Jody Williams: A realistic vision for world peace

Summary

The speaker challenges the audience to redefine peace beyond traditional symbols, advocating for sustainable peace with justice and equality. Emphasizing human security through access to resources, education, and healthcare, they argue for a rational use of funds towards global security rather than military armament. Drawing on examples of Nobel laureates and activists, the speech calls for collective action to achieve real change and security, highlighting the importance of individual and collaborative efforts in creating a peaceful world.

Takeaways

• 🌱 The speaker challenges the traditional symbols of peace, advocating for a sustainable peace with justice and equality, where people have access to resources, education, and healthcare.
• 🕊 The speaker does not identify as a complete pacifist, acknowledging the need for some level of police and military for defense, but emphasizes the importance of redefining security in a way that promotes human security globally.
• 💡 The concept of 'human security' is introduced, which includes freedom from want and fear, and the necessity of using resources rationally for global security and well-being.
• 💰 The speaker criticizes the allocation of funds for nuclear weapon modernization instead of addressing the Millennium Development Goals, highlighting the need for a more rational use of financial resources.
• 🌳 The importance of environmental actions, such as saving tigers and stopping tar sands, is emphasized as part of the broader concept of peace and human security.
• 🙏 The speaker recounts a conversation with a Buddhist monk about the limitations of meditation and prayer in effecting change, advocating for action as the key to transforming the world.
• 🌟 The script highlights various women heroes, such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, and Wangari Maathai, who are actively working towards peace, democracy, and environmental sustainability.
• 🤝 The power of collective action is underscored through examples like the Women's League of Burma and the Million Signatures Campaign, showing that unity and collaboration are essential for change.
• 🇧🇪 The story of Mairead McGuire and Betty Williams from Northern Ireland illustrates how personal tragedy can be transformed into a force for peace and unity.
• 🌍 The speaker's involvement in the landmine campaign demonstrates the impact of grassroots movements and the importance of global cooperation in achieving significant change.
• 🏆 The script calls for individual action and volunteerism, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in reclaiming the true meaning of peace and making the world a better place.

Q & A

What is the speaker's definition of peace?

The speaker defines peace as sustainable peace with justice and equality, where people have access to resources, education, and healthcare to live dignified lives without want or fear, which they refer to as human security.

What does the speaker believe is necessary for achieving peace?

The speaker believes that achieving peace requires redefining what makes us secure, not through excessive militarization, but by using resources rationally to ensure global security and human security.

How does the speaker view the role of police and military?

The speaker acknowledges the need for some police and military, but emphasizes that they should be for defense purposes only.

What is the speaker's stance on the START vote and the allocation of funds for nuclear weapons?

The speaker supports the START vote but criticizes the allocation of 84 billion dollars for modernizing nuclear weapons, comparing it to the U.N.'s 80 billion dollar figure for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

What does the speaker suggest is a more rational use of the funds allocated for nuclear weapons?

The speaker suggests that the funds should be used more rationally to make countries and people of the world secure, rather than modernizing weapons that are not needed.

What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of action in achieving change?

The speaker emphasizes that action is crucial for change, citing the views of His Holiness and Aung Sun Suu Kyi, who both believe that hope without endeavor is insufficient.

Who are some of the women the speaker admires for their work towards peace and change?

The speaker admires women like Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Aung Sun Suu Kyi, Wangari Maathai, and Mairead McGuire, who have all worked tirelessly for peace, democracy, and human rights.

What is the significance of the Women's League of Burma and the Million Signatures Campaign?

The Women's League of Burma and the Million Signatures Campaign are significant because they represent the collective effort of Burmese women working together to improve human rights and bring democracy to their country.

How did the landmine campaign succeed according to the speaker?

The landmine campaign succeeded by growing from two NGOs to thousands in 90 countries, working together towards a common cause to ban landmines.

What is the speaker's call to action for the audience?

The speaker calls on the audience to take action by volunteering time and effort towards the causes they care about, emphasizing that change cannot wait for others and must be initiated by individuals themselves.

What does the speaker mean by 'reclaim the meaning of peace'?

The speaker means that people should actively work to redefine and promote the true meaning of peace, which involves sustainable peace with justice and equality, rather than just passive acceptance of traditional symbols.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ Redefining Sustainable Peace with Justice

The speaker challenges the traditional symbols of peace, arguing that true peace involves sustainable access to resources, education, and healthcare for a dignified life. They emphasize 'human security' and acknowledge the need for some police and military for defense, but stress the importance of rational spending on global security rather than excessive armament. The speaker also highlights the disparity between the U.S. budget for nuclear weapon modernization and the U.N.'s budget for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, advocating for action towards human security, including environmental and social initiatives.

05:02

🌳 Action Heroes for Peace and Democracy

This paragraph introduces various women who are recognized for their efforts in promoting peace and democracy. It includes Nobel laureates and activists who, despite personal hardships, continue to fight for change. The speaker recounts conversations with Aung San Suu Kyi, emphasizing the importance of action alongside hope for democratic change. The paragraph also mentions Dr. Shirin Ebadi's exile and advocacy, Wangari Maathai's environmental and political activism, and the collective efforts of women in campaigns like the Women's League of Burma and the Million Signatures Campaign. The speaker also touches on the peace efforts in Northern Ireland and Rigoberta Menchu Tum's run for presidency and education on democracy.

10:03

💪 The Power of Collective Action for Change

The final paragraph is a call to action, urging individuals to take initiative in reclaiming the true meaning of peace through daily efforts. The speaker reflects on the success of the landmine campaign, which grew from a small group to a global movement, highlighting the importance of collective action. They stress that everyone has a role to play and that waiting for others to act is not an option; individual participation is crucial for bringing about change in the world.

Keywords

💡Peace

Peace, in the context of this video, transcends the traditional symbols like doves and rainbows to represent a more profound and sustainable state of harmony. It is defined by the speaker as a condition where people have access to resources, education, and healthcare, enabling them to live dignified lives free from want and fear. The concept of peace is central to the speaker's message, emphasizing the need for action to achieve this state of 'human security'.

💡Sustainable Peace

Sustainable peace, as discussed in the script, is a long-term state of peace that is maintained through justice and equality. It is not just the absence of conflict but an environment where everyone can thrive. The speaker contrasts this with temporary or superficial peace symbols, advocating for a deeper understanding that includes social and economic stability.

💡Human Security

Human security is a broad concept that encompasses not only physical safety but also economic, social, and environmental aspects. In the video, it is used to describe a state where people are secure in their access to resources, education, and healthcare. The speaker argues that this is the true essence of peace and is a goal worth striving for through collective action.

💡Action

Action is a recurring theme in the script, with the speaker urging the audience to move beyond passivity and engage in proactive measures to achieve peace. It is presented as a necessary component of creating change, whether through political activism, community organizing, or global campaigns. Examples from the script include the landmine campaign and the actions of various women activists.

💡Justice

Justice in this context refers to the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals within a society. It is a fundamental component of the speaker's definition of peace, implying that sustainable peace cannot exist without a just social order. The script mentions justice in relation to equality and the access to resources and opportunities.

💡Equality

Equality is highlighted as a key element for sustainable peace, suggesting that all people should have equal opportunities and rights. The speaker argues that true peace is unattainable without addressing inequality, which perpetuates conflict and hinders social progress.

💡Resources

Resources, as mentioned in the script, are the basic necessities required for a dignified life, such as food, water, and shelter. The speaker emphasizes that access to resources is a prerequisite for human security and sustainable peace, and that the unequal distribution of resources is a root cause of conflict.

💡Education

Education is portrayed as a vital component of peace in the video, with the speaker noting that access to education is essential for individuals to live free from want and fear. It is also a means to empower people and promote social and economic development, contributing to a more stable and peaceful society.

💡Healthcare

Healthcare is discussed as an essential service that contributes to human security and is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all. The speaker argues that without proper healthcare, people cannot live dignified lives, and sustainable peace remains unattainable.

💡Democracy

Democracy is presented as a system of governance where power is vested in the people, allowing for active participation and representation. The script refers to democracy in the context of the struggles of activists like Aung San Suu Kyi and Rigoberta Menchu Tum, who fight for democratic rights and processes in their respective countries.

💡Activism

Activism is the act of advocating for, promoting, or taking part in efforts to bring about social, political, or environmental change. In the script, various activists and campaigns are highlighted as examples of individuals and groups taking action to create a more peaceful and just world.

Highlights

Challenge to redefine the meaning of peace beyond traditional symbols like doves and rainbows.

Sustainable peace is defined as access to resources, education, and healthcare for a dignified life.

The concept of human security is introduced as freedom from want and fear.

Acknowledgment of the need for some police and military for defense, not aggression.

A call to reevaluate what makes us secure in the world, beyond military armament.

Critique of allocating $8.4 billion for nuclear weapon modernization instead of global development.

The comparison of military spending to the UN's $80 billion Millennium Development Goals.

Emphasis on taking action for change, rather than relying solely on meditation and prayer.

Personal account of

Transcripts

I'm actually here

to make a challenge to people.

I know there have been many challenges made to people.

The one I'm going to make

is that it is time for us to reclaim

what peace really means.

Peace is not "Kumbaya, my Lord."

Peace is not the dove and the rainbow --

as lovely as they are.

When I see the symbols

of the rainbow and the dove,

I think of personal serenity.

I think of meditation.

I do not think

about what I consider to be peace,

which is sustainable peace

with justice and equality.

It is a sustainable peace

in which the majority of people

on this planet

have access to enough resources

to live dignified lives,

where these people have enough access

to education

and health care,

so that they can live in freedom from want

and freedom from fear.

This is called human security.

And I am not a complete pacifist

like some of my really, really heavy-duty,

non-violent friends,

like Mairead McGuire.

I understand that humans

are so "messed up" --

to use a nice word,

because I promised my mom

I'd stop using the F-bomb in public.

And I'm trying harder and harder.

Mom, I'm really trying.

We need a little bit of police;

we need a little bit of military,

but for defense.

We need to redefine

what makes us secure

in this world.

It is not arming our country

to the teeth.

It is not getting other countries

to arm themselves to the teeth

with the weapons that we produce

and we sell them.

It is using that money more rationally

to make the countries of the world secure,

to make the people of the world secure.

I was thinking about

the recent ongoings

in Congress,

where the president is offering

8.4 billion dollars

to try to get the START vote.

I certainly support the START vote.

But he's offering 84 billion dollars

for the modernizing

of nuclear weapons.

Do you know the figure that the U.N. talks about

for fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals

is 80 billion dollars?

Just that little bit of money,

which to me, I wish it was in my bank account --

it's not, but ...

In global terms, it's a little bit of money.

But it's going to modernize weapons

we do not need

and will not be gotten rid of in our lifetime,

unless we get up off our ...

and take action to make it happen,

unless we begin to believe

that all of the things that we've been hearing about

in these last two days

are elements of what come together

to make human security.

It is saving the tigers.

It is stopping the tar sands.

It is having access

to medical equipment

that can actually tell who does have cancer.

It is all of those things.

It is using our money for all of those things.

It is about action.

I was in Hiroshima

a couple of weeks ago,

and His Holiness --

we're sitting there in front of thousands of people in the city,

and there were about eight of us Nobel laureates.

And he's a bad guy. He's like a bad kid in church.

We're staring at everybody, waiting our turn to speak,

and he leans over to me, and he says,

"Jody, I'm a Buddhist monk."

I said, "Yes, Your Holiness.

Your robe gives it away."

(Laughter)

He said, "You know

that I kind of like meditation, and I pray."

I said, "That's good. That's good.

We need that in the world.

I don't follow that, but that's cool."

And he says, "But I have become skeptical.

I do not believe

that meditation and prayer

will change this world.

I think what we need

is action."

His Holiness, in his robes,

is my new action hero.

I spoke with Aung Sun Suu Kyi

a couple of days ago.

As most of you know,

she's a hero for democracy in her country, Burma.

You probably also know

that she has spent 15 of the last 20 years

imprisoned for her efforts

to bring about democracy.

She was just released a couple of weeks ago,

and we're very concerned to see how long she will be free,

because she is already out in the streets in Rangoon,

agitating for change.

She is already out in the streets, working with the party

to try to rebuild it.

But I talked to her for a range of issues.

But one thing that I want to say,

because it's similar to what His Holiness said.

She said, "You know, we have a long road to go

to finally get democracy in my country.

But I don't believe in hope

without endeavor.

I don't believe in the hope of change,

unless we take action

to make it so."

Here's another woman hero of mine.

She's my friend, Dr. Shirin Ebadi,

the first Muslim woman

to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

She has been in exile

for the last year and a half.

You ask her where she lives -- where does she live in exile?

She says the airports of the world.

She is traveling because she was out of the country

at the time of the elections.

And instead of going home,

she conferred with all the other women that she works with,

who said to her, "Stay out. We need you out.

We need to be able to talk to you out there,

so that you can give the message

of what's happening here."

A year and a half --

she's out speaking

on behalf of the other women in her country.

Wangari Maathai --

2004 Peace laureate.

They call her the "Tree Lady,"

but she's more than the Tree Lady.

Working for peace

is very creative.

It's hard work every day.

When she was planting those trees,

I don't think most people understand

that, at the same time,

she was using the action

of getting people together to plant those trees

to talk about how to overcome

the authoritarian government in her country.

People could not gather

without getting busted and taken to jail.

But if they were together planting trees for the environment,

it was okay --

creativity.

But it's not just iconic women

like Shirin,

like Aung Sun Suu Kyi, like Wangari Maathai --

it is other women in the world

who are also struggling together

to change this world.

The Women's League of Burma,

11 individual organizations of Burmese women

came together because there's strength in numbers.

Working together is what changes our world.

The Million Signatures Campaign

of women inside Burma

working together to change human rights,

to bring democracy to that country.

When one is arrested and taken to prison,

another one comes out and joins the movement,

recognizing that if they work together,

they will ultimately bring change

in their own country.

Mairead McGuire in the middle,

Betty Williams on the right-hand side --

bringing peace to Northern Ireland.

I'll tell you the quick story.

An IRA driver was shot,

and his car plowed into people

on the side of the street.

There was a mother and three children.

The children were killed on the spot.

It was Mairead's sister.

Instead of giving in

to grief, depression, defeat

in the face of that violence,

Mairead hooked up with Betty --

a staunch Protestant and a staunch Catholic --

and they took to the streets

to say, "No more violence."

And they were able to get

tens of thousands of, primarily, women, some men,

in the streets to bring about change.

And they have been

part of what brought peace to Northern Ireland,

and they're still working on it,

because there's still a lot more to do.

This is Rigoberta Menchu Tum.

She also received the Peace Prize.

She is now running for president.

She is educating the indigenous people of her country

about what it means to be a democracy,

about how you bring democracy to the country,

about educating, about how to vote --

but that democracy is not just about voting;

it's about being an active citizen.

That's what I got stuck doing --

the landmine campaign.

One of the things that made this campaign work

is because we grew from two NGOs

to thousands

in 90 countries around the world,

working together in common cause to ban landmines.

Some of the people who worked in our campaign

could only work maybe an hour a month.

They could maybe volunteer that much.

There were others, like myself,

who were full-time.

But it was the actions, together, of all of us

that brought about that change.

In my view, what we need today

is people getting up

and taking action

to reclaim the meaning of peace.

It's not a dirty word.

It's hard work every single day.

And if each of us

who cares about the different things we care about

got up off our butts

and volunteered

as much time as we could,

we would change this world,

we would save this world.

And we can't wait for the other guy. We have to do it ourselves.

Thank you.

(Applause)