Summary
Highlights
Hugh Evans introduces Davinia, a Jamaican immigrant to the US, who, despite considering herself unremarkable, has a significant impact. She started by asking Facebook friends for pennies to fund girls' education, leading to 700,000 pennies collected and over 120 girls sent to school, becoming 'infamous' at her local bank for her effort.
Davinia is part of a growing movement of 'global citizens' – individuals who identify primarily as members of the human race and act on this belief to tackle global challenges like poverty, climate change, and gender inequality. Evans argues that the world's future depends on these citizens, as global issues can only be solved by global citizens demanding global solutions from leaders.
Evans recounts his childhood in Melbourne, Australia, as a curious 'why' kid. At 12, he raised money for developing countries, which led him to visit a slum in Manila called 'Smoky Mountain.' Meeting Sonny Boy, who lived on a garbage heap, profoundly impacted Evans, making him question why some suffer while others have so much, leading him to understand the systemic nature of poverty caused by man-made decisions rather than fate.
Evans realized that community development needed to be driven by communities and that systemic change, not just charity, was required. He decided to mobilize citizens to insist leaders engage in systemic change. This led him to co-found the 'Make Poverty History' campaign in Australia, which gained international attention with the support of artists like Bono, leading to a significant increase in Australia's investment in global health and development.
The success of 'Make Poverty History' was short-lived due to political changes, revealing that one-off efforts are insufficient. Evans recognized the need for a sustainable movement, not susceptible to political moods or economic downturns, and that required a broad, long-term army of passionate citizens. In 2012, he co-founded Global Citizen, aiming to turn short-term excitement into long-term passion and make global engagement part of people's identity.
Evans notes that while many care about global issues, only a small percentage act, often due to not knowing how or believing their actions are ineffective. Global Citizen recruits and activates millions by using music, specifically through the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. Attendees can't buy tickets; they must earn them by taking action on global causes, making activism the currency. This approach has led to millions of citizens signing up globally.
Evans provides examples of how global citizens like Davinia have driven policy changes. Her actions, combined with 142,000 others, led the US government to double investment in the Global Partnership for Education. Global citizens also influenced the World Bank to boost investment in water and sanitation and prompted Norway's Prime Minister to double investment in girls' education. They also contributed to a $665 million commitment for polio eradication from various governments.
Evans addresses the challenge of persuading leaders to focus on global issues, citing the common political adage, 'All politics is local.' He shares a personal anecdote of an Australian Foreign Minister dismissing foreign aid. Evans argues that this 'parochialism' is outdated and dangerous, creating a false dichotomy between local and global interests. He asserts that 'the whole world is our backyard,' and ignoring global issues like climate change or humanitarian crises has direct consequences.
Evans states that we live in a time that favors the global citizen, where every voice can be heard. Unlike in 2000, when social media didn't exist, today billions of citizens have unprecedented tools and access to information to influence change. He believes the concept of global citizenship, once impractical, now coincides with a unique opportunity to accelerate large-scale positive change. Global citizens will hold leaders accountable for new Sustainable Development Goals, partner with NGOs, and increase the impact of their actions.
Evans envisions an army of millions of connected, informed, and engaged global citizens who are unwilling to accept inaction. He reflects on his inability to reconnect with Sonny Boy, whom he met on 'Smoky Mountain,' and how that experience inspired him to be part of a movement of people willing to look beyond their own screens and out to the world. He concludes by asking the audience to embrace their role as global citizens, reject naysayers, and harness the world's amazing possibilities.