when I was 23 ms man and that man changed my life with one hand and three
changed my life with one hand and three
changed my life with one hand and three words 10 hours put his hand on my arm
words 10 hours put his hand on my arm
words 10 hours put his hand on my arm he said please help us
he said please help us
he said please help us tenaris is an indigenous elder medicine
tenaris is an indigenous elder medicine
tenaris is an indigenous elder medicine man he lives on sea brute remote
man he lives on sea brute remote
man he lives on sea brute remote rainforest at Island in Indonesia and I
rainforest at Island in Indonesia and I
rainforest at Island in Indonesia and I was there as part of a group of tourists
was there as part of a group of tourists
was there as part of a group of tourists experiencing what the tour guide had
experiencing what the tour guide had
experiencing what the tour guide had said to us was see brutes primitive
said to us was see brutes primitive
said to us was see brutes primitive culture
culture
culture I loved the culture I loved the
I loved the culture I loved the
I loved the culture I loved the environment but I felt ashamed I felt
environment but I felt ashamed I felt
environment but I felt ashamed I felt ashamed to be there as a tourist just
ashamed to be there as a tourist just
ashamed to be there as a tourist just watching doing nothing because at night
watching doing nothing because at night
watching doing nothing because at night the people would tell me stories in
the people would tell me stories in
the people would tell me stories in hushed whispers stories of how their
hushed whispers stories of how their
hushed whispers stories of how their children were dying from a mysterious
children were dying from a mysterious
children were dying from a mysterious disease a disease I later found out with
disease a disease I later found out with
disease a disease I later found out with the measles they told me how logging
the measles they told me how logging
the measles they told me how logging companies were illegally cutting down
companies were illegally cutting down
companies were illegally cutting down their rainforests they told me how
their rainforests they told me how
their rainforests they told me how people were being forced to move to
people were being forced to move to
people were being forced to move to government villages to abandon their
government villages to abandon their
government villages to abandon their culture their tradition their language I
culture their tradition their language I
culture their tradition their language I don’t know if Tanner’s sense my shame I
don’t know if Tanner’s sense my shame I
don’t know if Tanner’s sense my shame I don’t know if he saw my horror that the
don’t know if he saw my horror that the
don’t know if he saw my horror that the stories but for whatever his reason he
stories but for whatever his reason he
stories but for whatever his reason he chose to ask me for help
chose to ask me for help
chose to ask me for help and his choice had a profound influence
and his choice had a profound influence
and his choice had a profound influence on the choices that I would go on to
on the choices that I would go on to
on the choices that I would go on to make with one simple gesture humanity
make with one simple gesture humanity
make with one simple gesture humanity and solidarity took on new meaning for
and solidarity took on new meaning for
and solidarity took on new meaning for me I wanted to help but I didn’t have a
me I wanted to help but I didn’t have a
me I wanted to help but I didn’t have a clue how how it was a young lawyer going
clue how how it was a young lawyer going
clue how how it was a young lawyer going to do anything but when I returned back
to do anything but when I returned back
to do anything but when I returned back to London I felt compelled to try I
to London I felt compelled to try I
to London I felt compelled to try I started to research I started to contact
started to research I started to contact
started to research I started to contact friends parents of friends friends with
friends parents of friends friends with
friends parents of friends friends with parents I set up an organization called
parents I set up an organization called
parents I set up an organization called SOS Saburo I even recruited my boyfriend
SOS Saburo I even recruited my boyfriend
SOS Saburo I even recruited my boyfriend I went and spoke to politicians
I went and spoke to politicians
I went and spoke to politicians businessmen environmental and organ
businessmen environmental and organ
businessmen environmental and organ nations trying to persuade somebody
nations trying to persuade somebody
nations trying to persuade somebody anybody to care about this island and
anybody to care about this island and
anybody to care about this island and its people enough to act to write a
its people enough to act to write a
its people enough to act to write a letter to protest to campaign and
letter to protest to campaign and
letter to protest to campaign and meanwhile I was working as a junior
meanwhile I was working as a junior
meanwhile I was working as a junior lawyer my law firm had offered me a
lawyer my law firm had offered me a
lawyer my law firm had offered me a fast-track to partnership one afternoon
fast-track to partnership one afternoon
fast-track to partnership one afternoon sitting in my friend’s living room I
sitting in my friend’s living room I
sitting in my friend’s living room I made a decision I would go back to
made a decision I would go back to
made a decision I would go back to Indonesia to help tannaz in his
Indonesia to help tannaz in his
Indonesia to help tannaz in his community he wasn’t enough anymore to
community he wasn’t enough anymore to
community he wasn’t enough anymore to work from afar and that decision was
work from afar and that decision was
work from afar and that decision was terrifying
terrifying
terrifying I was giving up after all the
I was giving up after all the
I was giving up after all the opportunity of a successful career in a
opportunity of a successful career in a
opportunity of a successful career in a comfortable life but that decision felt
comfortable life but that decision felt
comfortable life but that decision felt inevitable and it felt right I made a
inevitable and it felt right I made a
inevitable and it felt right I made a choice I went on to work with Indonesian
choice I went on to work with Indonesian
choice I went on to work with Indonesian activists activist fighting against
activists activist fighting against
activists activist fighting against injustice I went on to work with doctors
injustice I went on to work with doctors
injustice I went on to work with doctors and nurses who want to alleviate the
and nurses who want to alleviate the
and nurses who want to alleviate the suffering of people living through some
suffering of people living through some
suffering of people living through some of the worst humanitarian crises of our
of the worst humanitarian crises of our
of the worst humanitarian crises of our times I worked with students who
times I worked with students who
times I worked with students who believed in an equitable global health
believed in an equitable global health
believed in an equitable global health system a system where everybody can get
system a system where everybody can get
system a system where everybody can get the medicines that they need
the medicines that they need
the medicines that they need rich or poor I saw that when we choose
rich or poor I saw that when we choose
rich or poor I saw that when we choose to act when we choose to reach out a
to act when we choose to reach out a
to act when we choose to reach out a hand to help the other we can make a
hand to help the other we can make a
hand to help the other we can make a difference we can make a change
Indonesia was the first act in my social
Indonesia was the first act in my social justice awakening Rwanda was the second
justice awakening Rwanda was the second
justice awakening Rwanda was the second April 1994 the Rwandan genocide has
April 1994 the Rwandan genocide has
April 1994 the Rwandan genocide has begun I’m working with mitts I saw hot
begun I’m working with mitts I saw hot
begun I’m working with mitts I saw hot air Doctors Without Borders on the
air Doctors Without Borders on the
air Doctors Without Borders on the border of Congo and Rwanda and they’re
border of Congo and Rwanda and they’re
border of Congo and Rwanda and they’re waiting waiting for the people that were
waiting waiting for the people that were
waiting waiting for the people that were expecting to cross to leave the horror
expecting to cross to leave the horror
expecting to cross to leave the horror of what was happening in Rwanda but none
of what was happening in Rwanda but none
of what was happening in Rwanda but none came every day I went to the border
came every day I went to the border
came every day I went to the border hoping and one day a young boy ran out
hoping and one day a young boy ran out
hoping and one day a young boy ran out of the border forest he was wearing a
of the border forest he was wearing a
of the border forest he was wearing a ripped white t-shirt his eyes were wide
ripped white t-shirt his eyes were wide
ripped white t-shirt his eyes were wide with fear he took one look at me
with fear he took one look at me
with fear he took one look at me turned on his heels and ran back into
turned on his heels and ran back into
turned on his heels and ran back into the forest a while later he emerged
the forest a while later he emerged
the forest a while later he emerged again his name was scheme’ and behind
again his name was scheme’ and behind
again his name was scheme’ and behind him came his older brother who was
him came his older brother who was
him came his older brother who was carrying a baby in his arms the boy
carrying a baby in his arms the boy
carrying a baby in his arms the boy stood out in the open looking at me I
stood out in the open looking at me I
stood out in the open looking at me I saw that the older boy had a huge gash
saw that the older boy had a huge gash
saw that the older boy had a huge gash as if from a machete on the side of his
as if from a machete on the side of his
as if from a machete on the side of his head there was dried blood caked onto
head there was dried blood caked onto
head there was dried blood caked onto his shirt onto his skin scheme’ pointed
his shirt onto his skin scheme’ pointed
his shirt onto his skin scheme’ pointed down at the baby in his brother’s arms
down at the baby in his brother’s arms
down at the baby in his brother’s arms he said hid him off her help my brother
he said hid him off her help my brother
he said hid him off her help my brother the baby’s leg was almost severed later
the baby’s leg was almost severed later
the baby’s leg was almost severed later that same day the baby died still
that same day the baby died still
that same day the baby died still cradled in his brother’s arms later
cradled in his brother’s arms later
cradled in his brother’s arms later Shemer told me what had happened he said
Shemer told me what had happened he said
Shemer told me what had happened he said that mobs of militia had come to his
that mobs of militia had come to his
that mobs of militia had come to his village waving machetes it heard
village waving machetes it heard
village waving machetes it heard screaming and crying he and his family
screaming and crying he and his family
screaming and crying he and his family had been herded out of their Hut and he
had been herded out of their Hut and he
had been herded out of their Hut and he watched as they murdered his father
watched as they murdered his father
watched as they murdered his father followed by his mother followed by his
followed by his mother followed by his
followed by his mother followed by his sisters he saw his uncle among the
sisters he saw his uncle among the
sisters he saw his uncle among the militia his uncle was talking rapidly
militia his uncle was talking rapidly
militia his uncle was talking rapidly with the other militia and pointing at
with the other militia and pointing at
with the other militia and pointing at him and his brothers and then he came
him and his brothers and then he came
him and his brothers and then he came over and herded them roughly into the
over and herded them roughly into the
over and herded them roughly into the bush Emma was sure that they were going
bush Emma was sure that they were going
bush Emma was sure that they were going to die but instead his uncle told them
to die but instead his uncle told them
to die but instead his uncle told them to run and to never look back in a
to run and to never look back in a
to run and to never look back in a context where family members were
context where family members were
context where family members were killing family members his uncle made a
killing family members his uncle made a
killing family members his uncle made a choice it would be many weeks before
choice it would be many weeks before
choice it would be many weeks before people’s hundreds of thousands of people
people’s hundreds of thousands of people
people’s hundreds of thousands of people flooded across the border into Congo you
flooded across the border into Congo you
flooded across the border into Congo you see Rwanda was like a fishbowl you could
see Rwanda was like a fishbowl you could
see Rwanda was like a fishbowl you could look in and you could look out but you
look in and you could look out but you
look in and you could look out but you could not get in and you could not get
could not get in and you could not get
could not get in and you could not get out It was as if the country was
out It was as if the country was
out It was as if the country was surrounded by an invisible wall an
surrounded by an invisible wall an
surrounded by an invisible wall an invisible wall sealed by rumors and
invisible wall sealed by rumors and
invisible wall sealed by rumors and guarded by militia and inside that fish
guarded by militia and inside that fish
guarded by militia and inside that fish 800,000 people were killed in less than
800,000 people were killed in less than
800,000 people were killed in less than two months and outside that fishbowl
two months and outside that fishbowl
two months and outside that fishbowl the world watched on as if mesmerised by
the world watched on as if mesmerised by
the world watched on as if mesmerised by the horror unfolding on our television
the horror unfolding on our television
the horror unfolding on our television sets and countries with the capacity to
sets and countries with the capacity to
sets and countries with the capacity to act withdrew the last remaining
act withdrew the last remaining
act withdrew the last remaining protection forces from Rwanda they left
protection forces from Rwanda they left
protection forces from Rwanda they left the people at the mercy of those
the people at the mercy of those
the people at the mercy of those bloodthirsty mobs they made humanitarian
bloodthirsty mobs they made humanitarian
bloodthirsty mobs they made humanitarian assistance incredibly dangerous and
assistance incredibly dangerous and
assistance incredibly dangerous and incredibly difficult those countries
incredibly difficult those countries
incredibly difficult those countries made a choice they also sent a clear
made a choice they also sent a clear
made a choice they also sent a clear message they sent a message we won’t
message they sent a message we won’t
message they sent a message we won’t help humanity and solidarity were laid
help humanity and solidarity were laid
help humanity and solidarity were laid to waste in those dark days but there
to waste in those dark days but there
to waste in those dark days but there were some people who made another choice
were some people who made another choice
were some people who made another choice they were abandoned who bathed who
they were abandoned who bathed who
they were abandoned who bathed who bravely tried to protect their
bravely tried to protect their
bravely tried to protect their persecuted friends and neighbors by
persecuted friends and neighbors by
persecuted friends and neighbors by sheltering them by covering for them
sheltering them by covering for them
sheltering them by covering for them there were my own colleagues who treated
there were my own colleagues who treated
there were my own colleagues who treated the injured trying to protect patients
the injured trying to protect patients
the injured trying to protect patients and staff they risked their lives to be
and staff they risked their lives to be
and staff they risked their lives to be alongside the hunted and while they
alongside the hunted and while they
alongside the hunted and while they could not end the carnage they could
could not end the carnage they could
could not end the carnage they could provide islands of humanity in a sea of
provide islands of humanity in a sea of
provide islands of humanity in a sea of atrocity Syria and Yemen South Sudan and
atrocity Syria and Yemen South Sudan and
atrocity Syria and Yemen South Sudan and Somalia Central African Republic and
Somalia Central African Republic and
Somalia Central African Republic and Myanmar millions and millions of people
Myanmar millions and millions of people
Myanmar millions and millions of people today and living in fish bowls of
today and living in fish bowls of
today and living in fish bowls of violence they’re attacked they’re bombed
violence they’re attacked they’re bombed
violence they’re attacked they’re bombed their gassed
their gassed
their gassed their starved their abandoned people
their starved their abandoned people
their starved their abandoned people suffer cruelly and the world watch is on
suffer cruelly and the world watch is on
suffer cruelly and the world watch is on and we say it’s terribly sad but there’s
and we say it’s terribly sad but there’s
and we say it’s terribly sad but there’s nothing that I can do but there is
nothing that I can do but there is
nothing that I can do but there is something that we can do in a world
something that we can do in a world
something that we can do in a world where is unbearable chaos and suffering
where is unbearable chaos and suffering
where is unbearable chaos and suffering there are things that we can do we need
there are things that we can do we need
there are things that we can do we need to reach out in
to reach out in
to reach out in these moments we can do things to help
these moments we can do things to help
these moments we can do things to help people I’ve seen it myself I’ve seen the
people I’ve seen it myself I’ve seen the
people I’ve seen it myself I’ve seen the pain and suffering of the genocide I’ve
pain and suffering of the genocide I’ve
pain and suffering of the genocide I’ve seen the pain and suffering of people
seen the pain and suffering of people
seen the pain and suffering of people forced to leave their homes I’ve seen
forced to leave their homes I’ve seen
forced to leave their homes I’ve seen that we can do something after earlier
that we can do something after earlier
that we can do something after earlier this year I traveled to southern Mexico
this year I traveled to southern Mexico
this year I traveled to southern Mexico where I met Doris Doris and her daughter
where I met Doris Doris and her daughter
where I met Doris Doris and her daughter had fled certain death at the hands of
had fled certain death at the hands of
had fled certain death at the hands of gangs in El Salvador they’d come to
gangs in El Salvador they’d come to
gangs in El Salvador they’d come to Mexico seeking sanctuary but when they
Mexico seeking sanctuary but when they
Mexico seeking sanctuary but when they got to Mexico that was not what they
got to Mexico that was not what they
got to Mexico that was not what they received instead they were kidnapped
received instead they were kidnapped
received instead they were kidnapped held up for ransom and raped the
held up for ransom and raped the
held up for ransom and raped the authorities knew who the perpetrators
authorities knew who the perpetrators
authorities knew who the perpetrators were but they chose to do nothing people
were but they chose to do nothing people
were but they chose to do nothing people travel thousands and thousands of
travel thousands and thousands of
travel thousands and thousands of kilometres across the desert trying to
kilometres across the desert trying to
kilometres across the desert trying to seek sanctuary in Europe when they reach
seek sanctuary in Europe when they reach
seek sanctuary in Europe when they reach Libya they’re treated as criminals
Libya they’re treated as criminals
Libya they’re treated as criminals they’re thrown into detention centers
they’re thrown into detention centers
they’re thrown into detention centers where they’re beaten tortured humiliated
where they’re beaten tortured humiliated
where they’re beaten tortured humiliated Europe knows what’s going on inside
Europe knows what’s going on inside
Europe knows what’s going on inside Libya but still they seal their borders
Libya but still they seal their borders
Libya but still they seal their borders and they send those people that they
and they send those people that they
and they send those people that they should be protecting back to those cells
should be protecting back to those cells
should be protecting back to those cells of despair after the second world war we
of despair after the second world war we
of despair after the second world war we promised that we would take care of
promised that we would take care of
promised that we would take care of people who are fleeing persecution and
people who are fleeing persecution and
people who are fleeing persecution and violence we vowed never again to turn
violence we vowed never again to turn
violence we vowed never again to turn our backs on human suffering yet here we
our backs on human suffering yet here we
our backs on human suffering yet here we are it’s as if there’s two worlds
are it’s as if there’s two worlds
are it’s as if there’s two worlds looking through this invisible wall
looking through this invisible wall
looking through this invisible wall looking at each other one world with
looking at each other one world with
looking at each other one world with everything to give and the other with
everything to give and the other with
everything to give and the other with nothing to lose no there’s a real human
nothing to lose no there’s a real human
nothing to lose no there’s a real human cost a real human consequence to this
cost a real human consequence to this
cost a real human consequence to this dispassionate detachment this rejection
dispassionate detachment this rejection
dispassionate detachment this rejection of people who are coming to us asking
of people who are coming to us asking
of people who are coming to us asking for help also has profound consequences
for help also has profound consequences
for help also has profound consequences on our society when
on our society when
on our society when reject people we feed the extremism we
reject people we feed the extremism we
reject people we feed the extremism we feed this social imbalance and we feed
feed this social imbalance and we feed
feed this social imbalance and we feed existing conflicts and we will feed new
existing conflicts and we will feed new
existing conflicts and we will feed new conflicts as citizens were so often fed
conflicts as citizens were so often fed
conflicts as citizens were so often fed a politics of fear a fear that we too
a politics of fear a fear that we too
a politics of fear a fear that we too often lap up some of our politicians
often lap up some of our politicians
often lap up some of our politicians some of our media some of our leaders
some of our media some of our leaders
some of our media some of our leaders tell us that these migrants are coming
tell us that these migrants are coming
tell us that these migrants are coming to steal our jobs that they’re coming to
to steal our jobs that they’re coming to
to steal our jobs that they’re coming to bring terrorism to our shores they tell
bring terrorism to our shores they tell
bring terrorism to our shores they tell us that plucking a drowning child from
us that plucking a drowning child from
us that plucking a drowning child from the Mediterranean Sea is akin to human
the Mediterranean Sea is akin to human
the Mediterranean Sea is akin to human smuggling they tell us that looking
smuggling they tell us that looking
smuggling they tell us that looking after Doris and her daughter is human
after Doris and her daughter is human
after Doris and her daughter is human trafficking instead of questioning our
trafficking instead of questioning our
trafficking instead of questioning our prejudices we stay inside our fishbowl
prejudices we stay inside our fishbowl
prejudices we stay inside our fishbowl unable to touch unable to feel and
unable to touch unable to feel and
unable to touch unable to feel and unable to understand the suffering of
unable to understand the suffering of
unable to understand the suffering of our fellow human beings we fall into
our fellow human beings we fall into
our fellow human beings we fall into apathy but we have another choice had
apathy but we have another choice had
apathy but we have another choice had seen the pain in the suffering but I’ve
seen the pain in the suffering but I’ve
seen the pain in the suffering but I’ve also seen that when we choose to act we
also seen that when we choose to act we
also seen that when we choose to act we can make a difference
can make a difference
can make a difference you remember Subarus Welton airs and I
you remember Subarus Welton airs and I
you remember Subarus Welton airs and I saw a Subaru went on to garner
saw a Subaru went on to garner
saw a Subaru went on to garner international support for the island the
international support for the island the
international support for the island the illegal logging was stopped the forced
illegal logging was stopped the forced
illegal logging was stopped the forced migration was stopped an unlikely
migration was stopped an unlikely
migration was stopped an unlikely alliance an unlikely liaison between a
alliance an unlikely liaison between a
alliance an unlikely liaison between a medicine man and a young tourist but
medicine man and a young tourist but
medicine man and a young tourist but their humanity and solidarity that 10
their humanity and solidarity that 10
their humanity and solidarity that 10 has inspired that day brought real
has inspired that day brought real
has inspired that day brought real change and as citizens we have to make a
change and as citizens we have to make a
change and as citizens we have to make a choice we have to choose to do something
choice we have to choose to do something
choice we have to choose to do something instead of nothing and people are doing
instead of nothing and people are doing
instead of nothing and people are doing just that
just that
just that today there are grandmother’s who are
today there are grandmother’s who are
today there are grandmother’s who are providing hot meals for people who
providing hot meals for people who
providing hot meals for people who survive the perilous journey across the
survive the perilous journey across the
survive the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea there are people
Mediterranean Sea there are people
Mediterranean Sea there are people working in humanitarian and civil
working in humanitarian and civil
working in humanitarian and civil society organizations there are students
society organizations there are students
society organizations there are students suspending their studies to go in help
suspending their studies to go in help
suspending their studies to go in help in refugee in my
in refugee in my
in refugee in my and centers there are families privately
and centers there are families privately
and centers there are families privately sponsoring refugees to come to their
sponsoring refugees to come to their
sponsoring refugees to come to their country the list goes on but despite
country the list goes on but despite
country the list goes on but despite these examples we have to ask ourselves
these examples we have to ask ourselves
these examples we have to ask ourselves have we contributed to this collective
have we contributed to this collective
have we contributed to this collective failure to care have we contributed to
failure to care have we contributed to
failure to care have we contributed to this collective failure to stand up for
this collective failure to stand up for
this collective failure to stand up for our fellow human beings have we
our fellow human beings have we
our fellow human beings have we collectively failed to stand up for the
collectively failed to stand up for the
collectively failed to stand up for the moral political and legal commitments we
moral political and legal commitments we
moral political and legal commitments we made after the Second World War have we
made after the Second World War have we
made after the Second World War have we as individuals been sitting by too long
as individuals been sitting by too long
as individuals been sitting by too long waiting for somebody else some
waiting for somebody else some
waiting for somebody else some government some organizations some other
government some organizations some other
government some organizations some other to act so what can we do is individuals
to act so what can we do is individuals
to act so what can we do is individuals we can make choices we can choose to
we can make choices we can choose to
we can make choices we can choose to refuse the politics of fear we can
refuse the politics of fear we can
refuse the politics of fear we can choose to reject fake news and
choose to reject fake news and
choose to reject fake news and alternative facts we can choose to stand
alternative facts we can choose to stand
alternative facts we can choose to stand up for our fellow citizens we can choose
up for our fellow citizens we can choose
up for our fellow citizens we can choose to stand up for those moral commitments
to stand up for those moral commitments
to stand up for those moral commitments we can choose to hold our states
we can choose to hold our states
we can choose to hold our states accountable we can choose a narrative of
accountable we can choose a narrative of
accountable we can choose a narrative of humanity and solidarity instead of
humanity and solidarity instead of
humanity and solidarity instead of indifference and division we can make
indifference and division we can make
indifference and division we can make choices and in making those choices we
choices and in making those choices we
choices and in making those choices we can break down those fishbowls
can break down those fishbowls
can break down those fishbowls we can start to feel and touch and
we can start to feel and touch and
we can start to feel and touch and understand what that fellow citizen
understand what that fellow citizen
understand what that fellow citizen beings are going through we can start
beings are going through we can start
beings are going through we can start then to build the societies that we want
then to build the societies that we want
then to build the societies that we want to need societies that are harmonious
to need societies that are harmonious
to need societies that are harmonious compassionate peaceful we can start to
compassionate peaceful we can start to
compassionate peaceful we can start to build a powerful bridge a powerful
build a powerful bridge a powerful
build a powerful bridge a powerful bridge to a new narrative of a shared
bridge to a new narrative of a shared
bridge to a new narrative of a shared humanity and solidarity this narrative
humanity and solidarity this narrative
humanity and solidarity this narrative this positive narrative is a narrative
this positive narrative is a narrative
this positive narrative is a narrative that we desperately need today a
that we desperately need today a
that we desperately need today a narrative that we desperately need to
narrative that we desperately need to
narrative that we desperately need to reset and to heal this young century we
reset and to heal this young century we
reset and to heal this young century we have the choice we have
have the choice we have
have the choice we have the power of choice and it’s our choice
the power of choice and it’s our choice
the power of choice and it’s our choice to make thank you
to make thank you
to make thank you [Applause]
”
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