Fighting with non-violence | Scilla Elworthy

How do you deal with a bully without becoming a thug? In this wise and soulful talk, peace activist Scilla Elworthy maps out the skills we need -- as nations and individuals -- to fight extreme force without using force in return. To answer the question of why and how non-violence works, she evokes historical heroes -- Aung San Suu Kyi, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela -- and the personal philosophies that powered their peaceful protests. (Filmed at TEDxExeter.)

[dancingjogi]

Thank you for spreading the message of non-violence. I worked in Afghanistan and the Indian slums 8 years ago. We often forget is that most people are just trying to survive and provide for their families/loved ones. Love your work! 

[PirateFish]

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

[maryfowles]

This is an amazing woman and phenomenal lecture. I can't believe people find the sound quality distracting. I didn't even notice it.

[HerrFenchel]

this gave me voice for what i believed all my life but never was able to put in words. Thank You Scilla.

[Kaleidalee]

Too many people have become so used to dealing with a violent world that they can't understand why non-violence is the better solution. Such an idea as non-violence is completely foreign to them, so they attack it (with violent verbal insults, of course). This, to me, is all the more reason why we all need it desperately.

[jayesdaouisi]

what´s gained with violence can only be kept with violence - is a gandhi quote i find very revealing and uselful in the approach to change something

[asprao]

It takes great strength to hit back. But it takes a greater and a special breed or courage to take a blow without flinching and not hitting back without having any thoughts of violence and hatred in your mind. Hats of to people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Au Sung Syu Ki and Nelson Mandela for showing the world the path of non violence.

[TheLancerGreen]

Perhaps the best part of this Tedtalk is simply how challenging it is. Did you think that non-violence would be easy? that by watching this, we'd all just think "oh, of course!" and the violence would cease? Of course we can all think of how it won't work (drunken bar brawls, muggers etc) but she's talking about oppression, long standing oppression, and ending it. She's laying out tools for success in a never ending battle. Balk if you must, but she's provided real moving times this has worked.

[Seeyatellite]

Confidence and wisdom are a powerful combination when courageous enough to act in a non-violent way facing such odds. Thank you for sharing. I believe we’ll be able to find peaceful solutions more often when we as a people realize it’s the right path for humanity.

[paulinabarnas]

Thank you so much for this so impartant voice. "Wisdom in action" -this World needs it more and more. Thank you for your dedication to make this World a better place .

[dfdsfsdaddsfas]

anger is like gasoline when you spread it around and someboday lights a match you got an inferno. But anger in an engine is powerful. If we can put our anger inside an engine it can drive us forwards. what a great quote

[henleythecat]

"The best way to deal with extreme violence is to use overwhelming violence..."

That is a military tactic, when needed, works. However, the use of the military should always been seen as a failure of diplomacy, and the weapon of LAST RESORT.

I remember an Air Force general stating that they win more wars by not fighting. Their job is the convince the other side that it's not worth the fight and to find another way to resolve their differences.

Smart people don't think like Rambo.

[Amblix]

'Violence' is an inherent part of who we are as a human species and there's a compelling reason for that. We would not be who we are today without it. Usage of violence can be just as easy as walking away from a fight or just as difficult as standing your ground, taking a beating without fighting back. I believe severing ourselves from our ability use 'violence' is disservice. It is another tool in our problem solving kit right next to non-violent methodologies.

[hectorxc]

Beautifully said! I hope that this idea continues to spread...we need less violence and more thought!

[DrSpooglemon]

I was talking about the general ambience of the delivery not the content. It was a nostalgia trip for me; recalling all those teachers standing at the front of the class uttering endless strings of syllables while I quietly suffered the agonising torment that is pathological boredom. I feel that the speaker, Scilla Elworthy, and others like her are at the opposite end of a spectrum from me and those like me. As I said, I have ADHD and this style of presentation is anathema to me. No ones fault..

[dr.abhijeetsafai]

I was totally unaware of the saliva sound till I saw the comments! What an incredible talk it is. Thanks a lot!

[rkulla]

The best way to diffuse a violent situation, if you ever find yourself in one, IS to take yourself out of it or comply. Run away. Lock the doors. Don't get involved. Don't react and start cursing back at someone who offends you, etc.

If they're hurting someone else, and you're brave enough to try and stop it, then try. But don't hesitate thinking it makes you a "thug" just because you're going to tackle or shoot someone shooting up a movie theater, or whatever the case is. It makes you a hero.

[marcusunlimited]

I certainly appreciate your intellectual reply. That is quite refreshing to see here on YouTube, which should, by nature, be a place where innovative, intellectual conversation is the norm, (as the technology behind its creation most certainly is) yet, however, often is not.

[supernada]

A friend of mine used to say: "Force always works. If it didn`t work with you is just because you didn't use force enought".

[Agmanellium]

The most important application of the use of nonviolence is as a means to turn the opinion of the public against any force of oppression. This is dependent on the flow of information to spread the clear vision of the oppressor as a bully and inspire the natural human reaction to resist. This is why these events took place in the 20th cen in countries with relatively free presses, and in the Arab Spring through social networking to spread information rather than a free press.