Things Are Never So Bad They Can’t Get Worse…
New Thinking for a New World - a Tallberg Foundation Podcast
04/11/24
•39m
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Both of the following statements are true:
- The surprise October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel was brutal, outrageous, inhumane, and far outside the boundaries of behavior even remotely “acceptable” in war.
- The ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza has terrorized Palestinian civilians, destroyed the majority of their residential and commercial buildings and infrastructure, contributed to a horrible humanitarian crisis and has made the territory all but uninhabitable—even if aimed at destroying Hamas.
That is not to suggest moral equivalency, nor to judge who is guilty of what. Rather, it is to argue that it is more critical than it has ever been that this tragedy should beget a new effort to create sustainable peace and prosperity for Palestinians as well as for Israelis.
But, if peace wasn’t possible before October 7, how likely is it that the horrors of the past six months have improved prospects? Not surprisingly, hatred and shock not understanding and goodwill are the order of the day in both societies. And, haven’t the endless efforts over the past 75 years long since exhausted all imaginable diplomatic possibilities? Who has the moral standing, never mind the agency, to construct a solution? For that matter, who would speak for the Palestinians if any negotiation could be launched?
Nabil Fahmy, former Egyptian foreign minister and career diplomat who has spent his professional life working on these issues, doesn’t claim to have answers. But he deeply believes that failing to try to find them would condemn his region to a worsening cycle of violence—with consequences that could be far worse than what we have witnessed since October.
Listen as Minister Fahmy discusses not only why, but how a different future might be possible.
Tell us what you think: Can you imagine a world where Israelis and Palestinians can live and prosper, side by side, in their own countries?
Previous Episode
Defeating the Taliban, One Educated Girl at a Time
April 4, 2024
•28m
Terrorists and Afghanistan were back in the headlines because of the recent murderous ISIS-K attack on a concert in Moscow. No one should be surprised, since terrorism seems to be one of that benighted country’s few reliable exports. But, shouldn’t we all be worried that once again the Taliban seem to be hosting terrorists who can strike far outside their borders? And shouldn’t someone be trying to do something about the underlying problems of a failed state?
The good news is that someone is: Pashtana Durrani, a formidable Afghan woman, is deeply devoted to bringing her country into the 21st century, one empowered woman and one educated girl at a time. Through Learn, an organization that educates high school girls in their home villages, she might be one of the bigger threats to Afghan fundamentalism in the long run. Needless to say, the Taliban aren’t happy with her, which is why she works from exile.
Pashtana recently published “Last to Eat, Last to Learn” describing her journey so far. The book and this conversation aren’t just optimistic, they are proof points that individuals can make a difference, if they are stubborn and have good ideas. Ms Durrani, who was honored in 2021 as a Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize winner in the Emerging Leader category, has both.
Moreover, she may be right: educated girls might just be to the Taliban what kryptonite was to Superman. What do you think?
Next Episode
Worth Repeating: A Visionary Leader
April 18, 2024
•24m
Andrew Bastawrous solves problems. As a well-trained, highly skilled ophthalmologist he was devoted to treating as many patients as possible, in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. But even gifted surgeons can only do so much, and Andrew came to realize that there were innumerable patients who never even made it to the queues outside his treatment centers.
So, Andrew stepped back and rethought how to do ophthalmology in practice. He found an answer by reimagining how eye care is delivered—literally a whole new supply chain—and leveraging technology. The result is that his Peek Vision software and data intelligence platform now help millions overcome vision impairment.
Listen to (and watch) this special episode of New Thinking for a New World, as Dr. Bastawrous, a winner of the Tällberg-SNF-Eliasson Global Leadership Prize for 2023, explains what it really means to think differently.
You can see the interview here: https://youtu.be/1OZQRQX81_g
The podcast was published on 2024-02-22.
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