 Aloha, I'm Joshua Cooper and welcome to Cooper Union. What's happening with human rights around our world on Think Tech Live, broadcasting from our downtown studio in Honolulu, Hawaii and Moana, Nuiakea. Today we're looking at advocacy against authoritarianism and direct action for democracy, actualizing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 21 at the Oslo Freedom Forum. The UDHR provides the power of ideas to initiate change in the world. And the UDHR outlines opportunities for a new direction rooted in inherent dignity in animal rights. What was very exciting is this week, the Oslo Freedom Forum met, bringing together dissidents from around the world and human rights defenders to make sure that we have a better world that reflects the values, the vision and the voice of the people. Bunton, what was your highlight of participating in the Oslo Freedom Forum this week? In this forum, this is a connection with all organizations, with all representatives from every organization. They fight for democracy, for human rights. And we have changed as period together. We can work together in the future. I met with some organizations from Southeast Asian, from Taiwan, from Belarus, from Russia. Every organization, they are very, very strong for fighting for democracy and human rights in their country and in the world. And this is my hope of this forum to work with another organization together. Thank you, Bunton. It is important, the theme, of course, was solidarity. And it's exciting to see people coming together from all over the world, based on common passions and more importantly, a direction for how we can head towards global democracy. Feng, what was your highlight of the three-day meeting? My name is Peng Safsadee, President of the Alliance for Democracy in Laos, Chapter Australia. My highlight for me to be at the Oslo Freedom Forum was that I would like to... Well, this is the first time for me to join in force, in solidarity fighting for democracy. I learned a lot and the highlight for me was that the only NGO representative from all over the world meeting here and it's the opportunity for me to learn firsthand. My highlight for me was the meeting with the wife of the... The wife of Mr Vladimir Karam Mirza, who jailed for 25 years by prison for being in the opposition. I think I will talk about my inspiration with you later. Thank you so much. It is important because we see the story of love, the story of people standing up in solidarity with one another to demand the most basic freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Also though it's a combination, it's speeches with people sharing their inner thoughts and the struggles that they face for a free society, it's connections and conversations in between the different main stage. It's also music and concerts featuring the voice of Tahrir Square Egyptians who sang and demanded for their government to leave and also unique aspects of advocacy and strategies shared. Marcus, what were some of your highlights? Oh, there has been so many, many, many highlights for me. It is very difficult for me to say what's the first. One highlight is, of course, yes. I've learned a lot of lessons. Yeah, for an example, we know it doesn't matter what kind of dictatorship in your country is if it is military dictatorship, communistic, royal system or whatever or fascistic. They are all similar. They use corruption as a method to suppress their own people. And this, this is one of the key notes. We can push this dictatorship combating this corruption to put tear down all the dictatorships in the world. And another highlight is met with fellow people, met with good people who fight for freedom, for democracy, for human rights, for the human kinds and being together and healing the hearts of the people who has to suffer so hard for this fight and they have to suffer under their own dictatorships in their own home countries. It was so great that the people can stand up and the message was to this people, don't give up, never surrender. You are the majority. The dictators are in a minority. So you will win. You can't lose. You only have don't surrender. Go on with your fight. That was a really good message. Thank you. It's true. It did ask us to one, to heal our hearts and come together and overcome what many people have faced, but also to stand up and make sure that the world would be a better place and to never give up on those dreams for democracy. What was really important is on the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, we can really reflect on the role of human rights in our daily lives and world affairs. The UDHR came out in many of the panels. They also, Freedom Forum does bring together human rights offenders and dissidents for democracy around the world. And what's important when you look at article 21, that's probably the essence of what people were all there for. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of one's country directly through the chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service. And the one that's most important for you, Bunton, is the will of the people should be the basis of the authority of government. We shall be expressing periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by vote or equivalent free voting procedures. Bunton, what inspired you to first get involved in making sure that there was democracy in Laos and also to connect with other global advocates to make the world one that reflects your vision? I think it allows us to change the constitution for democratic or multi-party system for fair and free elections in Laos. Second one, the people have to build a more tight system with democratic. The people have to learn how democratic system, how we can work with many people together many ideas together for new system for Laos. The people must understand what is democracy. Democracy is new one for the people to long-term only dictatorship in Laos in the past time. And the people have to learn how can we work together for free election. And the young people have to change ideas from hope for leadership for democratic system. Thank you so much Bunton and it's great to understand how we must demand democracy against dictatorships and also recognize how everyone by utilizing the universal declaration of human rights can make their country a better place. Thanks, sharing a bit. What inspired you to care about this issue and which first campaigns were you involved in? What inspired me, even though we are fighting for democracy in Laos, what inspired me was that as we all know we are fighting against the two big power at the moment the Chinese by Xi Jinping and the Russians by Vladimir Putin. As we know the invasion on the 24th of February 2022 in Ukraine by Russian it was a terrible invasion. So now we, you know, I think we can join force in solidarity with all these non-government organizations to give our voice, to make one voice and to let these two power heard then how to fight against them so they can realize that the whole wide world is against us. Like, you know, the ICC, the International Criminal Code put on arrest on Putin but how can we arrest him and so on and so forth but if we can join force and all the government on the western side on the democratic side can join force and really fight against these two power and then I think we can succeed. Thank you, Peng, and really brought up a couple of good points that you really see this conflict in Ukraine challenging the international order that has existed for over seven decades but also that there are new instruments such as the International Criminal Court based on the Rome Statute and it did issue actually an arrest for and calling for a trial of so the aspect of impunity that was broken at Nuremberg continues to be challenged as we move forward and if you look at the also freedom form it looked like a rainbow of solutions that people are taking to try to hold people accountable but most importantly save lives and make sure that the people of Ukraine are safe from violence but also the many wars that are taking place beyond Europe that are not getting the same attention such as Syria, it was brought up that as Ukraine reaches its 500th day Syrian war is at its 5,000 so it really is important the way you brought that together and Marcus what inspired you to get involved to make sure you get actualized Article 21 in your life? Yes, I think I'm a guy I'm in the best position of your guests today I live in a democratic country we have a democratic tradition and I live well and many people in countries like Germany or other countries like it doesn't matter what's going on in dictatorships I live in a good country I have a good position what's with me I say no that's wrong that is absolutely wrong your democracy has to protect not only protect against enemies inside from outside too we have seen in the last years as a dictator like Putin wants to push the war the poles in the United States or wants to make influence and the poles in Germany whatever that's danger so we have to do anything what is the value of my freedom what is the value of my democracy when I will not support these people who fight in their country for freedom for democracy and so many things more Laos is a very special case I work for Laos I think it is a key country it's very important in many things for other dictatorships because it's a base it's a money washing machine and many more so I think here is a key position to do anything for democracy for human rights against dictatorship and I repeat it again the value of my democracy of my freedom is nothing when I do nothing for it I have to protect my democracy and I have to support other people to reach it to get it and so this is why I have to participate thank you and it really does speak to the principle that was brought up by many of the African countries of Ubuntu that I cannot achieve all of my rights if you are not able to actualize the rights in the UDHR in your community and culture but also from the main stage yesterday one person said when they asked them what could we all do they pointed out take care of your own democracy make sure that your country has strong democratic institutions that you are informed and that your domestic and foreign policy match to make sure that we uphold those principles of peace partnership for all around our planet Ubuntu, as we look can you share with us a bit of how Alliance for Democracy in Laos actualizes article 21 and what actions you are involved in to promote and protect human rights I know you will be heading to Berlin very soon but what does ADL do to actualize article 21 first one the people must know how a real democratic system in Laos second one the people must learn from an example a very good country in the world which has a democratic system and together need the media must free in Laos the people need free internet free media and press in Laos and the future we need that the people has education in Laos must better what's really important is you discuss a range of rights from education for all people so that they can be engaging in their community and in the capital level but also bring up the latest issues of broadband digital equity make sure that everyone has access to the internet so they can have all the information to make decisions in the process how you actualize article 21 and what actions you're involved with with ADL in Australia and how you've done that in the past at ASEAN meetings as well as in Canberra in Australia and at the Oslo Freedom Forum Yes Joshua Article 21 freedom of expression and opinion and access to information none of this is happening in Laos people are free press in Laos as we know the disappearance of a lot of people sometimes number one case known all over the world and because people are suppressed oppressed and silent in these not only in Laos in all the authoritarian countries as we have heard in the Oslo forum freedom forum many countries have the same problem with the silence of expression the silence of voice even jail or torture to death and now we are fighting against that now how how can we join force this is the lesson that I must I must learn and and continue to join force we and talk about this in UN in 2020 and we talk about this this year early this year in Australia I guess on the democratic world I know everything about the oppression, the depression of these authoritarian countries but we need to gradually oppose and let them know that we are fighting against them Joshua thank you and you bring up the interconnection of article 18 about expression and speech and how these articles of the UDHR really tools to transform our society but also to stand up against dictators in case there is not enough outside solidarity so those are really good points that you shared with us Marcus can you share with us how you actualize article 21 about the actions that you are involved with yeah the problem is that many people who has to live in a dictatorship doesn't know on this article they don't know about free elections, fair polls and whatever and this is what we can do bringing knowledge and education to the people, to all the people yeah teach them how free and fair elections work when they don't know when we don't bring it to the people they will never have it yeah and we have to bring it to all people not only to the workers on the field or in the factories yeah we have to bring it also to the people who works for the government to the policemen to the authorities whatever and when they recognize oh shit I've built my own prison I have to change something now I know what really fair and free elections are then we can change something and then we can build this better world I think that must be the solution very true it begins with education then mobilization and then realization for our rights can you share with us what's your vision for a free Laos and making sure that the world can actually have and enjoy all of their human rights my dream for Laos for the future Laos must be free independent country free from dictatorship never in country like China, Vietnam Laos will be democratic system with friendship with every democratic country in the world and the Laos people will be very happy to have democratic and free Laos for the future and the young people will be everyone to have education young people will be in every institution in the world to make something for the future for democracy, for human rights for protecting the environment in Laos this is my dream for Laos in the future thank you Buantone for pointing out that a healthy planet means a healthy democracy and how everything is interconnected that's absolutely crucial and it shows the way that we can work forward in solidarity with one another what's your vision when you see how Australia is doing in the world and what we need to guarantee article 21 for all well just sure now that we have met in Oslo for freedom forum at the freedom forum we now have work to do against the authoritarian regime for Laos I think as we know Vietnam is the beginning of the of the beginning of the power in Laos now the Chinese owning owning on the infrastructure in Laos like mining like dams construction the economic zone owned by the Chinese company what can Laos benefit nothing so we can get rid of these mining or the Laos government is doing to the country then what we can achieve is the the real Laos people work for themselves not dominated by the Chinese power or the Vietnamese power in Laos that's my vision thank you so much for sharing about self-determination that right of self-determination of all people to determine their political destiny and pursue their own economic, social and cultural future that's at the core and that reminds me of the call by the leader of Nicaragua for a justice league of people coming together to have a congress of those with the conscience to demand a really unified movement to overturn the current wave of authoritarianism that's running around the world Marcus can you share this very briefly your vision for the future people who who has knowledge on history remember that in the past US government has the so called domino theory when I'm one country will fall to the communist dictatorship the other one my hope is that this domino theory will work also in another direction when one dictatorship will fall down all the other ones will fall broke down and will transform to a genuine democracy that is my hope and our work we have to do everything against every dictatorship we don't know who will be the first if it is China, Russia or maybe Laos in this key position but my dream is yeah domino theory it must work into this direction in the right direction where you go so it's a rights democracy domino theory shifting in the opposite direction and that is at the core of the UDH article 21 that guarantees good governance in every nation in global democracy for a collective planet the Oslo Freedom Forum is truly a magnet for rights movements bringing together imaginative leaders for liberty and we thank all of you for joining and participating to actualize article 21 in the lives not only of Laos and in Europe but around the world because you know one movement is what matters most that we all come together to make transformation aloha