If trees could speak | Elif Shafak

[@2006hectordavid]

"If there is one thing that it is destroying our world more than anything it is numbness. When people become disconnected, desensitized, indifferent when they stop listening, when they stop learning and when they stop caring about what’s happening here, there and everywhere” Elif Shafak

[@fakeid6655]

I m numb.. So dude what to do ¿

[@turk223]

I absolutely adore Elif Shafak.

[@m.majaaz8464]

Elif! You’ve made me fall in love with fig trees 🌳. I find myself constantly looking at figs/fig trees at my grocer, at the gardening shop, and even while looking at art. Fig trees everywhere! Thanks for letting me get to know them better 😊

[@owelguitar]

I hope I could speak like her. She speaks with vivid colors and flavors.

[@maxischmidt1299]

Actually stunned by this. It is amazing how "they" are so believeable by repeated usage of "us".

[@anai7458]

This is beautiful and true. I do actually listen to trees on my walks..I like to observe them peacefully, listen to the branches and leaves rustle in the wind.and the plants.and I thank them and admire them, water them.I understand what you are saying. We humans, not all, do not really "listen" to the planet and what it is telling us. But the ones that do are lucky because that is when the true connection between planet earth and human nature can take form and we can live in harmony and not against this amazing living planet that is our home. After all, we come from this planet and the universe.

[@behramzulfiqar4462]

forty rules of love is a master piece of her.. hats off to her.

[@perrie2263]

Absolutely true 👌💜

[@freddobbs8558]

More like, pants off to her.

[@d-dubb550]

Just seen this beautiful lady on BBC News. Love the sentiments.

[@muhammadalfazazi8396]

THANK YOU ALLAH/GOD FOR CREATING HER. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE i felt like saying one of my utterly favorite sentences of praise and giving my salaam and gratitude to someone: "thank you for existing!" which is definitely yours dear Elif, felt that it isn't enough for you so I have to thank your and my creator first subhan ALLLAH, . I know it is not a good thing to be a complimenter in al Islam, my beautiful ALLAH's religion. Yet may ALLAH forgive me you have left me speechless. Since I kind of know your background story from some parts, our common thing, being raised by women, I now appreciate the value of silence from childhood much more since I really see its results and fruits now in front of who I am today, me, the young Muslim Maghrebi Life of the party deep down yet just trying to find his voice again, through you!!! THANK YOU! I name you Maha! you do have the wild deer's eyes indeed you can already know what Maha means in Arabic which, whooo knows, can be a future inspiration for one of your books hhh, just don't forget that her eyes from you I saw, just trying to shed more light! I really hope you would accept the name Maha from me as a gift for you and a sign for friendship for eternity! Subhana man Khalaqak (Praise and Glory Be to the Eternal who Has Created You) and definitely blessed be the womb that you have came to us and this world from, blessed be your tongue, your speech, your honor and dignity, and Blessed be Elif Shafak until ALLAH speaks out Your Name on the day of Judgment, because then, all the life of the party on your side would come out and many many souls, and I am a seer and I am sure of what I am about to say, anyone who is behind you in rank on that D day when they see how much ALLAH would embrace you with His Mercy, that would be more than a breath of fresh air, that would be I guess life itself and all of what it could contain maybe for them, unless they have done better actions, may ALLAH prefer you sister Aliyah now hhh, Elif Elif, on the wind, sand, and sea, and petrol, I am really sorry I really don't know from which side this well are exactly my words coming from they are just flowing yet I am certain they come from the Lord of Muhammad, all the Prophets and Buddha hhh, the true Lord of the Nirvana!

[@allenmarkham]

"The Giving Tree" a book will remembered.

[@shehansameera1713]

Me too..

[@CrystallCarter]

I just realized I grow up after seeing her getting old. The change in her voice, the structure of her face. Her stories stay fresh whenever I read them thats why I thought Its impossible for her to get old. I guess Trees age as humans do.

[@WasiqqIsNinja]

I love Elif Shafak!!

[@dariatarasenko3472]

This brief, but extremely significant story doooes prove one more time that we all are connected with nature, its, undoubtedly, beneficial power and inspiring spirit. It is impossible to live separately, because every tree "can hear and heal us". We need to become more aware, attentive and sensible❤

[@DustinFox.]

“To the outside, the dead leaves lay on the lawn Before they died, they had trees to hang their hope”

[@safdarjamil9752]

Listening again and again again

[@VerenaSatriani]

Every time I read a book and write on a piece of paper, I remember how much pain the tree got. I say sorry and thank you at the same time.

[@marvinboggs]

Me, too. I get a real feeling of satisfaction knowing that I am not using a tree to write this.

[@mahamir9401]

I live in a small remote town in Balochistan, (Pakistan) like rest of the males in my village, my father too spends most of his time in gardening. He too has taken a branch from a fig tree and has cultivated it in his garden. Interestingly when I was reading Elif's book: An Island of Missing Trees' I could better connect with it. For the first time in the story when Ada visits her father in his garden to give him an hand and talks a bit with him, there I stopped reading the book and felt to see my father and watch what he's doing in his garden. To be honest, for a while I felt as if my father was costas, and I Ada, my father was digging the ground, when I approached him he said, 'daughter what are you doing here, its cold, YOU shouldn't have come here' I was taken a back, was it the story going on or something real? he then told me, "look winter is coming, as we human beings prepare for winter. These plants too need a proper shelter, so I am doing this for them. I also paid a visit to the fig tree, and felt as if she is smiling and looking at me.

[@christinabendure3140]

Wonderful book, and a beautiful presentation by the author. Thank you so much for sharing your kind spirit.

[@dustinf49]

"Imagine if trees gave off Wifi signals, we would be planting so many trees and we'd probably save the planet too. Too bad they only produce the oxygen we breathe." -Tarun Sarathe

[@dariatarasenko3472]

But they can hear as well as we, i have read or heard this somewhere, truly want to believe it is so..❤

[@dustinf49]

@@dariatarasenko3472 That's very interesting! I just read a couple of articles on plants and trees hearing. Thanks!

[@mystudypartner1871]

@@dustinf49 Sir.. Fem where do u get this good quote... Whi s tarun sarathe?

[@gajrajrathore4915]

Tree said : human is the only person who cut the tree make papers and write "SAVE TREES" on that paper......

[@stephenespanol1580]

yes this is big brain time

[@marvinboggs]

Then let's get rid of humans. Trees will feel better.

[@kallekontio2322]

Out of one tree you can probably make a million "SAVE TREES" flyers. Now if those flyers can prevent only 2 trees from being chopped down, you have already saved a tree.

[@marvinboggs]

@@kallekontio2322 What about rocks? Are you saying that rocks don't have feelings?

[@yaqoobchohan7328]

Conserving a forest and ecosystem is our goal and selective cutting and such could help maintain that goal while integrating our needs. We are part of the environment, and being sustainable in our own footprint is how we should look at things. It’s about what proportion trees we cut based on species and over what area.

[@sharyuhere]

You are a goddess! Portrayed tree with such a pure human touch!

[@simone222]

Wonderful talk. Full of insight. Timely. Relevant.

[@marvinboggs]

Very. You just have to listen.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Excellent speech.

[@lilu5809]

Elif Shafak yaptiginida unutmadiq ! Karabakh Azerbaycandir ‼️🇦🇿🇦🇿👊

[@literaturewala7624]

Wawoo waooo Fantastic use of lofty imagination to give us a message about climate care.

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I like using tree trunks as a back scratcher post. Very comforting

[@marksgameoflife8446]

Something very touching about this TED Talk.

[@freddobbs8558]

Yeah. As in, Uncle Touchy really scarred me as a child, so now I can’t get sexually aroused without my woman having whisky breath and telling me that “This is our little secret”.

[@SuccessLeavesClues]

TED has been a great inspiration for me on my journey. You've inspired me to start my own channel as I lost my job during the pandemic, so thank you so much! ❤

[@safarhuseynov]

there is thing that you have to know elif shafak is one of the people who supports terrorism and terrorists.(fyi)

[@realeyesrealisereallies97]

@@safarhuseynov anyone is a terrorist depending where you're from

[@SuccessLeavesClues]

@@safarhuseynov thanks for sharing

[@realeyesrealisereallies97]

@@ZPositive ok that's true but why is terrorism so bad? Playing devils advocate here. Every country has been founded by terrorism essentially and pretty much every country still uses terrorism as a means whether covert or overt

[@realeyesrealisereallies97]

@@ZPositive is war not terrorism? Because it is. In order to gain control of land, you need to displace the previous occupants. Is infecting native Americans with smallpox not terrorism? European history has more instances of terrorism than anywhere else

[@syedfoundation1849]

Wao what a beautiful thought that is why I love Literature as it highlights things that are in visible to everyone. SYED ALI HYDER SHAH.

[@Asian_girl4M]

Sometimes I think I was born to be like Elif Shafak...

[@kelly2fly]

She have a great message, but clearly, she has never heard of the Ents. They are the shepherds of the trees and they most definitely can speak.

[@donnaspindler2441]

Ents? Do you mean ants? If so, read the book. There’s a chapter devoted to them and their role.

[@anasquadri7919]

The way she constructed the words of a speech is just amazing and the message too.

[@vthilton]

Save Our Planet

[@ax21mmhu17]

I don't really like reading books, but I really liked the books in the library that really helped my work as a bookworm 🍁

[@Englishteacher_abc]

Meaningful moments ✨💖

[@jasonaselin1366]

Just wonderful. The incredible TREE is such a beautiful miracle. And with our existence critically dependent on them, we should worship and protect them at all costs.

[@03muhammadharis39]

Go read her novel " The forty rules of love"

[@Chandra-nk7gr]

Currently reading

[@safarhuseynov]

@@Chandra-nk7gr did you know she supports terrorists??

[@golnazfatemi2426]

@@safarhuseynov did you know she is a worldwide famous writer and poet and is well respects in the world for spreading words of Love among humanity? Have you read any of her books? If not, then please stop commenting against such powerful and brave woman. Obviously you do not know her at all.

[@freddobbs8558]

@@golnazfatemi2426 , did you know lots of terrorists are writers and poets?

[@cutaebear1109]

@@freddobbs8558 you don't know any poet, do you?..besides A piece of art isn't the representative of what the creator of it believes..when you see a work you appreciate the piece and the effort and the idea behind it, the ethereal beauty of it. Fiction has no background nor is it any representative of such Identity Politics, despite the fact that what you just said is not true, bear in mind philosophy, literature goes beyond comprehension. I don't care of what she believes or what her belief is but she writes beautifully and is a very smart and intellectual woman

[@swapnilnaik515]

fantastic voice

[@tectardedprepper8954]

The first Ted Talk I agree with 💯

[@lpsloveandgame6046]

Y'all really missed the subtlety of what this person wrote. The whole part where she describes beautiful things we do with wood and paper like music?? It's all bittersweet, to her trees are just asking for recognition not (only) yelling bloody murder like you are.

[@freddobbs8558]

You should see all the beautiful things I do to paper in my bathroom, and on the computer when I use the mouse with my left hand. How’s that for subtle?

[@lpsloveandgame6046]

@@freddobbs8558 I hope you at least got out your frustrations ok, because damn that was even less convincing then an actual argumented response

[@paulsmith9341]

Thank you.

[@Leto85]

Wow, I can hear you clearly are a writer. The symbolism in word choice speaks for itself. You also have a good voice to listen too. Calm and smoothing. I myself would love to hear more from you here on TED. :) Good luck with your career!

[@duyunama]

Excellent topic

[@AbidTaladar-jb8yb]

A great writer of contemporary era. How to improve written skills

[@djchaiwallah]

If trees could speak they wouldn't talk to this lady who is speaking in front of the evidence of a tree massacre

[@Miss_Distress]

Hahaha

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@Block Baxter : Please explain how that makes any sense at all. Because there is a very good explanation for why you automatically agree with it: republican/wealthy elite propaganda is designed to get illiterate people to believe their jobs depend on the destruction of the natural environment.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@ DJ Chai Wallah : Look around you, what is the furniture in *your* house made of? What do you use your nose with, or use to wipe yourself with after going #2? What is your house built from? Even if it is brick or stone, what are your doors made of? *Hypocrite.*

[@yeetub]

I know this is slightly off topic but I had a dream where there was this talking tree and it threw me off a cliff

[@marvinboggs]

We are happy you survived.

[@crusaderknight2891]

lotr?

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

Where else could you tell a tree dream but in a place where everyone is talking about trees? I think it's completely appropriate. Besides, you have a plot twist. Bravo!

[@AdamBechtol]

:)

[@burgesssam]

Thank you for your service

[@sumneetkaurbamrah1982]

You are very eloquent and have a sweet voice! Lovely message, very powerful.

[@safarhuseynov]

did you know she supports terrorists??

[@golnazfatemi2426]

@@safarhuseynov did you know she is a worldwide famous writer and poet and is well respects in the world for spreading words of Love among humanity? Have you read any of her books? If not, then please stop commenting against such powerful and brave woman, because you obviously do not know her at all.

[@safarhuseynov]

@@golnazfatemi2426 yes i know her very closely. Unfortunatelly We are the same nation with her. I took from my library and burnt all of her books. You just don't know the truth so you have no right to criticize me!

[@K-FOREST_Original]

Hi, how are you? South Korea began to get cold after heavy rain last week. I hope health and good things will be with you this week as well. ^O^

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

I wish you and all my fellow Earthlings peace and prosperity. ^-^ P.S. If you get too much rain, please send some to the western U.S. we are in dire need.

[@Orbitinbloom19018]

Aaa this is so beautiful, thank you!

[@AbdulHafeez-my3pd]

Very nice

[@raghunandanhv1]

I am a great admirer of Ms. Elif Shafak. I love to listen to her soothing voice.

[@goodlife7756]

Heartfelt.

[@AdemirAlijagic]

Beautifully said! "The past and the future of humanity" 👏

[@disasteroid8045]

What a fresh, non-anthropocentric view. That said, we're all trees. Beautiful. And pertinent. 👌

[@rafsanjamil1870]

Trees are significant for life on earth. Without trees, the earth will get dead and dry. There would be no water, no downpour, and no backwoods by any means. Trees give us oxygen, shade, foods grown from the ground more.

[@joykumarchoudhury1758]

you are the future save tree , save your future.

[@sanjayagrawal7744]

Again lit up the fire inside me to become an environmentalist

[@fatimxh]

👍🏽

[@yeeeeeeeee_e]

i speak for the trees and the trees say can you fucking not.

[@sompret]

If trees could speak then it would say that phytomining is awesome.

[@2bsirius]

Read Diana Beresford-Kroeger's _To Speak for the Trees_ and _Richard Powers' novel _Overstory_ They, as well as Elif Shafak's wonder poem and monologue, will help you to truly see....

[@Meymeygwis]

Trees do speak...people just don't know how to listen... Wonderful woman!

[@marvinboggs]

Teach us how to listen.

[@teaghandickson6289]

This was incredible, provoking, and her voice was so relaxing!

[@joestetz8325]

Ted Talks... dying... her, wouldn't kick outta bed.. would just run after she fell asleep

[@fd6024]

Ne güzel karşıma çıktın böyle

[@gauravp__]

3:59 When you trust someone so blindly.

[@FIFA_Mobile_703]

Still I trust you❣️

[@oash6041]

You thought

[@aaaaaasafafasfasfasfsaa11]

Did you know that Trees are Trees

[@Huseynovlyrics]

did you know she supports terrorists??

[@marvinboggs]

But.. . . Don't we have an obligation to love them? Even when they come crashing through our houses in a storm? Do they apologize?

[@hewhoshallliveinpeace5676]

@@Huseynovlyrics not sure if your joking or not

[@safarhuseynov]

@@hewhoshallliveinpeace5676 Unfortunatelly it is true. We are same nation with her but everybody hates her anymore

[@hewhoshallliveinpeace5676]

@@safarhuseynov huh interesting can you show me an article that show this.

[@wonderwoman5528]

Hands up if you’re reading the island of lost trees and savouring ever page 🙌

[@zawsrdtygbhjimokpl6998]

I'm pretty sure them attaining sentience and starting to speak would change quite a lot. Jokes aside, a species being older than humans doesn't mean much and there's no guarantee humans will rely on trees in the future due to good'ol technology

[@nayam.1574]

If anything, the books let us witness our actions regarding the trees while hearing their perspective at the same time. Don't cloud the message, guys.

[@amineakchouche7012]

The words are well chosen, meaningful and valuable Trees are important in our world.

[@27jerry27]

Vietnam War Veterans: Having Flashbacks.....

[@disasteroid8045]

You don:t look old enough, man! You don't know,! You weren't there, maaaan! I seen some thiiiiiiiings! I wouldn't recommend it! 😂

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@CJ : That's as empty a comment as there could be.

[@disasteroid8045]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 Perhaps you didn't read my other comment. Forgive my humour. So if you're offended by that. My intention was levity. 👍

[@Miss_Distress]

Way to assert dominance by sitting in front of so many dead trees

[@bhattujaan5333]

Thanks !

[@MinhProjectManager]

Sure! Instead of saying Hello it would be started with DU MA MAY 🤣🤣

[@Lele2892]

A verse from 'The Tree from Oakside' "...they build telephone poles from our brothers and place their deformed remains right next to us. We will avenge these crude acts of indecency, we shall put a stop to these insensitive atrocities. You humans will pay!!!" 😏 Really I think trees are to Earth what hair is to humans.

[@Smileyson58]

She’s reading from a book made out of dead trees

[@h_jaff6985]

But she see them but we’re not....🔥

[@rossmckitrick7806]

Was the story you were telling from the trees part of a book? If so what is its title? If not can you write it into a book please 😊

[@marvinboggs]

A digital book.

[@rossmckitrick7806]

@@marvinboggs and the book is?

[@oash6041]

This is pretty much a more in depth version of The Giving Tree

[@joestetz8325]

More? Amateur stoner version. Village idiots are finding their voice

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

I thought your comment showed a good observation. Funny how literature does that, isn't it? Same story, different characters, same message. Look at Romeo and Juliet - They are EVERYWHERE! Any way, I usually like the originals more. The Giving Tree is def my fave.

[@oash6041]

@@christinagurchinoff1517 forever my favorite book as a kid

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

​@@oash6041 🦚🎄🎍🌲🌳🌴🎡

[@jaison8263]

If trees could speak..... we are in fucking danger.

[@Huseynovlyrics]

did you know she supports terrorists??

[@stefanosignoretto208]

Beautiful.. I'll take ispiraction of this talk for a discourse of my novel

[@inbasicterms-popculturevid1704]

This what happens when the shrooms kick in

[@cyrilio]

hope you're not making fun of shrooms. It will be our savior and cure the depression cause by a century of war & collective trauma. It's already in phase 3 of some FDA clinical trials.

[@inbasicterms-popculturevid1704]

@@cyrilio chill dude... it's a joke

[@johnbuckner2828]

LOL that's exactly what I was thinking when I was listening to this.

[@majidh8888]

ویدو ها بیشترش زیرنویس فارسی داره ، ایول بابا دمتون گرم

[@lk29392]

trees can speak- they talk to me

[@sanchoaung1227]

What a great speech!!! Salute to writer!! I have one tiny issue with this video which is title. This "If we could understand the language of tree", yeah I know it's long title and not interesting but it's fact that tree can talk or communicate with people. We, people need to care others.. We are not alone in this planet. We are surrounded by family (tree, animals, ground, sea, air and more)

[@purtoshikichu9955]

Great message ✌

[@pyschologygeek]

It's a commonly known fact that plants are vital for sustaining our earth's ecosystem; they provide oxygen, filter carbon, purify soil and are a support network for wildlife.

[@lukeb9989]

Tree falls in the forest: d o o f e n s h m i r t z

[@RegularHuman]

that is why you have so many books made out of woods behind you ?

[@احمدجلال-م1ز]

قواعد العشق الأربعون 😍

[@shanenelson3863]

Trees don't speak they just fall

[@berkaybulut26]

Why Shafak? She is Turkish and her surname is Şafak, i guess Special Name cannot change 🙈☺️

[@doguscanselen3998]

Ş kullanmıyorlar :)

[@berkaybulut26]

@@doguscanselen3998 özel isimler değişmez ki, bizde x kullanmıyoruz ama Malcolm X e Malcolm iks demiyoruz ki...

[@nelli616]

@@berkaybulut26 uluslarası evraklarinda özel isimler okunduğu gibi yazılıyor. Bunun için kabulledinmis ortak yazilim kurallar var. Elif Shafak uluslarası olarak dogrudur.

[@ete8607]

I have an oak tree in my backyard and it’s my best friend. No, I’m not depressed really.

[@marvinboggs]

Copy that, Ma'am.

[@crusaderknight2891]

yo i have a cabinet in my house made out of oak

[@freddobbs8558]

And it’s the only friend willing to give you wood, without getting drunk first!

[@formless3791]

Bro I was listening to "If these trees could talk" a post rock band...

[@hollkor9141]

She's from Turkey

[@yolandaponkers1581]

Ok but literally everything in that room is wood so it’s like watching a PETA activist talking about animal rights while simultaneously choking an alpaca

[@dmurphy915]

Sounds like a happy Thanksgiving

[@ahmetizmir1081]

Yes you are right. Probably, dozens of trees were cut down on the land where his house was built. But after all, he loved trees, because he loved trees so it would not be a problem to cut trees. Because it relieves his conscience in this way. Also, it is not relevant to our topic but she is bisexual.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

You are right at this very moment expelling CO2 emissions. Does that mean people should hold you accountable for the mass CO2 emissions we have right now? When was that house built? Did he build that house? Should we just become homeless because the house we live in was built of trees? How does it help the trees is we do not take care of and appreciate what their lives were taken and used for? No, if anything, such recklessness and myopic thinking would lead to even more trees being harvested later. Take good care of the wood you already have. It is a precious resource. If you have any actual ideas, let alone real solutions, why are you not talking about those? But instead using the fact that most houses are built from wood as a way to bash anyone who lives in one. Now, go inside your house and have a look around, then tell me you're not a total hypocrite. Because you cannot. You are nothing more than a hypocrite and a liar, attempting to deflect talks by those who. unlike you, actually do care about this world.

[@ahmetizmir1081]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 It would have been more impressive if he posed by planting some trees in the ground rather than in vain chattering in front of furniture made of dead trees. I love to take long walks in nature. Before I go out for a walk in nature, I take the fruit seeds and acorns I have eaten before. I plant these seeds in the ground while walking. So what are you doing? Have you planted a seedling or seed in the ground for your entire life?

[@victoriabroberts4693]

So her point was made!!!

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

Very nice. I have some specific friends who could benefit from this story and its conclusions, as I do. I'll share this video when they are with me and I hope we'll talk about it. Thank you so much.

[@freddobbs8558]

You haven’t read Shadow of a Wiggins’ comment, have you sweetie? (hint: what are all of those HUNDREDS of book looking objects behind her made out of?) ~gasp~

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

@@freddobbs8558 Now that was lol funny!

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

@@freddobbs8558 Btw. I'd be remiss if I left out the following: Believe it or not, there are people in N. Carolina who have not been informed that they have a voice. If I can pull out my 4g Android & share this video, it will be the first time a 57 year old white woman and first time voter, will hear about trees that have a voice. And a story.

[@christinagurchinoff1517]

She might marvel at that picture of a bunch of books as a back-drop, too.

[@DracosThorne]

Waiting for all the Vietnam comments..

[@freddobbs8558]

They’d shout, “QUIT HUGGING ME, You freakin’ hippies! Go get a life. Jeesh”!

[@kluneberg8952]

@Karlos Khaos not-so-giving tree

[@marvinboggs]

No. They would just go on being a tree.

[@factsonfacts9019]

Nice!

[@wiki8958]

My goodness! She has an impressive writing skill. Or maybe I should say that "She is the queen of her world" which is writing.

[@myzaferxhepmeta1080]

Omg so cute very inspiring thank you