterprise activities
in social enterprise activities
in social enterprise activities particularly in helping improving
particularly in helping improving
particularly in helping improving quality of life through community
quality of life through community
quality of life through community development access to education to help
development access to education to help
development access to education to help alleviate poverty and hence sustainable
alleviate poverty and hence sustainable
alleviate poverty and hence sustainable livelihoods is one thing that really
livelihoods is one thing that really
livelihoods is one thing that really motivates me and drives me the topic of
motivates me and drives me the topic of
motivates me and drives me the topic of my conversation with you today is around
my conversation with you today is around
my conversation with you today is around cosmopolitan ethics helping shape
cosmopolitan ethics helping shape
cosmopolitan ethics helping shape Africa’s future and the rest of the
Africa’s future and the rest of the
Africa’s future and the rest of the world His Highness dialga Khan is a
world His Highness dialga Khan is a
world His Highness dialga Khan is a great advocate and proponent of
great advocate and proponent of
great advocate and proponent of cosmopolitan ethics I want you to hear
cosmopolitan ethics I want you to hear
cosmopolitan ethics I want you to hear in his own words a him explain this
in his own words a him explain this
in his own words a him explain this concept he addressed this into the
concept he addressed this into the
concept he addressed this into the Canadian Parliament in 2014 the holiness
Canadian Parliament in 2014 the holiness
Canadian Parliament in 2014 the holiness ethic is one that welcomes the
ethic is one that welcomes the
ethic is one that welcomes the complexity of human society if balances
complexity of human society if balances
complexity of human society if balances rights and duties freedom and
rights and duties freedom and
rights and duties freedom and responsibility it is an ethic for all
responsibility it is an ethic for all
responsibility it is an ethic for all peoples the familiar and the other
peoples the familiar and the other
peoples the familiar and the other whether they live across the street or
whether they live across the street or
whether they live across the street or across the planet and further a month
across the planet and further a month
across the planet and further a month later at Brown University at the ogden
later at Brown University at the ogden
later at Brown University at the ogden lecture he said in an increasingly
lecture he said in an increasingly
lecture he said in an increasingly cosmopolitan world it is essential that
cosmopolitan world it is essential that
cosmopolitan world it is essential that we live by a cosmopolitan
we live by a cosmopolitan
we live by a cosmopolitan one that addresses the age-old need to
one that addresses the age-old need to
one that addresses the age-old need to balance the particular and the universal
balance the particular and the universal
balance the particular and the universal John about human rights and social
John about human rights and social
John about human rights and social duties to advance personal freedom and
duties to advance personal freedom and
duties to advance personal freedom and to accept human responsibility it is in
to accept human responsibility it is in
to accept human responsibility it is in that spirit that we can nurture bonds of
that spirit that we can nurture bonds of
that spirit that we can nurture bonds of confidence across different peoples and
confidence across different peoples and
confidence across different peoples and unique individuals welcoming the growing
unique individuals welcoming the growing
unique individuals welcoming the growing diversity of our world even in matters
diversity of our world even in matters
diversity of our world even in matters of faith as a gift of the divine
of faith as a gift of the divine
of faith as a gift of the divine difference in this context can become an
difference in this context can become an
difference in this context can become an opportunity not affect a blessing rather
opportunity not affect a blessing rather
opportunity not affect a blessing rather than a burden I am a strong believer in
than a burden I am a strong believer in
than a burden I am a strong believer in the notion of one humanity whether one
the notion of one humanity whether one
the notion of one humanity whether one is born like us here fortunate in areas
is born like us here fortunate in areas
is born like us here fortunate in areas of opportunities or those that through
of opportunities or those that through
of opportunities or those that through no fault of their own are born in areas
no fault of their own are born in areas
no fault of their own are born in areas of poverty and depravity we all take an
of poverty and depravity we all take an
of poverty and depravity we all take an average of twenty one thousand six
average of twenty one thousand six
average of twenty one thousand six hundred breaths per day we have a
hundred breaths per day we have a
hundred breaths per day we have a lifespan of around 4,000 weeks a little
lifespan of around 4,000 weeks a little
lifespan of around 4,000 weeks a little less for those unfortunately in the
less for those unfortunately in the
less for those unfortunately in the impoverished areas the main difference
impoverished areas the main difference
impoverished areas the main difference between where we live where we are born
between where we live where we are born
between where we live where we are born and what we do is what we really do
and what we do is what we really do
and what we do is what we really do during the time we’re on this earth when
during the time we’re on this earth when
during the time we’re on this earth when we’re on this earth for those fortunate
we’re on this earth for those fortunate
we’re on this earth for those fortunate enough you and me we spend forty seven
enough you and me we spend forty seven
enough you and me we spend forty seven percent of our lives 1800 weeks on
percent of our lives 1800 weeks on
percent of our lives 1800 weeks on education developing a career and then
education developing a career and then
education developing a career and then for the balance of the time we have
for the balance of the time we have
for the balance of the time we have gainful employment we look after our
gainful employment we look after our
gainful employment we look after our families and then hopefully if we have
families and then hopefully if we have
families and then hopefully if we have time we give back to community
time we give back to community
time we give back to community unfortunately for those people that were
unfortunately for those people that were
unfortunately for those people that were born on the other side they spent eighty
born on the other side they spent eighty
born on the other side they spent eighty percent of their lives on survival
percent of their lives on survival
percent of their lives on survival fighting illnesses looking for shelter
fighting illnesses looking for shelter
fighting illnesses looking for shelter and trying to gain employment
and trying to gain employment
and trying to gain employment when one looks at the world today it is
when one looks at the world today it is
when one looks at the world today it is fragmented and fragile nationalism
fragmented and fragile nationalism
fragmented and fragile nationalism patriotism is all on the rise respect
patriotism is all on the rise respect
patriotism is all on the rise respect tolerance and understanding of different
tolerance and understanding of different
tolerance and understanding of different cultures different faiths is waning this
cultures different faiths is waning this
cultures different faiths is waning this has a tendency to eliminate those
has a tendency to eliminate those
has a tendency to eliminate those marginal societies it in it impacts
marginal societies it in it impacts
marginal societies it in it impacts their quality of life and sustainable
their quality of life and sustainable
their quality of life and sustainable growth my experiences working around the
growth my experiences working around the
growth my experiences working around the globe has shown me that we find it
globe has shown me that we find it
globe has shown me that we find it extremely difficult to embrace the
extremely difficult to embrace the
extremely difficult to embrace the complexity of human society graciously
complexity of human society graciously
complexity of human society graciously however there is one silver lining if I
however there is one silver lining if I
however there is one silver lining if I may call it or one exception is what
may call it or one exception is what
may call it or one exception is what happens post disasters when an
happens post disasters when an
happens post disasters when an earthquake hurricane landslide has
earthquake hurricane landslide has
earthquake hurricane landslide has struck you can see clearly at that time
struck you can see clearly at that time
struck you can see clearly at that time the care the compassion the
the care the compassion the
the care the compassion the understanding and the importance and the
understanding and the importance and the
understanding and the importance and the implications of social duties that are
implications of social duties that are
implications of social duties that are being embraced with dignity this is what
being embraced with dignity this is what
being embraced with dignity this is what is really cosmopolitan ethics let me
is really cosmopolitan ethics let me
is really cosmopolitan ethics let me give you some examples at the time of
give you some examples at the time of
give you some examples at the time of Buju earthquake in India in 2001 I had
Buju earthquake in India in 2001 I had
Buju earthquake in India in 2001 I had gone to India to assist in putting
gone to India to assist in putting
gone to India to assist in putting together logistics for an AK DN response
together logistics for an AK DN response
together logistics for an AK DN response when we’ve got to bhuj those people that
when we’ve got to bhuj those people that
when we’ve got to bhuj those people that were displaced which was most of the
were displaced which was most of the
were displaced which was most of the town were sitting in makeshift camps and
town were sitting in makeshift camps and
town were sitting in makeshift camps and and were just mulling around not able to
and were just mulling around not able to
and were just mulling around not able to find things we went there to help him
find things we went there to help him
find things we went there to help him and it was few hours later at lunchtime
and it was few hours later at lunchtime
and it was few hours later at lunchtime we got people coming to us and saying
we got people coming to us and saying
we got people coming to us and saying please join us for meals despite them
please join us for meals despite them
please join us for meals despite them having rationed food they took us in
having rationed food they took us in
having rationed food they took us in helped us and gave us food to eat at the
helped us and gave us food to eat at the
helped us and gave us food to eat at the time it started raining they came
time it started raining they came
time it started raining they came running out to give us some plastic
running out to give us some plastic
running out to give us some plastic cloth to put over our heads so we did
cloth to put over our heads so we did
cloth to put over our heads so we did not get wet when then in Tajikistan in
not get wet when then in Tajikistan in
not get wet when then in Tajikistan in 2002 in the aftermath of a landslide
2002 in the aftermath of a landslide
2002 in the aftermath of a landslide that affected
that affected
that affected village of dashed in Ghana badakhshan
village of dashed in Ghana badakhshan
village of dashed in Ghana badakhshan were unfortunately twenty poor people
were unfortunately twenty poor people
were unfortunately twenty poor people died seventy-five houses were destroyed
died seventy-five houses were destroyed
died seventy-five houses were destroyed and five hundred people were displaced
and five hundred people were displaced
and five hundred people were displaced again when we went there a few hours
again when we went there a few hours
again when we went there a few hours after the disaster struck one was amazed
after the disaster struck one was amazed
after the disaster struck one was amazed to see the compassion the care of those
to see the compassion the care of those
to see the compassion the care of those that were affected coming to you making
that were affected coming to you making
that were affected coming to you making sure you were comfortable and working
sure you were comfortable and working
sure you were comfortable and working with you to help their fellow brothers
with you to help their fellow brothers
with you to help their fellow brothers and sisters this is something that I
and sisters this is something that I
and sisters this is something that I found extremely gratifying and then a
found extremely gratifying and then a
found extremely gratifying and then a few years later yes in the United States
few years later yes in the United States
few years later yes in the United States of America in 2005 when Katrina Rita the
of America in 2005 when Katrina Rita the
of America in 2005 when Katrina Rita the outpouring of generosity was out of this
outpouring of generosity was out of this
outpouring of generosity was out of this world people from different faiths
world people from different faiths
world people from different faiths Christians Hindus Jews Muslims you name
Christians Hindus Jews Muslims you name
Christians Hindus Jews Muslims you name it all of us we got together to help
it all of us we got together to help
it all of us we got together to help those that were displaced find shelter
those that were displaced find shelter
those that were displaced find shelter get food and indeed opportunities for
get food and indeed opportunities for
get food and indeed opportunities for employment this was what we all did
employment this was what we all did
employment this was what we all did there are many other countries where I
there are many other countries where I
there are many other countries where I was that had the same effect but the
was that had the same effect but the
was that had the same effect but the essence of time I’m not going to go into
essence of time I’m not going to go into
essence of time I’m not going to go into all of them Pakistan Afghanistan
all of them Pakistan Afghanistan
all of them Pakistan Afghanistan kazakhstan Madagascar these are all
kazakhstan Madagascar these are all
kazakhstan Madagascar these are all countries where there were disasters and
countries where there were disasters and
countries where there were disasters and you could see the compassion outpouring
you could see the compassion outpouring
you could see the compassion outpouring there it was so gratifying to see that
there it was so gratifying to see that
there it was so gratifying to see that however on the flip side as soon as the
however on the flip side as soon as the
however on the flip side as soon as the headlines were forgotten guess what
headlines were forgotten guess what
headlines were forgotten guess what societies went back to doing what their
societies went back to doing what their
societies went back to doing what their own thing and they forgot those were
own thing and they forgot those were
own thing and they forgot those were affect those that were affected those
affect those that were affected those
affect those that were affected those that were affected in these disasters
that were affected in these disasters
that were affected in these disasters took five to ten years to get their
took five to ten years to get their
took five to ten years to get their lives back together It was as if a new
lives back together It was as if a new
lives back together It was as if a new page was turned and the suffering that
page was turned and the suffering that
page was turned and the suffering that occurred was forgotten in a distant
occurred was forgotten in a distant
occurred was forgotten in a distant memory so why am i bringing this up to
memory so why am i bringing this up to
memory so why am i bringing this up to you today the subject so late at night
you today the subject so late at night
you today the subject so late at night after we had a wonderful dinner today
after we had a wonderful dinner today
after we had a wonderful dinner today like no time in history but the world is
like no time in history but the world is
like no time in history but the world is facing a critical time and we need to do
facing a critical time and we need to do
facing a critical time and we need to do something sensing this fragility and
something sensing this fragility and
something sensing this fragility and fragmentation
fragmentation
fragmentation since 911 in 2001 the other con has been
since 911 in 2001 the other con has been
since 911 in 2001 the other con has been advocating relentlessly the inculcation
advocating relentlessly the inculcation
advocating relentlessly the inculcation of cosmopolitan ethics and embracing the
of cosmopolitan ethics and embracing the
of cosmopolitan ethics and embracing the growing diversity of our world one of
growing diversity of our world one of
growing diversity of our world one of his endeavours is where we are today the
his endeavours is where we are today the
his endeavours is where we are today the alga Khan Academy the aim of the
alga Khan Academy the aim of the
alga Khan Academy the aim of the academies is to develop future ethical
academies is to develop future ethical
academies is to develop future ethical leaders with the skills and knowledge to
leaders with the skills and knowledge to
leaders with the skills and knowledge to support positive development in their
support positive development in their
support positive development in their societies how does it achieve this it
societies how does it achieve this it
societies how does it achieve this it achieves it by recruiting exceptional
achieves it by recruiting exceptional
achieves it by recruiting exceptional young individuals from all backgrounds
young individuals from all backgrounds
young individuals from all backgrounds regressive means and providing them with
regressive means and providing them with
regressive means and providing them with the highest international standard of
the highest international standard of
the highest international standard of education the each school emphasizes the
education the each school emphasizes the
education the each school emphasizes the importance of academic excellence at the
importance of academic excellence at the
importance of academic excellence at the same time it instills in the students a
same time it instills in the students a
same time it instills in the students a sense of civic responsibility leadership
sense of civic responsibility leadership
sense of civic responsibility leadership and the desire ability and commitment to
and the desire ability and commitment to
and the desire ability and commitment to give back to their communities locally
give back to their communities locally
give back to their communities locally and globally the academies are rooted in
and globally the academies are rooted in
and globally the academies are rooted in an educational approach that measures
an educational approach that measures
an educational approach that measures success not just by academics
success not just by academics
success not just by academics achievement but also how students apply
achievement but also how students apply
achievement but also how students apply what they know to make the world a
what they know to make the world a
what they know to make the world a better place students also receive a
better place students also receive a
better place students also receive a grounding in ethics and living in
grounding in ethics and living in
grounding in ethics and living in diverse communities doesn’t that sound
diverse communities doesn’t that sound
diverse communities doesn’t that sound like cosmopolitan ethics embedded in the
like cosmopolitan ethics embedded in the
like cosmopolitan ethics embedded in the academies programme is something special
academies programme is something special
academies programme is something special it’s called the strands the AG account
it’s called the strands the AG account
it’s called the strands the AG account strands these are aimed at strengthening
strands these are aimed at strengthening
strands these are aimed at strengthening and understandings and outlooks needed
and understandings and outlooks needed
and understandings and outlooks needed by our ethical future read leaders these
by our ethical future read leaders these
by our ethical future read leaders these strands are unique to the Agra konica
strands are unique to the Agra konica
strands are unique to the Agra konica damis only and they encompass five
damis only and they encompass five
damis only and they encompass five critical areas ethics pluralism culture
critical areas ethics pluralism culture
critical areas ethics pluralism culture governance and civil society and
governance and civil society and
governance and civil society and economics for development these strands
economics for development these strands
economics for development these strands examine issues of global importance and
examine issues of global importance and
examine issues of global importance and are tailored to the cultural context of
are tailored to the cultural context of
are tailored to the cultural context of each Academy this allows our students to
each Academy this allows our students to
each Academy this allows our students to engage with international issues and
engage with international issues and
engage with international issues and challenges while remaining strongly
challenges while remaining strongly
challenges while remaining strongly grounded in context the other
grounded in context the other
grounded in context the other khanacademy are different from any other
khanacademy are different from any other
khanacademy are different from any other educational institutions secondary
educational institutions secondary
educational institutions secondary junior school in the world this is what
junior school in the world this is what
junior school in the world this is what makes us different and this is why we
makes us different and this is why we
makes us different and this is why we are poised in a real good place to make
are poised in a real good place to make
are poised in a real good place to make a significant difference my call to
a significant difference my call to
a significant difference my call to action today particularly to the Academy
action today particularly to the Academy
action today particularly to the Academy community is to take the knowledge we
community is to take the knowledge we
community is to take the knowledge we have accumulated put it into practice
have accumulated put it into practice
have accumulated put it into practice lead the way so we can show the world
lead the way so we can show the world
lead the way so we can show the world how it is to live by cosmopolitan ethics
how it is to live by cosmopolitan ethics
how it is to live by cosmopolitan ethics we can for starters today in our daily
we can for starters today in our daily
we can for starters today in our daily lives right now in our interaction with
lives right now in our interaction with
lives right now in our interaction with our colleagues our neighbors those
our colleagues our neighbors those
our colleagues our neighbors those sitting next to you those in front of
sitting next to you those in front of
sitting next to you those in front of you those behind you treat them all with
you those behind you treat them all with
you those behind you treat them all with respect with love with care compassion
respect with love with care compassion
respect with love with care compassion and with a smile a smile costs nothing
and with a smile a smile costs nothing
and with a smile a smile costs nothing it creates so much it enriches those who
it creates so much it enriches those who
it creates so much it enriches those who receive and impoverishes those who get
receive and impoverishes those who get
receive and impoverishes those who get it does not impress those who give a
it does not impress those who give a
it does not impress those who give a smile happens in a flash and the memory
smile happens in a flash and the memory
smile happens in a flash and the memory sometimes can last a lifetime when we
sometimes can last a lifetime when we
sometimes can last a lifetime when we get into the global workforce we should
get into the global workforce we should
get into the global workforce we should accept other people for who they are at
accept other people for who they are at
accept other people for who they are at the Africa conference in Egypt about a
the Africa conference in Egypt about a
the Africa conference in Egypt about a year ago the Agra Consett Africa’s
year ago the Agra Consett Africa’s
year ago the Agra Consett Africa’s moment has come and the best way to move
moment has come and the best way to move
moment has come and the best way to move into the future is to walk hand in hand
into the future is to walk hand in hand
into the future is to walk hand in hand with the partners who had to share our
with the partners who had to share our
with the partners who had to share our goal less seize this moment end quote so
goal less seize this moment end quote so
goal less seize this moment end quote so my friends and colleagues remember we
my friends and colleagues remember we
my friends and colleagues remember we have every reason to stout stand tall to
have every reason to stout stand tall to
have every reason to stout stand tall to proudly let the world know the
proudly let the world know the
proudly let the world know the importance and advantages of living in a
importance and advantages of living in a
importance and advantages of living in a cosmopolitan ethic way in conclusion let
cosmopolitan ethic way in conclusion let
cosmopolitan ethic way in conclusion let me reiterate let us not wait for the
me reiterate let us not wait for the
me reiterate let us not wait for the next disaster to hit to treat everyone
next disaster to hit to treat everyone
next disaster to hit to treat everyone with compassion let’s make it a part of
with compassion let’s make it a part of
with compassion let’s make it a part of our every
our every
our every a practice our everyday life it is
a practice our everyday life it is
a practice our everyday life it is important we come together as a common
important we come together as a common
important we come together as a common humanity in the swift response to
humanity in the swift response to
humanity in the swift response to disasters yes however today there’s
disasters yes however today there’s
disasters yes however today there’s another underlying urgency that we see
another underlying urgency that we see
another underlying urgency that we see more and more fragmentations and
more and more fragmentations and
more and more fragmentations and divisions in the world it is even more
divisions in the world it is even more
divisions in the world it is even more critical today the as the Archon said
critical today the as the Archon said
critical today the as the Archon said let’s come together on the timeless
let’s come together on the timeless
let’s come together on the timeless truth that we are each one of us and all
truth that we are each one of us and all
truth that we are each one of us and all of us born of a single soul I thank you
of us born of a single soul I thank you
of us born of a single soul I thank you I wish you Godspeed good luck and video
I wish you Godspeed good luck and video
I wish you Godspeed good luck and video idea
idea
idea [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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