Not just surviving, but thriving: The Israel case study | John Levy | TEDxCCGrammarSchool

I’m a student of the Middle East that’s

I’m a student of the Middle East that’s the area covering 23 nation states on

the area covering 23 nation states on

the area covering 23 nation states on planet Earth

planet Earth

planet Earth from Mauritania in northwest Africa

from Mauritania in northwest Africa

from Mauritania in northwest Africa across the whole line of northern Africa

across the whole line of northern Africa

across the whole line of northern Africa to Egypt the Sudan all the countries

to Egypt the Sudan all the countries

to Egypt the Sudan all the countries around the Raven peninsula it’s a

around the Raven peninsula it’s a

around the Raven peninsula it’s a stunning territory 400 million souls 30

stunning territory 400 million souls 30

stunning territory 400 million souls 30 percent of the population in that area

percent of the population in that area

percent of the population in that area under 30 years of age I have to tell you

under 30 years of age I have to tell you

under 30 years of age I have to tell you and in part of that area at least half

and in part of that area at least half

and in part of that area at least half of it they are blessed with

of it they are blessed with

of it they are blessed with extraordinary resources vast seas of oil

extraordinary resources vast seas of oil

extraordinary resources vast seas of oil and gas so looking at planet Earth you

and gas so looking at planet Earth you

and gas so looking at planet Earth you would have thought the Middle East is

would have thought the Middle East is

would have thought the Middle East is one of the most privileged sectors of

one of the most privileged sectors of

one of the most privileged sectors of this planet and thriving the awesome

this planet and thriving the awesome

this planet and thriving the awesome news I have to offer you is that the

news I have to offer you is that the

news I have to offer you is that the Arab world as of March 2017 is in a

Arab world as of March 2017 is in a

Arab world as of March 2017 is in a desperate state almost across the Arab

desperate state almost across the Arab

desperate state almost across the Arab region countries are dominated by

region countries are dominated by

region countries are dominated by dictators and oligarchs who’ve been

dictators and oligarchs who’ve been

dictators and oligarchs who’ve been milking these countries there’s a recent

milking these countries there’s a recent

milking these countries there’s a recent report of the United Nations on human

report of the United Nations on human

report of the United Nations on human development which talks of leaders in

development which talks of leaders in

development which talks of leaders in the Arab world having literally filched

the Arab world having literally filched

the Arab world having literally filched a trillion dollars from these countries

a trillion dollars from these countries

a trillion dollars from these countries over the last 50 years unemployment

over the last 50 years unemployment

over the last 50 years unemployment across the region

across the region

across the region rampant reinvestment in the area

rampant reinvestment in the area

rampant reinvestment in the area terrible

terrible

terrible and the result is therefore that the

and the result is therefore that the

and the result is therefore that the Middle East is heaving with discontent

Middle East is heaving with discontent

Middle East is heaving with discontent and violence there has been a revolution

and violence there has been a revolution

and violence there has been a revolution over the last six years sadly it hasn’t

over the last six years sadly it hasn’t

over the last six years sadly it hasn’t brought an Arab Spring and the figures

brought an Arab Spring and the figures

brought an Arab Spring and the figures from the UN suggests that in global

from the UN suggests that in global

from the UN suggests that in global terms 45% of terrorism across this

terms 45% of terrorism across this

terms 45% of terrorism across this planet and we’ve seen it this week in

planet and we’ve seen it this week in

planet and we’ve seen it this week in Westminster has emerged from the Middle

Westminster has emerged from the Middle

Westminster has emerged from the Middle East 58% of world refugees are emerging

East 58% of world refugees are emerging

East 58% of world refugees are emerging from that region and 68% of battle

from that region and 68% of battle

from that region and 68% of battle related deaths come from the Arab world

related deaths come from the Arab world

related deaths come from the Arab world as of now the Middle East at least large

as of now the Middle East at least large

as of now the Middle East at least large sectors of the Arab world

sectors of the Arab world

sectors of the Arab world tragically are in a mess not thriving

tragically are in a mess not thriving

tragically are in a mess not thriving what I want to do is to juxtapose their

what I want to do is to juxtapose their

what I want to do is to juxtapose their situation with that of contemporary

situation with that of contemporary

situation with that of contemporary Israel not to offer some

Israel not to offer some

Israel not to offer some nice neat black-and-white contrast

nice neat black-and-white contrast

nice neat black-and-white contrast because not for one second would I

because not for one second would I

because not for one second would I suggest that contemporary Israel is

suggest that contemporary Israel is

suggest that contemporary Israel is without problems but the reality is the

without problems but the reality is the

without problems but the reality is the Israelis have looked at their situation

Israelis have looked at their situation

Israelis have looked at their situation strategically and have come up with

strategically and have come up with

strategically and have come up with fantastically positive responses

fantastically positive responses

fantastically positive responses contemporary Israel is that tipsy little

contemporary Israel is that tipsy little

contemporary Israel is that tipsy little scrap of land northeast of Egypt the

scrap of land northeast of Egypt the

scrap of land northeast of Egypt the slither along the Mediterranean coast

slither along the Mediterranean coast

slither along the Mediterranean coast it’s absolutely tiny 300 miles by at

it’s absolutely tiny 300 miles by at

it’s absolutely tiny 300 miles by at very most 80 something wide it’s the

very most 80 something wide it’s the

very most 80 something wide it’s the same area as Wales it has huge

same area as Wales it has huge

same area as Wales it has huge disadvantages more than 60% of the

disadvantages more than 60% of the

disadvantages more than 60% of the landmass is desert mostly mountainous

landmass is desert mostly mountainous

landmass is desert mostly mountainous and therefore lousy for agriculture it

and therefore lousy for agriculture it

and therefore lousy for agriculture it hasn’t got any oil it doesn’t have that

hasn’t got any oil it doesn’t have that

hasn’t got any oil it doesn’t have that raw mineral wealth that’s made countries

raw mineral wealth that’s made countries

raw mineral wealth that’s made countries in the region will see they have

in the region will see they have

in the region will see they have latterly discovered some natural gas

latterly discovered some natural gas

latterly discovered some natural gas it’s got water problems as do all the

it’s got water problems as do all the

it’s got water problems as do all the countries in the area and global warming

countries in the area and global warming

countries in the area and global warming is felt in that part of the world how

is felt in that part of the world how

is felt in that part of the world how then have they addressed their domestic

then have they addressed their domestic

then have they addressed their domestic situation the eight million who make up

situation the eight million who make up

situation the eight million who make up the body politic of Israel Jews

the body politic of Israel Jews

the body politic of Israel Jews Christians Muslims have a very widely

Christians Muslims have a very widely

Christians Muslims have a very widely scattered and and diverse population

scattered and and diverse population

scattered and and diverse population they have really come to the conclusion

they have really come to the conclusion

they have really come to the conclusion that they do have one resource that they

that they do have one resource that they

that they do have one resource that they can turn to advantage and I say that not

can turn to advantage and I say that not

can turn to advantage and I say that not to flannel you but it’s the gray cells

to flannel you but it’s the gray cells

to flannel you but it’s the gray cells the innovative creative abilities of

the innovative creative abilities of

the innovative creative abilities of guys men and women like you there is not

guys men and women like you there is not

guys men and women like you there is not a high school in Israel that doesn’t

a high school in Israel that doesn’t

a high school in Israel that doesn’t have technology status it doesn’t mean

have technology status it doesn’t mean

have technology status it doesn’t mean to say they don’t teach all the other

to say they don’t teach all the other

to say they don’t teach all the other subjects but the reality is they do put

subjects but the reality is they do put

subjects but the reality is they do put an emphasis on technology the sheer

an emphasis on technology the sheer

an emphasis on technology the sheer volume of students going up to read

volume of students going up to read

volume of students going up to read basic science or the Applied Sciences

basic science or the Applied Sciences

basic science or the Applied Sciences electronics the the Computer Sciences

electronics the the Computer Sciences

electronics the the Computer Sciences and the rest huge and those with the

and the rest huge and those with the

and the rest huge and those with the greatest skills given unbelievable

greatest skills given unbelievable

greatest skills given unbelievable encouragement through a whole network of

encouragement through a whole network of

encouragement through a whole network of incubators to actually take raw ideas

incubators to actually take raw ideas

incubators to actually take raw ideas and work on them so that Israel has

and work on them so that Israel has

and work on them so that Israel has become a knowledge economy and in the

become a knowledge economy and in the

become a knowledge economy and in the last 20 years this country has

last 20 years this country has

last 20 years this country has absolutely gone through a transformative

absolutely gone through a transformative

absolutely gone through a transformative revolution they’ve addressed their their

revolution they’ve addressed their their

revolution they’ve addressed their their raw problems like for example the issue

raw problems like for example the issue

raw problems like for example the issue of water

of water

of water the reality is Israeli agro scientists

the reality is Israeli agro scientists

the reality is Israeli agro scientists have developed the most effective

have developed the most effective

have developed the most effective irrigation systems anywhere so that

irrigation systems anywhere so that

irrigation systems anywhere so that water is used to maximum effect second

water is used to maximum effect second

water is used to maximum effect second of all they recycle waste water at a

of all they recycle waste water at a

of all they recycle waste water at a level higher than anywhere else on this

level higher than anywhere else on this

level higher than anywhere else on this planet I’m not just hyping up the

planet I’m not just hyping up the

planet I’m not just hyping up the statistics but we’re talking about

statistics but we’re talking about

statistics but we’re talking about nearly 90% of all wastewater is

nearly 90% of all wastewater is

nearly 90% of all wastewater is converted for reuse in agriculture and

converted for reuse in agriculture and

converted for reuse in agriculture and now by building a huge network along the

now by building a huge network along the

now by building a huge network along the Mediterranean coast of desalinization

Mediterranean coast of desalinization

Mediterranean coast of desalinization plants there is now water available to

plants there is now water available to

plants there is now water available to populations around Israel and its

populations around Israel and its

populations around Israel and its neighbouring areas so that the price of

neighbouring areas so that the price of

neighbouring areas so that the price of water is coming down and for once there

water is coming down and for once there

water is coming down and for once there were no people are no longer talking

were no people are no longer talking

were no people are no longer talking about shortages and and wars over water

about shortages and and wars over water

about shortages and and wars over water in terms of the land they’ve drawn the

in terms of the land they’ve drawn the

in terms of the land they’ve drawn the harsh conclusion that though Israel can

harsh conclusion that though Israel can

harsh conclusion that though Israel can grow brilliant oranges Jaffa oranges

grow brilliant oranges Jaffa oranges

grow brilliant oranges Jaffa oranges that isn’t the way of the future farming

that isn’t the way of the future farming

that isn’t the way of the future farming is shrinking all the time becoming

is shrinking all the time becoming

is shrinking all the time becoming evermore technological instead of that

evermore technological instead of that

evermore technological instead of that what they are doing is they are engaging

what they are doing is they are engaging

what they are doing is they are engaging in research in all sorts of high-tech

in research in all sorts of high-tech

in research in all sorts of high-tech fields and then characters up

fields and then characters up

fields and then characters up commercializing and developing these

commercializing and developing these

commercializing and developing these ideas if I give you a few examples that

ideas if I give you a few examples that

ideas if I give you a few examples that will give you an idea of a global

will give you an idea of a global

will give you an idea of a global preeminence that they have because they

preeminence that they have because they

preeminence that they have because they are really playing in the Premier League

are really playing in the Premier League

are really playing in the Premier League today in terms of technology in 1998

today in terms of technology in 1998

today in terms of technology in 1998 five Israeli teenagers no doubt the bane

five Israeli teenagers no doubt the bane

five Israeli teenagers no doubt the bane of their teachers lives sold a product

of their teachers lives sold a product

of their teachers lives sold a product to AOL they had created the very first

to AOL they had created the very first

to AOL they had created the very first serious messaging service which some of

serious messaging service which some of

serious messaging service which some of you may recall it went under the

you may recall it went under the

you may recall it went under the initials I see QED namely ICQ role

initials I see QED namely ICQ role

initials I see QED namely ICQ role reality is these five guys literally

reality is these five guys literally

reality is these five guys literally made this invention available as a free

made this invention available as a free

made this invention available as a free download they collected tens of millions

download they collected tens of millions

download they collected tens of millions of names which clearly were a set of

of names which clearly were a set of

of names which clearly were a set of addresses that AOL was interested in and

addresses that AOL was interested in and

addresses that AOL was interested in and in 1989 this product was bought by AOL

in 1989 this product was bought by AOL

in 1989 this product was bought by AOL for 287

for 287

for 287 million US dollars first down payment

million US dollars first down payment

million US dollars first down payment that has been followed laterally by a

that has been followed laterally by a

that has been followed laterally by a whole brace of inventions in a variety

whole brace of inventions in a variety

whole brace of inventions in a variety of fields perhaps you’ve seen this pill

of fields perhaps you’ve seen this pill

of fields perhaps you’ve seen this pill cam which is the bog-standard now gizmo

cam which is the bog-standard now gizmo

cam which is the bog-standard now gizmo for looking at people who’ve got pains

for looking at people who’ve got pains

for looking at people who’ve got pains in their stomachs invented by a team at

in their stomachs invented by a team at

in their stomachs invented by a team at the Technion in northern israel so any

the Technion in northern israel so any

the Technion in northern israel so any one of you guys any one of you ladies in

one of you guys any one of you ladies in

one of you guys any one of you ladies in the room could develop pains in your

the room could develop pains in your

the room could develop pains in your stomach now to investigate what exactly

stomach now to investigate what exactly

stomach now to investigate what exactly is happening to you you would be sent to

is happening to you you would be sent to

is happening to you you would be sent to a hospital in Kent or anywhere else

a hospital in Kent or anywhere else

a hospital in Kent or anywhere else where you’d be asked to swallow a pill

where you’d be asked to swallow a pill

where you’d be asked to swallow a pill which contains a piece of nanotechnology

which contains a piece of nanotechnology

which contains a piece of nanotechnology a miniaturized camera a pill does not

a miniaturized camera a pill does not

a miniaturized camera a pill does not dissolve but which floats through the

dissolve but which floats through the

dissolve but which floats through the human frame taking eight solid hours of

human frame taking eight solid hours of

human frame taking eight solid hours of travel through the body taking a picture

travel through the body taking a picture

travel through the body taking a picture every other second so now we can show

every other second so now we can show

every other second so now we can show you the full run of your energy ography

you the full run of your energy ography

you the full run of your energy ography and the specialist can identify and

and the specialist can identify and

and the specialist can identify and diagnose what problems you have a

diagnose what problems you have a

diagnose what problems you have a painless investigation which won prizes

painless investigation which won prizes

painless investigation which won prizes and Technology all over the world but

and Technology all over the world but

and Technology all over the world but that’s been followed by a whole tranche

that’s been followed by a whole tranche

that’s been followed by a whole tranche of other ideas perhaps some of you

of other ideas perhaps some of you

of other ideas perhaps some of you runners in the room have seen pictures

runners in the room have seen pictures

runners in the room have seen pictures of an extraordinary doughty lady Claire

of an extraordinary doughty lady Claire

of an extraordinary doughty lady Claire Lomas she lives in Leicestershire she is

Lomas she lives in Leicestershire she is

Lomas she lives in Leicestershire she is a paraplegic yet she has now taken part

a paraplegic yet she has now taken part

a paraplegic yet she has now taken part in two UK marathons standing walking on

in two UK marathons standing walking on

in two UK marathons standing walking on crutches wearing a bionic suit invented

crutches wearing a bionic suit invented

crutches wearing a bionic suit invented by a quadriplegic in Israel a suit that

by a quadriplegic in Israel a suit that

by a quadriplegic in Israel a suit that enables that individual chair

enables that individual chair

enables that individual chair wheelchair-bound

wheelchair-bound

wheelchair-bound to propel themselves forward with all

to propel themselves forward with all

to propel themselves forward with all sorts of impulses going through the leg

sorts of impulses going through the leg

sorts of impulses going through the leg in enabling the paraplegic to stand and

in enabling the paraplegic to stand and

in enabling the paraplegic to stand and jerkily walk forward but I can add to

jerkily walk forward but I can add to

jerkily walk forward but I can add to that two other of the more recent

that two other of the more recent

that two other of the more recent innovations and technological

innovations and technological

innovations and technological contributions that come out from Israel

contributions that come out from Israel

contributions that come out from Israel which are utterly extraordinary an Arab

which are utterly extraordinary an Arab

which are utterly extraordinary an Arab professor from the Technion which is

professor from the Technion which is

professor from the Technion which is Israel’s premier engineering university

Israel’s premier engineering university

Israel’s premier engineering university who’s created a nano device which he

who’s created a nano device which he

who’s created a nano device which he calls the Nath nose

calls the Nath nose

calls the Nath nose a nos e this is a device which actually

a nos e this is a device which actually

a nos e this is a device which actually acts as a breathalyzer and analyzes from

acts as a breathalyzer and analyzes from

acts as a breathalyzer and analyzes from people’s breaths whether they are

people’s breaths whether they are

people’s breaths whether they are carrying bacteria whether they already

carrying bacteria whether they already

carrying bacteria whether they already profoundly sick and identifying what

profoundly sick and identifying what

profoundly sick and identifying what sickness they carry and the degree of

sickness they carry and the degree of

sickness they carry and the degree of severity of that sickness

severity of that sickness

severity of that sickness it’s an extraordinary piece a piece of

it’s an extraordinary piece a piece of

it’s an extraordinary piece a piece of kit but the most recent hotshot success

kit but the most recent hotshot success

kit but the most recent hotshot success of Israel is a company called mobile I

of Israel is a company called mobile I

of Israel is a company called mobile I they’re producing an element for

they’re producing an element for

they’re producing an element for driverless cars Intel has just bought

driverless cars Intel has just bought

driverless cars Intel has just bought out mobile I for the absolutely eye

out mobile I for the absolutely eye

out mobile I for the absolutely eye watering some of twelve and a half

watering some of twelve and a half

watering some of twelve and a half billion pounds sterling now I don’t want

billion pounds sterling now I don’t want

billion pounds sterling now I don’t want to suggest to you for a minute that

to suggest to you for a minute that

to suggest to you for a minute that contemporary Israel is thriving and

contemporary Israel is thriving and

contemporary Israel is thriving and everything is going swimmingly well

everything is going swimmingly well

everything is going swimmingly well because you wouldn’t believe that and it

because you wouldn’t believe that and it

because you wouldn’t believe that and it wouldn’t be true of any society any open

wouldn’t be true of any society any open

wouldn’t be true of any society any open democratic society is going to have its

democratic society is going to have its

democratic society is going to have its trains and its domestic problems that’s

trains and its domestic problems that’s

trains and its domestic problems that’s inevitable not everybody is making it

inevitable not everybody is making it

inevitable not everybody is making it not everybody has these creative skills

not everybody has these creative skills

not everybody has these creative skills so there is poverty and there’s

so there is poverty and there’s

so there is poverty and there’s inter-communal difficulties and their

inter-communal difficulties and their

inter-communal difficulties and their different views about how this society

different views about how this society

different views about how this society should surge forward it is as

should surge forward it is as

should surge forward it is as democratically divided as the UK is or

democratically divided as the UK is or

democratically divided as the UK is or the Netherlands or the United States of

the Netherlands or the United States of

the Netherlands or the United States of America let’s not speak of the fact that

America let’s not speak of the fact that

America let’s not speak of the fact that the Middle East is an area fraught with

the Middle East is an area fraught with

the Middle East is an area fraught with terrible tensions and violence that is

terrible tensions and violence that is

terrible tensions and violence that is on Israel’s doorstep and an unresolved

on Israel’s doorstep and an unresolved

on Israel’s doorstep and an unresolved conflict with the Palestinians that is

conflict with the Palestinians that is

conflict with the Palestinians that is all a backdrop to all of this and yet I

all a backdrop to all of this and yet I

all a backdrop to all of this and yet I can say to you that in the register of

can say to you that in the register of

can say to you that in the register of happiness and there is a listing of

happiness and there is a listing of

happiness and there is a listing of states Israel isn’t quite up near the

states Israel isn’t quite up near the

states Israel isn’t quite up near the absolute top the Nordic nation states

absolute top the Nordic nation states

absolute top the Nordic nation states win those plaudits but actually in terms

win those plaudits but actually in terms

win those plaudits but actually in terms of people’s sense of engagement and

of people’s sense of engagement and

of people’s sense of engagement and involvement in their society Israel is

involvement in their society Israel is

involvement in their society Israel is pretty high up in the global League of

pretty high up in the global League of

pretty high up in the global League of the hundred and ninety odd states that

the hundred and ninety odd states that

the hundred and ninety odd states that make up our planet it’s not just

make up our planet it’s not just

make up our planet it’s not just surviving it’s thriving and it’s a great

surviving it’s thriving and it’s a great

surviving it’s thriving and it’s a great story

story

story that’s when I bring to you this morning

that’s when I bring to you this morning

that’s when I bring to you this morning [Applause]