[Applause] [Music]
I’m going to speak for a few minutes if
I’m going to speak for a few minutes if you don’t mind on the subject of the
you don’t mind on the subject of the
you don’t mind on the subject of the future and the future of youth and the
future and the future of youth and the
future and the future of youth and the future of youth well beyond our borders
future of youth well beyond our borders
future of youth well beyond our borders let alone inside our borders and trying
let alone inside our borders and trying
let alone inside our borders and trying to influence our youth and our young
to influence our youth and our young
to influence our youth and our young people to engage worldwide we’ve all
people to engage worldwide we’ve all
people to engage worldwide we’ve all been hearing a lot about 150th
been hearing a lot about 150th
been hearing a lot about 150th anniversary of this very unique
anniversary of this very unique
anniversary of this very unique democracy one of the most stable in the
democracy one of the most stable in the
democracy one of the most stable in the world you’ve been hearing also every now
world you’ve been hearing also every now
world you’ve been hearing also every now and again about Vimy Ridge and how your
and again about Vimy Ridge and how your
and again about Vimy Ridge and how your peers those 18 to 21 22 some of them 17
peers those 18 to 21 22 some of them 17
peers those 18 to 21 22 some of them 17 and so on went across the big pond and
and so on went across the big pond and
and so on went across the big pond and fought and died at Vimy Ridge to move us
fought and died at Vimy Ridge to move us
fought and died at Vimy Ridge to move us from being a a sort of colonial cousin
from being a a sort of colonial cousin
from being a a sort of colonial cousin to actually a nation-state
to actually a nation-state
to actually a nation-state and paid that in blood young people and
and paid that in blood young people and
and paid that in blood young people and it’s always amazing that the young
it’s always amazing that the young
it’s always amazing that the young people are the one that we send out and
people are the one that we send out and
people are the one that we send out and they’re in the frontlines of what we
they’re in the frontlines of what we
they’re in the frontlines of what we want to do internationally in so many
want to do internationally in so many
want to do internationally in so many cases yet the young people don’t vote to
cases yet the young people don’t vote to
cases yet the young people don’t vote to engage themselves in making sure those
engage themselves in making sure those
engage themselves in making sure those decisions make sense because of all the
decisions make sense because of all the
decisions make sense because of all the young people in this country but 25
young people in this country but 25
young people in this country but 25 there’s nearly 2.9 million votes and
there’s nearly 2.9 million votes and
there’s nearly 2.9 million votes and barely barely 20 percent of them vote
barely barely 20 percent of them vote
barely barely 20 percent of them vote and if they all voted they would
and if they all voted they would
and if they all voted they would actually hold the balance of power in
actually hold the balance of power in
actually hold the balance of power in this country the young people will hold
this country the young people will hold
this country the young people will hold votes that have never been used so if
votes that have never been used so if
votes that have never been used so if they voted they could shift the whole
they voted they could shift the whole
they voted they could shift the whole nature of our political structure in the
nature of our political structure in the
nature of our political structure in the country so you are empowered with the
country so you are empowered with the
country so you are empowered with the ability to change significantly if you
ability to change significantly if you
ability to change significantly if you could get together and coalesce and why
could get together and coalesce and why
could get together and coalesce and why I raise that is because we’re in an era
I raise that is because we’re in an era
I raise that is because we’re in an era where we sort of stumbled into a
where we sort of stumbled into a
where we sort of stumbled into a complete different world after the Cold
complete different world after the Cold
complete different world after the Cold War in the 90s and into the now the new
War in the 90s and into the now the new
War in the 90s and into the now the new millennium we’ve stumbled into an era of
millennium we’ve stumbled into an era of
millennium we’ve stumbled into an era of significant change and because of that
significant change and because of that
significant change and because of that has been an enormous amount of
has been an enormous amount of
has been an enormous amount of opportunities either lost or not really
opportunities either lost or not really
opportunities either lost or not really grasped to the maximum an example is
grasped to the maximum an example is
grasped to the maximum an example is that 150th it was a bit of great
that 150th it was a bit of great
that 150th it was a bit of great opportunity to actually articulate by
opportunity to actually articulate by
opportunity to actually articulate by the political elite of this country the
the political elite of this country the
the political elite of this country the vision of the future if I just think of
vision of the future if I just think of
vision of the future if I just think of what we did in the past but actually use
what we did in the past but actually use
what we did in the past but actually use this as a start point for the future now
this as a start point for the future now
this as a start point for the future now from here what do we do globally because
from here what do we do globally because
from here what do we do globally because contrary to every other time we actually
contrary to every other time we actually
contrary to every other time we actually can be global we never weren’t before
can be global we never weren’t before
can be global we never weren’t before global but now we can be Google we can
global but now we can be Google we can
global but now we can be Google we can actually Skype soon anybody on the
actually Skype soon anybody on the
actually Skype soon anybody on the planet we can actually communicate
planet we can actually communicate
planet we can actually communicate real-time and so with that ability and
real-time and so with that ability and
real-time and so with that ability and that extraordinary technological
that extraordinary technological
that extraordinary technological revolution we should be maximizing it as
revolution we should be maximizing it as
revolution we should be maximizing it as we face the other revolutions like the
we face the other revolutions like the
we face the other revolutions like the environmental revolution which just
environmental revolution which just
environmental revolution which just starting where we have to make a
starting where we have to make a
starting where we have to make a communion between the people the
communion between the people the
communion between the people the humanity and the planet so that the
humanity and the planet so that the
humanity and the planet so that the planet and humanity will thrive not
planet and humanity will thrive not
planet and humanity will thrive not survive thrive that’s what we want we’re
survive thrive that’s what we want we’re
survive thrive that’s what we want we’re not here survivalist we want to thrive
not here survivalist we want to thrive
not here survivalist we want to thrive we want to push the limits and continue
we want to push the limits and continue
we want to push the limits and continue to grow we also have concerns on
to grow we also have concerns on
to grow we also have concerns on security and security and how its
security and security and how its
security and security and how its influencing and how it’s being
influencing and how it’s being
influencing and how it’s being influenced by a whole variety of factors
influenced by a whole variety of factors
influenced by a whole variety of factors out there that are not what they used to
out there that are not what they used to
out there that are not what they used to be they’re not necessarily nationalism
be they’re not necessarily nationalism
be they’re not necessarily nationalism or power structures between
or power structures between
or power structures between nation-states
nation-states
nation-states on the contrary some of the extremists
on the contrary some of the extremists
on the contrary some of the extremists like Isis don’t even have borders and so
like Isis don’t even have borders and so
like Isis don’t even have borders and so in this particular year of starting up
in this particular year of starting up
in this particular year of starting up if we were thinking of a vision the
if we were thinking of a vision the
if we were thinking of a vision the adults could have brought out some some
adults could have brought out some some
adults could have brought out some some interesting initiatives to bring us even
interesting initiatives to bring us even
interesting initiatives to bring us even closer together one of the ideas I had
closer together one of the ideas I had
closer together one of the ideas I had this eye I said why don’t we replicate
this eye I said why don’t we replicate
this eye I said why don’t we replicate what we did 150 years ago why don’t we
what we did 150 years ago why don’t we
what we did 150 years ago why don’t we build a high-speed train from Halifax to
build a high-speed train from Halifax to
build a high-speed train from Halifax to Vancouver because 150 years ago when we
Vancouver because 150 years ago when we
Vancouver because 150 years ago when we built that train that was high-speed
built that train that was high-speed
built that train that was high-speed then so why not it and if it takes 40
then so why not it and if it takes 40
then so why not it and if it takes 40 years fine nothing wrong with that it’s
years fine nothing wrong with that it’s
years fine nothing wrong with that it’s an engineering problem but imagine how
an engineering problem but imagine how
an engineering problem but imagine how it can bring us much tighter together
it can bring us much tighter together
it can bring us much tighter together then in fact that we see the air systems
then in fact that we see the air systems
then in fact that we see the air systems going and so
going and so
going and so maybe a complete reconciliation of a
maybe a complete reconciliation of a
maybe a complete reconciliation of a whole new order with the First Nations
whole new order with the First Nations
whole new order with the First Nations with the Inuit with the meaty there’s
with the Inuit with the meaty there’s
with the Inuit with the meaty there’s over a million in this country
over a million in this country
over a million in this country throughout the country why not
throughout the country why not
throughout the country why not rebuild a capability so we see a value
rebuild a capability so we see a value
rebuild a capability so we see a value added of our synergy together them so
added of our synergy together them so
added of our synergy together them so close to the to nature and us often so
close to the to nature and us often so
close to the to nature and us often so far away from nature and simply using it
far away from nature and simply using it
far away from nature and simply using it imagine if we can marry that up and so
imagine if we can marry that up and so
imagine if we can marry that up and so those are maybe a couple adult things
those are maybe a couple adult things
those are maybe a couple adult things but what about the young people the ones
but what about the young people the ones
but what about the young people the ones who are actually going to carry the can
who are actually going to carry the can
who are actually going to carry the can into the future what about them
into the future what about them
into the future what about them well one of the great advantages that
well one of the great advantages that
well one of the great advantages that they have is they actually mastery tool
they have is they actually mastery tool
they have is they actually mastery tool that none of us had before this
that none of us had before this
that none of us had before this generation be under 25 even under 20 s
generation be under 25 even under 20 s
generation be under 25 even under 20 s have an ability to go global you are in
have an ability to go global you are in
have an ability to go global you are in fact global all those communications
fact global all those communications
fact global all those communications tools that you’re using in social media
tools that you’re using in social media
tools that you’re using in social media are global my son used the war game
are global my son used the war game
are global my son used the war game between a given Moscow and one and real
between a given Moscow and one and real
between a given Moscow and one and real theme they were next door you are global
theme they were next door you are global
theme they were next door you are global you got the power to use it locally you
you got the power to use it locally you
you got the power to use it locally you can call s in real time and move
can call s in real time and move
can call s in real time and move significantly any sort of idea or
significantly any sort of idea or
significantly any sort of idea or concept but it my needs people to master
concept but it my needs people to master
concept but it my needs people to master it to give it focus to give it a
it to give it focus to give it a
it to give it focus to give it a guidance and that’s what that vision
guidance and that’s what that vision
guidance and that’s what that vision could have given kind of given there’s a
could have given kind of given there’s a
could have given kind of given there’s a grander design of where there was you
grander design of where there was you
grander design of where there was you what do we use this country it’s kind of
what do we use this country it’s kind of
what do we use this country it’s kind of in the global environment what can it do
in the global environment what can it do
in the global environment what can it do to advance humanity to continue the
to advance humanity to continue the
to advance humanity to continue the advancement of us to thrive and we
advancement of us to thrive and we
advancement of us to thrive and we didn’t get that so it is very much in
didn’t get that so it is very much in
didn’t get that so it is very much in the hands of you the young people to
the hands of you the young people to
the hands of you the young people to articulate the absolute essential ‘ti of
articulate the absolute essential ‘ti of
articulate the absolute essential ‘ti of getting that focus and moving beyond our
getting that focus and moving beyond our
getting that focus and moving beyond our borders and that’s to me an element
borders and that’s to me an element
borders and that’s to me an element fundamental to the future because in so
fundamental to the future because in so
fundamental to the future because in so many countries in the world your peers
many countries in the world your peers
many countries in the world your peers are the ones who are in fact absorbing
are the ones who are in fact absorbing
are the ones who are in fact absorbing and actually becoming the victims let
and actually becoming the victims let
and actually becoming the victims let alone being destroyed by decisions of
alone being destroyed by decisions of
alone being destroyed by decisions of adults in
adults in
adults in any other conflicts around the world the
any other conflicts around the world the
any other conflicts around the world the creation of the idea of using children
creation of the idea of using children
creation of the idea of using children as weapons of war children fighting
as weapons of war children fighting
as weapons of war children fighting adult Wars before we didn’t have
adult Wars before we didn’t have
adult Wars before we didn’t have children in Wars because of their age
children in Wars because of their age
children in Wars because of their age now because of their age we do have a
now because of their age we do have a
now because of their age we do have a min wars from 8 to 18 and we built a lot
min wars from 8 to 18 and we built a lot
min wars from 8 to 18 and we built a lot of laws and instruments to try to
of laws and instruments to try to
of laws and instruments to try to protect them but they’ve been not much
protect them but they’ve been not much
protect them but they’ve been not much in the field to actually implement it
in the field to actually implement it
in the field to actually implement it how do we actually get it mobile how do
how do we actually get it mobile how do
how do we actually get it mobile how do we influence the situation when I saw
we influence the situation when I saw
we influence the situation when I saw how the young militia that started off
how the young militia that started off
how the young militia that started off as a little Youth party sort of group
as a little Youth party sort of group
as a little Youth party sort of group then attached to a a political party and
then attached to a a political party and
then attached to a a political party and how over the period of seven months with
how over the period of seven months with
how over the period of seven months with radio and communications and events and
radio and communications and events and
radio and communications and events and so on how they were radicalized and
so on how they were radicalized and
so on how they were radicalized and became a militia that in fact led the
became a militia that in fact led the
became a militia that in fact led the slaughter of 800,000 people the whole
slaughter of 800,000 people the whole
slaughter of 800,000 people the whole ability to move that massive amount when
ability to move that massive amount when
ability to move that massive amount when you look at the demographics of the
you look at the demographics of the
you look at the demographics of the world in many countries were the
world in many countries were the
world in many countries were the population 50% of population is under 15
population 50% of population is under 15
population 50% of population is under 15 so there’s a a massive number of people
so there’s a a massive number of people
so there’s a a massive number of people to come and to be able to influence it
to come and to be able to influence it
to come and to be able to influence it so that’s why after it’s witnessing what
so that’s why after it’s witnessing what
so that’s why after it’s witnessing what happened there and nobody’s stopping it
happened there and nobody’s stopping it
happened there and nobody’s stopping it I went to Harvard did my research and
I went to Harvard did my research and
I went to Harvard did my research and since then at Dalhousie and we’ve
since then at Dalhousie and we’ve
since then at Dalhousie and we’ve created an initiative with a whole new
created an initiative with a whole new
created an initiative with a whole new doctrinal a whole new structure how to
doctrinal a whole new structure how to
doctrinal a whole new structure how to train militaries and police forces so
train militaries and police forces so
train militaries and police forces so that they can actually prevent the
that they can actually prevent the
that they can actually prevent the recruitment of children and make their
recruitment of children and make their
recruitment of children and make their use ineffective if we can make the
use ineffective if we can make the
use ineffective if we can make the children the liability people won’t
children the liability people won’t
children the liability people won’t recruit them and to make them a
recruit them and to make them a
recruit them and to make them a liability doesn’t mean by killing him
liability doesn’t mean by killing him
liability doesn’t mean by killing him which is the only thing going on out
which is the only thing going on out
which is the only thing going on out there in Syria in the Congo in South
there in Syria in the Congo in South
there in Syria in the Congo in South Sudan Somalia Central African Republic
Sudan Somalia Central African Republic
Sudan Somalia Central African Republic and how much even in Colombia did they
and how much even in Colombia did they
and how much even in Colombia did they do their is around the world over fifty
do their is around the world over fifty
do their is around the world over fifty one organizations and in over seventeen
one organizations and in over seventeen
one organizations and in over seventeen conflicts where we are seeing tens and
conflicts where we are seeing tens and
conflicts where we are seeing tens and tens of thousands of children being the
tens of thousands of children being the
tens of thousands of children being the primary weapon
primary weapon
primary weapon of which 40% are girls and they’re used
of which 40% are girls and they’re used
of which 40% are girls and they’re used in everything from upfront gun to gun
in everything from upfront gun to gun
in everything from upfront gun to gun all the way through to supporting and
all the way through to supporting and
all the way through to supporting and ultimately even sex ladies and bush
ultimately even sex ladies and bush
ultimately even sex ladies and bush wives adults are using kids to conduct
wives adults are using kids to conduct
wives adults are using kids to conduct these Wars there’s something
these Wars there’s something
these Wars there’s something fundamentally morally corrupt with the
fundamentally morally corrupt with the
fundamentally morally corrupt with the world of permitting that and so they’re
world of permitting that and so they’re
world of permitting that and so they’re screaming for peer support those kids
screaming for peer support those kids
screaming for peer support those kids need references out there to get them
need references out there to get them
need references out there to get them out to help them not get recruited and
out to help them not get recruited and
out to help them not get recruited and so we’re engaged in training all these
so we’re engaged in training all these
so we’re engaged in training all these armies and these police forces all their
armies and these police forces all their
armies and these police forces all their 110,000 peacekeepers that are out there
110,000 peacekeepers that are out there
110,000 peacekeepers that are out there every six months they change around for
every six months they change around for
every six months they change around for every peacekeeper in the field
every peacekeeper in the field
every peacekeeper in the field you’ve got five who are in preparation
you’ve got five who are in preparation
you’ve got five who are in preparation for training and on leave and so on
for training and on leave and so on
for training and on leave and so on we’re talking half-a-million
we’re talking half-a-million
we’re talking half-a-million peacekeepers at any one time to train
peacekeepers at any one time to train
peacekeepers at any one time to train them to make them more effective in
them to make them more effective in
them to make them more effective in reducing the capabilities of people to
reducing the capabilities of people to
reducing the capabilities of people to recruit children and also to give the
recruit children and also to give the
recruit children and also to give the ability of children to recognize how not
ability of children to recognize how not
ability of children to recognize how not to get sucked in how not to be used and
to get sucked in how not to be used and
to get sucked in how not to be used and ultimately how to in fact stay safe and
ultimately how to in fact stay safe and
ultimately how to in fact stay safe and that’s the essence of my life and I
that’s the essence of my life and I
that’s the essence of my life and I believe you can be engaged I believe
believe you can be engaged I believe
believe you can be engaged I believe there should be a sort of a rite of
there should be a sort of a rite of
there should be a sort of a rite of passage in a great country like ours
passage in a great country like ours
passage in a great country like ours only 11 most powerful nations in the
only 11 most powerful nations in the
only 11 most powerful nations in the world we have a responsibility beyond
world we have a responsibility beyond
world we have a responsibility beyond their borders I think what we can do is
their borders I think what we can do is
their borders I think what we can do is that this rite of passage just says that
that this rite of passage just says that
that this rite of passage just says that after an undergraduate degree maybe or
after an undergraduate degree maybe or
after an undergraduate degree maybe or even high school that we have to have a
even high school that we have to have a
even high school that we have to have a pair of sneakers or boots under your bed
pair of sneakers or boots under your bed
pair of sneakers or boots under your bed that have been solved and the earth of a
that have been solved and the earth of a
that have been solved and the earth of a developing country where you’ve seen
developing country where you’ve seen
developing country where you’ve seen where eighty percent of humanity is
where eighty percent of humanity is
where eighty percent of humanity is living where you see it you hear it you
living where you see it you hear it you
living where you see it you hear it you smell it you taste it you feel it and
smell it you taste it you feel it and
smell it you taste it you feel it and you come back after weeks or months and
you come back after weeks or months and
you come back after weeks or months and you keep that in your mind you keep that
you keep that in your mind you keep that
you keep that in your mind you keep that flame that got ignited of how you have
flame that got ignited of how you have
flame that got ignited of how you have been insulted by seeing the poverty and
been insulted by seeing the poverty and
been insulted by seeing the poverty and the abuse of your peers and create the
the abuse of your peers and create the
the abuse of your peers and create the capability
capability
capability join in the efforts to prevent their
join in the efforts to prevent their
join in the efforts to prevent their recruitment create your own NGO coalesce
recruitment create your own NGO coalesce
recruitment create your own NGO coalesce communicate use the extraordinary force
communicate use the extraordinary force
communicate use the extraordinary force multiplier that you have now that we
multiplier that you have now that we
multiplier that you have now that we never had and that is that revolution of
never had and that is that revolution of
never had and that is that revolution of communications and the ability to go
communications and the ability to go
communications and the ability to go overseas relatively cheaply subtle like
overseas relatively cheaply subtle like
overseas relatively cheaply subtle like a sophisticated bus ride to get over
a sophisticated bus ride to get over
a sophisticated bus ride to get over there and so yeah we can stop the use of
there and so yeah we can stop the use of
there and so yeah we can stop the use of children as weapons of war if we got an
children as weapons of war if we got an
children as weapons of war if we got an engagement and so I think my bottom line
engagement and so I think my bottom line
engagement and so I think my bottom line is I didn’t had many problems in 1967
is I didn’t had many problems in 1967
is I didn’t had many problems in 1967 100th anniversary building hockey rink
100th anniversary building hockey rink
100th anniversary building hockey rink centennial rinks or parks sure of course
centennial rinks or parks sure of course
centennial rinks or parks sure of course I think we can do better this time I
I think we can do better this time I
I think we can do better this time I think we can take the government in this
think we can take the government in this
think we can take the government in this country and the youth of this country
country and the youth of this country
country and the youth of this country getting out there and take the governor
getting out there and take the governor
getting out there and take the governor in this country and say why don’t you
in this country and say why don’t you
in this country and say why don’t you lead in this whole movement of trying to
lead in this whole movement of trying to
lead in this whole movement of trying to reduce the impact of war on children
reduce the impact of war on children
reduce the impact of war on children children caught up in armed conflict why
children caught up in armed conflict why
children caught up in armed conflict why don’t you lead the world in trying with
don’t you lead the world in trying with
don’t you lead the world in trying with others in trying to eliminate that and
others in trying to eliminate that and
others in trying to eliminate that and doing it without the slaughter of those
doing it without the slaughter of those
doing it without the slaughter of those children and the impact that has on
children and the impact that has on
children and the impact that has on those peacekeepers who have to come home
those peacekeepers who have to come home
those peacekeepers who have to come home after having used lethal force against a
after having used lethal force against a
after having used lethal force against a child I had a sergeant who met me we’ve
child I had a sergeant who met me we’ve
child I had a sergeant who met me we’ve done five tours he was back for years
done five tours he was back for years
done five tours he was back for years and still was not able to hug his
and still was not able to hug his
and still was not able to hug his children for what he had to do overseas
children for what he had to do overseas
children for what he had to do overseas these moral and ethical dilemmas are
these moral and ethical dilemmas are
these moral and ethical dilemmas are blowing their minds so why don’t we lead
blowing their minds so why don’t we lead
blowing their minds so why don’t we lead the pack why doesn’t this country why
the pack why doesn’t this country why
the pack why doesn’t this country why doesn’t our young Prime Minister
doesn’t our young Prime Minister
doesn’t our young Prime Minister Minister of Youth take this on bringing
Minister of Youth take this on bringing
Minister of Youth take this on bringing a couple other countries on board and we
a couple other countries on board and we
a couple other countries on board and we say we are going to move with the youth
say we are going to move with the youth
say we are going to move with the youth of my own nation and with our
of my own nation and with our
of my own nation and with our capabilities and resources we are going
capabilities and resources we are going
capabilities and resources we are going to move the world to eradicate the use
to move the world to eradicate the use
to move the world to eradicate the use of children as weapons of war and in
of children as weapons of war and in
of children as weapons of war and in fact even make it unthinkable then then
fact even make it unthinkable then then
fact even make it unthinkable then then I will say the world is advancing and is
I will say the world is advancing and is
I will say the world is advancing and is not mortgage
not mortgage
not mortgage a generational continuum of war as we’re
a generational continuum of war as we’re
a generational continuum of war as we’re seeing so much of today thank you very
seeing so much of today thank you very
seeing so much of today thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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