What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? | Hugh Evans

Summary

The speaker introduces Davinia, a Jamaican immigrant in the US, whose grassroots initiative collecting pennies has funded over 120 girls' education. This story exemplifies the impact of being a 'global citizen,' one who addresses global challenges beyond national boundaries. The speaker shares his journey from a young activist to co-founding Global Citizen, an organization mobilizing millions to demand systemic change from world leaders on issues like poverty, climate change, and inequality. The narrative highlights the collective power of global citizens and the potential for sustained, positive global impact.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Davinia, a woman from Jamaica living in the US, has made a significant impact by collecting pennies to fund girls' education, sending over 120 girls to school.
• 🌐 Davinia is part of a growing movement of 'global citizens' who identify as members of the human race and take action to tackle global challenges.
• 💼 The speaker believes that more global citizens could make major global issues like poverty, climate change, and gender inequality solvable by demanding global solutions from their leaders.
• 🏠 The speaker's personal journey began with a transformative experience in the Philippines, where he saw extreme poverty and felt compelled to understand and address its root causes.
• 🔄 The speaker learned that charity alone is not enough; systemic change on a global scale is necessary to address issues like poverty and inequality.
• 🎤 The organization Global Citizen was co-founded to mobilize citizens and use music as a universal language to recruit and engage them in addressing global issues.
• 🎟 The Global Citizen Festival is a ticketless event where attendees earn their place by taking action on global causes, emphasizing that activism is the currency of the movement.
• 📈 The movement has seen success, with citizens' actions leading to increased government and organizational investment in education, health, and sanitation.
• 🤝 Global citizens are encouraged to partner with NGOs and hold world leaders accountable for implementing the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
• 🌍 The speaker emphasizes the importance of global citizenship in an interconnected world where local issues can have global impacts, and vice versa.
• 📣 The speaker calls for an expansion of the global citizen movement, envisioning an army of informed and engaged individuals unwilling to accept the status quo and pushing for positive change.

Q & A

Who is Davinia and what impact has she made?

Davinia is a woman who emigrated from Jamaica to the US and now lives near Washington, DC. She has significantly impacted girls' education by collecting 700,000 pennies and sending over 120 girls to school.

What is the concept of a global citizen according to the speaker?

A global citizen is someone who identifies as a member of the human race first and foremost, and acts on that belief to tackle global challenges.

How did the speaker's visit to the Philippines influence his perspective?

The speaker's visit to a slum in Manila, where he met a boy named Sonny Boy living in harsh conditions, made him realize the importance of addressing systemic issues and inspired him to work on global poverty.

What was the significance of the Make Poverty History campaign in Australia?

The campaign, supported by celebrities like Bono and Pearl Jam, led the Australian government to double its investment in global health and development, resulting in an additional $6.2 billion.

Why did the speaker and his friends cofound Global Citizen in 2012?

They aimed to create a sustainable movement of global citizens who are passionate about and act on global issues, rather than relying on short-term campaigns.

What strategies did Global Citizen use to engage and activate people?

Global Citizen used music festivals, such as the Global Citizen Festival in New York, and required people to take actions on global causes to earn tickets, thus turning activism into a form of currency.

What were some achievements of Global Citizen mentioned in the speech?

Global citizens helped the US government double its investment in the Global Partnership for Education, persuaded the World Bank to invest $15 billion in water and sanitation, and encouraged Norway to double its investment in girls' education.

What challenges do global citizens face according to the speaker?

One major challenge is sustaining focus on global issues, as politics often prioritize local or national interests over global ones.

How has the world changed to favor global citizenship?

With the advent of social media and more tools to influence and access information, citizens worldwide have greater capacity to take action and be heard on global issues.

What is the future vision for Global Citizen as described in the speech?

The future vision includes holding world leaders accountable for the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, partnering with NGOs to end diseases, and growing the number of active global citizens to create large-scale positive change.