Wiring a web for global good | Gordon Brown

Summary

The speaker reflects on powerful images that have shaped global conscience, emphasizing the innate human capacity for empathy and moral action. He discusses the potential of modern communication to unite people across borders in collective action, advocating for the creation of global institutions to address climate change, financial crises, and social injustices. The speech calls for a new era of global cooperation, guided by a shared moral sense, to build a society that reflects our interconnectedness and responsibility to one another.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The power of images to evoke empathy and spur action is a common thread in historical events and crises.
• 🔗 The visible can unlock the invisible ties of sympathy, highlighting our shared moral sense and duty to act against injustice.
• 🌱 There's a universal moral ethic that transcends religion, faith, and geography, emphasizing our collective responsibility.
• 📡 Modern technology, especially communication tools, has enabled instantaneous global interaction and collective action.
• 🕊️ The potential for creating a global society is greater now than ever before due to our ability to connect and organize across borders.
• 🏛️ Historical social changes, like the abolition of slavery, were lengthy processes; modern communication could have expedited them.
• 📲 The 'coup de text' in the Philippines and the use of mobile phones in Zimbabwe exemplify how technology can influence political change.
• 🌍 The global challenges we face, such as climate change and financial crises, require global solutions and cooperation.
• 🌳 The establishment of global institutions is crucial for addressing issues that no single country can solve alone.
• 🤝 There's a need for a proper partnership between rich and poor countries, with investment in agriculture to enable self-sufficiency.
• ✊ The creation of global institutions for peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and development is essential for a stable and just world.

Q & A

What does the speaker express delight in being away from?

The speaker expresses delight in being away from the calm of Westminster and Whitehall.

What impact did the image of Kim, the nine-year-old Vietnamese girl, have on the American conscience?

The image of Kim, whose back was ruined by napalm, awakened the conscience of the nation of America to begin to end the Vietnam War.

How did the image of Birhan, the Ethiopian girl, influence global awareness?

The image of Birhan, who was 15 minutes away from death when rescued, went around the world and launched Live Aid in the 1980s.

What does the 'man before a tank' in

Outlines

00:00

📸 The Power of Iconic Images in Shaping Global Conscience

This paragraph discusses the impact of powerful images in awakening global consciousness. It mentions iconic photos like that of a Vietnamese girl burned by napalm, a starving Ethiopian girl, the man standing before a tank in Tiananmen Square, and others. These images demonstrate the shared human moral sense, the collective empathy for others' suffering, and the belief in a duty to act against injustices. The speaker emphasizes the global moral sense that transcends religions and beliefs, advocating for action to correct wrongs and uphold a common ethical standard.

05:01

📱 The Role of Modern Technology in Global Activism

This paragraph highlights the transformative role of modern communication technologies in global activism. The speaker reflects on how historical movements, like the abolition of the slave trade and the founding of Save the Children, relied on slower forms of communication. In contrast, today’s movements, such as those in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, Burma, and Iran, have harnessed the power of mobile phones, blogs, and other digital tools to rapidly organize and mobilize people worldwide. The speaker argues that this capacity to communicate and act collectively in real-time marks the beginning of a truly global society.

10:02

🌍 The Urgent Need for Global Institutions to Address Global Challenges

This paragraph argues for the creation of global institutions to address pressing global issues like climate change, financial crises, and development. The speaker emphasizes that these problems cannot be solved by individual nations alone; instead, they require a coordinated global response. The lack of a global environmental institution to tackle climate change and the need for a global economic framework are highlighted as critical areas for international cooperation. The speaker stresses that the interconnectedness of the world today demands institutions that reflect a global ethic of fairness and responsibility.

15:04

🏛️ Building a Global Society: The Call for Collective Action

In this concluding paragraph, the speaker calls for the creation of a global society based on shared ethics and collective responsibility. They stress the importance of forming global institutions for the environment, finance, security, and development. The speaker reflects on historical examples where collective action was necessary and argues that today's generation has the unique opportunity to create a more just and connected world. The reference to ancient speeches in Rome and Greece is used to inspire action, urging the audience to 'march' towards building this global society, rather than just admiring the rhetoric.

Keywords

💡Global Society

The concept of a 'Global Society' refers to the interconnectedness of people and nations across the world, emphasizing the shared responsibilities and common goals that unite humanity. The speaker highlights the need to build global institutions and systems that address issues like climate change, poverty, and human rights. The idea is rooted in the belief that modern technology and communication allow us to collaborate on a global scale to solve these universal problems.

💡Moral Sense

The 'Moral Sense' is the innate human ability to empathize with others and feel a responsibility to act when witnessing injustice. The speaker argues that this sense transcends cultural, religious, and geographical boundaries, motivating people to address global issues. Examples include the global reactions to iconic images of suffering, such as the Vietnamese girl Kim Phuc or the Sudanese girl stalked by a vulture, which spurred international action.

💡Modern Communication

The term 'Modern Communication' refers to the advanced tools and platforms, such as the Internet, social media, and mobile technology, that enable instant global communication. The speaker emphasizes how these tools have revolutionized the way people organize and advocate for change, citing examples like the 'coup de text' in the Philippines and the use of blogs during the Burmese protests. Modern communication allows for rapid, collective action on a global scale.

💡Global Challenges

'Global Challenges' are issues that affect the entire world and require collective action to address. The speaker lists climate change, financial crises, and human rights as examples, arguing that these problems cannot be solved by individual nations alone. The emphasis is on the need for global cooperation and institutions that can address these challenges effectively.

💡Global Institutions

'Global Institutions' are organizations or systems designed to address worldwide issues and ensure cooperation among nations. The speaker calls for the creation of new global institutions, particularly in areas like the environment, finance, and security, to better manage global challenges. These institutions are seen as essential for building a truly global society.

💡Historical Examples

The speaker uses 'Historical Examples' to illustrate how past movements for change, such as the abolition of slavery or the fight against apartheid, were limited by the communication tools of their time. By contrasting these with modern movements, like the Iranian protests, the speaker highlights the potential for today's technology to accelerate global change.

💡Global Ethic

The 'Global Ethic' refers to a shared sense of moral responsibility that transcends individual cultures, religions, and nations. The speaker argues that this ethic, combined with modern communication, can help build a global society where fairness and responsibility are central values. This ethic is essential for addressing global challenges and creating just global institutions.

💡Global Cooperation

'Global Cooperation' is the idea that nations must work together to solve problems that no single country can address alone. The speaker emphasizes that issues like climate change, economic instability, and global security require a united effort. This cooperation is a key component of building the global society the speaker envisions.

💡Iconic Images

'Iconic Images' refers to powerful photographs or visual symbols that have sparked global movements or raised awareness about critical issues. The speaker mentions images like the 'Tank Man' in Tiananmen Square and the Ethiopian girl from Live Aid to demonstrate how such images can unite people across the world in a shared moral cause, leading to significant action and change.

💡Technological Impact

The 'Technological Impact' refers to how advancements in technology, especially in communication, have transformed global activism and social change. The speaker discusses how tools like texting, blogging, and social media have empowered ordinary people to mobilize quickly and effectively on a global scale, enabling them to influence international events and policies.

Highlights

The power of images to evoke empathy and unite humanity in the face of suffering and injustice.

The story of Kim, a Vietnamese girl affected by napalm, and its role in awakening the American conscience to end the Vietnam War.

Birhan, the Ethiopian girl whose image during Live Aid in the 1980s symbolized the fight against poverty and famine.

The iconic image of a man standing before a tank in Tiananmen Square as a symbol of resistance.

The Sudanese girl and the vulture, a shocking image that spurred global action on poverty.

Neda, the Iranian girl killed during a protest, becoming a symbol for the YouTube generation.

The invisible ties of sympathy and moral sense that connect us across cultures and religions.

The belief in a duty to act against wrongs and injustices witnessed globally.

Olof Palme's dialogue with Ronald Reagan on the goal to abolish poverty, not just wealth.

The importance of giving everyone the chance to realize their full potential.

The emergence of a global ethic and the capacity for instantaneous communication across borders.

The 'coup de text' in the Philippines as an example of modern technology's power to incite change.

The role of mobile phones in exposing election fraud in Zimbabwe.

Blogs from Burma revealing repression and the plight of Aung San Suu Kyi to the world.

The collective action against Iran's security services by bloggers changing their addresses to Tehran.

The potential of modern technology to fundamentally change the world through moral sense and communication.

The historical context of global challenges and the need for a global society to address them.

The unique opportunity of our generation to create a global society with the tools at our disposal.

The necessity for global institutions to address climate change, financial crises, and other global issues.

The importance of building a proper partnership between rich and poor countries for sustainable development.

The need for global institutions that promote peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and security.

The call to action to create global institutions for the environment, finance, security, and development.

The inspirational message to march towards a global society, inspired by historical orators.

Transcripts

Can I say how delighted I am to be away

from the calm of Westminster and Whitehall? (Laughter)

This is Kim, a nine-year-old Vietnam girl,

her back ruined by napalm,

and she awakened the conscience of the nation of America

to begin to end the Vietnam War.

This is Birhan, who was the Ethiopian girl

who launched Live Aid in the 1980s,

15 minutes away from death when she was rescued,

and that picture of her being rescued is one that went round the world.

This is Tiananmen Square.

A man before a tank became a picture

that became a symbol for the whole world of resistance.

This next is the Sudanese girl,

a few moments from death,

a vulture hovering in the background,

a picture that went round the world

and shocked people into action on poverty.

This is Neda, the Iranian girl

who was shot while at a demonstration with her father in Iran

only a few weeks ago, and she is now the focus, rightly so,

of the YouTube generation.

And what do all these pictures and events have in common?

What they have in common is what we see unlocks

what we cannot see.

What we see unlocks the invisible ties

and bonds of sympathy that bring us together

to become a human community.

What these pictures demonstrate is that

we do feel the pain of others,

however distantly.

What I think these pictures demonstrate

is that we do believe in something bigger than ourselves.

What these pictures demonstrate is

that there is a moral sense across all religions, across all faiths,

across all continents -- a moral sense that

not only do we share the pain of others,

and believe in something bigger than ourselves

but we have a duty to act when we see things

that are wrong that need righted,

see injuries that need to be corrected,

see problems that need to be rectified.

There is a story about Olof Palme, the Swedish Prime Minister,

going to see Ronald Reagan in America in the 1980s.

Before he arrived Ronald Reagan said --

and he was the Swedish Social Democratic Prime Minister --

"Isn’t this man a communist?"

The reply was, "No, Mr President, he’s an anti-communist."

And Ronald Reagan said, "I don’t care what kind of communist he is!"

(Laughter)

Ronald Reagan asked Olof Palme,

the Social Democratic Prime Minister of Sweden,

"Well, what do you believe in? Do you want to abolish the rich?"

He said, "No, I want to abolish the poor."

Our responsibility is to let everyone have the chance

to realize their potential to the full.

I believe there is a moral sense and a global ethic

that commands attention from people of every religion

and every faith, and people of no faith.

But I think what's new is that we now have the capacity

to communicate instantaneously across frontiers

right across the world.

We now have the capacity to find common ground

with people who we will never meet,

but who we will meet through the Internet and through

all the modern means of communication;

that we now have the capacity to organize

and take collective action together

to deal with the problem or an injustice

that we want to deal with;

and I believe that this makes this a unique age in human history,

and it is the start of what I would call

the creation of a truly global society.

Go back 200 years when the slave trade was

under pressure from William Wilberforce and all the protesters.

They protested across Britain.

They won public opinion over a long period of time.

But it took 24 years for the campaign to be successful.

What could they have done with the pictures that they could have shown

if they were able to use the modern means of communication

to win people’s hearts and minds?

Or if you take Eglantyne Jebb,

the woman who created Save the Children 90 years ago.

She was so appalled by what was happening in Austria

as a result of the First World War and what was happening to children

who were part of the defeated families of Austria,

that in Britain she wanted to take action,

but she had to go house to house,

leaflet to leaflet, to get people to attend a rally

in the Royal Albert Hall

that eventually gave birth to Save the Children,

an international organization that is now fully recognized

as one of the great institutions in our land and in the world.

But what more could she have done

if she’d had the modern means of communications available to her

to create a sense that the injustice that people saw

had to be acted upon immediately?

Now look at what’s happened in the last 10 years.

In Philippines in 2001, President Estrada --

a million people texted each other about the corruption of that regime,

eventually brought it down and it was, of course, called the "coup de text." (Laughter)

Then you have in Zimbabwe the first election under Robert Mugabe a year ago.

Because people were able to take mobile phone photographs

of what was happening at the polling stations, it was impossible

for that Premier to fix that election in the way that he wanted to do.

Or take Burma and the monks that were blogging out,

a country that nobody knew anything about that was happening, until these blogs

told the world that there was a repression,

meaning that lives were being lost

and people were being persecuted and Aung San Suu Kyi,

who is one of the great prisoners of conscience of the world,

had to be listened to.

Then take Iran itself, and what people are doing today:

following what happened to Neda,

people who are preventing the security services of Iran finding those people

who are blogging out of Iran, any by everybody who is blogging,

changing their address to Tehran, Iran,

and making it difficult for the security services.

Take, therefore, what modern technology is capable of:

the power of our moral sense allied to the power of communications

and our ability to organize internationally.

That, in my view, gives us the first opportunity as a community

to fundamentally change the world.

Foreign policy can never be the same again. It cannot be run by elites;

it’s got to be run by listening to the public opinions of peoples who are blogging,

who are communicating with each other around the world.

200 years ago the problem we had to solve was slavery.

150 years ago I suppose the main problem in a country like ours

was how young people, children, had the right to education.

100 years ago in most countries in Europe, the pressure was for the right to vote.

50 years ago the pressure was for the right to social security and welfare.

In the last 50-60 years we have seen fascism, anti-Semitism, racism, apartheid,

discrimination on the basis of sex and gender and sexuality;

all these have come under pressure

because of the campaigns that have been run by people to change the world.

I was with Nelson Mandela a year ago, when he was in London.

I was at a concert that he was attending to mark his birthday

and for the creation of new resources for his foundation.

I was sitting next to Nelson Mandela -- I was very privileged to do so --

when Amy Winehouse came onto the stage. (Laughter)

And Nelson Mandela was quite surprised at the appearance of the singer

and I was explaining to him at the time who she was.

Amy Winehouse said, "Nelson Mandela and I have a lot in common.

My husband too has spent a long time in prison."

(Laughter)

Nelson Mandela then went down to the stage

and he summarized the challenge for us all.

He said in his lifetime he had climbed a great mountain, the mountain

of challenging and then defeating racial oppression and defeating apartheid.

He said that there was a greater challenge ahead,

the challenge of poverty, of climate change -- global challenges

that needed global solutions

and needed the creation of a truly global society.

We are the first generation which is in a position to do this.

Combine the power of a global ethic

with the power of our ability to communicate

and organize globally, with the challenges that we now face,

most of which are global in their nature.

Climate change cannot be solved in one country,

but has got to be solved by the world working together.

A financial crisis, just as we have seen, could not be solved

by America alone or Europe alone;

it needed the world to work together.

Take the problems of security and terrorism and, equally,

the problem of human rights and development:

they cannot be solved by Africa alone;

they cannot be solved by America or Europe alone.

We cannot solve these problems unless we work together.

So the great project of our generation, it seems to me,

is to build for the first time, out of a global ethic

and our global ability to communicate

and organize together, a truly global society,

built on that ethic but with institutions

that can serve that global society and make for a different future.

We have now, and are the first generation with, the power to do this.

Take climate change. Is it not absolutely scandalous

that we have a situation

where we know that there is a climate change problem,

where we know also that that will mean we have to give more resources

to the poorest countries to deal with that,

when we want to create a global carbon market,

but there is no global institution

that people have been able to agree upon

to deal with this problem?

One of the things that has got to come out of Copenhagen in the next few months

is an agreement that there will be

a global environmental institution

that is able to deal

with the problems of persuading the whole of the world

to move along a climate-change agenda.

(Applause)

One of the reasons why an institution is not in itself enough

is that we have got to persuade people around the world

to change their behavior as well,

so you need that global ethic of fairness and responsibility

across the generations.

Take the financial crisis.

If people in poorer countries can be hit by a crisis that starts in New York

or starts in the sub-prime market of the United States of America.

If people can find that that sub-prime product

has been transferred across nations

many, many times until it ends up in banks in Iceland

or the rest in Britain,

and people's ordinary savings are affected by it,

then you cannot rely on a system of national supervision.

You need in the long run for stability, for economic growth,

for jobs, as well as for financial stability,

global economic institutions that make sure

that growth to be sustained has to be shared,

and are built on the principle

that the prosperity of this world is indivisible.

So another challenge for our generation is to create global institutions

that reflect our ideas of fairness and responsibility,

not the ideas that were the basis

of the last stage of financial development over these recent years.

Then take development and take the partnership we need between our countries

and the rest of the world, the poorest part of the world.

We do not have the basis of a proper partnership for the future,

and yet, out of people’s desire for a global ethic

and a global society that can be done.

I have just been talking to the President of Sierra Leone.

This is a country of six and a half million people,

but it has only 80 doctors; it has 200 nurses;

it has 120 midwives.

You cannot begin to build a healthcare system for six million people

with such limited resources.

Or take the girl I met when I was in Tanzania,

a girl called Miriam.

She was 11 years old; her parents had both died from AIDS,

her mother and then her father.

She was an AIDS orphan being handed

across different extended families to be cared for.

She herself was suffering from HIV;

she was suffering from tuberculosis.

I met her in a field, she was ragged, she had no shoes.

When you looked in her eyes, any girl at the age of eleven

is looking forward to the future,

but there was an unreachable sadness in that girl’s eyes

and if I could have translated that to the rest of the world for that moment,

I believe that all the work that it had done for the global HIV/AIDS fund

would be rewarded by people being prepared to make donations.

We must then build a proper relationship between the richest and

the poorest countries

based on our desire that they are able to fend for themselves

with the investment that is necessary in their agriculture,

so that Africa is not a net importer of food, but an exporter of food.

Take the problems of human rights and

the problems of security in so many countries around the world.

Burma is in chains, Zimbabwe is a human tragedy,

in Sudan thousands of people have died unnecessarily

for wars that we could prevent.

In the Rwanda Children's Museum,

there is a photograph of a 10-year-old boy

and the Children's Museum is commemorating the lives that were lost

in the Rwandan genocide where a million people died.

There is a photograph of a boy called David.

Beside that photograph there is the information about his life.

It said "David, age 10."

David: ambition to be a doctor.

Favorite sport: football. What did he enjoy most?

Making people laugh.

How did he die?

Tortured to death.

Last words said to his mother who was also tortured to death:

"Don't worry. The United Nations are coming."

And we never did.

And that young boy believed our promises

that we would help people in difficulty in Rwanda,

and we never did.

So we have got to create in this world also

institutions for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid,

but also for reconstruction and security

for some of the conflict-ridden states of the world.

So my argument today is basically this.

We have the means by which we could create a truly global society.

The institutions of this global society can be created by our endeavors.

That global ethic can infuse the fairness and responsibility that is necessary

for these institutions to work,

but we should not lose the chance in this generation,

in this decade in particular, with President Obama in America,

with other people working with us around the world,

to create global institutions for the environment,

and for finance,

and for security and for development,

that make sense of our responsibility to other peoples,

our desire to bind the world together, and

our need to tackle problems that everybody knows exist.

It is said that in Ancient Rome that when Cicero spoke to his audiences,

people used to turn to each other and say about Cicero, "Great speech."

But it is said that in Ancient Greece

when Demosthenes spoke to his audiences,

people turned to each other and didn’t say "Great speech."

They said, "Let's march."

We should be marching towards a global society.

Thank you.

(Applause)