World Peace Is Not a Myth | Rut Yirdaw | TEDxSSE

Summary

The speaker, feeling honored to give a TED talk, shares her initial nervousness and how it mirrors her first day at Sweden's leading business school. She expresses her hope for world peace and equality, contrasting the negativity she encounters with her own optimistic belief in humanity's potential for progress. Drawing on Jody Williams' definition, she redefines world peace as sustainable peace with justice and equal access to resources. Citing improvements in poverty reduction and education, she argues that world peace is achievable. She concludes by encouraging a positive outlook and the belief in a better world, emphasizing the power of collective actions to shape history.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The speaker feels honored to give a TED talk among inspirational people.
• 😓 The speaker was nervous before the talk, but relates it to the excitement of starting university.
• 🏫 The speaker was thrilled to attend a leading business school in Sweden, hoping to change the world.
• 🤔 The speaker was surprised by the lack of enthusiasm from classmates about making the world a better place.
• 🌐 The speaker noticed a pattern of negativity and skepticism about world peace being achievable.
• 💡 The speaker argues that if we can achieve things like flying, world peace should also be possible.
• 🌱 The speaker uses Jody Williams' definition of world peace, emphasizing sustainable peace with justice.
• 📈 The speaker points out that the world is already improving in terms of poverty, education, and access to electricity.
• 🌱 The speaker believes that world peace is feasible and we are on the right path.
• 🤷‍♀️ The speaker admits not having all the answers but aspires to inspire youth to think creatively about world peace.
• 💪 The speaker concludes with a quote by Robert Kennedy, encouraging everyone to work towards changing small parts of the world for the better.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial feeling before starting the TED talk?

The speaker was very nervous before starting the TED talk, to the point of feeling like they were going to 'pee their pants'.

Why did the speaker feel nervous?

The speaker felt nervous because they were about to speak in front of an audience that included many inspirational and driven people, some of whom were their idols.

What was the speaker's reaction when they first attended the business school in Sweden?

The speaker was very eager and excited to attend the business school, believing they could change the world with the help of their classmates.

What was the speaker's perception of their classmates?

The speaker initially thought they were sitting next to future leaders and innovators, such as the next billionaire or prime minister.

Why did the speaker feel disappointed with the reactions of their classmates and family?

The speaker was disappointed because their classmates and family responded with skepticism and counterarguments when they talked about world peace and equality.

What was the common counterargument the speaker received regarding world peace?

The common counterargument was that world peace is a nice idea in theory but not practical due to human nature and the survival of the fittest.

How does the speaker refute the idea that world peace is not in human nature?

The speaker refutes this idea by pointing out that many human achievements, like flying, are not natural but are accomplished through human innovation.

According to the speaker, what is the definition of world peace?

The speaker defines world peace as sustainable peace with justice, where the majority of people have access to enough resources to live a dignified life, and have access to education and healthcare.

What evidence does the speaker provide to support the idea that the world is becoming a better place?

The speaker cites statistics from Hans Rosling's book 'Factfulness', showing that extreme poverty has decreased by half in the last 20 years, and access to primary education and electricity has significantly increased.

What is the speaker's main aspiration with the TED talk?

The speaker's main aspiration is to inspire youth to think outside of the box and to show that world peace is feasible.

What advice does the speaker give to the audience regarding world peace?

The speaker advises the audience to have a positive outlook and hope, and to believe in the possibility of a better world, despite the challenges.