The US former Secretary of State John Kerry said growing inequality and corruption was leading to instability in the world.At the New York University Abu Dhabi's (NYUAD) fifth graduation ceremony, Kerry started his keynote address in a lighter vein. "Given what's going on today, I'm delighted to be invited anywhere folks."
He didn't name any politician or country in particular but the barb was aimed at US President Donald Trump's 'America First' foreign policy."We are living in a time where a lie or the truth hopefully can move around the planet in seconds. No one has the luxury of pretending you can just wall yourself off.
"It isn't only the economic implications, when people - particularly young people - have no sense of hope and no faith in legitimate authority, where there are no employment prospects or outlets for people to voice their concerns, when frustration turns to desperation, we all have a problem.
"No one knows that better than violent extremist groups, which regularly use indignity and marginalisation, inequality and corruption as recruitment tools," Kerry said, addressing students at the Saadiyat Island campus.
Growing inequality
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr, he said: "Instability anywhere is a threat to stability everywhere.""While the world as a whole is prosperous than it has ever been, inequality has also grown in most countries, fueling instability," Kerry noted. He cited how in the US, 52 per cent of the income earned by the nation goes to 1 per cent of the people. "That is not sustainable," he added.
"We won't win, any of us, ultimately, by retreating within our borders, by focusing on our own nations only and going it alone. Our societies and our economies in the world will not allow that because we are too interconnected for the possibilities of that kind of approach."
Defeating Daesh
Also, in attendance were UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash.Kerry praised Dr Gargash's contributions in helping resolve the many crises in the Arab world, especially the Daesh one.
"In many meetings, particularly in the Middle East, where we were struggling with Syria and Egypt in transition or Libya or Yemen, Iraq, Daesh, this man continually worked long hours, worked with us to create a coalition that ultimately defeated Daesh and helped set a standard for mutual security and strength in this region."Paying tribute to the UAE's Founding Father, Kerry said the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a visionary leader.
Praising the UAE's "quality of leadership", he said: "It is evident in all of the institutions built here and in the vision they have for a sustainable economy, for a sustainable future and the example they set as a small nation."
Later, degrees were conferred to 253 students from 71 countries. The US former Secretary of State told the graduates to choose well. "Every problem we face is created by human choices. To the best of my knowledge, those problems can also be solved by human choices. Everyone needs to understand the awesome power that each of you really has at your disposal as you graduate: the power to choose."
SOURCE : KHALEEJ TIMES