Spanish Prime Minister gives inspiring

speechPrime Ministerat USC of Spain duringPedro Sánchez historic Pérez-Castejón meetsstate with visit USC Dornsife dean and faculty during a visit to USC where he gives a President’s Distinguished Lecture to an enthusiastic audience.

By Susan Bell | October 2, 2018 horrible diseases,” he said. “You will code an artificial intelligence that has human values. CALIFORNIA CULTURAL AND HISTORIC TIES You will slow down global warming. You with Spain stretch back almost 500 years will stop indiscriminate violence against to the Spanish colonization of Nueva women, and you will eradicate poverty.” California in the 16th century. So, last week’s visit to the Golden State by Prime A free and democratic society Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez Pérez- Sánchez said that despite great historical Castejón — the first by a sitting Spanish struggles, including a bloody civil war head of government — was a historic followed by a brutal dictatorship that occasion. This was especially true for condemned thousands of Spaniards to Trojans, as Sánchez, fresh from his ad- death and exile, Spain eventually found its dress to the United Nations Assembly way to a free and democratic society. The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez Pérez- earlier in the week and a meeting with Castejón speaks to USC students, faculty and country was one of the first to legalize gay California Governor Jerry Brown, made alumni during his historic visit to California. marriage and pass a comprehensive law time to visit USC on Sept. 28 to deliver Photo by Steve Cohn against violence against women. a President’s Distinguished Lecture. “Dear friends,” he said, “today I am proud Sánchez’ inspiring speech moved the months, he has already made headlines to show you a Spain … that even in the packed crowd of students, faculty and alumni worldwide after appointing a cabinet that worst of the economic crisis did not get in Bovard Auditorium on USC’s University is nearly two-thirds female. carried away by a message of hatred and Park Campus to a standing ovation. Sánchez reminded students that they division,” he said. are “the change makers and the leaders An economist, Sánchez also expressed “A powerful voice for the powerless” of [their] own time.” He urged them to his belief that wealth disparity must be Michael Felix, president of the USC Alumni avoid complacency by getting involved, addressed to ensure democracy continues. Association, introduced Sánchez, not- telling them they have a responsibility “An unequal society is a divided and fragile ing that while we live in times of great to act in service of the common good. society. We have learned that liberal political debate worldwide, listening to “Above all, do not take injustice as democracy needs to help channel the different points of view is at the heart of something acceptable,” he said. “Never wealth that it creates.” USC’s mission. let anyone take away your desire to shape Noting Spain’s presence in California Describing Sánchez’ visit to USC as “a and change the world and seek to better it.” for almost five centuries, he paid tribute homecoming,” Felix said the Spanish prime Noting that if previous generations had to Los Angeles for its vibrant language minister is “a good and long-standing friend not questioned and pushed back, we would and culture. of the university” as well as “a powerful not enjoy the freedom, prosperity and “This great state and this great city voice for the powerless.” technological and medical advances that represents, in my view, all the best of this Prime Minister Sánchez, who is secretary- we do today, Sánchez told students not to great country, the United States,” he said. general of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ allow themselves to be intimidated by the “What gives me so much hope, is that we Party, was sworn into office on June 2, 2018. challenges their generation faces. meet here today after 400 years, with so Although he has led Spain for only four “You will be the generation that will cure many of the same shared goals and values.” President Kersti Kaljulaid speaks to

USCThe students Estonian President at spokeTown about her and country’s Gown digital future to the USC community.

Kersti Kaljulaid Photo courtesy of Estonian Foreign Ministry via Wikimedia Commons

By Catharine Malzahn | October 3, 2018

KERSTI KALJULAID, ESTONIA’S YOUNGEST is put into the e-health platform and who read your profile. Do you know who and first female president, spoke at USC the baby’s digital ID is formed. You can read your paper medical file?” on Wednesday about Estonia’s shift to register for kindergarten queues, name the International relations student Elizabeth a digital society. The country has turned baby, and more right from the maternity Shepherd attended the lecture and agreed to digital platforms that allow Estonians ward,” Kaljulaid explained. with Kaljulaid’s shift to a more digital to pay taxes online and send encrypted She also stressed the importance of society within Estonia. emails. women having access to social services, “I think it could work because the size “Two percent of GDP is saved simply especially if they are raising children of her country is small so it would be easy from signing electronically,” President and do not have the time or ability to to test it out,” Shepherd said. However, Kaljulaid said. “99 percent of Estonia’s access these services in a traditional sense. she does not see the United States being transactions are done online.” However, convenience is not the only able to incorporate these changes, at least During her term as president, she has major focus for this system; Kaljulaid also right now. “The transition would prove done a significant amount of work to emphasized security. In Estonia, data is to be unsuccessful in the end.” make Estonia one of the leading countries regulated. The country has created a legal Above all, Kaljulaid said she believes in the digital world. Estonia’s digital space, and citizens’ data belongs to them. that digital platforms provide more access identification system has revolutionized “It’s a human right to be safe,” Kaljulaid to job opportunities. the way people live. said. “Digital is always safer than paper. “Digital makes the job market more “When a baby is born, the baby’s health With digital platforms, you always know equal and more accessible,” she said.