TEDGlobal 2013
May El-Khalil: Making peace is a marathon
Mej El-Kalil (May El-Khalil): Mirotvorstvo je maraton
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U Libanu, jedan pucanj godišnje nije deo kulisa rutinskog nasilja: on označava otvaranje Bejrutskog međunarodnog maratona. U nadahnutom govoru, osnivačica maratona Mej El-Kalil objašnjava zašto je verovala da, makar jedan dan u godini, trka od 42 km može da ujedini državu, decenijama podeljenu politikom i religijom.
May El-Khalil - Founder of the Beirut Marathon
The Beirut Marathon is the largest running event in the Middle East. May El-Khalil founded it as an instrument of peace. Full bio
The Beirut Marathon is the largest running event in the Middle East. May El-Khalil founded it as an instrument of peace. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
I come from Lebanon,
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Dolazim iz Libana
00:16
and I believe that running can change the world.
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i verujem da trčanje
može promeniti svet.
može promeniti svet.
00:20
I know what I have just said is simply not obvious.
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Znam da ovo što sam rekla
nije očigledno.
nije očigledno.
00:24
You know, Lebanon as a country has been once destroyed
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Liban kao država bio je uništen
00:29
by a long and bloody civil war.
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dugim i krvavim građanskim ratom.
00:32
Honestly, I don't know why they call it civil war
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Ne znam zašto su ga zvali
građanskim ratom
građanskim ratom
00:35
when there is nothing civil about it.
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kad ništa građanskog
nije bilo u vezi s njim.
nije bilo u vezi s njim.
00:38
With Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the south,
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Na severu je Sirija,
Izrael i Palestina su na jugu,
Izrael i Palestina su na jugu,
00:43
and our government even up till this moment
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a naša vlada je još uvek
00:46
is still fragmented and unstable.
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izdeljena i nestabilna.
00:49
For years, the country has been divided
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Godinama je država podeljena
00:53
between politics and religion.
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između politike i religije.
00:57
However, for one day a year,
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Međutim, jednom godišnje
01:00
we truly stand united,
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zaista smo ujedinjeni,
01:02
and that's when the marathon takes place.
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i to onda, kada se održava maraton.
01:07
I used to be a marathon runner.
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Nekada sam i ja trčala maraton.
01:10
Long distance running was not only good for my well-being
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Trčanje na duge staze
bilo je dobro za moje zdravlje
bilo je dobro za moje zdravlje
01:15
but it helped me meditate and dream big.
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i pomoglo mi je da razmišljam
i da sanjam velike snove.
i da sanjam velike snove.
01:19
So the longer distances I ran,
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Što sam duže trčala
01:21
the bigger my dreams became,
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snovi su mi postajali sve veći,
01:25
until one fateful morning,
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do onog sudbonosnog jutra,
01:28
and while training, I was hit by a bus.
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kada me je tokom trčanja
udario autobus.
udario autobus.
01:34
I nearly died, was in a coma,
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Skoro da sam umrla, bila sam u komi,
01:37
stayed at the hospital for two years,
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ostala sam u bolnici dve godine
01:40
and underwent 36 surgeries to be able to walk again.
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i podvrgla sam se operacijama 36 puta,
da bih ponovo prohodala.
da bih ponovo prohodala.
01:47
As soon as I came out of my coma,
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Čim sam izašla iz kome,
01:50
I realized that I was no longer the same runner I used to be,
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shvatila sam da više nisam
ona ista trkačica,
ona ista trkačica,
01:55
so I decided, if I couldn't run myself,
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pa sam odlučila,
ako već sama ne mogu da trčim,
ako već sama ne mogu da trčim,
01:59
I wanted to make sure that others could.
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želim da to mogu drugi.
02:03
So out of my hospital bed,
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Još iz bolničkog kreveta
02:06
I asked my husband to start taking notes,
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sam zamolila supruga da pravi beleške
02:09
and a few months later,
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i posle nekoliko meseci
02:11
the marathon was born.
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rodio se maraton.
02:15
Organizing a marathon as a reaction to an accident
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Organizacija maratona,
kao reakcija na nesreću,
kao reakcija na nesreću,
02:19
may sound strange,
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može da zvuči čudno,
02:22
but at that time, even during my most vulnerable condition,
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ali tada, čak i tokom
mog najranjivijeg stanja,
mog najranjivijeg stanja,
02:27
I needed to dream big.
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bio mi je potreban veliki san.
02:29
I needed something to take me out of my pain,
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Bilo mi je potrebno nešto
da mi otkloni bol,
da mi otkloni bol,
02:32
an objective to look forward to.
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neki cilj kojem ću težiti.
02:35
I didn't want to pity myself, nor to be pitied,
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Nisam htela da sažaljevam sebe
ili da to drugi čine
ili da to drugi čine
02:40
and I thought by organizing such a marathon,
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i mislila sam da organizacijom
takvog maratona,
takvog maratona,
02:43
I'll be able to pay back to my community,
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mogu da se odužim zajednici,
02:46
build bridges with the outside world,
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da gradim mostove sa spoljnim svetom
02:49
and invite runners to come to Lebanon
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i da pozovem trkače u Liban
02:51
and run under the umbrella of peace.
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da trče pod kišobranom mira.
02:56
Organizing a marathon in Lebanon
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Organizacija maratona u Libanu
02:59
is definitely not like organizing one in New York.
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svakako se razlikuje
od organizacije istog u Njujorku.
od organizacije istog u Njujorku.
03:04
How do you introduce the concept of running
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Kako predstaviti koncept trčanja
03:07
to a nation that is constantly at the brink of war?
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narodu koji je stalno na ivici rata?
03:12
How do you ask those who were once fighting
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Kako da zamolite one
koji su se nakad borili
koji su se nakad borili
03:15
and killing each other
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i ubijali jedni druge,
03:17
to come together and run next to each other?
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da se okupe i trče jedan pored drugog?
03:21
More than that, how do you convince people
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Štaviše, kako ubediti ljude
03:24
to run a distance of 26.2 miles
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da trče 42 km
03:28
at a time they were not even familiar
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kada nisu čak ni poznavali
03:30
with the word "marathon"?
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reč "maraton"?
03:33
So we had to start from scratch.
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Morali smo da krenemo od samog početka.
03:35
For almost two years, we went all over the country
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Skoro dve godine smo obilazili zemlju
03:39
and even visited remote villages.
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i posetili čak i udaljena sela.
03:43
I personally met with people from all walks of life --
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Lično sam upoznala
ljude svih profesija -
ljude svih profesija -
03:47
mayors, NGOs, schoolchildren,
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gradonačelnike, aktiviste, đake,
03:50
politicians, militiamen, people from mosques, churches,
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političare, milicionere,
ljude iz džamija, iz crkava,
ljude iz džamija, iz crkava,
03:56
the president of the country, even housewives.
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predsednika države, domaćice.
04:01
I learned one thing:
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Shvatila sam jednu stvar:
04:04
When you walk the talk, people believe you.
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kada potkrepite svoje reči delima,
ljudi vam veruju.
ljudi vam veruju.
04:08
Many were touched by my personal story,
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Mnoge je dirnula moja lična priča,
04:12
and they shared their stories in return.
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i zauzvrat su i oni podelili
sa mnom svoje priče.
sa mnom svoje priče.
04:15
It was honesty and transparency that brought us together.
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Zbližila nas je iskrenost
i transparentnost.
i transparentnost.
04:20
We spoke one common language to each other,
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Govorili smo zajedničkim jezikom,
04:24
and that was from one human to another.
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kao čovek sa čovekom.
04:29
Once that trust was built,
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Kada smo izgradili poverenje,
04:32
everybody wanted to be part of the marathon
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svi su hteli da budu deo maratona,
04:34
to show the world the true colors of Lebanon
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da pokažu svetu prave boje Libana
04:37
and the Lebanese
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i Libanaca,
04:40
and their desire to live in peace and harmony.
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i njihovu želju da žive
u miru i harmoniji.
u miru i harmoniji.
04:45
In October 2003, over 6,000 runners
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Oktobra 2003., preko 6000 trkača,
04:50
from 49 different nationalities
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49 različitih nacionalnosti,
04:53
came to the start line, all determined,
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stalo je na startnu liniju, svi odlučni,
04:57
and when the gunfire went off,
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i kada je pucanj označio start,
04:59
this time it was a signal to run in harmony
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to je bio znak, da za promenu,
05:04
for a change.
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svi trče složno.
05:06
The marathon grew.
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Maraton se uvećavao.
05:08
So did our political problems.
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Sa njim i politički problemi.
05:11
But for every disaster we had,
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Ali posle svake katastrofe,
05:14
the marathon found ways to bring people together.
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maraton je zbližavao ljude.
05:20
In 2005, our prime minister was assassinated,
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2005. naš premijer je ubijen
05:25
and the country came to a complete standstill,
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i u državi je došlo
do potpunog zastoja,
do potpunog zastoja,
05:29
so we organized a five-kilometer United We Run campaign.
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zato smo organizovali kampanju -
trku od 5 km, Trčimo ujedinjeni.
trku od 5 km, Trčimo ujedinjeni.
05:33
Over 60,000 people came to the start line,
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Došlo je preko 60 000 ljudi na start,
05:37
all wearing white t-shirts with no political slogans.
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svi obučeni u bele majice,
bez političkih slogana.
bez političkih slogana.
05:43
That was a turning point for the marathon,
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To je bila prekretnica za maraton,
05:46
where people started looking at it as a platform
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ljudi su počeli da ga shvataju
kao platformu
kao platformu
05:49
for peace and unity.
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za mir i jedinstvo.
05:52
Between 2006 up to 2009, our country, Lebanon,
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Od 2006. do 2009. naša zemlja, Liban,
05:57
went through unstable years,
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prolazila je kroz nestabilne godine,
06:00
invasions, and more assassinations
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invazije, ubistva,
06:03
that brought us close to a civil war.
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što nas je dovelo blizu građanskog rata.
06:06
The country was divided again,
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Država se opet toliko podelila,
06:08
so much that our parliament resigned,
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da se parlament povukao,
06:11
we had no president for a year, and no prime minister.
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godinu dana nismo imali
ni predsednika ni premijera.
ni predsednika ni premijera.
06:17
But we did have a marathon.
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Ali smo imali maraton.
06:20
(Applause)
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(Aplauz)
06:26
So through the marathon, we learned
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Shvatili smo da, uz pomoć maratona,
06:29
that political problems can be overcome.
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možemo prevazići političke probleme.
06:34
When the opposition party decided
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Kada je opoziciona partija odlučila
06:36
to shut down part of the city center,
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da zatvori deo gradskog centra,
06:38
we negotiated alternative routes.
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pregovarali smo
o alternativnim maršrutama.
o alternativnim maršrutama.
06:41
Government protesters became
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Vladini demonstranti su postali
06:45
sideline cheerleaders.
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navijači sa strane.
06:46
They even hosted juice stations.
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Čak su postavili i tezge sa sokovima.
06:51
You know, the marathon has really become
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Maraton je zaista postao
06:55
one of a kind.
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jedinstven.
06:57
It gained credibility from both
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Stekao je kredibilitet kako Libanaca,
06:59
the Lebanese and the international community.
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tako i međunarodne zajednice.
07:04
Last November 2012, over 33,000 runners
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Novembra 2012. preko 33 000 trkača,
07:08
from 85 different nationalities
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85 različitih nacionalnosti,
07:10
came to the start line,
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je startovalo,
07:12
but this time, they challenged
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ali ovog puta izazov su bili
07:14
very stormy and rainy weather.
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jaka oluja i kiša.
07:17
The streets were flooded, but people didn't want to miss
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Ulice su bile poplavljene,
ali ljudi nisu hteli da propuste
ali ljudi nisu hteli da propuste
07:21
out on the opportunity of being part
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šansu da budu deo
07:23
of such a national day.
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takvog nacionalnog praznika.
07:26
BMA has expanded.
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Asocijacija bejrutskog maratona
se proširila.
se proširila.
07:28
We include everyone: the young, the elderly,
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Uključili smo svakog: mlade, starije
07:32
the disabled, the mentally challenged,
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invalide, osobe sa smetnjama u razvoju,
07:35
the blind, the elite, the amateur runners,
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slepe, elitu, amatere,
07:38
even moms with their babies.
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čak i majke sa bebama.
07:41
Themes have included runs for the environment,
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Trke su bile posvećene zaštiti okoline,
07:45
breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace,
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raku dojki, ljubavi prema Libanu, miru
07:49
or just simply to run.
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ili jednostavno trka radi trke.
07:51
The first annual all-women-and-girls race for empowerment,
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Prva godišnja ženska trka
za osnaživanje,
za osnaživanje,
07:58
which is one of its kind in the region,
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koja je jedina te vrste u regionu,
08:00
has just taken place only a few weeks ago,
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održala se pre nekoliko nedelja,
08:04
with 4,512 women, including the first lady,
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učestvovalo je 4 512 žena,
uključujući i Prvu damu,
uključujući i Prvu damu,
08:09
and this is only the beginning.
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i ovo je tek početak.
08:14
Thank you.
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Hvala.
08:16
(Applause)
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(Aplauz)
08:18
BMA has supported charities and volunteers
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ABM podržava dobrotvorne organizacije
i volontere
i volontere
08:24
who have helped reshape Lebanon,
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koji pomažu da se Liban preoblikuje,
08:27
raising funds for their causes
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skupljanjem sredstava
08:29
and encouraging others to give.
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i ohrabrivanjem drugih za donacije.
08:32
The culture of giving and doing good
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Zarazili smo se kulturom davanja
08:35
has become contagious.
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i činjenja dobrih dela.
08:37
Stereotypes have been broken.
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Razbili su se stereotipi.
08:39
Change-makers and future leaders
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Stvorili smo one
koji rade na promenama
koji rade na promenama
08:42
have been created.
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i buduće lidere.
08:44
I believe these are the building blocks for future peace.
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Mislim da su oni kamen temeljac
budućeg mira.
budućeg mira.
08:50
BMA has become such a respected event in the region
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ABM je postala tako
poštovani događaj u regionu,
poštovani događaj u regionu,
08:57
that government officials in the region
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da su vladini službenici u regionu,
09:00
like Iraq, Egypt and Syria,
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kao što je Irak, Egipat i Sirija,
09:03
have asked the organization to help them structure
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zamolili organizaciju,
da im pomogne u organizaciji
da im pomogne u organizaciji
09:07
a similar sporting event.
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sličnog sportskog događaja.
09:09
We are now one of the largest running events
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Sada je naša trka
jedna od najvećih trka
jedna od najvećih trka
09:13
in the Middle East, but most importantly,
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na Srednjem istoku,
ali ono što je najvažnije,
ali ono što je najvažnije,
09:16
it is a platform for hope and cooperation
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ona je platforma nade i saradnje
09:20
in an ever-fragile and unstable part of the world.
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u večito krhkom i nestabilnom
delu sveta.
delu sveta.
09:26
From Boston to Beirut, we stand as one.
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Od Bostona do Bejruta,
stojimo kao jedan.
stojimo kao jedan.
09:31
(Applause)
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(Aplauz)
09:37
After 10 years in Lebanon,
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Posle 10 godina u Libanu,
09:40
from national marathons or from national events
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od maratona
i drugih nacionalnih događaja,
i drugih nacionalnih događaja,
09:43
to smaller regional races, we've seen
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do manjih regionalnih trka,
09:46
that people want to run for a better future.
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vidimo da ljudi žele
da trče za bolju budućnost.
da trče za bolju budućnost.
09:51
After all, peacemaking is not a sprint.
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Na kraju, mirotvorstvo nije sprint.
09:57
It is more of a marathon.
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Više liči na maraton.
09:59
Thank you.
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Hvala.
10:00
(Applause)
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(Aplauz)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
May El-Khalil - Founder of the Beirut MarathonThe Beirut Marathon is the largest running event in the Middle East. May El-Khalil founded it as an instrument of peace.
Why you should listen
The beautiful city of Beirut, Lebanon, has seen its share of tragedy, as a seat of Lebanon's long-running civil war (1975-1990) and the Israeli-Lebanese conflict that came to a head in 2006. But in 2003, May El-Khalil, a local sports official, decided: It's time to start a marathon, open to all, as an antidote to sectarianism. And despite ongoing political and security pressure, the Beirut Marathon, now entering its 11th year, has become not only the largest running event in the Middle East but a powerful force for peace.
El-Khalil was inspired to start the marathon after a personal tragedy: a near-fatal running accident. Doctors told her she would never run again. She was hospitalized for two years and had to undergo a long series of surgeries. But the resolve from this personal struggle created an event that, each year, draws runners and fans from opposing political and religious communities in a symbolic act of peace. Case in point: In 2012, on a rainy and windy November day, more than 33,000 runners turned out. Other countries around the region are now thinking of replicating this model.
May El-Khalil | Speaker | TED.com