Humanitarian, doctor shares keys to social change

Samantha Nutt has seen the violence with her own eyes.

Nutt, a medical doctor and humanitarian, came to UCF to speak about her memories of violence in developing countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Tuesday. Standing before 70 students in the Student Union Cape Florida Ballroom, she shared her stories and hoped to leave one message: we need true social change. In order to get that social change and awareness going, students could start by expanding their knowledge, she said.

Nutt has 16 years of experience in war-torn areas being a doctor, professor, humanitarian, author, and co-founder and executive director of War Child Canada. Founded in 1999, War Child Canada is an international charitable organization that provides access to education and a safer environment for children and young people who have struggled with poverty and violence.

Her first book, "Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies, and Aid," was released on Tuesday as well, and she stayed after her presentation to sign autographs and talk to more students. The book deals with corrupt governments and how they profit from misery in developing countries with guns, resources and power. It also offers Nutt's personal accounts, solutions and ways to get involved with these political movements.

Following themes of the UCF Global Perspectives Office speaker series, Nutt spoke about people, politics and power. She asked students to think about their future and where it will lead them.

"For you it won't be enough, for all of you here, to simply do better than previous generations You will need to be better," Nutt said before she dived into her time in Somalia where she stayed in Baidoa, called "the City of Death." In 2006, more than a quarter of a million people died from famine and war.

One of her key points for true social change was to have knowledge of what's happening in the world. She said it's important to know what has happened and continues to go on in Somalia, and in other countries, so that change can come.

"Take the time to read one piece of international news a week," Nutt said.

Our legislations, knowing things like the percent of increase in the sale of small arms, keeping up with wars and revolutions are all central points she said. She also pointed out that giving is just as important as having an education on international issues. Even a small contribution on a regular basis will make a difference. Students should know who they are donating to and for what cause as well.

Being socially responsible with consumer and investment practices is a must for true social change, according to Nutt. One of the major reasons war continues in these countries is because of their natural resources.

One resource that most students at the speech hadn't even heard of before is coltan, a mineral causing huge conflict as countries struggle to control their resources. Coltan is used in products that students use every day: cellphones, gaming consoles, computers.

Nutt didn't say to boycott these items, just take the time to research the companies that make them. There are companies that avoid resources that come from war zones overseas and it's easy to do an Internet search to determine which ones do so.

Some students fired off questions about advice for traveling to developing countries after Nutt's presentation. Others thanked her and were honored by her visiting UCF to share her experience with them.

Nutt's career and experiences coincided with the Global Perspectives Office's own mission, making her an ideal choice for their speaker series.

"Our office is here to sharpen international focus in students and the Central Florida community," said Mark Freeman, public affairs coordinator for Global Perspectives. "Samantha Nutt's career is directly related to what we want to accomplish."

Nutt said during her presentation that she started her career thinking she was simply a doctor. She grew to become an activist, a humanitarian. The students appreciated her words with thunderous applause.