Look Who it Was Random video

Exercising rights in certain regions -- from Myanmar to Kuwait: Mariam Alshammari at TEDxUOttawa

3,033 views · Published 23 January 2014 · 10:30 · Indexed 29 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2014 · Nonprofits & Activism

Watch on YouTube

Mariam Al-Shammari is a Masters student at the University of Ottawa Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She also completed her Undergraduate studies at the University of Ottawa, double majoring in Communications and French Studies. Mariam is a spoken word poet and has oft used this medium as a way to express her views on social injustices and the world around her. Mariam has been involved in positive mental health and mental health advocacy since she was 14 years old, and has successfully aided the implementation of a Youth Advisory Committee for mental health within the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Her interest in stigmatized populations does not end there, however. Mariam has also taken a keen interest in stateless citizens. Her family is native to Kuwait's lands, before Kuwait's colonization and separation from Iraq. Having been born and raised in Canada, the politics of the Middle East were vague at best to her, however, over time she came to understand that certain communities of people are not only discriminated against but lack the right to exercise rights in certain regions -- from Myanmar (Burma), Kuwait along with many Gulf states, Sulu Sea nations and unfortunately, many more.  Having heritage in Kuwait, her focus has been centred there more than anywhere else. She will seek to explain the root of this problem and where we are today alongside the realities that strike the Burmese population today and why the situation is strikingly different despite the similarities.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

More from this channel