1 VITAL SPEECHES of the day 2018 EDITION THESE VITAL SPEECHES THE BEST OF THE 2018 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

37 LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: “What the World Needs GRAND AWARD Now from Business,” written and delivered by Dain Dunston, Author and Leadership Coach 3 “The Power of a Story,” by Matthew Kivel for Gregory L. Fenves, President, The University of Texas at Austin 39 PHILOSOPHY AND/OR RELIGION: “Search,” written and delivered by Jeffrey Flint, President, Flint Speechwriting

41 RHETORIC AND COMMUNICATION: “Speechwriting: An Anglo-American Perspective,” written and delivered by CATEGORY WINNERS Hal Gordon, Freelance Speechwriter 6 AGRICULTURE: “Even If People Can’t Move Freely, Ideas Must,” 46 TECHNOLOGY: “Living in the Glass Age,” written by Judith by Chris Moran for Jack Payne, Senior Vice President for Navoy for Dr. Jeffrey W. Evenson, Vice President and Chief Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida Strategy Officer, Corning Incorporated

8 ENERGY: “Managing Oil Supply in an Unmanageable Market,” 49 ANALYST CALL/INVESTOR MEETING: “Invest. Grow. Deliver,” written and delivered by Bob Tippee, Editor, Oil & Gas Journal by Dean Foust for David Abney, Chairman and CEO, UPS

12 GOVERNMENT: “Seat Belts, State Budgets and the Art of 51 COMMENCEMENT/CONVOCATION ADDRESS: “Gold in the Compromise,” by John Patterson for John Cullerton, Illinois Bushes,” by Jerry Wohletz for Dr. Gary Roberts, President, President American Dental Association

14 INSURANCE: “The New Normal for Insurers and Brokers,” 52 EMPLOYEE MEETING: “Why the University of Florida Matters by Lorne Christensen for David Fried, CEO, Emerging Markets, So Much to So Many,” by Chris Moran for Jack Payne, Senior QBE Insurance Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida 17 MEDIA: “Storytelling at in the Digital Age,” by Jack Dougherty for Susan Goldberg, Editorial Director, 54 EULOGY/TRIBUTE SPEECH: “Freedom Adds Colour to Our Lives,” National Geographic Partners and Editor in Chief of National by Johan Kroes for Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Former Minister Geographic Magazine of Defence for the Second Rutte cabinet, The

21 MILITARY: “2017 Outstanding Veterans’ Advocate Award,” 56 FAREWELL/RESIGNATION SPEECH: “Vulnerability, Curiosity, by Jacqueline Fearer for Will Hatley, Veterans Vocational Courage,” by Jan Sonneveld for , Minister of Rehabilitation Specialist and Recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Education, Culture and Science, The Netherlands Veterans’ Advocate Award 58 INAUGURAL SPEECH: “What Kind of Leaders Will We Be?” 22 NONPROFIT: “The State of Civil Discourse,” by David Goodstone by Leanne Boyer for Dr. David O. Barbe, President, and Mark Guarino for John Hewko, General Secretary, Rotary American Medical Association International 61 MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH: “Think Big. Act Small. Start 25 TRANSPORTATION: “Growing Global: Lessons Lived and Learned,” Somewhere,” by Antonie van Campen for Tom Middendorp, by Janet Stovall for David Abney, Chairman and CEO, UPS Former Chief of Defence, The Netherlands

27 CONTROVERSIAL OR HIGHLY POLITICIZED TOPIC: “Protecting 64 STATE-OF-THE-INSTITUTION SPEECH: “Tomorrow’s Industries Human Rights in Today’s Europe,” by Katya Andrusz for Michael from Today’s Science,” by Jenna Daroczy for Dr. Larry Marshall, O’Flaherty, Director, European Union Agency for Fundamental Chief , Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Rights Research Organisation,

30 DIVERSITY: “How We Can All Help End Domestic Violence and Abuse,” by Craig Millar for Lubna Latif, Domestic Violence and Abuse Counsellor 32 ECONOMICS: “U.S. and Canada: Sharing a Continent by Chance; SEE Friends by Choice,” by Richard Roik for Jim Carr, Canadian Minister of Natural Resources HONORABLE MENTIONS, 34 HEALTHCARE: “Those People,” by Diane Suchetka for Dr. Akram Boutros, President and CEO, The MetroHealth System INSIDE FRONT COVER

CICERO 2018 HONORABLE MENTION “When the United States Sneezes …,” by Felicity H. Barber “We’ve Got You Covered, UCF Marching Knights,” by Joe for John Williams, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank Adams for Dr. John C. Hitt, President, University of Central of San Francisco Florida

“Is Scouting Still Relevant in Today’s World?” by Ed Markey “How Far We’ve Come,” by Lucinda Trew for Greg Ebel, CEO, for Richard J. Kramer, Chairman, CEO and President, Spectra Energy The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company “Esteves, This Is Your Moment: Go Ahead and Jump,” by Teresa “Unpacking Sentences for Clarity and Impact,” written and Zumwald for Harold Fentener van Vlissingen, Chairman of the delivered by Stanley Dambroski, Public Affairs Specialist, Board, Diamond Tools Group National Science Foundation 3 GRAND AWARD WINNER “The Power of a Story”

By Matthew Kivel for Gregory L. Fenves, Delivered as acceptance speech for Guardian of the Human President, The University of Texas at Austin Spirit Award, Hilton Americas, Houston, Nov. 2, 2017

[After being introduced by Univer- But the reality is that our lives are When I was about 8 years old, I sity of Texas System Regent Janiece not only the product of our ambitions, came home one Sunday from Hebrew Longoria.] our talents, and a singular focus. Our school. On that morning, the teacher hank you, Janiece for that beauti- lives unfold as our individual story had taught the class about the Ho- Tful introduction. This is a special intertwines with the stories of others— locaust. But as an 8-year-old, I don’t day for The University of Texas at it’s happening right now, while we are think I really got it. Austin, and it is only fitting that you— in this room together. When I came home, I’m sure I a distinguished alumna, a UT System That is why institutions like The wanted to eat quickly and then go regent and one of our university’s University of Texas at Austin and Ho- outside to play. But while having lunch, greatest supporters, should be here to locaust Museum Houston are impor- I told my mother about what I had make this moment possible. Thank tant. They make sense of these inter- heard in school—probably in a typical you for your sincere words. Thank you sections. To educate, to understand, to 8-year-old tone. for your leadership. And thank you for enlighten and to bring people together At some point, my mother said your friendship. with diverse perspectives and back- something like: “We’ve never told you It is an honor to be in Houston, grounds so that we may improve lives this before, but your dad lived through along with so many of the Longhorn for present and future generations. the Holocaust.” That was the first time family and leaders of the city and the As president of UT—seeing our I learned my dad was a survivor. state of Texas. students create their own stories on On Sundays, my dad would take The resilience of the people of the Forty Acres—you will rarely a nap to escape from four wild kids. Houston after Hurricane Harvey has find me talking about myself. I want This Sunday, after speaking with my been an example to the world, and this to hear what they’re working on. mom, I clearly remember going into museum embodies their spirit. The What they’re learning. It’s not about his room, looking at my dad sleep- motto “Houston Strong” is not just a me or my family. It’s about them ing—to see a number tattooed on his couple of words, but a way of life in and their future. outstretched arm. Seeing that tattooed this great city. But upon receiving this honor on number for the first time is something I am humbled to be recognized by behalf of The University of Texas at I will never forget. Holocaust Museum Houston. The Austin, I feel a need to speak more My father is a Holocaust survivor. work that you do is vital. You teach. personally than I am used to. For my entire professional career, I You preserve. You enable us to remem- We are living through a time when never talked about my dad’s story out- ber and learn. I want to say thank you our nation is experiencing acts—even side of our family. Not because of how to every Museum staff member and, movements—fueled by hatred, rac- emotional it is. Not because of how especially, to the many volunteers. I ism, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim and personal it is. But it was his story, and am very grateful. anti-gay sentiments, and discrimination it was our family’s story. It didn’t have In our busy lives, and in this noisy towards immigrants on college cam- anything to do with being an engineer- and complicated world, the Museum is puses and in our communities. ing professor. a place for remembrance. We remem- We must denounce these negative But my responsibility is different as ber through stories. forces. They are inhumane and simply president of The University of Texas Each of you here has a story—a un-American. at Austin. life, a family, a history—that is unique. Too many people do not understand It has been 72 years since the end of We take our own paths. We make what hatred can lead to—especially World War II and the liberation of the difficult decisions. We fall in love. We organized, legitimized hatred. Nazi concentration camps. The number choose careers. We leave behind a That is why we must remember. of Holocaust survivors continues to de- legacy that is our own. And in this Remember through our stories. crease. And soon, they will not be here country, we have a longstanding belief So today, I want to tell you a story. to tell their own stories themselves—be- in the power of the individual. A A story that helps define who I am, yond the oral histories many have made. belief that our lives are the result of— and a story about our nation—my These stories are important today, well, us. father’s story. and they will be important forever

CICERO 2018 4 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS because the darkest moments in history Soviet army was advancing from the people out in frantic attempts to save as can repeat themselves. east. There was no hope of Germany many lives as possible. My dad and his sister Eszti grew up surviving the onslaught of Allied I want to take a moment to recog- in a prosperous upper-middle class, forces. But the Nazis were so dedicated, nize the bravery of those who resisted Jewish-Hungarian family in Subotica— and single-mindedly focused on an- the Nazis. History does not often reflect a town in a province of Yugoslavia with nihilating the Jews, that they continued how Jews and other targeted groups a large Hungarian population. My to deport Jews and operate the death fought back. This was at a time when grandfather, Louis, served in the army camps to the very end of the war. they had no rights, no property, and of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire So, in 1944, my dad and his family the slightest infraction was punished during World War I—and later with were loaded onto a transport train—a by death. Still, they fought back. They his brother, published the most influ- train car built to hold freight—that was organized and resisted. And those resis- ential Hungarian-language newspaper packed with hundreds of people. tance fighters saved my dad’s life. in the province. The family lived in a They did not know where they were The Polish underground hatched large apartment above their newspaper going. There was no food or water. The a plan to smuggle my dad out on a offices and printing plant. train just kept moving. My dad was 13 transport, where he might have a My grandmother, Klara, was years old. chance to survive. a graphic artist who had traveled Finally, days later, the train stopped. Keep in mind, my dad was barely throughout Europe as an art student. The doors opened, and the people a teenager. And because of his young My dad grew up trilingual, speaking were ordered to get off. They were at age, he would never have been selected Hungarian at home, Serbian in school, their final destination: Auschwitz. to work in a slave labor camp. The and—because of his German govern- The guards took hold of the pas- underground knew this, and coached ess—he learned German as well. sengers. Within minutes, they selected him to tell the Germans a number of In April of 1941, as an ally of Ger- my great-grandmother to die in the gas plausible reasons why he would be on a many, Hungary invaded Yugoslavia, chamber. My grandmother Klara was transport from Auschwitz. and Subotica fell under occupation. taken into one of the compounds, and One day, as prisoners who had been My dad was 9 years old. my dad and Eszti were put in “youth selected for work lined up, the under- The Hungarian anti-Jewish laws blocks” in two other compounds. ground slipped my dad into the line. were immediately put into effect, and The average time a person would He was crammed into the train car. my grandfather was led out of his survive in Auschwitz was four days— He didn’t know that it was bound newspaper office at gunpoint, and the my dad would go on to spend five for a satellite camp of Buchenwald business was transferred to a non- months there. near Weimar in Germany. Jewish administrator. The family had He survived by using the German After three days on the train, my to sell all of their possessions, including language that his governess taught dad arrived in the small town of my father’s prized stamp collection, for him—acting as an interpreter for the Niederorschel with about 300 other money to survive. They were forced to officials who were shopping for slave slave laborers. They were going to be live in one corner of their apartment labor, and for the Polish political pris- forced to work at a small factory, mak- while Hungarian military officers took oners who were the overseers in the ing aircraft wings for Messerschmitt over the rest of the home. compounds. fighter planes. This dehumanizing process of He worked on a roof repair detail An SS guard gave a talk to the confiscation and subjugation had hap- that was allowed to go from compound group, and just before they were dis- pened to Jews all over Europe and was to compound. In one of these, he saw missed, the guard went up to my dad now happening to the Hungarian Jews. his sister Eszti who told him that their and said, “What are you doing here? I They lost their rights as citizens, and mother had died. On another visit, he didn’t select you.” the lives that they had built over gen- brought Eszti food and warm cloth- The guard had recognized my dad erations were instantly taken away. ing, paid for by trading trinkets on the from Auschwitz and knew that he wasn’t As the next three years passed, life black market. supposed to be there. The underground for my dad’s family became increas- By the late fall of 1944, rumors hadn’t prepared him for this scenario. ingly desperate, culminating in the circulated through Auschwitz that But my dad thought quickly and said to deportation of Hungarian Jews. the Germans were planning to exter- the guard—“Well sir, with all of these To put this in a historical perspec- minate all remaining prisoners, in- new inmates, they thought that you tive, for Germany, the war was all but cluding the children, before the Soviet would need another interpreter.” The lost. The American and British armies forces arrived. SS guard, miraculously, agreed. My dad had landed in France on D-Day. With this news, the Polish under- was able to go into the factory. American and other forces were mov- ground, who had a strong presence He would spend the remaining ing up the Italian peninsula. And the within Auschwitz, began smuggling months of World War II as a slave

VSOTD.COM 5 laborer, alongside other enslaved Jews United States, his children would be college education through the G.I. and Russian prisoners of war. They given an opportunity to flourish—to Bill. While in college, he met and were barely fed, and their lives consist- lead happy, productive lives. My dad married my mom, Norma, his wife of ed of nothing more than a daily walk never forgot this message, and he still 62 years, and they raised those four from the barracks to the factory, hours has his father’s letter. rambunctious kids. My dad would go of labor, and back for sleep. My dad, my aunt Eszti, and their on to become a renowned professor Even with the life being worked out cousins went on to escape what was of engineering, being elected to the of them, they resisted. The workers by then communist Yugoslavia. They National Academy of Engineering at would sabotage the wiring in the wings ended up in , which was in chaos the remarkably young age of 45. of the fighters so the landing gear after the war and flooded with refugees I have one more story. would retract after takeoff, but upon from across Europe. They lived in a In 1995, my dad and I were to- landing, the wheels wouldn’t lower and Hungarian slum near the Sorbonne gether in Berlin for an engineering the planes would crash. They risked that is now a prosperous neighborhood conference—where he was giving a their own lives to ensure that someday, on the Left Bank. My dad learned keynote address. It was unusual for us the Nazis would be defeated. French and excelled in high school. He to be at a professional event together. In April of 1945, Gen. Patton’s and Eszti were able to get American But this one had special meaning Third Army was rapidly powering immigration visas, and they arrived in because it was in Berlin 50 years after through central Germany as Allied Chicago in 1950. the liberation. forces converged on Berlin. The Nazis And then another uniquely Ameri- One afternoon, I decided to skip the were trying to hide the evidence of can story unfolded. After a couple of conference sessions. I took the S-Bahn the camps. So, they evacuated Nieder- years, my dad was drafted into the to the western suburbs of Berlin, then orschel through a forced march to U.S. Army during the Korean War. transferred to a local bus that drove the main camp 65 miles away— His unit was preparing for deploy- through a forest to a large villa. The Buchenwald. ment to Korea, but at the last minute, bus came to a stop and the driver Many died along the way. And dur- the orders were changed … and he loudly announced “Wannsee Haus.” ing the journey, my dad was confronted became part of the U.S. Occupation Everyone on the bus watched this one by a guard, beaten, and his arm was Forces in Germany. Only seven years person, me, an American, get off, and I severely broken. He was very ill, but he after being liberated by the same army could tell they knew why I was there. made it to Buchenwald. Upon arriving, in the same country. I went through the exhibits of the he collapsed and passed out in one of My dad has always said that he Wannsee House, which had recently the barracks. learned what it is to be an American opened as a museum, and saw the When my dad came to, he was during his time in the Army—that it documents from the meeting in 1942, among American soldiers of the 6th was where he truly became an Ameri- where the Nazi’s planned what they Armored Division. American soldiers can. called, “the final solution to the Jewish were liberating the camp. He had But I think he understood what this question in Europe.” It was a powerful survived. nation was about long before, when he moment in my life, to stand face to face In the weeks that followed, my dad, was at Buchenwald, opening his eyes to with the evidence of the evil that had still 13 years old, had a choice—to see U.S. soldiers caring for the sick and erased much of my family and millions declare himself a refugee and face an the dying. Fighting for justice. He saw of others from the Earth. even more unknown future, or return that then. After our conference ended in to his hometown in Yugoslavia, with When he brought his sister food and Berlin, my dad and I drove through the hope of seeing his family again. clothing at Auschwitz, he was already the east German countryside to the He chose to go home, and when he an American. When he helped sabo- places he had been taken to half a got there, he found Eszti had survived tage German planes in a slave labor century before. Bergen-Belsen, my grandfather Louis camp, he was already an American. We went to the gleaming white train had barely survived as a slave laborer And when he came to this nation station in Niederorschel, where he had in a Silesian coal mine, and two of for the first time as a refugee, he was arrived in the harsh winter of 1945. his cousins had made it through as already an American. The American We saw the small factory across the well. My grandfather was deathly ill spirit is not bound by blood, skin color, train tracks, the same factory where he and would die a few months later. But religion, or place of origin—it is based had been enslaved. And while driving before he died, he wrote a letter to a on a set of ideals found within coura- from Niederorschel, we retraced the friend living in New York. geous people. path of the march that nearly took his My grandfather expressed his My dad was honorably discharged life on the way to Buchenwald. hope that his children would move from the Army, and his service earned As we walked around the desolate to America. He believed that in the him a path to U.S. citizenship and a hill of Buchenwald, my dad—with

CICERO 2018 6 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS his superb memory—showed me the courageous he is. How much he has truth, so they could better understand places he had been in those few days brought to the world. themselves, their history, and what before the liberation and in the months I think of something else, too. I human beings—both courageous and afterward as he recovered. see in that photograph my dad’s arm evil—are capable of. At one point, we came across a extended, pointing into the distance of By understanding his story, we un- group of teenagers on a tour. And he the deserted death camp. And I think derstand our own story, as individuals, talked with them. about how his arm is still broken, from as a society, and as a nation. That is the I have a photograph of that that forced march—how it never really power of a story. moment—my dad in full professor healed. There is a part of him that So now, I’d like to dedicate this mode, standing on a slight mound, will always be shaped by the horrific award that you have generously given with teenagers around him, pointing experiences he endured as a boy. That to me, to my dad, Steven Fenves. out the organization and features of will never fully heal. He is here with us. And I can’t think Buchenwald. But then I think: Look what he did of anyone I know who embodies this I think about that photograph. I with that arm. Throughout his life, as award more than him. Dad, if you think about how far my dad came in he did that afternoon in Buchenwald, could please come up here … his life, surviving fascism and escaping he took it and lifted it up to show oth- Thank you all so much. communism. What he endured. How ers, to teach others, to tell them the WINNER: AGRICULTURE “Even If People Can’t Move Freely, Ideas Must”

By Chris Moran for Jack Payne, Senior Vice President for Delivered at Reitz Union, University of Florida, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida Gainesville, Florida, Feb. 15, 2017

ood afternoon, everyone, and raising him in Iran while Nasrin and Sometimes it seems science is get- Gcongratulations to Bill, Gene, her husband worked and studied. ting even harder. and Luke, three extraordinary faculty Grandma needed heart surgery People reject a preponderance of members we’re here to recognize last month, and Nasrin and her family evidence that the climate change is real today. went back to see her through it. They and caused by human activity; that It’s really important to celebrate returned on Jan. 27. vaccinations don’t cause autism; that their work because just by being here A day later, the president signed genetically engineered food is as safe as today, we’re all making a statement an executive order banning the entry conventionally produced food. about what we value. of people from Iran and six other Politicians stoke this by bringing Has it ever been more important countries. snowballs onto the floor of the United than right now, this month, to stand up Nasrin had been talking with Ger- States Senate as “proof ” that climate for international engagement? ritt about extending her six-month change is a hoax. Activists send our A few hundred meters from here, stay as a visiting scholar. She also had faculty, attorneys, and IT people on in Frazier Rogers, we have a young her eye on an opportunity at the Uni- public record paper chases and cher- researcher with expertise in both versity of Nebraska. rypick from thousands of emails to cre- computer science and agrometerology. Now she doesn’t know if visiting ate a fable that impugns our integrity. She came to UF in October to help Iran will mean she can’t come back. Social media trolls send death threats Gerritt Hoogenboom develop software Her husband says he would not have to our faculty. that predicts weather patterns and the agreed to come had he known this And now, the collaboration on resulting effects on crop yield. would happen. And grandma, Nasrin’s which good science depends is inter- But since January 28, she’s been mom, tells her by Skype: “They don’t rupted by rules that make your flag, not presented with a terrible choice of sci- love you there. Why do you stay?” your C.V., what qualifies you to join ence or family. Science is hard enough without this our team in the search for truth. Nasrin Salehnia is Iranian. She had kind of heartbreak! Science is a global community. All never left her country before October. Nasrin is here with us today. Nasrin, six Americans who won Nobel prizes in Her husband gave up a job to come we are so glad you’re a part of IFAS! science last year are immigrants. with her. Her four-year-old son Kian Would you and Sohrab and Kian Immigrants make incalculable con- misses grandma, who was essentially please stand and be recognized? tributions to IFAS: Dorota Haman and

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Ramesh Reddy lead scores of scientists Bill knows it’s in our self-interest national pepper conference every two as department heads. Gbola Adesogan as Americans to help other countries years, hosts tours of foreign delega- oversees a $49 million effort to improve build their own capacity to protect tions, and brings what he knows to livestock production in six developing natural resources. One of his nomina- numerous international meetings. nations. Saqib Mukhtar, Eric Simonne, tors is a former doctoral student of His international experience also and Tim Momol travel tirelessly to sup- his who is now Belize’s secretary of taught him, he says, that hungry port our work extending IFAS knowl- agriculture and interior. people are angry people. Arab Spring edge to native-born and foreign-born That means he has tremendous in- is popularly portrayed as the expression Floridians. Nian Wang may be the fluence on what happens in the largest of a thirst for freedom. But it was also most likely scientist to find the silver contiguous swath of rainforest north driven by a hunger for bread. bullet that slays citrus greening. World of the Amazon. That rainforest serves Revolts in Egypt and Tunisia fol- Food Prize winner Pedro Sanchez is everyone on the planet, not just the lowed food price spikes that made it building a scientific bridge from UF to people of Belize. impossible for many families to afford his homeland of Cuba. Every year Bill takes 40 students to adequate nutrition. I’m proud of what President Fuchs Belize. He’s preparing the future Flori- We value science as a way to build had to say in his statement regarding da and U.S. leaders in wildlife manage- bridges, to protect the health of the the executive order on immigration: ment and agriculture. We just happen planet, and to feed billions of people. “Embracing all members of our to believe that the best preparation We value the contributions that the community and maintaining a welcom- doesn’t always occur in a classroom in scientists and students of other nations ing environment for talented students Gainesville. make to UF/IFAS. and faculty from around the world are These trips for mostly undergradu- The people in this room live those central to our values and identity as ates can change lives. values. All of us can do that more a university. It is also critical to excel- It did for Luke Flory. No, he didn’t effectively because of Rose Koenig, lence in education, research, economic study under Giuliano, but it was a trip who leads IFAS Global. She’s the first development and other contributions to the Amazon as an undergrad that woman to lead our international arm to society.” sparked his interest in international in its 50-plus-year history. IFAS Global is the purest expres- issues. That’s worth noting, because we’re sion of how we embody this in the When he became an ecologist, that founded on a land-grant mission that agriculture and natural resources interest turned into an imperative. Spe- includes increasing opportunity for branch of our university. The land- cies move around the world through everyone. That means immigrants, grant mission of discovery, teaching, travel and trade. We need good science racial minorities, low-income people, and Extension of knowledge does not to determine how this affects biodiver- and women get a chance to learn and a stop at our border. It is our mission sity and how to conserve it. chance to lead. to bring science to those who benefit Again, there’s self-interest here. Our commitment to these ideals is from it, whether they’re across the Luke’s work can provide insights into what draws people like Nasrin to us. street or across the ocean. threats that may be distant now but It’s a good thing, because we need all Today’s honorees can be proud of could someday make it to our shores. the help we can get tackling challenges the recognition because there are so Luke, too, leads student trips. His on the scale of climate change. many in IFAS who are doing great in- students’ experiences in Cuba in- IFAS Global helps us live our values ternational work. For example, the UF form them about the management of of helping people in other nations International Center recognized Kirby Florida’s resources. and learning from colleagues in those Barrick and Robert McCleery of IFAS Gene McAvoy has been all over the nations. By helping address problems in October for their international work. world. Now he’s in LaBelle, a place you abroad, perhaps we can reduce the Could the two of you stand for a just won’t find unless you’re looking chance of those problems migrating moment and be recognized? for it. My guess is he’s one of the few here. These faculty members exemplify people in Hendry County who know Events beyond our control may this ethos that knowledge has no bor- six languages! prevent the free movement of people. ders. So do Luke Flory, Bill Guiliano, Gene started his career in the Peace Let’s leave here today with renewed and Gene McAvoy. Corps. He’s a firm believer that we do resolve to do everything we can to Bill is in our Wildlife Ecology and much more for world peace through continue the free flow of ideas. Conservation Department. He has agricultural development than we do Thanks again for being here, and put IFAS on the map in the nation of with bombs. thank you, Bill, Gene, and Luke, for Belize. That’s why he organizes an inter- putting our ideals into practice.

CICERO 2018 8 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: ENERGY “Managing Oil Supply in an Unmanageable Market”

Written and delivered by Bob Tippee, Delivered at Pipeline + Energy Expo, Editor, Oil & Gas Journal Tulsa, Oklahoma, April 5, 2017

read, butter, bacon, and beans.” write the constitution for the State of The Oklahoma Corporation Com- “B Does anyone recognize that Sequoyah. mission had been using proportional morsel of tasty alliteration? Technically, that undertaking failed, rationing—or prorationing—autho- too. By then, though, Alfalfa Bill’s rized by a 1915 law designed to prevent *** prominence as a frontier politician— physical and economic waste—to keep enhanced by a gift for fiery oratory— crude prices from collapsing, in other It’s the slogan Oklahoma Governor had taken firm root in the windblown words. William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Murray used soil of what would become the State of But big discoveries like the Semi- in his campaign for the United States Oklahoma two years later. nole complex in 1926 and Oklahoma presidency in 1932. Elected to the House of Representa- City field in 1928 kept swamping the Murray, of course, was running tives in the state’s first legislature, Alfal- market. The crude price plummeted. against Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and fa Bill earned his nickname by fighting Lawsuits flew through courts like the rest is history. against business and for agriculture. meadowlarks through marsh grass. I learned about Alfalfa Bill in an He ran for governor and lost in Then, in 1931, with competition Oklahoma history class at the Uni- 1910 but ran for the US House and growing from new, giant fields in Texas, versity of Tulsa many years ago and won in 1912. He served four years and the crude price below 35 cents a enjoyed hearing stories about him from before losing his second bid for reelec- barrel, a federal court rejected the Cor- old-timers in the Tulsa World news- tion—then returned to Oklahoma and poration Commission’s prorationing room early in my career. lost another run for the governorship. authority and suspended quotas. So it seems only fitting, at a confer- In 1920, he and a few family With characteristic pugnacity and ence in Tulsa, to let a colorful char- members and friends decamped to drama, Alfalfa Bill responded by send- acter from Oklahoma’s past help me Bolivia, where they tried to create an ing National Guard troops into the oil make a few points about cooperative agricultural colony. When that venture fields to shut in more than 3,000 wells. management of supply in defense of disintegrated, Alfalfa Bill returned to “The state’s natural resources must the price of oil—and whether it can Oklahoma, where, in 1930, he finally be preserved, and the price of oil must work under modern conditions. succeeded in his quest to become gov- go to one dollar a barrel,” he said. ernor. “Now don’t ask me any more damned *** I guess when you’re born in a place questions.” called Toadsuck, Texas, you learn to This proved not to be Alfalfa Bill’s Alfalfa Bill Murray was not someone persevere. last declaration of martial law in easily discouraged by failure. He was Oklahoma’s oil fields. And it was not persistent—rather as sponsors of sup- *** history’s first attempt to manage oil ply management have been throughout supply. Not by a long shot. the history of oil. The point Alfalfa Bill will help me The painful tendency of crude oil In fact, Alfalfa Bill moved to what make is that the oil market craves prices to swing between extreme highs was then Indian Territory in 1898 supply management, such as the and lows began soon after Colonel after failing as a newspaper publisher Organization of Petroleum Exporting Edwin Drake made what’s considered in Corsicana, Texas…then failing as a Countries has been trying since the to be the first commercial oil discovery lawyer in Fort Worth…thereafter los- beginning of this year to reinstate. at Oil Creek, Pennsylvania, in 1859. ing two campaigns for the Texas state The market becomes chaotic when A group of producers formed the Oil senate. coordination breaks down—as it did Creek Association trying to limit supply He had better luck as a lawyer two years and four months ago. voluntarily. after moving north of the Red River And the chaos fosters a yearning for The effort didn’t work. And the ba- and eventually became popular in the some mechanism to limit supply. sic problem didn’t end—any more than Chickasaw Nation. In August of 1931, that mechanism it’s ended now. When Indian Territory tried to was Governor William H. “Alfalfa Bill” Oil supply and oil demand dance become a state in 1905, he helped Murray. to different tunes. Demand responds

VSOTD.COM 9 slowly to price changes. And supply is Over time, and especially after upstream oil and gas industry respond- lumpy—grotesquely so. World War II, Texas came to dominate ed over the next couple of years with Natural depletion is always drain- American oil production, and the Rail- spending cuts that the International ing deposits in existing fields. Between road Commission became the princi- Energy Agency called unprecedented. discoveries, supply can fall below need. pal mechanism for limiting supply. It What matters most to the market, Shortage then raises the crude price received help from oil import fees and, of course, is not spending but rather and stimulates exploration and devel- in 1959, the Mandatory Oil Import supply in relation to demand. opment. Program. By the middle of last year, move- Then discoveries and development By the early 1970s, the Organiza- ment toward correction in that rela- previously uneconomic add supply out tion of Petroleum Exporting Countries tionship was evident. of proportion to demand. And surplus had formed, and production in the Demand was rising, and supply fell crushes the crude price. United States had peaked. Participa- in the first half of 2016. Inventories in John D. Rockefeller understood tion by Arab members of OPEC in a the industrialized world began falling this wicked characteristic of the oil targeted oil embargo prompted by the from record-high levels last August. and gas business. Much of his mo- Yom Kippur War of 1973 galvanized But supply rebounded in last year’s tivation for monopolizing refining a shift in market control that was inevi- second half. And oil prices stayed capacity and rail transport in the late table and lasting—at least so far. below levels enabling rentier economies 19th Century and early 20th Century For nearly all its history, then, the oil like those of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, was to protect his interests from price market has had something to control and the United Arab Emirates to bal- instability. supply at the margin. When the control ance national accounts. Popular distaste for Rockefeller’s mechanism is missing or broken, oil After nearly a year of on-again, off- Standard Oil Trust, which was disman- prices tend to gyrate through extremes again discussions, OPEC ministers last tled in 1911, set hard limits on politi- painful to consumers near the peaks and November 30 announced a deal to cut cal responses to the problem. Those disastrous for producers in the troughs. crude oil production by an aggregate sensitivities linger to this day. And through most of that history, 1.2 million barrels a day for six months Still, the effort persists—like Alfalfa voluntary production restraint has beginning this past January 1. Bill Murray, who didn’t experiment not worked for long and often has not And on December 10, eleven non- with oil-supply management alone. worked at all. OPEC producers agreed to trim pro- While he and the Oklahoma Cor- To be effective, supply management duction by a total of 558,000 barrels a poration Commission were grappling needs official enforcement—such as, day. Most importantly, Russia agreed to with price instability, similar efforts to in Alfalfa Bill’s day, soldiers checking phase in production cuts to an eventual limit supply were under way in Texas gauges they didn’t know how to read. total of 300,000 barrels a day. and outside the United States. Inevitably, voluntary restraint falls Discipline around each agreement Meeting in Achnacarry Castle in victim to the doom of cartels: When a probably depends on cohesion of the Scotland in 1928, leaders of several cartel succeeds, price elevation in- other. major oil companies had agreed to creases the temptation on participants Much is at stake. freeze market shares in the Middle to overproduce their quotas and spoil The market’s craving for supply East. We remember that deal as the the effort. management was evident not only in As-Is Agreement. Meanwhile, an oversupplied market panic following OPEC’s abandonment Later, production restraint occurred finds ways around imposed bottlenecks of production control in November through concession manipulations in the way a flooded creek flows around a 2014 but also after OPEC’s announce- the Middle East, Indonesia, and Ven- boulder. ment of new quotas last November. ezuela by international majors known At its most successful, in fact, The announcement added $7 a in infamy as the Seven Sisters. voluntary production restraint usually barrel to the price of Brent crude. The In the United States, the Texas muddles along until something cata- decision by non-OPEC collaborators Railroad Commission was limiting strophic lifts demand or extinguishes a on December 10 added a further $3 a supply first by controlling well-spacing major source of supply. barrel. but later—as giant discoveries poured And, despite all the contingency and That’s ten dollars a barrel the new supply into the market—through political suspicion, the oil market still month before real supply restraint prorationing. craves supply management. was to take effect—$14.4 billion in In fact, Texas Governor Ross Ster- We saw powerful testimony to this extra revenue to OPEC and Russia in ling declared martial law in the Lone observation in November 2014, when December for nothing more than two Star State’s oil fields a couple weeks OPEC declared its intention no longer communiques. after Alfalfa Bill first did so here in to choreograph production restraint. The market rewarded an agreement Oklahoma. A weak market panicked. And the to limit supply because—if you don’t

CICERO 2018 10 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS believe me after I’ve said this so many Baghdad, and Damascus and with He- In unconventional plays, producers times, take it from Alfalfa Bill Mur- zbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon. know where the hydrocarbons are. ray—the market craves supply man- In Syria, in fact, Moscow seems to They can bring oil and gas online as agement. have preempted Iranian and Hezbol- quickly as it takes to drill and complete So what happens if the new deals lah factions in support of Bashar al- wells in shale or drill and steam a well unravel? Well, do you remember the Assad—to the irritation of the Islamic pair at an established oil sands project. months after November 2014? Republic. To the limited extent cartels ever If supply management fails, the To Vladimir Putin, the production work, they do so when producers question won’t be whether the market agreement with OPEC might be a outside the cartel operate at near-term punishes the oil price. The question stratagem not only to boost the price capacity rates. will be how much. of crude but also to curry favor with Thanks to unconventional resources, Sunni power centers—maybe even the that condition no longer applies. The *** House of Saud. change represents a new and poten- For its part, Saudi Arabia has extra tially fatal challenge to OPEC’s ability I don’t know if the production ac- motivation to pursue oil-price strength. to manage supply. cords will hold together. The kingdom plans to float an IPO of Crucial factors align themselves in 5 percent of Aramco next year. Con- *** three categories. cern about valuation of that interest I’ve alluded to one of them already: might make Riyadh more patient than Quick-draw supply definitely ex- market psychology. usual with Moscow and Tehran. ists outside the supply-management Important as market psychology is So while the diplomatic fragilities mechanism. to the price of oil, it inevitably yields to of any supply coordination involving Drilling in several US tight oil plays market fundamentals—supply and de- OPEC and Russia remain in place, the rebounded quickly in response to oil- mand—the third category I’ll discuss. internal forces may have aligned in ways price strengthening late last year. For now, market psychology is that strengthen cohesion around the Consequent output combined with obsessed—appropriately—with quota production accords—at least for now. projects starting up in the Gulf of discipline and related geopolitical Ultimately, though, market funda- Mexico to arrest a US crude-oil pro- intrigue. mentals will prevail. duction decline that began in May of Any agreement that includes Saudi In its March Oil Market Report, 2015 and reached bottom last Septem- Arabia and Iran, or Saudi Arabia and the International Energy Agency said ber. Russia, challenges diplomacy. In supply industrial-world oil stocks fell by 120 How high the production recovery management of the moment, those million barrels between August and goes remains an important question relationships are points of vulnerability. December last year. with no ready answer. Still, the ability of Riyadh and Alas, stocks rose by 48 million bar- We’re in new territory with un- Tehran to reach any agreement at all rels in January and seem to have fallen conventional resources. So far, most in November, after a bilateral dispute only modestly in February—in large surprises have been on the high side. ruptured negotiations earlier in the measure because of record-high output Last month, the Energy Information year, suggests a possible thawing of by Saudi Arabia and Russia just before Administration projected US crude relations. the production agreements. production increases of 300,000 bar- Ultimately, Iran accepted what it The market remains oversupplied. rels a day this year and 500,000 barrels earlier said it would not: a production That will not quickly change. a day in 2018—from tight oil and ceiling. And Saudi Arabia accepted a Large offshore and oil sands projects offshore projects for which develop- ceiling for its adversary that allowed begun before the price crash continue ment started before 2014. After 2020, Iranian production to grow. to come on stream. tight oil probably will become the only This came as the Saudis and Ira- Beyond competition from project growth category for US production. nians resumed negotiations over the momentum, supply managers face a Another important question with no annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca— new and nasty problem: The market easy answer is how OPEC and its part- in which the Islamic Republic did has a lot of potential supply promptly ners in supply management respond to not participate in 2016. And Kuwait, available from unconventional re- price-induced assaults on their market Iraq, and Oman recently have tried to sources. shares—from the United States and mediate some degree of Saudi-Iranian In the past, production response to elsewhere. rapprochement. price elevation outside the cartel took Early indications of quota discipline Russia, meanwhile, wants to expand years to enter the market. were encouraging. its influence in the Middle East beyond Companies had to find the oil and Last month the International Energy alliances with Shia regimes in Tehran, develop the discoveries. Agency estimated OPEC compliance

VSOTD.COM 11 in January and February at 98%. It An industry able to produce oil and But they have something OPEC said Russia and the other non-OPEC gas from source rock should be able to lacks: effective enforcement. That’s new. collaborators had made 37% of their handle this. If I’m right about this, or nearly so, promised cuts, although those numbers Operators have new analytical tools a market that craves supply manage- are murkier. with which to assess local markets and ment will have to trust a new dimen- But OPEC’s rosy compliance figure competition—tools to advise them when sion of the enterprise. depended disproportionately on Saudi to bring new production onstream and It will be supply management that Arabia, which made 135% of its prom- when to exercise the option to wait. depends less than before on collabora- ised cut. And in the industry slump, a lot tion and quotas many authorities no Then, stubbornly high oil inven- of shale acreage passed from myriad longer will impose. tories in the United States provided independent producers under severe It will be supply management in- a reminder that balance won’t come financial stress to comparatively fewer creasingly deriving from decisions big easily. integrated companies. producers make on the basis of their When Saudi officials hinted that Much eminently manageable investments and expectations about oil- their patience with quota cheating had shale production has become part of market fundamentals. limits, tremors went through the mar- oil-production holdings much larger The oil market, in other words, will ket. Oil prices fell. and more-diversified than those of learn to trust genuine market forces. Perhaps belatedly, the market has the independents who pioneered shale Fancy that. come to realize that success of OPEC’s development. latest exercise in production restraint is Big companies will bring different *** far from certain. management to those assets. A market craving supply manage- To use Wall Street terminology, I The mechanism I’m speculating ment might not get what it wants. expect them to use their acquisitions to about here won’t work with engineer- What then? enhance optionality of their upstream ing precision. portfolios. Markets never do. *** Shale production will become swing OPEC’s management of supply production for ExxonMobil, Chevron, over the past four decades has been If the production agreements un- Marathon Oil, and other integrated contentious, disorderly, even makeshift. ravel, or if—as is possible—they survive companies able to achieve the scale Yet the market depended on it—and only in press notices from the OPEC they need in shale plays. collapsed when OPEC took its vaca- Secretariat, crude prices will fall again. Then the oil-producing world begins tion from the project in 2014. Market psychology, you know. to look different. The paradox is as savory as bread, This is the storm cloud ever above an OPEC might continue trying to butter, bacon, and beans: A market industry with more near-term capacity manage its supply through collabora- that craves management resists man- to produce oil than is needed—and with tion. Russia might help; it might even agement—even at gunpoint. much of that capacity newly exempt become a member. Our hero Alfalfa Bill Murray from coordinated management. But OPEC’s only enforcement never hit his buck-a-barrel target. He This is the new world of unconven- mechanism remains Saudi Arabia’s declared martial law in Oklahoma’s oil tional resources. idle production capacity and Riyadh’s fields three times, and the crude price At the cost margin of this new, threat to use it to keep other cartel stayed below 70 cents a barrel. reactive world, producers face the risk members in line. Another failure? that any new production they contem- Outside OPEC, in the world I’m Well, Oklahoma did become an plate in response to price gains might imagining, production management important oil-producing state, with aggravate surplus, weaken prices, and increasingly comes from market-based an exciting resurgence now in the undermine their investments. decisions of large companies control- SCOOP and STACK plays. And if OPEC and its collabora- ling enough rapid-response production The oil price is—well, better than tors cannot manage supply effectively in shale and other resource plays to the inflation-adjusted equivalent of 70 enough to stabilize the crude price, meaningfully influence global supply. pennies a barrel. producers everywhere will have to be- Those companies cannot collabo- And nobody, I hope, has forgotten come comfortable working in a market rate, of course—with OPEC or among Alfalfa Bill Murray. left to its own devices. themselves. Thank you.

CICERO 2018 12 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: GOVERNMENT “Seat Belts, State Budgets and the Art of Compromise”

By John Patterson for John Cullerton, Delivered at the City Club of Chicago, July 6, 2017 Illinois Senate President

ood morning. But it worked to move the ball for- It’s also lower than just about every G Thank you for the opportunity ward. state around us, nearly all of which have to be here. I always look forward to talk- Today, nearly 90 percent (88.8 per- graduated tax brackets. ing to this group. cent) of Illinois adults say they always I’m pretty sure I’m safe in saying that I’m pleased to finally have something use a seatbelt when driving or riding in everyone in this room would be paying to talk about in regards to our budget. a vehicle. rates well in excess of 4.95 percent. But, before I put everyone to sleep Illinois was recently ranked the top Someone making $50,000 pays a with a long discussion of budget num- state in the nation for road safety by the 6.27 percent income tax rate in Wis- bers, I want to begin with some audi- National Safety Council, in part because consin. In Iowa, that person pays 7.92 ence participation. of our seatbelt laws and widespread use. percent. If you drove here this morning or My point in telling this story is to But, there’s a lot more than a tax rate have driven anywhere recently, raise emphasize the role of compromise and to our balanced budget. your hand if you wore your seatbelt. negotiation in bringing about change I don’t usually write press releases Go ahead. Hold those hands up and moving issues forward. for Bruce Rauner, but let me offer up high, I need to be able to see them to Look, I could have stomped my feet a couple possible headlines of what he count. back in the 1980’s and demanded man- could be doing and saying rather than Good. It looks like just about every- datory seatbelt enforcement for the front vetoing balanced budgets: one did. and back seat or i would never vote for a — Budget deal cuts state spending by Ok, if we were suddenly transported state budget or anything else. $3 billion—Rauner works democrats for back to the 1980’s, you would have seen I can tell you what would have hap- biggest budget cut in recent history. much different results. Only about 15 pened: nothing. — Rauner-led pension reforms could percent of you would have raised your Obviously, the governor of Illinois save taxpayers $1.5 billion: 401k-style hands. has more influence and should be able system to get test run. Buckling up was not routine. to get things done faster than some Those could both be true. I know this because I sponsored the rank-and-file lawmaker. Those are also both examples of how law that first required seatbelt use in But governors aren’t dictators. Rauner and the Republicans shaped Illinois. They need to be able to negotiate the budget that is on the verge of finally And let me tell you, that wasn’t an and compromise, too. becoming law. easy task. Ok, so that brings me to the biparti- There are nearly $3 billion in cuts I was trying to get people to vote san balanced budget the Senate just ap- and savings in this plan. They are there for something that told 85 percent of proved and backed up with an override because Republicans brought them to their constituents to change their daily of the governor’s veto, a budget that the table and convinced Democrats they behavior. hopefully the House will be enacting as were a good idea. That kind of change isn’t easy. law later today with a similar override. Those cuts don’t happen without In my experience, here’s how you Let’s go ahead and get one thing out Republican participation. do it: of the way. Same thing with the pension reforms, You begin with a small step forward. Yes. There’s a tax increase in it. Or which many of you know I’ve been And then, when the world doesn’t as i like to call it, a partial reinstatement involved with in recent years. end, you recognize success, build your of the previous tax rates. The governor gets all of the pension base of supporters and keep stepping The personal income tax goes to reforms that he and the Republicans forward to accomplish your broader 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent. wanted. In fact, the part that I wanted goals. That’s a 1.2 percentage point got taken out. It’s now just the Repub- Looking back, that initial seatbelt law increase if you voted for it, it’s Mike lican part. seems watered-down by what we are Madigan’s permanent 32 percent tax But the governor vetoed it. all accustomed to today. A cop couldn’t increase if you’re Governor Rauner. And then we overrode his veto to even stop you for not wearing your Remember, the tax rate was 5 per- make sure the pension changes he seatbelt. cent from 2011 to 2015. This is lower. wants become law. I voted for it, twice

VSOTD.COM 13 on Tuesday, even though the part I Here’s part of what Governor rehab services to an area in the midst wanted was removed. Rauner said in signing the law: of a heroin epidemic. My point is, this budget was shaped— “This was not easy legislation to The list of victims goes on and on. and supported—by Republicans. pass. This took a lot of work for many I have my regrets in all of this. It contains win after win for the months by many people. Many com- In retrospect, I should have forced Rauner administration if it would promises, many new ideas needed to be action sooner. choose to recognize those wins. discussed and debated. When Republican Leader Christine There’s all kinds of stuff he could It shows what we can do when we Radogno and I unveiled the Senate’s cite as progress that happened only put our minds to it and decide to work Grand Bargain in early January, our because he is the governor. together to solve problems and take a hope was to spur quick, bipartisan ac- I recognize that people are sick and step forward. tion. tired of the political finger pointing. I This is not an answer. This is a step Leader Radogno, now former Leader get it. I want results, too. in the right direction.” Radogno, will never get the credit she But I’m left to deal with a governor That’s Governor Rauner speaking. deserves for her work behind the scenes who filed veto messages that read like I couldn’t agree with him more. to push us to a budget. The Senate’s campaign attack ad scripts. That wasn’t easy legislation. There grand bargain effort was her idea. She And this is a governor who vanished were Senate Democrats who felt the came to me and said: let’s see if we can from public view for the better part final product was watered down. We do this. of the last two weeks, just as he has probably had the votes to try to jam She stood up to the well-funded every May when a budget deadline additional provisions down the gover- right wing of the Republican Party and approaches. nor’s throat. openly talked about the need to raise the Whenever it’s crunch time, he disap- But we didn’t do that. tax rate to balance the budget. pears only to emerge after the deadline We didn’t do that because we If it wasn’t for her, there never would with a new set of campaign ads attack- recognized the importance of coming have been the leaders meetings that ing Democrats. together on this issue. led to the House vote for the balanced That means he spends those crucial And to the governor’s credit, he too budget. times working on attack ads rather than wanted to be part of addressing the As I said, it’s a budget that has been doing his job. issue of gun violence. And he wanted to shaped by input from Republicans. It Given his recent disappearance, I ex- do it in a bipartisan fashion. would look a lot different if it had been pect a new round of ads to start tonight What I don’t understand is why the Democrats only. if they haven’t already. governor doesn’t see the same opportu- If the House can again muster the Now, I get off easy in this from a nities in the budget proposals. votes for an override later today, this political perspective. There are cuts and reforms and specific budget crisis will finally be over, 99 percent of those ads aren’t di- changes that he could and should take but not our need to compromise and rected at me. They’re directed at Mike credit for. work together. Madigan. But he won’t. A school funding overhaul still waits And I’m not here to be a Madigan It’s really frustrating. to be sent to the governor’s desk. apologist. We essentially wasted 2 ½ years I’d like to think Governor Rauner Trust me, the Speaker can sometimes fighting over the state budget only to would see the opportunities it provides to be difficult to work with. now be on the verge of the general honor his promise to change our worst- But the governor has only made the assembly taking control of the situa- in-the-nation system. situation worse. tion and forcing a budget on the state Despite all the political rhetoric and Look at it this way, if I spent $10 because the governor will not engage. theatrics, I remain optimistic that he will million calling the City Club a bunch of There’s a cost that comes with that get to the place where he signs it. I be- crooks, I think our relationship would delay, and it’s not just the threat of lieve he does want to improve education. suffer. You would probably stop asking “junk” status from Wall Street. I’m optimistic because I heard what me to come speak here. We’ve missed out on billions of the governor said in signing the anti- What’s really troublesome is that I dollars in revenue that could have paid gun violence law. I know that he can see know the governor has the ability to our bills. Instead, they got dumped the opportunities for progress when he compromise. I know he can see the big onto the pile of iou’s and are racking chooses to. picture. up interest. And I’m also optimistic because We all saw it just a couple weeks ago We could have prevented the Medic- I’m pretty sure the governor wears his when he signed an anti-gun violence aid lawsuit. seatbelt. law that Republicans and Democrats We could have kept the Wells Center Thank you again for the invitation to put together. in Jacksonville, Illinois open to provide speak here this morning.

CICERO 2018 14 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: INSURANCE “The New Normal for Insurers and Brokers”

By Lorne Christensen for David Fried, CEO, Delivered in Singapore, March 6, 2017 Emerging Markets, QBE Insurance

t industry events like this, discus- keep the search engine running that monetary implications are certainly Asions tend to naturally turn to enable all of us to access the infor- sobering for us all. what lies ahead. mation that we want at anytime and Indeed, Oliver Wyman has forecast And while many people speculate almost anywhere. that globally, the financial and insur- about what tomorrow might look like, Now, if you look beyond Google’s ance sectors could collectively lose I can honestly say that I have already leading-edge workplace environment. upwards of US$150 billion in revenue seen our future. Beyond the people zipping around on to technology start-ups by 2025. Twice. scooters. Beyond the digital bookshelves. And while start-ups will most cer- The first time was a number of Even beyond things like the full-sized tainly take business away from insurers years ago. Back when I was still in the food truck that was parked inside the and from brokers, another obvious bancassurance side of the business. building, handing out free desserts. threat to us both is the large, non-tradi- A banking colleague showed me a If you look beyond all of this, one tional, tech-based, internet-savvy com- video of a group of designers at- of the most striking things about petitors such as the aforementioned tempting to work in a kitchen at GE’s Google’s NYC office is the very singu- Google. Also Amazon. And of course consumer appliance headquarters in lar focus of the people working there. Alibaba, which is already disrupting Louisville, Kentucky. In particular, the optimism of Googlers the Chinese insurance market. I say ‘attempting’ because in the vid- regarding their ability to use technolo- The reality is that some insurers eo the GE designers had their knuckles gy and information to “change people’s and some brokers will undoubtedly and fingers wrapped in athletic tape. lives for the better” not survive this ‘new normal’ climate Some also had cotton balls stuffed in I share with you what I saw in the because they will be unable to com- their ears. Others were wearing special GE video several years ago and during pete. Or they will make a key strategic glasses that obscured their vision. And my Google visit several months ago, blunder—something I will come back several had even put handfuls of pop- because I want to draw a direct parallel to later. corn kernels inside their shoes. to where I see our industry going for That all said—and to paraphrase The apparent point of all this was both insurers and brokers. Mark Twain—I personally believe that to simulate what it feels like to be old. As we all know, the insurance busi- predictions about our industry’s loom- Everything from the arthritis to the ness is in the midst of a massive shift, ing demise at the hands of technology hearing loss to the reduced vision to with advancements in technology companies are greatly exaggerated. the aches and pains from just walking potentially challenging the very sustain- In fact, I think that as an industry, around. ability of what we do. we need to be looking at this ‘new The goal of this particular exercise Some describe our industry as normal’ for what it really is: the latest was to help the young designers under- facing a “once-in-a-generation disrup- in new opportunities. stand what older people go through, tion” due to everything from advanced For the purposes of my talk today, so these designers could in turn create analytics to regulatory changes. Others I want to draw your attention to three better appliances for a growing popula- are even more apocalyptic, predicting opportunities specific to brokers and tion of ageing consumers. that our industry will be “wiped out” if insurers here in Asia Pacific. My second glimpse into the future we don’t soon “digitally awaken”. The first opportunity is to overcome was a number of months ago. Specific to brokers, there are also at least some of our industry’s image It was in New York, where I had the those who wonder whether your role as issues. opportunity to spend some time inside a link between customers and insur- There is actually a research paper Google’s corporate engineering office. ers can actually survive the digital age. out of INSEAD that makes some in- The technology company’s largest of- After all, they note, one of the com- teresting observations about such issues fice outside their global headquarters mon traits of successful disrupters like amidst what they call “the relentless in Silicon Valley. Uber and Airbnb is the fact that they advance of technological progress.” This is the place where the completely eliminated the middleman. This paper notes that “at first sight” Googlers—which is what they like to Predictions about long-term survival the insurance sector should in theory call themselves—build the systems that aside for the moment, the near-term enjoy a positive reputation because of

VSOTD.COM 15 all our “contributions to society.” Con- found efficiencies beyond just the 50% of SMEs are currently content to tributions that include everything from transactional element. In other words, operate with only the most basic level providing protection and compensation while things like access, speed and con- of insurance. Even more concerning, to risk analysis and risk reduction. venience are critically important, such however, is the fact that one in 10 of The authors of this paper go on to won’t matter much if customers don’t the smaller SMEs we surveyed admit- point out that “on closer inspection” understand what we provide. Nor if ted to not carrying any insurance however the image of the insurance in- we, from the customer’s perspective, cover whatsoever. dustry is not good, with public percep- don’t take care of them throughout the And the tech capability and accept- tions about our industry “blurred.” entire interactional cycle. ability is also already there. Blurred because of past scandals In short, we have to be seen deliver- In fact, one of the attractive involving some insurers. ing value from the customers’ points of aspects of markets in this region for Blurred because of the perceived view, rather than just doing what WE both insurers and brokers, is the high opacity of our business. think constitutes good service. usage of mobile devices. It is estimat- Blurred because of problems related Ultimately, it is the customer’s defi- ed that around two thirds of people to misrepresentation. nition of service that matters, not ours. in Asia Pacific already subscribe to Blurred because of customers’ pri- And their definition may include a con- mobile services and 600 million more vacy concerns. stantly changing combination of things new subscribers are expected to sign Blurred because of various levels of from having the best price to offering up by 2020. customer dissatisfaction. highly tailored insurance cover to As a result, an increasingly large I find such observations interesting providing convenience to sharing our number people in the region will for a couple of reasons. professional risk expertise to efficiently become more and more comfortable First, I think the authors of this handling a claim to being seen as a interacting via their phones. Checking report were being charitable in their valued partner rather than someone prices. Comparing products. Consult- conclusion that the image of our indus- who pushes of products. ing others. Completing transactions. try was “not so good.” All of which brings me to the sec- As such, it is very possible for our in- As a former school teacher used to ond opportunity that we have: namely, dustry to leap-frog into higher percent- tell a class I was in: ‘pretty good’ actu- the opportunity for insurers and ages of digital delivery of insurance ally means ‘pretty bad’. brokers to leverage new technology to products than more mature markets. The other reason I highlight this increase insurance penetration in the Of course, against this backdrop, particular research paper is because Asia Pacific. one important success factor will be the it reinforces that not much has really The space to expand is certainly continued alignment of the strategies changed. there… of insurers and brokers. In fact, this particular paper is any- Non-life penetration levels in the In the past, you have played a thing but new. It was actually written Asia Pacific remain very low in many vitally important role in growing the and published more than 10 years ago. countries and the region as a whole is insurance market in Asia Pacific. Just And if we pause, to look around now well behind more developed markets. a couple of years ago intermediaries more than a decade later, we are still Specific to disaster-related insurance, were said to hold 60% of all insurance in the midst of that aforementioned Asia also has the dubious distinction of contracts in the region. relentless advance of technology. being home to five of the top 10 mar- As for the future, I agree with those Clearly, we as an industry are also kets with the largest uninsured losses who believe that brokers can continue still suffering from image issues. globally. to play a very important role as trusted Indeed, the other day I was reading The foundation for growth is also advisors who help customers navigate a report in which one observer noted there. an increasingly complex set of insur- that even when the process of purchas- The combination of continued ance choices. ing insurance online is made easy and economic expansion across this region, And as others have pointed out, the seamless, customers often still end up rising incomes and increasing urban- greatest potential for our relationship very confused. By the length of a typical isation as well as the need for infra- lies in mutually beneficial innovation. policy they then receive. By the legal structure development provides an This includes using new technology language within that policy. By the long ideal foundation. And we are seeing to tighten the relationship between lists of what is and is not covered. evidence of such with overall premium brokers and insurers to be able to serve What is also clear, is that we as an growth in Asia Pacific forecast to be customers anytime and anywhere. It industry have an opportunity to use more than 9% in 2017 alone. also includes using technology to im- technology to change such perceptions. The potential is very much there. prove the interactions between insurers Of course, our success will depend Here in Singapore, for example, and brokers to enhance productivity. largely on our ability to take new- our research suggests that more than Also, brokers and insures sharing more

CICERO 2018 16 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS data to gain greater insights into evolv- define our service approach. However, Ecuador was hit by a 7.8-magnitude ing customer trends. the other reality we need all to remem- earthquake, we were able to gain rapid Ultimately, new technology will ber is that technology is a channel to visual access to even the worst affected enable brokers and insurers to work to- and for serving customers. An impor- areas using drones. This allowed us to gether to build even closer partnerships tant service channel obviously. quickly determine the extent of the with each other and with customers. But ultimately, we are not tech com- damage. This also enabled us to pay Just as aside, incorporating new panies. And this is where the potential out 90% of the large claims from this technology into our interactions with strategic blunder I referred to earlier CAT in less than 90 days. customers also means learning one lurks… On that note, let me conclude by other critical lesson from the tech In the midst of the continued hype talking about how you as brokers and industry. Namely, the importance of around the latest technologies and the we as insurers can together grasp this simplicity when designing customer erosion of some business to niche pro- huge opportunity otherwise known as touch points. viders, some insurance companies will the Asia Pacific. In fact, one of those Googlers I undoubtedly panic and try to become From my perspective, ‘the how’ mentioned earlier advocates that all tech companies. comes down to four key things: new online interfaces with customers— This very question came up at an First, as I said earlier, it comes down like apps for example—should be able ‘Insurance Disrupted’ conference in to us collaborating with each other to pass what he calls the “young, old or California a little over a year ago. even more. On our digital strategies. drunk” test. As one observer at the time noted: In terms of the sharing information In other words, just how easy is it for companies were essentially being asked about customers. And also how we use these ‘different groups’ of users to use whether they will be insurers who technology to serve customers anytime your new offering. Apparently, inebri- leverage technology? Or whether they and anywhere. ated individuals are great test subjects will reframe themselves as technology It comes down to collaborating because they are easily distracted and companies who happen to sell insur- more to persuade customers that insur- easily discouraged if they encounter ance? ance cover is something that is not a technology challenges. Now, for the record—let me just nice to have, but rather a must-have. Back to my list of opportunities state up front—QBE is not about to It comes down to working together to for brokers and insurers. The third try to become a tech company. Rather change perceptions—one customer at opportunity is the ability to leverage we will continue to be an insurer to our a time if necessary. advancing technology to both better clients and customers. The second key is in ensuring sim- understand our customers and to bet- That said, we are most certainly also plicity in our existing and new digital ter serve their needs. continuing to embrace new technolo- touch points. I cited the ‘young, old or Obviously, in the area of data and gies in order to be both a better man- drunk’ test advocated by some in the analytics, as technology evolves, so ager and better mitigator of risk. QBE tech business. should our industry’s ability to man- has a Data and Analytics hub based Another example of superb simplici- age risk. That’s a given. However, the out of Manila and Bangalore. From ty is WhatsApp. While some have called same cannot be said about technology there, we are using data and analyt- it the “ugliest messaging app out there”, automatically translating into a better ics to do everything from improving WhatsApp has quite purposely not customer experience. customer retention to strengthening tried to do too much. Instead they are Now, it is quite today to underwriting to reducing claims fraud. concentrating on just delivering a high- hear people in and around our industry Also for the record, the QBE Group quality messaging experience. They also excitedly talking about technology as if also has its own technology lab. have more than a billion users. it was the ‘be’ all. It’s located in the city of Sun Prai- For brokers and insurers, also keep- The end all. rie, a suburb of Madison, Wisconsin, ing it simple will be absolutely vital The only all. and serves our operations here in Asia when it comes to increasing insurance There are those who want to har- Pacific as well as elsewhere. At our penetration in Asia Pacific via digital ness technology and are investing Global Innovation Lab, we conduct ex- channels. millions in an attempt to do so. Last periments with advanced technologies The third key goes back to the GE month, Willis Towers Watson esti- that will help QBE grow and improve video I described at the outset. The one mated that around half of all insurers efficiency and serve our customers with the GE designers wearing dark- globally will acquire digital assets in the more effectively around the world. ened glasses, with their knuckles taped next three years. For example, the Lab has done some up and cotton balls sticking out of their The reality is that technology in work with drone technology. And now, ears, limping around a test kitchen. general and e-platforms in particular we use drones to enhance the efficiency I highlighted this particular example will provide us with the capability to re- of our claims process. Last April, when because that is precisely the same

VSOTD.COM 17 kind of customer focus that we as an Finally, and most importantly, for the newest or the trendiest technol- industry need to return to in order to brokers and insurers to be successful in ogy. Instead it is all about identify- be successful. an age of digital disruption, we need ing ways—again in their words—to In other words, for us the ‘new to remember that technology must “change peoples’ lives for the better” normal’ is in reality a return to the continue to be just a ‘means to an end’ and “delight them in the process”. new old normal. A return to a time rather than ‘the end’ in itself. Simply put, you and I—as brokers when our products and services were Indeed, even a large tech company and insurers—need to be thinking the developed primarily from a customer’s like Google recognises that their suc- very same way as these Googlers. perspective. cess is not about having the latest or WINNER: MEDIA “Storytelling at National Geographic in the Digital Age”

By Jack Dougherty for Susan Goldberg, Editorial Director, National Delivered to Rhodes Scholars at Geographic Partners and Editor in Chief of National Geographic Magazine Oxford University, Oxford, England, March 7, 2017

grew up in Ann Arbor, a city in After all, he sold cheap furniture for lightning speed also makes it possible for IMichigan. a living. It wasn’t as though he was in a fact-checkers to unmask it in real time. When I was a little girl, my parents position to steer the global economy … Still … too many of the lies stick. used to load my sister and me into the or declare war on another country … or And they stick not only with the zealots car on weekends and we’d drive to my on the First Amendment. and true believers, but with seemingly grandparents’ house—near Detroit. But now, when our elected leaders do reasonable people, too. My grandparents were immigrants the same thing, it’s frightening. When I started my career in newspa- from Russia and Poland. They spoke What’s even scarier is the audacity of pers, 37 years ago, we used to say, “Find broken, heavily-accented English—with lies. The volume of lies. And the ability the truth and print it.” That made a lot of Yiddish sprinkled in. of lies to proliferate instantly, globally, sense, then and now. But the hard lesson My grandfather was a pugnacious, across multiple channels. we’ve learned lately is: Just because the up-by-the-bootstraps businessman who Here’s another thing that’s new: truth is on your side doesn’t mean the didn’t get past fifth grade. But whatever Today a lot of people—in fact, millions truth will prevail. he may have lacked in education, he of people —willfully and in some cases I’m not suggesting that we stop fact- made up for in certainty. enthusiastically embrace the alternative checking and stop confronting truth- He won every argument, big or reality being sold. twisters. What I am saying is that if we small, by trotting out what he called the This is the bad news. expect the truth to win the day at a time “Actual Facts”— usually at top volume. But there’s also good news. when, to quote George Orwell—“The After each visit, on the drive back Millions more people aren’t buying very concept of objective truth is fading to Ann Arbor, my sister and I would it. We’re aware of what’s happening. out of the world”—we may need to sit in the backseat and giggle about my We’re not allowing ourselves to be lulled formulate new strategies for these sur- grandfather and his “Actual Facts.” A into complacency. real times. ridiculous, redundant phrase we saw as Not most of the public. And most Which brings me to the question I proof of his lack of erudition. certainly not the mainstream press, want to explore today: How are we go- We knew facts were facts. Period. which recently found itself labeled as ing to do that? Which is why I can’t tell you how “the enemy” of the American people In my case, how are my colleagues astounding it is to me that today —50 and “a great danger to our country” by and I at National Geographic going years later—the United States and a lot … the President of the United States. to open people’s minds to the realities of the rest of the world is talking about More than any time I can remem- of climate change, to pick just one “Actual Facts.” ber, people who care about the truth, example, at a time when minds are To say nothing of “alternative facts” who care about facts, are fired up and clamping shut? and their equally scurrilous cousins: fighting back. We’re exposing the lies. How do we do this within the con- “fake news” and “post-truth.” We’re confronting the peddlers of text of a 129-year old magazine and When my grandfather distorted the “alternative facts.” across other print and digital content truth, it was annoying, but it didn’t re- The same internet that makes it platforms that reach 171 countries in ally matter: the stakes were low. possible to spread disinformation at 45 languages?

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How do we make stories that are on scientific method are under assault as author and journalist Jonathan Rauch the side of science, on the side of facts, never before. calls “sufficient emotional vehemence,” and on the side of the planet, sticky in This trend has me scratching my that opinion is given the same weight slippery times? head. as facts. And the same question I’m putting Four hundred years ago, ar- We in the media have played a role to myself, I put to you: gued that the earth and planets revolve in this. For too long, in the name of What will you do when you leave around the sun. His scientific theories— “balance,” we gave equal weight to here and launch a career in public which turned out to be true—got him both sides of an argument—even if service … or the academy … or the into big trouble with the Vatican. He weren’t really two credible sides. sciences, to advance the cause of objec- was put on trial and branded a heretic. We are getting better about not fall- tive truth? Supposedly, we’ve come a long way ing into these “false equivalency” traps. Orwell’s message is dystopian, but since then. But it’s slow going. mine is not. I’m an optimist. I think we Yet here we are in 2017 and scientif- We’re also in data’s thrall. We’ve can fix this. ic knowledge is under furious attack— adopted a technocratic mindset that But it’s going to require us to think from evolution … to climate change … says, “If the facts are unassailable, the and behave differently. And it’s going to the safety of vaccines and GMOs. solutions should be self-evident—and to be hard work. Some people even think fluoridating you all need to get on board!” water was a communist plot, and that Well, they may be self-evident to * * * the moon landing was faked! some, but they are not self-evident to all. Today we have access to irrefutable Which is why we’re in the place To turn things around, we’ve got to evidence and data—all of it double- we’re in with global warming. We hit reverse on two problematic trends. and triple-checked and verified. Yet believed—wrongly—that logic and First, it’s tempting to write off the the facts are questioned by millions reason alone would prevail. people who reject objective truth—but of people “empowered by their own We became so focused on facts, stats we can’t do that. We can’t just cut these sources of information, and their own and numbers that we forgot a funda- people loose. The stakes are too high— interpretations of research.” mental truth about what makes people as we learned in 2016. Instead, we We’re now living in a time when tick: Most people understand the world have to figure out how to bring them “doubters have declared war on the through history and context—not cold back into a place that’s grounded in— consensus of experts.” facts and stats. Most people absorb yes—the Actual Facts. I didn’t write that last sentence. It what they come to see as true through Second, we need to remember the came from a cover story we did a few narratives accumulated over a lifetime, ties that bind us to each other. Around years ago in National Geographic through stories that convey meaning the world too many people in senior Magazine called “The War on Sci- and impact. economic, political, cultural and media ence.” We are, and always have been, jobs have become disconnected from So how did we get here? Four hun- storytellers. other people. dred years after Galileo’s trial, how did Today, scientists are spending a lot You can call these people “thought scientific evidence get into a head-on more time trying to understand how leaders” … or the “expert class” … or collision with un-scientific opinion? humans process information and reach “elites.” A couple of factors are at play. conclusions—and it’s not a minute too Whatever we call them, the backlash First, the trust gap between the pub- soon. against this global leadership class has lic and experts that has been widening One scientist—Dan Kahan at been fierce—as we just saw here in the over the past several decades has now Yale— is looking at how “believing” in UK with Brexit, and in the U.S. with cracked wide open. And as the “certi- climate change has become an en- the Trump victory. fied” experts decline in stature … the trenched part of people’s sense of self. Our leadership class needs to turn “self-declared” experts ascend. That means you can bombard a outward, not inward. And that needs Today, thanks to social media and a person with as many facts as you want to happen fast. We’ve got to break out polarized media landscape—there is an in an effort to change their mind, he of our bubbles and engage with people equal counterpoint to every point, no says, but the person will reject the facts from all backgrounds, beliefs and social matter how fantastical. because they threaten his or her sense classes. For every scientist who vehemently of self-identity. Let’s talk about each of these trends argues the world is round, there is a The solution, says Professor Ka- in more detail. polemicist who vehemently counter- han, is to make the facts palatable—to We’ll start with facts. argues the world is flat. customize them and present them in Ah, facts. Today, if an amateur’s opinion is such a way to appeal to the audience’s As you know, facts, evidence and the advanced with what the American ideological taste buds.

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In short, he’s trying to crack the code But you should have seen the letters pedigrees—thought leaders—were on how to present information in ways I got from others. People who said our universally admired. that makes people—especially skeptical issue had given their families “permis- That’s not always the case today. people—feel safe. Not assaulted. sion” to talk about things they had If you want proof, compare the We’re discovering that content isn’t never been able to talk about before. news coverage of the World Economic enough; you’ve got to provide context. The most striking thing was the Forum in Davos a decade ago—totally Which is exactly what we’re trying to reach of the gender issue outside of fawning—to the meeting that was just do at National Geographic Magazine. the magazine. More than 370 million held in January. Let me tell you about our explora- people engaged with us on our social This year, the so-called “global elite” tion into one of the most complex, media platforms around our gender were not portrayed in a very favorable divisive issues today: Gender. content. And on those platforms, more light after being caught flat-footed by Two months ago, we published an than 90 percent of the feedback was the biggest global story in years: The issue devoted to looking at gender roles positive or neutral. rise of populism. around the world, including people We succeeded with the gender issue What changed? who are transgender or otherwise because nobody ever won an argument One thing that changed is that reject the gender binary. by opening with, “Listen, stupid!” too many of our thought leaders When this topic is examined It takes longer to figure out how to started living inside gilded bubbles— through a political lens—from either convey facts in a way that can make surrounded almost exclusively by direction, which it usually is—the cov- them palatable to those disinclined to people like them. erage is utterly predictable and utterly believe them, but you must do this to Some—not, all, but some—lost polarizing. open people’s minds. empathy for the people whose aren’t as Instead, we approached this topic as That’s my job. cosmopolitan, who aren’t in their world. cultural explorers, scientists and visual When I came to the magazine three Many of our fellow countrymen and storytellers who sought to look at how years ago, I laid down some “Editorial –women began to feel patronized … or gender roles—all of them—were play- Commandments” to my team: invisible. ing out around the world. I said we need to publish stories And last year, their grievances— We sought to educate. We refused to that matter, stories that will make which had been simmering for years— shout, “These are the facts, people. Get a difference in people’s lives. They boiled over. A huge cohort of people on board or get lost!” needed to be stories that made sense in the UK and the US rose up and Instead, we said: You’ve been hearing for the National Geographic to do. rebelled against the elites. about this gender spectrum for the last Stories that showcased our unique This didn’t just come out of left field few years. You’re probably confused visual and storytelling capabilities and in 2016. The resentments built up over about it. (We certainly were.) Let’s put global reach. years. our biases aside, take a deep breath, and I also told my team that I expected The Trump administration and examine this topic in the hopes of gain- our magazine to act more urgently, to Brexit arrived like that character in ing deeper understanding. plug into the conversations that are hap- The Sun Also Rises who went broke: We used our tools as storytellers who pening now—or even better, start new gradually, then suddenly. seek to explain cultures, science and conversations. To get people talking. We’ve got to fix this. history. Why? We have a diverse read- I think we accomplished all of that Here’s the thing I urge everyone ership. Our magazine goes to urban with the Gender issue. I brought each here today to remember: liberals … conservative rural folks … of you a copy of the magazine today. Being the smartest one in the room and people from various religious and I’d be honored if all of you would shouldn’t be an end in itself, it’s just the ethnic cultures around the world. read it and let me know if you agree beginning. We provided a discussion guide to … or tell me what you think we could The privilege you enjoy as the result help families and schools discuss gen- have done differently. of the attributes that brought you here der. We literally included a glossary to is obvious. give them the words. * * * Your responsibility—if you don’t We knew the issue would upset a mind my saying—is to make sure you number of readers. And it did: More Let’s talk more about you. remember that most people don’t enjoy than 7,000 people canceled their sub- The people in this room are lucky. your advantages … and they deserve scriptions—many of them returning Individually, each of you Rhodes your attention and respect. the magazine directly to me, unopened Scholars is always the smartest person I hope none of you will ever end up and still in the polybag. I wish I could in the room. coming across like a college student who have convinced them just to open it. There was a time when people emailed me a few weeks ago to pitch a Even for a second. with advanced skills sets, professional story for the National Geographic.

CICERO 2018 20 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

The aspiring journalist who wrote will lead to a deeper understanding.” You’ll be surprised how much it re- me was 19—a student at Washington That’s what I told him. engineers your worldview and increases University, in St. Louis, Missouri. A I know what some of you are think- your understanding of the lives other great school. ing: “Wow, she was hard on him! The people lead. The young man who wrote me de- kid’s only 19!” scribed himself as—quote—“a liberal Yes, I guess I was. But I felt I had to * * * Jewish kid from the Boston suburbs.” be. In his email pitch, he explained that If he wants to join my profession, I Before I close, I want to impart one he believed America’s current divisions want him to view his fellow Americans final thought. are the result of “gross misunderstand- as real people, with real dreams, and Our civic discourse today is mean— ings” between our citizens. People live real problems—not objects of “anthro- on the Left and the Right, in the media, in entirely different contexts and they pological curiosity.” in politics, on your Facebook pages, and don’t understand each other, he said. Because there’s a cost to be paid—as especially your Twitter feed. I couldn’t have agreed with him we’ve just witnessed—when the upper Ironically, at a time when ugliness more. class, the middle class, and the working and incivility have become main- He then went on to say, “I’m as class no longer do business with each streamed, more and more people are baffled as everyone else” about who other. flocking to us to experience something these Trump voters are. “I really do We’ve got to fix this. We’ve got to re- everybody apparently craves: beauty. want to try to understand why these verse this trend. We’ve got to re-engage Every day, across all our media plat- people think and act the way they do.” with each other. forms, National Geographic serves up Okay, I thought: Let’s see what he’s And the way to do this is to break a staggering amount of beauty. going to propose. out of our bubbles. I’m not talking about cute pictures Instead of going to Florida for For me, that means getting more of kittens. spring break 2017, this aspiring jour- diversity in my newsroom. Instead, I’m talking about stories and nalist offered instead to embed himself Yes, gender and racial diversity. images that provide deep visibility into in an Evangelical Christian community But—equally important—intellectual our planet and its people. Stories and in what he called “the Heartland.” diversity and social class diversity, too. pictures that provide insight. That inspire He would conduct a one-week study I’m determined to get smarter about awe. That show us how our planet and on our behalf and then submit an who we’re hiring to ensure we tell true its inhabitants are fragile, occasionally article that would explain these exotic stories. ferocious, resilient, loving, compassionate. creatures to what he called “the folks Let me tell you about one of the Most of all, these stories demon- back home.” best thing that happened to me in my strate we have a lot more that unites It was as though he intended to career—the thing I believe helped pre- us than divides us. Which may explain observe the Evangelicals as if they were pare me for the job I have today: My why our reach is soaring. … cheetahs in a zoo … instead of his commitment to geographic diversity. Almost five years ago, National fellow countrymen and -women. I lived and worked all over the coun- Geographic established an Instagram I wrote him back and told him we’d try. Seattle, Washington … Detroit, account. We turned the account over pass on his story. … San Jose, California … to our photographers and said, “Here “I’m from the Midwest—the Cleveland, Ohio. Some of those places are our guidelines, but this is your ‘heartland,’ as you call it,” I said in are decidedly un-cool. baby. Start posting. Set people’s hearts my reply. “Lots of people are. We But I know this: If I’d headed and minds on fire.” aren’t all Evangelical Christians or straight to DC at age 21—and stayed Today we have 80 million follow- out-of-work factory employees or right there for another three decades—I ers. Additionally, we have 156 million wingers or simpletons or any other would have less to offer today. Facebook friends. 21 million Twitter one thing. So here’s my challenge to you: Resist followers. And are connected with 19 “Maybe the way to understand the the temptation to live exclusively in million people on Snapchat. A total community—if you really want to— is “fancy” places. of 350 million friends and followers to take advantage of the fact that you If you can get a job in New York, across our social media accounts. actually are living in St. Louis. DC, Hong Kong, London, by all At a time when nearly everybody “You don’t need to spend spring means take it. seems to disagree about everything … break observing; you can actually live But at some point, consider going maybe there’s more desire for us to it—provided you leave the confines someplace less glamorous and more un- forge connections with each other than of school and get to know people expected. Punch your ticket in a second- we’ve been led to believe. in the neighborhoods that surround or even third-tier city or nation—even if Which leads me to the moral of my that privileged enclave. That, I think, it’s just a 2- or 3-year stint. story today.

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We must make a compelling case for When they go low, we go high. at the National Geographic are trying science and evidence … but let’s do so Resist the temptation to live in to do. in ways that respect and accommodate bubbles. Instead, try to better under- When you all leave Oxford and diverse worldviews. Educate, provide stand and empathize with people who launch what I’m certain will be bril- context, and patiently explain. aren’t like you. And yes, go meet some liant careers, I hope you will consider It doesn’t matter if the other guys of them. doing the same. go low. Michelle Obama said this well: This is what my colleagues and I Thank you. WINNER: MILITARY “2017 Outstanding Veterans’ Advocate Award”

By Jacqueline Fearer for Will Hatley, Delivered at Veterans Legal Services Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist and 26th Annual Gala, Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Veterans’ Advocate Award Boston, Sept. 19, 2017

hank you, Mr. Secretary, and hello When I was two years old a tornado during that time it gave me self-esteem, Teveryone. First, I would like to blew into my home in Dallas and killed desire, and focus. thank Sarah, Anna, Lynn, and all the my mother and baby sister. I was left And it reminded me of the respect I great staff and volunteers at Veterans with a fractured skull, a broken leg, a earned in the military. Legal Services. broken arm, and a broken heart. So I began training to become Thanks to tonight’s special guests My grandmother raised me and certified to work with Operation Iraqi and congratulations to Red Sox Presi- nursed me back to health. God bless Freedom veterans and Operation dent Kennedy and Eastern Bank her, but I was angry at God for taking Enduring Freedom veterans. I was President Quincy Miller. I am honored my family from me. really proud that the VA gave me this to stand on the same stage with these At age 19 I joined the Navy to find opportunity and trusted me enough to outstanding leaders. And thanks to all my place in the world. But after years help other veterans. It was a turning of you here tonight at this great event. on active duty and in the reserves, I lost point for me. Thank you to all the staff I am indeed grateful to receive this it again. at the VA who supported me. Indeed, award. It began as a dream to assist I HAD NO ONE TO CATCH ME many of you are here tonight helping veterans with open court cases, fam- WHEN I FELL. me celebrate this award. ily, housing, Social Security, and other At various times I found myself in Today I am a vocational rehabilita- civil issues that keep our veterans from rehab, in prison, penniless, homeless. tion specialist at the Bedford VA. I help living their lives fully after serving their Many times I considered suicide. displaced veterans find jobs by match- country. And then I found help — and hope ing their skill sets with prospective Veterans Legal Services started the — at the Bedford VA where I was employers. I give them follow-along Legal Clinic at the Bedford VA Hos- diagnosed with post-traumatic stress support with conflict resolution, job pital on September 29th, 2015. They disorder beginning with the tragic loss retention, and social and economic met with 15 veterans that day. of my mother and sister. problems. In the two years since that time, VLS This knowledge was the beginning That’s the official job description. has helped more than 500 veterans! of a new chapter in my life. I began to THE MAIN THING I DO IS To all of the attorneys who have look in the mirror and forgive myself. CATCH THEM WHEN THEY given their time to this effort, it is very And I vowed to help other veterans FALL. greatly appreciated. With your support find the way back to their own place in Thank you for your time, your we are transforming lives, empowering the world. kindness, your generosity, and your these men and women, and breaking I worked hard on my recovery, and compassion. God Bless You, the Com- the chains that hold them back from one therapist suggested that I express monwealth of Massachusetts, and God success in life. myself through art. Painting “The Bless America. BELIEVE ME, I HAVE WALKED Patriot”, which you can see behind me, IN THEIR SHOES. took several months to complete, but

CICERO 2018 22 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: NONPROFIT “The State of Civil Discourse”

By David Goodstone and Mark Guarino for John Hewko, Delivered at Stanford University, General Secretary, Rotary International Stanford, California, Oct. 2, 2017

lthough this evening’s theme is it convinced them that conspiracy arguments irrefutable. There is always Acivil discourse, I would like to theories held no value when it came the sense that the stakes are high and begin with a different topic—public against protecting their children. reputations are to be preserved. The health. Unfortunately, the same cannot argument culture is not interested in Public health and civil discourse be said for our own country where reaching understanding or even con- may seem very distant from one anoth- the anti-vaxxer movement presents sensus. Its primary goal is to dominate er but they have a distinct and impor- a serious threat to public health. For the narrative before your adversary tant relationship, where the outcome of example, we are confronted by sad but does. To do so often requires a toxic the first depends on the nature of the remarkable data points such as this mix of hyperbole, high volume, and latter. This is perhaps most clearly seen one: Seattle’s polio immunization rate minimum attention to facts. with respect to polio eradication. is currently lower than Rwanda, Zim- This was on full display during Let me explain: As you know, polio babwe, and even Iran. the 2016 general where is a paralyzing disease that once struck So perhaps it’s time that we here in candidates for the presidency argued 45,000 people (mostly children) per the United States applied the lessons and insulted each other throughout year in this country and could easily learned from Pakistan, a year’s worth of televised debates. return if not eradicated globally. For- and Nigeria? Discussions of policy took a back seat tunately, through the good work of or- Because, in the context of public to attacks, the moderators often lost ganizations such as Rotary, polio cases health at least, the lack of civil dis- control, and viewers were treated to have been reduced by an astonishing course and the ability to come to some discourse that appropriated the energy 99.9 percent since 1988, a year when sort of common understanding on of a wrestling match. polio was endemic in 125 countries. what is right and what is appropriate, The news media—and here, I’m The Global Polio Eradication Initia- can often determine whether children referring mostly to the cable news tive, supported by Rotary and several live or whether they die. networks—tended to cover the cam- other partners including the World Now, civil discourse suggests dis- paign like ringside announcers. Instead Health Organization, UNICEF, the agreement. After all, the word “Dis- of pushing the candidates to unpack U.S. CDC and Bill and Melinda Gates course” comes from the Latin “dis- their positions on issues such as the Foundation, is on track to stamp out cursus,” meaning “an argument.” But environment and healthcare, they polio forever from its last bastions in it is the modifier “civil” that sets the focused more on the gamesmanship. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. tone. “Civil” implies that the argument In their own attempt to discuss ideas, Crucial to this historic success relates to civil life, but is presented with the networks often either created an story are the creative and thought- courtesy and respect for the other side. echo chamber of like-minded pundits ful methods of civic engagement and We commonly think of civil discourse (for example, with respect to any given civil discourse that the polio eradica- as a way to challenge another’s view- issue, you can take as an article of faith tion initiative used to engage tens of points in an effort to reach a deeper that Fox News and MSNBC will be on thousands of parents in developing understanding of our own. Of course opposite sides) or created panels featur- countries and convince them of the there will be intense differences, but ing guests selected from the extreme overwhelming medical evidence that there also may be recognition of ends of the political spectrum spend- vaccines are safe and effective. These the factors that shaped that person’s ing countless hours yelling and talking are people who were once wary of the perspective. If the situation calls for it, over each other. With only two or three polio vaccine because anti-vaccinator there may even be empathy. minutes of airtime, the discussions propaganda told them to fear it. They In other words, civil discourse is naturally became superficial and intel- were told all sorts of horrible mistruths, about connecting around ideas, not lectually vacuous fights. Civil discourse the most widespread being that vac- putting points on the board. didn’t have a chance. cines were part of a Western plot to However, we live in a culture that Attacks are also common on social sicken or sterilize local children. celebrates the winning. It is an argu- media. So while technology has clearly Through methods I will discuss later, ment culture which assumes that op- empowered millions in ways never the initiative won over parents because position should be fierce, loud, and its thought imaginable, its anonymity pro-

VSOTD.COM 23 vides an easy platform for rancorous, found that loneliness eclipses obesity as the flu. The psychology behind this outrageous and polarized discourse a predictor of early death. phenomenon is called “motivated that previously would have been much And UCLA Professor Mathew reasoning.” more difficult if done in person or in Lieberman has concluded through his Here, people will protect their belief the physical presence of others. research that the lack of social inter- system no matter what. When false- As a result, the majority of states action has the same effect on health hoods tear away at the fabric of their ar- now have laws to crack down on digital and longevity as smoking two packs of gument, motivated reasoning will jump harassment such as cyberbullying, cigarettes a day. into action and patch the holes. This is Internet trolling and cyberstalking. Technology, it seems, despite its abil- nothing but old-fashioned self-protec- It’s gotten so bad that many news sites ity to facilitate communication, is actu- tion where the guiding force is fear. have dismantled the comments section ally often making us feel more alone. Motivated reasoning is most active underneath stories, because rather than People are more likely to turn to their with issues people feel most strongly serve their original intention, as venues smartphone for information than their about—religion, politics, and health, for thoughtful discourse, the user- family, friend or neighbor. They are be- for example. Everyone can agree that generated forums have devolved into coming less prone to hold conversations, evidence supports the argument that online vulgar shouting matches. let alone civil conversations, in person, stopping at a red light will prevent sud- And the consequences are not just possibly because they’ve lost practice or den death, but the polarization starts about hurt feelings. On the one hand, simply no longer see the need. when people are presented with argu- technology makes instant communica- So what does all this mean for our ments involving public policies with tion a readily available commodity, body politic? outcomes they cannot immediately see. resulting in a kind of remote intimacy Well, democracy has always been And so fear is a significant part of where we can share experiences in real messy. But what arguably makes today the problem in the minds of non- time from anywhere in the world. different is the indifference to civil vaccinators, or those undecided about Yet, ironically, this same technology discourse by our leaders. And not just whether to immunize their children. is creating social isolation and dis- during the most recent election cycle Fear drove the measles outbreak to tance at home, thus, arguably, further that I mentioned earlier. record levels in the U.S. in the past contributing to the diminution of civil Lawmakers who have given into the few years. A parent’s fear of a vaccine discourse. argument culture—indeed, those who harming a healthy child can cloud all A report published this year in the even go so far as to provoke it—have the overwhelming medical evidence American Journal of Preventative made political dialogue almost impossi- that vaccines are safe and effective. Medicine found that people who spend ble. Both sides are so polarized they not So what do you do when facts aren’t more than two hours a day on social only find it hard to reach consensus, enough? When we live in a world of media were twice as likely to feel socially they find it even harder to even listen “alternative facts?” When researched isolated from other people than those with open minds. Again, the most im- analysis and on-the-ground reporting is who visited the same sites less frequent- portant currency is the win. Everything maligned as “fake news?” ly—say, a half hour per day or less. else is expendable. The solution lies in rebuilding the Indeed, for younger people, this Which brings us back to public trust and relationships lost by civic social isolation is portending a severe health and the need for civil discourse. disenchantment and social isolation. mental health crisis in this country. The psychology of the anti-vaccina- Let’s return to efforts by the Global This fall, a psychology researcher at tion movement is similar to the political Polio Eradication Initiative working to San Diego University found that teen- polarization we are experiencing today. stamp out polio in developing coun- agers with smartphones are hanging If someone is convinced of their posi- tries. In Pakistan and Nigeria, millions out with their friends less, dating less, tion—say, that immunizing children for had not received the vaccine and it was and getting less sleep. the flu or polio will lead to long-term soon becoming evident that educa- What has increased is their loneli- damage to their health—presenting tion without civic engagement was not ness. Loneliness has become such a them with irrefutable evidence to the powerful enough to counter the fear problem in the U.K. that it is viewed as contrary will not necessarily change generated by Islamist extremists and a serious public health issue deserving their mind, but rather may reinforce widely circulating conspiracy theories. of attention by the National Health their existing views. Parents were terrified and their chil- Service, which is funding programs A 2014 study published in the jour- dren’s health was at serious risk. around the country to draw people nal Vaccine showed that even when To counter this, the GPEI appealed away from their screens and toward given material that debunks concerns to specialist bodies of Islamic schol- their community. The problem is so se- about the flu vaccine, the majority of ars. Through civil discourse the polio rious that the Campaign to End Lone- people still believed the mispercep- eradication effort was able to convince liness, an advocacy group in Britain, tion that the vaccine would give them national Islamic leaders in Pakistan to

CICERO 2018 24 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS issue 28 fatwas promoting the safety of increased the number of successful Chicago and later Rotary International the vaccine and the importance of vac- applicants to the police from minority President. cinating children. Relationship building ethnic communities. The methods are And as an aside, Chuck Walgreen Jr, on the ground with local health work- often very subtle, involving carefully the son of the founder of the drug- ers has led to a vaccine acceptance rate tailored emails or text messages, but store chain, and also a member of the of 99.5%. the outcomes are dramatic. Rotary Club of Chicago, in 1955 ad- Local outreach and civic engage- Now, the efforts I described are rela- opted the 4 Way Test as the corporate ment in Nigeria yielded similar results. tively simple but, as we can see, trans- vision statement for Walgreen’s and Thousands of volunteers worked with formative on the ground. They are also an adaptation was reportedly placed local Islamic scholars and schoolteach- relevant to our central concern—the on the wall of every pharmacy at ers to engage communities, raise sup- state of civil discourse, because they Walgreen’s—at least until they merged port for vaccination, and build trust in demonstrate the importance and effec- with Boots a few years ago. health services. Nigeria has recorded tiveness of culturally and empirically So, therefore, our challenge is to no new polio cases in 2017, despite aware engagement tactics to advocate find new and creative ways to talk with the terror of Boko Haram, which has for a certain position, or to promote one another. And in that search we killed polio health workers to prevent behavior change. would be well advised to look at lessons vaccination. And here Rotary can continue to of the polio eradication effort, and And this focus on civic engagement take the lead in strengthening and the successful interventions at a policy is not just limited to developing coun- promoting civil discourse. Since its level which can positively influence tries. Recent government ad campaigns inception, Rotary has imposed strict behavior. We would be well advised on preventable diseases in the West ethical standards on its members and to appreciate the limits of technology show signs of a strong shift to positive advanced the ideal of human under- in enhancing social relations, and the reinforcement and softer messaging, standing and service to communities paradoxical contentiousness, loneliness rather than fear-mongering. both around the corner and abroad. It and mistrust that it can engender. For example, the British government is a model of civility and personal in- We would be well advised to address has used behavioral insight approaches teraction that has led to tangible results the issues of fear and conspiracy. While which move away from relying on in promoting peace, fighting disease, leadership from the top is important, coercion, shaming or shock tactics in providing clean water, saving mothers long-term change needs to occur from order to influence public behavior. A and children, supporting education, the bottom up—one relationship and special behavioral insights team began and growing local economies. one conversation at a time. to trial interventions based upon their The basis of this model is the The transformative change we understanding of the drivers of health Four-Way Test, a nonpartisan and seek cannot solely be delivered by the and wellbeing. nonsectarian guide Rotarians use to Facebooks and LinkedIns of the world. Take smoking as an example. The evaluate how they communicate with Civil discourse cannot rely on the very team recognized one important tenet others. The test consists of just four platforms which—if used unwisely— of behavior change—that it is much simple questions that can be applied can perpetuate our present malaise. easier to substitute a similar behav- to any conversation or any issue. Of Twenty years ago, Robert Putnam ior than to eliminate an entrenched the things we think, say, or do, we ask identified a sharp rise in Americans’ one. On this basis, they explored the ourselves: civic disengagement over the last gen- potential benefits of e-cigarettes to Is it the truth? eration, with empty town hall meetings help people quit smoking, while also Is it fair to all concerned? reflecting “a giant swing toward the in- stressing the importance of an effec- Will it build goodwill and better dividualist pole in our culture, society, tive regulatory framework for these friendships? and politics.” And his findings are still products, given the legitimate concerns Will it be beneficial to all con- starkly relevant today. around issues such as marketing to cerned? So perhaps one of our best antidotes children. The findings from their This 4 Way Test may sound old- is to build on the impact of Rotary— interventions are encouraging, and fashioned to some. But it has formed the world’s original social network. Not e-cigarettes are now the most suc- the bedrock of the work of hundreds only do such organizations facilitate cessful product at helping people quit of thousands of Rotarians over the civil discourse, but they’re also good for smoking in the U.K. decades in achieving tangible results you. Putnam, when asked if friendship The behavioral insights team has in the quest to promote civil discourse, can have a greater impact on life expec- also had a positive impact on im- peace and understanding. And it is tancy than quitting smoking, concluded proved adult literacy rates, reduced still relevant today, almost 90 years that it’s a close call: “Joining and par- school drop-out rates, added 100,000 after it was created by Herb Taylor, ticipating in one group cuts your odds people to the organ donor registry, and then a member of the Rotary Club of of dying over the next year in half.”

VSOTD.COM 25

200 years before Putnam examined considered a difference of opinion in in fellowship, then the fists will uncurl the state of our nation, one of Amer- politics, in religion, in philosophy, as a and the daggers will bend and, finally, ica’s founding fathers knew well the cause for withdrawing from a friend.” change becomes possible. strength of civil discourse. Thomas The key word is “friend.” If we can Jefferson said in 1800 that he “never find a way to approach one another WINNER: TRANSPORTATION “Growing Global: Lessons Lived and Learned”

By Janet Stovall for David Abney, Delivered at Alibaba Gateway 17, Chairman and CEO, UPS Detroit, June 30, 2017

ears ago, long before I moved into by 2030, markets like Chengdu and I’ll give you an example: MyLocker. Ymy current role, I kept a large map Hangzhou will be just as important as Net, based right here in Detroit. They of the world on a wall in my office. cities like Dallas and Seoul are today. sell custom t-shirts, hoodies and other But it wasn’t the world most people So if you’re serious about compet- clothing to schools, teams, leagues were accustomed to seeing. On this ing and growing, you cannot ignore and other organizations. Then those map, the northern hemisphere was China. organizations asked them to build below the southern hemisphere. As you Of course, that’s why many of you online shops so they could sell to their might imagine, it was pretty interesting are here. And when it comes to China, customers, including ones in China. to watch visitors trying to find the U.S. the challenges and the opportunities They turned to UPS. Now, you will see in a world turned upside down. that bring us together at Gateway 17, apparel decorated in Detroit and worn The real point of that map was to like the country itself, can be huge. Ex- all over China. remind our people that it’s a big world porting to China carries a number of UPS has been crossing borders for out there and the U.S. isn’t naturally at challenges, starting with regulatory and more than 40 years, growing our busi- the center of it. trade barriers. There also are language ness globally and helping our custom- Today, we see that reality more than and cultural differences. ers grow theirs. In that time, we’ve ever in the growth of international I’m well aware of the challenges and lived and learned a lot, and passed it trade. Fifty years ago, U.S. total trade the opportunities, because UPS has along to our customers. I think some equaled $50 billion. Today, we import been in China since 1988. We started of our lessons lived and lessons learned and export more than $4 trillion annu- with a joint venture with Sinotrans, will be helpful to you, too. ally in goods and services. China’s largest logistics company. In Two of the biggest lessons we’ve A growing percentage of those 2002, we won the right to fly directly lived by growing global ourselves are 1) U.S. exports are bound for China. In to and from China. And in 2004, we understand customs; and 2) understand fact, U.S. exports to China increased became the first fully-owned integrator the culture and customize accordingly. 115 percent between 2006 and 2015. in China. After 30 years, we have built Lesson No. 1: understand customs. Today, China’s population, 1.4 billion a network that gives our U.S. customers To sell around the world, you must “go strong, includes 350 million middle a gateway to China. native.” In other words, you must learn class consumers with a real desire for I was in Beijing just two weeks ago, and comply with the unique customs U.S. products and services. Think to attend the 5th Global CEO Council and trade requirements in each market. about that: China has a bigger middle Roundtable Summit, and to meet with But you are not alone here. class than the U.S. has people! a number of Chinese leaders. I learned Today, UPS guides many companies Today, China represents one-third a lot, and was heartened that these exporting to China. We connect more of total consumption in Asia. Over the leaders wanted to hear my insights on than 300 Chinese cities and the world next 20 years, that’s projected to grow the investments and regulatory changes with more than 200 weekly flights. to two-thirds. that China should undertake to create We have a full range of supply chain And as China’s economy grows, so a world-class logistics market. services. We built this infrastructure so does its influence. According to Oxford Because there’s one thing we know: we can help businesses like yours reach Economics, eight of the world’s 50 U.S. businesses of all sizes are looking your customers in China, and wherever largest cities in 2014, as measured by beyond our borders. Many are looking else in the world they may be. GDP, were in China. But by 2030, hard at China. Some are already doing Lesson No. 2: understand the cul- that number rises to 17. As a result, business there. ture, and customize your products for

CICERO 2018 26 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS it. You must be ready to adapt to local improved transit times across 33 met- Shipment visibility, or lack of it, is tastes and to give consumers in a par- ropolitan areas and opened in 21 new probably one of the things that worries ticular market what they want, when metros, each with more than 1 million you most about doing business glob- they want it. One way to determine people. ally. It certainly was an issue for one what consumers in a market want is by The foundation of our China busi- of our customers, Align Technology. partnering with local experts like Ali- ness is two hubs: one in Shanghai, Align is a medical device company baba. You will hear much more about the other in Shenzhen. In Shenzhen, headquartered in San Jose, California. their capabilities throughout the day. we offer 24-hour customs clearance They make Invisalign, a clear polymer Also, thoroughly research your mar- services and around-the-clock con- alternative to braces. kets and eliminate a lot of problems nectivity to Hong Kong Customs to An orthodontist in China ships an that assumptions can cause. Today, we ensure seamless and efficient export- impression of the patient’s teeth to spend millions of dollars on research, ing. In Shanghai, we sort up to 36,000 Align in the United States; Align man- so you don’t have to start from scratch. pieces per hour so customers in the ufactures the plastic aligners and ships Our just-released Pulse of the On- region can move products quickly and them back to the customer in China. line Shopper study highlights trend in efficiently all over the world. (Medical devices are not something you cross-border trade growth. Forty-seven We start by leveraging UPSers want to lose sight of at any point in percent of US customers purchased around the world, their years of experi- the supply chain!) And since we oper- something from an international ence and the extensive UPS network ate an integrated global network with retailer in 2017. A localized shopping of facilities and transportation assets. package-level tracking detail, Align can experience for these global shoppers is And, when necessary, we form smart see where its products are at every step critical. Seventy-seven percent want the partnerships with local integrators. of the way. total cost of the order, including duties Here’s how that looks in China: to We don’t need a map to show us and fees, clearly stated. And 74 percent get your products in front of Chinese that today’s world is very different than want to buy from a reputable retailer. consumers, UPS and Alibaba are col- the one we knew at the start of our From the lessons we lived about laborating to create a special toolkit careers. And it’s clear that it’s going to customs, culture and customization, that will make it possible for small and keep changing, becoming ever more we learned a lot about capability and mid-sized U.S. companies, like many complicated and more competitive. commitment. of you, to sell via Tmall Global. To get Affordable, fast trade leads to more We’ve helped make small businesses your product to the borders, you can trade, more jobs, and more prosperity. into big businesses for 110 years. Our count on the UPS supply chain, which Exporting can help you compete, and goal is to make it easy for small busi- at any given time moves 6% of our UPS can help you take advantage of nesses, tight on resources, to navigate country’s GDP and 3% of global GDP. the opportunities that global trade pro- the unfamiliar seas of global com- And finally, to get those products in vides, especially in a rapidly growing merce. It’s about you. We’ve built this Chinese consumers’ hands, we recently market like China. global infrastructure for you to grow announced a joint venture with a We’re excited to partner with you as your business on. leading B2B (business-to-business) and you continue your global journey. In the last 24 months in China, we B2C (business-to-consumer) domestic Thank you. have expanded service offerings and express delivery provider in China.

VSOTD.COM 27 WINNER: CONTROVERSIAL OR HIGHLY POLITICIZED TOPIC “Protecting Human Rights in Today’s Europe”

By Katya Andrusz for Michael O’Flaherty, Director, Delivered at University of Poznan´, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights University of Poznan´, Poznan´, Poland, Jan. 23, 2017

ood afternoon dear colleagues, Above all, I recall his integrity, moral applied to others. But—as not only the Gfriends, clarity and determination. Charter but also national constitutions As someone who has worked in There are many other great Poles stipulate—all people are equal before the field of human rights for close to whom I might mention, including, of the law. There is not and cannot be any 30 years, it is with a sense of humility course, Professor Krzysztof Skubisze- hierarchy of rights holders. that I visit Poland. The history and the wski, whom we honour today. But Each individual in the European people of this country have taught us suffice it to acknowledge the array Union has a claim to the rights of the so much about the values that under- of Polish humanist champions, from Charter, and can invoke these rights pin European identity. I hope that I poets through to a , from shipyard before local courts wherever EU law can do justice to that proud legacy in workers to secretaries of state. We are applies. In this sense, the Charter my remarks today. in their debt. and EU law in general are very much Let me begin by quoting a Pole who Dear Friends, instruments of empowerment. spent his life in the service of freedom, Just now I referred to the welcome We have then in the EU an impres- and who remembered a time when given in 1948 to the Universal Declara- sive human rights framework, which humanity appeared to have plumbed tion of Human Rights. And it is always co-exists with the constitutional tradi- the depths of degradation. Władysław worthwhile revisiting the content of the tions and institutions of its Member Bartoszewski said in an address to the declaration. Its first article remains as States. It also of course draws on the Millennium Session of the UN Gen- thrilling and challenging as ever, with European Convention of Human eral Assembly: the great statement: “All human beings Rights, to which all EU Member States “I remember the joy and the hope are born free and equal in dignity and are party. Respect for this framework with which we greeted the United in rights”. and all it entails is a condition for Nations Charter and the Universal The story since 1948 is a remarkable membership of the EU. Declaration of Human Rights. They one, with the development of a more It is the primary role of my Agency, gave me strength when I found myself or less comprehensive corpus of rights the European Union Agency for having to survive the ordeal of years of recognised in international law and a Fundamental Rights, to assist the EU incarceration in Communist jails.” framework—albeit an imperfect one— and its Member States to uphold their Earlier still, the great Polish jurist for their international oversight. The fundamental rights commitments. In so Rafael Lemkin contributed to the shap- global achievements were paralleled or doing we have a unique mandate—the ing of international human rights law further developed at the regional level. only regional body of its kind in the when he conceptualised the crime of Here in Europe we slowly elaborated world. Operating independently of genocide. And the Genocide Conven- the most sophisticated of all the inter- the EU institutions we deliver evi- tion will forever remain his legacy. Kofi national human rights legal frameworks. dence based advice and analysis to our Annan described Lemkin as having This was further strengthened by the law and policy makers. We also play waged “a lifelong campaign for every embrace by the European Union of a significant role in supporting civil human being’s right to live in dignity”, strong human rights commitments— society and promoting awareness of and whose “lifework offers an inspiring including in the form of the European and respect for rights across the EU example of moral engagement”. Charter of Fundamental Rights. member states. The courage of the leaders and ac- The Charter of Fundamental In our work at the national level we tivists of the Solidarity movement has Rights, the drafting of which drew are well aware of how human and fun- impressed me since the dark days of directly on the Universal Declaration, damental rights commitments must be martial law. Indeed, I had the privilege does not meddle in countries’ internal applied in acknowledgement of and re- of supporting the late Prime Minister affairs. It simply lays out the inalien- spect for the diversity of national iden- Tadeusz Mazowiecki during his time as able rights of each person living in the tities. In fact, the Treaty on European United Nations Special Rapporteur for EU. These are rights that everyone Union stipulates clearly that the EU the former Yugoslavia. I recall Mazow- is glad to have for themselves and must respect “the national identities iecki’s humanity and heartfelt wish to their families, although some are less of the Member States”. In this context protect those caught up in the conflict. at the thought of them being it is my view that the Union provides

CICERO 2018 28 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS an additional source of identity to be and enjoy the same rights, from educa- Our societies are made up of everyone proud of, in the same way that one is tion and career development through within them, and intolerance—wheth- proud of one’s own country. to freedom of conscience and freedom er racial or any other kind—has the Colleagues, friends, of religion. potential to destroy these societies from No country or continent, however Although we have made great the inside. great its legacy, can afford to rest on strides in combating racism, xenopho- To foster cohesive societies based on its laurels. It was in 1998 that Pope bia and hate crime, both legally and mutual respect, it is vital that all those John Paul II said: “It is not enough to institutionally, we are seeing increas- with a public voice are fully aware of possess freedom; it must be constantly ingly open and direct demonstrations their responsibility not to incite hatred. achieved and recreated. It can be used of intolerance. Sometimes it seems as In a recent study by my Agency in for good or for ill…” His words can be though the hatred is all-encompassing. which we interviewed more than 200 transposed directly to the context of The patterns of hate speech and experts, we were told by one victim the global and European human rights hate crime are to be found across the support service in Poland: protection systems. EU. The incidence of attacks is on the “It is extremely important for public Across the globe, human rights are rise. Numerous groups are targeted. figures, I am mostly talking about the in contention. In too many countries, These include Jews and Roma. They people in power, to clearly, unambigu- the rights themselves and the systems also increasingly include foreigners— ously and publicly talk about the topic that uphold them are questioned, especially people who may look or of hate crime and to unequivocally challenged, ignored, or undermined. dress differently. People perceived to be express disapproval and criticism. This Sometimes it seems that human rights Muslims are often the target. We have message has to reach the masses.” serves as a proxy battleground for been closely following these develop- Of course, not only politicians are political or ideological disputes. ments over the last year, including in public figures. In this regard we see Respect for rights is compromised the context of the migrant crisis. Each increasingly intolerant discourse in by patterns of myth-making—one month we publish an account of the traditional and social media, often in such being that rights are only for situation in 14 EU Member States, the form of incitement to discrimina- some people—which of course over- including Poland. The story—includ- tion, hatred or violence. The growing look the foundational principle that ing here—is sobering and disturbing. reliance on the internet as the main rights are not just for one minority or I applaud the initiative of the Confer- source of information enables unverified even many minorities. Human rights ence of Rectors of Academic Schools, statements to go viral almost instantly, are for everyone. who on 25 November issued a strong making them difficult to challenge. At We might well ask if we are facing a statement repudiating violence against the same time, the internet facilitates the crisis of human rights. It will take me a foreigners, and calling for firm action development of ‘information bubbles’ in little while before I answer this ques- by the authorities. which people only receive information tion, but please bear with me. Beyond identifying attacks, an- that coincides with their own opinions. Here in Europe we are definitely other important test of whether the This then threatens to turn public de- seeing increasing intolerance, illus- rights of a particular community are bate into blocs of contradicting views in trated by rising hate crime and hate adequately protected is the level of which rational arguments are ignored. speech, particularly online. fear among its members. Surveys car- My second concern: freedom of We are also seeing a lack of solidar- ried out by the Fundamental Rights speech. I have just spoken of criminal ity. This is illustrated by the fact that Agency show that this level of fear is speech, which must be fought deci- EU Member States are failing to offer high. Fear drains people’s strength, sively. At the same time, however, I meaningful support to Italy and Greece preventing them from living their lives would like to make clear that I abso- in responding to the needs of tens of openly, as each of us has the right to lutely oppose the muzzling of freedom thousands of migrants. Within coun- do. So hate crime does not only affect of expression. A free and pluralistic tries it can be observed in the toleration one individual victim. It does lasting media play an essential role in ensuring of ever-increasing levels of inequality. damage to entire communities. our societies are based on democracy, Perhaps of greatest concern, Unacceptably, we see much evi- human rights and the rule of law—the though, is that we are seeing a growing dence of communities wounded by values upon which the EU is founded. tendency to question the very basics of hate crime and discrimination. 62% of This means that journalists, publish- Europe’s human rights framework. Roma in a survey by the Fundamen- ers, editors, and bloggers must be able Allow me to go into a little more tal Rights Agency said they had been to carry out their tasks without fear of detail. discriminated against because of their intervention or reprisals. First: discrimination and hatred. A ethnic background. 62%! And we must A study by the Fundamental Rights society can only flourish when all its not forget that racism does not just Agency published just two months ago members have the same opportunities affect minorities, but concerns us all. shows that ensuring the safety of those

VSOTD.COM 29 working in journalism in the broad- an abstract concept. But as my remarks ties must fully understand and take est sense is—or should be—a matter to you have shown, the threats to advantage of the fact that a strong of serious concern for the EU and its those rights in Europe are very specific judicial system fosters the investment Member States. State and non-state and concrete. In the same way, their the economy so much needs. From this actors alike were found to exert direct protection depends on action that are perspective, respect for the rule of law and indirect pressure on journalists and analogously prosaic. If you will allow, should be regarded as a key element of media outlets. I shall list some of the most essential sustainable economic growth. Business- For example, state authorities some- elements of effective human rights es need to have certainty and guaran- times justify surveillance of journalists protection—for Poland as for any other tees of fairness in order to invest; and on the grounds of national security. EU Member State. where these may be lacking, they put This makes it more difficult for jour- (1)First and foremost is the impor- their money elsewhere. nalists to maintain confidential sources. tance of the rule of law. To quote Nils (2)Also vital for the protection of In one case we cite in the study, a pre- Muižnieks, the Council of Europe’s human rights is a thriving and vibrant trial investigation in one EU Member Commissioner for Human Rights: civil society. For a number of years State revealed that the secret services “There can be no real human rights now, civil society organisations in the had been authorised by a district court protection without mechanisms guar- EU and beyond have reported that the judge to wiretap 17 journalists in order anteeing the rule of law, in particu- space in which to carry out their work to discover the source of a leaked gov- lar by ensuring checks and balances is shrinking. They mention a reduction ernment report. among the different state powers.” in access to financial resources, burden- This brings me, thirdly to: security Nonetheless, we are seeing an in- some regulation, and fewer opportuni- concerns. At EU and national level, creasing challenge to the rule of law in ties to access decision makers. In some we need to discuss ways of increasing many places around the EU. places they tell of violent attacks and our capacity to combat terrorism and One crucial aspect of the rule of the harassment of human rights de- radicalisation, while remaining true law is the independence of the judi- fenders. These issues will be the subject to the rule of law and our human and ciary and of the institutions that go of close attention by the Fundamental fundamental rights commitments. to make up the overall human rights Rights Agency in 2017 whereby the In the modifications to intelligence framework. The checks and balances protection of civil society will be seen and surveillance legislation undertaken that ensure no one branch of govern- as much an internal as an external by many Member States in 2015, we ment can become over-powerful are a concern for the EU. see the perennial challenge of deliver- precondition for democracy. And each (3)Civil courage. I know it is not ing national security in a manner that Member State in the European Union easy, but it is nonetheless vital: if you is respectful of rights—and especially can be proud to be a fully-fledged de- see hatred or discrimination, do not that the inevitable infringements on mocracy; particularly those states that look away. Sometimes it is possible rights comply with the non-negotiable have so recently struggled against and to intervene directly; sometimes it principles of legality, necessity and pro- surmounted totalitarian rule. is a matter of perseverance. Whom portionality. It helps when law-makers Constitutional courts and ombuds- should I put the victim in touch with; recall that a purpose of security poli- men must be seen as vital to the life- what legislation is contravened by this cies in a modern state governed by the blood of our States—such courts and action; whom do I turn to if I am a rule of law is to create a space for the institutions are strengths to be nurtured victim myself ? Ask yourselves these realisation of fundamental rights. and not problems to be solved. Con- questions, and don’t give up until you Ensuring the safety of everyone in stitutional courts are especially crucial have an answer, however partial. The the EU is of critical importance. How- in that they are the final arbiters on State must be held to account for the ever, security must never be invoked as constitutional matters—other ac- human rights obligations to which it an excuse for the repression of demo- tors in the political and legal system has committed. cratic freedoms. Neither is it a zero- should have the greatest respect for Of one thing you can be sure: the sum game between different groups, the independence needed to fulfil this EU Agency for Fundamental Rights whereby the safety of one community role. Furthermore, challenges to the stands ready to support you. In argu- can only be achieved at the expense of independence and impartiality of the ing your case for human rights, make another community. Security measures judiciary may also lead to a breakdown use of our analysis, data and advice. can only work if they are respectful of in public trust in the fairness and qual- Also, make the best possible use of the human rights and work with and not ity of the justice system. resources, recommendations and find- against all the communities make up Human rights and the economy ings of United Nations and Council of European societies. are not the subject of my remarks Europe bodies. Colleagues, friends, today, but I would add as an aside that (4)I would like to make one last point Human rights are often regarded as governments as well as local authori- on the protection of human rights, and

CICERO 2018 30 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS that is: learn from history, and learn it surprised that I have made little direct We must have the courage of our well. To quote yet another great Pole, mention of the current circumstances convictions, the courage to speak out the Nobel-prize winning poet Czesław in Poland. But rather than reiterat- against human rights violations, and Miłosz: “The living owe it to those who ing the authoritative commentary the courage to act. With this courage, no longer can speak to tell their story and recommendations of the Venice with energy and with good will, we can for them.” Poland’s rich and often tragic Commission, the United Nations Hu- overcome this crisis to ensure that hu- history gives its people a keen sensitiv- man Rights Committee, the European man rights protection does not become ity to the past. This must be harnessed Commission and others, I have sought a hollow shell, but remains at the beat- for the present. School pupils and the to examine the situation in a broader ing heart of our societies. general public alike need to receive context. And as I hope I have made I will leave the final words to Pope a nuanced teaching of the past. This clear, there is no EU country in which John Paul II, who said so powerfully knowledge provides an opportunity to human rights are not at risk. during his address to the UN General reflect on contemporary problems with Let me close by answering the Assembly in 1979: a greater understanding, thus ensur- question I posed earlier. Do we have “Although each person lives in a ing that history is used to heal and not a crisis of human rights? No, I don’t particular concrete social and historical divide. No country is composed entirely think we do. But we do have a major context, every human being is en- of heroes, and to reinterpret history as crisis of commitment. Human rights dowed with a dignity that must never though this were the case does an acute cannot be viewed as an optional extra be lessened, impaired or destroyed but disservice to all those who lived—and that can be sacrificed. They are the must instead be respected and safe- died—for their country. cornerstone of our identity. Europe guarded...” Dear colleagues, friends, will have failed if we fail on this is- It is our challenge, as individuals and You have listened to me for almost sue, which is so close to the values on societies to honour that lofty vision. half an hour now, and you are perhaps which the EU was founded. Thank you. WINNER: DIVERSITY “How We Can All Help End Domestic Violence and Abuse”

By Craig Millar for Lubna Latif, Delivered at TEDx Bolton, University of Bolton, Domestic Violence and Abuse Counsellor Bolton, England, Nov. 23, 2017

e all know that our relationships faces when I say that one in four women We all have a role to play. Ware one of life’s great joys and will experience abuse in their lifetime. And by doing that well, we’ll make also one of life’s great challenges! And one in six men. all our relationships better. For more people than you may be- I talk about how the damaging ef- It encourages our friends and family lieve, those challenges are huge. fects ripple out to children and indeed open up, speak their truth and perhaps In fact, they can be life-threatening. all of us. even to admit their flaws. I work here in Bolton with men and Domestic abuse and violence cost us Let me tell you about 3 of the most women that are experiencing domestic in the UK a whopping £23 billion every important lessons I’ve learned about abuse. year! how we can do things better. Sometimes physical, sometimes Like many things to do with us Firstly, we need to remember that emotional. humans, the causes of this are compli- people’s truth is not always as it ap- People who live in fear of the ones cated. pears. they love or perhaps once loved. Power, control and fear are certainly I was and actually still am a bit of a When I speak to people about my important. nerd. work, they can feel a little uncomfort- But I believe the solution is surpris- I used to go to my local library and able at first, but they soon start to ask ingly simple. read the newspapers with all the retired questions like, ‘Why don’t they just The best way to create a world men in the newspaper room. leave?’ or ‘why do they take so long to where people don’t hide their biggest And I remember being sat at the tell anyone?’ problems is to make it easier to talk table once, and I read the same story in And I get to tell them about the scale about them. three or four different papers. of the problem. And that my friends are where we all What I realised that day was that And to see the look of shock on their come in. depending on what paper you read,

VSOTD.COM 31 you would get slightly different versions what keeps them frozen in fear of this a lot more effectively, so that they can of the same story. potentially happening to them or their access specialist support. I also noticed that details like ages children. So ask yourself, are my thoughts, and dates were different in different But there is a much better question attitudes and beliefs about this subject papers. we could ask. victim blaming or am I choosing words And I thought to myself, how can We could ask, what is keeping that that are more understanding, compas- the same story be told so differently? person in the abusive relationship? sionate and supportive. There and then, I decided that There’s a real contrast in the em- Finally, let’s remember that domestic I would always take what I read in phasis of the question and rather than violence can happen to anyone. papers with a pinch of salt and that the “victim blaming” we are instead trying I know this because it happened to truth was somewhere between what to understand the dynamics of the me. was reported in the papers and what abuse and use our empathy. I fell in love during summer of people said happened. Our words do matter. 1993 whilst I was on a working holi- In many ways, us people are the Although it may feel hard to day in Greece, in between studying for same. understand why someone stays in an my Masters. We show different sides of ourselves abusive relationship, we need to lose In hindsight, there were indicators, in different situations. our assumptions if we want to make a but I just didn’t see them, quite frankly, We are experts at hiding things difference. because I didn’t know what to look out from people and sometimes from even The reality is that there are lots of for. ourselves. reasons why someone will stay in an Whilst on holiday, my boyfriend And we have to remember this to abusive relationship—fear, low self- threw a massive rock at me when I better understand domestic abuse. esteem, belief that no-one will believe decided that I wanted to go back to my The second thing is to let go of the them, they think it’s not that bad. flat on my own. myths, stereotypes and assumptions I remember working with one lady And in my mind, I had playfully run that surround domestic violence. who had told me about how her dad away from him and he told me that I “That he or she must like it” ….”It’s used to ‘leather her mother’ when she was crying crocodile tears when he was a working-class problem” and “It’s was a child. leaving to go home. part of their culture” are statements Those were her exact words— I couldn’t understand how he could that I’ve heard whilst talking to people ”getting leathered”. be so hurtful but because my feelings about this topic. I can imagine that as a child, how ter- were so strong for him. These beliefs need to be chal- rifying that must have been to witness. I put that to the side and pursued lenged, debunked, and put on the same What had happened to this lady the relationship. outdated belief shelf that houses “The though was that over time, she had As our relationship blossomed, he world is flat” and “eating the crusts of begun to normalise violence and she continued to be emotionally abusive your bread makes your hair go curly”. went on to tell me that she hadn’t got it towards me. And some of this thinking gets into as bad as her mother. He would make derogatory com- our language. During the course of my risk assess- ments about my body. For example: ment with her, I asked if about wheth- He’d call me boring. Let’s look at The most common er she had been strangled. One night, he locked me out of our question that I get asked by people: She replied quite matter of fact apartment once after an argument and ‘Why don’t they just leave?’ that she would wake up with his hand refused to give me the keys. There are lots of reasons why this around her throat on a daily basis. So I had to sleep on a neighbours question is not helpful for anyone expe- And yet she thought that she didn’t couch for the night! riencing abuse. have it as bad as her mother. Who embarrassingly I didn’t even Primarily because it’s a judgement I challenged this belief with my cli- know. based assumption. ent very gently. Do you know what the ironic thing We are judging that person for not I also talk about it during my was? leaving and so think less of them and training sessions to demonstrate the I was actually working for a domes- secondly, we are assuming that it’s distorted thinking that can occur when tic abuse service at the time! easy for a person to leave an abusive subjected to trauma at a young age and However, I do believe, that it was relationship. continued abuse as an adult. because I was working there, that I But did you know that the most By starting to understand the com- was able to spot the signs and end the serious harm or threat of even murder plex dynamics of domestic abuse and relationship after 4 years. occurs when a person does leave? educating ourselves on the risk indica- The average length of time is 5 A victim will know this and this is tors, we can begin to support people years to leave.

CICERO 2018 32 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

I got my life back and a much talking about this with someone or We all struggle with relationships. deeper understanding of the people indeed any difficult topic. They are hard and there are curve- who I help in work. Let’s remember the way we can help balls that we just didn’t anticipate at all. Domestic abuse is more common is relatively simple. However, I do believe that we can than we think and it can happen to In fact, it’s more about stopping live in a world where abuse is a thing anyone. some things than starting. of the past. As one of my clients said, “You It’s about letting go of stereotypes, And we all have a role to play in think you’re alone. But you’re not. It’s assumptions, false ideas and the idea making it happen. surprising when you tell people what that we have to do it alone. Let’s break the silence and start you’ve been through and so many tell It’s about really listening to people talking. you, oh I’ve been there too.” and remembering how good they can Because it’s hard to be happy in a Although we all feel worried about be at hiding things. world where many are not. WINNER: ECONOMICS “U.S. and Canada: Sharing a Continent by Chance; Friends by Choice”

By Richard Roik for Jim Carr, Delivered to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute Canadian Minister of Natural Resources for 21st Century Energy, Washington, D.C., March 29, 2017

hank you, and good morning. As an American journalist noted Canada is the number one customer T There is a place in northwest- many years ago, “Canadians are gener- for two-thirds of U.S. states, and in the ern Washington State called Sumas, ally indistinguishable from the Ameri- top three for 48 different states. All of but it could really be anywhere in cans, and the surest way of telling the this trade means jobs. For both coun- Small Town, U.S.A. It’s a community two apart is to make the observation to tries. of 1,300 people, just 20 miles off an a Canadian.” Here in the United States, it means Interstate. There’s a parade and fire- It’s true. We may be polite to a fault, nine million jobs. Across every Con- works display every summer, and the but Canadians are passionate about gressional district. town boasts both an American Legion their national identity. We consider Our economies are so intercon- and a branch of the Bank of America. it a mounting crisis that a Canadian nected that whether a car is assembled It’s as American as the stars and hockey team has not won the Stanley in Detroit, Michigan, or Oshawa, stripes—except that, technically, a lot Cup since 1993. Ontario, the parts for it will cross the of Sumas is in Canada. Some parts of But today, I’d like to talk about border five or six times. the town are as much as a mile north another aspect of the Canada–U.S. And nowhere is this shared pros- of the 49th Parallel. relationship that you may not know, perity more pronounced—or more Sumas is not unique. There are achieving things you might not expect. important—than in our natural curiosities like it all along our 5,500- It’s a truly unique economic relation- resource sectors: the vital backbone to mile border. ship that is larger and stronger than today’s economy and tomorrow’s clean At Dundee, Quebec, and Fort ever. One unrivalled by any two coun- growth. From Canadian softwood Covington, New York, the owners of tries, anywhere in the world. that’s used to build American homes a hotel once painted the international It starts with the more than $1 to minerals that are used in high- boundary line on the floor of their bar, trillion (U.S.) in trade and investment tech manufacturing. And, of course, right beside the pool table. between us each year. To put that in Canada and the U.S. share the closest Many houses still straddle the bor- context, nearly $2 billion in goods and energy relationship in the world. der, which means the people in these services—and some 400,000 people— As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau homes might eat in the United States cross the border every day. That’s more said in Houston earlier this month, and sleep in Canada. than $80 million of trade every hour. “Nothing is more essential to the U.S. These stories remind us that there Of every day. economy than access to a secure, reli- is very little that separates us. We share No other country buys more able source of energy. And Canada is similar values, mutual interests and the American-made goods than Canada. that source.” same ambitions. We marry each other, We buy more from the U.S. than all A few quick examples. shop in each other’s stores and visit the member nations of the European With the third-largest crude oil each other’s tourist attractions. Union. Combined. reserves in the world, Canada provides

VSOTD.COM 33 the United States with 43 percent of Our countries’ steel industries are and laying taxes with each transac- all the crude it imports. Alberta alone equally integrated, and Canada is the tion, hurting not just the Canadian sends 2.5 million barrels a day to the number one destination for U.S. steel economy but the American economy U.S. Some 86 different pipelines criss- products, supporting a key industry as well, costing good jobs on both sides cross our border. that employs hundreds of thousands of the border. And it’s not just oil and gas. of Americans. Americans understand this as well as No fewer than 34 transmission lines The same goes for forestry. we do. I was in Houston with our Prime cross our border in a truly integrated Canadian softwood plays a major Minister for CERA Week, the world’s grid. Canada supplies more electric- role in building American homes. In largest energy conference. While I was ity and uranium to the U.S. than any fact, one-third of all the softwood used there, I met with six cabinet secretaries. other country. in American construction comes from I spoke with 11 CEOs or their desig- In the case of electricity, Canada Canada —enough to build one million nate. Industry leaders from some of the provides enough energy each year to American homes. world’s largest companies. And not a power almost seven million American Sourcing this lumber from another single person said they wanted a border homes. And Canadian uranium gener- supplier would increase construction adjustment tax. To a person, they said ates six percent of America’s electric- costs, making home ownership more they are free traders. ity—enough to power one in every 17 expensive for Americans. So are we. of your homes. How much more expensive? Now, more than ever, our focus This energy integration benefits The National Association of Home should be on working closer together, both our countries by increasing our Builders estimates that for every $1,000 expanding our economic opportunities energy security, lowering energy and (U.S.) increase in home prices, another and enhancing our shared prosperity. capital costs, and enhancing reliability 153,000 American households would no So I want to end where I began, in of supply. longer qualify for average mortgages. Sumas, Washington. It also creates good, middle-class And it goes both ways. Legend has it that Sumas’ overlap- jobs at the thousands of American Canada, for example, is a major ping of the border was due to a sur- companies that supply Canada’s en- consumer of American forest prod- veyor’s mistake. But like everything else ergy industry. ucts. We import almost $5 billion of in our country’s 150-year history, we Our two countries are also working American paper products every year, resolve these things with you in peace- together on clean energy. For example, along with $615 million of American- able ways. And by forming committees. harmonizing our energy efficiency made furniture. In this case, it’s an International standards has lowered operating costs These numbers confirm what we Boundary Commission that has been for businesses and helped create an know in our hearts. maintaining the peaceful border for integrated market for the clean tech- The United States and Canada are more than a century. The Commis- nologies that will transform traditional connected like no others. Our econo- sion’s jointly operated website hails its resource sectors and open up entire mies, our businesses, our infrastruc- efforts as a “true sharing of resources, new industries. tures and even our family ties depend intellect and goodwill in pursuit of a Canada and the United States are on keeping our border as open as common objective.” also major markets for one another’s possible, with as few impediments to We are two proud nations, sharing mining sectors. trade as possible. the same continent by chance. But we The U.S. exports almost $40 bil- Seamless supply chains allow our are friends—and economic partners— lion worth of minerals and metals to countries to keep costs low, create jobs by choice. Canada, creating thousands of Ameri- and generate tax revenues for all levels Let’s continue to work together as can jobs. Canada, in turn, exports $49 of government. friends, share together as neighbours billion of minerals and metals to the Border adjustment taxes, import and trade together as partners. United States—including 60 percent of tariffs and other trade barriers make We have come too far and achieved the aluminum Americans use to manu- us nervous. They demand that we have too much to settle for less. facture planes, cars and other products. bean counters counting each transit Thank you.

CICERO 2018 34 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: HEALTHCARE “Those People”

By Diane Suchetka for Dr. Akram Boutros, Delivered at the Annual Meeting of The MetroHealth System, President and CEO, The MetroHealth System Cleveland, June 9, 2017

n these days of difficulty, we Today City Hospital is Metro- and the many individuals who wrote “IAmericans everywhere must— Health, a health system still commit- letters and made phone calls and and shall—choose the path of social ted to social justice—so committed to spoke up for us at public meetings and justice … social justice that in the past six years private gatherings and dinner tables “…the path of faith, the path of of talking and planning and trying, we across the county. hope, and the path of love toward our never gave up on the idea of rebuilding Thank you to all of the organiza- fellow man.” our hospital, the hospital for all people. tions who partner with us to help Those were the words of Franklin And you never gave up on us. school children, pregnant women, Roosevelt as he campaigned for presi- premature babies and so many others. dent in 1932, the year the Great De- *** Thank you to our patients who trust pression drove America to its knees and us with their care. 12 million people—nearly a quarter of Today we are here to say thank you Thank you to our MetroHealth the —found themselves beg- for that support. employees—all 7,400 of them—for ging for a job. Thank you again County Execu- working harder this year than ever The Great Depression is long be- tive Armond Budish, County Council before. Your devotion to MetroHealth hind us; the Great Recession, too. President Dan Brady, Mayor Frank and our mission of caring for everyone Locally, Cleveland is in the midst of Jackson and City Council President is the only reason we were able to serve a magnificent rebirth that is creating Kevin Kelley for your steadfast support nearly 50,000 new patients in 2016 and jobs, stirring creativity and inspiring of MetroHealth and its mission. to care for them close to home in one hope. But FDR’s insistence that “we Thank you Miguel and Denise of our more than 30 locations without choose the path of social justice” is just Zubizarreta for building the Zubi- them having to worry about whether as essential today as it was 85 years ago. zarreta House, our home-away-from- they have insurance—or money. We cannot lift some members of home for patients with spinal cord and And thank you to our Board of this community and ignore others. We other paralyzing injuries. Now those Trustees who had the foresight and cannot leave behind our brothers and patients have a comfortable—and courage to agree to go to the market on sisters, our mothers and fathers, our comforting—place to live after they MetroHealth’s own credit and sell $946 neighbors and friends. We cannot— undergo surgery, a place where they million in bonds to rebuild our hospital ever—slip from the path of faith and can learn to use the electrical stimula- and revitalize our West Side campus. hope and love toward our fellow man. tion devices that allow them to stand When I came to MetroHealth To do so would be heartless. up from their wheelchairs and feed four years ago, no one, including me, That’s not what Cleveland is and themselves and hug their kids long af- believed that was possible. But 15 days it is not what MetroHealth is—ever ter they thought they’d never do those ago—on May 25—that money was was—or ever will be. things again. deposited in our account. One hundred and eighty years Thank you to the Char and Chuck This will bring to fruition the largest ago the leaders of this newborn city Fowler Family Foundation, the Giant self-funded county hospital project cemented Cleveland’s commitment Eagle Foundation, the George Gund in the history of the United States of to social justice when they founded Foundation, the David & Inez Myers America. the City Infirmary, a place for the sick Foundation and the Elisabeth Sever- Now, we’ve reached the part of my and poor who had, before then, been ance Prentiss Foundation for the nearly speech where I could tell you, like most driven out of town into the wilderness $1 million you have entrusted to us in annual meeting speeches do, about the to survive—or not—on their own. the past year. Your generosity helps us great year 2016 was for us. I could tell The infirmary grew and evolved into take even better care of the people of you about our new health centers and a hospital. And it moved. But it has Cuyahoga County. our expanded services and our finan- never forsaken its mission of serving Thank you to the faith commu- cial results. everyone, no matter what they look nity, groups like the United Pastors in But you can read all about those like, how sick they are or how empty Mission, who championed our work. in our Annual Report, which you’ll their pockets. Thank you Gail Long, Gloria Aron receive on your way out.

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I could tell you about all the ob- who said it shouldn’t be done. And ing; she hears it in Endia’s voice when stacles we have faced, too. But, there’s there were some who asked why. she asks, over and over, “When can I also no reason to rehash the struggles Why invest in the county hospital? go back to Life Flight again?” we’ve overcome to get here. They said MetroHealth and its Now Endia knows she wants to be a What matters is that we are here, buildings are good enough “for those Life Flight nurse. She wants to be part that together we built trust, that we people.” of that team. never forgot our mission, that we kept “For those people.” She’s studying harder. She’s getting our sights on doing right by the people Well let me tell you who some of better grades. And she’s more commit- of Cuyahoga County—all of them— those people are. ted to making her brothers’ and sisters’ and that we believed. Those people are Endia Reynolds. wish come true—that she be the first in We believed that we could do more, Two weeks from today, Endia will her family to go to college. that the county’s and city’s futures were finish the 10th grade at Lincoln-West That’s why we opened a high school tied to MetroHealth’s. And research School of Science Health. That’s the inside our hospital. from the College of Urban Affairs at high school we opened inside our hos- Cleveland State proved us right. It con- pital last fall, the first high school inside *** cluded that the rebuilding of our cam- any hospital in the country. pus will support 5,600 jobs for people Endia is the youngest of eight. One Those people are Shedrick Jordan. in Cuyahoga County; 3,200 of those sister is a nursing assistant, a brother He’s 34, a happy guy who shares a for residents of the city of Cleveland. owns a towing company, her other duplex in Cleveland with his grand- Those jobs will increase household siblings, she says, are just getting by. mother and loves to play video games. income by $360 million in Cuyahoga And, to be honest, Endia kind of was MetroHealth hired Shedrick three County during the years of construc- just getting by, too. She wasn’t really all years ago—through the job training tion. And that income will generate that excited about school. program at the Cuyahoga County almost $95 million in tax revenue. Then, back in February, she spent Board of Developmental Disabilities. Those jobs and that money will go, half a day in our Metro Life Flight com- He started out as an intern in our just like our care, to all people. We’re munications office. And she fell in love. kitchen. He did so well that after eight committed to making sure that our What really made her happy, she months he was promoted to part-time construction business goes to firms says, was seeing the Life Flight employ- porter. Another year or so later, he was that hire—or are owned by—Latinos, ees working as a team. doing such a great job, we hired him women and African Americans. “Technology is just taking over,” she full-time. The same philosophy that guides says. “You don’t really see people work- Now that he’s working 40 hours a our care, guides our spending. We will ing together anymore.” week, Shedrick can buy the Converse not leave anyone out. Endia listened from the communica- tennis shoes and that PlayStation 3 The economic benefit doesn’t end tions office that day as the Life Flight and the video games he loves. His kid at our campus. Our plans have al- crew rushed to a family that had been brother still wins every time, but, hey, ready helped ignite the rebuilding of in a terrible car accident and airlifted he’s got youth on his side. our neighborhood. They are bringing them to MetroHealth. She watched When you ask Shedrick what he improvements in mass transit along crew members jog down the hallway as likes about his job, he says it feels West 25th Street, new businesses, bet- they wheeled them in: a father, a sob- good to know you’re making your own ter housing, new neighbors. We can bing little girl and a mother who, even money, relying on nobody but yourself. look out our windows and see that the with her injuries, reached her hand “The money’s great,” he says, “but neighborhood around our campus is from her gurney to her little girl’s, to you meet new people, too. becoming what we know it can be, try to comfort her as they were deliv- “That is the best part about the job.” what it should be, what it must be- ered into the hands of our life-saving Shedrick’s made friends here. And come: a neighborhood shimmering trauma team. he’s done a few other things, too. He’s with energy—and opportunity—for “It opened my eyes,” Endia says. “I joined the gym at MetroHealth. He’s those who live here now and those who appreciate more now. working on getting healthier. And are moving in, a neighborhood that “This school,” she says, “basically moving up from his part-time position generates hope and expands the great shows you that you can’t take anything means we got to hire another person renaissance of Cleveland. for granted because you never know from the developmental disabilities what could happen.” program. Phil started last month. He’s *** What happened to Endia that day is our fifth employee from the program. this: She can’t wait to get to school now. And that’s just in the kitchen. There were some who said it Assistant principal Endora Kight Shedrick helps Phil and all the new couldn’t be done. There were some Neal sees it in Endia’s face every morn- employees learn the ropes.

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“I get to take them under my wing,” Kim died at the first hospital para- patients, tells them his story, lets them he says, that big, beautiful smile get- medics took him to. But our Life Flight see for themselves that if he made it, ting bigger. “I teach them everything I crew was there, ready to transport him they can, too. know.” to MetroHealth. The team performed “My wife has told me 100 times: And working full-time means She- CPR—for four minutes. ‘you’ve found your calling,’ Kim says. drick doesn’t need that Social Secu- And they brought him back. “And I have. rity Disability check anymore or the Then Kim lost his pulse again. “Something good happened from government-funded health care that They brought him back again. all this.” came with it. Instead of depending on His heart slowed once more. This There may be more good to come. taxpayers, Shedrick is a taxpayer. time, the team opened his chest and Kim is working with the manager That’s why we’re committed to drained the blood that had accumu- of MetroHealth’s Survivor Recovery training people with developmental lated around his heart, blood that was Services to change the system that disabilities. keeping his heart from beating. kept Robert from getting the help he When Life Flight landed at Metro- needed. He wants to make sure that *** Health, the team wheeled him straight what happened to him and his family into surgery. never happens to anyone else. And those people are Kim Jaworski. Five hours later, the trauma surgeon That’s why we continue to com- On August 18, 2014, Kim and his walked out of the operating room and mit time and money and energy to a wife, Carol, were at home, in Westlake, told Scott—Kim and Carol’s other trauma center for those people who settling in for the evening to watch a son—that it didn’t look good. end up beaten or shot or stabbed. football game. Kim made it. They asked their son, Robert, to It took him seven weeks in the *** join them. hospital, two weeks in inpatient rehab, Robert was 22 then and he was dif- weeks more of rehabilitation at home. I’d like to ask Endia and Shedrick ferent from their other son. He wrote But as soon as he was able, he and and Kim to stand so you can thank long rambling letters to the police Carol drove to Northcoast Behavioral them for their inspiration, that inspira- saying people were molesting him. He Healthcare to be with Robert. tion I know you will carry with you for heard voices. He called 9-1-1 and told Robert tried to apologize. But Kim days to come. dispatchers his parents were trying to stopped him. We tell these stories for a reason. kill him. He walked out of his col- “Don’t worry,” he told his son. “You They are stories of those people, the lege apartment and tried to get into a didn’t do it.” people MetroHealth has cared for, sup- neighbor’s apartment—naked. They knew it was his illness. And we ported, and championed for 180 years. Kim and Carol had taken him to all know you don’t stop loving your kid They are stories of social justice. psychologists and psychiatrists. And because he’s sick. They are not stories of the hand- they had him hospitalized, three times. The following July, a judge ruled outs people often think of when they But hospitals can’t keep patients unless that Robert was not guilty by reason of hear the phrase “social justice.” Social they’re a threat to themselves or others. insanity. justice is not just giving food stamps Robert’s smart. He can carry a He’s been at Northcoast ever since. to someone who is hungry or public conversation in German, he speaks a He’s on medication now for his housing to someone who has no home. little Mandarin, too, and he definitely schizoaffective disorder. He’s back to Social justice is giving people that one knows the language that got him dis- his old self. And he doesn’t hear that thing they need to find their gift, to find charged—over and over again—from voice anymore—the voice of the Chi- their passion, to harness that innate psychiatric hospitals. nese secret service agent telling him “If human goodness that lives deep inside And so he was home that night. And you don’t kill your mom and dad, we’re each one of us. he grabbed a kitchen knife—one of going to kill you.” We see that goodness every day at the biggest in the house—walked into Kim and Carol still visit Robert at MetroHealth. We also see how easily it his parents’ bedroom and stabbed his least twice a week—every week. They vanishes when someone loses a job or mother and father, 14 times, each. take him books so he can keep study- their way or doesn’t have enough to eat (9-1-1 TAPE OF CAROL PLEAD- ing, maybe finish his degree one day. or good health. ING FOR HELP PLAYS.) They talk and laugh, like old times, When survival becomes your No.1 Carol spent 10 days at MetroHealth. with the son they never once gave up concern, there’s no energy left for do- But Kim took the worst of it. on. ing good. One stab hit an inch below his In between those visits, Kim volun- But when you have what you need heart, another his liver, another sliced teers—with Survivor Recovery Services to survive, goodness follows. open an artery in his back. at MetroHealth. He visits other trauma What we—no, what you—have

VSOTD.COM 37 done for Endia and Shedrick and Kim I see a future where all the workers *** is help them find their gifts, gifts that Shedrick has helped learn the ropes are are helping others in our community. helping others find jobs and friendship We could tell you that all we’ve been It turns out that what’s good for and independence. trying to do these past six years is just those people is good for all of us. I see a future where Kim has fixed build a new hospital. But that wouldn’t What MetroHealth really accom- the system to make sure those with be true. plished last year—what you accom- mental illness get the help they need, What we’ve been trying to build is a plished—are the stories you’ve just the help that keeps their families safe. good life for everyone who lives here— heard. And I see a future where Endia and hope—hope that gets passed from Thousands more stories like these is standing here on this stage, in my one good person to the next, hope that happen at MetroHealth every year. And place, the CEO of MetroHealth, builds a better Cleveland, a better world there are thousands more to come. thanking you on behalf of a thriv- that ignites the future we all dream of. The future. That’s what this is ing community and its great public And now we can do that, thanks about. hospital. to you. WINNER: LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT “What the World Needs Now from Business”

Written and delivered by Dain Dunston, Delivered at The Ocean Exchange Conference, Author and Leadership Coach Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 10, 2017

hink about this question: what If we ask, “What do people need three things … not “by the way” or Tdoes the world need from busi- from business?” then it sounds like “on the side” or “after the fact.” ness? we’re talking about our employees or It needs us to be all those things at It’s not a question business leaders our customers. the core of our business models. ask very often, beyond asking what our But the world is bigger than that. (PAUSE) customers need. If we ask, “What does the com- The world needs business to be The business community is good at munity need from business?” then it more social. What does that mean? communicating what WE need. sounds like we’re talking about our It means that all business is social. We’re good at telling local gov- town or our local charities. All business is about people. The ernments what tax breaks and free And the world is bigger than that. people who work for you. The people services we’ll need to open a business If we ask, “What does our society who buy from you. The people who in their area. need from business?” then it sounds supply you. The people who invest in We’re good at telling state govern- like we mean our nation, our Ameri- you. And the people who know the ments what infrastructure we need to can society. people who do all those things. keep our costs down and what conces- The world is bigger than that, too. The world is asking business to un- sions we need to be able to hire more And if we ask, “What does the derstand that we have a social responsi- people. planet need from business?” then bility to all those people. And we’re good at joining together in it sounds like we’re talking about And, that business will be held ac- industry groups so we can pay lobbyists polar bears. countable for actions that are “anti- in Washington to tell the Federal gov- And the world is definitely bigger social.” ernment what laws we need changed so than polar bears. These days, what happens in Vegas we can go about our business with the The world is all of that and all of doesn’t stay in Vegas anymore. Same minimum hassles from regulators. us. And right now, the world needs with what happens anywhere in the We’re good at telling the world what business to think a little differently. world. We’re in a global economy now. WE need. (PAUSE) Business can’t be a suckerfish So maybe it’s time for us to ask what The world needs business to be dif- on the belly of society. It has to serve. the world needs from us. ferent in three ways. That means more than just asking (PAUSE) It needs us to be Social. if the world wants fries with what- Who is the world? It needs us to be Serviceful. ever your selling. It means reframing We need to be very specific about And it needs us to be Sustainable. your business strategy to serve the the language we use. The world needs us to be those common good.

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These days, it’s not enough to do- where compromise and reconciliation have to be part of the solution for the nate a little money to charity and call are considered dirty words. water quality in the entire watershed.” that “social responsibility.” Business had a hand in creating that Every business lives in a “social Zappos has made a business of situation. And now the world needs watershed” in which we depend on “delivering happiness” and have tried to business to roll up its sleeves and solve the healthy flow of people, ideas and extend that beyond just their customers. some problems. economic growth. The world needs A few years ago, they were out- Because in business, we know there’s business to take responsibility for the growing their facilities in Las Vegas so nothing that can’t be negotiated and health of that social watershed. they began the typical search for some we know the best negotiations are the The world needs you to ask, “What’s land to build a nice suburban campus. ones where everyone wins. your watershed?” But then their CEO, Tony Hsieh Business can’t sit on the sidelines Because that’s where you can make asked if there was something the city and say, “We only care about the the biggest difference to the your com- of Las Vegas needed from them. economy. The rest has nothing to do pany and the world. It turned out there was. Downtown with us.” (PAUSE) Las Vegas was an empty shell of a town, That’s nuts, because you can’t sepa- The world needs business to be with vacant lots and empty buildings. rate the economy from the environ- sustainable. So Zappos bought the old city hall ment or the quality of schools or the Two years ago, the CEO of Unile- building and some other buildings in basic social fabric of the communities ver, one of the biggest consumer prod- the downtown area and moved their in which you do business. And you ucts company in the world, revealed company there. Then they started can’t separate those communities from that their ‘sustainable living brands’— developing the blocks around them and the rest of the world. like Ben & Jerry’s and Lifebouy—deliv- in between their buildings. The Coca-Cola Company has a ered stronger and faster growth. Today, that area is turning into a hundred-year history of careful man- He said, “These brands accounted for vital downtown area, with apartments agement of the water in their bottling half Unilever’s growth and grew at twice and stores and buildings full of start-up plants. The quality of their product the rate of the rest of the business.” businesses. and their ability to maintain their And then he announced that they They took a stand for making their market share depends right out of the were going to convert every single city better. That’s their social responsi- gate on the quality of the water they brand to match the sustainable brands. bility. put in it. Because it’s very clear to them that Today, the world wants your busi- Then one of their plants came that’s what the world wants. ness to stand for something. They under fire from the people of Kerala Now, in the United States, many want to see that your business model is in India. They were in the middle of a of us in the business community are designed to help your customers make drought and the people of the region skeptical about climate change and the a better world. came to believe that Coke was part of benefits of going green. If you can’t stand for something that the problem. They thought they were Well, let me tell you something. resonates, people won’t want to buy taking all the water, putting it in Coke You’re customers aren’t. And neither from you and they won’t want to work and exporting it to the rest of India. are a lot of your investors. for you. First, Coke tried to explain. “No, The US can say they’re leaving the To resonate, you have to stand for we get our water from really deep wells Paris Accords, but Unilever can’t. UPS something bigger than your bottom that don’t affect the local watershed.” can’t. Coke can’t. Because they do line. You have to stand for something But nobody believed them. business in every other country in the that serves the world. So then they decided to get “service- world that’s still in the accord. Business is no longer in an age ful” and admit that if there was a water The economy is part of an ecosys- when it can float on top of society and shortage problem in their state then it tem that depends on the continuing siphon off profits. We have a social was their problem, too. health of all its parts. responsibility to work for the health of And they moved from water man- And right now, our ecosystem has the world in which we do business. agement to watershed management. some health issues. That’s what the world needs from First in Kerala, and now globally. Half the world’s population lives us: a business culture that’s also part of They now understand that their on less than $2 a day. Climate change the social fabric of life. operations have a major effect on the is threatening drinking water supplies. (PAUSE) watersheds where they’re located and In the U.S., the middle class is falling The world needs business to be that those watersheds have a major ef- behind. And, as we’ve learned in the serviceful. fect on the future their operations. last decade, things that happen in far We live in a time when Government They’re saying, “We can’t just care away places can have a profound affect is gridlocked in a partisan standoff about the water quality in our plant. We on what happens here.

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Business has to be part of the The answer is, nobody. Nobody The world wants us to have the solution. else can. same passion now. What if we went Study after study shows that If you haven’t read Walter Issac- after this idea: that business can solve companies which focus on creating son’s book, The Innovators, I recom- the problems of poverty, hunger, igno- sustainability in their use of resources mend it. It shows how our techno- rance and fear? outperform those who don’t. logical world was created by a vibrant That we can work with government Sound counter-intuitive? partnership between government agencies and academia and NGOs The world rewards those who give agencies, academia and the business bring everyone into the global econo- it what it needs. community. my as full participants? And there’s another kind of sustain- They were all engaged in creating And that we can do that not as ability, and that’s the sustainability of something totally new, something that charity but as our business model? companies that are built to last. changed our world. And we all benefit- Because business that are social, ser- Great companies continue to pro- ted from it. viceable and sustainable are delivering vide value to their customers and their The businesses that were part of better results to the bottom line. communities for generations. They that revolution—Apple, Microsoft, In fact, they’re delivering a triple sustain the public good. Intel, Cisco and hundreds of others— bottom line: they’re better for profits, When we put pressure on compa- were interested in the bottom line, but better for people and better for polar nies to maximize short-term gains at that’s not what drove them. bears. the expense of long term growth and They were driven by the idea that And here’s the thing: IF you can survivability, we put the world at risk. they could change the world if they pivot to a new business model that is Not just the economy or our society could get a computer on every desk. social, serviceful AND sustainable… or the polar bears … the world. That was the passion that kept them …the world will beat a path to your (PAUSE) up at night working on solutions. And door. If business doesn’t fulfill these that passion made billions and billions needs, who will? of dollars. WINNER: PHILOSOPHY AND/OR RELIGION “Search”

Written and delivered by Jeffrey Flint, Delivered at Crownmaster Speech Club, President, Flint Speechwriting San Francisco, Dec. 21, 2017

efore Google, there were humans. you here, for which you’ve settled, and and look for signs in windows. You get BAnd they were searching. for which you yearn. calls from friends. You go on line. You Much of what humans have done, Furthermore, what we see, what we are conducting here what is known as a and do, is “Search”. We search for want, is not what we get. There is the random search, the random search of food. We search for a house. We dating, and then there is the marriage. a beginner. You have very little strategy. search for a job. We search for a mate. There is the interview, and then there The first place you visit does not We search for meaning. Food, House, is the job. There is the promise of the have that feeling of perfection. It’s Job, Mate, Meaning. And when we bud, and then there is the reality of the fine, it is just not want you want. The cannot find, we yearn. Humans yearn. bloom. We search for the promise, we kitchen is too square and you’d like Perhaps a better name for “Google” is get the bloom. We live the marriage. more light. “yearn”. We live the job. We live the bloom. The The second place you visit is also not We humans, we search, because bud is an illusion. right, no place to put the couch. Neither mostly we do not know what we want Think about your first apartment is the third, nor the fourth. You begin to until we see it. We want the thing when search. Unbeknownst to you, you have tire of the search and you tell yourself, we see it, but without the seeing, we this picture of the perfect place in your “There must be an easier way.” search. When we tire of the search, we mind, so that if you see it, you’ll want The strategy phase begins. settle. And when we settle we yearn. it. Even though you do not know what Strategies work because they reduce Remember the list: food, house, job, you want, even though you cannot the number of items that can be mate, meaning. I am sure there is at visualize what you want, you’ll want it searched; that is, they reduce the size least one item on that list, for each of when you see it. You walk the streets of the search space. But strategies fail

CICERO 2018 40 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS because they remove possibility. Only if one needs to live it to know? Add to it get killed or hide. The supply of food looking for apartments in Sacramento that, we humans do not know for who declines and the population shrinks. means you will never live in Paris, but or for what we are searching until we Not a successful outcome, when lived. only looking in Sacramento saves a lot see it. We simply know not what we do. On the other hand, if people search of time. We want to know the force of our ac- for their food without killing each other In other words, a search strategy tions. But we do not. So we yearn. So, to get it, the search will be enhanced changes the character of what is pos- again, how can it be possible to know to discover new ways to get food, like sible, in trade for the prospect of saving what is the most moral search strategy? farming, since having more food will time. For example, hiring a realtor The first answer is to look at search not expose people to murder. Tech- would likely speed up your search, but it strategies that have worked well al- nological progress is often a sign of a would also change the character of the ready. The world’s great moral tradi- successful and therefore moral search apartments you entertain. Most realtors tions are here because they worked. because technological progress lowers would consider to show you any avail- Whether it be Taoism, Western Civi- the barriers of success so that others able apartment in Sacramento, but an lization, or Hinduism, they are here can succeed. Technological progress unseemly realtor may restrict his search because they worked. The great moral makes the search easier. to the landlords he personally knows, or traditions are here because they have A second sign of a moral search to apartments he owns himself. constrained the search space in such a strategy, is a capacity to try a greater How a strategy reduces the search way as to produce results that usu- number of searches. It is useful here to space to change the character of what ally work, when lived. Their existence think of a search attempt as a “trial” or is possible is called, in this talk, the today is proof of that. as an “experiment.” One search strat- strategy’s morality. That’s right, “mo- Take the example of finding a mate. egy is usually more moral than another rality”. The aim of this talk is to con- Some people go to bars. Some people search strategy if it has a capacity to vince you that the character by which join clubs. Or date at work. Or they search for more trials, and thereby con- we conduct the searches of our lives, to have their families arrange a meeting. duct more experiments, than another. resolve our yearning, is equivalent to Which strategy is more moral? Hard This makes intuitive sense. It makes our conventional notion of morality; to say, for all of these strategies have sense that as more things are tried that meaning, that what we know as “im- worked for a long time. You might there will be more successes. morality” is equivalent to not conduct- have an opinion which is best. But, For example, one government is ing a moral search. It makes sense that what about the strategy of dating your more moral than another government if each act of our lives is consumed siblings? Most people would say that if its rules for searching allow more with the search for Food, House, Job, that strategy is immoral. It is also not experimentation by its people, allow Mate, Meaning, then that how we con- moral as a search. Why? The strategy more trials by its people, than the duct these searches is equivalent to how of dating your sibling does not work other government. A big reason for the we conduct our lives, is equivalent to well, when lived. That is, inbreeding success of the United States is that its our morality. And from there, a theory does not work well, when lived. We culture and laws permit the freedom to of God emerges. know now the genetic reasons why in- try new things, to experiment. There So let’s get started. breeding is a faulty search strategy, but are fifty states, with each of them defin- The morality of a search strategy, the world’s great moral traditions had ing government policy a little differ- or how a search strategy changes the already discovered inbreeding’s im- ently. Those are 50 experiments being character of the search, is defined morality by trial-and-error over time. conducted in parallel. But the experi- in this talk as the probability of the Inbreeding overly limits the search so mentation is not just in public policy. search’s success, with “success” defined that the probability of success, when People are free to try out new ideas in as “works well when lived.” lived, is less than the other strategies. business and academia too. Each new That is, the search that delivers That is, not a moral search! business opened is a trial. That new results that, when lived, works best, Another example is the morality of restaurant that just opened down the is more moral than the results that, stealing and killing. Most moral tradi- street from you is an experiment. The when lived, works least. Remember, tions counsel people to not steal or kill faster the rate at which new businesses though, that what is being searched for while searching. Why is that? In one are tried improve the chances that one is the bud, and what is being lived is way, if I am searching for food, and I of them will be the next Google. But, the bloom. The morality of the search like your food, it is really efficient for that is not to say a failed business is not for the bud can only be determined by me to kill you and take your food. But a help. When that new business is not a living the bloom. You have to live the what happens over time, in the long success, society still has benefited from choice to determine its morality. run, when lived? Society loses the abil- the attempt, because now others in the So, how can it be possible to know ity to produce food because the people search know not to go down that same what is the most moral search strategy who have the food or know how to get path. Failure is important feedback

VSOTD.COM 41 when searching. Ideas that fail, whether homage to what has worked in the this planet. That is a lot of searching they be for public policy or for busi- past, the rate at which trials can be that is happening with each of those ness or for academics, benefit everyone produced, and the extent of possibil- bacteria making their way in the world. because they were tried, because they ity, can be used to measure the relative So life itself is the most effective, were lived. Ironically, a high number morality of the actions of both people and therefore the most moral, search of failures is a trait of a moral search and institutions. But why should we methodologist we know about, and strategy, because a high number of fail- trust these metrics? How do we know we’d be wise to imitate her methods. ures usually indicates a high number of they will work, when lived? Life itself defines morality. trials tried. We can trust these metrics because But, but, but. The big question And finally, the example of the we trust life. These metrics came from remains. United States suggests another com- studying the search character of the For who or for what is life searching? mon characteristic of a moral search, best searcher there is, life itself. Life it- The frenetic genetic search. It is beau- and that is freedom. In general, a more self has lived enough searches to know. tiful. It is elegant. It is also mysterious. moral search allows more possibility in Life itself certainly uses what has For who or for what? Life has certainly its results than a less moral search. Ide- worked in the past. We humans, and all already found its share of Food, House, ally, in fact, all possibilities are reach- of life, are constructed with what has Job, and Mate. able. The randomness of the beginner worked. Each encounter with danger, We can go further. Since life is is needed. I said earlier that searching each lucky find, each right or wrong a part of the universe, evolved by for an apartment only in Sacramento turn conspired to bring us to now. We the universe, a search engine for the will prohibit finding an apartment in are here because we work. Yeast and universe, for who or for what is the Paris. A more moral version of that humans share 50% of their genome. universe searching? search would emphasize searching Humans are constructed with yeast As promised, a theory of God be- in Sacramento, but allow searching because yeast works. comes possible. anywhere, including Paris. We see that And look at the variety and quantity “God is that which searches.” same allowing of possibility in the mo- of life on the planet today and in the But. We have evidence that if it is rality of killing. We mostly do not allow fossil record. The quantity suggests life God who is doing the searching, God the killing of another human being, is good at producing trials; the variety has not yet found for who or for what but most people will say that under the suggests the freedom of life’s search. God is searching. After all, we ourselves right circumstances, killing is allowed. Each species an experiment. Each are evidence of a search in progress. Self-defense is an example, war is an- individual animal or plant, dog, or iris, So we are left with. other, and there are others. a trial. Each of you here is a trial, a “God is that which yearns.” The three metrics of a moral search search, an attempt. Good Luck. There God yearns. just explored, namely, the degree of are 1800 trillion pounds of bacteria on Thank you. WINNER: RHETORIC AND COMMUNICATION “Speechwriting: An Anglo-American Perspective”

Written and delivered by Hal Gordon, Delivered at the British Consuate General, Freelance Speechwriter Houston, March 22, 2017

n the “Adventure of the Bach- country …. under a flag which shall be gathered at a very dramatic juncture in Ielor”—one of Sir Arthur Conan a quartering of the Union Jack with the history Anglo-American relations. Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories—the the Stars and Stripes.” In particular, there is the prospect of great detective says this to an American Well, we have still not seen the quar- a major new bilateral trade agreement visitor to England: tering of the Union Jack with the Stars between Britain and America. The “It is always a joy to meet an and Stripes. U.S. is Britain’s second-largest trading American, Mr. Moulton … For I am But that does not change the fact that partner—after Germany. one of those who believe that the folly Anglo-American relations are of vital The U.K. is America’s seventh- of a monarch and the blundering of importance—to Britain and America, largest trading partner overall, and a minister in far-gone years will not and I daresay to the world at large. first-largest trading partner in services. prevent our children from being some In the aftermath of Brexit and the Britain is also America’s largest direct day citizens of the same world-wide election of Donald Trump, we are investor. Roughly one million Ameri-

CICERO 2018 42 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS can jobs depend on British companies Years ago, I heard one of President “fourscore”—which was old-fashioned based in America. Clinton’s speechwriters give a speech. even 1863. It’s the language of the So it was not a coincidence that the He said something about working with King James Bible. Prime Minister Teresa May was the first Bill Clinton that bothered me at the Kennedy used a rhetorical device foreign leader to meet with President time, and has bothered me ever since. called “antithesis”—which means the Trump after he took office in January. He said that Mr. Clinton told him balancing of contrasting ideas: “Ask Good relations between Britain and that he wanted to have “conversations” not what your country can do for you, America are as important now as they with his audiences. ask what you can do for your country.” ever were. As Mr. Clinton put it: “I don’t want In other words, they used rheto- Good relations depend on good to speak to people, I want to talk to ric—which is the art of using language communications. them.” effectively and persuasively. That’s why your work is impor- Now, on the surface, that sounds And so did Bill Clinton—regardless tant—and that’s why we’re here today. admirable. of what he told his speechwriters. If I’m told that most of you are Ameri- Mr. Clinton wanted to “talk” to you read his major presidential ad- can–some are British. I understand people—to communicate with them in dresses, you’ll see this. that most of you are press and PR plain language, without any artifice or Now some of you may say, what officers at British consulates in the U.S., rhetorical devices. about Donald Trump? All he does is and some of you are based in Canada But is this really what we want from talk to people—and a lot of the time he and Mexico. our leaders? doesn’t even talk in complete sentences. I’m also told that Sophie Adel- I mean, if it’s “talk” you want, you OK, fair point. But look at his inau- man—who invited me to speak to you can go to the barber shop, right? gural address. Even better—look at his today—is the only fulltime speechwrit- By and large, “talk” is not what first speech to Congress. That’s easily er in your network. people expect from a leader—or from the best speech he’s given so far. Even The rest of you write speeches and any speaker for that matter. Donald Trump uses rhetoric. op/eds for your respective Consul Imagine Lincoln at Gettysburg, de- I will come back to that later. Generals as part of your other duties. ciding that he wanted to “talk” to the What about this occasion? Suppose In other words, you are all writers— people. Suppose he had said, “Eighty- I just talked to you. Suppose I turned and, I’m sure, good writers—but you seven years ago, a bunch of really cool up today prepared to do nothing more are not full-time speechwriters. guys got together to make a country. than reel off a few war stories from my So Sophie wanted me to come and This country was going to be a place speechwriting career? share with you some of the tricks I’ve founded on freedom where everybody I could have done that—but I think learned in my over 30 years as a profes- would be equal…” you deserve better. sional speechwriter. What did Lincoln actually say? In fact I think that if an occasion I can tell you that I am both pleased Or imagine if 50-some years ago, is worth a speech at all, it’s a time for and honored to do so. I’ve been an John F. Kennedy had decided that speaking and not just “talking.” Anglophile ever since I was a small boy, he wanted to “talk” to the American So, ladies and gentleman, I am here enchanted by the King Arthur stories. people on the occasion of his swearing to speak to you today. I’m here to share I studied in England when I was in as their President. with you some of the secrets of the art in college. I have close friends there, Suppose he had said, “Dudes—ya of speechwriting. and I’ve been back to visit a number can’t just take from America. Ya gotta, Let me begin by demystifying of times. like, give something back once in while, rhetoric. So I’m very proud to be asked to ya know?” The art of rhetoric began in ancient contribute—even in a small way—to What did John Kennedy actually Greece. Why Greece? furthering Anglo-American relations. say? Probably, it was because there were Let’s to business, then. Were Lincoln and Kennedy in- no lawyers in ancient Greece. If you We’ve got an hour. I propose to sincere because they used rhetorical sued someone, or were sued yourself speak for about half that time, and devices rather than just “talking” to (and the Greeks were apparently as liti- then open the floor to you. At that their audiences? gious as we are) you had to plead your point, you’ll be free to ask me anything No. On the contrary, they believed own case in court. you want, whether it’s included in my deeply in what they were saying. They So it is not surprising that the first talk or not. believed so much in their message that schools of rhetoric began in Greece— To begin: What makes a speech they wanted to make it meaningful and and the first textbooks on rhetoric were different from other forms of writing— memorable to their audiences. written in Greek. like a press release or an op/ed? So Lincoln began the Gettysburg The greatest of these textbooks was Is a speech simply a matter of talking? Address with an archaic expression like Aristotle’s On Rhetoric.

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Aristotle said that there were three Sir Nigel began with a brief recap named William Bourke Cockran. ways by which a speaker could move of relations between Britain and Two years ago, at Cambridge Uni- an audience: ethos, logos, and pathos. Texas. He pointed out that 26 of the versity, I gave a talk on the Churchill- Logos and pathos are easy to un- Alamo’s defenders had been Cockran connection. I called it, “The derstand. Logos is logic, and pathos is born in the British Isles. Man Who Made Winston Churchill.” emotion. Then he said that when Texas won I did not exaggerate. Ethos is harder to explain. Essen- its independence from Mexico and To the end of his life, Churchill tially, ethos means building a bond with became a republic, Britain was one of revered Cockran. If you read the full the audience, so that the audience will the few nations to recognize the short- text of Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” trust the speaker and be receptive to lived Texas Republic that lasted from speech—which he gave in 1946—you the speaker’s message. 1836 to 1845. will find a warm tribute to Cockran, I’m going to give you two examples, He added there is a plaque in even though Cockran by then had about 60 years apart, of how two very London today, marking the building been dead over 20 years. different British prime ministers used that housed the Embassy of Texas for Cockran was an Irish immigrant ethos when they addressed a joint ses- those nine years. who became a brilliant trial lawyer sion of the U.S. Congress. Sir Nigel explained that the plaque and a member of Congress. The first example is Winston is difficult to spot because it’s placed Cockran told Churchill that the key Churchill addressing Congress on quite high on the wall. to making a speech or addressing a December 26, 1941, just after America “I understand,” he continued with jury was this: “Make one simple bold entered the Second World War. the hint of a smile, that “this is less a point and keep pounding on it with Churchill reminded his audience reflection of the height of the average many illustrations and examples.” that his mother had been American. Texan …. and more to do with the Churchill not only took this advice And then he said: “I cannot help fact that a number of Texas tourists to heart, he would pass it on to other reflecting that if my father had been … so overcome with pride at finding young, up-and-coming parliamentar- American and my mother British in- their Embassy … tried to take the ians who were struggling to find their stead of the other way around, I might plaque home as a memento.” own voices. have got here on my own.” I was sitting in the audience, and When Harold Macmillan, the You can track down the video of I can tell you how we Texans roared future prime minister, gave his first Churchill’s speech on YouTube, and at that. speech to the House of Commons see for yourselves the laughter and the Ethos, logos and pathos can also be in 1923, he asked Churchill for his warm feelings that this personal remark used in combination. opinion. generated. Lyman Beecher, the great 19th Churchill replied, “Harold, every- The second example is Tony Blair, Century Presbyterian minister, once one in the gallery is saying, ‘Young addressing a joint session of Congress put it this way. He said, “Eloquence is Macmillan’s giving his maiden on July 17, 2003—after the U.S. and logic on fire.” address.’ Then they ask, ‘What’s it Britain had been allies in the war the How do we set our speeches on about?’ And Harold … if you can’t overthrew Saddam Hussein. fire? What are some of the trade say in one sentence what the speech is Mr. Blair also shared something secrets I promised you? about, it is not worth giving.” personal. He said: “My middle son For starters: Writing for the ear is So—keep it simple. was studying 18th century history and very different than writing for the eye. Also, don’t be afraid to repeat. You the American War of Independence It’s a lot more difficult. want to repeat to make sure that the … and he said to me the other day … It’s harder to process information audience gets your message, and you ‘You know, Lord North, Dad? He was through your ears than through your want to repeat for emphasis, to help the British prime minister who lost eyes. So you have to make it as easy drive your point home. us America. So just think … however on your listeners as you can. Think of Dr. Martin Luther King’s many mistakes you’ll make … you’ll You want to keep your speech “I have a dream” speech. “I have a never make one that bad.’” simple; you don’t want to crowd too dream…” repeated over and over. At the risk of belaboring the point, much data into a single speech. And the words don’t lose their power I’ll give one more example of ethos. I’m going to digress for a moment through repetition—they gain. On October 14 of 2010, Sir Nigel and return to Churchill. What else about writing for the ear? Sheinwald, then Britain’s ambassador It is fairly well known that You want to illustrate. You want to to the U.S., gave a speech in Houston. Churchill had an American mother. make facts and figures come alive. It was a speech that was obviously What is very little known is that You’ve all heard the expression, “a the product of some very extensive Churchill learned the art of rhetoric picture is worth a thousand words.” Or, research by the British Embassy staff. from an Irish-American politician “Do I have to draw you a picture?”

CICERO 2018 44 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

Well, yes, actually you do. One of So, do not say, “It is expected Let me make an aside here on the the best ways of making a point in a that…” “It is to be hoped that …” or King James Bible. The King James speech is by drawing a picture with “It is desirable that …” Bible was intended to be read aloud words. Say: We expect, we hope, we want. because most people in 17th Century I’ll give you an example from an Another thing about writing for the England were illiterate. So when the American president not noted for his ear is that we want the sound and the scholars who worked on this version of skills as a speaker—Dwight Eisenhower. rhythm of the words to be pleasing to the Bible finished translating a passage, Here is Eisenhower in 1953, talking our listeners’ ears. what do you think they did? They read about the cost of the arms race with I’m going to give you an example it aloud. Russia: from George Orwell’s marvelous That was the acid test. If it sounded “The cost of one modern heavy little essay, “Politics and the English right, it was right. bomber is this: Language.” Another way you make a speech “A modern brick school in more As one example of good English, sparkle is through the use of alliteration. than 30 cities. Orwell offers a passage from the King You’re all writers—what is allitera- “It is two electric power plants, each James Bible. It’s from Ecclesiastes: tion? It is repeating the same conso- serving a town of 60,000 population. “I returned, and saw under the sun, nant for dramatic impact. “It is two fine, fully-equipped hos- that the race is not to the swift, nor the Consider Abraham Lincoln’s second pitals. battle to the strong, neither yet bread inaugural address: “Fondly we do hope, “It is some 50 miles of concrete to the wise, nor yet riches to men of fervently we do pray, that this mighty highway. understanding, nor yet favor to men of scourge of war may speedily pass “We pay for a single fighter plane skill; but time and chance happeneth to away.” with half a million bushels of wheat. them all.” Whenever I need a recent example “We pay for a single destroyer with And then Orwell proceeds to trans- of alliteration, it’s the easiest thing in new homes that could have housed late this passage of good English into the world to find one. I just go to the more than 8,000 people. what he calls “modern English of the White House website and look up the “This is not a way of life in any true worst sort:” Listen to this: most recent major speech given by the sense. Under the cloud of threaten- “Objective consideration of con- president. And—regardless of who is ing war, it is humanity hanging from a temporary phenomena compels the president at the time—I always find cross of iron.” conclusion that success or failure alliteration. Now the image of humanity hang- in competitive activities exhibits no Even when the president is Donald ing from a cross of iron is a powerful tendency to be commensurate with Trump. one—it’s a sound bite—but it is even innate capacity, but that a consider- Earlier, I mentioned President more powerful coming at the end of able element of the unpredictable must Trump’s speech to Congress in Janu- that series of word pictures. invariably be taken into account.” ary. He used alliteration—or at least his So be sparing with the use of facts You’ve lost your audience before speechwriter did. I quote: and figures, and dramatize them when- you’re halfway through a snorer like “I believe strongly in free trade but ever you can. that! it also has to be fair trade.” At the very least, do not say “This Something else. Let’s go back to Again: “Every hurting family can year, 33.33 percent of all Americans the King James Version—and good find healing and hope.” will suffer from hangnail.” Say instead, English. And again: “We have seen the war “This year alone, one out of every Notice the rhythm of each clause and the destruction that have ravaged three Americans will reach for a pair in that passage from Ecclesiastes: “the and raged throughout the world.” of shears to trim a pesky hangnail.” Do race is not to the swift, nor the battle How do you learn the art of speech- you see the difference? to the strong, neither yet bread to the writing? I would say that the best way You also want to avoid using the wise, nor yet riches to men of under- is to study the best models. passive voice. standing…..” That means studying great speeches, When Winston Churchill (Churchill Notice that every clause but one but I think it also means studying great again) rallied the British people after ends with a single-syllable word. And plays—because great plays are full of Dunkirk during World War II, he said: in the case of the one exception—– great speeches. “We shall fight on the beaches ...” understanding—the beat falls on the Plays are instructive in another way Suppose he had said: “Hostilities last syllable. This is not by accident. as well. will be commenced along the coastal The preacher is literally pounding In writing a play, you have to cut perimeters.” the message home: “not to the swift, not out every line that doesn’t move the If he had, I might be giving this talk to the strong, not to the wise, but time action of the play forward. In writing in German. and chance happeneth to them all.” a speech, you have to cut out every line

VSOTD.COM 45 that doesn’t advance the point you are One last piece of advice. And this line that follows he ratchets up the trying to make. applies to other forms of writing as emotional level another notch, until the Does that mean that when you well as to speechwriting: tension is wound so tight that when he speak you should stick to the facts? Save something good for the end. ends the speech the audience virtually That you should avoid using quotes, When you finish your speech, has to applaud to relieve the emotional poetry, jokes or stories? Not at all. Look you want to do two things. First, you strain. at how often I’ve resorted to quotes want to signal your audience that the Here is Gen MacArthur: and stories in my remarks to you. speaker is coming to the end, so they’ll “The shadows are lengthening But it does mean that if you make be ready to applaud. And you don’t for me. The twilight is here. My days use of quotes, poetry, jokes or stories want to do that by saying something as of old have vanished, tone and tint. you make very sure that they will trite as “In conclusion...” They have gone glimmering through reinforce the point you are trying to Second, you have to give the audi- the dreams of things that were. Their make—and not distract the audience. ence a reason to applaud. You don’t memory is one of wondrous beauty, Actually, stories can be a great way want them to applaud because they feel watered by tears, and coaxed and of making a point in a speech. they have to—or worse, because they caressed by the smiles of yesterday. I Most of the teachings of Jesus feel sorry for the speaker. listen vainly, but with thirsty ears, for have come down to us in the form of You want them to applaud because the witching melody of faint bugles parables—stories. Most great speakers they mean it. blowing reveille, of far drums beat- have been great story-tellers. To do that, you have to give them a ing the long roll. In my dreams I hear Abraham Lincoln was a great story- reason to applaud. again the crash of guns, the rattle of teller. I’m going to give you one of the musketry, the strange, mournful mutter So was Ronald Reagan. Even best examples I know of how to end of the battlefield. Winston Churchill was a story-teller, a speech. The speech is Gen. Douglas “But in the evening of my memory, although we don’t usually associate him MacArthur’s “Duty, Honor, Country” always I come back to West Point. with stories. speech which he gave at West Point in “Always there echoes and re-echoes: Once, just before World War II, 1962. Duty, Honor, Country. Churchill was making the case for Gen. MacArthur was then 82 years “Today marks my final roll call spending more on the Royal Air Force. old—and a national hero. He knew, with you, but I want you to know that He made all the predictable argu- and his audience knew, that this would when I cross the river my last conscious ments about how Britain was being be his last address to the West Point ca- thoughts will be of The Corps, and outspent by Nazi Germany, and the det corps. So at the end of his speech, The Corps, and The Corps. danger that this imbalance posed. he milked the drama of the occasion “I bid you farewell.” He then drove his point home by for all it was worth. Again, MacArthur had wound the telling a story. I’m going to read the ending. And audience so tight that they had to ap- A man got telegram informing him I’m going to ask you to note two things: plaud to relieve the tension. that his mother-in-law had died while First, note the subtle way that Gen. Well, I’ve given you the signal that vacationing in South America. What MacArthur lets the audience know that my own speech is at an end. arrangements did he prefer? He wired he is drawing to a close. Thank you for your attention. I’ll be back: “Embalm, cremate, and bury. Second, once he signals that he’s happy to take your questions. Take no chances!” coming to a close, note how with each

CICERO 2018 46 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: TECHNOLOGY “Living in the Glass Age”

Written by Judith Navoy for Dr. Jeffrey W. Evenson, Delivered via video at International Biennale of Glass, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Corning Incorporated Sofia, Bulgaria, Sept. 30, 2017

ello. I’m Jeff Evenson, and I’m only recently entered the Glass Age. I’ll some examples of the technical proper- Hhonored to participate at the end my prepared remarks with some ties of glass that may surprise you. International Biennale of Glass and examples of new glass-based technolo- For example, glass is one of the speak with you about a topic I’m pas- gies that Corning and other innovators world’s most stable and enduring engi- sionate about. are bringing to life. neering materials. I’m Senior Vice President and Chief So, what is glass? Silica glasses get their stability from Strategy Officer for Corning Incorpo- At its core, glass is quite simple. It a continuous network of silicon-oxygen rated, which is headquartered in Corn- consists mainly of silica, in the form of bonds. These bonds remain intact from ing, New York. I’m also Chairman of sand. But glass is not a single mate- the time the component sand is mined the Corning Museum of Glass. These rial—it is a diverse family of materials. through the life cycle of the material. positions give me a unique perspective By adding different elements, you can That’s why glass objects endure for on glass from both a technology and an dramatically change its properties— centuries. In contrast, metals corrode, artistic perspective. and thereby tune its capabilities for and plastics disintegrate and generate I think most of you are familiar with different applications. toxic chemicals when they burn. the Corning Museum of Glass. For Let’s talk about some of the inher- Let’s consider an example. those of you who aren’t familiar with ent and achievable properties that Have any of you heard people say Corning Incorporated, we are a world make glass so special. that glass windows in medieval cathe- leader in glass science and related I’m sure you already appreciate its drals are slightly thicker at the bottom capabilities. aesthetic properties. For more than 3000 than at the top because of relaxation For 165 years, we’ve applied our years, artists have used glass because over the centuries? The reality is, it expertise in advanced glass, ceram- of how it forms, how it feels, how it would take 20 trillion times the age ics, and optical physics to solve tough handles light, and how it takes on color. of the earth for gravity to create a technology challenges and transform But glass is also remarkable because visible change in the thickness of a industries. of its technical attributes. glass window. Our innovations include the first No one understood that better than Next, glass is virtually impermeable. glass bulbs for Thomas Edison’s elec- Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brych- It’s been used for thousands of years as tric light, the substrates at the heart of tova, who set new artistic and technical a container because of its effectiveness catalytic converters, and the first low- directions for glass art and industry in at protecting contents from contamina- loss optical fiber. We have a long track the Czech Republic and, ultimately, for tion by the surrounding environment. record of developing life-changing glass artists around the world. A molecule of oxygen takes about two technologies. But I’m not here to talk From new methods for casting weeks to pass through a piece of high- about my company. Today, I’d like to architectural glass… to the spec- tech plastic one-millimeter thick. That talk about the life-changing material tacular optical effects they created by same oxygen molecule would take 10 at the center of this event, and at the varying the density of the glass and quintillion years to pass through one center of the work we do at Corning. modulating the filtration of light… millimeter of silica glass! Now, Corn- Glass is arguably one of the most to the sense of interior volume they ing’s glass scientists are sticklers for transformative materials of all time. produced from the use of thick cast precision. But even our most senior And today, it’s changing the game for glass… They always balanced art and glass fellow was comfortable rounding a broad range of industries including technique in their work, and under- that number to “never.” consumer electronics, telecommunica- stood that the improvement of techni- Glass also features unprecedented tions, life sciences, architecture, trans- cal skills could create new possibilities transparency, which makes it uniquely portation, energy, and more. for artists. effective for optical and RF transmis- I’d like to start by describing the Similarly, at Corning, we believe sion. The glass used for optical fiber is properties that make glass such an ex- that an understanding of artistic prin- more than 30 times as transparent as traordinary material. Next, I’ll review ciples can create new possibilities for the purest water and only about 1% some of the revolutions that glass has technology. I’ll return to that thought less transmissive than air on a clear spawned, and explain why I believe we in a minute. But first, I want to share day. If the ocean were made of the

VSOTD.COM 47 glass used in optical fiber, you would incorporate windows into their homes the presence of microscopic silver and be able to clearly see the bottom from to let in light, while keeping out cold, gold particles. every point on its surface. wind, and rain. When monks used early spectacles And despite its reputation for being The invention of the telescope in as reading aids, they didn’t understand fragile, glass can be engineered to be the early 17th century expanded our how the eye refracts light and focuses incredibly strong and damage resistant. understanding of the universe in which images. Scientists estimate glass’s theoretical we live. When Murano glassmakers created strength at more than 15 Gigapas- The development of the microscope extraordinarily clear crystal in the 15th cals. Now, I realize there may be a enabled the discovery of the cell, bac- century by melting river stones with few people in the audience who don’t teria, and viruses, leading to life-saving plant ash, they almost certainly didn’t measure things in Pascals. So I have an vaccines and antibiotics. understand how silica interacted with analogy that might help. Glass mirrors led to the formal sodium and manganese. Imagine a scale that measures the use of linear perspective during the People believed that magic was pressure under an elephant’s foot. To Renaissance… behind all these creations. get this scale to read one Gigapas- and encouraged artists such as Rem- Today, we’ve replaced magic with cal, you would need to stack 10,000 brandt to paint self-portraits. science. elephants on top of each other. Now, The development of tempered glass We understand how different for- since I’m not there in person, I’m un- in the early 1900s led to safer military mulation and fabrication techniques able to stack 10,000 elephants for you, gear and automotive windshields. determine the atomic state and struc- so I won’t be demonstrating this point Glass lenses and picture tubes cre- ture of a glass. That allows us to pre- today. But later in my talk, I will give ated major shifts in popular culture by cisely control its mechanical, thermal you a different demonstration of how enabling photography, motion pictures, and optical properties. Our under- strong glass can be. and television. standing of glass physics and chem- Finally, glass is incredibly versatile, And the invention of low-loss opti- istry also reduces our dependence on which creates tremendous possibilities cal fiber in 1970 created the backbone serendipity and time-consuming trial- from both an artistic and an engineer- of the Internet and ushered in a com- and-error experimentation. We now ing perspective. Artists can mold, munications revolution. use sophisticated modeling techniques cast, blow, or draw glass to create the I think you’ll agree that’s a pretty to predict how a glass will behave. desired shape, because its viscosity impressive list. In light of glass’s long This knowledge has dramatically ac- decreases in a smooth and continuous history and profound impact on the celerated the design and development manner with increasing temperature, world already, why do we believe we of new industrial glasses. unlike materials that have abrupt tran- are living in the Glass Age today? In the past ten years alone, glass sitions from solid to liquid or gas. One reason is the ubiquity of glass scientists have unleashed capabilities And as I noted earlier, scientists and and its central role in our day-to-day that we could only dream of a few engineers can create a nearly infinite lives. We interact with glass screens on decades ago. [As I noted in the begin- range of new glasses by combining our computers and smart phones, take ning of my remarks, Corning has a silica with different elements from the pictures through glass lenses, trans- 165-year history of glass innovations; Periodic Table. To date, scientists have mit and receive information via glass yet some of our most recent break- added about 50 other elements to silica fibers, protect materials in glass covers throughs have happened in relatively glass to create unique compositions. and containers, and incorporate deco- quick succession. But we’re just getting started. rative and functional glass elements In the past decade, Corning sci- That brings us to the end of the first into our homes. entists have developed chemically section of my remarks. I’ve described But the main reason I believe this is strengthened glass that can withstand what glass is, and illustrated some of the Glass Age is because of the journey the impact of a baseball travelling at the features that make it really cool. we’ve made from magic to science… more than 56 kilometers per hour. And with capabilities like that, it’s not and from science back to magic. Let Let’s take a look. surprising that glass has already had a me explain. That’s conventional soda-lime glass profound impact on the world. For centuries, the Lycurgus Cup on the left and Corning’s chemically The development of spectacles confounded observers with its mys- strengthened Gorilla glass on the right. in the 13th century allowed monks terious ability to appear jade-green Both are 1 millimeter thick. Quite a to copy and study religious texts and when lit from the front and ruby-red difference, huh? helped popularize reading following when lit from the inside. The cup was We’ve also created flexible glass that the invention of the printing press. created in the 4th century, but people is slimmer than a dollar bill. The development of crown glass didn’t understand until relatively Did you ever think you’d see glass in the 14th century allowed people to recently that the effect was caused by that could do this?

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And we’ve developed antimicrobial We’ve developed microperforated Now, those are some of the applica- glass that suppresses the growth of glass panels that absorb sound and tions you’re likely to see and experience mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria. eliminate echo. in the very near future. But there are Of course, we’re not the only ones The front pane has tiny holes in it; also many exciting glass developments forging new frontiers in glass. The back pane does not. Together, going on behind the scenes to solve For example, the VTT Technical they form a resonant cavity that dis- some of our world’s toughest problems. Research Centre of Finland has cre- sipates energy as air passes in and out As we strive to meet the needs of ated smart lenses that use optical light- of the holes. Absorption is controlled an aging population, glass enables new guides to display large, high-quality by the hole shape, cavity spacing, and tools for biomedical discovery and drug images that augment reality. hole pattern. delivery. As we try to make our envi- And scientists at Mo-Sci Corpora- Lastly, a common complaint about ronment greener, glass enables solar tion in Missouri have developed bioac- glass—and many other construction technologies to provide cleaner energy. tive glasses that heal flesh wounds by and design materials—is the expense of As we continue to improve the way stimulating the body’s natural defenses. transporting it and the need to process we interact with the world and each Pretty cool, huh? it at specialized facilities. Remember other, glass can enable communications The futurist Arthur C. Clark famous- that ultra slim, flexible glass I showed with unlimited bandwidth. And as we ly remarked, “Any sufficiently advanced you a moment ago? That glass has dissolve the boundaries between the technology is indistinguishable from multiple applications for interior design, physical and virtual world, glass can magic.” And I think the latest glass in- including backsplashes, modular wall enable new display technologies for novations are proving his point. panels, or as a laminate over materials augmented and virtual reality. So, let’s bring it closer to home, and like stainless steel to make them scratch Ultimately, glass is enabling a world talk about some glass innovations that resistant and easier to clean. with cleaner air, more effective medi- are likely to impact your lives in the The laminates are light weight, cine, richer entertainment experiences, near future. which reduces shipping costs, but and more efficient communication. I assume many of you are interested they’re also extremely durable. And And I think that’s a world we all want. in architecture. you can use ordinary construction tools So what will it take to realize the Glass, of course, has played an im- like wet saws to cut the glass on-site. potential of The Glass Age? Some of portant role in architecture historically. That means no more waiting for the answers won’t surprise you. I don’t think any of us can imagine custom orders. Let’s take a look. Partnerships are vital. This is some- our homes without windows. And the Here you’re seeing a sheet of ultra- thing that Libensky and Brychtova architect Le Corbusier once called slim glass that has been laminated to understood extremely well. Theirs, of glass “the most miraculous means of stainless steel. course, is one of the most enduring restoring the law of the sun.” As you can see, the glass does not and successful artistic partnerships of But glass has also been criticized shatter when cut. the last century. But they also found a for its limits. Let’s consider a few. We Let’s look at a few more examples of way to work effectively within signifi- talked about transparency earlier. Of what it means to be living in the Glass cant geopolitical constraints by part- course, glass can run the gamut from Age. nering with other artists, educators, transparent to opaque. But the opacity Infotainment walls are dissolving the and industry. As a result, they created is generally fixed. boundaries between the real and the opportunities that would not have been Today, a company named View virtual by integrating digital content, possible working in isolation. is changing that with electrochromic social networking, and home and office We need to build bridges in the windows that transition from transpar- management capabilities. global glass community between cor- ent to opaque on demand. This allows Interactive retail windows are bridg- porations, universities, and professional us to eliminate the use of shades. More ing the gap between online shopping associations. We need faculty and men- importantly, it allows us to continuously and brick & mortar stores, while digital tors that create excitement about glass experience all the benefits of win- fitting rooms allow customers to experi- technologies to ensure a strong pipeline dows and natural light such as greater ment virtually. of students interested in pursuing glass productivity in workplaces and health- Smart hubs are becoming a reality research. And we need to create col- ier environments in hospitals, while in the home, allowing you to control laborations with hardware companies increasing our comfort and reducing appliances, manage calendars, and dis- and software developers; information energy consumption. play images on customizable interfaces. and entertainment content providers; Another limitation on glass as an And cars are becoming cleaner, saf- health and human services providers; architectural component has been its er, and more connected, thanks to glass artists and designers; retailers and more. acoustic properties –specifically, the that is lightweight, damage –resistant, We need a healthy supply of fund- unwanted reflection of sounds. and optimized for touch technology. ing from government agencies and the

VSOTD.COM 49 private sector, and we need to make glass—the way it forms, feels, handles because of the positive effect that it has sure that the distribution of funding light, and takes on color. Those fea- on our people. and research is weighted toward the tures are not only beautiful, they create So my question to you is: How do fields that offer the greatest benefits to powerful emotional connections. This we not only take advantage of the society. But we need to balance applied is something I experience firsthand on problem-solving capabilities of this research with exploratory research and a regular basis. material set, but also get to the heart to allow scientists the opportunity for As Chairman, I spend a lot of time of humans’ fundamental connection self-directed projects, because that can at the Corning Museum of Glass, and reaction to glass? How can we take lead to the biggest breakthroughs. including the new Contemporary Art this technological moment and cre- But perhaps the greatest challenge and Design Wing. I am constantly ate a human moment that helps make is one that you can help us with. We’re inspired and moved by these pieces of the world a more stirring and moving pretty good at the technology side of art, and I see visitors have the same place? I believe that’s the real promise things. But in many ways, our story is reaction. Corning Incorporated’s of the Glass Age, and we welcome still missing the human case. headquarters also features glass art your ideas. Earlier in my remarks, I mentioned throughout the building, because of Thank you. some of the aesthetic properties of our appreciation for its beauty and WINNER: ANALYST CALL/INVESTOR MEETING “Invest. Grow. Deliver.”

Written by Dean Foust for David Abney, Delivered at 2017 UPS Investors Conference, Chairman and CEO, UPS Feb. 21, 2017

ood morning, everyone. What’s more, we delivered on • We completed the first phase of G Today, we’ll share with you those goals while embarking on the ORION, generating more than $400 our vision for the next three years and most sweeping transformation of our million in annual cost savings and beyond. network in decades—a global trans- avoidance. You’ll hear how we are investing in formation that will enable us to take • What’s more, ORION was not a the next generation of our network—a advantage of new growth markets one-off project, but part of an integrat- smart logistics network that will fuel the and create greater efficiency in our ed IT ecosystem that will support new next era of growth at UPS and enable existing business. levels of efficiency and growth. us to deliver the returns you expect. We’re upgrading and investing Now, we’ve heard from investors Indeed, those three words serve as aggressively in new sorting capacity, that you want to know more about the touchstones that drive our every new automation, and new capabilities. how we plan to deploy additional decision: We’re investing in new flexibility even capital to maintain long-term profit- Invest; as we’re bending the cost curve. ability. Grow; and Two years ago, I said we were put- Today, we’ll discuss our plan to Deliver. ting a renewed emphasis on growth increase our capacity while generat- When we met at our last Investor and we have. ing approximately $800 million to Conference in late 2014 we promised to To extend our capabilities, we have $1 billion in annual cost savings and grow our business; maintain the highest announced 10 acquisitions and strate- avoidance when we finish in three to operating margin and highest return on gic partnerships with game-changing five years. invested capital in the industry; and to companies. We have invested more We will continue to create value deliver strong shareholder returns. than $5 billion to expand, automate for our shareowners and maintain Here’s our scorecard: and optimize our integrated global our capital discipline with the highest • Total company operating income network. return on capital and highest margins has risen 14 percent to more than $8 And those investments are paying in our industry. billion off: We’ve been re-assessing every ele- • We returned 108 percent of our • Since we met in late 2014, we’ve ment of our operations—our product net income to shareholders, and recorded eight consecutive quarters mix, our investment levels and our • Our return on invested capital of double-digit growth in our interna- pricing. I am confident you’ll see that remains the industry standard tional operating profits. we’re moving in the right direction.

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Looking back, we’ve been well Expanding our Saturday services Our global operating model has aware that having the world’s largest, will allow us to provide new levels of evolved to serve multi-nationals and most-efficient and most-integrated customer service. Saturday deliveries small- and mid-sized businesses that network has enabled us to maintain will also free up more ground capacity also want to ship regionally and locally. industry-leading margins … during the first half of the week. In fact, about 85 percent of our … even as our industry has been That expands our delivery capacity Europe business stays on the continent buffeted by a global recession, volatile with no incremental capital investment. and about 70 percent of our interna- oil prices, shifts in trade driven by cur- It also maintains the flexibility to take tional revenue comes from volume that rency and demand swings, expansion advantage of new opportunities that never touches U.S. soil. in trade, and the political uncertainties come our way. We look forward to expanding our that have left businesses reluctant to Let’s talk further about automation. International footprint through organic invest. Today, roughly 40 percent of eligible growth, partnerships and acquisitions. By looking forward, we realize that volume in the U.S. moves through You’ll hear more about this in the com- to seize the opportunities before us and selected sites with high levels of automa- ing months. to achieve new levels of efficiency we tion. But we’ve only just begun investing There’s no ignoring the fact that need to bend the cost curve further— significantly in automating our facilities. e-commerce is having a profound effect and we need to raise our investments By 2021, we will have implemented not just on retail, but on all of busi- above recent levels. high levels of automation in every eli- ness as more and more companies start So for the next few years, we are gible location throughout the country. distributing directly to customers. ramping up our investments in auto- And given the ongoing improvements We believe the shift online is per- mation, technology and capacity to in robotics and technology, we expect manent. build the smart logistics network of the to add new automated capabilities In fact, the trend is accelerating future. along the way. and as a result we’ve embarked on a We are increasing our investment in Think of it as the next generation multi-year journey to create profitable fast-growing segments like healthcare, of the UPS network—a smart, efficient solutions that enable us to lean in to manufacturing and in e-commerce and integrated network. this future growth—serving retailers, solutions for our B-to-C (business-to- This isn’t just a U.S. story, either. manufacturers and other businesses. consumer) and our B-to-B (business- All around the world, we’re build- The good news is that as we ride the to business) customers. We are also ing out our network—deepening and wave of e-commerce, the investments making acquisitions and entering into widening the services we provide in we’re making in capacity and in new partnerships that extend our capabili- fast-growing markets. solutions will benefit all of our custom- ties significantly. In fact, in 2016 our four fastest- ers—regardless of industry. Over the next several years, we growing markets included China, Viet- That’s important because just as will transform UPS to achieve new nam, Pakistan and the United Arab e-commerce has changed consumer levels of efficiency, connectivity and Emirates—each of which recorded expectations, the Internet is changing growth. This will enable us to serve our double-digit growth. B-to-B procurement. customers with a smart, integrated and Collectively, the 15 developed and The other good news is that adding innovative logistics network that our emerging markets we’ve prioritized more efficiency and technology in our competitors cannot match. offer between $120 billion and $130 integrated network will create more And we’ll do this by maximizing billion in opportunity across all of our density on our routes, lower our oper- the strength of our balance sheet to in- business units. ating costs and bolster our returns. crease total investment and the power UPS is at the forefront of global In summary, we are making these of our network to enhance our portfo- trade. Over the last decade, global investments to increase the efficiency, lio and service offerings. exports have grown at a 3.5 percent the capacity and the profitability of our Understanding the market dynam- compounded annual rate while UPS network. ics and our customers’ expectations is exports grew at double that rate. We are investing so we grow and critical. And we’ve helped deliver that deliver for our shareowners. As part of our service expansion growth around the world. I am confident you’ll see how we’re today, I am happy to announce that We are committed to helping our transforming our operations. This we’re launching Saturday ground oper- customers navigate the complexity in transformation will create great op- ations in the U.S. on a rolling basis with global trade and take advantage of the portunities for our customers and our plans to reach a significant percentage opportunity that comes with opening investors. of the U.S. population later this year. up markets. Thank you.

VSOTD.COM 51 WINNER: COMMENCEMENT/CONVOCATION ADDRESS “Gold in the Bushes”

By Jerry Wohletz for Dr. Gary Roberts, President, Delivered at Texas A&M College of Dentistry, American Dental Association Dallas, May 23, 2017

ean Wolinsky, faculty, guests and two dollars an ounce back then, hell, more than a practice. It has given me Dgraduates, thank you for inviting we had no money, let alone money to purpose.” me to share this day with you. buy more gold. So down I went into Purpose. What that means to me is Forty years ago, I sat in the audito- the bushes. that what you choose to do with your rium of Gaston Avenue Baptist Church I found that little piece of gold. degree matters. Being a dentist matters. anxiously awaiting my turn to walk My grandfather told me when I was It matters today like it mattered across the stage to receive my diploma very young, “Life’s not fair, get over it.” when I graduated because you have from your predecessor institution, Bay- The fair comes in September and lasts the opportunity to help people. You lor College of Dentistry. My family sat two weeks and it’s got a Ferris Wheel will make a decent living, but you’ll in the audience, some not quite believ- and this isn’t it. That’s one lesson we also get the satisfaction of knowing ing that I could make it from the cotton were taught over and over in dental that you helped someone out of a fields of west Texas to this point. My school. But it also taught us resilience. problem and you actually did some life, and that of my wife Teresa, was Resiliency was, and still is, some- good in this world. about to change. Hopefully with great thing they teach you, albeit in a kinder, I remember a lot of my patients. success. gentler manner. I bet you all feel like A lot of them came to me when they This is a speech about change and you’ve just run a marathon. The pace were kids, really young kids, and now success, and we’re celebrating both of dental school is exhausting, the they’re 50. I had patients that came today. And it is a speech about how stress overwhelming. And I have good to me when they were teenagers, and the two are related. I’ll say from the news and I have bad news. The good when they grew up they brought their start that I don’t think you can achieve news is that as a result of that experi- children to me. That’s purpose. success without first learning to how to ence you’re better equipped to keep Some of them have even become deal with change. that pace than you probably realize. dentists, and that’s really gratifying… I have to say, it’s great to be here And the bad news is, if you’re doing it especially when you can’t get your own with you in Dallas. I grew up in Texas, right, the feeling doesn’t go away. kids to do it because they tell you that on a farm not far from Lubbock. It was Dentistry isn’t an easy career. You’ll you work too hard. the driest, dustiest place on Earth. And face roadblocks that you’ll be powerless Hearing Christina talk about this is where I went to dental school. It to change. Patients who come to you turning adversity into purpose re- is bittersweet being back. for treatment but don’t practice home minds me that spinning your wheels Sweet because when I left that farm care, or who are convinced that flossing trying to change things that can’t be at 17 years old, broke as an iPhone is a hoax. Hiring and firing people— changed—like growing up in a tough dropped in a parking lot, dental school two of the hardest things you’ll do as neighborhood or on a farm you want was just a pipe dream. Except for my business owners, not to mention learn- to leave—is a waste of time. Instead, wife Teresa and my kids, dental school ing about regulations and accounting. focus energy on what you can change. was the best thing that ever happened What sets successful dentists apart If you do that, you’ll find something to me. from unsuccessful ones is their ability more valuable than a career. You’ll find And also bitter, because, well, dental to confront change, and not be immo- purpose, and you’ll find success. school was different back then. bilized by it. Turns out there are endless op- We had one crown and bridge Last fall I met Christina Rosenthal, portunities to make changes in your professor, and his office was on the a dentist in Memphis, Tennessee. She work and your life, and it’s up to you to third floor. And if he didn’t like your told a story about how she grew up in a decide what kind of dentist you will be. wax pattern he would crush it. If he poverty-stricken area of Memphis, was What will you do with your degree? didn’t like your cast crown, he would raised by a single mother, and raised a The fact is, your degree comes with just throw it out the window. And you toddler throughout dental school. She great responsibility. Society looks to would be down in the bushes looking told me, “Statistically, I was never sup- you to be leaders, and it expects you to for that little piece of gold. posed to become a dentist.” be involved in things that improve the He threw mine out the window Then she said something that struck area that you live in. To those whom once, and even though gold was thirty- a chord in me: “Dentistry has given me much is given, much is expected.

CICERO 2018 52 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

But what I hope you won’t do is be it wouldn’t set up before you could get I’m proud of my career, but the pushed around by societies’ expecta- it in the mouth. thing I’m most proud of in my life is tions about what it means to live a When we started using CEREC my family. Family is everything to me. purposeful life, because society is going crowns, they kind of fit like socks on a There are a lot of accomplishments to tell you to do things that may not rooster. And now, you’re getting preci- that I could name in this world, but matter to you. Some will tell you that sion margins. they don’t mean anything to me with- success is the size of your practice or I found that one of the most mean- out my family. My wife and I said early the car you drive or the house you live ingful ways I could change dentistry on, “If we can raise a child who can be in. Some might say that success is the for the better was by getting involved a good citizen, and leave this world bet- amount of care you donate, or the in organized dentistry. Building and ter off, we’ve had a successful life.” number of people you help. Each of marketing a practice, staying up-to- We’ve raised two sons, and we have those might be part of your success, date on science after you leave school, a magnificent daughter-in-law and a but it shouldn’t define it. is a lot easier with tools and support. beautiful grandson. Don’t let the person sitting next As President of the American Dental Without a doubt, dentistry helped to you tell you what your success will Association, I’ve been able to help me to do that. It gave me a job where I look like. Instead set high expectations 161,000 of my colleagues—and your could be with my children, coach t-ball for yourself. Always expect more from colleagues, too—build successful and football and baseball. I could sched- yourself than you do from anyone else, practices by lobbying Congress to keep ule my patients to allow me to do that. because you’re the only one who can oral health protections for children Graduates, we are so proud of you. control you. and families in the health care law, by Be proud of what you do. How many Young doctors, I’m jealous. I’m fighting for increases in funding for professions can alleviate pain virtually jealous because the potential to do oral health research, and fighting to get immediately? How many professions transformative work in dentistry has rid of unnecessary and burdensome can change a patient’s self-image in never been greater than it is right now, regulations. one or two appointments? With your and that’s mostly driven by technol- That’s been extremely satisfying. And dental degrees, go out and do great ogy. You will do things in your career I hope that each of you will choose to work and leave the world a better that I never even dreamed of. No one get involved with the ADA and take place. Figure out what’s most impor- in my class would have ever thought advantage of the tools that are available tant to you, and make it your priority that you could make an impression to you, and add your voice to the chorus or make it your purpose. with a scanning wand. We would use that’s advocating for dental education, And stay resilient. Never stop look- that rubber base impression material patients, and dentists. ing for that little gold crown in the and hope it wasn’t too hot that day so I’ll close with one final thought. bushes. WINNER: EMPLOYEE MEETING “Why the University of Florida Matters So Much to So Many”

By Chris Moran for Jack Payne, Senior Vice President for Delivered via video at Extension Professional Associations of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Florida Florida Annual Conference, Fort Myers, Florida, Aug. 31, 2017

ood morning everyone! he doesn’t like what I’m saying! Also, I portunity to tell the IFAS story directly G I am sorry not to be with you miss all the fun of EPAF week. I don’t to the men and women who govern all this year! Unfortunately, the Board get to spend currency with my own of Florida’s public universities. of Governors is meeting on campus picture on it at the IFAS Bookstore. I It’s a story of how we can’t be a truly at the same time and the President don’t get to hear Doug Mayo whoop- great university unless we have great has asked me to host them for din- ing in my ear at the auction to spend men and women like you delivering our ner. However, I never want to miss a money with Ben Franklin’s picture on science to the people of our state. chance to tell you how much Exten- it! And I don’t get to catch up with so I continue to be impressed with sion means to IFAS, and how much it many Extension heroes in the hallways the educational backgrounds of our means to the University of Florida, so and at the meals. County Extension faculty. For ex- this video will have to do. Among the things that I will be ample, look at the team we’ve got I don’t like doing it this way. For telling the Board of Governors is how in Sarasota County: 4 doctorates, a one, Nick can pull the plug on me if important your work is. It’s a rare op- soon-to-be-minted doctorate, and 4

VSOTD.COM 53 faculty with master’s degrees. All in for preeminence, UF can’t be a great to find his credit report, he could not one office! university without a great Extension remember answers to confidentiality Speaking of advanced degrees, I Service. questions, so they couldn’t do it online. want to take this opportunity to be How could you measure the value It was a laborious slog of paperwork. the first person to publicly introduce of what Suwannee County CED Josh would forget so much of what had FAMU Extension’s Sandy Thompson Katherine Allen did to make a couple’s happened the previous day. Lisa had to as “DOCTOR Sandra Thompson.” 50th anniversary extra special? Patty walk him through it again and again, She earned her doctorate about two Brickles enrolled in Katherine’s weight like Groundhog Day. months ago. loss class. Patty wanted to look good for But they finally got his credit report Dr. Thompson, as a Community a ceremony in which she and her hus- and corrected errors in it. Lisa connect- Resource Development program leader, band would renew their wedding vows. ed Josh with a master money mentor connected Donnell Davis with no-cost A few weeks before the big day, who was a local banker. Josh ultimately landscaping for his new business in the Patty was 40 pounds lighter than her got a loan to buy and repair a home. city of Madison. She didn’t stop there. pre-IFAS weight. She walked into a And it’s close enough to his new job She showed up and got dirty helping bridal store and found a gold dress that he can get there without driving. A him put it in. Now, she’s helping him for her golden anniversary that she total turnaround from the man who was hunt for resources to expand the busi- couldn’t possibly have fit into before homeless before he met Lisa. ness to include a grocery store. she met Katherine. To you livestock agents out there, This is the first development in She wore that dress to the ceremony. you can probably guess which agent Madison’s Georgetown community And she invited Katherine. When says, “I love this part of my job, the in 40 years. And it’s in a food desert. friends and family complimented Patty blood and guts part of it.” When Lind- Dr. Thompson’s inspiring work is a on how good she looked that day, Patty sey Wiggins of Hendry County is on reminder of the great UF/FAMU told them that Katherine was respon- a ranch looking for weeds, doing soils partnership that helps the Florida sible, that she couldn’t have done it analysis, or talking about how much Extension Service reach virtually every without her. molasses to give the cows, she looks at corner of this huge state. Then there’s David Holmes in the sky. If she sees buzzards, she gal- At UF we have a president who Marion County. David has saved a lot lops off looking for a carcass. appreciates the value of Extension. of broken bones, and maybe even a life. When she finds it, she examines it This is, after all, the fourth land-grant He showed up at a track where jockeys for tell-tale signs of panther predation. university for President Fuchs. As he were getting thrown from horses. The She takes pictures. Sometimes she even mentioned last year in Daytona, we’ve track had several circles of stunted turf. skins the animal. And she calls the only had two previous presidents who To the horses, these looked like holes, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation had worked at any land-grants prior to and the animals would slide to a sudden Commission, whose officials ask her leading UF. halt, catapulting their riders up and off. further questions about what she sees. You might also remember that he With the help of Laurie Trenholm, As a result, last year the first rancher in talked about seven big goals for the who diagnosed the turf disease, Holmes her multicounty area got a government decade ahead. He singled this one out: came up with an inexpensive solution. check for a documented calf kill, and “A strengthened public engagement of He recommended altering the fertil- there are plenty more in the pipeline. the university’s programs with local, izer schedule, limiting traffic on the That saves ranchers from monetary national and international communi- turf, sharpening mowing blades, and losses when non-paying customers like ties.” That sounds to me like the very even prescribing what height the grass panthers eat their calves. It also saves definition of Extension. should be before it’s cut. Now the horses panthers by offering a way out of the Since he last spoke to you, Dr. Fuchs run the whole circuit without getting dilemma of cat versus cow. has visited the UF/IFAS St. Lucie spooked. No more flying jockeys. Like Lindsey, many of you have County and Volusia County Exten- In Volusia County, a man named close relationships with local Farm sion Offices. He’s still saying he’ll get Josh suffered a traumatic brain injury Bureau members. These are some of to all 67! I’m going to turn up the heat in a car accident. That started a down- our most important stakeholders, and on him a bit. If he doesn’t pick up the ward spiral as he first lost his job, and last year when Nick went on a listening pace, I’m going to tell him I’ve asked eventually his home. He was living on session tour, he heard some of them all of you to visit HIS office next time the street. publicly wonder about the UF/IFAS you’re in Gainesville! Family and Community Science commitment to production agriculture. There’s an increasing awareness Extension Agent Lisa Hamilton pulled So let’s remind them. I would appre- in Tigert Hall and across campus him out of this spiral. She worked ciate it if every one of you who attends that even if outreach isn’t one of the with Josh week after week to rebuild local Farm Bureau meetings would metrics for the ratings magazines or his life. When the two of them worked share this message with them:

CICERO 2018 54 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

(Payne shares short video) aged Cheyenne’s mom to send her to I know what Jena did. Because it’s To get a link to that video, you can Camp Timpoochee as a junior camp what all of you do. You improve people’s contact my office or Ruth Borger’s counselor. lives, and sometimes even save them. office. Maybe it was the week away from These stories are what make the Just one more story about how you it all. Maybe it was the opportunity to University of Florida different from change lives. lead. Maybe it was that she learned other universities. I know UF/IFAS Cheyenne was a fast-rising 4-H what it was like to be admired by other distinguished itself at the recent Na- star in Walton County who had held kids again instead of bullied. By the end tional Association of County Agricul- multiple offices in county clubs. Then, of the week, Cheyenne had a tear-filled tural Agents conference with too many her freshman year of high school hap- heart-to-heart with Jena. Just the two of awards to mention, and I congratulate pened. While she was 14, her parents them on a camp bench. And Cheyenne Gene McAvoy for becoming the orga- got divorced, she was bullied at school, said, “This 4-H stuff really works! I can nization’s vice president. her father was deployed, and she was be myself here, really my true self, and What you do is the reason UF mat- in an abusive relationship. Her prize- everyone is OK with that.” ters so much to so many. It’s a shame winning goat died. Her show horse got A few weeks after camp, it was this goes unnoticed in university rank- injured and could no longer compete. Cheyenne’s mom who was crying. She ings. Let me assure you, it IS noticed in You can imagine where that put visited Jena in her office, and she told Gainesville. Cheyenne—into a tailspin. There was Jena, “Thank you. I don’t know what Thank you so much for what you do even concern that she was suicidal. 4-H you did, but thank you for bringing my to go the extra mile and to go change agent Jena Brooks Gilmore encour- baby back.” Florida for the better. Go Gators! WINNER: EULOGY/TRIBUTE SPEECH “Freedom Adds Colour to Our Lives”

By Johan Kroes for Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Former Minister Delivered in Amsterdam, of Defence for the Second Rutte cabinet, The Netherlands April, 23, 2017

adies and gentlemen, war she gave shelter to people in hid- The guards screamed, growled and L From May 1939 to April 1945, ing, because she felt that it was simply taunted them. The prisoners dubbed Ravensbrück concentration camp had the right thing to do. them ‘grey mice’. more than 150,000 prisoners. They She was betrayed, arrested and After the roll call, the women were were mostly women—women of all deported on 26 July 1944 to Camp subjected to forced labour—twelve colour, all classes, and all nationalities. , where she was prisoner num- hours a day in the grey Siemens fac- There were also Dutch women at ber 01248. A month later she was put tory located nearby. Long hours with Ravensbrück—fearless women! Dur- on the train and transported to Ra- the same monotonous never-ending ing the Second World War, they took vensbrück, together with many other motions and the constant, enormous great risks by giving shelter to people Dutch women. pressure to meet the quota. in hiding or by participating in the Upon arrival at Ravensbrück, they This quickly led to many women Resistance. had to hand over their last posses- buckling under the strain and simply One of these women was my sions: letters, photographs, wedding not being able to go on. This madness great-grandmother, Johanna Maaike rings. Some were forced to have their that took possession of some of these Nouwen-De Mooij, who was born on heads shaved, simply as a provocation. women was just one of the terrible 3 October 1882. In the 1920s she ran a Their clothing was taken from them things that these prisoners witnessed. milk business together with my great- and replaced by a pale, striped dress. Due to overpopulation in the camp, grandfather, who died young. Several They slept in grey barracks with rations became increasingly meagre: a years later she was forced to sell the little light. The beds were filthy and thin slice of bread in the morning and business. It was simply too much for full of lice. a bowl of turnip soup in the evening. her to maintain as a single mother. And every day at five o’clock in the Selma van de Perre used to call this To be able to support her children, morning, the siren sounded. In the flavourless food ‘sawdust’ and ‘water she opened a boardinghouse in the dark, they had to line up for hours with grass’. Selma survived Ravens- centre of Amsterdam, on the Prins for roll call, the chilly wind from the brück and is with us here today. Hendrikkade, number 121. During the Schwedtmeer cutting into their faces. It was also incredibly filthy in the

VSOTD.COM 55 camp. Infectious diseases such as ty- from her fellow prisoners, and that she The dark days of Camp Ravens- phoid and tuberculosis spread rapidly. was also cared for when she could no brück came to an end in April 1945. In the winter of 1944/1945, the ex- longer go on, just as she continued to Red Cross busses painted in white treme cold took many lives. And as time look after her loved ones. came and transported the women to went on, more and more prisoners were Her last letter from Camp Vught— Sweden. killed in increasingly horrible ways. just before her forced departure to Selma van de Perre recalls: The camp was characterised by a Ravensbrück—reads as though she “When we arrived in Sweden, we lack of colour. For many of the women already sensed that her end was ap- were allowed to each pick out two who survived Ravensbrück, this is what proaching. She wrote: “In these times, dresses and a coat. I chose a bright is seared into their memory the most, our lives can sometimes be over before red coat, a green dress and salaman- along with all the atrocities that took we know it.” der shoes. I wanted as much colour as place there. She gave various instructions on possible to dispel all that grey from the And yet they continued to have how her belongings should be dis- camp!” hope and to persevere. These women tributed. She left her undergarments Her words touched me. remained steadfast in their refusal to to ‘Jet’ and to ‘Cor’. “They need the Along with her reclaimed freedom, believe that evil would prevail, and clothes the most”, stated my great- colour came back into Selma’s life and they rejected the dehumanisation they grandmother. into the lives of all the women who were subjected to. “Please divide up the jewelry that survived Ravensbrück. They did so by taking care of each is still left. The sewing machine is for Today, so many years later, we take other using the medium of humour, Jan or Piet since they don’t have one. it all for granted: inventivity and creativity. The rest you can sell, but make sure That we are free. Gisela Wieberdink, for example— that no family portrait ends up in Free to do and to say what we want. who is also with us here today—com- some market stall.” Free to show our true colours. posed songs that were passed on from She also asked her children to place But this freedom is not a foregone person to person, such as the following her body in the Eastern Cemetery conclusion. song that was sung to the tune of ‘The of Amsterdam. “There I can rest in Even today, borders are crossed that Starry Skies of Hawaii’: peace.” “And don’t make it a grandiose we had hoped would no longer need “Never will I forget the stunning affair,” she added. to be protected—a hope that is clearly splendour This selflessness was what struck me, held in vain. Of the Ravensbrück summer toilet along with the resignation that echoes Because time and again we are con- The fashion this year is a blue-grey so strongly in her words. fronted with terrible acts of terror. stripe “No, children,” she wrote, “I don’t Time and again, people are perse- Preferably wrinkled and crushed” look back on what I allegedly should cuted for their faith or their orienta- Hetty Voute removed a ribbon from not have done. I only think about tion, while others are forced to aban- her shirt, cut it into eight pieces and what I have been and done for you. don their hearth and home because tied it into curls throughout her hair. I hope that better times will come they stand up to dictatorial regimes. Corrie ten Boom wrote in one of once again and that you won’t have We must stand firm in our defence her books about the birthday of Mieke, to face such grave problems as you of the freedom that we cherish so who had tuberculosis: do now. I also hope that you are able much—that should be our maxim. “She needs hygiene and care. Here to make a decent living. That is my We must be led not by fear but by she has nothing. The only thing she last wish for you all, from your loving a steadfast belief in the fundamental has is love, we love her very much. mother”. rights for which we have fought for so It’s her birthday and they’ve made She herself never saw those better long and shall continue to fight for! an incredible birthday table for her. times. 72 years and 114 days ago, on That freedom, after all, has brought us Coloured paper and a few real flowers 30 december 1944, she died in Ravens- so much. serve as decoration. A kind of cake— brück camp. And that freedom is well worth made of cold potatoes with bread and She was 62 years old. Her last wish, fighting for so that we can all enjoy a an arrangement of beets and some to rest in peace in the Eastern Cem- ‘decent living’, as my great-grandmoth- red radishes. It almost looks real.” etery, remained unfulfilled. er also wished for her children. All these extraordinary stories of I never knew my great-grandmother, Ladies and gentlemen, hope and consolation—in that excep- but I did witness the grief—the silent Let us do justice to our freedom! tionally harsh setting—inevitably make grieving that so many families have ex- That freedom adds colour to our me think of my great-grandmother. perienced and continue to experience lives. And I hope—from the bottom of even today. Thank you. my heart—that she also felt this love Ladies and gentlemen,

CICERO 2018 56 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: FAREWELL/RESIGNATION SPEECH “Vulnerability, Curiosity, Courage”

By Jan Sonneveld for Jet Bussemaker, Delivered at the 18th Evening of Science and Society, Minister of Education, Culture and Science The Hague, Oct. 9, 2017

adies and gentlemen, if we are to turn them around. To- To become the politician who says ‘let L As the negotiations to form a night, I want to talk about three press- me explain this to you one more time new government rolled on and on, I ing issues: ...’ It’s a world in which the business began to think I would keep this job – we are increasingly living in sepa- sector will only pump money into an forever. But tomorrow a new coalition rate worlds, innovation if it can recoup its invest- agreement will be presented. And so I – our growing indifference, ment in no time at all: ‘those gravita- can say with absolute certainty that this – and our short-term thinking. tional waves are all well and good. But is will be my last presence at the Eve- Let me say something about each of where’s the revenue model?’ ning of Science and Society in this job. these trends in turn. I see this attitude leading to a third This development has put me in First, I see that it is becoming easier danger and a cause for grave concern: the mood for reflection. It also opens and easier to lock ourselves away in a structural lack of sustainability. up a window of opportunity for you— our own sealed living environment. We Nowadays we often think of sustain- though of course you’ll have to be have seen the rise of the word ‘filter ability purely in terms of climate and quick. If you still have a bone to pick bubble’. Pupils from the lower and the depletion of precious raw materi- with me, you still have one last chance higher streams of secondary education als. But this evening I would like to to press your case over dessert... are less and less likely to cross paths at invite you to consider a different form Of course, a setting such as this school. I regularly see how schoolkids of raw material: empathy and the gives pause for reflection in any case: in Amsterdam literally cycle past each ability to walk in someone else’s shoes. here in this wonderful Knight’s Hall, other: one group—children of highly At its most profound, sustainability is discussing major issues in the very best educated parents, mostly—making about the realization that the world is a of company. I therefore feel free to ask their way from the well-to-do suburbs fragile place. The planet itself is fragile, a major question of my own: How is to one of the city’s leading schools. but so are we and so are our mutual the Netherlands doing at this point in Meanwhile the other group—many relationships. time? And what direction should we be of them children from a migrant If these three trends—separate taking? background—skirt around the centre worlds, growing indifference and Taking a little distance, I see some on their way to its sister school. Two short-term thinking—continue apace, wonderful things happening. We are schools founded on the same principles, they will automatically lead us to view the most competitive economy in but inhabiting different worlds. society as a system in which only two Europe, thanks to our scientists, our As a former scientist I have experi- types of people exist: winners and creatives and our business community. enced the phenomenon for myself. I losers. And politics will then become a Our children are among the happi- felt the pressure to continue publishing series of binary choices. What we are est in the world: our teenagers are less paper after paper on my own special- quickly losing is the deep realization likely to be bullied, they feel supported ism. Until it dawned on me: If I carry that society is so much more than our by their parents and feel at home at on down this road, I’ll end up knowing own self-interest at any given moment. school. This is as a testament to our more and more about less and less. It’s I am sure these are trends that strike schools, our parents and indeed to the kind of focus that leads irrevocably a chord with you. Entrepreneurs and society as a whole. I also see a grow- to an ever stricter division between dis- CEOs can see it in the constant pres- ing number of young immigrants ciplines. That particular bubble began sure to compete. Scientists in the pres- entering higher education, while our to close in on me and led to the life- sure to publish and engage in commer- society continues to lead the way when changing decision to go into politics. cial knowledge transfer. In the cultural it comes to acceptance of the LGBT This separation of worlds leads me sector there is the pressure to reach community. These are achievements of to my second concern—a growing ever larger audiences, and to propel which I am incredibly proud. tendency towards indifference and in- every production towards a profit. And But that pride is not unalloyed. equality. In an indifferent and unequal in sport, the need to fill stadiums or at- There are also fields in which we are world it becomes increasingly difficult tract money from sponsors can take the moving in the wrong direction and to listen and to understand. It is all too pressure to perform to heights that are where we really need to work together easy to stick to your own narrow view. no longer good for us.

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Of course, it is always easy to pin and those of so many others in so- roeconomics. If the reorganization of the blame on someone else. But when ciety—the tide cannot be turned by all school classes along academic level we are doing so, we are also looking politics alone. For a socialist minister of yields 0.4% economic growth while in the mirror. And make no mistake, education, that is sometimes a frustrat- sacrificing interaction, understanding these same pitfalls apply to me too. ing conclusion. and integration, what choice should I Because politics is certainly no stranger It has reminded me of just what a make? And what does it mean to say to short-sightedness. One moment we broad, social issue this is. An issue that that giving children the chance to re- are introducing a certain policy—only should involve absolutely everyone: the peat a year of their schooling costs 500 to scrap it a few years later. Politicians’ small entrepreneur and the captain of million euros, when one year’s patience memories are far too short and far too industry, the coach and the artist, the with a child is priceless? dependent on the typical four-year cycle opinion maker and the journalists, the International research consistently of coalition governments. And today thinkers and the doer, our mothers and calls us to recognize that we have the political landscape is more unforgiv- our fathers… reached a tipping point: that the ing than ever: in the last elections my And yes, it still remains a task for success of our society increasingly own party won a quarter of the votes. A politicians. Don’t get me wrong: all depends on skills that we are barely figure that was slashed to not even 6 per the rumoured new investments in able to quantify, such as curiosity and cent at this year’s elections. Education and Science are important. creativity. It is a call that I would very Separate worlds, indifference, short- But obliging school children to sing much like to pass on to my successor. term thinking—they affect us all. If all 15 verses of our national anthem Ladies and gentlemen, you allow this realization to sink in, ... Is that really going to help promote Moral leadership asks us to look you immediately begin to experience equal opportunities? Is that really beyond our budget and our time in how incredibly fragile the balance of going to make us more curious about office. This means you and I must have society really is. And once this fragility what is ‘different’? an honest conversation. So let us ask hits home, your first reflex might be to Of course, there is more to the co- ourselves: what are we contributing to think: we have to do something! Our alition agreement than meets the eye, what really matters? society has to become more resilient! even if the full document has already Do we dare to show our vulner- Very true. But in my opinion, this been tactically leaked to the press. But ability, to be curious about others and can only be achieved by first embrac- real Trust in Our Future—as the new to stand up for the defenceless? Let us ing that same fragility—by living in the government’s motto is said to be—goes here tonight resolve to help each other full realization that everything of value far beyond policy plans and a sound to gain new insights from unexpected is truly defenceless. But how do we do budget. Real trust starts by showing angles. Allow me to introduce you to that? I may be a politician, but I do not vulnerability, curiosity and courage. It’s three Dutch people who gave me new pretend to have all the answers. None- about a team of government ministers insights: theless, you and I can begin to tonight who lead from their deepest convic- The first is Iris van Herpen—the to embrace the fragility of life by doing tions. With this in mind, I sincerely young, world-famous fashion designer three things: hope that our new cabinet will keep who works at the interface between art, 1) we can dare to be vulnerable, an open mind on the unknown and a technology and science. With bound- 2) we can be curious about what is watchful eye on the vulnerable. less curiosity, she works with fragile ‘different’ or ‘other’, Robert F. Kennedy couldn’t have materials and draws new inspiration 3) we can have the courage to stand put it better when he said: ‘The gross from the CERN particle accelerator up for what fragile and defenceless. national product does not allow for the in Switzerland. This month she will be Over the past four years I have tried health of our children, the quality of the highly deserving recipient of the to steer Education, Science, Culture and their education or the joy of their play. most prestigious Dutch state prize for Emancipation policies into this direc- It does not include the beauty of our the arts, the Johannes Vermeer Prize. tion. Always realizing that the outcome poetry or the strength of our mar- The second is Evelien Oostdijk. As would be uncertain. I did so by asking riages, the intelligence of our public a physician in training, she carried out a journalist to report on the separate debate or the integrity of our public research into the effects of preventive worlds in our schools. I did so by putting officials. It measures neither our wit antibiotics in the intensive care unit. equal opportunities back on the educa- nor our courage, neither our wisdom When she was informed about an error tional agenda. And we did so by asking nor our learning, neither our compas- in the research that she had already everyone in the Netherlands an open sion nor our devotion to our country, published, she immediately had all the question: what do you think are the it measures everything in short, except raw data reanalysed by others—not most important questions for science? that which makes life worthwhile.’ knowing what the outcome would be. But I also have to face the fact I sincerely hope that our new gov- And she had her article withdrawn from that—despite all my good intentions ernment will not focus solely on mac- a leading scientific journal and replaced.

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And my third source of inspiration have let pass him by. And I remember I call on all of you—and I call is Eberhard van der Laan—the Mayor his courage as Mayor of Amsterdam, upon my successor and the incoming of Amsterdam, a remarkable man who in focusing on dealing with a hard core new government—to let yourself we lost just last week. I miss him dearly. of 600 young, violent criminals. be inspired by the people around I remember how we became colleagues Vulnerability, curiosity, courage— you—different, ordinary, special, as government ministers. I can still they may seem inextricably bound up all at once. hear his voice asking me question after with grand gestures. But more often It’s the only way to break the pat- question—completely open, com- than not, they are about the small deci- tern of separate worlds, growing indif- pletely vulnerable—in his efforts to find sions we take in our daily lives, deci- ference and short-term thinking. And out how things worked and whether he sions which may seem self-evident, but to create a sustainable society that we understood things correctly. And how which can have a profound, positive can pass on to our children. his curiosity led him to help resolve influence on others and on the world Thank you very much. a local conflict which he could easily around us. WINNER: INAUGURAL SPEECH “What Kind of Leaders Will We Be?”

By Leanne Boyer for Dr. David O. Barbe, Delivered at AMA Annual Meeting, President, American Medical Association Chicago, June 13, 2017

hank you. It is an honor to stand weren’t for their willingness to not only myself as “the virtual Dr. Barbe.” Tbefore you tonight. I am excited encourage but to support me beginning Lynn, Mike, Fred, Alan, Rob, Brent, and to have the opportunity to over 20 years ago when they sent me to Stuart, and Jenine—thank you very lead the nation’s largest and most in- this House as an alternate delegate, I much! fluential physician organization as your literally would not be in this position to My clinic manager, Lois Flageolle, president. Now is the time when we serve you and our profession. is here tonight with her husband Ron. as physicians have an unprecedented I also cannot adequately express my Unless it is your spouse, how many opportunity to shape the future of appreciation for the Mercy leadership of you have the same clinic manager not only our profession, but for our who have made it possible for me to you started with in practice? I do. Lois patients and all of health care for years have time away from both my practice started with me the very first day I to come. and my leadership responsibilities to opened my solo, independent practice Let me begin tonight by recognizing serve our profession. Their presence in Mountain Grove 34 years ago and some very special people: here tonight is evidence of that sup- has been my clinic manager through- First, I want to thank Dr. Gurman port. out that entire time. Thank you, Lois, and Dr. Stack—for their leadership, Mercy leadership is among the most for making our practice so very suc- their mentoring and their friendship. visionary in our industry. From them cessful and satisfying. That appreciation extends to the I have acquired knowledge, skills and Now, let me recognize my family Board members, as well. We have the expertise that have made me a better here tonight – strongest and most diverse Board I leader and enhanced my contributions I have to begin with my wife, Deb- can recall—it is this kind of Board the to the discussions here at the AMA. bie. We played kick the can together AMA needs to capture the perspectives Mercy is a leader in the area of as young children when we lived one of our profession and address the chal- telehealth and virtual care. It is a little short block apart in Mountain Grove. lenges that we face. ironic that through the magic of the We became high school sweethearts I would also like to thank the AAFP EHR and WebExs, I remain in nearly when we played George and Emily leadership, their AMA delegation and continuous contact with my patients in the high school production of Our all the family physician delegates and and the leadership team at Mercy Town. alternates in the House for their sup- whether I’m in Chicago, Washington, Debbie raised our two children, port, encouragement and advocacy on or at a World Medical Association worked by my side in our clinical my behalf over the years. meeting in Africa. practice, and always keeps the home Next—my most sincere appreciation They often don’t know if I’m in fires burning. We celebrated 41 years to the Missouri State Medical Associa- Mountain Grove or a thousand miles of marriage a month ago. I could not tion delegation and MSMA staff. If it away. In fact, I’ve started referring to have imagined or asked for a better

VSOTD.COM 59 wife, partner and friend. Debbie, I love versity of Missouri, it dawned on me tor of osteopathic medicine degree at you. how much of being a physician was that ceremony. My daughter, Adelle McAlister and being a teacher—essentially teaching It just so happens that his Dean, Dr. her husband Matt and their two sons, people about their own health—and Boyd Buser, is president of the Ameri- Caelan and Conner. that maybe medicine, for me, would can Osteopathic Association, and with My son, Nathaniel, who I am proud be the highest and best calling and the us on stage this evening. to say is the newest DOCTOR Barbe, way to fulfill my desire to make a dif- Recognizing that those young men having just graduated last month from ference in people’s lives in a very direct and women are our future colleagues the Kentucky College of Osteopathic way. … and the physicians to whom we will Medicine—his wife Cheryl, and their So, I changed my major from math one day leave this profession, I tried to four children, Ava, Micah, Claire and to microbiology and set my sights on impart some words of wisdom about Samuel. becoming a family physician. leadership . . . words that I hoped they My brother Mike and his wife Su- Our hometown of Mountain Grove wouldn’t forget five minutes after I zanne, and my uncle, Al Breitenbach, is a low-income, underserved area. The finished speaking. Inaugural speeches are intended to population is less than 5,000. Median I told them that whether or not they inspire the audience, rally the troops, household income is less than $28,000 thought of themselves as leaders, sim- and lay out the president’s priorities for per year, compared to a state-wide ply by virtue of being physicians, they the coming year. I intend to do that, average of $50,000 per year. Many ARE leaders. but in a little different way than you people are unemployed, uninsured and Patients will look to them to lead might expect. in other ways fall through the cracks in their care . . . This is actually a fairly intimate society. Other members of the health care group in this room tonight. Most of Debbie and I saw our return to team will look to them for leadership us know each other reasonably well. Mountain Grove as a “mission” that . . . So, my remarks tonight are going to appealed to our desire to serve and And our profession needs them to be a little more personal—a little more make a difference in the lives of pa- be involved and to lead. about us—and our roles and respon- tients and our community. And it is still I gave them a challenge in the form sibilities as we wrap up the HOD our mission 34 years later to serve our of a question. I said to them: You are a tomorrow and return home to our neighbors and friends . . . leader . . . “day jobs.” My practice continues to be im- What kind of leader will you be? Earlier this spring, the AMA re- mensely rewarding and satisfying. I think that question applies to every leased the results of a physician survey Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get medical student, resident, and physi- that affirm my own view of medicine a card or a comment from a patient or cian in this room tonight. What kind of as a career choice: family member thanking me for help- leaders will we be? • Half of physicians believe their ing them get the care they need. I recognize that every physician here choice of medicine was not just a job, But every day I also see patients who is already a leader at some level. Sit- but a calling. need tests or treatments … who are ting behind me there are state medical • Three out of four of us are pri- still uninsured … or haven’t met their society presidents, AMA past presi- marily motivated by the opportunity deductible, and due to this, often delay dents, AAFP and AOA presidents, and to make a difference in the lives of our necessary care. the Board. There are many past—and patients. Because of these patients, I see future—state and specialty society • And nearly three out of four of firsthand, every day, why the AMA’s presidents in the audience. us knew we wanted to be physicians unwavering goal of affordable health But being accomplished in our field, before we were out of our teens. insurance coverage for all is worth or holding formal leadership positions For me, that calling came a little fighting for. within our organizations, does not later. Keeping this issue front and center automatically make us good leaders. I did not feel the specific calling to is critical as we debate health system We must each continually ask our- be a physician until early in college. reform . . . again . . . and again. . . and selves: What kind of leaders will we be? After I finished high school, like many again! I submit to you that physician of you, I knew I wanted to help people, Just a couple of weeks ago I had the leadership is less about a title or posi- to make a difference—but I thought honor of delivering the commence- tion and more about being a positive I was going to do this by becoming a ment address at the Kentucky College influence in whatever setting we find math teacher … I was really turned on of Osteopathic Medicine. As I men- ourselves. by helping other students understand tioned earlier, that event was especially Leadership is: math and science. meaningful for me because my son, • Modeling the behaviors we need But after a year or two at the Uni- Nathaniel, was presented with his doc- from others . . .

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• Working cooperatively . . . Good leadership is constructive … care, but the mission and purpose • Developing solutions by Consensus-building … and principled. remain the same. consensus . . . Yet, good leadership lays down few • The AMA is leading the way by • Improving care by drawing on absolutes. listening to, supporting and empower- the unique skills of all members of the Here’s an AMA example that is very ing physicians and medical students in health care team . . . near and dear to those here tonight: no their quest to provide the best patient • And demonstrating integrity and one who has gained insurance under care. respect in our interactions with others. the ACA should lose it …But this prin- • The AMA is leading the way as a There are three areas where physi- ciple from our health reform objectives representative of all physicians through cian leadership is absolutely critical is flexible and practical. We are willing our House of Delegates, as we work right now: to consider options for better, more together to bring to life the ambitious • in advocating for health reform in cost-effective ways to cover the unin- AMA mission to improve the health of today’s political environment, sured than we are doing now. our nation. • in describing and shaping the Our measure of any policy change • And of critical importance, the future of health care, should be this: Does it represent prog- AMA is leading the way by serving all • and in mentoring those who will ress? Is it an improvement? physicians through our three inter- one day follow us in this profession. We must oppose efforts to weaken connected strategic arcs, which dem- About 10 years ago, the AMA the health care system or cause our onstrate our commitment to helping launched a campaign to raise aware- patients harm. And we must always physicians grow professionally, solving ness about the 50 million Americans be open to alternative approaches to physician workflow needs, and improv- who were uninsured, and to develop achieve our goals. ing the practice environment. solutions to expand coverage. We cannot allow ourselves or our I am passionate about all of this We worked with both parties in debate to be corrupted or co-opted by work, because it will allow us Congress on the “Voice for the Unin- the hyper-partisan political climate. We, • to be better prepared, sured” campaign. as physicians, as a profession, are better • have better tools, Both political parties were very open than that. As physician leaders, we bear • and give better patient care. to our policy suggestions, and in fact, greater responsibility within our profes- Taken together, this is the way we many of our policy proposals were sion and society. We must continue to will restore the joy to the practice of showing up in recommendations from put our patients before politics. medicine. think tanks and legislation on both Physicians are trained and experi- When it comes to shaping the future sides of the aisle. enced in difficult conversations—let’s of our profession, we are the leaders. Everyone understood the costs put that expertise to work. Our role What kind of leaders will we be? involved in expanding coverage to tens in today’s advocacy climate means Finally, physician leadership means of millions of Americans who were de-escalating highly charged partisan encouraging and mentoring those who uninsured. rhetoric. It means working with all will follow us. We must ensure that oth- But just couple of years later, in the stakeholders on issues that are simply ers are ready to take our place. wake of the 2008 election, the debate too big to be left to the parochial inter- Tom Peters, the author of several over the Affordable Care Act became ests of one party or the other. books about business management, very partisan. Many consensus posi- When it comes to health care advo- puts it this way: “Leaders don’t create tions that had bipartisan support were cacy, we are the leaders. What kind of followers; they create more leaders.” being abandoned, not because they leaders will we be? We must encourage and mentor were wrong, but because the wrong Beyond reform, physician leadership students, residents and our younger party proposed them. is critical in describing and shaping the colleagues and be an example of We are seeing a similar scenario un- future of health care. leadership for them, so they can in folding now in the health reform debate. The AMA, hands down, is the turn, become the leaders their patients, There are some factions in Washington organization in the best position to practices and our profession so desper- that both then and now are saying not understand the problems that patients ately need. only “no,” but “Hell no” when it comes and physicians face and help develop I’ve had the opportunity to speak to working together … even on some solutions to improve the quality and to several student and resident groups of the most basic principles of access, delivery of health care in America. recently. I always encourage them to availability and affordability. On Saturday, Dr. Madara told us join all of their relevant professional I submit to you: that might be good about recent successes in the AMA’s societies—county, state, specialty, and, theater, but it is not good policy… it’s strategic arcs of endeavor. of course, the AMA. not good politics… and it is definitely It’s a new way of describing the Why? There are many reasons, but not good leadership. many ways the AMA is shaping health in the context of tonight’s remarks,

VSOTD.COM 61 physicians need to support one another gratitude to have had the opportunities Let us be the leaders who bring con- now more than ever before. I have had to help patients, families, sensus solutions to difficult issues. Our medical societies provide a net- and my profession. Let us be the leaders with the cre- work of professional support that is one I am eager to serve you and our ativity and drive to shape the future of ingredient in the antidote to burnout. profession this coming year and to con- medicine. We lift one another up during times of tinue the great work that we are doing Let us be the leaders who mentor difficulty and encourage one another to together. our next generation of physicians. be our best. I’ll close by posing the question one Let us be the leaders John Quincy When it comes to encouraging and last time: As physicians, we are leaders. Adams envisioned when he said, “If mentoring others in our profession, we What kind of leaders will we be? your actions inspire others to dream are the leaders: What kind of leaders Tonight, I challenge each of you, more… learn more… do more… and will we be? and re-dedicate myself, to be the lead- become more… you are a leader.” Every day, I marvel at what a gift ers that our patients, our practices and Thank you. it is to do what we have the privilege hospitals, and our profession need us of doing as physicians. I feel intense to be. WINNER: MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH “Think Big. Act Small. Start Somewhere.”

By Antonie van Campen for Tom Middendorp, Delivered at Afsluitdijk, Former Chief of Defence, The Netherlands The Netherlands, Sept. 7, 2017

adies and gentlemen, a week ago, men and women CANNOT address You basically lay down on the ground Lsomeone close to me asked me why the root causes of conflict and disaster. fully focused, and probe the soil. Inch I was attending today’s event. “You’ll They cannot prevent grasslands from by inch. Because as you know, mines be leaving office shortly”, she said, “so turning into barren deserts… solve can be ruthless killers. And if they why spend your precious time on social a water crisis… or stop millions of don’t kill you, they will certainly cost innovation?” people fleeing their homes. My men you an arm, a leg, or a foot. Well, that is exactly why I wanted and women can only be part of the I experienced that later in my to be here today. Over my almost forty solution. career, as a commander in Uruzgan, years of service, I have seen how the The ultimate solution, however, in Afghanistan. Never will I forget the world has changed. Become more com- requires the combined efforts of many. images of a ten-year old Afghan boy, plex, more uncertain. And I believe, Not only of diplomats, politicians, laying in a hospital bed with a gap therefore, that we need more than a development workers, and soldiers. But where his leg should be. A boy who just purely military approach. also the combined efforts of creative the day before had picked up a toy car Just look at the world today. Instead minds, of people who think outside the containing an explosive... of the single threat we faced during box. People like the innovators present Just as I will never forget the image the Cold War, we now face many. The here today. People like you. of an old Afghan woman with no foot, spread of terrorism, the global refugee All of you are needed to make this and bandages around her leg, who crisis, droughts, pandemic diseases, world a safer place. And the good thing just the day before had walked to the food crises, new technolo- is that we, the military, can help you to market to buy food. Those experiences gies… All of these affect our lives, one accomplish that. By offering you a plat- showed me just how mines really are way or another. And we all know that form for innovation, for instance. And the ‘worst soldiers’. They don’t care if no single power, country or inter- help get your ideas past the ‘promising you are the enemy, a farmer working national organization can deal with stage’. The only thing we need, is for his land, or a child at play. Mines will these problems on its own. Let alone a all of us to think big, act small, and kill or injure anyone. military force. start somewhere. And the worst thing is… there are Of course, the international com- Let me explain to you what I mean. still millions of unexploded devices munity can always call on the military By using an example from my own out there. Scattered over 98 countries to keep people safe, to provide humani- experience. As a young engineer, I and territories worldwide. In Bosnia tarian aid, or to intervene with weap- learned how to clear minefields. It was and Herzegovina, for instance, more ons when all else has failed. But my a dangerous and time-consuming job. than a hundred thousand mines are

CICERO 2018 62 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS still buried along the former front lines. existing devices. AND two hundred conference, that no matter how far- Killing and injuring people. Including times cheaper than traditional dem- fetched their ideas were, we should children. Victims of a war that ended ining methods. Can you imagine? It all be willing to at least listen to them. long before they were born. means this mine-hunting drone can be But the funny thing is, I had to remind So yes, what we can do—and what a real lifesaver! myself of that… Because during a cof- we are doing right now, is sign treaties, But before the brothers can actu- fee break, a man approached me, and send in troops, donate to charities, and ally prove this, they need to finish he asked me: “General, what if I were set up red warning signs—with skull their prototype and start testing it with able to produce water out of thin air, in and crossbones—hoping that people real landmines. And that is where I the middle of the Sahara desert—the will avoid dangerous areas. But we can can help. So I offered Massoud and driest, hottest place on earth—just by do even more. We can invent creative Mahmud the opportunity to test their using the sun?” solutions to deal with this permanent drone regularly at one of our military Then he fell silent, and looked at me threat. And help them on their way to test facilities. Where they also have the with a twinkle in his eye. Waiting for becoming a reality. chance to talk to my military experts. my reaction. So I smiled at him, and That is exactly why I invited the To further improve their innovation said: “Sir, it sounds fantastic. Hope- Hassani brothers to my office last as they go along. And hopefully to live fully—one day—you’ll manage to do month. You may not know them, but their dream; and that is to help clear all so”. And I turned around. they fled Afghanistan nineteen years 110 million landmines worldwide. But then I realised, I should practise ago. And they now live in the Nether- Ladies and gentlemen... Think big. what I preach. So I turned back to lands, where they dedicate their lives to Act small. Start somewhere. That is him, and asked him to explain what the clearing of landmines. Here they what the Hassani brothers did. And he meant. He told me enthusiastically are… Massoud—on the left—is now that is what I am trying to do by of- that he was a Dutch artist, named Ap 33 years old. And his younger broth- fering them our test facilities, and our Verheggen. And that he wanted to er—Mahmud—is 30. military knowledge. But this principle make a device that could extract water When these brothers were children, can be applied to any challenge the from air. Solar-powered. ‘SunGlacier they saw their friends in Afghanistan world is facing. There are, after all, technology’, he called it. And it was lose limbs to land mines. They saw plenty of smart and devoted brains out certainly not meant to be ‘just art’. No, their friends killed… by landmines. there. People who can help us over- this man believed his technology was That is why they are so dedicated. Why come water and food shortages. Who the solution to any water shortage crisis they want to make a change. can help us conquer diseases. Or eradi- on earth…! ‘But how?’, you may well ask. Well, cate terrorism. Just as there are many He said: “General, many people they first invented a giant blue ball people and organisations out there believe the desert to be the driest place that looks like an octopus and that rolls who can support these creative minds on earth. But desert air can be very around in the wind. With its bam- in taking that first step. By investing humid. The hotter it gets, the more boo stalks and plastic disks, it can roll money in start-ups, for instance. Or by water the air can contain. Now, usually, around dangerous areas, detonating introducing start-ups into their own higher temperatures also mean more mines. But this ball turned out to be networks. Or, as I did, by offering their sunshine. So why not focus on harvest- too light. So they needed to come up organisation as a platform, for testing ing water from the air, powered only by with a better approach. prototypes. renewable solar energy…?” That is why for the last three years, Yet there are other ways as well in “The principle is really quite simple. the Hassani brothers have been devel- which we can think big, act small and When you grab a can of soda out of oping a mine-hunting drone. Together start somewhere. Let me give you one the fridge on a hot summer day, water with a team of 21 young engineers more example from my own experi- droplets appear on the surface. That is from all over the world. Today, this ence. Six months ago, we—the Dutch how I want to make it work: Conden- drone is not only able to fly over a Ministry of Defence—organised the sation. The only thing I need is to test mined area, but it also generates a Future Force Conference. And we my theory in harsh conditions. By trial detailed 3D map with a built-in aerial invited twelve hundred people from all and error, you know. And again and mapping system, it uses a metal detec- over the world, and from all walks of again. Until it works”. tor to pinpoint any landmines, place a life. Not just military personnel, policy Then he fell silent, and stared at me. detonator on top of the mine with its makers, researchers, and CEOs… Again awaiting my reaction. Now some robotic arm, flies away, and BOOM— but also white-hat hackers, architects, of you might understand why I was still let the explosive do the work. economists, students, social scientists, sceptical. His concept, after all, seemed According to the brothers, these and artists. So they could all meet, con- a bit like science fiction to me. I mean, capabilities make the drone not only nect, and spread ideas. from a scientific perspective, producing safer, but also twenty times faster than In fact, I told everyone during the fresh water out of desert air… How

VSOTD.COM 63 is that going to work? But then again, coffee machine. This device has the purification project proved to be much solar technology has taken huge strides potential to use solar energy to purify easier, and less energy-consuming than in recent years. And just the thought AND desalinate water. As much as previously assumed. And despite the that it might work… That one day, he twenty litres per hour! This young extreme dry and hot conditions, Ap— would be able to solve water scarcity. man’s ambition? To provide a solution the artist—was able to extract water And thus be able to prevent failed har- to drinking water shortages in refugee from desert air! vests, prevent people from fleeing their camps in the Middle East, and else- In fact, his technology was all over homes, or prevent children from dying. where in the world. the news when he returned to the How could anyone be against that— So what if he were also able to fur- Netherlands, and it resulted in other how could I be against that? ther develop his prototype? And turn tests, and the building of a new ma- So I said something rather unusual. it into a small and affordable device, chine. He has now even found an in- I told him: “Listen, I would like to offer one that could produce drinking water vestor, and the application for a patent you the opportunity to test your tech- all over the world? That would present was granted, proving that his theory nology at our military base in Mali. huge possibilities. Not only for families was true. Ap is actually one of today’s With its forty, fifty degrees Celsius (120˚ worldwide, but also for today’s armed contestants. So you will be hearing all F), Mali is one of the hottest and driest forces, who often find themselves in about his innovation later on. places on earth. Living there basically bone-dry areas. Where the available But Ap is not the only one with a feels like living in an oven. I know it is water is often not drinkable. great story. All today’s contestants have not a safe place, but being able to ex- Think big, act small, start some- invented great and inspiring innova- periment at a military camp does mean where. Again, that is what it’s all about. tions. You are all unsung heroes, who working in relatively safe conditions. For Emad, the young social innovator, keep future generations in mind. And Besides, my men and women can make ‘thinking big’ means producing drink- with our, and other people’s help, all sure you get there, and arrange a place ing water all over the world. His act is of your innovations could get past the for you to sleep. So whatever you need to build a small and inexpensive device, ‘promising stage’. That’s why you were to bring, just bring it. And then try to to purify and desalinate water. And our invited here today. That’s what Ideas make this idea of yours work!” common start was the field test in Mali. from Europe and Making Waves are all Now, I don’t think he believed me For Ap, the artist, ‘thinking big’ about. at that moment. Because he looked means trying to solve water scarcity. So ladies and gentlemen, let’s not surprised, nodded, and gave me his His act is to build a device that can ex- walk the path of peace alone. Thinking card. But a few weeks later, when he tract water from hot, dry air. And our that our worlds are too far apart. Let’s was invited by my staff to plan this trip, common start was the Mali field test. think big, act small and start some- he knew for sure. He and his colleagues And for the Hassani brothers, where! were going to Africa, to Mali. It was ‘thinking big’ means clearing all And to all social innovators present for real! And he would not be the only landmines worldwide. Their act is to here today, I would like to say: Don’t one. Because I offered a young social construct an inexpensive mine-hunting hesitate. Don’t wait. Just tell everybody, innovator—whom I also met during drone. And our common start is at our every organization, how they can help. the Future Force Conference—the engineers test facility in the Nether- How to help you, but most importantly, same opportunity. lands. how to help others worldwide who This young man, Emad, had fled And the great thing is, this principle need your innovations. So that together from Iran to live and study in The does actually work! It does lead to we can indeed find solutions for the Hague, in the Netherlands. Where he something bigger. Both experiments challenges that we face, and make this is now working hard to invent a water in Mali, for instance, provided valu- world a little safer. For everyone. treatment device that is the size of a able field-testing results. The water Thank you.

CICERO 2018 64 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS WINNER: STATE-OF-THE-INSTITUTION SPEECH “Tomorrow’s Industries from Today’s Science”

By Jenna Daroczy for Dr. Larry Marshall, Chief Executive, Common- Delivered at the National Press Club of Australia, wealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia Canberra, Australia, Nov. 8, 2017

would like to begin by acknowledg- • Market Vision to find the pivot in of jobs being lost—not just for us but I ing the Ngunnawal and Ngambri our national industries that will secure for our children. people as the Traditional Owners of our advantage, before someone else Today I want to give you a few the land that we are on today, and pay beats us to it. reasons to come back to science, to my respect to their Elders past and • And reinvention to realise the next feel optimistic about our future, and present. leaps forward for each of our indus- perhaps to even get a glimpse of these Thank you all for being here today, tries. ephemeral “jobs of the future” we keep and a special hello to CSIRO’s part- CSIRO isn’t changing because sci- hearing about. ners and collaborators in the room, ence has changed, but because in times 100 years ago, a visionary Prime we couldn’t deliver profound national of change it’s easy to forget that we’ve Minister—Billy Hughes—surveyed the benefit from science without you. been here before. serious challenges facing a fledgling na- I will note one of the faces missing We’ve been disrupted. tion, and called for an organisation of today, our Minister, Arthur Sinodinos, We’ve closed down old industries scientists to re-shape Australia’s destiny. and send him our best wishes for a and we’ve created new ones. I’m deeply honoured to lead that or- speedy recovery. And the answers weren’t always ganisation, our national science agency, Today in Australia, we can reach obvious, but we knew where to start the CSIRO—or sih-roh. customers anywhere on the planet, but looking. Billy wanted what you want: solu- our competitors can come at us from Today, the word ‘innovation’ means tions from science. any direction and we may never see something different to everyone. That’s innovation. them coming. The most recent Australian Innova- Over the past 100 years, we’ve We are more connected to the rest tion System report highlighted this by solved problems as wide-ranging as this of the world than ever before. defining two kinds of “innovation”. wide, brown land itself: Today our world is flat—but a flat- There’s “new to market”, when • We controlled pests like rabbits tened world comes at a cost: it makes it a business invests in their own novel with myxomatosis and tackled flies with too easy to lie down. products. dung beetles. We used to be a nation of proud Only 5.5% of Australian companies • We re-invented industries like innovators, Aussie ingenuity created do this. cotton and barley to give Australia an industries out of a barren landscape. Then there’s “new to business” unfair advantage. But as we’ve become more connect- innovation, which is just adopting • And we transformed the world ed to the rest of the world, our reliance someone else’s idea. with breakthrough inventions like on Aussie ingenuity has waned. 19% of Australian businesses copy ultrasound imaging and fast WiFi. Instead of pride in our powers of in- innovation. But today, Australia faces a com- novation, we’re now proud early adopt- The rate of Australian innovation pletely different set of challenges: digi- ers of solutions from across the seas. has declined consistently since the tisation, automation, and globalisation. So today I want to tell you about a Global Financial Crisis, making us no Once again, our people fear an new chapter in your national science longer an innovation leader, but an in- uncertain future. agency, a chapter written to solve these novation follower. And yet, the answers are right under seemingly un-solvable problems—be- It’s probably no surprise I’m a big our nose—and on our backs. cause that’s what science does. fan of innovation. Australian science is in your cotton I’m going to talk to you about three I was offered a bet of $50 not to say shirt, and in your wool suit, and in the changes at CSIRO: Speed; Market Vi- ‘innovation’ today and I realised in that permanent pleat. sion; and Reinvention. moment, just how much of a buzzword It’s the polymer bank notes in your • Speed to take science off the lab it has become. wallet, and the wireless in your phone. bench and turn it into real world Why? You’re seeing the world through benefit at an accelerated pace, recog- Innovation has become synonymous extended wear contact lenses, watching nising the speed of change in the world with automation—which in turn has an ultrasound image of a baby yet to around us. become synonymous with up to 40% be born—and when they are, they’ll be

VSOTD.COM 65 wrapped in a wool blanket washed in The pair were given a shed with a the coattails of other countries who do Softly. workbench, hidden at the back of the it better anyway? So why should we look to science? crowded CSIRO buildings in Geelong Let me tell you about another place Because in every recession, in every where they secretly tinkered with the where scientific endeavour was the revolution, in every major shift of an new machine. envy of the world. economy around the world—science They formed a partnership with The Library at Alexandria was has created the new industries that Repco and built six machines, all hid- lauded as a citadel of scientific revela- emerged from the turmoil, and those den out the back of the Geelong site. tion in its day. new industries created new value that The team wore suits made from the And yet, Carl Sagan wrote that with grew the economy. new yarn, which none of the experts all that potential at their fingertips: Those science enabled industries— in their building realised—nor did the “The vast population of the city created the jobs of the future. hundreds of overseas textile experts had not the vaguest notion of the great That’s the power of science, that’s visiting the site. discoveries taking place within the why CSIRO is here. The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Library… Let me take you out of this luxuri- Menzies, was given Clan Menzies “The scientists never grasped the ous air-conditioned room, far away tartan curtains for his study made from potential of machines to free people. from all this technology, far back in the new self-twisting yarn—but not “The great intellectual achievements time, back to Australia’s beginnings. even he was told of the new process. of antiquity had few immediate practi- Australians have historically been Finally, after feeding thousands of cal applications. phenomenal innovators, going all the metres of fabric into commercial out- “Science never captured the imagi- way back, at least 65,000 years: from lets, CSIRO revealed its machine to the nation of the multitude… rendering poisonous seeds edible, public in 1970. “When, at long last, the mob came to the aerodynamic genius of the It was smaller, quieter, used less to burn the Library down, there was boomerang, to the environmentally power, and spun wool 12 times faster nobody to stop them.” attuned practise of ‘firestick farming’, than anything on the planet. But after the flames burned out, and which still informs CSIRO’s controlled By 1976, more than 1,600 machines the ashes were scattered to the four burning practices today. had been exported and Australian winds—so too Alexandria, the greatest Australia’s first people invented wool was once again competitive with city the world had seen—was nothing, incredible breakthroughs to support life synthetics, breathing new life into one no hope, no future—gone, in a mo- down under. of Australia’s greatest industries, and ment of madness. Even as Australia became more con- securing wool industry jobs for genera- I heard the story of Alexandria nected to other nations, we took pride tions yet to come. when I was a kid in primary school, in our own ingenuity. But the story doesn’t end there. and it gave me a profound sense of In fact, let me tell you briefly about The following decade, we developed loss, until someone inspired me once one invention that was masterminded ‘Sirospun’ to spin and twist yarns in more. not in isolation to the rest of the world, one operation, cutting costs by 40%. It was my science teacher, Sally Ker- but right under its very nose. And it still isn’t over—as you’ll see win, who made me love Physics. In the 1940s and 50s, the textiles later today. Cast your own minds back—I bet industry was disrupted by synthetics, Australia’s history shows we have a each of you remembers a teacher who most notably the invention of polyester. rich heritage of innovation—so why inspired you, who changed the way Australia’s wool industry had to have we self-twisted this yarn? you saw the world, who lit a spark of respond—but the process of spinning Why are we more comfortable curiosity that still sparkles today. wool into fabric hadn’t changed in adopting other people’s innovation When I interned at CSIRO in 1984, more than 200 years, since the ‘spin- than investing in our own? my supervisor, John McCallum taught ning jenny’ was invented in England in Maybe it’s complacence bred from me: if you don’t deliver it, you haven’t 1764. our world record economic growth; or really done it. Then one wet Wednesday in Febru- maybe we’ve become sceptical about Science innovation is different to ary 1961, CSIRO physicists David the value of innovation. other definitions of innovation—it cre- Henshaw and Gordon Walls unravelled Whatever the cause, Australians ates new value that grows the econo- the challenge that had tied their peers don’t look to science for solutions the my—it’s literally the gift that keeps on up in knots. way they used to anymore. giving. Instead of reinventing the spinning And what’s wrong with that, I hear When I saw the deep impact process, they reinvented the wool itself. you ask. CSIRO’s science was having on indus- They called it self-twisting yarn, cre- Why should we risk money invent- try, it gave me a sense of the higher ated with a new kind of machine. ing things here when we can ride on purpose of science to transform lives.

CICERO 2018 66 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS

It fired my conviction that sci- generations. to tomatoes Echuca, Victoria, Transpi- ence should never be hidden from the In Australia, we don’t have that ratiONal is transforming agriculture. people, as it was in Alexandria, but ecosystem... not yet. Sedimentary run-off is the most con- instead, a visible part of making life But CSIRO can do for Australia sistent threat to the Great Barrier Reef, better. what Intel did for Silicon Valley and so we care a lot about it. It was a lesson I’d learn over and Israel. • There’s a livestock feed supple- over again. I’m not saying we should copy other ment made from seaweed that’s lower My PhD advisor Jim Piper taught countries’ innovation, that’s not very cost and more nutritious, and reduces me that science solves problems. innovative. methane emissions from cattle. And thank you Jim, for being an We have our own potential, our It’s called FutureFeed, and it’s going inspiration, and for being here today. own strengths, and our own opportuni- to really help beef production and Later, my PhD examiner at Stan- ties—Australia will be its own, unique reduce our national emissions. ford, Bob Byer taught me scientists ecosystem. • And there’s a facial recognition create companies. But as our traditional Australian technology that identifies when non- When I visit classrooms, I see that industries are disrupted, we must not verbal patients are in pain. It’s called love of science burning brightly in the allow other countries to seize the op- ePat, and it accelerated so fast, it’s eyes of students as they begin to under- portunities we have at our fingertips. already delivered a product to market stand the rich complexity of the world The world is racing to turn their and exited on the ASX. around them. science into solutions, if we don’t keep These are just three examples out But fewer students are following that up, we will lose our place in the world. of 200 teams delivering Australia’s passion into university, and fewer still I said we were writing a new chapter brilliant science into the hands of real into their careers. for CSIRO—it’s about three changes: people where it can solve real prob- That last lesson—that science cre- speed, market vision, and reinvention. lems. ates companies—isn’t one we teach First speed—because we are in an And they’re creating some of the here in Australia. innovation race—we’re increasing jobs of the future, in AgTech, eco- I lived that lesson for 26 years, com- speed through two new programs, with farming and MedTech. mercialising science in Silicon Valley. support from the National Innovation But we also know that in Australia, The invention that got me hooked and Science Agenda. science is perceived as a risky invest- on founding companies was the world’s Two years ago, we created the na- ment. first solid-state green laser to cure tional science accelerator, called ON. That’s why last week we launched blindness in diabetics. ON teaches Australian scientists Main Sequence Ventures, the na- Our product was so unique, so how to build a bridge from lab bench tional Innovation Fund, also created by high value, enabled by science solving to customer. NISA. an impossible problem that we could It’s designed to take the best ideas The Fund is designed to bridge the afford to manufacture it domesti- from the whole Australian research sec- challenges that many deep science cally, driving local jobs, and economic tor out into market, speeding up their ideas face when starting up. growth. ability to make a difference in people’s It will support new start-ups, and Innovation is about highest value lives. existing SMEs engaged in the transla- not lowest price, lowest price is a race More than 200 teams, from 30 tion of science from all Australian to the bottom. institutions, have taken their benchtop Universities, once again, strengthening Silicon Valley’s foundation was the breakthroughs to beta concepts. our national innovation ecosystem. silicon chip, the science that created It brings the entire research sector The Fund will back great Australian Intel. closer to Australian industry—aim- science—because science creates new Intel manufactured domestically, ing squarely at our ranking as one of industries, new companies and new retrained automotive and white goods the lowest collaborating nations in the jobs. workers and created massive economic OECD. Very appropriately the Fund value. These amazing solutions from sci- includes money created by another Scientists create companies; Science ence include: Australian innovation, WiFi. creates Industries; Industries create the • A polymer you spray onto soil to Like WiFi, the name of the Fund jobs of the future. lock in moisture and fertiliser for crops, comes from space science. Then Intel expanded to Israel, and while reducing evaporation and nutri- Few stars make it to the Main laid the foundation for Israel’s own in- ent run-off into nearby bodies of water, Sequence, but when they do, they novation ecosystem. like the Great Barrier Reef. burn longer and brighter, and nurture Science created thriving ecosystems It’s called TranspiratiONal. And growth for all around them. that drove platforms of prosperity for from growing melons in Finley, NSW, Growth of Australia’s own, unique

VSOTD.COM 67 innovation strengths—a lot like that oped like a raw material dug from the handful of manufacturers around the shed, out the back in Geelong. ground. world, each of whom hold their own Last week we announced the first And much like our mineral wealth, secret, patented recipe. investments: which we’ve dug up and shipped away, In partnership with Deakin Univer- • Q-CRTL is developing firmware our ideas have realised their potential sity, CSIRO has cracked the carbon to control the chaos of quantum com- elsewhere, creating value, jobs and op- fibre code. puting; portunity in other countries. Today, I’m thrilled to reveal one of • Morse Micro is developing low- This isn’t sustainable. the first pieces of carbon fibre made energy WiFi to connect everything to For decades, we’ve made money from scratch in Australia, from Aus- everything; exporting mineral sands, worth pennies tralia’s own top secret recipe. (Show • Intersective provides experiential per pound. carbon fibre.) learning to retrain us for those jobs of It’s time to shift our focus to creating Just as their forebears created new the future; and our own high value products. industries and jobs in wool with their • Maxwell MRI is using Artificial We started with a small step, by invention, the CSIRO and Deakin Intelligence to detect prostate cancer. turning sand into titanium ink for 3D team has taken the first step towards Again, we can see here the indus- printing (show bottle of ink). reinventing generations of new jobs tries of the future: quantum comput- Then we thought bigger, and cre- in carbon fibre manufacturing here in ing, the internet of things, and better ated this replacement sternum (show Australia—not very far, in fact, from healthcare through Artificial Intel- sternum) that saved a young woman in that historic shed in Geelong. ligence. NYC—a first for the US. It’s also worth noting that our So with ON taking Australian And in so doing, propelling a small Advanced Manufacturing Industry research from benchtop to beta; and Aussie SME called Anatomics to the Roadmap has mapped the path for car- Main Sequence Ventures funding the world stage. bon fibre in Australia over the coming jump from beta to buyer; CSIRO is We’ve seen where this story leads years, and the future is in good shape. speeding up the creation the industries before: Intel turned sand, into a unique So we’re picking up the pace with of the future. high value material, silicon. ON and Main Sequence Ventures, The second change I want to talk With the right market vision, science and we’re delivering higher value and about is market vision; a fundamental is the fulcrum to pivot our economy. vision to industry. shift from science push, to market pull. Now I can tell you the rest of the The third and final change I want to Companies like Intel had a vision wool story… talk about today is the power of science of computers that others couldn’t see After reinventing wool, we part- to reinvent. because it was impossible—but science nered with another Aussie SME called Science creates new value when it makes the impossible, possible. Textor to invent a novel way to weave makes the impossible possible. So Intel used science to make their paper in three dimensions. It inspires us to take leaps of faith vision happen. The novel process required a into the future, well beyond what seems We have a market vision for Austra- completely to manu- possible today. lia’s future, one that’s already begin- facturing, but the resulting paper was It inspired me as a kid in primary ning to deliver. so absorbent, it’s now being used in school, watching the Moon landing. To deepen the connection between nappies around the world by Kimberly And it inspires kids in schools today, our science and the needs of industry, Clarke. entranced by our Pluto fly-by or the over the past 12 months we’ve devel- But that’s still not the end of the Cassini crash into Saturn—all three oped a series of Industry Roadmaps, story, because next they looked at new of which were received, by the way, in partnership with Industry Growth kind of fibre. by Australia’s national science agency Centres. Carbon fibre is a next generation right here in the ACT, as part of our They pinpoint Australia’s opportu- material, delivering ultra-low weight, 50 year partnership with NASA. nities to transform our major industries superb stiffness, and high conductivity. So to ensure our reach exceeds our with science, and there’s a common It’s being used in everything from gaze, we’ve created six Future Science thread running through them—some- bicycles and tennis rackets; to wind Platforms, or FSPs, each closely aligned times it’s self-twisting wool, sometimes turbine blades; right through to my with the market vision we created for carbon fibre. personal favourite: aviation and space. re-inventing each of Australia’s major Commodities compete on price— In fact, we’ve already helped yet an- industries. unique products compete on value. other Aussie SME, Carbon Revolution, Now I could tell you about En- Science creates new value. to develop carbon fibre wheels, for the vironomics, or Synthetic Biology or In the past, we’ve unleashed our sci- latest model Ford Mustang. Deep Earth Imaging or Digiscape or ence on the world as an idea, undevel- But, carbon fibre is only made by a Probing Biosystems or Active Inte-

CICERO 2018 68 CICERO SPEECHWRITING AWARDS grated Matter—but we’ll never get to infectious diseases and certain cancers. clean fuels to power the engine of the your questions if I go into that kind of In fact, we’ve demonstrated the first world. detail. scientific proof that data saves lives. But my biggest hope is that as a So suffice it to say the 60 or so scien- We developed new software tools to nation, we will start to back ourselves tists we’ve hired to realise these ambi- accurately forecast demand and help again—because if we don’t, we can’t tions are making outstanding progress. ensure access to emergency care and a possibly succeed in tomorrow’s world. Instead, let me do you one better hospital bed, and we’re currently roll- We may have grown complacent, and tell you about two new FSPs that ing this out in Queensland hospitals. and we may be a little sceptical about we haven’t even announced yet, which The tools have 90% accuracy, and innovation in an era of automation. are designed to create industries that if the entire country used the tool, we That might be what they thought in don’t even exist yet. could save a huge $23 million from the Alexandria, but we’ve come a long way The first is Hydrogen Energy. health budget every year. since then. We invented the hydrogen “crack- In partnership with universities and CSIRO has opened the doors of the er”—it creates hydrogen from ammo- industry, our Future Science Platforms library. You don’t need a library card, nia. are imagining—and creating—the you don’t even need to be quiet—in Ammonia is already transported all industries of the future, that will grow fact we want to hear you loud and around the world using existing liquid the jobs of the future, that we and our clear. fuel infrastructure, so it’s faster in every children need. Your national science agency is sense than charging an electric car. We’ll have more to share tomorrow exactly that: Yours. In May, we launched a project with about our $5 million investment in We’re here to make science deliver BOC, Hyundai and Toyota to turn these two new FSPs later this week. the jobs of the future that you and ammonia into fuel for cars. So I hope today I’ve reassured you, all Australians need, today and in the Not only is hydrogen a renewable and perhaps even intrigued you, that future, regardless of skills, expertise, or energy source, but it’s also energy stor- your National Science Agency is: background. age, something we need to stabilise the 1. Speeding up the delivery of solu- If we don’t back our own abilities, grid as we introduce more renewables. tions from science, we will see these industries—and the Those same renewables—like 2. Has a market vision to see the jobs they create—being developed in solar energy—can produce hydrogen global changes, before they hit us, so other countries, at our expense. directly, enabling Aussie sunshine to be the science is ready when they do; and In times of change, it’s easy to forget exported around the world as a renew- 3. Is reinventing industries to deliver that we’ve been here before. able liquid energy. the jobs of the future. We’ve been disrupted. The second new industry is Preci- I hope you’re also a little more opti- We’ve reinvented old industries, and sion Health—creating a healthier mistic about Australia’s future now that we’ve created new ones. future for all Australians. you’ve had a glimpse of these ephem- We’ve woven our own success and We all know Australia has excep- eral “jobs of the future”. we’ve spun out new industries—and tional medical research, but it is largely How our children’s imaginations not just the ones relating to fibre. focused on treatment rather than will turn the commodities of old into We can—we must—we will—do it prevention. custom aerospace or electric car com- again. We’re creating new foods and new ponents, or unique foods that extend Thank you. diagnostics to reduce diabetes, obesity, life itself, or export 100% renewable

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