TED Talks Task 3

Manil Desai

AP English

January 9, 2014

Ted Talk Assignment

Mohamed Ali: The link between unemployment and terrorism

http://www.ted.com/talks/mohamed_ali_the_link_between_unemployment_and_terrorism.html

Task # 3:

In the TED Talk “The link between unemployment and terrorism,” Mohamed Ali claims that unemployment in youths has led them to get involved in terrorist groups. Ali claims that this is even more true when the youth is living in a big city. Ali also asserts that to change this people have to raise awareness about entrepreneurship around the world and teach all the youths get up on their own feet by building their own business.  I fully support this claim by Mohamed Ali because other sources have also proved that unemployment and poverty have led to youth involvement in terrorists groups. 

Unemployment is a really horrific thing especially if you live in a developing nation, which does not have unemployment benefits. Ali points out that the boy, who was cunning led into terrorism, came from a small village outside of Mogadishu and he really needed money. He had been starving for days and was living in a little tent, with no job, no money, no nothing. When these men came to help him it would be vapid to decline their help. This is what happens to most of the youths who are unemployed in a big city. As Adin told us that the terrorist groups went for youths who were frustrated at their life and were so weak that they would do anything. The unnamed boy in the beginning was a perfect target for the terrorist groups to take advantage of. In most cases they are also successful in taking people to become terrorist. One example, is that boy in the beginning who became a suicide bomber after he was taken by the terrorist group. He helped the terrorist group pull off a bombing in Mogadishu few months after his involvement. 

But Ali also leaves us with success stories of escaping this tragedy. Ali knows that entrepreneurship would help these youths stay out of trouble and make some money. Entrepreneurship has been successful in the United States, so why would not it be successful in Somalia. Ali was on a trip to Mogadishu for raising awareness about entrepreneurship when he discovered story about the boy who suicide bombed a place. At this meeting Ali also introduces us to Adin and Mhamud who are two young men who have been successful in Mogadishu by creating their own business. Adin runs a rental service for bikes. He owns ten bikes and he rents them out to people who need them and cannot afford them. Mhamud has opened up the first florist shop in all of Mogadishu.  Because of the civil war no one grew flowers. He is also working on getting the first public park to be opened soon. These two people show how they seized the opportunity entrepreneurship gave them and no they do not have to worry about getting a job. 

Being forced to join a terrorist group because you do not have any money is a really terrible fate. But it is the reality for many unemployed young men who cannot find jobs in big city. Ali asserts that this is the main reason we need to spread entrepreneurship  so youths can know that they can be their own boss if they create a business.