my talk is probably suggested or part of my talk is suggested by each one of
my talk is suggested by each one of
my talk is suggested by each one of these words separately so the long
these words separately so the long
these words separately so the long history of humanity is a clear
history of humanity is a clear
history of humanity is a clear demonstration that we are at our best
demonstration that we are at our best
demonstration that we are at our best when we are open open to new ideas open
when we are open open to new ideas open
when we are open open to new ideas open to visitors to new people open to new
to visitors to new people open to new
to visitors to new people open to new things open to new ways of working
things open to new ways of working
things open to new ways of working however very few of us appears this is
however very few of us appears this is
however very few of us appears this is for you
for you
for you very few of us are bold enough to be as
very few of us are bold enough to be as
very few of us are bold enough to be as open as peers this is his office space
open as peers this is his office space
open as peers this is his office space which seems to have no boundary walls or
which seems to have no boundary walls or
which seems to have no boundary walls or fences at all most of us live behind
fences at all most of us live behind
fences at all most of us live behind walls these walls are dual purposed
walls these walls are dual purposed
walls these walls are dual purposed they say keep out say go away leave me
they say keep out say go away leave me
they say keep out say go away leave me alone
alone
alone and they define me my my space we’re so
and they define me my my space we’re so
and they define me my my space we’re so familiar with boundary walls that
familiar with boundary walls that
familiar with boundary walls that they’re usually invisible unless they’re
they’re usually invisible unless they’re
they’re usually invisible unless they’re like these and won a special award for
like these and won a special award for
like these and won a special award for being groovy walls actually have to be
being groovy walls actually have to be
being groovy walls actually have to be spectacular to be noticed but actually
spectacular to be noticed but actually
spectacular to be noticed but actually there are only a very recent feature of
there are only a very recent feature of
there are only a very recent feature of human societies look the Agricultural
human societies look the Agricultural
human societies look the Agricultural Revolution whoops our eminence right
Revolution whoops our eminence right
Revolution whoops our eminence right here though the Agricultural Revolution
here though the Agricultural Revolution
here though the Agricultural Revolution which turned nomadic foraging
which turned nomadic foraging
which turned nomadic foraging hunter-gatherers into settled
hunter-gatherers into settled
hunter-gatherers into settled pastoralists about ten thousand years
pastoralists about ten thousand years
pastoralists about ten thousand years ago
ago
ago across the Middle East necessitated
across the Middle East necessitated
across the Middle East necessitated self-defensive and self-defining walls
self-defensive and self-defining walls
self-defensive and self-defining walls these walls around Jericho are
these walls around Jericho are
these walls around Jericho are particularly famous archaeologists have
particularly famous archaeologists have
particularly famous archaeologists have dated them to about ten thousand years
dated them to about ten thousand years
dated them to about ten thousand years before Jesus was born about twenty miles
before Jesus was born about twenty miles
before Jesus was born about twenty miles west across the hills a
west across the hills a
west across the hills a the great walls include this spectacular
the great walls include this spectacular
the great walls include this spectacular Chinese 10000 Li wall Li is a
Chinese 10000 Li wall Li is a
Chinese 10000 Li wall Li is a measurement of about a third of a mile
measurement of about a third of a mile
measurement of about a third of a mile construction started about the Year 220
construction started about the Year 220
construction started about the Year 220 BC on the orders of the Emperor Qin who
BC on the orders of the Emperor Qin who
BC on the orders of the Emperor Qin who has given his name to China of course
has given his name to China of course
has given his name to China of course and it had the dual purpose as with the
and it had the dual purpose as with the
and it had the dual purpose as with the other walls that we looked at earlier of
other walls that we looked at earlier of
other walls that we looked at earlier of keeping the barbarians out and defining
keeping the barbarians out and defining
keeping the barbarians out and defining the Emperor’s domain with him it’s the
the Emperor’s domain with him it’s the
the Emperor’s domain with him it’s the longest continuous human construction on
longest continuous human construction on
longest continuous human construction on the planet the Roman lemaise Germanicus
the planet the Roman lemaise Germanicus
the planet the Roman lemaise Germanicus was built as the Roman Empire’s northern
was built as the Roman Empire’s northern
was built as the Roman Empire’s northern boundary it’s the second longest
boundary it’s the second longest
boundary it’s the second longest continuous human construction on earth
continuous human construction on earth
continuous human construction on earth it also had the dual purpose of keeping
it also had the dual purpose of keeping
it also had the dual purpose of keeping barbarians out and stating very clearly
barbarians out and stating very clearly
barbarians out and stating very clearly civilization ends here if we look at
civilization ends here if we look at
civilization ends here if we look at this area in particular where as you can
this area in particular where as you can
this area in particular where as you can see the River Rhine on the left-hand
see the River Rhine on the left-hand
see the River Rhine on the left-hand side of the screen and the river Danube
side of the screen and the river Danube
side of the screen and the river Danube in the bottom right-hand corner form of
in the bottom right-hand corner form of
in the bottom right-hand corner form of natural boundaries but don’t meet the
natural boundaries but don’t meet the
natural boundaries but don’t meet the lyma’s was built to keep the barbarians
lyma’s was built to keep the barbarians
lyma’s was built to keep the barbarians out to close the gap to enclose a
out to close the gap to enclose a
out to close the gap to enclose a particularly fertile area of what is
particularly fertile area of what is
particularly fertile area of what is today southern Germany just here at Sal
today southern Germany just here at Sal
today southern Germany just here at Sal Borg archaeologists have reconstructed
Borg archaeologists have reconstructed
Borg archaeologists have reconstructed the gatehouse you can see the ramparts
the gatehouse you can see the ramparts
the gatehouse you can see the ramparts and the walls to either side of the
and the walls to either side of the
and the walls to either side of the picture and the gatehouse itself is no
picture and the gatehouse itself is no
picture and the gatehouse itself is no small affair this wall which you can see
small affair this wall which you can see
small affair this wall which you can see here is much more recent does anybody
here is much more recent does anybody
here is much more recent does anybody know where it might be
the worst that can happen is that you
the worst that can happen is that you can be wrong we’ve already been told
can be wrong we’ve already been told
can be wrong we’ve already been told that failure is good okay I see a hand
not Constantinople good idea good
not Constantinople good idea good thinking
thinking
thinking what’s the wall Portugal Portugal no
what’s the wall Portugal Portugal no
what’s the wall Portugal Portugal no European in construction but not in
European in construction but not in
European in construction but not in Europe is the right answer so this is
Europe is the right answer so this is
Europe is the right answer so this is the Dutch wall built in 1628 to define
the Dutch wall built in 1628 to define
the Dutch wall built in 1628 to define their new Castello they call it New
their new Castello they call it New
their new Castello they call it New Amsterdam developed by Peter Stuyvesant
Amsterdam developed by Peter Stuyvesant
Amsterdam developed by Peter Stuyvesant those of you of a certain age might
those of you of a certain age might
those of you of a certain age might remember Stuyvesant cigarettes and to
remember Stuyvesant cigarettes and to
remember Stuyvesant cigarettes and to keep it separate from the red people who
keep it separate from the red people who
keep it separate from the red people who lived here and the red people as the
lived here and the red people as the
lived here and the red people as the Dutch called them their name for this
Dutch called them their name for this
Dutch called them their name for this space stands still this is Manhattan
this wall we know as the Berlin wall
this wall we know as the Berlin wall it’s the concrete section of what
it’s the concrete section of what
it’s the concrete section of what Churchill called the iron curtain
Churchill called the iron curtain
Churchill called the iron curtain properly speaking we should use it 1961
properly speaking we should use it 1961
properly speaking we should use it 1961 East German name the anti-fascist
East German name the anti-fascist
East German name the anti-fascist protective barrier it’s the odd one out
protective barrier it’s the odd one out
protective barrier it’s the odd one out of the walls that I’ve shown you anybody
of the walls that I’ve shown you anybody
of the walls that I’ve shown you anybody know why well done
know why well done
know why well done thank you this wall was built to keep
thank you this wall was built to keep
thank you this wall was built to keep people in not to keep others out in our
people in not to keep others out in our
people in not to keep others out in our own time walls are still being built the
own time walls are still being built the
own time walls are still being built the Israelis call this the West Bank
Israelis call this the West Bank
Israelis call this the West Bank security fence understandably the
security fence understandably the
security fence understandably the Palestinians on the other side so this
Palestinians on the other side so this
Palestinians on the other side so this is the Israeli side with the roadway and
is the Israeli side with the roadway and
is the Israeli side with the roadway and this is the Palestinian side without the
this is the Palestinian side without the
this is the Palestinian side without the Palestinians call it the apartheid wall
Palestinians call it the apartheid wall
Palestinians call it the apartheid wall the Israelis built it between 2000 2003
the Israelis built it between 2000 2003
the Israelis built it between 2000 2003 understandably to reduce the jihadist
understandably to reduce the jihadist
understandably to reduce the jihadist suicide bomber problem and it has worked
the wannabe Banksy clearly shows that
the wannabe Banksy clearly shows that some of its neighbors have very
some of its neighbors have very
some of its neighbors have very different dreams but this all has a long
different dreams but this all has a long
different dreams but this all has a long reach what you read here is part of an
reach what you read here is part of an
reach what you read here is part of an exam odds are given by a student in this
exam odds are given by a student in this
exam odds are given by a student in this school a couple of weeks ago in a
school a couple of weeks ago in a
school a couple of weeks ago in a religious studies exam about religious
religious studies exam about religious
religious studies exam about religious conflict and you can see here that we
conflict and you can see here that we
conflict and you can see here that we have the protagonists the Jews and
have the protagonists the Jews and
have the protagonists the Jews and Palestine the Muslims conflict and so on
Palestine the Muslims conflict and so on
Palestine the Muslims conflict and so on even here in provincial England that
even here in provincial England that
even here in provincial England that wall and that division reaches us and
wall and that division reaches us and
wall and that division reaches us and influences our students what can I say
influences our students what can I say
influences our students what can I say the proposed scale of this wall is again
the proposed scale of this wall is again
the proposed scale of this wall is again spectacular if it’s actually built it
spectacular if it’s actually built it
spectacular if it’s actually built it would supersede the Roman lemaise and it
would supersede the Roman lemaise and it
would supersede the Roman lemaise and it would become the second longest
would become the second longest
would become the second longest continuous human construction on earth
continuous human construction on earth
continuous human construction on earth walls like these are all born of fear
walls like these are all born of fear
walls like these are all born of fear fear of the future and desperation
fear of the future and desperation
fear of the future and desperation desperation to cling on to the status
desperation to cling on to the status
desperation to cling on to the status quo or some falsely remembered golden
quo or some falsely remembered golden
quo or some falsely remembered golden past
none of them achieved their aims for
none of them achieved their aims for very long
very long
very long here is the Great Wall of China and most
here is the Great Wall of China and most
here is the Great Wall of China and most of it looks like this and most of it has
of it looks like this and most of it has
of it looks like this and most of it has usually looked like this throughout its
usually looked like this throughout its
usually looked like this throughout its history there were only two periods when
history there were only two periods when
history there were only two periods when the Great Wall was extensively developed
the Great Wall was extensively developed
the Great Wall was extensively developed coherently
coherently
coherently and rebuilt – last one was under the
and rebuilt – last one was under the
and rebuilt – last one was under the Ming Dynasty starting in 1474 and more
Ming Dynasty starting in 1474 and more
Ming Dynasty starting in 1474 and more recently in the 1950s the stretch around
recently in the 1950s the stretch around
recently in the 1950s the stretch around Beijing near battling usually built
Beijing near battling usually built
Beijing near battling usually built using as the original wall was built
using as the original wall was built
using as the original wall was built using convict labour the Roman lyma’s as
using convict labour the Roman lyma’s as
using convict labour the Roman lyma’s as you can see are overgrown and long
you can see are overgrown and long
you can see are overgrown and long they were originally built to keep out
they were originally built to keep out
they were originally built to keep out the Huns and the Goths and they failed
the Huns and the Goths and they failed
the Huns and the Goths and they failed spectacularly Rome itself was sacked
spectacularly Rome itself was sacked
spectacularly Rome itself was sacked within a couple of hundred years of
within a couple of hundred years of
within a couple of hundred years of lyma’s being completed and just a few
lyma’s being completed and just a few
lyma’s being completed and just a few years after that the new Roman Emperor
years after that the new Roman Emperor
years after that the new Roman Emperor in the West was himself John so Wall
in the West was himself John so Wall
in the West was himself John so Wall Street is now much more famous for other
Street is now much more famous for other
Street is now much more famous for other things that wall I showed you earlier
things that wall I showed you earlier
things that wall I showed you earlier had a life of less than 70 years it’s
had a life of less than 70 years it’s
had a life of less than 70 years it’s new British owners removed it in 1699 to
new British owners removed it in 1699 to
new British owners removed it in 1699 to make space for a new business district
make space for a new business district
make space for a new business district and it’s still there I took this
and it’s still there I took this
and it’s still there I took this photograph on a school trip to Berlin a
photograph on a school trip to Berlin a
photograph on a school trip to Berlin a couple of weeks ago that some of you in
couple of weeks ago that some of you in
couple of weeks ago that some of you in the audience joined me on and what a
the audience joined me on and what a
the audience joined me on and what a super time we had thank you I took the
super time we had thank you I took the
super time we had thank you I took the photograph because I particularly liked
photograph because I particularly liked
photograph because I particularly liked the legend this one which loosely
the legend this one which loosely
the legend this one which loosely translates as there are many walls to be
translates as there are many walls to be
translates as there are many walls to be torn down to be unbuilt is the sort of
torn down to be unbuilt is the sort of
torn down to be unbuilt is the sort of German phrase I’d consider one of the
German phrase I’d consider one of the
German phrase I’d consider one of the best built walls ever at the end of the
best built walls ever at the end of the
best built walls ever at the end of the first world war most of northern France
first world war most of northern France
first world war most of northern France looked like this even the cathedrals and
looked like this even the cathedrals and
looked like this even the cathedrals and the churches weren’t sacrosanct and
the churches weren’t sacrosanct and
the churches weren’t sacrosanct and understandably this injured war veteran
understandably this injured war veteran
understandably this injured war veteran and later politician whose name has
and later politician whose name has
and later politician whose name has become a byword for futility who
become a byword for futility who
become a byword for futility who believed genuinely that he could work
believed genuinely that he could work
believed genuinely that he could work out an answer that would stop this
out an answer that would stop this
out an answer that would stop this horror happening to France again
horror happening to France again
horror happening to France again Andre emotional understood very well
Andre emotional understood very well
Andre emotional understood very well defensive techniques at the time he
defensive techniques at the time he
defensive techniques at the time he understood very well france’s
understood very well france’s
understood very well france’s capabilities and what he envisaged was a
capabilities and what he envisaged was a
capabilities and what he envisaged was a system of defence that would protect
system of defence that would protect
system of defence that would protect France from the Germans next door the
France from the Germans next door the
France from the Germans next door the system that were
system that were
system that were designed looks like here the stuff of
designed looks like here the stuff of
designed looks like here the stuff of dreams the dreams almost of model makers
dreams the dreams almost of model makers
dreams the dreams almost of model makers but these were not dreams these designs
but these were not dreams these designs
but these were not dreams these designs were for actual fortifications which
were for actual fortifications which
were for actual fortifications which were actually built to the disbelief of
were actually built to the disbelief of
were actually built to the disbelief of the Nazis here is a particularly
the Nazis here is a particularly
the Nazis here is a particularly unpleasant Nazi quote the legarre who
unpleasant Nazi quote the legarre who
unpleasant Nazi quote the legarre who was one of the masterminds of the
was one of the masterminds of the
was one of the masterminds of the Holocaust visiting to check out exactly
Holocaust visiting to check out exactly
Holocaust visiting to check out exactly the reality of these fortifications and
the reality of these fortifications and
the reality of these fortifications and their visits showed the Germans that all
their visits showed the Germans that all
their visits showed the Germans that all their spy work across the border in the
their spy work across the border in the
their spy work across the border in the 1930s was well worthwhile they had no
1930s was well worthwhile they had no
1930s was well worthwhile they had no idea that these fortifications were as
idea that these fortifications were as
idea that these fortifications were as good as they were however although walls
good as they were however although walls
good as they were however although walls like these can work there only ever very
like these can work there only ever very
like these can work there only ever very limited in the ways that they can work
limited in the ways that they can work
limited in the ways that they can work and they only ever work for very limited
and they only ever work for very limited
and they only ever work for very limited amounts of time they cannot help us
amounts of time they cannot help us
amounts of time they cannot help us against a future that we don’t
against a future that we don’t
against a future that we don’t understand we cannot possibly know what
understand we cannot possibly know what
understand we cannot possibly know what the future will bring the best defense
the future will bring the best defense
the future will bring the best defense is an open mindset as I’d like to
is an open mindset as I’d like to
is an open mindset as I’d like to discuss with you now even the youngest
discuss with you now even the youngest
discuss with you now even the youngest of you in the audience have lived
of you in the audience have lived
of you in the audience have lived through extraordinary and unpredictable
through extraordinary and unpredictable
through extraordinary and unpredictable changes especially technological ones
changes especially technological ones
changes especially technological ones these changes would probably have
these changes would probably have
these changes would probably have bewildered your great-grandparents even
bewildered your great-grandparents even
bewildered your great-grandparents even though they too lived through
though they too lived through
though they too lived through extraordinary changes my grandmother was
extraordinary changes my grandmother was
extraordinary changes my grandmother was your age she was a teenager when Louie
your age she was a teenager when Louie
your age she was a teenager when Louie Blasio flew across the channel in the
Blasio flew across the channel in the
Blasio flew across the channel in the first powered flight and my grandmother
first powered flight and my grandmother
first powered flight and my grandmother learned about this from an old-fashioned
learned about this from an old-fashioned
learned about this from an old-fashioned thing called a newspaper she herself
thing called a newspaper she herself
thing called a newspaper she herself flew in a jumbo jet like this from one
flew in a jumbo jet like this from one
flew in a jumbo jet like this from one continent or another and she even
continent or another and she even
continent or another and she even watched man walk on the moon live on
watched man walk on the moon live on
watched man walk on the moon live on television there’s a little warning
television there’s a little warning
television there’s a little warning about the next slide it shows something
about the next slide it shows something
about the next slide it shows something particularly revolting you’ll get a
particularly revolting you’ll get a
particularly revolting you’ll get a sense of what’s coming from
sense of what’s coming from
sense of what’s coming from next phrase an immunologist would
next phrase an immunologist would
next phrase an immunologist would probably disagree with me that
probably disagree with me that
probably disagree with me that future-proofing is an impossible and
future-proofing is an impossible and
future-proofing is an impossible and wrongheaded dream the eradication of
wrongheaded dream the eradication of
wrongheaded dream the eradication of smallpox must rank as one of mankind’s
smallpox must rank as one of mankind’s
smallpox must rank as one of mankind’s greatest ever achievements but and it’s
greatest ever achievements but and it’s
greatest ever achievements but and it’s a big but let’s think back to the future
a big but let’s think back to the future
a big but let’s think back to the future proofing that Louie Maginot envisaged
proofing that Louie Maginot envisaged
proofing that Louie Maginot envisaged with his line of Defense’s Frances
with his line of Defense’s Frances
with his line of Defense’s Frances interwar future proofing was an
interwar future proofing was an
interwar future proofing was an impossible dream that was the answer and
impossible dream that was the answer and
impossible dream that was the answer and it took the Nazis about three weeks in
it took the Nazis about three weeks in
it took the Nazis about three weeks in the summer of 1940 Hitler’s only problem
the summer of 1940 Hitler’s only problem
the summer of 1940 Hitler’s only problem here was how much to tip his tour guide
here was how much to tip his tour guide
here was how much to tip his tour guide that is true so the best approach to the
that is true so the best approach to the
that is true so the best approach to the future is not to have fixed ideas of
future is not to have fixed ideas of
future is not to have fixed ideas of defense or boundary the best approach is
defense or boundary the best approach is
defense or boundary the best approach is to be open minded is to be skilled up is
to be open minded is to be skilled up is
to be open minded is to be skilled up is to be generous and to be flexible
”
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