On climate change, we often don't fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen.
Interpretation
Climate change is often underestimated and seen as a future issue rather than an immediate threat.
Kofi Annan's quote highlights the tendency of people to view climate change as a distant concern rather than recognizing it as a current crisis that requires immediate action. He implies that this lack of urgency can lead to disastrous consequences if we fail to acknowledge the urgency of addressing climate change now.
In practice
In a speech about climate initiatives, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for immediate action.
If you have a problem and you can't find a solution, you meet again tomorrow and you keep talking until you find a solution. You can disagree with behavior or a particular position, but you do not resort to calling an opponent worthless.
Let us remember the large numbers of citizens who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many of the world's disadvantaged. Let us ensure that this wonderful resource, available in abundance to every nation, is recognized and supported as it works towards a more prosperous and peaceful world.
We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.
The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?
People of different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. We can love what we are, without hating what β and who β we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respect their teachings.
Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.
We are the people that we have been waiting for and no one else is coming.
If we can forgive whatβs been done to us... If we can forgive what weβve done to others... If we can leave all of our stories behind. Our being villains or victims. Only then can we maybe rescue the world.
N.Y. hip-hop is ok, but we gotta become brave again; we have to be brave enough and do something new - that's what New York is about... New.
Denying the rights of women and girls is not only wrong in itself; it has a serious social and economic impact that holds us all back.
If you're not upsetting anyone, you're not changing the status quo.
It's very hard to stop doing things you're used to doing. You almost have to dismantle yourself and scatter it all around and then put a blindfold on and put it back together so that you avoid old habits.
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