[Music] [Applause]
there was a time when virtually every
there was a time when virtually every occasion
occasion
occasion I flew black in saket flew back into
I flew black in saket flew back into
I flew black in saket flew back into Canada the customs officers would stop
Canada the customs officers would stop
Canada the customs officers would stop me and search my bags back then I
me and search my bags back then I
me and search my bags back then I traveled the world working for women’s
traveled the world working for women’s
traveled the world working for women’s rights and had a passport filled with
rights and had a passport filled with
rights and had a passport filled with interesting visas but I traveled lightly
interesting visas but I traveled lightly
interesting visas but I traveled lightly so I wondered whether it was something
so I wondered whether it was something
so I wondered whether it was something about the way I looked
about the way I looked
about the way I looked or a strange note in my file like so
or a strange note in my file like so
or a strange note in my file like so many of us who enter this country I
many of us who enter this country I
many of us who enter this country I learned to dread customs and the
learned to dread customs and the
learned to dread customs and the frustrating bag opening delays after a
frustrating bag opening delays after a
frustrating bag opening delays after a long journey and then a friend said I
long journey and then a friend said I
long journey and then a friend said I need to change my whole approach and she
need to change my whole approach and she
need to change my whole approach and she gave me this special technique I thought
gave me this special technique I thought
gave me this special technique I thought it was ridiculous but frankly I had
it was ridiculous but frankly I had
it was ridiculous but frankly I had nothing to lose so the next time
nothing to lose so the next time
nothing to lose so the next time entering Canada as I stood in the queue
entering Canada as I stood in the queue
entering Canada as I stood in the queue I approached the customs officer and
I approached the customs officer and
I approached the customs officer and said I love you I love you in my inside
said I love you I love you in my inside
said I love you I love you in my inside voice
tall mr. customs peers down at me and as
tall mr. customs peers down at me and as usual Pepper’s me with questions and
usual Pepper’s me with questions and
usual Pepper’s me with questions and then he asks for my business card
then he asks for my business card
then he asks for my business card I said sir with all due respect I don’t
I said sir with all due respect I don’t
I said sir with all due respect I don’t think you can ask for that he said no
think you can ask for that he said no
think you can ask for that he said no it’s not for me it’s for my mother she
it’s not for me it’s for my mother she
it’s not for me it’s for my mother she would just love to become a member of
would just love to become a member of
would just love to become a member of your women’s rights organization since
your women’s rights organization since
your women’s rights organization since that day my bags have not been opened
that day my bags have not been opened
that day my bags have not been opened clearly my friend was on to something
clearly my friend was on to something
clearly my friend was on to something for 30 years I have been giving talks on
for 30 years I have been giving talks on
for 30 years I have been giving talks on gender human rights or climate this is
gender human rights or climate this is
gender human rights or climate this is the very first one I have given on
the very first one I have given on
the very first one I have given on compassion compassion is the awareness
compassion compassion is the awareness
compassion compassion is the awareness of the deep connection between us and
of the deep connection between us and
of the deep connection between us and all living things and I have learned the
all living things and I have learned the
all living things and I have learned the secret power of compassion as an
secret power of compassion as an
secret power of compassion as an activist my moments with mr. customs
activist my moments with mr. customs
activist my moments with mr. customs gave me a hint back then just how
gave me a hint back then just how
gave me a hint back then just how differently things turn out if we’re
differently things turn out if we’re
differently things turn out if we’re open to others in new ways but it was
open to others in new ways but it was
open to others in new ways but it was years later before I could really
years later before I could really
years later before I could really practice compassion forged from the
practice compassion forged from the
practice compassion forged from the understanding that we are all
understanding that we are all
understanding that we are all interconnected each one of us breathe
interconnected each one of us breathe
interconnected each one of us breathe the same air each one of us descent from
the same air each one of us descent from
the same air each one of us descent from the same descendants from space we can
the same descendants from space we can
the same descendants from space we can see that we live on a planet that is one
see that we live on a planet that is one
see that we live on a planet that is one living organism it’s people like Nelson
living organism it’s people like Nelson
living organism it’s people like Nelson Mandela who showed us the courage of
Mandela who showed us the courage of
Mandela who showed us the courage of compassion by actually forgiving the
compassion by actually forgiving the
compassion by actually forgiving the apartheid leaders who beat and jailed
apartheid leaders who beat and jailed
apartheid leaders who beat and jailed him and he gave birth to a new nation
him and he gave birth to a new nation
him and he gave birth to a new nation and we also know that he learned to
and we also know that he learned to
and we also know that he learned to cultivate this conscious compassion
cultivate this conscious compassion
cultivate this conscious compassion which means that that potential belongs
which means that that potential belongs
which means that that potential belongs in all of us the world right now needs
in all of us the world right now needs
in all of us the world right now needs some unifying so imagine if more of us
some unifying so imagine if more of us
some unifying so imagine if more of us really knew how to practice compassion I
really knew how to practice compassion I
really knew how to practice compassion I am convinced based on my experience we
am convinced based on my experience we
am convinced based on my experience we could not only heal ourselves we could
could not only heal ourselves we could
could not only heal ourselves we could build healthy communities and even save
build healthy communities and even save
build healthy communities and even save mother earth I have dedicated my career
mother earth I have dedicated my career
mother earth I have dedicated my career to the advancement of human rights and
to the advancement of human rights and
to the advancement of human rights and justice and like so many of us who do
justice and like so many of us who do
justice and like so many of us who do this work I first learned how to fight
this work I first learned how to fight
this work I first learned how to fight and confront before practicing
and confront before practicing
and confront before practicing compassion my 30s I was leading a global
compassion my 30s I was leading a global
compassion my 30s I was leading a global feminist organization working to
feminist organization working to
feminist organization working to transform the laws and cultures that
transform the laws and cultures that
transform the laws and cultures that were keeping women and girls down in the
were keeping women and girls down in the
were keeping women and girls down in the face of profound discrimination and
face of profound discrimination and
face of profound discrimination and misogyny around the world
misogyny around the world
misogyny around the world I learned to sharpen my determination
I learned to sharpen my determination
I learned to sharpen my determination and convictions in my early 40s I became
and convictions in my early 40s I became
and convictions in my early 40s I became a CEO of a global humanitarian
a CEO of a global humanitarian
a CEO of a global humanitarian organization that worked around the
organization that worked around the
organization that worked around the world with 15 million people living in
world with 15 million people living in
world with 15 million people living in extreme poverty
extreme poverty
extreme poverty I traveled endlessly and was witness to
I traveled endlessly and was witness to
I traveled endlessly and was witness to profound suffering in refugee camps and
profound suffering in refugee camps and
profound suffering in refugee camps and urban slums I listened to countless
urban slums I listened to countless
urban slums I listened to countless stories by women and girls who had
stories by women and girls who had
stories by women and girls who had survived unspeakable violence there was
survived unspeakable violence there was
survived unspeakable violence there was so much to do so much injustice and so
so much to do so much injustice and so
so much to do so much injustice and so many who didn’t care I think it was my
many who didn’t care I think it was my
many who didn’t care I think it was my anger and my righteousness that kept me
anger and my righteousness that kept me
anger and my righteousness that kept me going but eventually all the conflict
going but eventually all the conflict
going but eventually all the conflict and the brutal 24/7 demands they took
and the brutal 24/7 demands they took
and the brutal 24/7 demands they took their toll after visits through 26
their toll after visits through 26
their toll after visits through 26 countries in just nine months I ended up
countries in just nine months I ended up
countries in just nine months I ended up very sick in a hospital in Katmandu
very sick in a hospital in Katmandu
very sick in a hospital in Katmandu desperate for some piece and part of the
desperate for some piece and part of the
desperate for some piece and part of the recovery My partner and I retreated to a
recovery My partner and I retreated to a
recovery My partner and I retreated to a little place outside of Johannesburg
little place outside of Johannesburg
little place outside of Johannesburg there in the natural beauty and
there in the natural beauty and
there in the natural beauty and contemplative space known as quiet
contemplative space known as quiet
contemplative space known as quiet mountain I had a bit of an epiphany not
mountain I had a bit of an epiphany not
mountain I had a bit of an epiphany not only was this way of the warrior
only was this way of the warrior
only was this way of the warrior practically killing me it was not
practically killing me it was not
practically killing me it was not necessarily leading to deep change I was
necessarily leading to deep change I was
necessarily leading to deep change I was contributing to division well I was out
contributing to division well I was out
contributing to division well I was out in the world fighting so to were my
in the world fighting so to were my
in the world fighting so to were my adversaries and even within our
adversaries and even within our
adversaries and even within our movements we were battling each other we
movements we were battling each other we
movements we were battling each other we were all shielding our
were all shielding our
were all shielding our behind being right and others being
behind being right and others being
behind being right and others being wrong if we were going to solve global
wrong if we were going to solve global
wrong if we were going to solve global problems we had to stop grasping to our
problems we had to stop grasping to our
problems we had to stop grasping to our different positions just as the life in
different positions just as the life in
different positions just as the life in forests and rivers and oceans show us
forests and rivers and oceans show us
forests and rivers and oceans show us everything grows and transforms in
everything grows and transforms in
everything grows and transforms in connection to each other to remain fixed
connection to each other to remain fixed
connection to each other to remain fixed is unnatural instead of blaming and
is unnatural instead of blaming and
is unnatural instead of blaming and judging others we can focus on their
judging others we can focus on their
judging others we can focus on their motivations and fears now what connects
motivations and fears now what connects
motivations and fears now what connects us compassion simply starts with being
us compassion simply starts with being
us compassion simply starts with being open and getting curious if I was to
open and getting curious if I was to
open and getting curious if I was to lead change I needed to find new ways to
lead change I needed to find new ways to
lead change I needed to find new ways to drive solutions it wasn’t long after
drive solutions it wasn’t long after
drive solutions it wasn’t long after that my work took me to northern
that my work took me to northern
that my work took me to northern Ethiopia to see a successful program
Ethiopia to see a successful program
Ethiopia to see a successful program that had lowered violence against girls
that had lowered violence against girls
that had lowered violence against girls I was so impressed by the community’s
I was so impressed by the community’s
I was so impressed by the community’s achievements I asked the leader of the
achievements I asked the leader of the
achievements I asked the leader of the group if there was a message she’d like
group if there was a message she’d like
group if there was a message she’d like me to take back to my colleagues
me to take back to my colleagues
me to take back to my colleagues she took my hands looked into my eyes
she took my hands looked into my eyes
she took my hands looked into my eyes and said pray for the rain pray for the
and said pray for the rain pray for the
and said pray for the rain pray for the rain suddenly I was so embarrassed here
rain suddenly I was so embarrassed here
rain suddenly I was so embarrassed here we were so fixed on these successful
we were so fixed on these successful
we were so fixed on these successful anti-violence programs yet the women
anti-violence programs yet the women
anti-violence programs yet the women were preoccupied with the rain for their
were preoccupied with the rain for their
were preoccupied with the rain for their survival they could no longer count on
survival they could no longer count on
survival they could no longer count on the weather to feed their families this
the weather to feed their families this
the weather to feed their families this was climate change and their greatest
was climate change and their greatest
was climate change and their greatest obstacle to a life with rights and
obstacle to a life with rights and
obstacle to a life with rights and dignity
dignity
dignity why weren’t more of us making this
why weren’t more of us making this
why weren’t more of us making this connection it had such an impact on me
connection it had such an impact on me
connection it had such an impact on me it wasn’t long after that I agreed to
it wasn’t long after that I agreed to
it wasn’t long after that I agreed to take the lead role at Greenpeace Canada
take the lead role at Greenpeace Canada
take the lead role at Greenpeace Canada I remember skyping my mom from
I remember skyping my mom from
I remember skyping my mom from Johannesburg to give her the news so
Johannesburg to give her the news so
Johannesburg to give her the news so that I was going to be coming back to
that I was going to be coming back to
that I was going to be coming back to Canada but she was a bit taken aback Joe
Canada but she was a bit taken aback Joe
Canada but she was a bit taken aback Joe you’re gonna work for Greenpeace are
you’re gonna work for Greenpeace are
you’re gonna work for Greenpeace are aren’t they radicals
aren’t they radicals
aren’t they radicals how could you no mom not radicals
how could you no mom not radicals
how could you no mom not radicals and I could because I saw the urgency of
and I could because I saw the urgency of
and I could because I saw the urgency of climate change as a human rights issue
climate change as a human rights issue
climate change as a human rights issue but admittedly what also attracted me to
but admittedly what also attracted me to
but admittedly what also attracted me to the organization was its acknowledgement
the organization was its acknowledgement
the organization was its acknowledgement that it had to change the environmental
that it had to change the environmental
that it had to change the environmental movement was not going to save the
movement was not going to save the
movement was not going to save the planet
planet
planet by issuing scientific reports that would
by issuing scientific reports that would
by issuing scientific reports that would somehow enlighten policymakers or drop a
somehow enlighten policymakers or drop a
somehow enlighten policymakers or drop a few banners the organization wanted to
few banners the organization wanted to
few banners the organization wanted to campaign with people and inspire a
campaign with people and inspire a
campaign with people and inspire a billion acts of environmental courage I
billion acts of environmental courage I
billion acts of environmental courage I was excited to join the organization and
was excited to join the organization and
was excited to join the organization and support this new vision and when I
support this new vision and when I
support this new vision and when I joined we had just launched a campaign
joined we had just launched a campaign
joined we had just launched a campaign to save the Arctic from oil drilling and
to save the Arctic from oil drilling and
to save the Arctic from oil drilling and overfishing and as part of our new
overfishing and as part of our new
overfishing and as part of our new approach we wanted to work with and
approach we wanted to work with and
approach we wanted to work with and listen to the very people that called
listen to the very people that called
listen to the very people that called the Arctic at their home but the
the Arctic at their home but the
the Arctic at their home but the intimate the indigenous people who live
intimate the indigenous people who live
intimate the indigenous people who live in Canada Alaska and Greenland they
in Canada Alaska and Greenland they
in Canada Alaska and Greenland they hated Greenpeace and with good reason
hated Greenpeace and with good reason
hated Greenpeace and with good reason see back in the 70s and 80s Greenpeace
see back in the 70s and 80s Greenpeace
see back in the 70s and 80s Greenpeace had a campaign against the commercial
had a campaign against the commercial
had a campaign against the commercial seal hunt which many animal rights
seal hunt which many animal rights
seal hunt which many animal rights groups piled on to which led to a ban on
groups piled on to which led to a ban on
groups piled on to which led to a ban on seal pelts and ultimately to an EU ban
seal pelts and ultimately to an EU ban
seal pelts and ultimately to an EU ban by the by the EU of all seal products
by the by the EU of all seal products
by the by the EU of all seal products this decimated one of the core sources
this decimated one of the core sources
this decimated one of the core sources of income for the no.8 if we were to
of income for the no.8 if we were to
of income for the no.8 if we were to proceed with this campaign we needed to
proceed with this campaign we needed to
proceed with this campaign we needed to face their pain and anger and
face their pain and anger and
face their pain and anger and acknowledge how we had contributed to
acknowledge how we had contributed to
acknowledge how we had contributed to their trauma so for the very first time
their trauma so for the very first time
their trauma so for the very first time we published a public apology and right
we published a public apology and right
we published a public apology and right around the same time up in Nunavut in a
around the same time up in Nunavut in a
around the same time up in Nunavut in a in an Inuit hamlet known as Clyde river
in an Inuit hamlet known as Clyde river
in an Inuit hamlet known as Clyde river the mayor Jerry natin I was fighting the
the mayor Jerry natin I was fighting the
the mayor Jerry natin I was fighting the Canadian government and a consortium of
Canadian government and a consortium of
Canadian government and a consortium of oil companies who were about to start
oil companies who were about to start
oil companies who were about to start seismic blasting this is a horrendous
seismic blasting this is a horrendous
seismic blasting this is a horrendous and deafening means to locate under
and deafening means to locate under
and deafening means to locate under water oil imagine dynamite going off
water oil imagine dynamite going off
water oil imagine dynamite going off ever
ever
ever ten seconds they were really concerned
ten seconds they were really concerned
ten seconds they were really concerned about what impact this would have on the
about what impact this would have on the
about what impact this would have on the sea mammals and their food and
sea mammals and their food and
sea mammals and their food and livelihoods were at stake not getting
livelihoods were at stake not getting
livelihoods were at stake not getting any clear answers they could not give
any clear answers they could not give
any clear answers they could not give their consent for this project to go
their consent for this project to go
their consent for this project to go ahead but Gerry was running out of time
ahead but Gerry was running out of time
ahead but Gerry was running out of time and he didn’t know who or what could
and he didn’t know who or what could
and he didn’t know who or what could help and then he saw the Greenpeace
help and then he saw the Greenpeace
help and then he saw the Greenpeace apology he saw our shared concern for
apology he saw our shared concern for
apology he saw our shared concern for the environment and so with the blessing
the environment and so with the blessing
the environment and so with the blessing of his community and its elders he
of his community and its elders he
of his community and its elders he courageously reached out to us to see if
courageously reached out to us to see if
courageously reached out to us to see if we could help them stop seismic blasting
we could help them stop seismic blasting
we could help them stop seismic blasting that was the beginning of a beautiful
that was the beginning of a beautiful
that was the beginning of a beautiful relationship and a journey of
relationship and a journey of
relationship and a journey of forgiveness and healing and while it
forgiveness and healing and while it
forgiveness and healing and while it does not absolve us of our past nor
does not absolve us of our past nor
does not absolve us of our past nor signify forgiveness from all the anyways
signify forgiveness from all the anyways
signify forgiveness from all the anyways it did allow us to support the community
it did allow us to support the community
it did allow us to support the community for the past three years and take their
for the past three years and take their
for the past three years and take their fight all the way up to the Supreme
fight all the way up to the Supreme
fight all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada and in July we all won
Court of Canada and in July we all won
Court of Canada and in July we all won in this landmark case intimate rights
in this landmark case intimate rights
in this landmark case intimate rights were defendant no seismic blasting will
were defendant no seismic blasting will
were defendant no seismic blasting will take place this precious Arctic
take place this precious Arctic
take place this precious Arctic ecosystem will be protected from oil
ecosystem will be protected from oil
ecosystem will be protected from oil spills and the whales and the narwhals
spills and the whales and the narwhals
spills and the whales and the narwhals have a much greater chance of survival
have a much greater chance of survival
have a much greater chance of survival compassion is the awareness of the deep
compassion is the awareness of the deep
compassion is the awareness of the deep connection between us and all living
connection between us and all living
connection between us and all living things with more compassion we can not
things with more compassion we can not
things with more compassion we can not only transform the politics of division
only transform the politics of division
only transform the politics of division and conflict we as humans can embrace
and conflict we as humans can embrace
and conflict we as humans can embrace our responsibility for the beautiful
our responsibility for the beautiful
our responsibility for the beautiful life-sustaining systems our lives are
life-sustaining systems our lives are
life-sustaining systems our lives are completely intertwined with the forests
completely intertwined with the forests
completely intertwined with the forests that give us air to breathe the plants
that give us air to breathe the plants
that give us air to breathe the plants that give us our medicine the water that
that give us our medicine the water that
that give us our medicine the water that gives us life and just as Gerry reached
gives us life and just as Gerry reached
gives us life and just as Gerry reached out to us I am more committed than ever
out to us I am more committed than ever
out to us I am more committed than ever to reach out to those
to reach out to those
to reach out to those who might not trust us or with whom we
who might not trust us or with whom we
who might not trust us or with whom we don’t see eye to eye and compassion
don’t see eye to eye and compassion
don’t see eye to eye and compassion doesn’t mean we naively work with those
doesn’t mean we naively work with those
doesn’t mean we naively work with those who don’t trust us and who who are
who don’t trust us and who who are
who don’t trust us and who who are against us we still absolutely need to
against us we still absolutely need to
against us we still absolutely need to confront injustice it does mean though
confront injustice it does mean though
confront injustice it does mean though finding those clever and discerning
finding those clever and discerning
finding those clever and discerning approaches that actually build openings
approaches that actually build openings
approaches that actually build openings it enables us to find those solutions
it enables us to find those solutions
it enables us to find those solutions between the environment between the
between the environment between the
between the environment between the economy and between human rights for me
economy and between human rights for me
economy and between human rights for me the risk has been worth it I’m now an
the risk has been worth it I’m now an
the risk has been worth it I’m now an activist with less stress and more joy
activist with less stress and more joy
activist with less stress and more joy the world doesn’t need any more warriors
the world doesn’t need any more warriors
the world doesn’t need any more warriors or leaders who divide us the world needs
or leaders who divide us the world needs
or leaders who divide us the world needs more of us to stop blaming and judging
more of us to stop blaming and judging
more of us to stop blaming and judging and get curious and receptive and get
and get curious and receptive and get
and get curious and receptive and get over ourselves a little bit with the
over ourselves a little bit with the
over ourselves a little bit with the power of compassion we could build
power of compassion we could build
power of compassion we could build resilient connections that could change
resilient connections that could change
resilient connections that could change this world and even save life on this
this world and even save life on this
this world and even save life on this planet compassion might just be the most
planet compassion might just be the most
planet compassion might just be the most courageous weapon we have thank you
courageous weapon we have thank you
courageous weapon we have thank you [Applause]
”
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