Press "Enter" to skip to content

Learn, Understand, Share, Heal | Sola J Browne | TEDxBrunelUniversityLondon


imagine if we had the chance to look

imagine if we had the chance to look them in the eyes and say

baby boy I’m so sorry that you had to

baby boy I’m so sorry that you had to die but thank you for your sacrifice

die but thank you for your sacrifice

die but thank you for your sacrifice this iPhone 6 it sure is nice this phone

this iPhone 6 it sure is nice this phone

this iPhone 6 it sure is nice this phone it short is grand but look at your

it short is grand but look at your

it short is grand but look at your beaten baby hands mining away at the

beaten baby hands mining away at the

beaten baby hands mining away at the rich coal town also I can scroll through

rich coal town also I can scroll through

rich coal town also I can scroll through Instagram baby boy I sure am a fan but

Instagram baby boy I sure am a fan but

Instagram baby boy I sure am a fan but I’m sorry about all of your little

I’m sorry about all of your little

I’m sorry about all of your little friends and your mama and your Papa too

friends and your mama and your Papa too

friends and your mama and your Papa too but I just had to have the iPhone 6 in

but I just had to have the iPhone 6 in

but I just had to have the iPhone 6 in blue it goes so well with my new Nike

blue it goes so well with my new Nike

blue it goes so well with my new Nike shoes I’m so sorry that you had to die

shoes I’m so sorry that you had to die

shoes I’m so sorry that you had to die but my laptop is just so nice right it’s

but my laptop is just so nice right it’s

but my laptop is just so nice right it’s nice right so nice that you would lay

nice right so nice that you would lay

nice right so nice that you would lay down your life for it and lay down the

down your life for it and lay down the

down your life for it and lay down the lives of your children for it it’s that

lives of your children for it it’s that

lives of your children for it it’s that nice right right human rights they don’t

nice right right human rights they don’t

nice right right human rights they don’t need them and they won’t feed them and

need them and they won’t feed them and

need them and they won’t feed them and they probably won’t survive the night

they probably won’t survive the night

they probably won’t survive the night but oh my gosh this HTC is just so fine

baby go I’m so sorry that you had to

baby go I’m so sorry that you had to lose your life but it was worth it it

lose your life but it was worth it it

lose your life but it was worth it it was so so worth it and i’ma work it and

was so so worth it and i’ma work it and

was so so worth it and i’ma work it and my new Apple spaceship I am so way way

my new Apple spaceship I am so way way

my new Apple spaceship I am so way way way up high I could almost touch the sky

way up high I could almost touch the sky

way up high I could almost touch the sky almost but not quite

almost but not quite

almost but not quite I must need an upgrade right miss the

I must need an upgrade right miss the

I must need an upgrade right miss the man I’m so sorry but you’re going to

man I’m so sorry but you’re going to

man I’m so sorry but you’re going to have to die but trust me it will be

have to die but trust me it will be

have to die but trust me it will be worth the sacrifice and I don’t even

worth the sacrifice and I don’t even

worth the sacrifice and I don’t even know your name but you’re just like one

know your name but you’re just like one

know your name but you’re just like one in

in

in five point four million it saw the same

five point four million it saw the same

five point four million it saw the same right oh my gosh that HTC is just so

right oh my gosh that HTC is just so

right oh my gosh that HTC is just so nice just keep sending them down send

nice just keep sending them down send

nice just keep sending them down send them down to the mined mining away at

them down to the mined mining away at

them down to the mined mining away at the mine no helmets

the mine no helmets

the mine no helmets nevermind mine mine mining away at the

nevermind mine mine mining away at the

nevermind mine mine mining away at the mined mining away at our mines

what is that baby boy or baby girl was

what is that baby boy or baby girl was mine would it still be fine

mine would it still be fine

mine would it still be fine is it just cuz they’re far away is that

is it just cuz they’re far away is that

is it just cuz they’re far away is that what we’ve come to you today if we can’t

what we’ve come to you today if we can’t

what we’ve come to you today if we can’t see them then we can’t hear them and we

see them then we can’t hear them and we

see them then we can’t hear them and we can’t feel their pain but if they can’t

can’t feel their pain but if they can’t

can’t feel their pain but if they can’t see us then they can’t show us that

see us then they can’t show us that

see us then they can’t show us that really we are all the same and if we

really we are all the same and if we

really we are all the same and if we can’t hear them then they can’t tell us

can’t hear them then they can’t tell us

can’t hear them then they can’t tell us that they’re in pain would we listen

that they’re in pain would we listen

that they’re in pain would we listen anyway and we still chase Fame and we

anyway and we still chase Fame and we

anyway and we still chase Fame and we still want glory still banging that same

still want glory still banging that same

still want glory still banging that same old tune pro patria mori die for your

old tune pro patria mori die for your

old tune pro patria mori die for your country yes die for my greed because

country yes die for my greed because

country yes die for my greed because money is all we need

money is all we need

money is all we need and once we’ve dried up all of the

and once we’ve dried up all of the

and once we’ve dried up all of the rivers and we’ve destroyed all of the

rivers and we’ve destroyed all of the

rivers and we’ve destroyed all of the seas at least you still have your htc

seas at least you still have your htc

seas at least you still have your htc and I’ll still have my iPhone’s one two

and I’ll still have my iPhone’s one two

and I’ll still have my iPhone’s one two three and four five six and seven and

three and four five six and seven and

three and four five six and seven and I’ll take them all to heaven and I’ll

I’ll take them all to heaven and I’ll

I’ll take them all to heaven and I’ll find that little Congolese boy who died

find that little Congolese boy who died

find that little Congolese boy who died before age eleven and I’ll show him what

before age eleven and I’ll show him what

before age eleven and I’ll show him what it was all for and surely then he’ll

it was all for and surely then he’ll

it was all for and surely then he’ll understand and he’ll say yes your

understand and he’ll say yes your

understand and he’ll say yes your collection sure is grand and he’ll

collection sure is grand and he’ll

collection sure is grand and he’ll understand why he had beaten baby hands

understand why he had beaten baby hands

understand why he had beaten baby hands and why all of his brothers and sisters

and why all of his brothers and sisters

and why all of his brothers and sisters were raped and destroyed it’s because I

were raped and destroyed it’s because I

were raped and destroyed it’s because I just had to have these first class toys

just had to have these first class toys

just had to have these first class toys and we say we will make a change they

and we say we will make a change they

and we say we will make a change they just have to hang on a minute but they

just have to hang on a minute but they

just have to hang on a minute but they haven’t gotten

haven’t gotten

haven’t gotten they’re so way down deep down in it it’s

they’re so way down deep down in it it’s

they’re so way down deep down in it it’s a sea of guns and war and conflict and

a sea of guns and war and conflict and

a sea of guns and war and conflict and these babies are swimming in it is it

these babies are swimming in it is it

these babies are swimming in it is it just because they’re fall and when I

just because they’re fall and when I

just because they’re fall and when I come to the end of my journey I’ll show

come to the end of my journey I’ll show

come to the end of my journey I’ll show you all of the good that I’ve done but

you all of the good that I’ve done but

you all of the good that I’ve done but I’ll skip out the bit where I find a

I’ll skip out the bit where I find a

I’ll skip out the bit where I find a terrorism against your sons cuz I didn’t

terrorism against your sons cuz I didn’t

terrorism against your sons cuz I didn’t mean to and it’s just what people do and

mean to and it’s just what people do and

mean to and it’s just what people do and I tried to be good I really did try but

I tried to be good I really did try but

I tried to be good I really did try but the media was always spinning lies and I

the media was always spinning lies and I

the media was always spinning lies and I didn’t know quite who to believe even

didn’t know quite who to believe even

didn’t know quite who to believe even though the facts were laid out for me to

though the facts were laid out for me to

though the facts were laid out for me to see but anyway that’s my story now give

see but anyway that’s my story now give

see but anyway that’s my story now give me my glory I’ll be here waiting yet

me my glory I’ll be here waiting yet

me my glory I’ll be here waiting yet I’ll just be here waiting

you might not have heard of Colton or

you might not have heard of Colton or Conflict Minerals in general but you

Conflict Minerals in general but you

Conflict Minerals in general but you have them in your mobile phones in your

have them in your mobile phones in your

have them in your mobile phones in your laptops and possibly in other electronic

laptops and possibly in other electronic

laptops and possibly in other electronic devices that you own conflict mineral

devices that you own conflict mineral

devices that you own conflict mineral just means a mineral that’s mined in an

just means a mineral that’s mined in an

just means a mineral that’s mined in an area of armed conflict and traded

area of armed conflict and traded

area of armed conflict and traded illicit ly to fund the fighting for

illicit ly to fund the fighting for

illicit ly to fund the fighting for instance coltan cobalt gold found in

instance coltan cobalt gold found in

instance coltan cobalt gold found in major quantities in some areas of the

major quantities in some areas of the

major quantities in some areas of the Congo Amnesty International traced the

Congo Amnesty International traced the

Congo Amnesty International traced the use of cobalt in batteries for household

use of cobalt in batteries for household

use of cobalt in batteries for household brands back to mines in the Democratic

brands back to mines in the Democratic

brands back to mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with children

Republic of the Congo with children

Republic of the Congo with children working life-threatening conditions

working life-threatening conditions

working life-threatening conditions child miners as young as seven carrying

child miners as young as seven carrying

child miners as young as seven carrying back-breaking loads in intense heat for

back-breaking loads in intense heat for

back-breaking loads in intense heat for hours with no gloves no face masks when

hours with no gloves no face masks when

hours with no gloves no face masks when I found out it made me feel sick how

I found out it made me feel sick how

I found out it made me feel sick how does it make you feel

what are we going to do about it now for

what are we going to do about it now for being honest we’re not all going to fly

being honest we’re not all going to fly

being honest we’re not all going to fly out to the Congo tomorrow some of us

out to the Congo tomorrow some of us

out to the Congo tomorrow some of us don’t even give to charities some of us

don’t even give to charities some of us

don’t even give to charities some of us don’t even believe that when we do give

don’t even believe that when we do give

don’t even believe that when we do give to charity the money goes where they say

to charity the money goes where they say

to charity the money goes where they say it’s going so what do we do

it’s going so what do we do

it’s going so what do we do global issues can sometimes just feel so

global issues can sometimes just feel so

global issues can sometimes just feel so huge and beyond us but there is still a

huge and beyond us but there is still a

huge and beyond us but there is still a point in caring I honestly believe that

point in caring I honestly believe that

point in caring I honestly believe that we can make a difference we just have to

we can make a difference we just have to

we can make a difference we just have to be a little bit creative as American

be a little bit creative as American

be a little bit creative as American businessman Jason Calacanis said you

businessman Jason Calacanis said you

businessman Jason Calacanis said you have to have a big vision then take

have to have a big vision then take

have to have a big vision then take small steps to get there

small steps to get there

small steps to get there it’s not about huge innovations it’s

it’s not about huge innovations it’s

it’s not about huge innovations it’s about a lot of little innovations every

about a lot of little innovations every

about a lot of little innovations every day every week every month making

day every week every month making

day every week every month making something a little bit better I first

something a little bit better I first

something a little bit better I first found out about the Congo crisis from a

found out about the Congo crisis from a

found out about the Congo crisis from a facebook video that my dad posted on his

facebook video that my dad posted on his

facebook video that my dad posted on his birth timeline it made me really angry

birth timeline it made me really angry

birth timeline it made me really angry really really angry and deeply sad and I

really really angry and deeply sad and I

really really angry and deeply sad and I wanted to fix it straight away I wanted

wanted to fix it straight away I wanted

wanted to fix it straight away I wanted to solve the whole crisis but in order

to solve the whole crisis but in order

to solve the whole crisis but in order to make a big change I had to start

to make a big change I had to start

to make a big change I had to start small so I channeled all of that emotion

small so I channeled all of that emotion

small so I channeled all of that emotion into a poem I wrote that spoken word

into a poem I wrote that spoken word

into a poem I wrote that spoken word poem as my own creative solution to a

poem as my own creative solution to a

poem as my own creative solution to a major problem further research led me to

major problem further research led me to

major problem further research led me to a Dutch social enterprise that designs

a Dutch social enterprise that designs

a Dutch social enterprise that designs conflict free technology so it can be

conflict free technology so it can be

conflict free technology so it can be done there are conflict free smartphones

done there are conflict free smartphones

done there are conflict free smartphones another creative solution to a major

another creative solution to a major

another creative solution to a major problem you see creative solutions and

problem you see creative solutions and

problem you see creative solutions and creative thinking allows us to rethink

creative thinking allows us to rethink

creative thinking allows us to rethink traditional approaches to problem

traditional approaches to problem

traditional approaches to problem solving

and it starts with l4 learn learn about

and it starts with l4 learn learn about the issue do some research around the

the issue do some research around the

the issue do some research around the subject let’s start with Haiti Haiti is

subject let’s start with Haiti Haiti is

subject let’s start with Haiti Haiti is a beautiful country in the Caribbean

a beautiful country in the Caribbean

a beautiful country in the Caribbean some might say Haiti is unlucky

some might say Haiti is unlucky

some might say Haiti is unlucky throughout the countries history is

throughout the countries history is

throughout the countries history is experienced natural disaster after

experienced natural disaster after

experienced natural disaster after natural disaster earthquakes hurricanes

natural disaster earthquakes hurricanes

natural disaster earthquakes hurricanes floods but what can we do

floods but what can we do

floods but what can we do Kati is so far away right well a French

Kati is so far away right well a French

Kati is so far away right well a French entrepreneur who went to the country

entrepreneur who went to the country

entrepreneur who went to the country originally on relief aid after the 2010

originally on relief aid after the 2010

originally on relief aid after the 2010 earthquake was completely astounded by

earthquake was completely astounded by

earthquake was completely astounded by the creative community in Haiti home to

the creative community in Haiti home to

the creative community in Haiti home to a wealth of visionary fine artists so

a wealth of visionary fine artists so

a wealth of visionary fine artists so what he did he created some of their art

what he did he created some of their art

what he did he created some of their art brought it here to the UK and he

brought it here to the UK and he

brought it here to the UK and he exhibits it all over London so that

exhibits it all over London so that

exhibits it all over London so that consumers like you and me by going to

consumers like you and me by going to

consumers like you and me by going to these exhibitions not only can we see

these exhibitions not only can we see

these exhibitions not only can we see another side to the country but we can

another side to the country but we can

another side to the country but we can buy amazing art and indirectly

buy amazing art and indirectly

buy amazing art and indirectly contribute to the Haitian economy to

contribute to the Haitian economy to

contribute to the Haitian economy to help them rebuild the country when

help them rebuild the country when

help them rebuild the country when disaster does strike another creative

disaster does strike another creative

disaster does strike another creative solution to a major problem now I first

solution to a major problem now I first

solution to a major problem now I first performed my Congo poem at a coffee shop

performed my Congo poem at a coffee shop

performed my Congo poem at a coffee shop in London it was founded by a Haitian

in London it was founded by a Haitian

in London it was founded by a Haitian entrepreneur who wanted to give back to

entrepreneur who wanted to give back to

entrepreneur who wanted to give back to his country all of their coffee is

his country all of their coffee is

his country all of their coffee is sourced directly from Haiti it’s the

sourced directly from Haiti it’s the

sourced directly from Haiti it’s the only coffee shop in London to do that

only coffee shop in London to do that

only coffee shop in London to do that and here’s a fun fact fee in 1788 Haiti

and here’s a fun fact fee in 1788 Haiti

and here’s a fun fact fee in 1788 Haiti supplied hot over half of the world’s

supplied hot over half of the world’s

supplied hot over half of the world’s coffee so something as simple as where

coffee so something as simple as where

coffee so something as simple as where we choose to buy our coffee or the kind

we choose to buy our coffee or the kind

we choose to buy our coffee or the kind of art that we buy can make a small

of art that we buy can make a small

of art that we buy can make a small contribution to a huge change but

contribution to a huge change but

contribution to a huge change but learning is not enough that knowledge

learning is not enough that knowledge

learning is not enough that knowledge alone is useless unless we can make

alone is useless unless we can make

alone is useless unless we can make connections between what we know once

connections between what we know once

connections between what we know once we’ve learned about the problem we can

we’ve learned about the problem we can

we’ve learned about the problem we can move on to the second step you for

move on to the second step you for

move on to the second step you for understanding

understanding

understanding once we’ve learned about the issue we

once we’ve learned about the issue we

once we’ve learned about the issue we can begin to understand the need to take

can begin to understand the need to take

can begin to understand the need to take action until now you might have been an

action until now you might have been an

action until now you might have been an innocent partaker guilty only by

innocent partaker guilty only by

innocent partaker guilty only by association but now that we know and we

association but now that we know and we

association but now that we know and we understand the need to take action we

understand the need to take action we

understand the need to take action we can move on to the third step

s4 share share the information get other

s4 share share the information get other people on board the more connections we

people on board the more connections we

people on board the more connections we make the more creative we can be and the

make the more creative we can be and the

make the more creative we can be and the better our problem-solving we become

once we have shared the information we

once we have shared the information we can begin to come up with create

can begin to come up with create

can begin to come up with create creative solutions together maybe you’ll

creative solutions together maybe you’ll

creative solutions together maybe you’ll write a poem to raise awareness maybe

write a poem to raise awareness maybe

write a poem to raise awareness maybe you’ll start a conflict-free technology

you’ll start a conflict-free technology

you’ll start a conflict-free technology company maybe you’ll open a coffee shop

company maybe you’ll open a coffee shop

company maybe you’ll open a coffee shop me I created a publication to share and

me I created a publication to share and

me I created a publication to share and promote creative solutions with

promote creative solutions with

promote creative solutions with entrepreneurship at the heart of it as

entrepreneurship at the heart of it as

entrepreneurship at the heart of it as the driving force for social change our

the driving force for social change our

the driving force for social change our ethos is lush learn understand share and

ethos is lush learn understand share and

ethos is lush learn understand share and the last piece of the puzzle page 4 heal

the last piece of the puzzle page 4 heal

the last piece of the puzzle page 4 heal both victims and the perpetrators need

both victims and the perpetrators need

both victims and the perpetrators need to heal the victims from the trauma and

to heal the victims from the trauma and

to heal the victims from the trauma and us from our guilt see London is one of

us from our guilt see London is one of

us from our guilt see London is one of the richest cities in the world so I

the richest cities in the world so I

the richest cities in the world so I know that here where I live there are

know that here where I live there are

know that here where I live there are more than enough resources to back up

more than enough resources to back up

more than enough resources to back up any creative solutions that we come up

any creative solutions that we come up

any creative solutions that we come up with and not just material resources but

with and not just material resources but

with and not just material resources but our minds you see one four connects to

our minds you see one four connects to

our minds you see one four connects to another thought connects to another

another thought connects to another

another thought connects to another thought and so on until you have a whole

thought and so on until you have a whole

thought and so on until you have a whole network our brains are literally built

network our brains are literally built

network our brains are literally built to innovate anyone can be creative you

to innovate anyone can be creative you

to innovate anyone can be creative you don’t have to be good at art creativity

don’t have to be good at art creativity

don’t have to be good at art creativity is about making connections a wise man

is about making connections a wise man

is about making connections a wise man once said creativity will save the world

once said creativity will save the world

once said creativity will save the world faster than politics

so imagine if we could look them in the

so imagine if we could look them in the eyes and say I could have made a change

exercise your creativity muscles because

exercise your creativity muscles because currently the road to our future is

currently the road to our future is

currently the road to our future is broken but it can and must be healed

broken but it can and must be healed

broken but it can and must be healed so if you remember nothing else remember

so if you remember nothing else remember

so if you remember nothing else remember lush learn understand

lush learn understand

lush learn understand share so that we as a global family can

share so that we as a global family can

share so that we as a global family can heal I hope you all have a lush week

heal I hope you all have a lush week

heal I hope you all have a lush week thank you

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *