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World Peace Forum 2003 - Jacqueline Furtado

A youth peace address and panel discussion conclusion at a community event.

"Think globally, act locally."

"Peace is only in our hands if it is in our hearts and minds."

A moderator concludes a panel on societal challenges and introduces youth representative Jacqueline Furtado. The 17-year-old student delivers a speech, weaving together quotes from various panelists—including a bishop, a rabbi, and a lama—on themes of local action, compassion, and personal commitment as the foundation for global peace. She calls on the audience to carry this legacy forward, empowering young people as future ambassadors for peace.

Recording location: Australia, Sydney, World Peace Forum 2003

We come from completely different walks of life, exploring ways to address the challenges of living, finding inner peace for ourselves, and contributing to a peaceful and ethical society. These are difficult issues, but I am sure we have all been greatly uplifted by the contributions the panelists have made in trying to resolve some of these extraordinarily problematic issues that face us all today. Please join me in thanking the panel for their assistance. We are nearly at the end, but a few important things remain. The first is to invite the youth peace representative to join us: Jacqueline Furtado. Jacqueline is a 17-year-old student in Year 12 at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. She is currently involved in many community service events focused on amplifying the voices of young people. She is a member of the Liverpool Youth Council for International Visitors—Liverpool being a large and important suburb on the outskirts of Sydney. Jacqueline also sits on the organising task force of the New South Wales YMCA Youth Parliament. One expression attributed to her is: "The people making decisions about war and peace are making decisions about our future. I think that we as young people should be given the opportunity to have our say as the future ambassadors for peace." Please welcome Jacqueline Furtado. It was Leo Tolstoy who said, "Everyone thinks about changing the world, but no one thinks about changing themselves." For us to be part of a peaceful world, we need to be peaceful people. While people are hungry, oppressed, and while basic human rights and needs are not being met, there is no room in the hearts and minds of anybody for peace. This challenging thought was broken down by Bishop Morris and Moira. Both said, "Think globally, act locally." This really puts things into perspective, because only once you have committed to yourself and then to others can you commit to the world. That is how we bring about peace. Lama Chodak and Pearl gave us some handy hints on how to do this—how to commit to ourselves and to others. They said: "Show compassion, focus on the positives, practice forgiveness. Do not place blame, be servants to your God and to peace." It was Rabbi Sotendop who said, "If we gave one thousandth more, then by 2015 humanity would be saved." This was followed by Dr. Mackey, who said that peace doesn't fall off the back of a truck. The basic message here is: give. Let me be the young person to take your legacy of peace into the future. We, the young people and future peace ambassadors, will forever hail you as the saviours of humanity and the initiators of peace—if you here today can commit to yourselves, to each other, and then to the world to strive for peace. Brenton Mackey said that peace does not fall off the back of a truck, but more importantly, he said that war does not cause peace. Peace is hard work. It is not going to be an easy journey, and it has not proved easy so far. But it is for us, the young people, that you work. And I am here today to say: keep doing it. Young people can see a future where war is not the option, where there are other solutions to problems, and where conflict can be solved by other means. It was the Maharaja who made reference to the colossal collapse of civilisation. Then, through the High Commissioner of India, we found hope when he said, "Gandhi's ideals shine like a guiding light." Ladies and gentlemen, to you here today who have followed that light: take it with you. For it is now our job, our responsibility, to take and share that peace. Father Frank Brennan said, "Peace is only in our hands if it is in our hearts and minds." I urge you, ladies and gentlemen, today—and hope you have been inspired by the speakers you have heard—to put peace in your hearts and minds, to think, feel, and then act peace. Recording location: Australia, Sydney, World Peace Forum 2003

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt, what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

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