Wednesday, January 17, 2024

1992- June 5 - Earth Summit Opening Speech

 


Setting: Seated with the Dali Lama and two others.

 




Link to hear the speech (archival video):

https://youtu.be/vOSwkitM6O8

Transcript of John Denver’s speech:

“Thank you very much. Your Holiness, my sister, my friend. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great privilege and an honor for me to be here as part of this weekends’ activities. (microphone adjustments).. It is a great privilege and an honor to be here as part of this weekend’s activities.

I am one who has been a small voice for the environment for close to twenty-five years now. I believe that many of the problems we face in our world today are because we didn’t know any better. And now that we have learned the results of many of our activities, we’re here to find out if we have the courage to make the changes that are necessary to create a sustainable future for us all and a healthy environment.

I am one who believes that the world has heretofore always been an expression of you or me. And now here this weekend, at this global forum as we address a change of values, I believe that the most specific way we must address that change is to recognize that now it is you AND me. And that together we can come up with what is necessary to solve the problems that we face and to create a healthy environment and a sustainable future; that together as a world community, and we must begin to start thinking and acting like a world community, -- I believe that this is the greatest expression of that which has so far happened in history.

It will be my privilege this weekend to be a master of ceremonies, to help things move along efficiently and with light; to offer a few songs and to be of whatever service I can be to these wonderful, wonderful people who are gathered here and to be a part of taking the message of hope, of opportunity and of possibility for our future, that is created here, out into the world. I thank you very, very much for this great privilege.”

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