these are crazy times we live in I never thought it was possible to see
I never thought it was possible to see
I never thought it was possible to see brexit and the election of Donald Trump
brexit and the election of Donald Trump
brexit and the election of Donald Trump in one year firebrand political record
in one year firebrand political record
in one year firebrand political record the rhetoric blows up your news
the rhetoric blows up your news
the rhetoric blows up your news essentially telling you that nationalism
essentially telling you that nationalism
essentially telling you that nationalism is king and that thing you want to do
is king and that thing you want to do
is king and that thing you want to do with globalism
with globalism
with globalism is not legitimate that you should not be
is not legitimate that you should not be
is not legitimate that you should not be engaged in this but this does not work
engaged in this but this does not work
engaged in this but this does not work for you because you like I likely
for you because you like I likely
for you because you like I likely self-identify as a global citizen you
self-identify as a global citizen you
self-identify as a global citizen you want to drive global change champion a
want to drive global change champion a
want to drive global change champion a cause make a small win in the battle of
cause make a small win in the battle of
cause make a small win in the battle of ideas this message is for you unleash
ideas this message is for you unleash
ideas this message is for you unleash your inner campaigner and your actions
your inner campaigner and your actions
your inner campaigner and your actions with the actions of others will drive
with the actions of others will drive
with the actions of others will drive global change you can be a campaigner
global change you can be a campaigner
global change you can be a campaigner but don’t start as I did I had two
but don’t start as I did I had two
but don’t start as I did I had two objectives when I was young one was to
objectives when I was young one was to
objectives when I was young one was to be engaged with fashion and the other
be engaged with fashion and the other
be engaged with fashion and the other with global change in terms of my
with global change in terms of my
with global change in terms of my fashion as you see here I abdi obvious
fashion as you see here I abdi obvious
fashion as you see here I abdi obvious fell flat
notice the perm the bad plaid fit and
notice the perm the bad plaid fit and the lederhosen obvious failure in
the lederhosen obvious failure in
the lederhosen obvious failure in addition I do not drive global change as
addition I do not drive global change as
addition I do not drive global change as I was essentially unable to campaign
I was essentially unable to campaign
I was essentially unable to campaign as I would have liked I didn’t do it
as I would have liked I didn’t do it
as I would have liked I didn’t do it effectively
effectively
effectively I didn’t align myself with the right
I didn’t align myself with the right
I didn’t align myself with the right campaigns and ultimately I was activists
but you can look to Dorothy Height as an
but you can look to Dorothy Height as an effective campaigner she was known as
effective campaigner she was known as
effective campaigner she was known as the godmother of civil rights and she
the godmother of civil rights and she
the godmother of civil rights and she spent a lifetime working to empower
spent a lifetime working to empower
spent a lifetime working to empower America Africa Numair ik ins she had a
America Africa Numair ik ins she had a
America Africa Numair ik ins she had a cause who have a cause aligning with a
cause who have a cause aligning with a
cause who have a cause aligning with a cause can be completely overwhelming
cause can be completely overwhelming
cause can be completely overwhelming it’s essentially like walking into
it’s essentially like walking into
it’s essentially like walking into Starbucks for the first time to order a
Starbucks for the first time to order a
Starbucks for the first time to order a beverage unfortunately you have too many
beverage unfortunately you have too many
beverage unfortunately you have too many global issues on your menu from which to
global issues on your menu from which to
global issues on your menu from which to choose but it’s not that complicated
choose but it’s not that complicated
choose but it’s not that complicated it’s actually rather simple and I have a
it’s actually rather simple and I have a
it’s actually rather simple and I have a few ideas in terms of how you can do
few ideas in terms of how you can do
few ideas in terms of how you can do that one find a cause that resonates
that one find a cause that resonates
that one find a cause that resonates with you find one find to find three
with you find one find to find three
with you find one find to find three whatever works for you to find
whatever works for you to find
whatever works for you to find organizations that work for your cause
organizations that work for your cause
organizations that work for your cause that those organizations to ensure that
that those organizations to ensure that
that those organizations to ensure that they have longevity they have staying
they have longevity they have staying
they have longevity they have staying power and then attach yourself to those
power and then attach yourself to those
power and then attach yourself to those organizations three galvanize support
organizations three galvanize support
organizations three galvanize support from your social network and pull them
from your social network and pull them
from your social network and pull them into your involvement web get grandma
into your involvement web get grandma
into your involvement web get grandma talk to your neighbors
talk to your neighbors
talk to your neighbors text your friends and four commit to the
text your friends and four commit to the
text your friends and four commit to the cause for the long haul we need to
cause for the long haul we need to
cause for the long haul we need to strike for the cause while the iron is
strike for the cause while the iron is
strike for the cause while the iron is hot but be willing to endure while the
hot but be willing to endure while the
hot but be willing to endure while the embers continue to burn ramesh is an
embers continue to burn ramesh is an
embers continue to burn ramesh is an example of a campaigner
example of a campaigner
example of a campaigner who went through these steps meet my
who went through these steps meet my
who went through these steps meet my friend
friend
friend Ramesh Faris he is a 37 year old man who
Ramesh Faris he is a 37 year old man who
Ramesh Faris he is a 37 year old man who contracted polio when he was a baby in
contracted polio when he was a baby in
contracted polio when he was a baby in India he was later taken to an orphanage
India he was later taken to an orphanage
India he was later taken to an orphanage and eventually adopted and ended up in
and eventually adopted and ended up in
and eventually adopted and ended up in Canada where he learned to walk through
Canada where he learned to walk through
Canada where he learned to walk through corrective surgeries and assistive
corrective surgeries and assistive
corrective surgeries and assistive devices as a young adult Ramesh returned
devices as a young adult Ramesh returned
devices as a young adult Ramesh returned to India there he met with polio
to India there he met with polio
to India there he met with polio survivors and he contrasted his life
survivors and he contrasted his life
survivors and he contrasted his life with the life of these friends who were
with the life of these friends who were
with the life of these friends who were unable to benefit from the things that
unable to benefit from the things that
unable to benefit from the things that he had he committed to the cause to end
he had he committed to the cause to end
he had he committed to the cause to end polio he launched a campaign called
polio he launched a campaign called
polio he launched a campaign called cycle to walk wherein he hand cycled
cycle to walk wherein he hand cycled
cycle to walk wherein he hand cycled 7,000 140 kilometers across remote
7,000 140 kilometers across remote
7,000 140 kilometers across remote northern Canada he engaged with social
northern Canada he engaged with social
northern Canada he engaged with social media he teamed up with rotary schools
media he teamed up with rotary schools
media he teamed up with rotary schools and churches and he continues today as
and churches and he continues today as
and churches and he continues today as you see here he’s taking a picture a
you see here he’s taking a picture a
you see here he’s taking a picture a selfie with this his Holiness the Dalai
selfie with this his Holiness the Dalai
selfie with this his Holiness the Dalai Lama very interesting as he snapped this
Lama very interesting as he snapped this
Lama very interesting as he snapped this photo he shot it out to his social media
photo he shot it out to his social media
photo he shot it out to his social media with a call-to-action Ramesh is a
with a call-to-action Ramesh is a
with a call-to-action Ramesh is a fantastic campaigner recent protesters
fantastic campaigner recent protesters
fantastic campaigner recent protesters are also campaigners irrespective of
are also campaigners irrespective of
are also campaigners irrespective of your political views you were likely
your political views you were likely
your political views you were likely stunned as I was two weeks ago when
stunned as I was two weeks ago when
stunned as I was two weeks ago when unprecedented protests erupted around
unprecedented protests erupted around
unprecedented protests erupted around the world
the world
the world participants voiced
participants voiced
participants voiced their concerns from the u.s. to Mexico
their concerns from the u.s. to Mexico
their concerns from the u.s. to Mexico to Kenya to here in the UK and imagine a
to Kenya to here in the UK and imagine a
to Kenya to here in the UK and imagine a retiree in Hawaii posted on Facebook I
retiree in Hawaii posted on Facebook I
retiree in Hawaii posted on Facebook I think we should March and ignited a
think we should March and ignited a
think we should March and ignited a movement imagine her big idea resulted
movement imagine her big idea resulted
movement imagine her big idea resulted in a March for millions it was
in a March for millions it was
in a March for millions it was interesting to see how digital
interesting to see how digital
interesting to see how digital technology allowed this to happen and
technology allowed this to happen and
technology allowed this to happen and enabled massive participation but this
enabled massive participation but this
enabled massive participation but this is not necessarily new this has been
is not necessarily new this has been
is not necessarily new this has been done for over the last decade what is
done for over the last decade what is
done for over the last decade what is unique is a digital step change it is
unique is a digital step change it is
unique is a digital step change it is the ability to campaign online you can
the ability to campaign online you can
the ability to campaign online you can fundraise on Facebook sign petitions on
fundraise on Facebook sign petitions on
fundraise on Facebook sign petitions on Twitter and you can even text your
Twitter and you can even text your
Twitter and you can even text your politicians expressing dissent Digital
politicians expressing dissent Digital
politicians expressing dissent Digital campaigning has empowered you and given
campaigning has empowered you and given
campaigning has empowered you and given you space as a virtual global citizen it
you space as a virtual global citizen it
you space as a virtual global citizen it has given you the ability to amplify
has given you the ability to amplify
has given you the ability to amplify your voice but critics say that it’s not
your voice but critics say that it’s not
your voice but critics say that it’s not enough that we need to couple our online
enough that we need to couple our online
enough that we need to couple our online actions with offline actions as well we
actions with offline actions as well we
actions with offline actions as well we do not want to be sync simply hashtag
do not want to be sync simply hashtag
do not want to be sync simply hashtag activists so to speak for example this
activists so to speak for example this
activists so to speak for example this is not good random angry cat random
is not good random angry cat random
is not good random angry cat random hashtag very ineffective in addition if
hashtag very ineffective in addition if
hashtag very ineffective in addition if we hashtag for example no ban no wall on
we hashtag for example no ban no wall on
we hashtag for example no ban no wall on our social media posts but don’t follow
our social media posts but don’t follow
our social media posts but don’t follow up by volunteering
up by volunteering
up by volunteering with refugees in our communities it’s
with refugees in our communities it’s
with refugees in our communities it’s less effective we don’t want to be
less effective we don’t want to be
less effective we don’t want to be hashtag activists and we also don’t want
hashtag activists and we also don’t want
hashtag activists and we also don’t want to be collectivists our offline actions
to be collectivists our offline actions
to be collectivists our offline actions will require more skin in the game
will require more skin in the game
will require more skin in the game it’s an illusion to think that
it’s an illusion to think that
it’s an illusion to think that essentially being a part of the
essentially being a part of the
essentially being a part of the worldwide web and surfing the net will
worldwide web and surfing the net will
worldwide web and surfing the net will change the world as we put more skin in
change the world as we put more skin in
change the world as we put more skin in the game we can up our game by
the game we can up our game by
the game we can up our game by volunteering in our communities having
volunteering in our communities having
volunteering in our communities having more conversations showing up to events
being an inner campaigner will require
being an inner campaigner will require you to do both I campaign with 8 million
you to do both I campaign with 8 million
you to do both I campaign with 8 million others for global citizen a social
others for global citizen a social
others for global citizen a social active action platform which works to
active action platform which works to
active action platform which works to end extreme poverty the cause resonates
end extreme poverty the cause resonates
end extreme poverty the cause resonates with me
with me
with me I met incredibly talented people
I met incredibly talented people
I met incredibly talented people throughout my life all around the world
throughout my life all around the world
throughout my life all around the world living on less than a dollar 50 a day
living on less than a dollar 50 a day
living on less than a dollar 50 a day potential politicians scientists Nobel
potential politicians scientists Nobel
potential politicians scientists Nobel laureates kept from their dreams only
laureates kept from their dreams only
laureates kept from their dreams only because they lacked resources this was
because they lacked resources this was
because they lacked resources this was not okay with me and I knew that if they
not okay with me and I knew that if they
not okay with me and I knew that if they had opportunity they could lift
had opportunity they could lift
had opportunity they could lift themselves out of poverty global citizen
themselves out of poverty global citizen
themselves out of poverty global citizen works on this cause and I aligned myself
works on this cause and I aligned myself
works on this cause and I aligned myself with this organization I pulled on my
with this organization I pulled on my
with this organization I pulled on my networks and I met new friends along the
networks and I met new friends along the
networks and I met new friends along the way we are a tribe of like-minded global
way we are a tribe of like-minded global
way we are a tribe of like-minded global people and it feels really good to be
people and it feels really good to be
people and it feels really good to be part of a cause together my favorite
part of a cause together my favorite
part of a cause together my favorite work is that the global citizen festival
we converge on Central Park in September
we converge on Central Park in September with world leaders in order to commit to
with world leaders in order to commit to
with world leaders in order to commit to the global goals for sustainable
the global goals for sustainable
the global goals for sustainable development
1.3 million actions and come 44
1.3 million actions and come 44 commitments led to 1.9 billion dollars
commitments led to 1.9 billion dollars
commitments led to 1.9 billion dollars worth of action these campaigns work to
worth of action these campaigns work to
worth of action these campaigns work to empower girls and polio and many other
empower girls and polio and many other
empower girls and polio and many other things
The Economist called it a mash-up of
The Economist called it a mash-up of music fans bands and prime ministers
during the event I escorted some
during the event I escorted some influencers front of stage we watched
influencers front of stage we watched
influencers front of stage we watched the set with Eddie Vedder and Chris
the set with Eddie Vedder and Chris
the set with Eddie Vedder and Chris Martin and at that moment I glanced out
Martin and at that moment I glanced out
Martin and at that moment I glanced out to the audience
to the audience
to the audience 60,000 campaigners and I had a root and
60,000 campaigners and I had a root and
60,000 campaigners and I had a root and Eureka moment I knew that all of this
Eureka moment I knew that all of this
Eureka moment I knew that all of this was something that we as campaigners had
was something that we as campaigners had
was something that we as campaigners had built and campaigns were driving Global
built and campaigns were driving Global
built and campaigns were driving Global Change
Change
Change you can drive Global Change will you
you can drive Global Change will you
you can drive Global Change will you unleash your inner campaigner today
unleash your inner campaigner today
unleash your inner campaigner today thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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