[Applause] my question is can we live like bonobos
my question is can we live like bonobos
my question is can we live like bonobos 98.7 percent of our DNA we share with
98.7 percent of our DNA we share with
98.7 percent of our DNA we share with bonobos they’re our closest living
bonobos they’re our closest living
bonobos they’re our closest living relative next to the chimpanzee now I
relative next to the chimpanzee now I
relative next to the chimpanzee now I firmly believe everyone is born with a
firmly believe everyone is born with a
firmly believe everyone is born with a chimp gene and a bonobo gene okay I’ve
chimp gene and a bonobo gene okay I’ve
chimp gene and a bonobo gene okay I’ve spoken to a lot of scientists who say if
spoken to a lot of scientists who say if
spoken to a lot of scientists who say if you look at male politicians in
you look at male politicians in
you look at male politicians in Washington you have chimpanzee behavior
Washington you have chimpanzee behavior
Washington you have chimpanzee behavior you’re done right you do but we have a
you’re done right you do but we have a
you’re done right you do but we have a bonobo in us as well I see it every
bonobo in us as well I see it every
bonobo in us as well I see it every single day
single day
single day I do I see the empathy but the problem
I do I see the empathy but the problem
I do I see the empathy but the problem is we’re moving away from that it’s like
is we’re moving away from that it’s like
is we’re moving away from that it’s like our in history we’re going backwards
our in history we’re going backwards
our in history we’re going backwards instead of forwards
instead of forwards
instead of forwards I am extremely passionate about these
I am extremely passionate about these
I am extremely passionate about these apes and aside from the DNA ok bonobos
apes and aside from the DNA ok bonobos
apes and aside from the DNA ok bonobos live in a matriarchal society so the
live in a matriarchal society so the
live in a matriarchal society so the females run the show it’s absolutely
females run the show it’s absolutely
females run the show it’s absolutely incredible
incredible
incredible they they raise their daughters to go
they they raise their daughters to go
they they raise their daughters to go off into the wild to be independent and
off into the wild to be independent and
off into the wild to be independent and it’s the sons that actually stay with
it’s the sons that actually stay with
it’s the sons that actually stay with their mothers long term so aside from
their mothers long term so aside from
their mothers long term so aside from the matriarchy and the fact that they’re
the matriarchy and the fact that they’re
the matriarchy and the fact that they’re incredibly peaceful they’re called the
incredibly peaceful they’re called the
incredibly peaceful they’re called the you know make love not war ape they’re
you know make love not war ape they’re
you know make love not war ape they’re very very inclusive so they live in an
very very inclusive so they live in an
very very inclusive so they live in an inclusive society they’re very accepting
inclusive society they’re very accepting
inclusive society they’re very accepting and they’re gentle and they know how to
and they’re gentle and they know how to
and they’re gentle and they know how to be in the moment so what’s so incredible
be in the moment so what’s so incredible
be in the moment so what’s so incredible about these Apes is that they make love
about these Apes is that they make love
about these Apes is that they make love all the time all the time they truly do
all the time all the time they truly do
all the time all the time they truly do when they feel tension they have sex
when they feel tension they have sex
when they feel tension they have sex that’s just it’s innate it’s it’s in
that’s just it’s innate it’s it’s in
that’s just it’s innate it’s it’s in them they don’t know any different so
them they don’t know any different so
them they don’t know any different so again I’ve spoken to a lot of scientists
again I’ve spoken to a lot of scientists
again I’ve spoken to a lot of scientists and researchers when I was doing
and researchers when I was doing
and researchers when I was doing research for my film the bonobo
research for my film the bonobo
research for my film the bonobo connection of documentary on these Apes
connection of documentary on these Apes
connection of documentary on these Apes and they told me that observed in the
and they told me that observed in the
and they told me that observed in the wild there’s no evidence of violence
wild there’s no evidence of violence
wild there’s no evidence of violence they don’t kill each other like
they don’t kill each other like
they don’t kill each other like chimpanzees do and like orangutans do
chimpanzees do and like orangutans do
chimpanzees do and like orangutans do these are all brilliant apes and we’re
these are all brilliant apes and we’re
these are all brilliant apes and we’re talking about very very highly
talking about very very highly
talking about very very highly intellectual beings bonobos don’t do
intellectual beings bonobos don’t do
intellectual beings bonobos don’t do that they don’t know why they don’t do
that they don’t know why they don’t do
that they don’t know why they don’t do that they just don’t do it they don’t
that they just don’t do it they don’t
that they just don’t do it they don’t they don’t want to do it it’s not in
they don’t want to do it it’s not in
they don’t want to do it it’s not in them
them
them I am very drawn to empathy and when I
I am very drawn to empathy and when I
I am very drawn to empathy and when I went to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio to do
went to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio to do
went to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio to do research I spent about three years every
research I spent about three years every
research I spent about three years every few months with a family of bonobos this
few months with a family of bonobos this
few months with a family of bonobos this is Jimmy right here and this family they
is Jimmy right here and this family they
is Jimmy right here and this family they were they just they took me right in I
were they just they took me right in I
were they just they took me right in I was I was amazed they didn’t know me at
was I was amazed they didn’t know me at
was I was amazed they didn’t know me at first and I didn’t bring any of my
first and I didn’t bring any of my
first and I didn’t bring any of my equipment any of my gear I just sat with
equipment any of my gear I just sat with
equipment any of my gear I just sat with them this is Suzy she’s my family member
them this is Suzy she’s my family member
them this is Suzy she’s my family member she’s your family member Suzy is
she’s your family member Suzy is
she’s your family member Suzy is astonishing I would sit with her for
astonishing I would sit with her for
astonishing I would sit with her for hours at a time in the glass I’d be like
hours at a time in the glass I’d be like
hours at a time in the glass I’d be like this should be right next to me
this should be right next to me
this should be right next to me and she would look at me she it was like
and she would look at me she it was like
and she would look at me she it was like she was almost looking into my soul it’s
she was almost looking into my soul it’s
she was almost looking into my soul it’s like she knew all of my issues all of my
like she knew all of my issues all of my
like she knew all of my issues all of my insecurities and she became like a
insecurities and she became like a
insecurities and she became like a mother figure to me I mean honest to god
mother figure to me I mean honest to god
mother figure to me I mean honest to god like I would be dreaming about her Suzy
like I would be dreaming about her Suzy
like I would be dreaming about her Suzy came to me in my dreams there was one
came to me in my dreams there was one
came to me in my dreams there was one time when I guess I anthropomorphize the
time when I guess I anthropomorphize the
time when I guess I anthropomorphize the heck out of her and she was speaking
heck out of her and she was speaking
heck out of her and she was speaking English to me and this ape has touched
English to me and this ape has touched
English to me and this ape has touched me in just the most profound ways she
me in just the most profound ways she
me in just the most profound ways she made me realize that you know I’m good
made me realize that you know I’m good
made me realize that you know I’m good enough to when I would sit with her I
enough to when I would sit with her I
enough to when I would sit with her I felt like all of my insecurities came
felt like all of my insecurities came
felt like all of my insecurities came out all of my vulnerability zki mout my
out all of my vulnerability zki mout my
out all of my vulnerability zki mout my anxieties and I I just felt like I was
anxieties and I I just felt like I was
anxieties and I I just felt like I was just trying to fit in in society just
just trying to fit in in society just
just trying to fit in in society just trying to try it’s trying to be enough
trying to try it’s trying to be enough
trying to try it’s trying to be enough you know come from a competitive family
you know come from a competitive family
you know come from a competitive family and you know our society it’s a lot to
and you know our society it’s a lot to
and you know our society it’s a lot to keep up with and I felt like I was kind
keep up with and I felt like I was kind
keep up with and I felt like I was kind of getting lost in translation but Suzy
of getting lost in translation but Suzy
of getting lost in translation but Suzy got me to sit still with her and to be
got me to sit still with her and to be
got me to sit still with her and to be present in the moment and it was like
present in the moment and it was like
present in the moment and it was like she brought me back to who I was like I
she brought me back to who I was like I
she brought me back to who I was like I I felt alive again and I didn’t even
I felt alive again and I didn’t even
I felt alive again and I didn’t even know any of this was gonna happen I was
know any of this was gonna happen I was
know any of this was gonna happen I was just doing research for a film but i sat
just doing research for a film but i sat
just doing research for a film but i sat with her over and over again and I’d
with her over and over again and I’d
with her over and over again and I’d come back and she would see me and she
come back and she would see me and she
come back and she would see me and she would do this head now this is a really
would do this head now this is a really
would do this head now this is a really cool thing that bonobos do they sit here
cool thing that bonobos do they sit here
cool thing that bonobos do they sit here and they go like this and they get when
and they go like this and they get when
and they go like this and they get when they get really excited they want to see
they get really excited they want to see
they get really excited they want to see you and engage with you and they they
you and engage with you and they they
you and engage with you and they they accept you so I felt really accepted by
accept you so I felt really accepted by
accept you so I felt really accepted by Suzy and it made me take a good look at
Suzy and it made me take a good look at
Suzy and it made me take a good look at myself and realize wow you know I am
myself and realize wow you know I am
myself and realize wow you know I am I feel like I can be a better person I
I feel like I can be a better person I
I feel like I can be a better person I mean when I was sitting with Suzy she I
mean when I was sitting with Suzy she I
mean when I was sitting with Suzy she I didn’t feel like there was a status
didn’t feel like there was a status
didn’t feel like there was a status difference because I’m a human and she’s
difference because I’m a human and she’s
difference because I’m a human and she’s a great ape were both beings and we had
a great ape were both beings and we had
a great ape were both beings and we had a language even though we weren’t
a language even though we weren’t
a language even though we weren’t speaking to each other it was like a
speaking to each other it was like a
speaking to each other it was like a visual language like an emotional
visual language like an emotional
visual language like an emotional language it was truly profound she’s
language it was truly profound she’s
language it was truly profound she’s blown me away and I will tell you she
blown me away and I will tell you she
blown me away and I will tell you she has changed my life she’s changed the
has changed my life she’s changed the
has changed my life she’s changed the way I think about myself she has changed
way I think about myself she has changed
way I think about myself she has changed the way I treat other people and I try
the way I treat other people and I try
the way I treat other people and I try to have empathy every single day in
to have empathy every single day in
to have empathy every single day in people I’m not perfect none of us are
people I’m not perfect none of us are
people I’m not perfect none of us are but when I looked at this to me this was
but when I looked at this to me this was
but when I looked at this to me this was like a huge wake-up call she’s a
like a huge wake-up call she’s a
like a huge wake-up call she’s a phenomenal mother to Suze spend so much
phenomenal mother to Suze spend so much
phenomenal mother to Suze spend so much time with her family and make sure
time with her family and make sure
time with her family and make sure everyone is okay so what is what does
everyone is okay so what is what does
everyone is okay so what is what does this mean for us this is looking pretty
this mean for us this is looking pretty
this mean for us this is looking pretty good if we can commit to not going
good if we can commit to not going
good if we can commit to not going backwards but to moving forwards
backwards but to moving forwards
backwards but to moving forwards we now need in my opinion but know it
we now need in my opinion but know it
we now need in my opinion but know it the bonobo model more than ever before
the bonobo model more than ever before
the bonobo model more than ever before we have the species there they’re right
we have the species there they’re right
we have the species there they’re right in our backyard I mean in the wild they
in our backyard I mean in the wild they
in our backyard I mean in the wild they live in the Democratic Republic of Congo
live in the Democratic Republic of Congo
live in the Democratic Republic of Congo but you can see them in zoos in the US
but you can see them in zoos in the US
but you can see them in zoos in the US and I encourage every single one of you
and I encourage every single one of you
and I encourage every single one of you to sit with a bonobo go meet one look
to sit with a bonobo go meet one look
to sit with a bonobo go meet one look them up there’s research all over the
them up there’s research all over the
them up there’s research all over the place now on them spend some time in
place now on them spend some time in
place now on them spend some time in their presence it will absolutely change
their presence it will absolutely change
their presence it will absolutely change you and you will see that there is hope
you and you will see that there is hope
you and you will see that there is hope there’s hope in our world for us to be
there’s hope in our world for us to be
there’s hope in our world for us to be empathic it’s hard we’re missing it I
empathic it’s hard we’re missing it I
empathic it’s hard we’re missing it I know it’s in us but we’re just we’re
know it’s in us but we’re just we’re
know it’s in us but we’re just we’re just not there yet we’re missing a big
just not there yet we’re missing a big
just not there yet we’re missing a big piece of it we are a self-absorbed
piece of it we are a self-absorbed
piece of it we are a self-absorbed Society you know we make it all about us
Society you know we make it all about us
Society you know we make it all about us but it’s about a greater love a greater
but it’s about a greater love a greater
but it’s about a greater love a greater good it is not just about us it’s about
good it is not just about us it’s about
good it is not just about us it’s about doing good for other people and during
doing good for other people and during
doing good for other people and during my research Susie taught me this and I
my research Susie taught me this and I
my research Susie taught me this and I did I had no idea it would turn out that
did I had no idea it would turn out that
did I had no idea it would turn out that way so she’s taught me that we have
way so she’s taught me that we have
way so she’s taught me that we have something greater to live for we can
something greater to live for we can
something greater to live for we can truly be happy and empathic people we
truly be happy and empathic people we
truly be happy and empathic people we can sustain empathy and what I’d like to
can sustain empathy and what I’d like to
can sustain empathy and what I’d like to leave you with is you know we have
leave you with is you know we have
leave you with is you know we have this chimpanzee over here that loves to
this chimpanzee over here that loves to
this chimpanzee over here that loves to hang around and that’s great we need the
hang around and that’s great we need the
hang around and that’s great we need the chimp in us sometimes but where’s the
chimp in us sometimes but where’s the
chimp in us sometimes but where’s the bonobo the bonobo is the the best-kept
bonobo the bonobo is the the best-kept
bonobo the bonobo is the the best-kept secret you know my partner says so much
secret you know my partner says so much
secret you know my partner says so much to me
to me
to me Irene it’s about choices and she’s right
Irene it’s about choices and she’s right
Irene it’s about choices and she’s right you know
you know
you know we have choices and we do we have
we have choices and we do we have
we have choices and we do we have choices every day to be kind to be
choices every day to be kind to be
choices every day to be kind to be sincere to be authentic and dare I say
sincere to be authentic and dare I say
sincere to be authentic and dare I say vulnerable so the bonobo model shows us
vulnerable so the bonobo model shows us
vulnerable so the bonobo model shows us what it would be like if men shared
what it would be like if men shared
what it would be like if men shared equal power in society with women I
equal power in society with women I
equal power in society with women I think it’s about time for that thank you
think it’s about time for that thank you
think it’s about time for that thank you [Applause]
”
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