Futurism and the "Bahala Na" Culture | Guillermo Santos | TEDxLyceumPhilippinesUniversity

Summary

The speaker, at 86 years old, optimistically addresses the future, highlighting the importance of futurism in planning and decision-making. He discusses the corporate world's use of futurism for productivity and social responsibility, and its application in medicine and education. The speaker emphasizes the significance of understanding national history, current events, and global trends to predict and shape the future. He shares personal experiences from wars and intelligence gathering, illustrating the impact of futurism on historical outcomes. The talk concludes with the qualities needed to be an effective futurist, including maturity, analytical skills, and effective communication.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, at 86 years old, humorously claims to be the oldest in the room and uses this as a segue to discuss the future.
• 🌟 The speaker is optimistic, suggesting that even those with Alzheimer's have an advantage in making new friends due to their condition.
• 📈 The speaker predicts a significant increase in Alzheimer's cases due to an aging global population, projected to reach 10 billion by 2050.
• 🏢 Corporate leaders use futurism to strategize for increased productivity, profitability, and shareholder benefits, also considering corporate social responsibility.
• 🤔 There's a critique of the current state of pharmaceuticals and doctors, suggesting a decline in bedside manners and an increase in patient demands.
• 🏥 The speaker discusses the role of futurism in medicine, education, and strategic planning, emphasizing its importance in various sectors.
• 🌐 The speaker highlights the geopolitical competition in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by economic progress and strategic intelligence gathering.
• 🛠️ Futurism is compared to master planning in architecture and engineering, where a blueprint is followed with strict timelines.
• 🔮 The speaker distinguishes between serious futurism and the more frivolous fortune-telling, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based prediction.
• 📚 The speaker outlines the qualities of a futurist, including being an optimist, having a mature and analytical mind, and being an effective communicator with a well-rounded background.

Q & A

What is the speaker's age and what is his perspective on the future?

The speaker is 86 years old and he is an optimist when it comes to discussing the future. He humorously points out that those with Alzheimer's have the advantage of making new friends every second, emphasizing the need to look at things positively.

What is the speaker's view on the increase in Alzheimer's cases in the future?

The speaker acknowledges that with the world's growing population, expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, there will be a significant increase in Alzheimer's cases. He mentions this as a future challenge, particularly noting the aging populations in countries like China and Japan.

What does the speaker think about the practice of corporate planning in relation to the future?

The speaker views corporate planning as a form of futurism, where corporate leaders isolate themselves to strategize on making their companies more productive and profitable, while also considering corporate social responsibility.

How does the speaker connect the future of medicine with artificial intelligence?

The speaker implies that the future of medicine is intertwined with the advent of artificial intelligence, suggesting that AI will play a significant role in how healthcare is delivered and managed.

What is the role of Futuristics in education according to the speaker?

In the context of education, Futuristics involves curriculum planning where schools, referred to as 'Futuristics,' isolate themselves to strategize on increasing enrollment, profitability, and community usefulness, as well as contributing to national development.

What does the speaker mean by 'strategic intelligence gathering' in the context of national security?

The speaker refers to 'strategic intelligence gathering' as a vital factor for national security, where diplomats and soldiers collect information to predict and plan for potential conflicts, which can determine the outcomes of wars.

How does the speaker describe the role of economic progress in geopolitical competition?

The speaker emphasizes that in the 21st century, economic progress is a key factor in geopolitical competition. Governments compete to excel economically, which in turn influences their geopolitical strategies, including arms races and territorial claims.

What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of futurism in personal and national development?

The speaker believes that futurism is crucial for both personal and national development. It allows individuals and nations to make informed decisions based on current and projected trends, which can lead to better outcomes and progress.

How does the speaker reflect on the Philippines' economic decline and its relation to futurism?

The speaker laments the Philippines' economic decline from being the second biggest economy in Asia to its current position, attributing it partly to a lack of futurism. He suggests that a mindset change is necessary for the country to progress economically.

What qualities does the speaker identify as essential for a futurist?

The speaker identifies several qualities as essential for a futurist: being an optimist, having maturity in age and experience, possessing an analytical and critical mind, having a well-rounded background, being an effective communicator, dealing with reality, and thinking globally while acting locally.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Optimism and the Future of Alzheimer's

The speaker, at 86 years old, humorously claims to be the oldest in the room and uses this as a segue to discuss the future, particularly focusing on the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease. They highlight the irony that Alzheimer's patients have the 'advantage' of constantly making new friends due to their memory loss. The speaker points out the importance of viewing challenges positively. They also address the growing global population, which is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, and the implications this has for the increase in age-related diseases like Alzheimer's. The speaker questions whether it's possible to see the future, suggesting that it is, but it requires a lot from the individual. They mention corporate planners who isolate themselves to strategize for the future of their companies, considering productivity, profitability, and corporate social responsibility. The speaker also touches on the changing dynamics in the medical field, with doctors being perceived as rushed and patients becoming more demanding. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in medicine and the importance of futuristics in education and national development.

05:03

🌟 The Scope of Futuristics

This paragraph delves into the broad scope of futuristics, starting with the government's role in setting economic goals and the geopolitical arms race, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The speaker mentions the involvement of countries like North Korea, South Korea, the US, China, Russia, and Iran, and the importance of strategic intelligence in determining the outcomes of conflicts. The discussion then shifts to the role of architects and engineers in master planning, risk management in organizations, and the public's fascination with fortune-telling. The speaker emphasizes that predicting the future is not mysterious but rather a matter of understanding national history, being informed about current events, and recognizing the interconnectedness of global developments. They explain that by analyzing these factors, one can identify trends and changes, and lay down probable scenarios for the future. The speaker uses the simple example of predicting rain based on observing dark clouds to illustrate how futuristics can guide decision-making.

10:04

☔️ Preparing for the Future: Personal and National Interests

The speaker continues by discussing how understanding the future can arm individuals with the knowledge to make the best decisions for their personal and national interests. They recount personal experiences from various wars, emphasizing the importance of intelligence and futuristics in military strategy. The speaker shares stories from the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and World War II, highlighting their early involvement in intelligence gathering as a child. They discuss the significance of accurate information in strategic planning and how it contributed to the Allies' victory in World War II. The speaker also mentions the Israeli Six-Day War in 1967 as an example of the successful application of futuristics in military strategy. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's personal experience in the Philippines during martial law under Marcos, where business leaders formed a futurist society to predict and navigate the uncertain political and economic climate.

15:08

📉 The Decline of the Philippines and the Importance of Futuristics

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on the economic decline of the Philippines, which was once the second-largest economy in Asia after Japan. They compare the current state of the Philippines to its past glory and attributes the decline to a lack of futuristics practice. The speaker notes that other countries, like Singapore, have successfully adopted futuristics to guide their development. They discuss the cultural and religious factors that have hindered the Philippines' progress, such as the 'Bahala na' mentality, which they argue is detrimental to economic growth. The speaker calls for a change in mindset and emphasizes the importance of acting now to shape a better future. They also share their professional experience in requiring concise and clear communication, which is essential in international journalism and business.

20:09

🌐 Qualities of a Futurist

The speaker outlines the qualities necessary to be an effective futurist. They emphasize the need for maturity, both in age and experience, to make stable and emotion-free decisions. The futurist must possess an analytical and critical mind, constantly questioning the origins and implications of events. A well-rounded background in various fields such as politics, economics, social and cultural studies, science, and technology is also crucial. The speaker stresses the importance of effective communication skills, the ability to deal with reality, and the mindset of thinking globally while acting locally. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for the audience to embrace these qualities and apply them in their personal and professional lives.

25:10

🗣️ The Role of Communication in Futuristics

This paragraph focuses on the importance of communication in the field of futuristics. The speaker emphasizes the need for clear and concise language, advising against using jargon or redundant phrases. They also stress the importance of listening as a key component of effective communication. The speaker argues that being able to communicate complex ideas in a simple and understandable manner is a vital skill for futurists, as it allows them to share their insights and predictions with a wider audience. The paragraph serves as a reminder that while having a vision of the future is important, the ability to articulate that vision is equally crucial for influencing decision-making and shaping the future.

Keywords

💡Futuristics

Futuristics refers to the practice of forecasting and planning for the future, often used in strategic planning and decision-making. In the context of the video, it is a central theme where the speaker discusses its importance in various fields such as business, education, and national security. The speaker emphasizes that futuristics is not just about predicting the future but also about understanding historical trends and current events to make informed decisions. An example from the script is the speaker's mention of 'the Futuristics' in schools, which involves curriculum planning to increase enrollment and community usefulness.

💡Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. The speaker touches upon AI in the context of its impact on the field of medicine and how it is changing the way healthcare is delivered. AI is seen as a transformative technology that will shape the future of various industries, including healthcare, as mentioned in the script where the speaker discusses the advent of AI and its implications.

💡Strategic Intelligence Gathering

Strategic Intelligence Gathering is the process of collecting, analyzing, and exploiting information regarding an adversary, or about potential opportunities that can provide a competitive advantage. In the video, the speaker relates this concept to the military and diplomatic efforts to understand and anticipate the actions of other nations, which is crucial for national security and foreign policy. An example given is how the Allies won World War II due to their intelligence gathering and strategic planning.

💡Economic Progress

Economic Progress refers to the improvement in economic conditions and standards of living over time. The speaker discusses the importance of economic progress in the 21st century, where nations compete to excel economically. This progress is seen as a driver for geopolitical strategies and can lead to arms races, as illustrated by the speaker's mention of the Asia-Pacific region's dynamics involving North Korea, South Korea, the US, China, Russia, and Iran.

💡Risk Management

Risk Management is the process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks to an organization's capital and earnings. It involves coordinating and integrating all of the organization's efforts to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and impact of unfortunate events. In the script, the speaker mentions risk management in the context of organizational change, where managers identify potential risks and work to mitigate them to ensure the organization's stability and growth.

💡Master Planning

Master Planning in the context of architecture and engineering involves creating a comprehensive plan for the development of a project, including its design, construction, and timeline. The speaker uses this term to describe how architects and engineers use master planning to guide their projects from conception to completion, ensuring that they meet their goals and deadlines. This concept is also extended metaphorically to nations and organizations planning for their future development.

💡Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulatory mechanism whereby a company spends a part of its revenue for the welfare of the society and environment, in areas where the government's efforts may not reach. The speaker discusses CSR in relation to corporate planning, where companies not only focus on profitability but also consider their impact on society and the environment, aiming to be responsible and useful global citizens.

💡Performance Budget Presentation

Performance Budget Presentation is a process where government leaders review and discuss the budget proposals of different departments, aligning them with the government's objectives and goals. The speaker mentions this in the context of how national governments plan for economic progress and development, ensuring that public funds are allocated efficiently to achieve national goals.

💡Arms Race

An Arms Race is a competition between countries to increase the size and quality of their military forces. The speaker discusses the arms race in the context of geopolitical competition, where nations invest in their military capabilities to maintain or gain an advantage over rivals. The script mentions the arms race in the Asia-Pacific region as an example of how economic progress can lead to increased military competition.

💡Religiosity

Religiosity refers to the degree of being religious, often involving a strong belief in and adherence to religious principles. The speaker discusses how the religiosity of the Filipino people, with their tendency to accept what comes to them without planning, might be a hindrance to economic progress. This is contrasted with the proactive futuristics approach that the speaker advocates for, where individuals and nations take an active role in shaping their future.

Highlights

The speaker, at 86 years old, humorously claims to be the oldest in the room and sets a positive tone for discussing the future.

An optimistic view on Alzheimer's, suggesting that those affected have the advantage of making new friends every second.

A prediction that by 2050, the world's population will reach 10 billion, highlighting the scale of future societal challenges.

The importance of corporate planning for future profitability and shareholder benefits, with a nod to corporate social responsibility.

The role of Futuristics in education, where schools plan curriculums to increase enrollment and community impact.

The concept of strategic intelligence gathering in national security and its impact on war outcomes.

The economic competition among governments in the 21st century and its driving force behind geopolitical actions.

The speaker's personal experiences during World War II, including his early involvement in resistance activities.

The significance of intelligence and Futuristics in historical military victories, such as the British in the Sahara Desert and the Israeli Six-Day War.

The establishment of the Philippine Futuristic Society in 1981 under martial law to forecast business and political trends.

China's strategic use of Futuristics in economic and geopolitical planning, including the Asian infrastructure investment fund.

The decline of the Philippines from being Asia's second-largest economy to its current status, questioning the lack of Futuristics practice.

The influence of religious and cultural attitudes on the Filipino mindset, potentially hindering economic progress.

The qualities of a Futuristics practitioner, including optimism, maturity, analytical skills, and effective communication.

The importance of thinking globally and acting locally in Futuristics, as emphasized by the speaker.

Transcripts

I want to start from here because I am

the present the old one I think I'm the

oldest in this room I'll begin with

pleading guilty to be 86 and I'm going

to talk about the future but hearing our

last speaker you know there's something

that really struck me I'm an optimist so

I said if you have Alzheimer's you have

one advantage over all the other people

every second although there are only two

of you in the room you have a new friend

you have to look at things very

positively right but the other side of

things is he's saying a lot of people

are going to be Alzheimer's stricken in

the next he didn't say when but in the

next 2050 the next 50 years you are

going to really have so much of that

disease around why because by then the

total population of the world is going

to be 10 billion 10 billion so think

think of the old guys China which has

1.4 billion now has only one child

policy yet they're getting old Japan is

about the oldest so you will find that

there will be some good things about the

future after hearing all her our

presenters this morning this today I'm

going to ask you is it possible really

to see the future what's your answer

yes or no

it is possible yes but it requires a lot

on the person it is now practiced

actually by some people in the corporate

world they call it the corporate eg

planner they isolate themselves for

three or four days at a row in a row and

they plan how are they going to make the

company much more productive profitable

and above all they are going to have all

the benefits for their shareholders

that's not bad that's not bad that's not

too bad but they also think of what they

call corporate social responsibility and

this is what makes corporation useful

legal citizens of the world now however

earlier we were talking during the break

and on the roundtable and the people

around me what we're saying there's

something wrong with pharmaceuticals

there's something wrong now with the

doctors the doctors are leaving their

good bedside manners and always in a

hurry you know that the patients are now

getting to be more demanding and so

forth now but what happens then how is

the whole business of medicine affected

this is something else that you have say

you have to look at and when we look at

medicine we are also looking at

artificial intelligence

the advent of artificial intelligence

now let me go to the school's the

school's called the Futuristics

in them as curriculum planning every

year they get together again isolate

themselves and look for any avenue that

would increase

enrollment increased profitability

increase usefulness to the community and

most of all to the development of the

nation which every nation there the

diplomats and soldiers call this

strategic intelligence gathering it is

the main and vital factor and the

difference between war between losses

and war and victory the national

government leaders call it the

performance budget presentation Congress

goes over the budget recommendations of

the executive department or the prime

ministers and they look at the the goals

what are the what are the objectives of

the government so that the company the

country is going to progress

economically don't forget that in this

21st century the race the competition

among governments is to accede to excel

economically speaking and when you have

economic speaking economic progress

necessarily by geopolitical requirements

these government's go into an arms race

this is exactly what is now seen in the

asia-pacific region with North Korea and

South Korea the US China Russia and Iran

don't forget there's another factor

Israel but that's a very complicated

thing I'm not going to deal with that

here I merely mentioned it so that you

will have an idea how wide in scope is

Futuristics the architects and engineers

called this master planning they draw up

the blueprint then they follow it to the

letter and they have a timeline when

they're going to finish the construction

as any as in any architectural or

engineering

projects they do stick to the time

limits managers of changes in any

organization I don't care whether it's

non-governmental profit or nonprofit

organizations what they do is they call

it risk management mitigation the only

different terms

now when the circus comes to town you

have another type of Futuristics people

these are the ball gazers the crystal

ball gazes and they're going to give you

what you want to hear what's your future

whether you're going to travel whether

you're going to be ill whether you'll

have a new sweetheart or a broken broken

family life whatever but actually there

is nothing mysterious about predicting

the future in simple terms let me put it

this way we have this slide this is the

future it is the sum total of

understanding our national history what

does that mean you imbibe me you vibe

every chapter of the national history so

that you will understand why and what

you are today by understanding that you

will know and you will be equipping

yourself empowering yourself to be

accurately and currently informed of

domestic regional and international

developments so that you can sew them up

all together all events in the world

regional international or even domestic

have linkages this you cannot avoid it's

only a matter of knowing where the

are then you can cross it then you can

use it to your advantage both for your

personal purposes or the national goals

then we can determine the local trends

and changes what's going to happen

our last speaker just told us

Alzheimer's is going to be here for a

long time so from that you project you

can easily make it and therefore after

having all those you can now lay down

the different or possible probable

scenarios arising from those situations

if this condition is followed through

what is going to happen the very simple

example I'd like to use all the time is

you look out of the window when you wake

up in the morning you see dark clouds

what does that mean in the short term

future in the very near future in the

next minute it will probably rain

therefore what are you going to do

because determining the future or

looking into the future looking into the

possible future gives you the armament

to take the best option that is for you

in this case you see it's going to rain

what's the best option I'll probably

take a raincoat or an umbrella or take a

ride with somebody if I don't have a car

or not go out at all I'm going to do

some of my writing here at home you know

and therefore you can have your coffee

and your meals and you can even play

with your pets if you want to depending

on what you have in other words in other

words playing cleanly stated it is the

art of using the current true

accurate information to promote your own

national interests or to get further

into your goal in life allow me to let

me share with you some true stories that

I've experienced I've seen the Vietnam

War before that I've covered the Korean

War before that I saw the world war

number two as a boy gorilla I shot my

first Japanese soldier and I was 11 I

threw my first hand grenade when I was

12 in ambush of a convoy of Japanese

troops of Japanese troops in Iloilo in

Penang

my father was the intelligence officer

of the peralta gorillas in pnai at that

time and one of my Jobs was to watch at

the breakwater of Olivia between

aluminum Arras Island how low or how

high on the water were the Japanese

transport ships coming in if they were

high in the water that means they were

not fully loaded or they're empty which

means they are probably going to take

out something out the video to get

somewhere if they're very low in the

water that means they're delivering arms

armor armaments bullets or or whatever

it is that that they were bringing and I

didn't know that that was my job it was

just I was I was relating this to my

father and my father were get where was

wrapping vinegar and whiskey to be sent

to the to the town of Macau which was

more than 25 kilometers out of Villa

villa and I was one of those kids who

were taking those brought those whiskey

or her whatever it was hard drinks for

the people in in Macau now

knowing that at night the forces of

General MacArthur was coming in in

submarines in a submarine commanded by

Admiral at that time he was he was a

captain captain cheek Parsons who had a

hardware store here in Manila that was

this that was how we went all through

that now the Allies won over the axis

because of Futuristics practice remember

in our history the forces of the the

Baron of Africa was defeated by the

British because they did not know that

there was going to be some kind of harsh

weather coming in a sandstorm coming in

they did not know that and therefore it

was the intelligence gathering of the

Allies and the British the British were

heading it and that's how they

annihilated the the Nazis in the desert

in the Sahara Desert then you have this

really case remember the Israeli six-day

war in 1967 because of intelligence or

information or futuristic s-- planning

strategic planning the Israelis hardly

six million people surrounded by more

than 60 million Arab states precisely by

Syria by Jordan and by Egypt Israel

annihilated the entire Egyptian Air

Force in less than four hours they

combined the striking capability with

their own intelligence network again

Futuristics then they occupied the West

Bank they got the Sinai

desert and they even got the Bekaa

Valley of Syria then in 1981 this is a

true experience mind experience now in

nineteen 1981 there was martial law in

the Philippines under Marcos and the

businessman did not know where Mark was

was headed

he was bringing the country he was

leading the country nobody else so what

did they do they formed what they called

the Philippine futuristic society to

determine the trends to determine the

the forecasts of the business the

economy the politics even the

environment and that's what we worked on

at that time it it was we transformed it

into what we call the center for

Philippine futuristic studies in 19 2007

so that we now included the students and

the first students our members are from

this University they are now members the

futuristic society China is also doing

Futuristics how they have copied what

the Americans and the Allies have done

immediately after the war at the height

of the Cold War in fact and they are now

getting into what they call the Asian

infrastructure investment fund and that

is to get everybody linked through

railways that's one area that they can

use to avoid being blocked on the South

China Sea although they are claiming and

toto the South China Sea Sea you have to

understand how that started it was not

started by Mao Zedong in 1949 no it was

started in 1950 by Generalissimo Chiang

kai-shek who had to flee to Taiwan

because multi-tone defeated him and the

he was supported by the Americans

remember the Americans the British the

French the Russians and the Chinese who

were then originally under Sun yat-sen

under the command of general

Generalissimo Chiang kai-shek threw off

the the Chinese emperor Qin Dynasty and

however lost too much at all to be able

to get a strategic position in the

region they claim at 12 my 12 - line

claim on the South China Sea when the

Chinese Communists took over China

finally 1958 in the United Nations then

Chinese communist thought of how to do

it how to get their own strategic

position in the South China Sea

that is forward thinking that is

Futuristics and that is what they're

doing right now they are not they are

not minding anybody condemning them for

taking over the South China Sea or

militarizing the South China Sea why

because they know pretty well there is

no enforcement agency of the United

Nations that is going to check them none

at all

so again this is a foresight of the

Chinese and to them we must give them we

must give the credit I am here to tell

you the importance of futuristic s-- not

to support the Chinese Communist Party

[Laughter]

now we come now to the question if you

are so help on futurism

how come this country has deteriorated

constantly immediately after the war the

Philippines were the second biggest

economy next to Japan in Asia when I

went as bureau chief of the Associated

Press to Bangkok

in 1962 by God everybody was looking at

the Philippines as the training ground

everybody was saying the peso is so good

you know but now what is it out of the

ten country members we are number six

were not number two anymore in Asia and

we are not number one Singapore has a

better site has a better view of the

future they copied what was here before

that was the baton export processing

zone and they now have the Jurong

complex I covered it when they launched

the Jurong complex and what is it now

Singapore's the top honcho in the ASEAN

ten again futurism now what holds the

Filipino from practicing futurism all of

the some of these people in the audience

are my students and they know what they

want that's why they're in there they're

enrolled in the College of international

relations some are in journalism they

know what they want but if you go to the

province in the Philippines you ask them

how what do you want to be when you are

twenty five you know what they say Baja

Lana ho Maharana Kong began settling

juice oh whatever God gives us we must

welcome we must not turn down we must

feel lucky and this is the religiosity

of the Filipino that is holding down it

is an anchor on the economic progress of

the Philippines so what I'm saying here

is that should be revised the mentals

the mindset must be revised but what did

what we do what do you have to have to

revise the mindset you see revising or

changing the mind

means you are trying to change the

thinking of the people and that will

require a minimum a minimum of fifty

years in some cases it might even

require a bloody century you know can we

afford it you have no way of doing it

otherwise because as an as a Futuristics

man you must be realistic you must work

with what is possible what is probable

then you lay down your options

what does it that's best for you that is

what you have to do because when you see

what is coming is not favorable to you

then you must act now act now

not wait later you know you must have

that sense of urgency in time the

filipino by enlarge does not have that

kind of mentality in the ballina la

Habana memory buca's phenomena so that

kind of mentality is really debilitating

and is holding down the economic

progress now where I come from if you

talk a lot you're fired now if you

cannot put down in writing what you have

to say in one in one page you're fired

also that is that's the kind of writing

that the international wire services

require so I am going to go no much

further

I'm going to put down here what are the

qualities of a Futuristics man aside

from being an optimist you have to have

the maturity the maturity in age in

experience to be able to render stable

stable emotion free decisions and

judgments on issues particularly if it

concerns yourself

number two you must have the analytical

and critical mind don't stop asking how

and why it's easy to know what and who

and where that's easy you don't have to

ask that but you have to ask how did it

start

why was there such a development there

must be a reason for causing it is it

against me

it against my country is it against our

group yeah those are those have to be

asked then you have to have a

well-rounded background and this is the

hardest part of it you must have to have

a well-rounded background and experience

in politics in economics in social

cultural science behavioral science in

technology and in the environment asking

too much right you become a jack of all

trades and a master of none

but it's going to help you the number

four you must be an effective

communicator don't ever use the same

word you are defining don't say the art

of listening is actually the art of

listening when somebody stopping power

then again you must be able to deal with

reality because reality is what you have

to deal with you cannot get away from

meaning your geography your country your

politics your religion whatever it is so

that you can now work in harmony with

your environment because you cannot get

anywhere you cannot leave this planet

and most of all you think global and act

local

thank you very much

[Applause]