the biggest problems in the world affect tens if not hundreds of millions of
tens if not hundreds of millions of
tens if not hundreds of millions of people the numbers are so vast it’s
people the numbers are so vast it’s
people the numbers are so vast it’s almost unthinkable intractable problems
almost unthinkable intractable problems
almost unthinkable intractable problems like the six million people that are
like the six million people that are
like the six million people that are directly affected by terrorism war and
directly affected by terrorism war and
directly affected by terrorism war and civil strife 170 million people there
civil strife 170 million people there
civil strife 170 million people there are 60 million refugees 220 million
are 60 million refugees 220 million
are 60 million refugees 220 million people are impacted by natural disasters
people are impacted by natural disasters
people are impacted by natural disasters 783 million people lack clean water 836
783 million people lack clean water 836
783 million people lack clean water 836 million people are living in extreme
million people are living in extreme
million people are living in extreme poverty but what if I were to tell you
poverty but what if I were to tell you
poverty but what if I were to tell you that there’s a problem that affects a
that there’s a problem that affects a
that there’s a problem that affects a greater number of people than each of
greater number of people than each of
greater number of people than each of these in fact more people than all of
these in fact more people than all of
these in fact more people than all of these problems combined four billion
these problems combined four billion
these problems combined four billion people are living under authoritarian
people are living under authoritarian
people are living under authoritarian rule it is the largest problem affecting
rule it is the largest problem affecting
rule it is the largest problem affecting humanity today those are people who are
humanity today those are people who are
humanity today those are people who are living under military hunters absolute
living under military hunters absolute
living under military hunters absolute monarchies dictatorships or competitive
monarchies dictatorships or competitive
monarchies dictatorships or competitive authoritarian States when I say
authoritarian States when I say
authoritarian States when I say authoritarianism I mean both Syria which
authoritarianism I mean both Syria which
authoritarianism I mean both Syria which is a fully fledged dictatorship in a
is a fully fledged dictatorship in a
is a fully fledged dictatorship in a country were by and large you don’t
country were by and large you don’t
country were by and large you don’t really have individual rights but
really have individual rights but
really have individual rights but occasionally they’ll have elections as a
occasionally they’ll have elections as a
occasionally they’ll have elections as a fig leaf like Russia or Venezuela
fig leaf like Russia or Venezuela
fig leaf like Russia or Venezuela unfortunately while there is an
unfortunately while there is an
unfortunately while there is an ecosystem that seeks to address issues
ecosystem that seeks to address issues
ecosystem that seeks to address issues like the refugee crisis there are
like the refugee crisis there are
like the refugee crisis there are government departments Charities events
government departments Charities events
government departments Charities events and even conferences to address them
and even conferences to address them
and even conferences to address them there’s no such effort that seeks to
there’s no such effort that seeks to
there’s no such effort that seeks to address the issue of tyrannical
address the issue of tyrannical
address the issue of tyrannical government in the world one way of
government in the world one way of
government in the world one way of really communicating the suffering and
really communicating the suffering and
really communicating the suffering and the cost of dictatorship I like to use
the cost of dictatorship I like to use
the cost of dictatorship I like to use this satellite image on the lower side
this satellite image on the lower side
this satellite image on the lower side to the right you’ll see the satellite
to the right you’ll see the satellite
to the right you’ll see the satellite image was going to cover electricity and
image was going to cover electricity and
image was going to cover electricity and power generation
power generation
power generation it shows you what seems like an island
it shows you what seems like an island
it shows you what seems like an island of activity
of activity
of activity that island of activity is the place
that island of activity is the place
that island of activity is the place where Samsung and LG and Hyundai exist
where Samsung and LG and Hyundai exist
where Samsung and LG and Hyundai exist that’s South Korea North Korea is living
that’s South Korea North Korea is living
that’s South Korea North Korea is living in absolute darkness the fact is the
in absolute darkness the fact is the
in absolute darkness the fact is the social cost of dictatorship is such that
social cost of dictatorship is such that
social cost of dictatorship is such that the advances in technology medicine
the advances in technology medicine
the advances in technology medicine education economics occur in free and
education economics occur in free and
education economics occur in free and open societies not in a tyranny in a
open societies not in a tyranny in a
open societies not in a tyranny in a tyranny there are a few dots with a
tyranny there are a few dots with a
tyranny there are a few dots with a dictator and his henchmen live if you
dictator and his henchmen live if you
dictator and his henchmen live if you want to think about the opportunity cost
want to think about the opportunity cost
want to think about the opportunity cost of dictatorship think about half of the
of dictatorship think about half of the
of dictatorship think about half of the world’s population their talent
world’s population their talent
world’s population their talent asphyxiated unable to realize their
asphyxiated unable to realize their
asphyxiated unable to realize their potential sometimes I hear people saying
potential sometimes I hear people saying
potential sometimes I hear people saying that some people simply can’t live in
that some people simply can’t live in
that some people simply can’t live in freedom because it’s not their way and
freedom because it’s not their way and
freedom because it’s not their way and it’s silly or too racist or it’s a
it’s silly or too racist or it’s a
it’s silly or too racist or it’s a cultural ease ridiculous argument people
cultural ease ridiculous argument people
cultural ease ridiculous argument people say this about the Chinese as if Taiwan
say this about the Chinese as if Taiwan
say this about the Chinese as if Taiwan didn’t exist one of the most democratic
didn’t exist one of the most democratic
didn’t exist one of the most democratic places on earth and we’ve seen the
places on earth and we’ve seen the
places on earth and we’ve seen the difference between South Korea and North
difference between South Korea and North
difference between South Korea and North Korea people say this about Russia and
Korea people say this about Russia and
Korea people say this about Russia and yet it’s the reason why vitomir Putin is
yet it’s the reason why vitomir Putin is
yet it’s the reason why vitomir Putin is so focused on the Ukraine because in
so focused on the Ukraine because in
so focused on the Ukraine because in Ukraine about 18% of the population is
Ukraine about 18% of the population is
Ukraine about 18% of the population is ethnic Russian and if there are 9
ethnic Russian and if there are 9
ethnic Russian and if there are 9 million people who can live in a Western
million people who can live in a Western
million people who can live in a Western democracy and the Ukraine succeeds then
democracy and the Ukraine succeeds then
democracy and the Ukraine succeeds then that means that also the Russians inside
that means that also the Russians inside
that means that also the Russians inside Russia can enjoy the same what we’re
Russia can enjoy the same what we’re
Russia can enjoy the same what we’re talking about of course is freedom of
talking about of course is freedom of
talking about of course is freedom of expression the right to choose your
expression the right to choose your
expression the right to choose your leaders and have them not stay
leaders and have them not stay
leaders and have them not stay perennially in power freedom of the
perennially in power freedom of the
perennially in power freedom of the press the right to freely associate and
press the right to freely associate and
press the right to freely associate and redress your grievances through protest
redress your grievances through protest
redress your grievances through protest if necessary and of course property
if necessary and of course property
if necessary and of course property rights so that no one can come along and
rights so that no one can come along and
rights so that no one can come along and simply take your stuff because they feel
simply take your stuff because they feel
simply take your stuff because they feel like it so what do these 4 billion
like it so what do these 4 billion
like it so what do these 4 billion people where can they turn to for help
people where can they turn to for help
people where can they turn to for help well
well
well another question is why is it that we do
another question is why is it that we do
another question is why is it that we do not see the problem of tyranny the way
not see the problem of tyranny the way
not see the problem of tyranny the way it’s being described here unfortunately
it’s being described here unfortunately
it’s being described here unfortunately people think go to the United States
people think go to the United States
people think go to the United States government except you see sadly our
government except you see sadly our
government except you see sadly our government chooses to address this issue
government chooses to address this issue
government chooses to address this issue based on short-term objectives economic
based on short-term objectives economic
based on short-term objectives economic or national security concerns which is
or national security concerns which is
or national security concerns which is why the United States can be counted on
why the United States can be counted on
why the United States can be counted on to talk about human rights violations in
to talk about human rights violations in
to talk about human rights violations in Iran but not in the same vein in Saudi
Iran but not in the same vein in Saudi
Iran but not in the same vein in Saudi Arabia now Europe of course is no better
Arabia now Europe of course is no better
Arabia now Europe of course is no better and anyone from Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan
and anyone from Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan
and anyone from Azerbaijan or Kazakhstan or Belarus can tell you that their
or Belarus can tell you that their
or Belarus can tell you that their expectations were not met when it came
expectations were not met when it came
expectations were not met when it came to Europe applying those standards to
to Europe applying those standards to
to Europe applying those standards to those tyrannies can we turn perhaps to
those tyrannies can we turn perhaps to
those tyrannies can we turn perhaps to the United Nations an organization set
the United Nations an organization set
the United Nations an organization set up to address freedom prosperity and
up to address freedom prosperity and
up to address freedom prosperity and peace in the world but there you see
peace in the world but there you see
peace in the world but there you see unfortunately the United Nations is
unfortunately the United Nations is
unfortunately the United Nations is essentially a playground for
essentially a playground for
essentially a playground for dictatorships which is why the UN Human
dictatorships which is why the UN Human
dictatorships which is why the UN Human Rights Council includes such members as
Rights Council includes such members as
Rights Council includes such members as Saudi Arabia China Qatar Egypt Cuba well
Saudi Arabia China Qatar Egypt Cuba well
Saudi Arabia China Qatar Egypt Cuba well perhaps we can turn to the philanthropic
perhaps we can turn to the philanthropic
perhaps we can turn to the philanthropic sector but then you see there’s a
sector but then you see there’s a
sector but then you see there’s a problem there as well the places that
problem there as well the places that
problem there as well the places that are supposed to and in fact advertise
are supposed to and in fact advertise
are supposed to and in fact advertise that they are the places where you can
that they are the places where you can
that they are the places where you can go to solve the world’s problems like in
go to solve the world’s problems like in
go to solve the world’s problems like in fact the World Economic Forum in Davos
fact the World Economic Forum in Davos
fact the World Economic Forum in Davos is unfortunately financed in part by
is unfortunately financed in part by
is unfortunately financed in part by dictatorship so the burden falls on
dictatorship so the burden falls on
dictatorship so the burden falls on human rights organizations and there
human rights organizations and there
human rights organizations and there again there’s a slight problem because
again there’s a slight problem because
again there’s a slight problem because the main human rights organizations the
the main human rights organizations the
the main human rights organizations the big ones focus their approach on
big ones focus their approach on
big ones focus their approach on criticism of democracy if you analyze it
criticism of democracy if you analyze it
criticism of democracy if you analyze it statistically much more so than focusing
statistically much more so than focusing
statistically much more so than focusing on tyranny so ultimately the burden
on tyranny so ultimately the burden
on tyranny so ultimately the burden falls on activists who are either
falls on activists who are either
falls on activists who are either operating in exile or inside these
operating in exile or inside these
operating in exile or inside these countries in a state of siege two key
countries in a state of siege two key
countries in a state of siege two key outcomes are necessary to address the
outcomes are necessary to address the
outcomes are necessary to address the issue of tyranny in the world the first
issue of tyranny in the world the first
issue of tyranny in the world the first of course is to bring the issue of
of course is to bring the issue of
of course is to bring the issue of authoritarianism to the top of the world
authoritarianism to the top of the world
authoritarianism to the top of the world agenda
agenda
agenda so that people can be conversant on this
so that people can be conversant on this
so that people can be conversant on this issue so that we can bring about a
issue so that we can bring about a
issue so that we can bring about a cultural shift that will bring about a
cultural shift that will bring about a
cultural shift that will bring about a policy shift and governments will
policy shift and governments will
policy shift and governments will actually do what they’re supposed to on
actually do what they’re supposed to on
actually do what they’re supposed to on this subject the second of course the
this subject the second of course the
this subject the second of course the second key outcome is to help these
second key outcome is to help these
second key outcome is to help these people directly people in the
people directly people in the
people directly people in the Philippines or in Bolivia there are
Philippines or in Bolivia there are
Philippines or in Bolivia there are still institutions there they have a
still institutions there they have a
still institutions there they have a competitive authoritarian system but you
competitive authoritarian system but you
competitive authoritarian system but you can still assist them by and large
can still assist them by and large
can still assist them by and large openly in places like North Korea or
openly in places like North Korea or
openly in places like North Korea or China in those cases there are people
China in those cases there are people
China in those cases there are people who are willing to lay their lives put
who are willing to lay their lives put
who are willing to lay their lives put them on the line in order to bring about
them on the line in order to bring about
them on the line in order to bring about an end a peaceful yet passionate end to
an end a peaceful yet passionate end to
an end a peaceful yet passionate end to the dictatorship in those countries what
the dictatorship in those countries what
the dictatorship in those countries what I’m asking is for you to consider
I’m asking is for you to consider
I’m asking is for you to consider adopting a particular approach to this
adopting a particular approach to this
adopting a particular approach to this you may think that this is not for you
you may think that this is not for you
you may think that this is not for you but this is for government some of you
but this is for government some of you
but this is for government some of you choose to travel in business class as
choose to travel in business class as
choose to travel in business class as opposed to coach you want to pay two or
opposed to coach you want to pay two or
opposed to coach you want to pay two or three times more for a wet towel and a
three times more for a wet towel and a
three times more for a wet towel and a cocktail some of you don’t drink from
cocktail some of you don’t drink from
cocktail some of you don’t drink from the minibar in the hotel some of you
the minibar in the hotel some of you
the minibar in the hotel some of you choose a 401 K over an IRA you have an
choose a 401 K over an IRA you have an
choose a 401 K over an IRA you have an economic policy you also have a cultural
economic policy you also have a cultural
economic policy you also have a cultural policy some of you prefer the movies
policy some of you prefer the movies
policy some of you prefer the movies some concerts some of the theater some
some concerts some of the theater some
some concerts some of the theater some going to a national park what I’m
going to a national park what I’m
going to a national park what I’m proposing is that you consider having
proposing is that you consider having
proposing is that you consider having your own foreign policy if you think
your own foreign policy if you think
your own foreign policy if you think that people in government know what
that people in government know what
that people in government know what they’re doing on the subject you read
they’re doing on the subject you read
they’re doing on the subject you read the biographies of people in history and
the biographies of people in history and
the biographies of people in history and the people who are close to power when
the people who are close to power when
the people who are close to power when certain of these decisions big foreign
certain of these decisions big foreign
certain of these decisions big foreign policy decisions were made and you find
policy decisions were made and you find
policy decisions were made and you find that they really didn’t know what they
that they really didn’t know what they
that they really didn’t know what they were doing half the time there was a
were doing half the time there was a
were doing half the time there was a recent recent presidential election in
recent recent presidential election in
recent recent presidential election in this country
a country that has those and that’s
a country that has those and that’s something that a lot of people take for
something that a lot of people take for
something that a lot of people take for granted which is why we need to use our
granted which is why we need to use our
granted which is why we need to use our freedom to help other people achieve
freedom to help other people achieve
freedom to help other people achieve theirs during this presidential election
theirs during this presidential election
theirs during this presidential election in this country there was um there was a
in this country there was um there was a
in this country there was um there was a moment at the height of the problems in
moment at the height of the problems in
moment at the height of the problems in Syria where hundreds of thousands of
Syria where hundreds of thousands of
Syria where hundreds of thousands of civilians innocent civilians were being
civilians innocent civilians were being
civilians innocent civilians were being murdered by the dictator of Syria and
murdered by the dictator of Syria and
murdered by the dictator of Syria and the subject was on television and a
the subject was on television and a
the subject was on television and a presidential candidate spoke three words
presidential candidate spoke three words
presidential candidate spoke three words that really gives you a sense of why we
that really gives you a sense of why we
that really gives you a sense of why we should each have our own foreign policy
should each have our own foreign policy
should each have our own foreign policy and those three words were what is
and those three words were what is
and those three words were what is Aleppo at the human rights foundation
Aleppo at the human rights foundation
Aleppo at the human rights foundation we’ve chosen to adopt foreign policy
we’ve chosen to adopt foreign policy
we’ve chosen to adopt foreign policy with regard to a number of different
with regard to a number of different
with regard to a number of different countries and one of them is North Korea
countries and one of them is North Korea
countries and one of them is North Korea we work with defectors from North Korea
we work with defectors from North Korea
we work with defectors from North Korea people who have escaped the tyranny of
people who have escaped the tyranny of
people who have escaped the tyranny of North Korea and want to help the people
North Korea and want to help the people
North Korea and want to help the people they left behind want to help their
they left behind want to help their
they left behind want to help their friends and their families and what we
friends and their families and what we
friends and their families and what we do is try and break the monopoly of
do is try and break the monopoly of
do is try and break the monopoly of information that the North Korean
information that the North Korean
information that the North Korean dictatorship has over their own people
dictatorship has over their own people
dictatorship has over their own people you see North Korea is the Hermit
you see North Korea is the Hermit
you see North Korea is the Hermit Kingdom they have no internet no access
Kingdom they have no internet no access
Kingdom they have no internet no access to the mail system no ability to make
to the mail system no ability to make
to the mail system no ability to make phone calls outside of the country they
phone calls outside of the country they
phone calls outside of the country they truly are living in absolute darkness
truly are living in absolute darkness
truly are living in absolute darkness especially educational the only thing
especially educational the only thing
especially educational the only thing they can consume is the propaganda that
they can consume is the propaganda that
they can consume is the propaganda that the government gives them so what we do
the government gives them so what we do
the government gives them so what we do is we smuggle information in we smuggle
is we smuggle information in we smuggle
is we smuggle information in we smuggle DVDs and flash drives and all sorts of
DVDs and flash drives and all sorts of
DVDs and flash drives and all sorts of material this material goes into these
material this material goes into these
material this material goes into these bags that have a timer on them and they
bags that have a timer on them and they
bags that have a timer on them and they go into these balloons because even
go into these balloons because even
go into these balloons because even though the government may control the
though the government may control the
though the government may control the airwaves they don’t have control over
airwaves they don’t have control over
airwaves they don’t have control over the winds and so the balloons go up into
the winds and so the balloons go up into
the winds and so the balloons go up into the sky and travel into North Korea and
the sky and travel into North Korea and
the sky and travel into North Korea and eventually they drop their payload the
eventually they drop their payload the
eventually they drop their payload the North Koreans know what’s in these bags
North Koreans know what’s in these bags
North Koreans know what’s in these bags and the North Koreans are willing to
and the North Koreans are willing to
and the North Koreans are willing to live their lives and in some cases risk
live their lives and in some cases risk
live their lives and in some cases risk execution or concentration camp in order
execution or concentration camp in order
execution or concentration camp in order to obtain this material they’re starving
to obtain this material they’re starving
to obtain this material they’re starving for this information
for this information
for this information and there are these small devices called
and there are these small devices called
and there are these small devices called no tells they’ve come from China and
no tells they’ve come from China and
no tells they’ve come from China and they cost around ten to twenty dollars
they cost around ten to twenty dollars
they cost around ten to twenty dollars and they’re battery-powered and on these
and they’re battery-powered and on these
and they’re battery-powered and on these no tells they can watch this material
no tells they can watch this material
no tells they can watch this material they can explore the outside world and
they can explore the outside world and
they can explore the outside world and it’s one citizen at a time when enough
it’s one citizen at a time when enough
it’s one citizen at a time when enough of them have the aha moment they will
of them have the aha moment they will
of them have the aha moment they will have had enough of the tyranny the
have had enough of the tyranny the
have had enough of the tyranny the government of North Korea at first was
government of North Korea at first was
government of North Korea at first was telling us this was futile that in fact
telling us this was futile that in fact
telling us this was futile that in fact this is not going to work but we kind of
this is not going to work but we kind of
this is not going to work but we kind of know we had struck a nerve when they
know we had struck a nerve when they
know we had struck a nerve when they informed the South Korean government
informed the South Korean government
informed the South Korean government that they were going to bomb the place
that they were going to bomb the place
that they were going to bomb the place where we were doing these balloon
where we were doing these balloon
where we were doing these balloon flights from they were planned to kill
flights from they were planned to kill
flights from they were planned to kill us so we stopped doing them during the
us so we stopped doing them during the
us so we stopped doing them during the day and we started doing them at night
day and we started doing them at night
day and we started doing them at night since then we’ve been using helicopter
since then we’ve been using helicopter
since then we’ve been using helicopter drones and our activities with regard to
drones and our activities with regard to
drones and our activities with regard to this have continued to the point that we
this have continued to the point that we
this have continued to the point that we started a program called flash drives
started a program called flash drives
started a program called flash drives for freedom and we have in the past year
for freedom and we have in the past year
for freedom and we have in the past year accumulated 150,000 hard drives the idea
accumulated 150,000 hard drives the idea
accumulated 150,000 hard drives the idea is that if people can donate just a
is that if people can donate just a
is that if people can donate just a flash drive that’s the beginning of a
flash drive that’s the beginning of a
flash drive that’s the beginning of a foreign policy push that’s them actually
foreign policy push that’s them actually
foreign policy push that’s them actually participating because ultimately it’s
participating because ultimately it’s
participating because ultimately it’s artists with artists engineers with
artists with artists engineers with
artists with artists engineers with engineers veterans with veterans nurses
engineers veterans with veterans nurses
engineers veterans with veterans nurses with nurses what we’re trying to do is
with nurses what we’re trying to do is
with nurses what we’re trying to do is link people throughout the world to know
link people throughout the world to know
link people throughout the world to know that they can have and make a difference
that they can have and make a difference
that they can have and make a difference it duh it’s only when we choose to do
it duh it’s only when we choose to do
it duh it’s only when we choose to do this and put ourselves from empathy into
this and put ourselves from empathy into
this and put ourselves from empathy into compassion that we will actually be able
compassion that we will actually be able
compassion that we will actually be able to move the powers-that-be to do
to move the powers-that-be to do
to move the powers-that-be to do something similar just a few days ago at
something similar just a few days ago at
something similar just a few days ago at the UN Security Council a UN Security
the UN Security Council a UN Security
the UN Security Council a UN Security Council that has been talking about the
Council that has been talking about the
Council that has been talking about the issue of North Korea for decade after
issue of North Korea for decade after
issue of North Korea for decade after decade and doing little or nothing about
decade and doing little or nothing about
decade and doing little or nothing about it there was yet another hearing and at
it there was yet another hearing and at
it there was yet another hearing and at this hearing a young woman came she was
this hearing a young woman came she was
this hearing a young woman came she was there to talk about her experiences in
there to talk about her experiences in
there to talk about her experiences in concentration camp before she escaped
concentration camp before she escaped
concentration camp before she escaped she was in reeducation camp
she was in reeducation camp
she was in reeducation camp and
she read a poem that she carried out of
she read a poem that she carried out of the concentration camp in her heart and
the concentration camp in her heart and
the concentration camp in her heart and I was in touch with her last week and
I was in touch with her last week and
I was in touch with her last week and she actually encouraged me to read it to
she actually encouraged me to read it to
she actually encouraged me to read it to you I am scared is anyone there
you I am scared is anyone there
you I am scared is anyone there I’m here in hell is anyone there I
I’m here in hell is anyone there I
I’m here in hell is anyone there I scream and yell but no one opens the
scream and yell but no one opens the
scream and yell but no one opens the door
door
door is anyone there please listen to our
is anyone there please listen to our
is anyone there please listen to our cries and listen to our pain is anyone
cries and listen to our pain is anyone
cries and listen to our pain is anyone there people are dying
there people are dying
there people are dying my friend is dying I call out again and
my friend is dying I call out again and
my friend is dying I call out again and again but why don’t you answer is anyone
again but why don’t you answer is anyone
again but why don’t you answer is anyone there
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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